2017-2018 Draft Prospects watch.

[BC867]

I think we will have to be in the top three to get him.

Boy, he just does not cool down.

Somehow, I think he is just destined to a Sun. Don't know why.

I'm sorry to say that it will have to be rephrased to, "Trae Young is just what the Suns need."

 

[Hoop Head]

I think we will have to be in the top three to get him.

Boy, he just does not cool down.

Somehow, I think he is just destined to a Sun. Don't know why.

Because the Suns have a rich history of great PG's. They had a team with KJ, Kidd, and Nash at the same time during the 90's. It's more likely we get a great PG than a great big.

 

[Russ Smith]

trae Young is a perfect example of why scouting sites and scouts need to remember it's not an exact science. Trae Young was rated one slot BEHIND UCLA freshman Jaylen Hands by 1 of the major scouting sites and essentially even with him. Young is rewriting NCAA record books as a freshman at OU, and Hands has already lost his starting job and for a kid who wanted to be a 1 and done he looks remarkably like a kid who will be a 4 year player at UCLA.

But scouts looked at the 2 and said Hands is taller, longer and bouncier and the rest is history.

Hands has no left hand(ironic) and can't dribble more than 3 times in any direction without almost losing the ball, and Young looks like a smaller Steph Curry. Yet virtually everyone had them rated about even coming into college.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

trae Young is a perfect example of why scouting sites and scouts need to remember it's not an exact science. Trae Young was rated one slot BEHIND UCLA freshman Jaylen Hands by 1 of the major scouting sites and essentially even with him. Young is rewriting NCAA record books as a freshman at OU, and Hands has already lost his starting job and for a kid who wanted to be a 1 and done he looks remarkably like a kid who will be a 4 year player at UCLA.

But scouts looked at the 2 and said Hands is taller, longer and bouncier and the rest is history.

Hands has no left hand(ironic) and can't dribble more than 3 times in any direction without almost losing the ball, and Young looks like a smaller Steph Curry. Yet virtually everyone had them rated about even coming into college.

Great point. I'm pretty sure NOBODY had Young ahead of Trevon Duval, who has been really disappointing imho. All the talk before the year was Duval vs. Sexton as the best pg prospect. Young wasn't even part of the conversation. Imagine how ridiculous that Duke team would be if you switched Young and Duval!

 

[DWKB]

Great point. I'm pretty sure NOBODY had Young ahead of Trevon Duval, who has been really disappointing imho. All the talk before the year was Duval vs. Sexton as the best pg prospect. Young wasn't even part of the conversation. Imagine how ridiculous that Duke team would be if you switched Young and Duval!

At one point last year KU was the lead school for Young, Porter (as a package) and Ayton.

We don’t like to talk about t.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Here's a great deep dive into the Suns current and future prospects:

https://www.thestepien.com/2018/01/14/ep-49-phoenix-suns-prospects-deep-dive-kellan-olson/

 

[Hoop Head]

Here's a great deep dive into the Suns current and future prospects:

https://www.thestepien.com/2018/01/14/ep-49-phoenix-suns-prospects-deep-dive-kellan-olson/

Any chance someone can summarize this podcast?

 

[JCSunsfan]

Doncic numbers at 16 ppg, 5.6 rb, 47.4%, 33.5% from three. I know its a tougher league, but he is coming back to ground a bit. I think I put him after Ayton, Young, and Bagley.

 

[hcsilla]

Doncic numbers at 16 ppg, 5.6 rb, 47.4%, 33.5% from three. I know its a tougher league, but he is coming back to ground a bit. I think I put him after Ayton, Young, and Bagley.

There is no way that Doncic is behind Young. Behind Ayton is possible, maybe behind Bagley too.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Any chance someone can summarize this podcast?

Sure. It was really long, and I wasn't taking notes, but a few things of interest:

1. They went deep on analyzing the Suns players as prospects (this podcast and "Ode to Oden", by the same group, are excellent sources for those who want almost too much analysis on draft prospects).

2. They talked about Booker's strengths as a 3-level scorer and how his ultimate upside is tied to how he continues to progress as a facilitator and his skill in the pick-and-roll. They were very high on him, but also ripped his defense a lot. Olson thinks he can be the best 2-guard in the league one day.

3. None of the other prospects are sure things. They think Jackson would go about 10th in a redraft (this was before the Pacers game but after the Thunder game).

They ranked the Suns' prospect upsides the same: Booker 1, Bender 2, Jackson 3, and Chriss 4. They also said 2-4 could change easily.

4. Both were relatively low on TJ Warren, considering him more of an ideal 6th man. To go above and beyond that, they think he either needs to become an elite rebounder, a much better defender, or develop a three-point shot.

5. They think Ulis can become a good backup point guard.

6. Overall, they were pretty low on where the Suns are now and are waiting to see how the somewhat disappointing kids develop. It was agreed that a top 5 pick in this draft likely becomes the second most important player on the team.

7. Both think Doncic is the best option for the Suns in the draft (the site has him #1 across the board) and really like the fits with Ayton, Bamba and Young. Neither felt Bagley was a great fit, and Olson was skeptical about Porter while the host is high enough on Porter to think he would be a good fit. This site is also really, really high on Jaren Jackson, putting him up with the elite group of bigs. They were even making a case for him as a potential #2 overall pick in the last podcast.

There was more than that over 2.5 hours of course, but those were the things that stuck out to me. Apologies if I remembered anything incorrectly.

 

[SirStefan32]

I've been listening a little here and there, and I thought their analysis of Booker, Bender, and Chriss was very interesting and mostly spot-on. Haven't gotten to Jackson and Warren yet.

I did think they were a little too rough on Chriss. I think he does a lot of things well on and off. He is not good at anything. Bender is already a good long-range shooter and a solid defender. Chriss doesn't have that one or two things he is really good at, BUT he does a good number of things better than Bender. I don't think it's a stretch to think that he may become very good at two or three things, which will make him a solid rotation player. He is not terrible at any one thing outside of defense- especially team defense. He is not a bad shooter, he is not a terrible passer, he can actually take the ball to the hoop, he can block some shots, he is not as terrible of a rebounder at Bender is.

 

[elindholm]

Bender is already a good long-range shooter and a solid defender. Chriss doesn't have that one or two things he is really good at, BUT he does a good number of things better than Bender.

I'm trying to stay away from the Bender-Chriss discussion, but this is too much. Chriss is a much better defender than Bender right now. This claim is supported by basic stats, advanced stats, and the eye test. Bender gets exposed on defense routinely; Chriss has already won a game with his defense, and has had a big impact in several others.

 

[SirStefan32]

I'm trying to stay away from the Bender-Chriss discussion, but this is too much. Chriss is a much better defender than Bender right now. This claim is supported by basic stats, advanced stats, and the eye test. Bender gets exposed on defense routinely; Chriss has already won a game with his defense, and has had a big impact in several others.

I would say that my eye test shows Chriss as the worst defender on the roster, and Bender as the best (granted, by default.)
If you mean weakside shot-blocking, then yes, Chriss is probably better, but that's about it.

 

[Hoop Head]

I'm trying to stay away from the Bender-Chriss discussion, but this is too much. Chriss is a much better defender than Bender right now. This claim is supported by basic stats, advanced stats, and the eye test. Bender gets exposed on defense routinely; Chriss has already won a game with his defense, and has had a big impact in several others.

Bender hasn't looked great as a starter but he's been one of the better defenders on the Suns almost all season. He's not an inside presence but he's been playing PF next to Len mainly who is guarding the rim, or trying to. Chriss hasn't been great but he's gotten better at not picking up awful fouls.

 

[SirStefan32]

Bender hasn't looked great as a starter but he's been one of the better defenders on the Suns almost all season. He's not an inside presence but he's been playing PF next to Len mainly who is guarding the rim, or trying to. Chriss hasn't been great but he's gotten better at not picking up awful fouls.

Chriss also stopped complaining to the refs, for the most part.

 

[JCSunsfan]

There is no way that Doncic is behind Young. Behind Ayton is possible, maybe behind Bagley too.

I think Doncic is going to be the one that falls in this draft.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I think Doncic is going to be the one that falls in this draft.

Man I think there’s no way of knowing. So far all of the “big 5” that are playing (porter is injured) have lived up to their billing. How often does that happen? I think with young breaking it into a “big 6” the order they are drafted is a total question mark with the exception being that Bamba is likely toward the latter part of that group rather than the top.

For the suns here’s my order (in tiers):

Ayton
Doncic
Bagley
Young

Porter (the injury scares me, but if he’s anywhere close to Durant who cares if we already have Jackson and warren)
Bamba

Sexton
JJJ

 

[Mainstreet]

Looking ahead to the draft, I thought these comments by James Jones were interesting. He confirms the fans feelings the Suns needs are at point guard and center.

Also the Suns are interested to see how Devin Booker grows as a point guard.

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[Hoop Head]

Just recently read about Billy Preston from Kansas. NBADraft has him as a 2nd round pick now, #29 in the 2nd round. It's an interesting scenario there. He was highly recruited but has been suspended because he was an in a single car accident that the NCAA is investigating because of the value of the vehicle, they think foul play is involved. That's caused his draft stock to disappear. He's a 6'10 PF/C who could be a solid player. It's odd how accepting cash in college would hurt someone's stock so much when everyone knows the majority of college kids are 1 and done and they don't like doing the 1. Sure, it doesn't show great character to accept payment in college but you'd think if someone is talented enough then that shouldn't matter. He might be a good 2nd rounder to take a flyer on.


Here is some info on him, he was highly recruited...

https://247sports.com/Player/Billy-Preston-38360
Here are some highlights from high school...

https://247sports.com/Player/Billy-Preston-38360/high-school-184301

And an article on the suspension...
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2018/01/bil...eaction-car-investigation-college-basketball?

 

[Mainstreet]

Just recently read about Billy Preston from Kansas. NBADraft has him as a 2nd round pick now, #29 in the 2nd round. It's an interesting scenario there. He was highly recruited but has been suspended because he was an in a single car accident that the NCAA is investigating because of the value of the vehicle, they think foul play is involved. That's caused his draft stock to disappear. He's a 6'10 PF/C who could be a solid player. It's odd how accepting cash in college would hurt someone's stock so much when everyone knows the majority of college kids are 1 and done and they don't like doing the 1. Sure, it doesn't show great character to accept payment in college but you'd think if someone is talented enough then that shouldn't matter. He might be a good 2nd rounder to take a flyer on.


Here is some info on him, he was highly recruited...

https://247sports.com/Player/Billy-Preston-38360
Here are some highlights from high school...

https://247sports.com/Player/Billy-Preston-38360/high-school-184301

And an article on the suspension...
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2018/01/bil...eaction-car-investigation-college-basketball?

It's hard to believe he will fall into the 2nd round and not very far if he does.

 

[Hoop Head]

It's hard to believe he will fall into the 2nd round and not very far if he does.

He was a lottery pick by a lot of scouts before this incident. It's odd that it could effect him that much, even if he can get picked late 1st round. I can see pro teams staying away from guys involved with fixing games but accepting money from boosters is different, IMO.

 

[Hoop Head]

Read this on ESPN about Mitchell Robinson being denied G-League eligibility this year since he withdrew from Western Kentucky this season. He was looking to join the G-League but wasn't allowed due to how they deem players eligible if they leave the NCAA while still having eligibility. He's projected to be the 24th pick in the draft by NBADraft.net. He's a 7'1 Center who was also a top prospect. Not playing at all this year will hurt his draft stock like Preston and could be an option with a 2nd rounder or the Heat pick.

He wasn't as heavily recruited as Preston but he is a Center looking to make it to the NBA this next season.

Here is a link to the article...
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/22046425/top-nba-prospects-denied-eligibility-g-league

In that article they link to his player page and show who he was recruited by. They also list a few players denied G-League eligibility this year because of similar issues. If the G-League hopes to be a minor league an alternative to keep players from going overseas they need to allow players to join straight from high school to play their year before entering the NBA. If they did that and had a couple of players selected from their to the NBA that will build interest in the league going forward. People will watch to see the next potential breakout young players. Some guys are ready to make the leap from High School to the NBA, a lot of them weren't, but there have been quite a few Hall of Fame players who made the jump like Garnett, Kobe, and Lebron and some like Amare who was capable of winning Rookie of the Year after entering the NBA with 0 college experience.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

If Robinson falls to the second round, it would be because of serious red flags. I go back and forth on him, because I see a lot of warning signs about dedication to being great, but he is among the most naturally-gifted players in the entire class.

He kind of strikes me as Hassan Whiteside in that I would not be remotely surprised if he ended up out of the league within two years and I also wouldn't be surprised if he turns into one of the top centers in the league. And just like Whiteside, I could see both happening.

 

[JCSunsfan]

This guy might end up being the steal of the draft. He is bigger than Durant but has his range and looks like his a ball handler.

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[JCSunsfan]

Just ran tankathon ten times. It had us taking Ayton 4 times, Trae Young 5 times, and Jaren Jackson once.

I think I like that.