#1 or BUST! The O'Mighty DRAFT Thread

[pokerface]

Maybe we just get Fultz, Ball, or Fox... Trade Bled eventually...then move on as a team.

Or get Jackson...

 

[pokerface]

Hey slin would you cry if we got Jackson? Is he really that much off your radar?

 

[hsandhu]

Brooklyn about to win against philly, 3 wins behind us. Still an outside shot we catch them.

It sucks philly didn't tank when they played them last week, and it makes no sense they didnt. a win for Brooklyn there would have been huge.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Tatum is far better at actual playmaking in my opinion. Jackson might be better at passing the ball around but Tatum can create and can score in every way. Plus Tatum is a good defender also. He is just simply a more advanced overall player than Jackson, has no baggage, better size, better shooter and a full year younger.

Playmaking as in getting shots for himself? Or getting shots for others? I assume from your second sentence you mean getting shots for himself.

Isn't Jackson almost universally thought to be a better defender than Tatum? The baggage is not that much of an issue for me, neither is the age. I think some teams passed on Steph Curry because he was a little older (21) when drafted--big mistake. And on what are you justifying Tatum as a better shooter? Jackson has better shooting averages from both the 2 and 3. What is it that I am not seeing?

 

[JCSunsfan]

So. I did my daily ritual--a one time, and one time only, hit on tankathon.com.

Here are the results.

1. Suns
2. Sac to Philly
3. Lakers
4. Brooklyn to Boston
5. Orlando
6. Philly to Sac
7. New York

This would produce some interesting scenarios. Philly, I am convinced, wants Fultz. Ball would not be a fit with Ben Simmons. They need a scoring guard. Fultz fits that bill.

I have no doubt the Lakers want Ball over Jackson because they already have Ingram.

So everyone can get exactly what they want if the Suns take Jackson. But why would we do that?!! Could we convince the Lakers that we want Ball, and offer to swap picks? Lakers take Ball, Philly takes Fultz and then we take Jackson. It would be risky. Philly could take Jackson I guess. Any thoughts on what the Lakers might give up to move from 3 to 1?

Of course, if Philly really wants a scoring guard, why not trade Bledsoe and the two Miami picks to Philly for the second pick. Then we can take Ball (or Fultz) AND Jackson.

 

[hsandhu]

Kerr says they will rest draymond and igoudala vs phx.

Thank you kerr for still looking out for the suns, I was worried it would be all the big 3 being rested.

Lose next 2 to gs and okc, and rest booker and warren vs Dallas and sacramento, boom, at worst you tie lakers for 2.

 

[Phrazbit]

The Nets won again... 3 back, with 4 to go. Unlike the rest of cellar dwellers they're trying to win right now and they're actually pretty decent of late, winning 6 of their last 9. Not saying it's likely but if we lose out we could end up tied with them.

 

[pokerface]

So. I did my daily ritual--a one time, and one time only, hit on tankathon.com.

Here are the results.

1. Suns
2. Sac to Philly
3. Lakers
4. Brooklyn to Boston
5. Orlando
6. Philly to Sac
7. New York

This would produce some interesting scenarios. Philly, I am convinced, wants Fultz. Ball would not be a fit with Ben Simmons. They need a scoring guard. Fultz fits that bill.

I have no doubt the Lakers want Ball over Jackson because they already have Ingram.

So everyone can get exactly what they want if the Suns take Jackson. But why would we do that?!! Could we convince the Lakers that we want Ball, and offer to swap picks? Lakers take Ball, Philly takes Fultz and then we take Jackson. It would be risky. Philly could take Jackson I guess. Any thoughts on what the Lakers might give up to move from 3 to 1?

Of course, if Philly really wants a scoring guard, why not trade Bledsoe and the two Miami picks to Philly for the second pick. Then we can take Ball (or Fultz) AND Jackson.

I really liked your post JC... Thought provoking and plausible.

That would be brilliant if Jackson was indeed our target but we took Ball as trade bait. I suggested that very move a few days ago because I thought the Lakers wanted Ball. I would trade out of #1 in a heartbeat for #3 and future pick. Not sure what else we'd want or could get. What about if they had to take Brandon Knight off our hands and we got a decent player in return? That in itself could be worth it depending on the player back.


Plus I really liked your Philly trade too. Give them Bled and the Miami picks and we get Fultz or Ball...Plus 'maybe' Jackson...If Philly ended up with a top three. Would Philly do this though with Bledsoe having only two years left on his contact? Another scenario might be if Philly ended up getting #5 and we took Tatum (cuz Jackson would be gone).

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

I really liked your post JC... Thought provoking and plausible.

That would be brilliant if Jackson was indeed our target but we took Ball as trade bait. I suggested that very move a few days ago because I thought the Lakers wanted Ball. I would trade out of #1 in a heartbeat for #3 and future pick. Not sure what else we'd want or could get. What about if they had to take Brandon Knight off our hands and we got a decent player in return? That in itself could be worth it depending on the player back.


Plus I really liked your Philly trade too. Give them Bled and the Miami picks and we get Fultz or Ball...Plus 'maybe' Jackson...If Philly ended up with a top three. Would Philly do this though with Bledsoe having only two years left on his contact? Another scenario might be if Philly ended up getting #5 and we took Tatum (cuz Jackson would be gone).

I wouldn't even take my chances. Just take the player you like the most and leave it at that. Last thing we want to do is pass on the guy we really wanted only to find out that the Lakers would rather keep the player they got.

 

[pokerface]

I wouldn't even take my chances. Just take the player you like the most and leave it at that. Last thing we want to do is pass on the guy we really wanted only to find out that the Lakers would rather keep the player they got.

Yeah but how much downside is there? Worse case scenario is we end up with Ball. He'd probably be the perfect fit for our team anyway.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Yeah but how much downside is there? Worse case scenario is we end up with Ball. He'd probably be the perfect fit for our team anyway.

If that is true than why trade him? I feel like you are over thinking this a little. If he is the best player for our team than why would we not keep him?

 

[Hoop Head]

The Lottery is like a month before the draft, I'm sure there will be plenty of time to talk trades with other GM's in that time. I'm not a huge fan of making a trade ahead of time though unless it can be made official before draft itself. I remember the Amare to Golden State draft/trade too well to trust another GM like that.

 

[pokerface]

If that is true than why trade him? I feel like you are over thinking this a little. If he is the best player for our team than why would we not keep him?

Because there is no clear number one in this draft. Jackson would be a perfect fit for this team as well because of his defense and passing abilities. The Lakers however need Ball a lot more than they need Jackson.

 

[slinslin]

Brooklyn winsagain, there is a chance they finish 3-1 which would tie us if we lose out.

They have a relatively easy schedule.

Orlando, 2x Chicago and Boston

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Because there is no clear number one in this draft. Jackson would be a perfect fit for this team as well because of his defense and passing abilities. The Lakers however need Ball a lot more than they need Jackson.

I'm thinking from the view of the team. If they have a player that they want more than anyone else (and assuming it isn't ball) than why even chance not getting him by taking Ball for trade bait? Sure from your point of view and from the point of view of many others their are 3 players very close at the top, but that may not be the Suns point of view. If that is the way the Suns see it and are legitimately OK with any of those top 3 guys than I would be OK with the idea of drafting to trade him with the team picking behind us. I have a sneaking suspicion that the team will indeed have a player that they rank clearly above the others though.

 

[pokerface]

Brooklyn winsagain, there is a chance they finish 3-1 which would tie us if we lose out.

They have a relatively easy schedule.

Orlando, 2x Chicago and Boston

It's possible but I'm not holding my breath until the final game. But at least it's not as impossible as I once thought.

 

[pokerface]

I'm thinking from the view of the team. If they have a player that they want more than anyone else (and assuming it isn't ball) than why even chance not getting him by taking Ball for trade bait? Sure from your point of view and from the point of view of many others their are 3 players very close at the top, but that may not be the Suns point of view. If that is the way the Suns see it and are legitimately OK with any of those top 3 guys than I would be OK with the idea of drafting to trade him with the team picking behind us. I have a sneaking suspicion that the team will indeed have a player that they rank clearly above the others though.

Well if that's the case then yeah they should take the guy they want. I just thought the Lakers might pay a premium to get their local hero since that's a position of need for them.

I'm just a fan but I'd like Jackson or Ball. I'm a very happy fan right now!

 

[Hoop Head]

I don't think the Lakers view PG or Ball as a player they need so much as a player they want because of the comments made by his dad about him being a Laker. They want someone they can bank on being there for their whole career. They drafted Russell #2 last year as their PG of the future, he's developing slowly but he is developing. I think the Lakers are likely to trade their pick if they can get an All-Star veteran in return. The Celtics may be willing to part with their pick also because they don't really need a rookie with the group they have but they could use a solid scoring wing.

 

[slinslin]

Suns-Dallas game could be the tank game of the season.

We will be on a 14 game losing streak but need to lose out to stay ahead of the Lakers and the slight chance to tie Brooklyn.

Last night Dallas played this lineup with 7 minutes left in a tie game against the Kings

Nicholas Brussino SF

Dorial Finney Smith SF

Jarrod Uthoff PF

Dwight Powell PF/C

AJ Hammonds C

 

[JCSunsfan]

ok. Is this just me? I try to watch those DX scouting videos, but the music is hypnotic. It puts me to sleep almost immediately. If I turn off the sound I can stay awake.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I'm thinking from the view of the team. If they have a player that they want more than anyone else (and assuming it isn't ball) than why even chance not getting him by taking Ball for trade bait? Sure from your point of view and from the point of view of many others their are 3 players very close at the top, but that may not be the Suns point of view. If that is the way the Suns see it and are legitimately OK with any of those top 3 guys than I would be OK with the idea of drafting to trade him with the team picking behind us. I have a sneaking suspicion that the team will indeed have a player that they rank clearly above the others though.

How likely is it that one of those three will be a bust?

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Suns-Dallas game could be the tank game of the season.

We will be on a 14 game losing streak but need to lose out to stay ahead of the Lakers and the slight chance to tie Brooklyn.

Last night Dallas played this lineup with 7 minutes left in a tie game against the Kings

Nicholas Brussino SF

Dorial Finney Smith SF

Jarrod Uthoff PF

Dwight Powell PF/C

AJ Hammonds C

Jebus that team is going to be difficult to lose to.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

How likely is it that one of those three will be a bust?

A total bust? Or just not living up to the hype? Here's how I see them:

Ball - total boom or bust. I don't think he ends up halfway. He's either Jason Kidd with a jumpshot or a journeyman within 4 years. Greatest bust potential but also greatest upside imo.

Fultz - less bust potential. Upside is Dwayne wade, so considerable. Downside maybe dion waiters so a serviceable bench scorer. Total bust unlikely.

Jackson - least bust potential. He could be Scottie Pippen or because of his defensive prowess and all around fame could be MKG. So might not live up to hype, but I think no bust potential.

So here's what I think in a nutshell:

Kidd w/ jumpshot - journeyman (Ball)
Wade - Waiters (fultz)
Pippen - MKG (Jackson)

 

[Hoop Head]

I think worst case scenario is Ball ends up as Michael Carter Williams with a jump shot. There aren't a lot of guys like him in the NBA right now, his size is a huge plus. Maybe he'd be more like Deron Williams when he came into the league playing under Jerry Sloane in Utah. Great passer, can call his own number and score, but has some question marks surrounding his dad which could be an issue. I don't think he'll be an issue as a player though.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

How likely is it that one of those three will be a bust?

Going off of the history of the NBA I would say there is a decent chance that one will be a bust. Ball seems like the most likely candidate for me and Fultz seems like the least likely IMO. However it isn't about drafting a bust as much as it is about getting the best player available. It's possible that none of Ball, Jackson or Fultz are busts, but the one we pick could very well have the least impressive career of the 3 and that is why I want the team to take the player they most believe in rather than trying to get cute with drafting a player in the hopes of trading him to the team right below us.