2016 NBA Draft thread

[Covert Rain]

There's plenty of talent in this draft, I'm just not convinced there's any future franchise stars. And if there are, I think they'll show up like Kawhi Leonard as later picks that develop into stars despite the scouting reports. When I look at Ingram, I don't see Kevin Durant as some have suggested. I think if he hits his potential he'll have a career similar to Gordon Hayward. That's a very nice player to add but it's a disappointment if you're selecting at the top of the draft. So yeah, unlike most years, I'd rather have a couple of picks in the teens than the number 3 or 4 pick and I'd much rather have a top 5 pick in next year's class than the number 1 pick this year.

The draft is full of talent every single year but franchise players or players that make a huge impact seems to be at a premium this draft especially. I agree with you. Would rather have a top 5 pick next year. For once...I wouldn't be massively disappointed if the Suns traded their 1st round draft picks if we could get value and unprotected pick(s) in the next draft.

 

[AzStevenCal]

The draft is full of talent every single year but franchise players or players that make a huge impact seems to be at a premium this draft especially. I agree with you. Would rather have a top 5 pick next year. For once...I wouldn't be massively disappointed if the Suns traded their 1st round draft picks if we could get value and unprotected pick(s) in the next draft.

The good news is that Ryan is hopefully much better at this than any of us. I know I'd hate to have to depend on my own opinion in trying to find a star in this class. About the only players that have impressed me are the point guards.

 

[WildBB]

I guess this is why I like Sabonis. He is an incredibly aggressive player on D, rebounding, but also on offense. He is like a 6-10 PJ Tucker. People were complaining that he is a bit of a bully on the court. I think we need a bit of that.

Exactely, No team fears to come into town to play them. The label is SOFT. Poor ball handling. Other than Tucker and prob. Bledsoe it's a pretty soft team. They took another step with Chandler, but he's a bit injury prone at this stsge.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm not sure if all of this is new, but it was written by Paul Coro at azcentral today.

The first of two first-round picks that the Suns will receive from Miami in the Goran Dragic trade will arrive a year later than initially negotiated. Miami is trading this year's first-round pick, and teams are not permitted to go consecutive drafts without a first-round pick. The Suns will receive the Heat's 2018 first-round pick unless it is in the top seven. The other Heat first-round pick, which is unprotected, will come to Phoenix in 2021.

I was thinking the Suns would not get the first Heat pick until 2018 anyway although it was projected as early as 2017. I think there must have been a hint earlier but I could be wrong. I'm thinking the Suns would have to agree to such a change.

 

[hcsilla]

My favorite player in this draft is going to be a better David Lee and that is Sabonis.

David Lee as a college player was much more athletic than Sabonis ever will be.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns are working out some young players today. I am especially intrigued by Joel Bolomboy (PF) who looks to be a second round player. I watched him play at the combine and he is very impressive physically.

I think he will make an NBA roster. He is described as an energy rebounder by DraftExpress.

Here is a list:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ci6mFq-UgAA82IY.jpg:large

 

[Mainstreet]

There's plenty of talent in this draft, I'm just not convinced there's any future franchise stars. And if there are, I think they'll show up like Kawhi Leonard as later picks that develop into stars despite the scouting reports. When I look at Ingram, I don't see Kevin Durant as some have suggested. I think if he hits his potential he'll have a career similar to Gordon Hayward. That's a very nice player to add but it's a disappointment if you're selecting at the top of the draft. So yeah, unlike most years, I'd rather have a couple of picks in the teens than the number 3 or 4 pick and I'd much rather have a top 5 pick in next year's class than the number 1 pick this year.

This is how I see it as well. Also, perhaps an underrated player like Paul Millsap shows up.

 

[JCSunsfan]

On a side note, is Cat Barber a little taller version of IT? Would he be worth a look in the second round?

 

[AzStevenCal]

On a side note, is Cat Barber a little taller version of IT? Would he be worth a look in the second round?

Yeah I mentioned him earlier in this thread as one of three point guards that I think are being ignored but still might end up being among the best players in this class. IIRC, Russ Smith disagreed and suggested he was overrated. I haven't watched enough of him to be confident of my opinion so I didn't respond. But what I have seen leads me to believe it's the opposite, to me he seems highly underrated.

 

[Cheesebeef]

There's plenty of talent in this draft, I'm just not convinced there's any future franchise stars. And if there are, I think they'll show up like Kawhi Leonard as later picks that develop into stars despite the scouting reports. When I look at Ingram, I don't see Kevin Durant as some have suggested. I think if he hits his potential he'll have a career similar to Gordon Hayward. That's a very nice player to add but it's a disappointment if you're selecting at the top of the draft. So yeah, unlike most years, I'd rather have a couple of picks in the teens than the number 3 or 4 pick and I'd much rather have a top 5 pick in next year's class than the number 1 pick this year.

I agree that the KD comparisons are out there, but if Ingram hits his potential, he'll be MUCH better then Gordon Hayward. Hayward is and will always be a #3 at best on a title contender. Ingram can definitely be a solid #2 because of his size, length, shooting, handles and athleticism. Remember, Hayward was much more polished with three years in college before he came out.

 

[sunsfan88]

I'd like to see the Suns use either the Cavs pick or our 2nd rd pick on Kay Felder. The popular opinion seems to be that the Suns need to get another PG from this draft and Felder is a good passing PG (averaged 9 assists a game) with excellent strength and athleticism. Many have compared him to Eric Bledsoe due to his insane strength and compact build. His height is a hindrance but that's why he's dropping to the late 1st or 2nd round.

Maybe it's because I like to root for the underdog but I see Felder being a dark horse candidate as the steal of the draft.

 

[Ronin]

Could be a gem if some team takes Siakam in the second round, although he might be picked before the second. I say we take a chance on him mainly because he played for NMSU!

He's not the most offensively polished prospect in attendance, but Siakam competes on every play, a useful skill when coupled with his 7-foot-3 wingspan, fairly quick (although not overly explosive) leaping ability, and agility. He's the first one down the floor on nearly every possession, which resulted in a few transition buckets, including an And 1 finish that came after sprinting out to run Jarrod Uthoff off of the 3-point line and then recovering to block his jumper (one of three blocks on the game). Siakam also showed impressive footwork defending the perimeter and ball screens, something he wasn't always asked to do at New Mexico State as the Aggies played quite a bit of zone.

http://www.lcsun-news.com/story/spo.../siakam-impresses-nba-draft-combine/84345576/

 

[Mainstreet]

Could be a gem if some team takes Siakam in the second round, although he might be picked before the second. I say we take a chance on him mainly because he played for NMSU!

http://www.lcsun-news.com/story/spo.../siakam-impresses-nba-draft-combine/84345576/

This is a player flying below my radar. NBAdraft.net has him being taken with the 30th pick.

He might be worth drafting even if he plays for NMSU.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns are one of four teams to workout Zhou Qi. Of course the Celtics are one of them.

Arizona State’s Eric Jacobsen is a 6-foot-10 man accustomed to having his outstretched arm affect an opponent’s perimeter shot with his hand near the release.

Not so on Saturday when he defended 7-foot-2 Zhou Qi during a Suns draft workout at Talking Stick Resort Arena.

“Usually, my hand is up by the ball but I was getting up to his face and the ball was way up there,” Jacobsen said, looking toward the practice court ceiling.

Zhou Qi (pronounced “Joe Chee”) can touch the rim from his tiptoes. In draft-combine history, Qi’s 7-7 ¾ wingspan was second only to Utah center Rudy Gobert’s 7-8 ½.

Pair that size with being startlingly skilled and the Suns seem fortunate to be one of four teams that Qi has given a pre-draft workout before he returns to China to prepare for the Olympics with his national team.

Even though Zhou Qi is slight of weight at this stage of his career, he is very skilled. I'd like to stash some of these later bigs overseas or put them in the D-League.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...-7-2-zhou-qi-works-out-phoenix-suns/84717378/

 

[FArting]

The deadline for underclassmen to withdraw from the 2016 NBA Draft is Wednesday.

http://www.cbssports.com/college-ba...-decide-before-wednesdays-nba-draft-deadline/

 

[JCSunsfan]

Gambo said yesterday that the Suns really like the #4 pick, but would be willing to trade it, but only for a young star player. Nothing less. Just an FYI.

He said they are not willing to take a lesser player and move back a few spots. I assume they think that #4 should net them a young star, whether through draft or trade.

 

[Covert Rain]

Gambo said yesterday that the Suns really like the #4 pick, but would be willing to trade it, but only for a young star player. Nothing less. Just an FYI.

He said they are not willing to take a lesser player and move back a few spots. I assume they think that #4 should net them a young star, whether through draft or trade.

Sounds a bit transparent to me. Sounds like the Suns really don't think there is a clear cut player to take at 4. So they are willing to look at trading it in hopes of finding a desperate taker that has young potential type guy. If the Suns really thought there was equal value in someone in the draft they wouldn't have floated this.

 

[Ronin]

A list of the who's staying and who's withdrawing from the nba draft...so far
http://www.cbssports.com/college-ba...-decide-before-wednesdays-nba-draft-deadline/

 

[slinslin]

Sounds a bit transparent to me. Sounds like the Suns really don't think there is a clear cut player to take at 4. So they are willing to look at trading it in hopes of finding a desperate taker that has young potential type guy. If the Suns really thought there was equal value in someone in the draft they wouldn't have floated this.

Gambo has not been right on the Suns for a long time.

 

[Covert Rain]

Gambo has not been right on the Suns for a long time.

Gambo does have some contacts because he has gotten things right too. The problem with Gambo is he let's his mouth and brain interfere with what information he does get.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Gambo does have some contacts because he has gotten things right too. The problem with Gambo is he let's his mouth and brain interfere with what information he does get.

Never heard it put better.

 

[slinslin]

Gambo does have some contacts because he has gotten things right too. The problem with Gambo is he let's his mouth and brain interfere with what information he does get.

I cant remember one time in the McD era where Gambos rumors came to be.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Sounds a bit transparent to me. Sounds like the Suns really don't think there is a clear cut player to take at 4. So they are willing to look at trading it in hopes of finding a desperate taker that has young potential type guy. If the Suns really thought there was equal value in someone in the draft they wouldn't have floated this.

Listening to the various GM's and reporters speak, I get the feeling that Simmons is the clear cut favorite for most clubs and the rest of the teams all feel the same as you just described the Suns. Philly has less need of Simmons than most teams so they might be willing to trade out of that spot but nobody really wants to move up to the 2,3 and 4 positions.

 

[Covert Rain]

I cant remember one time in the McD era where Gambos rumors came to be.

I have listened to Gambo since hist first day in the Valley. Like him, love him or hate him he has proven to have legit contacts in the organizations here. Most rumors true or not are never corroborated anyway. Like I said, Gabmo often takes something small he hears and turns it into a big fish story or adds his take. So being wrong about stuff is not a surprise.

Listening to the various GM's and reporters speak, I get the feeling that Simmons is the clear cut favorite for most clubs and the rest of the teams all feel the same as you just described the Suns. Philly has less need of Simmons than most teams so they might be willing to trade out of that spot but nobody really wants to move up to the 2,3 and 4 positions.

Doesn't this suck? Why couldn't we have an amazingly deep draft this year?

 

[Russ Smith]

A list of the who's staying and who's withdrawing from the nba draft...so far
http://www.cbssports.com/college-ba...-decide-before-wednesdays-nba-draft-deadline/

USC is getting killed this offseason. A bunch of transfers, then Julian Jacobs hired an agent and now Jovanovic stayed in the draft presumably figuring he'll go overseas when not drafted.

I guess Enfield is finding out what UCLA coaches go through every year with kids being hammered on by agents telling them to go pro.

Jacobs has a slim chance at getting drafted, Jovanovic probably none.