Fleming will fit into the new defensive identity the Phoenix Suns are building seamlessly
Brian Gregory stole the headlines before round two of the NBA Draft by making multiple trades to trade up in the draft, and with all that sizzle from making moves to move up to No. 31, he needed to bring home the bacon.
And Suns fans, as exciting as the trades were, you should be even more excited about Rasheer Fleming because he might become the steal of the draft.
Rasheer Fleming was born on July 10, 2004, and grew up in Camden, New Jersey. Although he did not have to overcome the same struggles as Khaman Maluach, who fled a war-torn country as a child and pursued his basketball career overseas, Fleming had a different but still difficult journey to the NBA.
Fleming started his basketball career at nationally ranked Camden High School in New Jersey, which had Dajuan Wagner Jr. and Aaron Bradshaw, two highly ranked prospects who took all the shine and stardom. Fleming was a role player in high school and was a zero-star recruit who only had offers from mid-major schools. He chose to play at Saint Joseph’s University and in three seasons, developed himself into an NBA Draft prospect.
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When Fleming got to St. Joe’s, he understood his role and immediately made an impact as a freshman. He defended, rebounded, and hustled his way into minutes and started 18 games in his first season. During his first two seasons at Saint Joseph’s, Fleming was a role player and struggled to make shots from the outside. It was this past season as a junior when he took the leap. He averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and shot 39% from 3, 53% from the field, and 74% from the free throw line.
While his shot looks a bit mechanical still, Fleming has shown consistent improvement in his percentages and shooting form year after year. As he continues to grow as a shooter, I expect him to be an above-average 3-point shooter in the league bare minimum. Standing at 6-foot-8, Fleming provides the Suns with the versatility they sorely need at the wing. Fleming is capable of defending wings and is a strong enough defender and rebounder to even play as a small-ball five if needed.
Two areas where Fleming excels defensively are in pick and roll defense and blocking shots. Fleming is smart and has the quickness and agility to play mind games with opposing point guards and bait them into bad passes while guarding screens in drop coverage. He is athletic enough to switch onto guards as well and hold up, and navigates screens well while guarding the ball. When he is primarily assigned to defend guards and wings, he has shown an ability to block shots in one-on-one situations and closeout situations with his long 7-foot-5 wingspan. His instincts defensively are NBA-ready ready and he will fit into the new defensive identity the Phoenix Suns are building seamlessly.
Because of Fleming’s roundabout path to the NBA as a role player, his motor and his habits are incredible. Fleming rebounded and ran the floor hard and had no problem finishing over Atlantic 10 players with ease at St. Joe’s. This season, now a consistent threat from the 3-point line, he showed his ability to attack closeouts with confidence and finish around the rim with both hands comfortably. He is not a playmaker and finished every season with a negative assist-to-turnover ratio. While he does not add playmaking, Fleming will be a menace on the offensive boards and will be relentless trying to get the Suns extra possessions.
As far as comparisons go, Fleming comes in with the ability to play like versatile wing Obi Toppin on the Indiana Pacers. His job will be easy to understand but hard to perform. He will need to guard well, rebound, run the floor, and hit open shots. If he does that,t he will be an incredibly valuable starting caliber NBA wing. If he can develop his one-on-one game offensively and add a little more playmaking, he has the potential to be a 15-20 point per game player in the NBA if things break right.
Going from the Atlantic 10 to NBA competition will be an adjustment for Fleming, who will no longer be the best athlete in the gym most nights. But he is a good athlete and has enough grit and smarts to compete on both sides of the floor from day one. The Phoenix Suns desperately needed a wing and got one of the most versatile NBA-ready wings in the draft.
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