2017-2018 Draft Prospects watch.

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Yeah I view bamba as a dikembe mutumbo. Changes the game ina way unique to himself in the league. With superior scorers around him I see an elite squad if they dedicate themselves to defending.

 

[SirStefan32]

My concern about Doncic would be if he has to play the two or three only to thrive. But if he is a truly generational talent, you have to take him.

You don't pass on Michael Jordan just because you already have Clyde Drexler on your roster.

You play him as a point guard. That's what he is- a point guard who can shoot and be effective without dominating the ball. He plays extremely well with Dragic, and honestly, Booker and Dragic are not that different when it comes to their style of play. Booker is, obviously, much better, and while Dragic may handle the basketball better, at the end of the day, they are very similar. They are scorers who need the basketball in their hands. If Doncic can play alongside Dragic, he can play alongside Booker. Offensively, I can't think of a better player to be Booker's tag-team partner. The big issue is defense. You'd have two players you need to "hide", which presents some unique challenges.

 

[JCSunsfan]

You play him as a point guard. That's what he is- a point guard who can shoot and be effective without dominating the ball. He plays extremely well with Dragic, and honestly, Booker and Dragic are not that different when it comes to their style of play. Booker is, obviously, much better, and while Dragic may handle the basketball better, at the end of the day, they are very similar. They are scorers who need the basketball in their hands. If Doncic can play alongside Dragic, he can play alongside Booker. Offensively, I can't think of a better player to be Booker's tag-team partner. The big issue is defense. You'd have two players you need to "hide", which presents some unique challenges.

Booker's defense has improved dramatically this year. I do not think you would have to hide him. And Doncic is a young aggressive player. I would think he has the potential to be an adequate defender. He is only what, 18, after all. His game is still developing. They would struggle against extremely fast pg's like IT or DFox. I suppose JJax or Tyler could help in those situations.

 

[Ronin]

DraftExpressContent
@DXContent

6'4 and 20 year old @GoShockers guard Landry Shamet scored 21 points on 8/13 FG's and 4/8 on threes, flashing his potential in #WichitaState's 95-85 win over South Dakota State last night (by @formshooting)

 

[hcsilla]

That's where I am too. It is much easier to find scorers than it is to find defenders, especially at that size. Suns have an elite scorer in Booker, very good scorer in Warren, Jackson and Bender will get to double-digits before they are 22 or 23, Ulis and Williams are good scorers off the bench, Daniels can score, and Reed should be able to score some as well. Add some shooters and a play maker with the remaining picks or trades/ free agency.

EDIT:
I would also be OK with Doncic. He and Booker would be a very intriguing duo offensively. That does mean that Jackson would need to guard the opposing point guards on many nights, and the Suns would really need some serious interior defense.

Yes, that's why I would like to see the Suns somehow being able to draft both Doncic and Bamba.

 

[hcsilla]

Yeah I view bamba as a dikembe mutumbo. Changes the game ina way unique to himself in the league. With superior scorers around him I see an elite squad if they dedicate themselves to defending.

Mutombo was heavier and stronger while Bamba is quicker and more talented offensively. I see more Marcus Camby than Mutombo in him.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Anyone seen Bol Bol? He should be in next year’s draft.

 

[SirStefan32]

Yes, that's why I would like to see the Suns somehow being able to draft both Doncic and Bamba.

That would be amazing, but I can't imagine a scenario in which that would be possible.

 

[DWKB]

Anyone seen Bol Bol? He should be in next year’s draft.

You mean two years from now? He'll be a frosh at Oregon next year.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

That would be amazing, but I can't imagine a scenario in which that would be possible.

Hmmm....We get lucky and win a top 3 pick in the lottery, taking Doncic. Miami struggles and their pick is #8. We trade the Miami pick, our future Miami pick, plus Chriss or Bender to move up three or four slots and draft Bamba.

Not impossible, but would require a lot of luck and probably an overpay in a trade.

 

[JCSunsfan]

You mean two years from now? He'll be a frosh at Oregon next year.

Yes. For me this year is 2018.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Hmmm....We get lucky and win a top 3 pick in the lottery, taking Doncic. Miami struggles and their pick is #8. We trade the Miami pick, our future Miami pick, plus Chriss or Bender to move up three or four slots and draft Bamba.

Not impossible, but would require a lot of luck and probably an overpay in a trade.

Wow basically three first round picks to move up one pick. Still you might not find a taker.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Wow basically three first round picks to move up one pick. Still you might not find a taker.

Yeah. It's hard to imagine a team moving down from top 5 in this draft without it being a clear overpay, but the Suns are in position to do so. We don't need more prospects; just better ones.

 

[GatorAZ]

That was the book on him coming in, he plays hard on offense, he rebounds, but on defense he just seems disinterested.

With the age of his face he's sort of the reverse Greg Oden, Oden great defender mediocre on offense. I hope his career doesn't go the way Oden's did he certainly isn't having any health issues yet but when you see closeups of Ayton's face he looks 10 years older than he is.

You think he's older than 19?

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

You think he's older than 19?

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He's been a top prospect for years, so you can see his natural aging. In this interview from 2013, he's clearly the age he's reported to be. No story here.

 

[Russ Smith]

You think he's older than 19?

no in fact I've seen footage of him at 14 so I am confident he's the right age. He just looks old it's the wrinkles in his forehead.

 

[Russ Smith]

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He's been a top prospect for years, so you can see his natural aging. In this interview from 2013, he's clearly the age he's reported to be. No story here.

Yeah I'm not questioning his age I'm saying with the wrinkles on his forehead now, he looks much older than 19. I don't doubt for a minute he is 19 I've been reading about him since he got to the US and as you said he looked quite young then.

 

[GatorAZ]

Ayton does look older but had more of a baby face in his early HS years like Thon Maker. I'm not sure if anything was shady with Greg Oden but he could've passed for 35 in college.

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[Superbone]

Yes, that's why I would like to see the Suns somehow being able to draft both Doncic and Bamba.

It's nice to dream. We'd be lucky to get just one of them.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Ayton does look older but had more of a baby face in his early HS years like Thon Maker. I'm not sure if anything was shady with Greg Oden but he could've passed for 35 in college.

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50. Easy.

 

[JCSunsfan]

It's nice to dream. We'd be lucky to get just one of them.

I agree. I would love to get one of these players.

I have been thinking about this. I might like to combine the rest of the picks and trade for a solid, known commodity young vet (under 26) to fill out the roster. The roster needs a little balance in age. We don't want OLD players (over 30), but you really can't build just with 19 year olds.

 

[SirStefan32]

I agree. I would love to get one of these players.

I have been thinking about this. I might like to combine the rest of the picks and trade for a solid, known commodity young vet (under 26) to fill out the roster. The roster needs a little balance in age. We don't want OLD players (over 30), but you really can't build just with 19 year olds.

Give us some examples? Are you thinking a standard role-player, are you thinking someone who will be there on the same level as Warren, for example?

 

[JCSunsfan]

Give us some examples? Are you thinking a standard role-player, are you thinking someone who will be there on the same level as Warren, for example?

Yeah. A Warren or better player. There are always a few each summer. I don't know who it will be this coming summer. Last year it was Paul George and Kyrie. Hopefully a pg. A quality veteran pg would make a big difference on this team. Although there will be plenty of bigs available.

Examples. Just total speculation. Maybe someone like Lillard decides he wants a change of scenery (Kyrie did). On another level maybe Brogdon, Dunn, Rubio, Dinwiddie, etc. All of those players are different values, but they are pretty much known commodities.

As far as bigs. There will be plenty of free agents.

 

[Ronin]

Mike Schmitz‏Verified account@Mike_Schmitz 3m3 minutes ago
Season-high 14 minutes for Valencia's Tryggvi Hlinason last night against Maccabi Tel Aviv in Euroleague action. 8 PTS & 2 BLKs. Rim protector and PnR diver. Important in-game experience for the 20-year-old 7-footer.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Yeah. A Warren or better player. There are always a few each summer. I don't know who it will be this coming summer. Last year it was Paul George and Kyrie. Hopefully a pg. A quality veteran pg would make a big difference on this team. Although there will be plenty of bigs available.

Examples. Just total speculation. Maybe someone like Lillard decides he wants a change of scenery (Kyrie did). On another level maybe Brogdon, Dunn, Rubio, Dinwiddie, etc. All of those players are different values, but they are pretty much known commodities.

As far as bigs. There will be plenty of free agents.

I don’t about anyone else, but I don’t classify paul George, kyrie, or lilliard as “solid, known commodity” - those are considered stars and would need MUCH more than two later round draft picks.