2017-2018 Draft Prospects watch.

[pokerface]

Is May 15th here yet?

I say it every day

 

[DevonCardsFan]

Ok, then let's say the Suns say "No," to Porter. Which lottery team can afford to take the chance on him? He's still rated pretty highly, after all...

I say Porter is worth the gamble if his stock drops, Porter is a baller and getting him low with the Suns training staff it's a gamble I would love the Suns to take

 

[JCSunsfan]

If we went for Doncic or Young with our first pick, I'd consider trading up for Carter or Robert Williams. If we picked Ayton and the top 3 or 4 PGs are off the board, I'd take the best player that fell to us. Someone such as Brunson, Zhaire Smith, Jontay Porter or Mitchell Robinson should be around when we pick at 16. Even a trade out interests me more than gambling on a known injury problem.

Wow. You have a much darker view of Porter's injury than I usually hear. I don't know much about the procedure he had done, so I am certainly not one to add any expertise. Where did you form your opinion about this particular injury?

 

[Cheesebeef]

Wow. You have a much darker view of Porter's injury than I usually hear. I don't know much about the procedure he had done, so I am certainly not one to add any expertise. Where did you form your opinion about this particular injury?

I’m a long time veteran of three back surgeries and my first was the microdiskectomy Porter had. It’s not that invasive of a surgery, but NEEDING to have one at such an early age where I.T couldn’t be handled with rehab makes me worry about his long term health.

That back’s tricky. The disc material doesn’t regenerate. It’s nit like breaking a bone that then completely heals. The back is altered for good... for good or bad.

 

[Mainstreet]

If it hasn't already beed mentioned yet.

Josh Jackson will represent the Suns at the lottery.

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[ColdPickleNachos]

If it hasn't already beed mentioned yet.

Josh Jackson will represent the Suns at the lottery.

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I'd rather the Suns send DeAndre Ayton.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'd rather the Suns send DeAndre Ayton.

Figure out a way to do this and get it done.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Figure out a way to do this and get it done.

I'd say do it next year, but of course the Suns and Ayton won't be in the lottery next year!

 

[Mainstreet]

I'd say do it next year, but of course the Suns and Ayton won't be in the lottery next year!

I like this scenario much better.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Wow. You have a much darker view of Porter's injury than I usually hear. I don't know much about the procedure he had done, so I am certainly not one to add any expertise. Where did you form your opinion about this particular injury?

I've watched my wife deal with issues from her spinal surgery in the 90's but I'm not an expert and I'm not trying to suggest that in any way. But everything I've read and heard on this suggests the possibilities of issues down the road. When you look at the post spinal surgery effectiveness of Peyton Manning, Tiger Woods, Tony Romo, Dwight Howard and many other stars, none of them ever really seem the same.

Nothing says Porter can't become a top player, I just think it adds one more major negative to the resume. I'm very risk averse when it comes to the Suns draft; probably influenced by the lack of career progress Bledsoe made post-surgery and the resultant gradual loss of effectiveness. Keep in mind, I was very much against the idea of drafting Embiid or Smith JR in the high lotto too. So it's not so much that I hold a "darker view of Porter's injury" specifically, it's that I hold a darker view of any serious injury to a young star when it comes to drafting.

 

[Mainstreet]

I've watched my wife deal with issues from her spinal surgery in the 90's but I'm not an expert and I'm not trying to suggest that in any way. But everything I've read and heard on this suggests the possibilities of issues down the road. When you look at the post spinal surgery effectiveness of Peyton Manning, Tiger Woods, Tony Romo, Dwight Howard and many other stars, none of them ever really seem the same.

Nothing says Porter can't become a top player, I just think it adds one more major negative to the resume. I'm very risk averse when it comes to the Suns draft; probably influenced by the lack of career progress Bledsoe made post-surgery and the resultant gradual loss of effectiveness. Keep in mind, I was very much against the idea of drafting Embiid or Smith JR in the high lotto too. So it's not so much that I hold a "darker view of Porter's injury" specifically, it's that I hold a darker view of any serious injury to a young star when it comes to drafting.

Agree with all this. I wish Michael Porter the best. I've found backs issues are very difficult to fix.

It would seem athletes might put more stress on their spine than the normal person.

IMO, he is a player than could slide in the draft.

 

[pokerface]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles...a-lottery-team-should-do-if-it-wins-no-1-pick

Bleacher Report thinks if we get #1 we should consider trading down to get JJJ or Bamba citing defensive needs.

They think the Grizz and Hawks should take Doncic #1.

 

[GatorAZ]

He was probably the consensus #1 up until Bagley reclassified, from then on I think it was less clear.

Not sure why. He always struck me as a bigger Jabari Parker which is a good thing but not extraordinary.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Not sure why. He always struck me as a bigger Jabari Parker which is a good thing but not extraordinary.

I don't feel strongly about him one way or the other but he was clearly considered a potential number 1 pick before and again after reclassifying. Here's a few comments about him.

Spoiler: ESPN Insider

Bagley has emerged as the best high school prospect in the game. At 6'11 with multi-dimensional skills and blessed elite athletic ability he impacts the game on both ends of the floor. His soft shooting touch, scoring instincts and ball handing ability make him unique at his size.

Spoiler: NBA Scouting Live

Marvin Bagley III was poised to be in the running to be the top pick in 2019 along with Zion Williamson and R.J. Barrett, but he opted instead to reclassify in order to play in college basketball this season.

Bagley is a very skilled scorer that is a dynamo in transition, he is a ball hawk on the glass, and he also is a very good shot blocker. He has since decided to commit to Duke, and Bagley is a very talented basketball player that could end up being the number one overall pick in 2018.

Spoiler: SBNation

Bagley is the the best high school basketball player alive, the consensus choice for the top recruit in the class of 2018 and the heavy favorite to be the first pick in the 2019 NBA draft.

 

[Mainstreet]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles...a-lottery-team-should-do-if-it-wins-no-1-pick

Bleacher Report thinks if we get #1 we should consider trading down to get JJJ or Bamba citing defensive needs.

They think the Grizz and Hawks should take Doncic #1.

The Suns should consider trading down from #1 only if they can acquire assets and trade back up for a second top 7 pick.

Of course the Suns would have to have the players rated near equal.

If the Suns land #2 in the draft they are still in a fairly good position for a trade down.

Where is all the fun we are supposed to be having after the season ended?

 

[pokerface]

The Suns should consider trading down from #1 only if they can acquire assets and trade back up for a second top 7 pick.

Of course the Suns would have to have the players rated near equal.

If the Suns land #2 in the draft they are still in a fairly good position for a trade down.

Where is all the fun we are supposed to be having after the season ended?

It seems too tricky to try to recrack the top 7 a second time. But right, that is the only way it would be appealing.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

The Suns should consider trading down from #1 only if they can acquire assets and trade back up for a second top 7 pick.

Of course the Suns would have to have the players rated near equal.

If the Suns land #2 in the draft they are still in a fairly good position for a trade down.

Where is all the fun we are supposed to be having after the season ended?

Tough to have all the fun until we know what we are dealing with.

 

[Mainstreet]

It seems too tricky to try to recrack the top 7 a second time. But right, that is the only way it would be appealing.

The Suns would have the assets to do it if they traded down. Getting another team to bite is another matter.

So if the Suns keep their pick, they might have a better chance of adding a pick with #16 (maybe #31) and snagging a center or PG.

 

[GatorAZ]

I don't feel strongly about him one way or the other but he was clearly considered a potential number 1 pick before and again after reclassifying. Here's a few comments about him.

Spoiler: ESPN Insider

Bagley has emerged as the best high school prospect in the game. At 6'11 with multi-dimensional skills and blessed elite athletic ability he impacts the game on both ends of the floor. His soft shooting touch, scoring instincts and ball handing ability make him unique at his size.

Spoiler: NBA Scouting Live

Marvin Bagley III was poised to be in the running to be the top pick in 2019 along with Zion Williamson and R.J. Barrett, but he opted instead to reclassify in order to play in college basketball this season.

Bagley is a very skilled scorer that is a dynamo in transition, he is a ball hawk on the glass, and he also is a very good shot blocker. He has since decided to commit to Duke, and Bagley is a very talented basketball player that could end up being the number one overall pick in 2018.

Spoiler: SBNation

Bagley is the the best high school basketball player alive, the consensus choice for the top recruit in the class of 2018 and the heavy favorite to be the first pick in the 2019 NBA draft.

I was referring to MPJ.

 

[Mainstreet]

Tough to have all the fun until we know what we are dealing with.

We have make it work... somehow... until May 15th.

I hope there is not weeping and gnashing of teeth on that day.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

We have make it work... somehow... until May 15th.

I hope there is not weeping and gnashing of teeth on that day.

While I will be very upset on May 15th if we end up with the 4th pick after all of this, it won't be the end of the world.

There are worse things than getting Bagley or Doncic if they fall, or having your choice of Young, Bamba, and Jackson.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I was referring to MPJ.

It figures. Sorry about missing by a mile there.

 

[Mainstreet]

While I will be very upset on May 15th if we end up with the 4th pick after all of this, it won't be the end of the world.

There are worse things than getting Bagley or Doncic if they fall, or having your choice of Young, Bamba, and Jackson.

I just don't think we will hear the end of it if this happens.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

I just don't think we will hear the end of it if this happens.

The way we end up hearing way less complaining is if that #4 pick ends up being great. If we take Young at 4 and he really is the next Curry, then people will only complain about not getting the top pick every other day instead of every single day.

 

[pokerface]

Tough to have all the fun until we know what we are dealing with.

Better to dream now before the draft gods do their thing