Shortly after finalizing a trade that sent Caron Butler to the Bucks, the Suns on Thursday signed Alex Len, the fifth overall pick in the NBA draft. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The 7-foot-1, 255-pound Len, a Ukranian native, finished a two-year career at Maryland with an honorable-mention All-ACC season. As a sophomore, he averaged 11.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in 38 games last season.
Also a member of the ACC's all-defensive team, Len recorded a conference-best 78 blocked shots in 2012-13. He also had eight double-digit rebounding efforts as a sophomore and six double-doubles.
The 20-year-old Len was unable to work out leading up to the draft while recovering from surgery on a stress fracture in his left ankle, and he recently underwent a precautionary operation for a hairline fracture in his right ankle. It is unclear if he will be ready for the start of training camp in October, but the Suns have said that they expect him to be available by the season opener.
