2015-16 Draft Picks to watch...

[jandaman]

Bledsoe can average another 1.5-2 assist per game if he had catch and shoot players.

Raise your hand, how many times have you seen either Tucker, Morris 1, Morris 2 receive an open look from a Bledsoe penetration, only to dribble in and isolate his guy or hold onto the ball.... Even Nash would be frustrated.

 

[Mainstreet]

Some big names workout for the Suns. How I wish the Suns had another draft pick in this draft.

https://twitter.com/paulcoro/status/606509246222630912

 

[Ronin]

I'm shocked that the Suns gave Daniel Mullings (NMSU) a workout...props to him getting this far.

 

[Absolute Zero]

Some big names workout for the Suns. How I wish the Suns had another draft pick in this draft.

https://twitter.com/paulcoro/status/606509246222630912

Yep.

Sounds like Kaminsky showed one really good cut, made a heady play, but also may have trouble staying on the court in head to head competition. http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...trey-lyles-kelly-oubre-workouts-nba/28506833/

 

[overseascardfan]

Some big names workout for the Suns. How I wish the Suns had another draft pick in this draft.

https://twitter.com/paulcoro/status/606509246222630912

I know I'd love for them to be able to get Bobby Portis & Jerian Grant.

 

[sunsfan88]

I'd be worried if the Suns were working out the Harrison twins.

 

[Russ Smith]

The interesting guy to me now is Kevon Looney. all year at UCLA I was asking if he had asthma or a deviated septum because he was always gasping for air. Turns out he has "sports asthma" and now many have him in the low to mid 20's because NBA teams are concerned he can't play without getting exhausted due to asthma. After one recent workout for the Jazz his agent was actually bragging he got through the workout without being exhausted proving he's not out of shape.

Great kid I'm pulling for him but I really wonder what they can do, an inhaler isn't going to help and I suspect if medication would he'd already be on it? At UCLA it was just really obvious he was always doubled over or gasping for breaths during FT's or dead balls. He had missed time 2-3 times for injuries so people assumed he was not in great shape, but it was really the asthma.

 

[Mainstreet]

I know I'd love for them to be able to get Bobby Portis & Jerian Grant.

If the Suns can get another draft pick I would be tempted for them to go big with both draft picks although I can understand the selection of Jerian Grant. The Suns need size for their future.

 

[Mainstreet]

Yep.

Sounds like Kaminsky showed one really good cut, made a heady play, but also may have trouble staying on the court in head to head competition. http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...trey-lyles-kelly-oubre-workouts-nba/28506833/

I would prefer the Suns go after Hawes in a trade. I view Kaminsky as a career backup center.

 

[slinslin]

I would prefer the Suns go after Hawes in a trade. I view Kaminsky as a career backup center.

So you want to give up assets for Hawes, a career underachiever, bust, no athleticism, no defense, right wing nutjob.

I don't see these stretch centers playing for that 67 win team.

 

[Mainstreet]

So you want to give up assets for Hawes, a career underachiever, bust, no athleticism, no defense, right wing nutjob.

I don't see these stretch centers playing for that 67 win team.

Probably a second round pick or the Cavaliers pick could acquire Hawes. He was not a good fit for the Clippers. I'm looking for a backup center for Len. I think he would suffice plus help the Suns stretch the floor.

 

[sunsfan88]

I would prefer the Suns go after Hawes in a trade. I view Kaminsky as a career backup center.

If Hawes could regain his form prior to signing with Clippers, it would be a good acquisition. When he was with CLE, he was among the league leaders in rim protection for sometime.

It could be a Dudley type situation where he just didn't fit in Doc Rivers system or of course he could have got complacent after getting paid.

 

[slinslin]

This draft is really weird, in the past I had clear favorites at this point. This year it is consistently changing although I am starting to settle for Cauley-Stein more and more besides the unreachable locks (Towns and Russell).


There is just something about Portis that makes me uneasy. Measurables are there but everything else is just average. Maybe best case he could be a PJ Brown....

Trade up for Cauley Stein and develop him as a PF. My complaints about him were IQ - but in all his interviews he comes across rather bright for a NBA player. Says the right things and knows what he needs to work on.

His defensive potential is terrific. He can easily guard power forwards which would give us legitimate twin towers with Len.

And from the workout videos it seems like his jumpshot has hope. He does not have to be an offensive force, just solid.

WCS could be a power forward version of Tyson Chandler.

So:
Towns - Joakim Noah with better offense
Okafor - Al Jefferson
Cauley-Stein - Tyson Chandler with more agility
Porzingis - Andrea Bargnani
Lyles - Juwan Howard
Turner - Jason Thompson
Portis - PJ Brown
Kaminsky - Spencer Hawes
Harrell - Thomas Robinson
Looney - Rodney Rogers

My dark horse pick for us is Kelly Oubre though. I think PJ Tucker needs to go. Marcus Morris is not good enough to pass up on Oubre and I am not sure that Warren will develop into a starter based on his unorthodox style.
Drafting for need makes no sense anyway, the last 2 seasons were proof enough to me that the rookies won't play much until their 3rd season.

Current favorites for #13 (or trade up)
1. Cauley-Stein - pick reaction = ecstatic
2. Kelly Oubre - pick reaction = good pick, high upside, surprised he lasted to #13
3. Stanley Johnson - pick reaction = trying to convince myself that work ethic, motor and leadership are enough to warrant the pick and that raw offensive game, average athleticism and poor length don't mean much (plus him being a Lakers fan)
4. Mario Hezonja - pick reaction = intrigued but extremely worried about his character
5. Trey Lyles - pick reaction = "ok"
6. Bobby Portis - pick reaction = slightly uncomfortable but hoping for the best
7. Myles Turner - pick reaction = trying to convince myself that Turner could play alongside Len
8. Devin Booker - pick reaction = he can shoot but what else?
9. Frank Kaminsky - pick reaction = toss the tv out of the window if a player I like was still on the board

I really like Harrell as a backup 4 and would like us to draft him, just not at #13.

Favorites for #44
1. Robert Upshaw - major character concerns, heart issue but if not for that we are talking top 3 pick
2. JP Tokoto - best athlete in the draft, combo guard with good assist numbers
3. Christian Wood - thin as rails and lack of bbiq
4. Timothee Luwawu -high potential euro project
5. Dakari Johnson - probably too bad of an athlete for the Suns but size is always worth something
6. Cliff Alexander - attitude, health concerns, poor size

 

[slinslin]

Len
Stein
x
Knight
Bledsoe

This lineup would be a permier defensive team in the NBA.

Come on, Twins, Tucker, our future picks, maybe Goodwin, Warren, #13.. MOVE UP! Preferably keep #13 and add someone like Stanley Johnson or Oubre and you have a young lineup to build on for years.

 

[Absolute Zero]

Trade up for Cauley Stein

How do we do that, realistically?

 

[Cheesebeef]

How do we do that, realistically?

by apparently giving someone all the crap we don't want or hasn't proven anything yet... duh!

 

[Absolute Zero]

by apparently giving someone all the crap we don't want or hasn't proven anything yet... duh!

Exactly. Sounds great in theory, but I don't see it.

Draft Express has him going at 5, NBAdraft.net has him gone at 9. He seems to have a huge upside as we can see in the video posted here.

We really don't have anything anyone would want to move up 4-8 spots to get him as far as I can tell.

 

[Phrazbit]

Outside of the top few picks its not like you're trying to leap up to get a superstar. Moving up a few slots in the draft is not as difficult as people make it out to be.

However, I wouldn't move up for Stein. I don't know how people can look at how little improvement he showed in his 3 year college career and peg him for a potential stud. IMO if he makes it he will be a reserve defensive big. And really, I think he is crazy overrated as a defender. Kaminsky (whom I'm not high on either) went to town on him.

 

[slinslin]

Outside of the top few picks its not like you're trying to leap up to get a superstar. Moving up a few slots in the draft is not as difficult as people make it out to be.

However, I wouldn't move up for Stein. I don't know how people can look at how little improvement he showed in his 3 year college career and peg him for a potential stud. IMO if he makes it he will be a reserve defensive big. And really, I think he is crazy overrated as a defender. Kaminsky (whom I'm not high on either) went to town on him.

He did improve, it is not like he could show everything at Kentucky because he is a team player and did what was asked of him.

If you look at him now his jumper looks pretty smooth, he is amazing at defending pick and rolls. He is a good shot blocker, he rebounds the ball well, he runs the floor extremely well and actually from how he analyzes his own game he has a solid bbiq.

And of course we have assets to move up. I am getting pretty fed up with the overexagerated negativity that posters like cheesebeef try to shove others down their throats on this board. Markieff Morris is an excellent young player on a bargain contract and we have a lot of picks.

Outside of the top few picks its not like you're trying to leap up to get a superstar. Moving up a few slots in the draft is not as difficult as people make it out to be.

However, I wouldn't move up for Stein. I don't know how people can look at how little improvement he showed in his 3 year college career and peg him for a potential stud. IMO if he makes it he will be a reserve defensive big. And really, I think he is crazy overrated as a defender. Kaminsky (whom I'm not high on either) went to town on him.

He did improve, it is not like he could show everything at Kentucky because he is a team player and did what was asked of him.

If you look at him now his jumper looks pretty smooth, he is amazing at defending pick and rolls. He is a good shot blocker, he rebounds the ball well, he runs the floor extremely well and actually from how he analyzes his own game he has a solid bbiq.

And of course we have assets to move up. I am getting pretty fed up with the overexagerated negativity that posters like cheesebeef try to shove others down their throats on this board. Markieff Morris is an excellent young player on a bargain contract and we have a lot of picks.

Also draft picks in the #4-9 range are far more tradeable than in the top 3.

Jrue Holiday for #6 (Noel)
Elton Brand for #2 (Chandler)
#13 (Richard Jefferson),18,23 for #7(Eddie Griffin)
Foye and Mike Miller for #5(Rubio)
Future pick for #7 (Deng)
Shareef Abdur-Rahim for #3(Gasol)
Antawn Jamison for #5(Harris)

Nobody can tell me that Markieff Morris and PJ Tucker is not far better package than Foye and Mike Miller.

Antawn Jamison was a pretty similiar player to Markieff Morris at the time. He was not even a starter for Dallas.

 

[overseascardfan]

He did improve, it is not like he could show everything at Kentucky because he is a team player and did what was asked of him.

If you look at him now his jumper looks pretty smooth, he is amazing at defending pick and rolls. He is a good shot blocker, he rebounds the ball well, he runs the floor extremely well and actually from how he analyzes his own game he has a solid bbiq.

And of course we have assets to move up. I am getting pretty fed up with the overexagerated negativity that posters like cheesebeef try to shove others down their throats on this board. Markieff Morris is an excellent young player on a bargain contract and we have a lot of picks.



He did improve, it is not like he could show everything at Kentucky because he is a team player and did what was asked of him.

If you look at him now his jumper looks pretty smooth, he is amazing at defending pick and rolls. He is a good shot blocker, he rebounds the ball well, he runs the floor extremely well and actually from how he analyzes his own game he has a solid bbiq.

And of course we have assets to move up. I am getting pretty fed up with the overexagerated negativity that posters like cheesebeef try to shove others down their throats on this board. Markieff Morris is an excellent young player on a bargain contract and we have a lot of picks.

Also draft picks in the #4-9 range are far more tradeable than in the top 3.

Jrue Holiday for #6 (Noel)
Elton Brand for #2 (Chandler)
#13 (Richard Jefferson),18,23 for #7(Eddie Griffin)
Foye and Mike Miller for #5(Rubio)
Future pick for #7 (Deng)
Shareef Abdur-Rahim for #3(Gasol)
Antawn Jamison for #5(Harris)

Nobody can tell me that Markieff Morris and PJ Tucker is not far better package than Foye and Mike Miller.

Antawn Jamison was a pretty similiar player to Markieff Morris at the time. He was not even a starter for Dallas.

If you like WCS then what about Christian Wood? Wood is a much more productive player who has WCS'a length and shot blocking but is a much better offensive player.

 

[Catlover]

If you like WCS then what about Christian Wood? Wood is a much more productive player who has WCS'a length andelivery shot blocking but is a much better offensive player.

A lot of potential but a lot of rumors, none of them good.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I am on the WCS band wagon. I would be happy with him, or Kaminsky as a consolation prize. What I would not want to do is trade out of this draft. I think there is going to be a good player available at #13.

This is beginning to feel like the Oladipo situation. I remember really wanting Oladipo and being convinced he would be available, but as the draft drew near, he flew up the boards. That is probably what is going to happen with WCS. We would probably have to trade for the NY or Orl pick to get him. That would cost us Bledsoe, or another good decent young player and a pile of future picks.

 

[slinslin]

If you like WCS then what about Christian Wood? Wood is a much more productive player who has WCS'a length andelivery shot blocking but is a much better offensive player.

1. Wood is not more productive just on a bad team.
2. Wood has no strength.
3. Wood has some red flags

They are not even comparable players. WCS will be a good defender, Wood will be a horrid defender most likely.

Strength is one of the biggest things Wood needs to work on, as he is nowhere near as good of a defender (or post-up threat) as he could become once his body fills out. But it's far from the only one.

Wood has poor fundamentals on defense, as he tends to bite on pump-fakes regularly, and shows limited awareness off the ball in terms of positioning. He struggles with the nuances of the pick and roll, not always executing his team's game-plan, instead looking hunched over in a stance, and getting blown by off the dribble.

Inside the post, Wood is not particularly physical, as he tends to just stand straight-up and allow stronger players to catch the ball with deep position without putting up much of a fight. Once they catch it, he doesn't do a great job of bodying up his matchup or trying to hold his ground to avoid getting backed down. He doesn't appear to be the toughest or most contact loving player around, and his intensity leaves a lot to be desired as well in terms of his ability to give a second effort. It's not rare for example to see him jogging back on defense and getting beat up the floor by the opposing big man.

His feel for the game leaves a lot to be desired as well, as he doesn't seem to have any real concept of what his limitations are offensively at the moment, which is a real issue considering his lack of polish. Reading the floor or making simple plays is not something that comes natural to him. Wood's 8.5% assist percentage is one of the lowest rates among players currently projected to get drafted—he not only does not have great court vision, but also has a tendency to play somewhat selfishly at times.

His shot-selection and overall decision making are fairly crude, as he tends to settle for wild shots early in the shot-clock without any regard for time, score or situation, and also forces the issue badly with his drives, leading to turnovers. He has a difficult time dealing with double teams, and is fairly predictable inside the post, making him relatively easy for opposing teams to scout and game-plan against. It's not rare to see his teammates or coaching staff becoming very frustrated with his antics on the court, and his body language can leave a lot to be desired.


From DraftExpress.com http://www.draftexpress.com/#ixzz3cg7oXPjd
http://www.draftexpress.com

 

[Cheesebeef]

He did improve, it is not like he could show everything at Kentucky because he is a team player and did what was asked of him.

If you look at him now his jumper looks pretty smooth, he is amazing at defending pick and rolls. He is a good shot blocker, he rebounds the ball well, he runs the floor extremely well and actually from how he analyzes his own game he has a solid bbiq.

And of course we have assets to move up. I am getting pretty fed up with the overexagerated negativity that posters like cheesebeef try to shove others down their throats on this board. Markieff Morris is an excellent young player on a bargain contract and we have a lot of picks.



He did improve, it is not like he could show everything at Kentucky because he is a team player and did what was asked of him.

If you look at him now his jumper looks pretty smooth, he is amazing at defending pick and rolls. He is a good shot blocker, he rebounds the ball well, he runs the floor extremely well and actually from how he analyzes his own game he has a solid bbiq.

And of course we have assets to move up. I am getting pretty fed up with the overexagerated negativity that posters like cheesebeef try to shove others down their throats on this board. Markieff Morris is an excellent young player on a bargain contract and we have a lot of picks.

Also draft picks in the #4-9 range are far more tradeable than in the top 3.

Jrue Holiday for #6 (Noel)
Elton Brand for #2 (Chandler)
#13 (Richard Jefferson),18,23 for #7(Eddie Griffin)
Foye and Mike Miller for #5(Rubio)
Future pick for #7 (Deng)
Shareef Abdur-Rahim for #3(Gasol)
Antawn Jamison for #5(Harris)

Nobody can tell me that Markieff Morris and PJ Tucker is not far better package than Foye and Mike Miller.

Antawn Jamison was a pretty similiar player to Markieff Morris at the time. He was not even a starter for Dallas.

it amuses me that my "negativity" (or reality as it were) bothers you so much you mention it TWICE in one post!

I won't even begin to go into detail why Markieff is nowhere near all the guys you listed above because it's too ridiculous to even make the comparison. But the Jamison "was a similar player" to Markieff because "he wasn't even a starter for Dallas" pretty much sums up your complete break from reality because it completely ignores that Jamison was ONLY on the bench because the Mavs LOADED up on every star they could get the season they got Jamison, who had already proven to be a guy who was coming off 4 seasons averaging 22 ppg and 8 rebounds as a starter as opposed to Markieff 16/5.

but hey... i guess that's just me being negative again!

 

[overseascardfan]

1. Wood is not more productive just on a bad team.
2. Wood has no strength.
3. Wood has some red flags

They are not even comparable players. WCS will be a good defender, Wood will be a horrid defender most likely.

Ironically, from the same website your referencing Wood'a strengths are physical tools, offensive skill set and defensive potential.

WCS weaknesses are offensive limitations, defensive rebounding & consistency. I've also read some scouts question his interest in the game.

Strength is a weakness for both but Wood is more skilled. You mention his numbers are a product of a bad team but UNLV was a tournament team and were without Rashad Vaughn for the last part of the season. IMO, if WCS didn't play for Kentucky his numbers wouldn't be any better and he wouldn't have gotten as much exposure as he has.