2011 Draft Thread

[Joe Mama]

Hmm, I could be wrong. I remembered that this board (including me) was high on Noah and discouraged that the Suns didn't seem to be interested, but maybe that's wrong. Maybe we felt that no one would take Noah as high as #4 or #5, which is where the Suns hoped to be drafting.

I think you are wrong. If I remember correctly Noah and Corey Brewer were the two guys really be considered and most people believed they were wanted Noah. Lord that's just depressing to think about

 

[slinslin]

Noah, Brewer and Horford were at least attending one of the Suns playoffs games and the rumors had us being in love with Noah.

 

[slinslin]

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/04/16/2805147/kus-selby-not-where-he-was-but.html

Josh Selby was 12, his mother just 29 and jobless. They were borderline homeless, moving from spot to spot. His father had never been involved in his life.

Selby would get in fights all the time, he says. Walking home from school one day, he saw a close friend pistol-whipped.

“One more time, he would have died,” Selby said. “I was about 12. After that, I got crazy. To see that at that age, I was losing it. I’m not gonna lie. I was really losing it, being disrespectful to my mother, just doing anything I wanted, like a little thug.”

They were living in West Baltimore then, and Selby was often picked on because he was from the east side. But the pettiness faded during pickup basketball games on the concrete court at Beechfield Elementary. Regulars there started calling him “Little Future” because he’d play against the adults and take their best shot.

“By my actions on the court, the way I played, I really didn’t get messed with,” Selby said. “It was like all the old people, the older thugs and old hustlers, they were kind of (looking after) me … ‘Nobody mess with him. He got a bright future. Leave him alone.’ Basketball took me a long way.”

But it would only take him so far in his current living situation. He and his mom were staying with an acquaintance, thankful for every meal they got.

“I felt embarrassed,” Witherspoon recalled. “I felt humiliated, less of a parent. This is really not how I want my kid to live.”

Her breaking point came when Selby failed seventh grade. Witherspoon began to notice a change in her son. She decided to move in with her mother and take Josh away from the drug- and crime-infested neighborhood of Irvington they’d called home for about a year and a half.

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/04/16/2805147/kus-selby-not-where-he-was-but.html#ixzz1K8DRw9Ey

Great article on Josh Selby, hope we can pick that kid somehow, even if it has to be #13 when the top options are off the board. He will prove people wrong.

Usually not a fan of combo guards but Selby is as athletic as you can be, might be able to transition to PG which he was in highschool and if not you need a playmaking SG around him like Evan Turner or Joe Johnson. Alec Burks might fit the bill.

Burks at #13 (unless Knight is on the board) and trade for another first round pick to get Selby that would solidify our guard spots for the future and Selby could be groomed behind Nash if they indeed won't trade him.

 

[elindholm]

I think you are wrong.

Yep, that seems to be the consensus. So forget what I said before. The Suns would never have had Horford, but they could have had Noah, who would likely have been even more effective playing alongside Stoudemire.

 

[Michael]

Nbadraft.net has us picking Kemba Walker at 13. I'm sure that would make you happy, Slin. Can anybody tell me when the draft lottery will be held, please?

 

[slinslin]

Who knows Noah was a herky jerky player looking as raw as any rookie I had seen in a long time, nothing special at all.

He only later turned the corner.

 

[slinslin]

Nbadraft.net has us picking Kemba Walker at 13. I'm sure that would make you happy, Slin. Can anybody tell me when the draft lottery will be held, please?

At the beginning of the year I had Kemba Walker and Derrick Williams as my draft targets. They were projected mid first rounders at the time so it looked like the Suns could make that happen by trading for them.

Unfortunately Derrick Williams will go too high just like James Harden did, we traded away the chance for Igggy for basically nothing and we did not move for Bayless either so the Suns probably have no interest in the local college products.

Anyway I am not that high on Kemba anymore.

And I also think nbadraft.net is getting worse and worse, their mock drafts, their player comparisons.
They are off their rocker if they think Biyombo is going to be picked in the late 20s.

Other than that if the draft did unfold that way you couldn't argue Walker because Burks, Knight are all gone by #13. The only players I like that they have lower are

Kawhi Leonard - We sure don't need any more players who are exclusively small forwards. Leonard doesn't have the perimeter game and ball handling skills to play the 2 I think. If someone can convice me that Leonard could be a SG I'd instantly move him near the top of my wishlist.
And I don't think that Leonard is THAT good that you have to pick him as BPA.

Josh Selby - I think workouts and combine will do wonders for this kid and it might be a close call between Walker and Selby even before the draft at least on the boards of some teams.

Jeremy Tyler - Another gamble I like but could never be in consideration at #13.

Tristan Thompson - i reserve judgement until the combine. If he is 6'8 I'd never draft him at #13. At 6'10 he would be a riser before the draft.

 

[slinslin]

draftexpress.com

Is much closer to reality if you ask me. Unfortunately their mock is absolutely terrible for us as it is now we would choose between Marcus Morris, Markieff Morris, Jimmer Fredette, Jordan Hamilton... In that case I would just trade down for Selby or just pick Selby #13 because I think come draft day his stock will be late lottery/mid first.

 

[slinslin]

DraftExpress: Teams were buying picks in the 50s for 500k last year. You couldn't trade a late first round pick for a bag of potato chips right now.
2011-04-20 04:26:10

From DraftExpress.com http://www.draftexpress.com/twitter.php#ixzz1K8lMDTO0
http://www.draftexpress.com

Lets buy a couple and make a few gambles at the end of the first round.

 

[sunsfan88]

Only reason I'd get a 2nd rd pick would be to get Darius Morris.

He's one of the few pure PGs in the draft this year. He's a lot like Darren Collision and Jrue Holliday when they came out.

He'd get drafted a lot higher if he wasnt playing for Michigan.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Who knows Noah was a herky jerky player looking as raw as any rookie I had seen in a long time, nothing special at all.

He only later turned the corner.

most rookies are raw. but he was already a good rebounder/defender as a rookie and just got better and better from there... you know, like pretty much every good player in the NBA.

 

[JCSunsfan]

DraftExpress: Teams were buying picks in the 50s for 500k last year. You couldn't trade a late first round pick for a bag of potato chips right now.
2011-04-20 04:26:10

From DraftExpress.com http://www.draftexpress.com/twitter.php#ixzz1K8lMDTO0
http://www.draftexpress.com

Lets buy a couple and make a few gambles at the end of the first round.

I like this idea alot--especially if we buy them early. Make the deals before we know who drops.

 

[Mainstreet]

I like this idea alot--especially if we buy them early. Make the deals before we know who drops.

I too agree. The way the Suns draft, I'd use the 13th pick in a trade and buy some picks in the late first round or early second round and roll the dice.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I too agree. The way the Suns draft, I'd use the 13th pick in a trade and buy some picks in the late first round or early second round and roll the dice.

The problem with second round picks this year is that the summer leagues have been cancelled. It will be very hard to truly evaluate a player before you have to make a financial commitment to him.

Sure would be a great year to gamble on some Euros though. They could stay overseas if there is a lockout and there would be no financial loss.

 

[Folster]

The problem with second round picks this year is that the summer leagues have been cancelled. It will be very hard to truly evaluate a player before you have to make a financial commitment to him.

Sure would be a great year to gamble on some Euros though. They could stay overseas if there is a lockout and there would be no financial loss.

There is virtually no financial commitment/risk with a 2nd round pick. Most 2nd round pick contracts are cheap, short and full of team options. For instance, Lawal's salary didn't even equate to 1% of total team payroll.

 

[slinslin]

Oh my... nbadraft.net has us passing up Kemba Walker for KLAY THOMPSON. -_-

And for some reason they don't have Jonas Valanciunas in their mock anymore.

Also Kawhi Leonard, Bismack Biyombo, Jordan Hamilton on the board and we are supposed to pick someone who is described as an average athlete who gets exposed in the transition game and just got busted for pot.

nbadraft.net is really getting worse.

 

[slinslin]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=6407176

Another Josh Selby story from ESPN.

Will be interesting whether the players get their wish of no age-limit or the owners get theirs of a higher age-limit. 2012 Draft might be the best ever if they get rid off the age limit.

 

[slinslin]

Former NBA players Steve Kerr and Bill Walton would like to see an increase of the NBA's entry age limit.

“I am staggered that the players union doesn’t fight to protect the existing veteran players’ jobs, players who built the league,” Walton said. “The NBA is a man’s league, a difficult league. You should be three years out of high school and 21 before you can make it. The union is making such a huge mistake fighting for people (college players) who aren’t even in the union.”

Kerr, now an analyst, doesn’t disagree.

“I really think it’s hurt the pro and college game,” Kerr said. “I think what’s happened is that we’re getting sort of an adolescent element to the NBA. It’s unhealthy; these guys aren’t ready. Some of them are ready physically; almost none are ready emotionally. And it’s weakened the NBA product. I would personally like to see the rule that extends the limit not to one year but three years.

“Like baseball, or forget the high school stuff altogether,” Kerr said. “Just three years, tough luck, like football. People can talk individual rights or whatever, big deal. Really, if I’m in the NBA, am I more worried about the rights of a 19-year-old kid or the quality of our business and our product?”

Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/wireta...vor_Of_Increasing_NBA_Age_Limit#ixzz1KUnuupDp

Seriously we are used to Bill Waltons non-sense but Kerr is making an ass out of himself.

Really the NBA product has suffered from Kobe, Lebon, KG, Amare, TMac etc? The highschool to pro guys have been the main attraction for some years now.

And really the NBA should care more about the rights of a 19 year old kid. After all it is the NBA teams choice if they think someone is worth the draft pick or not.
It is utterly unfair to force a guy to go college for 1 year, let alone 3 years, when he wouldn't be academically eligible, has no interest and has to earn money for his family.

NCAA basketball is different from the NBA. Some players are better suited for the NBA game, these college players put themselves at risk of career ending injuries for something they are forced to do because they can't play in the NBA although they might be ready or someone willing to sign them?

 

[SirStefan32]

I couldn't agree more. I don't think 18 year old kids should be in the NBA. Make them go to college for two or three years. It will be good for them and for the league.

 

[Mainstreet]

I couldn't agree more. I don't think 18 year old kids should be in the NBA. Make them go to college for two or three years. It will be good for them and for the league.

These same 18 year old kids can go to war in the service of our country but yet they are not old enough to hold a job in the NBA. The same goes to those same young serviceman who can not drink until they are age 21 but they are asked to make life and death judgments in combat. IMO, there is much hypocrisy.

 

[elindholm]

These same 18 year old kids can go to war in the service of our country but yet they are not old enough to hold a job in the NBA. The same goes to those same young serviceman who can not drink until they are age 21 but they are asked to make life and death judgments in combat. IMO, there is much hypocrisy.

You're right. While we're at it, we should let 18-year-olds run for President too. It's only logical that one should reach full adulthood in all possible facets of one's personality, for all possible applications, at exactly the same age.

 

[AzStevenCal]

These same 18 year old kids can go to war in the service of our country but yet they are not old enough to hold a job in the NBA. The same goes to those same young serviceman who can not drink until they are age 21 but they are asked to make life and death judgments in combat. IMO, there is much hypocrisy.

I remember when this same argument was made so forcefully that many states took the drinking limit down to 18 or 19. That didn't turn out too well.

Steve

 

[JCSunsfan]

These same 18 year old kids can go to war in the service of our country but yet they are not old enough to hold a job in the NBA. The same goes to those same young serviceman who can not drink until they are age 21 but they are asked to make life and death judgments in combat. IMO, there is much hypocrisy.

Better come up with a better argument than hypocrisy. I used to think this when i was 18. Now i am the father of kids 23, 21, and 18. The surest way to destroy an 18 year old ia to put millions of dollars on his hands with no accountability. If he does not destroy himself, the agents and posses will do it for him. Plus there is thw physical toll on q young maturing body. The hypocrisy argument does not hold water.

 

[slinslin]

Better come up with a better argument than hypocrisy. I used to think this when i was 18. Now i am the father of kids 23, 21, and 18. The surest way to destroy an 18 year old ia to put millions of dollars on his hands with no accountability. If he does not destroy himself, the agents and posses will do it for him. Plus there is thw physical toll on q young maturing body. The hypocrisy argument does not hold water.

So you make him waste 3 years in college which is just a charade for the NCAA to make money off of these kids?

As if that is going to make him any more mature.

At 18 you are either mature or not, 3 years of college basketball and college parties won't change your personality. As if all college juniors are mature.

The NBAs best players have come straight out of highschool. As if that has anything to do with the quality of play in the NBA.

No to mention the NCAA rules aren't even the same as they are in the NBA.

 

[SirStefan32]

Yes, you make them spend three years in college. While not every 21 year old is going to be completely mature, an average 21 year old is going to be more mature than an average 18 year old.

During those three years of school, they will probably learn a thing or two. At the very least they will receive a basic education. They may even develop an appreciation for music, literature, or history.

While developing intellectually, they will also be working with their college basketball coaches to develop their game, and learn some basketball fundamentals. They will also learn accountability, and the value of team work.
In addition to that, this will give their bodies time to properly develop before entering the league. Your body is not really fully developed at 18. Many of these kids are still growing into their own bodies. Give them time.

Going to college for three years before going pro is not punishment. Learn a few things, get some life experience, learn some basketball fundamentals, accountability, team work, and allow yourself to grow into your body before going pro. There is no downside here.