2012-2013 NBA Prospects thread

[Ronin]

1. Cody Zeller is a stud...that is all.

2. Nerlens Noel...should stay in school for four years. He didn't look good at all last night (and that's being extremely nice). Len had 23 points against Kentuckys front court.

 

[SunsTzu]

Steven Adams looked good last night. Didn't have a big stat line but he was constantly getting rebounding position on both ends of the court and shut down the paint defensively. In a draft class that will be PF/C heavy I think he easily has the most raw talent.

I haven't been a big Noel fan from what little I've seen. For all the praise he gets as a shot blocker he really isn't a good defender at this point and he relies on athleticism to rebound instead of positioning.

 

[hcsilla]

Based on his last year's production Cody Zeller being projected as 1/1 seems to show the weakness of this year's draftclass.

He is a 7-footer with no wingspan, mobile, agile and has post-up moves. That's all. No jump shot and rebounding.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Why should we draft Zeller, we already have his brother?

 

[AzStevenCal]

Why should we draft Zeller, we already have his brother?

I'm not sure if you're kidding here but trust me, we definitely have the wrong brother this time. I don't know if Cody should or will be the first pick but he'll be a good pro, something no one will ever say of our Zeller.

Steve

 

[Lefty]

Cody Zeller will not be an All-Star caliber player in the NBA. He might dominate in college but he does not have the tools to be a dominating NBA player. If by chance the Suns had the first pick in the draft, I would be pissed if they took him.

 

[slinslin]

McAdoo would clearly be the #1 pick if he was 1 or 2 inches taller. Otherwise I can't see a 6'8 PF going #1.

 

[JCSunsfan]

We are looking for a franchise player. . .any franchise player will do, but it would make things easier if he is a 2 or 3. We will have two first round picks. One in the lottery and one in the middle somewhere (unless the Lakers implode, which would be too sweet for words).

We will have tradeable assets and cap money to work with. Scola, especially could be a decent trade option. He is a very good player and a valuable trade piece, especially for a contender.

So, who are the potential 2 or 3's available through the draft, trade, or free agency that fill this bill? Needs to be a quality shooter and scorer, have the ability to create his own shot, have a decent bball IQ, play both ways, have significant size and speed.

 

[SactownSunsFan]

My official motto for the year: Suck Azz for Shabazz!

 

[AzStevenCal]

My official motto for the year: Suck Azz for Shabazz!

As a UA basketball fan, I'm all for him staying in school for 4 years. Providing, of course, that he stays ineligible all 4 years.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

As a UA basketball fan, I'm all for him staying in school for 4 years. Providing, of course, that he stays ineligible all 4 years.

Steve

Hmm. I better keep a closer eye on you. I didn't know.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Hmm. I better keep a closer eye on you. I didn't know.

Yeah, I know, I usually just whisper when I talk about my basketball allegiance. I'm still Sun Devil through and through but I took a few courses while I was stuck in Tucson and had the pleasure of meeting Lute shortly after he took the job. I went to several games at McKale and gradually realized I had become a fan. This was cemented when I moved to So Cal in 84 and for some reason I could get all the Wildcat games but very seldom got to see the Devils play (probably a blessing considering the state of affairs since Ned Wulk was forced out).

Steve

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

We are looking for a franchise player. . .any franchise player will do, but it would make things easier if he is a 2 or 3. We will have two first round picks. One in the lottery and one in the middle somewhere (unless the Lakers implode, which would be too sweet for words).

We will have tradeable assets and cap money to work with. Scola, especially could be a decent trade option. He is a very good player and a valuable trade piece, especially for a contender.

So, who are the potential 2 or 3's available through the draft, trade, or free agency that fill this bill? Needs to be a quality shooter and scorer, have the ability to create his own shot, have a decent bball IQ, play both ways, have significant size and speed.

http://www.prosportstransactions.com/basketball/DraftTrades/Future/Suns.htm

Won't matter if they do because that draft pick has some stupid stipulation that's says "the Suns get the least favorable of Lakers (top 14 protected), Cavaliers, Kings (top 13 protected), and Heat picks". Which likely means that will be a late round pick. Also the draft pick the suns got from Minnesota has a similar stipulation that says "less favorable of Timberwolves pick, top 13 protected, and Grizzles pick, top 14 protected".

Ultimately the Suns have 3 first rounders and their own could be top 10, the Minnesota pick could be in the middle of the first and the Lakers one will be somewhere late in the first. They could use them all or package them if someone good is available in a trade during the off-season. So no matter what they have put themselves in a good spot for the next few seasons.

 

[SirStefan32]

http://www.prosportstransactions.com/basketball/DraftTrades/Future/Suns.htm

Won't matter if they do because that draft pick has some stupid stipulation that's says "the Suns get the least favorable of Lakers (top 14 protected), Cavaliers, Kings (top 13 protected), and Heat picks". Which likely means that will be a late round pick. Also the draft pick the suns got from Minnesota has a similar stipulation that says "less favorable of Timberwolves pick, top 13 protected, and Grizzles pick, top 14 protected".

Ultimately the Suns have 3 first rounders and their own could be top 10, the Minnesota pick could be in the middle of the first and the Lakers one will be somewhere late in the first. They could use them all or package them if someone good is available in a trade during the off-season. So no matter what they have put themselves in a good spot for the next few seasons.

There is some ambiguity about the Lakers pick. Someone (May have been Slin) found something that said the Suns get the Lakers pick if it is in the lottery.

 

[SunsTzu]

There is some ambiguity about the Lakers pick. Someone (May have been Slin) found something that said the Suns get the Lakers pick if it is in the lottery.

http://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/future_drafts is the source of that information.

It hinges on if there was a lottery protection placed on the the Ramon Sessions trade which there have been conflicting reports about. If there was a lottery protection on it then the Suns could get the pick if it's in the lottery, if not then the Cavs get to switch their least favorable 1st for it. FWIW the Cavs forum mod at realgm claims to have spoken with someone in the Cavs front office about it and was told there was no protection.

 

[SirStefan32]

http://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/future_drafts is the source of that information.

It hinges on if there was a lottery protection placed on the the Ramon Sessions trade which there have been conflicting reports about. If there was a lottery protection on it then the Suns could get the pick if it's in the lottery, if not then the Cavs get to switch their least favorable 1st for it. FWIW the Cavs forum mod at realgm claims to have spoken with someone in the Cavs front office about it and was told there was no protection.

Oh, that's right- thank you for clarifying that. I knew there was some caveats to it, but I couldn't find the details.

 

[PhxGametime]

We are looking for a franchise player. . .any franchise player will do, but it would make things easier if he is a 2 or 3. We will have two first round picks. One in the lottery and one in the middle somewhere (unless the Lakers implode, which would be too sweet for words).

We will have tradeable assets and cap money to work with. Scola, especially could be a decent trade option. He is a very good player and a valuable trade piece, especially for a contender.

So, who are the potential 2 or 3's available through the draft, trade, or free agency that fill this bill? Needs to be a quality shooter and scorer, have the ability to create his own shot, have a decent bball IQ, play both ways, have significant size and speed.

He's no Franchise player but I'd be interested in a Trade like:


Arron Afflalo for Wesley Johnson (expiring), Kendall Marshall, and a 1st Rounder. P.J. Tucker seems to have taken Johnson's role and I'd probably prefer to bring back Sebastian Telfair. Afflalo might not be a star player but he has most of those traits, albeit (sp) not at HIGH level but has a decent contract at 7.5 Mill each, for next 4 years.


Gortat
Scola
Beasley
Afflalo
Dragic

O'Neal - (Frye next year)
Morris
Dudley
Brown
Telfair

Tucker
Garrett


All of these players on decent contracts and they will have whichever Draft Picks they don't get rid of but that's just me heh. I'm not sure there's many STAR SG's.


Suns aren't likely to get Bryant, Wade, Harden, JJ, Iguodala, K Thompson, etc. via Trade?? but some of the next tier, young players like: Afflalo, Batum, Mayo, Evans, DeRozan, Stuckey, E Turner, etc. are likely going to be on struggling Teams...


The Suns would have good shot at Playoffs (this year) and have movable pieces for a possible Blockbuster deal, a year from now??

 

[jandaman]

Afflalo is not on the same tier as Mayo, Batum, Evans, Turner etc though

These guys still have upside.

Afflalo is what you see is what you get...
A slightly better version of Raja Bell.

Mayo is younger and has shown glimpse of a star and this season has stepped up to similar level as Rudy Gay type of player.
Turner is a stud who will be a star once he can shoot... If not still a more impactful player than Afflalo.

Evans is a stud lost in the Forrest....

I think a scenery change and a new team would bring him back to a Harden type SG level... 20/5/5 as a rookie... The upside is still there me thinks...


Afflalo, Dragic and Gortat as your 3 best players without stud rookie on the rise is DEPRESSING.

 

[PhxGametime]

I'd take Tyreke Evans but I haven't a clue what the Kings would want in return. He's put up similar stats to Harden, minus the shooting numbers - plus Evans is probably the guy i'm armchair GM'ing the most. lol


OT: Marcin Gortat was the guy I was rooting for the Suns to get 4 years ago but I didn't think they'd take Jason Richardson for Gortat/Pietrus.

 

[Ronin]

Duke vs Kentucky
Mason Plumlee(8 points) looks good
Nerlens Noel(5 points) look okay

 

[SunsTzu]

Duke vs Kentucky
Mason Plumlee looks good
Nerlens Noel look okay

Goodwin and Poythress are the 2 I'm most interested in off these teams.

 

[Ronin]

Goodwin and Poythress are the 2 I'm most interested in off these teams.

I like the way he's playing

 

[slinslin]

Goodwin looks fantastic

Noel looks good despite raw

Polythress looks good but NBA position will be a question

Unfortunately these 3 will probably be locks to go top 10.

 

[Russ Smith]

Afflalo is not on the same tier as Mayo, Batum, Evans, Turner etc though

These guys still have upside.

Afflalo is what you see is what you get...
A slightly better version of Raja Bell.

Mayo is younger and has shown glimpse of a star and this season has stepped up to similar level as Rudy Gay type of player.
Turner is a stud who will be a star once he can shoot... If not still a more impactful player than Afflalo.

Evans is a stud lost in the Forrest....

I think a scenery change and a new team would bring him back to a Harden type SG level... 20/5/5 as a rookie... The upside is still there me thinks...


Afflalo, Dragic and Gortat as your 3 best players without stud rookie on the rise is DEPRESSING.

Afflalo is only 2 years older than Mayo. Mayo is having a terrific start, we'll see if he can do it all year. But he's having his best year as a pro clearly so far.


Afflalo having a nice year too but seems a little off from 3 so far.

 

[Russ Smith]

My official motto for the year: Suck Azz for Shabazz!

Curious if you still feel that way?

Bazz is playing his way out of the top 5 IMO. First off he's way out of shape, I know he had 2 injuries but the ankle was healed beginning of august and the shoulder couldn't have prevented him from riding a bike or even running? his own dad admitted he's 10-15 pounds overweight after the Georgia game, he looked it. He says he's 80% he looks downright pudgy.

With the transfers and such Bazz is essentially playing the 4 on offense for UCLA and guarding the 3 or in the zone the wing. He's been a complete blackhole he only passes if he has to. He's not showing the famous motor, often jogging down on defense.

He's talented and he's young but 16PPG 47% 5.6 RPG not exactly a top 3 pick type performance so far.

He'll get better as he gets in shape. I've yet to see him smile once, he looks miserable, weight of the world on him. I guess the whole NCAA thing and then the bad start for UCLA is really weighing on him. Quite honestly he looks like he needs to come back, he's shown zero guard skills, he's shooting 44% from 3 but that's 4 out of 9, shot is flat, he pushes it, and is basically shooting a setshot from 3.

I can't get over how out of shape he is, he looks like he expected a much longer suspension, got depressed, and then was caught off guard when he got cleared to play.