2017-2018 Draft Prospects watch.

[Russ Smith]

That's probably traveling in the NBA (watch how much his left foot dances around).

yeah he changed pivot feet. still a pretty impressive finish.

 

[Ronin]

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[Russ Smith]

Ayton will never be a defensive juggernaut but if he gave effort on that side of the ball he might be the GOAT prospect. Not sure if Miller is too easy on him or he's just not wired that way. With his size and ability he could dominate all aspects of the game.

The crop of bigs this year is nuts. Brandon McCoy has looked great as well.

Sure seems like effort, he has an insane reach and yet he's only got 7 blocks in 5 games, seems like he should get 3 a game without even jumping if he just keeps his hands up and pays attention.

He's putting up 1.4 BPG, Bamba 4.3. Could be timing too some guys just have great timing, Ayton seems to leave his feet too early where Bamba just waits for you to jump and the blocks it.

 

[Ronin]

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[GatorAZ]

Sure seems like effort, he has an insane reach and yet he's only got 7 blocks in 5 games, seems like he should get 3 a game without even jumping if he just keeps his hands up and pays attention.

He's putting up 1.4 BPG, Bamba 4.3. Could be timing too some guys just have great timing, Ayton seems to leave his feet too early where Bamba just waits for you to jump and the blocks it.

Miller needs to shake off his senior fetish and bring Ristic off the bench. I don't think it would significantly change Ayton's defense but he'd record more blocks. Although he said himself he's scared to get dunked on. Not exactly the mindset you want of a guy built like David Robinson.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Miller needs to shake off his senior fetish and bring Ristic off the bench. I don't think it would significantly change Ayton's defense but he'd record more blocks. Although he said himself he's scared to get dunked on. Not exactly the mindset you want of a guy built like David Robinson.

Ayton has actually said he’s scared to get dunked on? What a freaking coward.

 

[overseascardfan]

Michael Porter Jr expected to be out rest of season with back injury, that is one less impact player in this years draft as I doubt the kid comes out this year.

 

[Hoop Head]

Michael Porter Jr expected to be out rest of season with back injury, that is one less impact player in this years draft as I doubt the kid comes out this year.

It's questionable whether or not he comes out or when he returns to form. His injury and status was discussed a good bit on previous pages.

 

[Ronin]

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[JCSunsfan]

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Nice lift on his jump shot. He should be able to get that off in the NBA.

So many nice young players, so few picks, errr, wait . . . what do we have, like 6 in this draft?

 

[Ronin]

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[ColdPickleNachos]

PG watch...

Collin Sexton just scored 40 points for Alabama while almost leading his team to a comeback victory over an undefeated Minnesota team.

Alabama played much of the second half 3-on-5! (ejections for a brawl)

 

[Ronin]

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[ColdPickleNachos]

https://www.sbnation.com/college-ba...hree-players-score-stats-basketball-minnesota

That last clip is my favorite.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Presently our picks are 6, 13, 14.

 

[JCSunsfan]

PG watch...

Collin Sexton just scored 40 points for Alabama while almost leading his team to a comeback victory over an undefeated Minnesota team.

Alabama played much of the second half 3-on-5! (ejections for a brawl)

Got to be one of the most remarkable college performances ever.

 

[GatorAZ]

Sexton is amazing. He's going to kill Arizona in a few weeks.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

I am not a scouting expert, and a lot of my knowledge is based on reading articles, watching Youtube videos, and catching the occasional game. That said, I spend far too much time doing those things. Here's my way-too-early thoughts on interesting prospects for the Suns:

The Dream Picks

1. Luka Doncic

Why I Like Him for the Suns: What's not to like? He's incredibly skilled, savvy, and polished at a young age. He can hit the three, create for himself, and create beautifully for others. He has amazing size, an innate wizardry with the ball, and unparalleled production at an early age in Europe. He's an absolutely dazzling prospect; the kind of guy who turns a franchise around. Not to mention, he would be a blast to watch with Booker.


My Concerns: There are some concerns over his defense and athleticism and some question whether he is a point guard in the NBA. I think these concerns are overblown and, while he is not an ideal fit for the Suns on defense, the upside of a Booker-Doncic backcourt is worth it. Build a fast, athletic, defensive-minded front court to complement them and watch the wins follow!


2. DeAndre Ayton

Why I Like Him for the Suns: His presence is alarming. He's over 7 feet tall and 260 pounds with length and still seems bigger than that. I think it's because most 7-footers seem unnatural in body composition...like it was a mistake they ended up that big. This guy is built like an athlete and he moves like one. He has a nice starter skill set with a long way to go, but if he is coached up correctly I may regret not putting him at the top spot from the start.

My Concerns: He should be even better than he is. I'm not sure he's necessarily good at basketball yet as much as he is a man among boys, and his freakishness hasn't translated on the defensive end or to wins thus far.


3. Marvin Bagley III

Why I Like Him for the Suns: I have no doubt Bagley will be a star in the NBA. He's too skilled, too big, too athletic, and too self-assured not to be a star. He's going to make some team very happy. After Bamba went out in the Texas game, he looked like a pro playing against high school kids in overtime. I would be surprised if he doesn't end up being at least a 20-10 guy in the pros; that's how good he is.


My Concerns: Of the stud bigs, he's my least favorite fit for the Suns. Even in today's smaller NBA, I think he's more of a 4 than a 5. He doesn't even approach Ayton or Bamba's length. I'm also concerned he's going to fall in love with his currently shaky jump shot, as he gives me the vibe that he's more interested in scoring 30 a game than doing the little things to win. #FirstPickProblems


4. Mohamed Bamba

Why I Like Him for the Suns: If you haven't heard that he has a 7'9 wingspan, you're not paying attention. Check out the block he made in the closing minute of regulation against Bagley if you need further proof. I love his name, I love his attitude, I love his style of play. He's the defensive centerpiece the Suns desperately need.


My Concerns: He's only good on offense in the "I can't believe this guy is good on offense too" sort of way. His jump shot is much-improved but not a weapon, and his innate feel for the game on defense has yet to translate to the offensive side of the ball. However, by all accounts he is a smart, hard-working kid. If he becomes an average offensive player in the NBA, he is #1 pick material even in this loaded draft.


The Up-And-Comer and the Injured Star

5. Collin Sexton

Why I Like Him for the Suns: I already had my eye on him before his spectacular 3-on-5 performance against Minnesota, but...WOW! This kid has Russell Westbrook's swagger and energy, and he's pretty darn athletic. I've never seen a more confident kid, but he seems to use his energy to pump up his teammates effectively as well. His frenetic style warrants watching, but so far seems like a good thing. He's a fantastic athlete and uniquely exciting scorer.

My Concerns: He's a little too ball-dominant for my taste, but has shown signs of being skilled as a distributor. I still have to wrap my mind around his fit with Booker, but he has allowed fellow Freshman SG John Petty to thrive so far as well, which is a good sign. His level of intensity can easily turn into a distraction, depending on how he uses it, so it warrants monitoring.


6. Michael Porter Jr.

Why I Like Him for the Suns: Very skilled and exciting player with good size and scoring ability. He's a modern 3/4 with huge upside; the kind of upside you wouldn't find past the top 3 in most drafts.


My Concerns: I don't like the fit and his back injury worries me. I think there is a good chance he succeeds and he has star potential, but he would bring lot of the same positives and negatives we already have in Booker and Warren.


Intriguing Bigs

7. Brandon McCoy

Why I Like Him for the Suns: He's huge, talented, and has been incredibly productive so far as a Freshman at UNLV. In 25 mpg, he's currently averaging over 20 points, 13 rebounds, and nearly 2 blocks per game. Did I mention he's 7'1, 250 lbs., and 19 years old?


My Concerns: I haven't seen much of him and the hype has been slow, so I have read less as well. I might be missing some key weaknesses, but so far so good!


8. Jaren Jackson Jr.

Why I Like Him for the Suns: He has great length and a developing jumper. He also seems to have that innate timing on blocks that is so important for developing bigs. A lot of what I like about him is a projection, but that's the case with most (if not all) of these players. There's a lot of clay to work with here.


My Concerns: I think I would be more excited about him in another draft. He's a fantastic prospect, but doesn't have that one WOW factor the other bigs offer. Still, I think he's going to be a good player in the league, and his length gives him plenty of upside as well.


9. Robert Williams

Why I Like Him for the Suns: Springy athlete with length and an excellent ability to finish. He's the kind of guy any team will be thrilled to have.


My Concerns: Kind of an undersized center and a little raw for a returning sophomore. Not his fault, but would feel like a consolation prize in this draft filled with bigs.



Interesting Players Who Don't Fill Needs for the Suns

10. Miles Bridges
11. Kevin Knox

Why I Like Them for the Suns: Bridges is a stud with unique bounce and passion (I like Mikal Bridges too, btw) and Knox is the best player on Kentucky so far, which means he should be on the radar.


My Concerns: We really don't need another small forward, and there are plenty of enticing prospects at areas we do need. I'm usually a BPA guy, but we already have a log-jam with Warren and Jackson. I figure if you don't like the player more than Jackson, there's probably a better choice this year.


The Search for Our PGOF:

Trevon Duval
Isaac Bonga
Trae Young
Bruce Brown Jr.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Lamar Peters


Why I Like Them for the Suns: I'm not saying these are the 12th through 16th best prospects for the Suns, but we obviously need point guards, so I've been monitoring.

Duval is a polished guard who has been seen as a lottery possibility. He's performing well at Duke and, while some see him being surrounded by elite talent as an issue, I'm reminded of another young guard who was overlooked because his team was loaded with NBA talent...

Bonga intrigues me. He is raw and has no jump shot to speak of, but he's a 6-8 pg prospect with intriguing ability, which should always merit a closer look.

Trae Young has questionable athleticism and size, but wow has he been impressive early on!

Brown and Alexander Walker are sgs who could project to be large pgs with development, and I don't know much about Peters at this point, but I've seen his name mentioned enough to at least put him on my radar.


My Concerns: Other than Bonga as a sleeper, I'm not sure I'd be excited about these prospects if I weren't so desperate for the Suns to have point guards next year that aren't Mike James or Brandon Knight.

 

[overseascardfan]

I am not a scouting expert, and a lot of my knowledge is based on reading articles, watching Youtube videos, and catching the occasional game. That said, I spend far too much time doing those things. Here's my way-too-early thoughts on interesting prospects for the Suns:

The Dream Picks

1. Luka Doncic

Why I Like Him for the Suns: What's not to like? He's incredibly skilled, savvy, and polished at a young age. He can hit the three, create for himself, and create beautifully for others. He has amazing size, an innate wizardry with the ball, and unparalleled production at an early age in Europe. He's an absolutely dazzling prospect; the kind of guy who turns a franchise around. Not to mention, he would be a blast to watch with Booker.


My Concerns: There are some concerns over his defense and athleticism and some question whether he is a point guard in the NBA. I think these concerns are overblown and, while he is not an ideal fit for the Suns on defense, the upside of a Booker-Doncic backcourt is worth it. Build a fast, athletic, defensive-minded front court to complement them and watch the wins follow!


2. DeAndre Ayton

Why I Like Him for the Suns: His presence is alarming. He's over 7 feet tall and 260 pounds with length and still seems bigger than that. I think it's because most 7-footers seem unnatural in body composition...like it was a mistake they ended up that big. This guy is built like an athlete and he moves like one. He has a nice starter skill set with a long way to go, but if he is coached up correctly I may regret not putting him at the top spot from the start.

My Concerns: He should be even better than he is. I'm not sure he's necessarily good at basketball yet as much as he is a man among boys, and his freakishness hasn't translated on the defensive end or to wins thus far.


3. Marvin Bagley III

Why I Like Him for the Suns: I have no doubt Bagley will be a star in the NBA. He's too skilled, too big, too athletic, and too self-assured not to be a star. He's going to make some team very happy. After Bamba went out in the Texas game, he looked like a pro playing against high school kids in overtime. I would be surprised if he doesn't end up being at least a 20-10 guy in the pros; that's how good he is.


My Concerns: Of the stud bigs, he's my least favorite fit for the Suns. Even in today's smaller NBA, I think he's more of a 4 than a 5. He doesn't even approach Ayton or Bamba's length. I'm also concerned he's going to fall in love with his currently shaky jump shot, as he gives me the vibe that he's more interested in scoring 30 a game than doing the little things to win. #FirstPickProblems


4. Mohamed Bamba

Why I Like Him for the Suns: If you haven't heard that he has a 7'9 wingspan, you're not paying attention. Check out the block he made in the closing minute of regulation against Bagley if you need further proof. I love his name, I love his attitude, I love his style of play. He's the defensive centerpiece the Suns desperately need.


My Concerns: He's only good on offense in the "I can't believe this guy is good on offense too" sort of way. His jump shot is much-improved but not a weapon, and his innate feel for the game on defense has yet to translate to the offensive side of the ball. However, by all accounts he is a smart, hard-working kid. If he becomes an average offensive player in the NBA, he is #1 pick material even in this loaded draft.


The Up-And-Comer and the Injured Star

5. Collin Sexton

Why I Like Him for the Suns: I already had my eye on him before his spectacular 3-on-5 performance against Minnesota, but...WOW! This kid has Russell Westbrook's swagger and energy, and he's pretty darn athletic. I've never seen a more confident kid, but he seems to use his energy to pump up his teammates effectively as well. His frenetic style warrants watching, but so far seems like a good thing. He's a fantastic athlete and uniquely exciting scorer.

My Concerns: He's a little too ball-dominant for my taste, but has shown signs of being skilled as a distributor. I still have to wrap my mind around his fit with Booker, but he has allowed fellow Freshman SG John Petty to thrive so far as well, which is a good sign. His level of intensity can easily turn into a distraction, depending on how he uses it, so it warrants monitoring.


6. Michael Porter Jr.

Why I Like Him for the Suns: Very skilled and exciting player with good size and scoring ability. He's a modern 3/4 with huge upside; the kind of upside you wouldn't find past the top 3 in most drafts.


My Concerns: I don't like the fit and his back injury worries me. I think there is a good chance he succeeds and he has star potential, but he would bring lot of the same positives and negatives we already have in Booker and Warren.


Intriguing Bigs

7. Brandon McCoy

Why I Like Him for the Suns: He's huge, talented, and has been incredibly productive so far as a Freshman at UNLV. In 25 mpg, he's currently averaging over 20 points, 13 rebounds, and nearly 2 blocks per game. Did I mention he's 7'1, 250 lbs., and 19 years old?


My Concerns: I haven't seen much of him and the hype has been slow, so I have read less as well. I might be missing some key weaknesses, but so far so good!


8. Jaren Jackson Jr.

Why I Like Him for the Suns: He has great length and a developing jumper. He also seems to have that innate timing on blocks that is so important for developing bigs. A lot of what I like about him is a projection, but that's the case with most (if not all) of these players. There's a lot of clay to work with here.


My Concerns: I think I would be more excited about him in another draft. He's a fantastic prospect, but doesn't have that one WOW factor the other bigs offer. Still, I think he's going to be a good player in the league, and his length gives him plenty of upside as well.


9. Robert Williams

Why I Like Him for the Suns: Springy athlete with length and an excellent ability to finish. He's the kind of guy any team will be thrilled to have.


My Concerns: Kind of an undersized center and a little raw for a returning sophomore. Not his fault, but would feel like a consolation prize in this draft filled with bigs.



Interesting Players Who Don't Fill Needs for the Suns

10. Miles Bridges
11. Kevin Knox

Why I Like Them for the Suns: Bridges is a stud with unique bounce and passion (I like Mikal Bridges too, btw) and Knox is the best player on Kentucky so far, which means he should be on the radar.


My Concerns: We really don't need another small forward, and there are plenty of enticing prospects at areas we do need. I'm usually a BPA guy, but we already have a log-jam with Warren and Jackson. I figure if you don't like the player more than Jackson, there's probably a better choice this year.


The Search for Our PGOF:

Trevon Duval
Isaac Bonga
Bruce Brown Jr.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Lamar Peters


Why I Like Them for the Suns: I'm not saying these are the 12th through 16th best prospects for the Suns, but we obviously need point guards, so I've been monitoring.

Duval is a polished guard who has been seen as a lottery possibility. He's performing well at Duke and, while some see him being surrounded by elite talent as an issue, I'm reminded of another young guard who was overlooked because his team was loaded with NBA talent...

Bonga intrigues me. He is raw and has no jump shot to speak of, but he's a 6-8 pg prospect with intriguing ability, which should always merit a closer look.

Brown and Alexander Walker are sgs who could project to be large pgs with development, and I don't know much about Peters at this point, but I've seen his name mentioned enough to at least put him on my radar.


My Concerns: Other than Bonga as a sleeper, I'm not sure I'd be excited about these prospects if I weren't so desperate for the Suns to have point guards next year that aren't Mike James or Brandon Knight.

Great points. This is a good draft but each of the elite prospects are flawed. With the exception of Bamba, they all need to improve defensively. In some cases (Bagley), needs to improve his shooting range and FT shooting.

 

[Ronin]

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[Mainstreet]

@ColdPickleNachos

Great read ColdPickleNachos. Food for thought.

 

[Ronin]

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[ColdPickleNachos]

Good catch, Ronin. I forgot about Young, but he's an interesting pg prospect to monitor as well.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Young scored 43 on Oregon! I'm retroactively adding him to the list!

 

[Raindog]

Bagley put up another 30-15 line tonight. He is the real deal, too. There is going to be so much legitimate talent in this draft class, it's just ridiculous. I really hope the Suns do bottom out this year, even though competition to be bad is going to be fierce. Even more so, I hope all three of our potential first round picks convey, as there is going to be solid quality probably all the way through the mid first round. It would be huge to get three potential starters out of this draft if everything breaks right.