2012-2013 NBA Prospects thread

[sunsfan88]

Shabazz has excellent size at the shooting guard position and a good shooting touch on the catch and shoot.

I don't see how Shabazz will have a trouble finding a position in the NBA. At worst he could be Raja Bell on offense. There are plenty shooting guards who can't do anything offensively except making open 3s.

I also think the headcase issues are way overblown. There are issues but a lot of that is his father, the only headcase thing with Shabazz is that right now he is a selfish diva. Kobe Bryant is the same kind of headcase.

Lol if the best Shabazz can be is Raja Bell on offense then no way would I even draft him in the 1st round because his defense is like Steve Nash/Michael Beasley bad.

 

[slinslin]

What would be your roster base for next season?

??? // O'Neal
??? // Morris
??? // Morris
??? // (Johnson maybe)
Dragic // Marshall // Garrett


Out :
Gortat - #1 reason is his contract at this point, I don't want to re-sign him for big money
Dudley - The more exciting draft prospects are guards and small forwards so we need to open playing time unless we draft Noel first.
Beasley - same as Dudley and he just didnt work out
Brown - no room for him on a rebuilding team it looks like
Frye - retirement and medical exemption looks like best case
Scola - should be worth more to a veteran team like San Antonio or Dallas
Johnson - he has still just shown more than a little glimpse, only retain him on a cheap contract

 

[95pro]

Beaseley-same as Dudley???

Big difference there between the guys as far as hustle and attitude, as well as other things.

What about tucker?

 

[slinslin]

Oh yeah forgot about Tucker..

Well I just don't see how we can go into next season with an unbalanced roster like we have now..

Tucker, Dudley, Johnson, Morris, Beasley

That is 5 players that are small forwards. Cut it down to 2 please.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

What would be your roster base for next season?

??? // O'Neal
??? // Morris
??? // Morris
??? // (Johnson maybe)
Dragic // Marshall // Garrett


Out :
Gortat - #1 reason is his contract at this point, I don't want to re-sign him for big money
Dudley - The more exciting draft prospects are guards and small forwards so we need to open playing time unless we draft Noel first.
Beasley - same as Dudley and he just didnt work out
Brown - no room for him on a rebuilding team it looks like
Frye - retirement and medical exemption looks like best case
Scola - should be worth more to a veteran team like San Antonio or Dallas
Johnson - he has still just shown more than a little glimpse, only retain him on a cheap contract

In my opinion, any team we start with next season must include PJ Tucker. As for your list, Tucker is our 6th man enforcer at the 3/2 positions, so he fits as depth. Other than that, I don't have any objections. I suppose this leaves us with tradeable commodities in Gortat and Dudley to get at least one starter out of the deal. Then we could draft a SG because I just don't see any worthwhile 5's in this draft (Dieng?).

Dragic-Rookie #1-Morris-Trade-FA

The problem is, who do we identify in trade or FA? The Suns are in a prime rebuilding position in what appears to be a terrible rebuilding year.

 

[slinslin]

I'd like to get someone like Evan Turner for Gortat for unprotected 2014 pick which seems like a long-shot.

Some young guy we could pluck into our starting lineup next season. Young player that has good character but underachieved so far and might need a change of scenery.

No idea if Iguodala would be attractive for the right price in free agency, I doubt it, we should not get tempted.

Do we make a play for Bynum? It is tempting but I can't stand that guy at all it would be hard to watch. But signing him might make sense just as a value signing and future trade piece?

 

[Divide Et Impera]

What about poaching someone like Larry Sanders or the PF from TOR?

I admit that I'm not that into basketball over the last couple years, so I don't know if these are realistic or if I sound like one of the random teenagers who would come in and post outrageous trades guaranteeing that we could get Kobe Bryant on the Suns.

 

[slinslin]

Larry Sanders is probably near untradeable for Milwaukee right now.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

Larry Sanders is probably near untradeable for Milwaukee right now.

OK. So, I sounded a little teenie bopperish. My bad.

So, where should we be looking? I'm so out of the loop on the players in the league - particularly up and coming players.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I am not interested in drafting a bad defender. To me, that leaves out Shabazz and Bennett. Bennett might be the most productive rookie offensively of this bunch, but his defense is so notoriously bad. I understand Nash's bad defense. He is just plain athletically limited. But when a player who is a good athlete is a bad defender, he either has had very bad coaching or he is a prima donna.

One of those is enough.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I am not interested in drafting a bad defender. To me, that leaves out Shabazz and Bennett. Bennett might be the most productive rookie offensively of this bunch, but his defense is so notoriously bad. I understand Nash's bad defense. He is just plain athletically limited. But when a player who is a good athlete is a bad defender, he either has had very bad coaching or he is a prima donna.

One of those is enough.

Neither am I. However, Bennett isn't so much a bad defender as he is an absent defender. I'm not sure if invisible is better than being bad but he can defend, he has the physical tools. If there was a complete player with star potential, I'd jump at the chance to draft him but I'm not sure we'll have that opportunity. I like Bennett's potential and he's one of the guys I'd like to see us draft but only if we're satisfied with the results from his workouts, interviews and such. His frequent absences during games concern me more than his uninterested defense.

Steve

 

[slinslin]

McLemore is a rather bad defender just like Shabazz so you rule him out? That is stupid it is not like those guys can't improve to be good defenders especially since they have the physical tools for it.

Benett btw clearly is a bad defender just like Shabazz and of course that does not matter they will always be bad defenders at the pro level.

 

[AzStevenCal]

McLemore is a rather bad defender just like Shabazz so you rule him out? That is stupid it is not like those guys can't improve to be good defenders especially since they have the physical tools for it.

Benett btw clearly is a bad defender just like Shabazz and of course that does not matter they will always be bad defenders at the pro level.

Neither one of them put much effort into defense in college but there is a difference between them. I think Shabazz has to play the 2 spot in the NBA and I don't think there's any chance of him becoming an adequate defender at that position. Bennett, even though he's a little bulky for the 3 and a little short for the 4, has the athleticism, length, strength and quickness to get by defensively at either spot. Their lack of interest in defense means they have roughly the same floor but Bennett, IMO, has a far higher ceiling defensively.

I'm not trying to downplay Bennett's defensive issues, they are quite real. But, he's as dominant of a player offensively as there is in the college game and he showed that time and again even though he was surrounded by mostly me-first players and as far as I could see not a single player on that team improved. I think they have great recruiting and horrible coaching at UNLV and if Bennett ends up playing for a strong defensive coach, he won't just be a good player - he'll be one of the best in the league. He dominates right now even though he has no real point guard, has no post game and he runs from contact (on O and D).

Both Bazz and Bennett have high bust potential. If (when, IMO) Bazz busts he'll still have some value as a scorer off the bench for short stretches. Bennett, if he busts, will probably have a career similar to Beasley and won't be in the league long. I just think Anthony is a little less likely to bust than Bazz (or Beasley) and while this draft has a bunch of decent players, the potential stars come with huge warts.

Steve

 

[slinslin]

Suns Pick :

First tier picks : Noel and McLemore
Second tier picks : Porter and Smart
Third tier picks : Muhammad and Oladipo

Lakers pick
depending on the first pick really I would consider and assuming players like Len, Zeller, Muhammad, Burke won't fall that far
Archie Goodwin, Glen Robinson III, Gary Harris, Dario Saric, Jamaal Franklin, Rudy Gobert, Steven Adams, Tony Mitchell, Michael McAdoo

I think we would have to pick McLemore over Noel even if Noel is maybe the player with the potentially biggest impact long term. McLemore looks like maybe the only possible draft pick that could make next season sucking for Wiggins,Parker or Randle more bearable. The only player that could add some much needed excitement for this team.

On the other hand we are so far away we have ample time to develop Nerlens Noel and he could be a game changer.

Noel or McLemore ?

Smart or Porter ?

 

[SirStefan32]

Suns Pick :

First tier picks : Noel and McLemore
Second tier picks : Porter and Smart
Third tier picks : Muhammad and Oladipo

Lakers pick
depending on the first pick really I would consider and assuming players like Len, Zeller, Muhammad, Burke won't fall that far
Archie Goodwin, Glen Robinson III, Gary Harris, Dario Saric, Jamaal Franklin, Rudy Gobert, Steven Adams, Tony Mitchell, Michael McAdoo

I think we would have to pick McLemore over Noel even if Noel is maybe the player with the potentially biggest impact long term. McLemore looks like maybe the only possible draft pick that could make next season sucking for Wiggins,Parker or Randle more bearable. The only player that could add some much needed excitement for this team.

On the other hand we are so far away we have ample time to develop Nerlens Noel and he could be a game changer.

Noel or McLemore ?

Smart or Porter ?

McLemore over Noel easily. Noel is only 19 and he's already have two knee injuries. Wouldn't touch him with a ten-foot pole.

Smart over Porter. Porter is probably a more complete player right now. We are loaded with SFs though, and have no shooting guards. I think Smart and Dragic can play together, and Smart will turn into an amazing scorer.

 

[Superbone]

Withey over Zeller?

 

[slinslin]

McLemore over Noel easily. Noel is only 19 and he's already have two knee injuries. Wouldn't touch him with a ten-foot pole.

Smart over Porter. Porter is probably a more complete player right now. We are loaded with SFs though, and have no shooting guards. I think Smart and Dragic can play together, and Smart will turn into an amazing scorer.

It is not like Noel had microfracture or anything like that. He tore his ACL that is a long term injury but does not mean much for his future see Adrian Peterson. It's also pretty common injury in soccer and it rarely has a long term effect.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Suns Pick :

First tier picks : Noel and McLemore
Second tier picks : Porter and Smart
Third tier picks : Muhammad and Oladipo

[/B]

1st tier: McLemore and Noel (although Noel just plain scares me, I keep thinking of Sam Bowie.)
2nd tier: Oladipo, Porter, and Smart (though drafting another pg seems pointless unless you are going to trade someone. I am all for drafting the BPA but you can't get minutes or find roster spots for 4 young pgs)
3rd tier: Bennett then Shabazz (I think Bennett is going to be an effective scorer immediately. He is too strong for most sf's and too fast for most pf's. He is a matchup nightmare. But his defense will limit his long term effectiveness. He does rebound, so thats good).


I really have no guts though. If I was drafting, I would take Oladipo over McLemore. He is a high efficiency low usage offensive player who is an excellent athlete and a talented and focused defender.

 

[AzStevenCal]

It is not like Noel had microfracture or anything like that. He tore his ACL that is a long term injury but does not mean much for his future see Adrian Peterson. It's also pretty common injury in soccer and it rarely has a long term effect.

Really? The same Adrian that pretty much defied all expectations with his comeback. I don't think an almost miraculous recovery means anything at all when you're looking at Noel.

Steve

 

[slinslin]

Really? The same Adrian that pretty much defied all expectations with his comeback. I don't think an almost miraculous recovery means anything at all when you're looking at Noel.

Steve

That is just exagerration with Adrian Peterson. Many top athletes have returned from ACL surgeries as strong as ever.

ACL surgery is not that scary anymore it just a long term injury. Especially at Noels age he has good chances.

 

[AzStevenCal]

That is just exagerration with Adrian Peterson. Many top athletes have returned from ACL surgeries as strong as ever.

ACL surgery is not that scary anymore it just a long term injury. Especially at Noels age he has good chances.

Get real. What Adrian did was absolutely unheard of. He came back far sooner and far stronger than anyone expected and it's absurd to offer him up as routine when he is clearly THE exception. Perhaps he's just the first of a long line of incredible successes due to improved surgical and rehab processes but that's yet to be shown. Most athletes never approach their pre-injury level. Noel is young and I'm not discounting his return but it is not a slam dunk.

Steve

 

[slinslin]

eh maybe you heard of athletes like Giovane Elber, Lothar Matthaeus...

Baron Davis tore his ACL before being drafted. Jamal Crawford tore his ACL early, Kyle Lowry... David West, Al Jefferson..

Rubio looks to be back.

 

[SirStefan32]

You know this is not his first major knee injury, right?

 

[Errntknght]

I'm with you JC, no more bad defenders... even if they have some defensive 'potential'. With our second pick I hope they pick the best defender available even if he's a bit of a reach - all that really means is we value defense more than average.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'm with you JC, no more bad defenders... even if they have some defensive 'potential'. With our second pick I hope they pick the best defender available even if he's a bit of a reach - all that really means is we value defense more than average.

Then it's probably Oladipo and I'm okay with that pick too. But I don't see him as a game-changer. I guess it depends on what we hope to get out of this draft. Victor is a pretty safe bet but he probably goes in the 8 - 12 range in most drafts.

Steve