2016 NBA Draft thread

[Phrazbit]

lol, such passionate defenses of this kid. Well, I apologize. Whichever D-League team he toils away for the next 3 seasons is getting one hell of a worker.

If I'm the Suns I don't remotely consider taking him until the late first, ideally the 2nd round. Everything says he is years away from being ready, has essentially zero offensive game and is going to get man handled by NBA players.

 

[3rdside]

lol, such passionate defenses of this kid. Well, I apologize. Whichever D-League team he toils away for the next 3 seasons is getting one hell of a worker.

If I'm the Suns I don't remotely consider taking him until the late first, ideally the 2nd round. Everything says he is years away from being ready, has essentially zero offensive game and is going to get man handled by NBA players.

Yeah yeah i was a little fired up from my p and r morning but still, courtesy where courtesy's due.

He is project DEFINED, but he is mobile for a long guy - probably not quite the package Bender is at a similar height but definitely enthusiastic and has decent skills. And there is something about the look of him - hardly a barometer of anything - but he has an x-factor, and I like his aggressive attitude on court; he wants to dunk the hell out of the ball.

Still, he does look awfully unrefined at times.

The reality is none of us knows where he's at cause we haven't / won't see him in person and I stumbled across this which hardly paints him in a good light...

http://www.nbadraft.net/forum/thon-maker-8

I still think he'll go first round like I've said before and, lets be honest, if you had the choice of Tyler Ennis at 18 or this guy, I think it's obvious who you'd choose.

 

[Phrazbit]

Yeah yeah i was a little fired up from my p and r morning but still, courtesy where courtesy's due.

He is project DEFINED, but he is mobile for a long guy - probably not quite the package Bender is at a similar height but definitely enthusiastic and has decent skills. And there is something about the look of him - hardly a barometer of anything - but he has an x-factor, and I like his aggressive attitude on court; he wants to dunk the hell out of the ball.

Still, he does look awfully unrefined at times.

The reality is none of us knows where he's at cause we haven't / won't see him in person and I stumbled across this which hardly paints him in a good light...

http://www.nbadraft.net/forum/thon-maker-8

I still think he'll go first round like I've said before and, lets be honest, if you had the choice of Tyler Ennis at 18 or this guy, I think it's obvious who you'd choose.

Hindsight. In another 5 years Ennis might still be toiling away on the end of NBA benches and Maker might be a guy who never played a minute in the league.

I'm not trying to claim Ennis is good, but I can tell you that Ennis in high school and coming out of college was a higher regarded as a talent than Maker is. Ennis was one of the top recruits in the nation out of high school and was a semi-finalist for national player of the year. Today he looks like a guy who won't be more than a 10th man guard, but that was not the consensus view of him 2 years ago, meanwhile the consensus view on Maker is a guy who is years away and lacks many basic skills.

 

[3rdside]

Even without hindsight - we already had a billion point guards on the roster; Toronto strategy or no, I'd still take maker.


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[Errntknght]

I liked the Ennis pick and I still like him - in the right situation I think he could start effectively. Despite that I'd take Maker and be glad to do it. I read his interview and I was very favorably impressed. I might take him with the Washington pick... I'd have to dig a lot deeper first, of course, but he has immense upside from the highlight vids I've watched.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Maker is interesting. The vids of him from high school are incredible. Everything you would be looking for was already there. He could handle ball, shoot, jump, block, rebound. He did it all and he was incredibly long.

Scouting reports say he has regressed. I am just curious. Did he forget how to shoot, run, jump, dribble? Or has he just not progressed? Was the hype overblown. I have no particular affinity for him, but the story doesn't seem right somehow.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm really starting to like Jamal Murray of Kentucky with the Suns first pick. He is a dynamic shooter and athlete but he also looks like he can play PG. I can't help but like the idea of having him develop, perhaps like Booker. I'm going with the BPA philosophy. Of course if the Suns should get the 1st or 2nd pick in the lottery it would be a different matter.

The Suns need to go big in the draft but I don't like reaching. IMO, PG is a need.

Maybe the Suns should consider a trading for a big man with their 1st pick if this is the direction they want to go. I'm not sure who that would be right now.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I wouldn't touch Maker with either of our early picks. If he's still there at the Cleveland pick, maybe, but even then I wouldn't be excited about the pick. I had more confidence in the Goodwin pick, by far, then I would about Maker.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I'm really starting to like Jamal Murray of Kentucky with the Suns first pick. He is a dynamic shooter and athlete but he also looks like he can play PG. I can't help but like the idea of having him develop, perhaps like Booker. I'm going with the BPA philosophy. Of course if the Suns should get the 1st or 2nd pick in the lottery it would be a different matter.

The Suns need to go big in the draft but I don't like reaching. IMO, PG is a need.

Maybe the Suns should consider a trading for a big man with their 1st pick if this is the direction they want to go. I'm not sure who that would be right now.

I am not sure, in the 5-10 range if there is that much difference in the value of the players to justify picking a player that doesn't fill a need. I am not even sure Murray would justify it. Hield would.

 

[Mainstreet]

I wouldn't touch Maker with either of our early picks. If he's still there at the Cleveland pick, maybe, but even then I wouldn't be excited about the pick. I had more confidence in the Goodwin pick, by far, then I would about Maker.

I'm still believing Archie will have a good career although perhaps not with the Suns.

I agree with you about Maker unless the Suns scouts feel differently. It's hard to know when one is judging a player from video clips.

 

[Mainstreet]

I am not sure, in the 5-10 range if there is that much difference in the value of the players to justify picking a player that doesn't fill a need. I am not even sure Murray would justify it. Hield would.

I'm not sure Hield would fill a need (SG) other than he might be BPA. Watching Murray, I am not only seeing an explosive scorer but a player that can play PG. This would be a usable skill. He also might be BPA which makes me look at him closely.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I am not sure, in the 5-10 range if there is that much difference in the value of the players to justify picking a player that doesn't fill a need. I am not even sure Murray would justify it. Hield would.

I'd be hesitant in drafting the apparent BPA if he was a traditional center (due to our roster and current league trends) but even then I'd probably do it. We just need talent. I'd even grab a Booker clone if there was one available. The only thing I wouldn't use one of our two high picks on is a player that is all potential. I want someone with a reasonably safe floor and Murray is in the running for that IMO.

 

[slinslin]

lol, such passionate defenses of this kid. Well, I apologize. Whichever D-League team he toils away for the next 3 seasons is getting one hell of a worker.

If I'm the Suns I don't remotely consider taking him until the late first, ideally the 2nd round. Everything says he is years away from being ready, has essentially zero offensive game and is going to get man handled by NBA players.

People thought Amare or KG were years away too. Truth is some players develop quickly others never.

Also he does not look that skinny anymore. That is from like 3 years ago I think. When you look at Maker recently he looks wiry strong muscular. Also the scouting report says that Maker embraces physical play. His NBA comparison is probably Porzingis.

I'd rather pick players with high potential than guys that could be good role players.

In a perfect world I would end up with Chriss, Labissiere, Maker and Murray without first 4 picks but I dont believe that Skal will last to #12 or that Maker will last to 28.

Also I doubt that the Suns will keep all 4 players although with the D-League team moving to Prescott it seems like it would be a good idea to make all 4 picks.

 

[AzStevenCal]

People thought Amare or KG were years away too. Truth is some players develop quickly others never.

Also he does not look that skinny anymore. That is from like 3 years ago I think. When you look at Maker recently he looks wiry strong muscular. Also the scouting report says that Maker embraces physical play. His NBA comparison is probably Porzingis.

I'd rather pick players with high potential than guys that could be good role players.

In a perfect world I would end up with Chriss, Labissiere, Maker and Murray without first 4 picks but I dont believe that Skal will last to #12 or that Maker will last to 28.

Also I doubt that the Suns will keep all 4 players although with the D-League team moving to Prescott it seems like it would be a good idea to make all 4 picks.

Amare was far more ready than Maker is.

Taking someone with high potential doesn't always make sense especially if they have a really low floor like Maker. If he's there at the end of the round or into the second round, maybe, but he's way too big of a risk to take earlier IMO. And that's even if you disregard the rumors that he's actually 24 years old.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Amare was far more ready than Maker is.

Taking someone with high potential doesn't always make sense especially if they have a really low floor like Maker. If he's there at the end of the round or into the second round, maybe, but he's way too big of a risk to take earlier IMO. And that's even if you disregard the rumors that he's actually 24 years old.

Really? Amare was an absolutely raw physical specimen who could only dunk. He was incredibly quick, but his game really was about being 5 feet from the hoop or less. He developed his game later.

Maker has demonstrated, even when he was very young, alot of basketball skills. I don't think he has the power or explosiveness though.

Amare was not really built for today's NBA. He really would be more of a center now.

Maker needs to go to college and develop his bbiq and game awareness. He also needs to learn to be a better finisher around the hoop.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Really? Amare was an absolutely raw physical specimen who could only dunk. He was incredibly quick, but his game really was about being 5 feet from the hoop or less. He developed his game later.

Maker has demonstrated, even when he was very young, alot of basketball skills. I don't think he has the power or explosiveness though.

Amare was not really built for today's NBA. He really would be more of a center now.

Maker needs to go to college and develop his bbiq and game awareness. He also needs to learn to be a better finisher around the hoop.

He could hang on to the ball, let's see if Maker can do that. All Amare really developed was range, he stepped on the court in summer league and was unstoppable. You will not see that from Maker, I'd wager.

 

[Phrazbit]

Lol, Amare? Porzingis? Amare was in another world athletically, and all the scouts say that Maker lacks any NBA skill besides hustle, while Porzingis is very advanced.

Yes, I saw the mix tape where he hit some jumpers over some high school kids, but I trust the scouts more than a highlight reel. One thing I did see though is the guy is not an explosive athlete.

 

[slinslin]

He is 7'1 can shoot (I think he shot 90%+ from the line) and for a big guy he has better handles and passing ability than most his age and size.

 

[AzStevenCal]

He is 7'1 can shoot (I think he shot 90%+ from the line) and for a big guy he has better handles and passing ability than most his age and size.

I'm not all that impressed with his passing and while he handles the ball well for his size he's not the player I'd want handling the ball and making fast decisions. I've only watched the mix tapes and scouting reviews but I see a marginal player. His ceiling IMO is as a motor guy off the bench, good for maybe 15 minutes a night. Bad hands is bad hands, they aren't going away and they aren't getting bigger. I'm really confused by all the hype here, normally I can see why people are excited but I'm just not seeing it with Maker.

 

[slinslin]

I'm not all that impressed with his passing and while he handles the ball well for his size he's not the player I'd want handling the ball and making fast decisions. I've only watched the mix tapes and scouting reviews but I see a marginal player. His ceiling IMO is as a motor guy off the bench, good for maybe 15 minutes a night. Bad hands is bad hands, they aren't going away and they aren't getting bigger. I'm really confused by all the hype here, normally I can see why people are excited but I'm just not seeing it with Maker.

?
Last year people on here claimed some of the same stuff about Myles Turner when I lobbied for him.

 

[AzStevenCal]

?
Last year people on here claimed some of the same stuff about Myles Turner when I lobbied for him.

I don't remember you really lobbying for him, more like he was one of several prospects you mentioned that you liked. I liked him too and I wanted him or Portis if Myles wasn't available (until some information came out about Turner's possible leg problems).

IIRC Overseascardfan didn't like Turner at all but he was a big Towns fan from the start of the season, a point in time when I was convinced Okafor would be the better pro. I remember jumping on the KAT bandwagon before the draft but I'm pretty sure you said he'd be a bust (or at least a disappointment).

My point is we miss and we hit and I'm not sure that getting one right means all that much when it comes to the next guy up. I have serious question marks about Simmons but I see the huge potential, I just don't see all that much potential in Maker. It's JMO, I've been wrong many times before and unless a giant rock falls on me tonight, I'm sure I'll be wrong many times in the future.

 

[Phrazbit]

Not sure why slin hopped on the wagon but I suspect some are riding Maker because he considered going to ASU.

I know the hype on this board well exceeds what he is getting from NBA people. Unless he shows something amazing in the next few months, considering him at 13 is nuts, even 28 will be viewed as somewhat of a reach based on his current standing.

Side topic; I found it very amusing that ASU fired the assistant in charge of recruiting Maker the day after Maker announced his intention to enter the draft.

 

[Russ Smith]

?
Last year people on here claimed some of the same stuff about Myles Turner when I lobbied for him.

The question on Turner has always been his legs or more accurately his knees. He has a very unusual gait when he walks and runs and has had minor issues with his legs for years. John Lucas was his trainer and he said he was literally teaching him how to walk again to avoid injuries.

He obviously had a nice rookie year but I'd still not be surprised if he has issues with leg injuries

 

[slinslin]

Not sure why slin hopped on the wagon but I suspect some are riding Maker because he considered going to ASU.

I know the hype on this board well exceeds what he is getting from NBA people. Unless he shows something amazing in the next few months, considering him at 13 is nuts, even 28 will be viewed as somewhat of a reach based on his current standing.

Side topic; I found it very amusing that ASU fired the assistant in charge of recruiting Maker the day after Maker announced his intention to enter the draft.

Because he might be overrated based on the youtube highlights but even if so he is still doing things that 95% of 7-footers could never do.

And he seems to be intelligent and very driven. I would always take a chance on that. People did not believe Amare was as good as the youtube clips back then and I would have drafted him #1 that year, I was in the minority here I think. Many people wanted Tsikitsvili.

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This draft is pretty bad in terms of high end upside.

I still like Marquese Chriss the most after the top 2.

But I am really intrigued by this twin tower combination

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[Mainstreet]

Because he might be overrated based on the youtube highlights but even if so he is still doing things that 95% of 7-footers could never do.

And he seems to be intelligent and very driven. I would always take a chance on that. People did not believe Amare was as good as the youtube clips back then and I would have drafted him #1 that year, I was in the minority here I think. Many people wanted Tsikitsvili.

This draft is pretty bad in terms of high end upside.

I still like Marquese Chriss the most after the top 2.

But I am really intrigued by this twin tower combination

So are you thinking the Suns should pass on Marquese Chriss with their pick (potentially) at #4 for the twin towers, Skal Labissiere and Thon Maker?