Gentry Estes

@Gentry_Estes

Former Kentucky guard Tyler Ulis' slip into the top four picks of the NBA draft's second round -- rather than the late first round -- doesn't figure to hurt him much financially.

Why? Because the Phoenix Suns reportedly are planning to treat Ulis like a first-round pick anyway. That's according to Paul Coro of the USA TODAY Sports Network, who reports from Arizona:

The Suns do not have much roster room with 14 players under contract for next season once (draftees) Dragan Bender, Marquese Chriss and Tyler Ulis sign. ...

Bender and Chriss are slotted into four-year contracts with two guaranteed years and two team option years. Ulis, as a second-round pick, is not guaranteed that, but the Suns will give Ulis the equivalent of a late first-round pick’s contract, which would start at about $1 million and have the same two guaranteed years with two team option years.

The Suns will have to weigh whether Ulis can be a third point guard as a rookie or if the team needs Price’s experience after Eric Bledsoe’s and Brandon Knight’s multiple surgeries.