2017-2018 Draft Prospects watch.

[Praxis]

It takes a special player to lead the nation in scoring as a frosh. OU would not be a tournament team without Young, never mind #12 overall. He makes everyone around him better, which would help us a lot. Easily a fringe playoff team next season with Young and the right FAs.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

I just can't see Doncic being a bust. Maybe he won't end up being the best from the draft, but he will become a good NBA player at a minimum.

 

[Praxis]

I just can't see Doncic being a bust. Maybe he won't end up being the best from the draft, but he will become a good NBA player at a minimum.

He is being drafted on potential, there is risk in that.

 

[SirStefan32]

He is being drafted on potential, there is risk in that.

Well, he is one of the best player in Europe right now, if not THE best. Make no mistake, Donic is NOT a Bender, or a Dragic, even. He is good right now.

 

[3rdside]

Well, he is one of the best player in Europe right now, if not THE best. Make no mistake, Donic is NOT a Bender, or a Dragic, even. He is good right now.

He was player of month for December over there in Europe, as an 18 year old, the youngest ever winner.... He’s as legit as it gets for me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hoop Head]

I don't see Doncic being a bust but I can see him having trouble settling into a position. He's projected to be a PG in the NBA but his size is more of a wing player. His playmaking is good but perhaps not good enough to be a starting PG in the NBA since he's not quick enough to guard opposing PG's. I think he'll be a good player but I don't think he'll go #1 overall for those reasons. He'll still be taken in the top 5, probably top 3, regardless of those questions. Injuries are the only thing that could keep him from having a really good NBA career.

 

[SirStefan32]

I don't see Doncic being a bust but I can see him having trouble settling into a position. He's projected to be a PG in the NBA but his size is more of a wing player. His playmaking is good but perhaps not good enough to be a starting PG in the NBA since he's not quick enough to guard opposing PG's. I think he'll be a good player but I don't think he'll go #1 overall for those reasons. He'll still be taken in the top 5, probably top 3, regardless of those questions. Injuries are the only thing that could keep him from having a really good NBA career.

This is very true. That said, nobody can guard the quick point guards anyway. His defense is not really any worse than Young.
I ask myself if I would take another Booker on this team. The answer is an easy yes. Kid can shoot and pass like a seasoned pro. I'd have a hard time taking him over Ayton, but outside of that, I'd take Doncic over anyone else. He is the guy who is really good right now- I'd say he is better than Dragic right now, and then has a lot of potential beyond that.

 

[Carolinacacti]

Not a bad thing to argue about. Take Young or Doncic ?

 

[Mainstreet]

Looking further down in the draft I listened to a podcast at Arizona Sports (98.7 FM) and the big takeaway is how high the participants were on Jontay Porter.

They feel he is worthy of the Heat pick if he is in the draft. He is 18.

So I will throw Jontay Porter's name into consideration.

Here are some links:

http://arizonasports.com/story/1408503/elfrid-payton-phoenix-suns-point-guard/

https://www.101sports.com/2018/02/08/jontay-porter-mizzous-mvp-valuable-porter/

http://www.nbadraft.net/players/jontay-porter

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Looking further down in the draft I listened to a podcast at Arizona Sports (98.7 FM) and the big takeaway is how high the participants were on Jontay Porter.

They feel he is worthy of the Heat pick if he is in the draft. He is 18.

So I will throw Jontay Porter's name into consideration.

Here are some links:

http://arizonasports.com/story/1408503/elfrid-payton-phoenix-suns-point-guard/

https://www.101sports.com/2018/02/08/jontay-porter-mizzous-mvp-valuable-porter/

http://www.nbadraft.net/players/jontay-porter

We are DEFINITELY drafting him. The Phoenix Lesser Brothers!

 

[Russ Smith]

I still think he's a top 3 pick and might go #1 overall but the more I watch Ayton the more things about him bother me. I know last night against UCLA was just a bad shooting night, he missed a bunch of midrange shots he normally makes.

But a bunch of things again last night that are hard to fathom. Ayton is over 7 feet with a 7'5" wingspan and purportedly a 40 inch vertical, and yet he manages to lose the opening tip to Thomas Welsh who has a 5 inch shorter wingspan and can't jump over a phonebook(if they still have them). And to be clear, Welsh didn't steal the tip, and Ayton didn't somehow mistime the jump, he just go out jumped by a guy he should beat by 2 feet.

During the game Ayton repeatedly got to the rim and couldn't finish, including getting rejected by Welsh once, GG Goloman twice, and Alex Olesinski once as well. There was a play in the first half where Ayton got an offensive board over about 3 UCLA players and he was so high Bill Walton damn near went nuts about it, it was unreal how high he was. But it appears he can only do that with a certain start a bit of a running start, off 2 feet etc. The more I watch him it appears he's not good at all off 1 foot, most of the shots that were blocked last night were off 1 foot. Several others he failed to make and again same thing, very little elevation.

He's still awfully talented, he's blocking more shots, but it's still alarming how often smaller players score right over him, Aaron Holiday is not even 6 foot and yea he has long arms and hops but he finished over Ayton 3 times last night. The only time Ayton blocked his shot Holiday was caught off the wrong foot and flipped the ball up from chest high, Ayton didn't even really have to jump to block the shot.

The loss to UW I know everyone hates Kevin O'Neill but he made a great point after that game on Pac 12 network, if DeAndre Ayton can't guard Noah Dickerson of UW, who in the NBA can he guard? dickerson absolutely ate him for lunch, repeatedly drove right at him got into his body so he couldn't elevate and then scored right over him.

Really going to be interesting, he can make the midrange, he makes FT's, he's a great offensive rebounder, he's scary good at passing out of doubles for such a young guy who hasn't played the game all that long. But the defensive issues really bother me and I wonder how effective he's going to be in the post with his back to the basket, he seems to have a problem elevating if he can't get both feet together and gather to jump.

 

[pokerface]

I still think he's a top 3 pick and might go #1 overall but the more I watch Ayton the more things about him bother me. I know last night against UCLA was just a bad shooting night, he missed a bunch of midrange shots he normally makes.

But a bunch of things again last night that are hard to fathom. Ayton is over 7 feet with a 7'5" wingspan and purportedly a 40 inch vertical, and yet he manages to lose the opening tip to Thomas Welsh who has a 5 inch shorter wingspan and can't jump over a phonebook(if they still have them). And to be clear, Welsh didn't steal the tip, and Ayton didn't somehow mistime the jump, he just go out jumped by a guy he should beat by 2 feet.

During the game Ayton repeatedly got to the rim and couldn't finish, including getting rejected by Welsh once, GG Goloman twice, and Alex Olesinski once as well. There was a play in the first half where Ayton got an offensive board over about 3 UCLA players and he was so high Bill Walton damn near went nuts about it, it was unreal how high he was. But it appears he can only do that with a certain start a bit of a running start, off 2 feet etc. The more I watch him it appears he's not good at all off 1 foot, most of the shots that were blocked last night were off 1 foot. Several others he failed to make and again same thing, very little elevation.

He's still awfully talented, he's blocking more shots, but it's still alarming how often smaller players score right over him, Aaron Holiday is not even 6 foot and yea he has long arms and hops but he finished over Ayton 3 times last night. The only time Ayton blocked his shot Holiday was caught off the wrong foot and flipped the ball up from chest high, Ayton didn't even really have to jump to block the shot.

The loss to UW I know everyone hates Kevin O'Neill but he made a great point after that game on Pac 12 network, if DeAndre Ayton can't guard Noah Dickerson of UW, who in the NBA can he guard? dickerson absolutely ate him for lunch, repeatedly drove right at him got into his body so he couldn't elevate and then scored right over him.

Really going to be interesting, he can make the midrange, he makes FT's, he's a great offensive rebounder, he's scary good at passing out of doubles for such a young guy who hasn't played the game all that long. But the defensive issues really bother me and I wonder how effective he's going to be in the post with his back to the basket, he seems to have a problem elevating if he can't get both feet together and gather to jump.

Well that sorta stinks. I was dreaming of him in a suns uniform...oops.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

It seems this occurs every year now. With a full to watch players we have an opportunity to pick apart every little aspect of their games. By the end of last year you would think we didn’t want any of the top four players. This year we have finally arrived at the point where doncic, ayton, bamba, and bagley are all likely to be complete failures. Three of them are freshmen and one is an 18 year old euro phenom. Guys, other than lebron I cant remember any player that’s come out without any warts.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

It seems this occurs every year now. With a full to watch players we have an opportunity to pick apart every little aspect of their games. By the end of last year you would think we didn’t want any of the top four players. This year we have finally arrived at the point where doncic, ayton, bamba, and bagley are all likely to be complete failures. Three of them are freshmen and one is an 18 year old euro phenom. Guys, other than lebron I cant remember any player that’s come out without any warts.

Totally agreed. Even LeBron had warts. He wasn't a very good shooter coming out of high school.

I will happily go on the record that Doncic and Ayton are potential franchise-changing talents. If the Suns come out of the draft with either of those two or Young, I will be ecstatic. I would also be very, very happy with any of Bamba, Porter, Jackson, or Bagley.

 

[Mainstreet]

Totally agreed. Even LeBron had warts. He wasn't a very good shooter coming out of high school.

I will happily go on the record that Doncic and Ayton are potential franchise-changing talents. If the Suns come out of the draft with either of those two or Young, I will be ecstatic. I would also be very, very happy with any of Bamba, Porter, Jackson, or Bagley.

Mostly agree except Michael Porter's injury situation worries me.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Mostly agree except Michael Porter's injury situation worries me.

Yeah. That would be the exception...if he doesn't look good medically. Even if he does check out, he's 7th on my list for the Suns. But I'd still be very excited about his potential.

 

[Mainstreet]

Yeah. That would be the exception...if he doesn't look good medically. Even if he does check out, he's 7th on my list for the Suns. But I'd still be very excited about his potential.

Have you followed his brother at Missouri? On a podcast a couple of people were excited about drafting his brother, Jontay, with the Heat pick or early second round pick.

 

[Mainstreet]

Here are some highlights of 18 year old Jontay Porter.

He is bigger than his brother and has a nice shooting touch. I'm talking about consideration with a later Suns pick.

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[ColdPickleNachos]

Have you followed his brother at Missouri? On a podcast a couple of people were excited about drafting his brother, Jontay, with the Heat pick or early second round pick.

Definitely. He's got a lot of skill, but I'm not a huge fan as a draft prospect tbh. He's been an excellent college player who is trending up, but I just don't see an NBA athlete.

People talk about Doncic like he's a bad athlete, but he's not. He's just not an exceptional athlete. Porter looks slow-footed. I think he's got the size and skills to be an NBA player, but I don't see much potential as a difference maker. Early second round pick? Sure. But I wouldn't take him in the first, which is where he's likely to go.

Also, as a Suns fan, I'm against second-best brothers!

 

[JCSunsfan]

Michael Porter could easily be the best player in this draft. He shoots from the outside like Laurie. He handles the ball phenomenally well. He is a shot blocker. He can run the break and pass like Simmons. I would love to get him. BTW. Just watch the way he carries himself. The kid oozes with confidence. He has that same "it" factor that Booker does.

 

[Mainstreet]

Definitely. He's got a lot of skill, but I'm not a huge fan as a draft prospect tbh. He's been an excellent college player who is trending up, but I just don't see an NBA athlete.

People talk about Doncic like he's a bad athlete, but he's not. He's just not an exceptional athlete. Porter looks slow-footed. I think he's got the size and skills to be an NBA player, but I don't see much potential as a difference maker. Early second round pick? Sure. But I wouldn't take him in the first, which is where he's likely to go.

Also, as a Suns fan, I'm against second-best brothers!

Unless they turn out to be the best. LOL

I'm only going by some chatter. Never watched him play.

It's amazing some people are sold on him and I don't even see him listed in a mock draft.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Unless they turn out to be the best. LOL

I'm only going by some chatter. Never watched him play.

It's amazing some people are sold on him and I don't even see him listed in a mock draft.

The Stepien has him listed at #15, and they are very thorough, so I could be wrong. The only way he's going to be the best brother though is if Michael's back doesn't check out. I agree with JCSunsfan that he has the potential to be the best player in the entire draft; I mainly have him listed 7th because I think 6 players have that kind of potential (and JJJ is awesome), and Porter solves the least amount of the Suns' problems.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Stepien has him listed at #15, and they are very thorough, so I could be wrong. The only way he's going to be the best brother though is if Michael's back doesn't check out. I agree with JCSunsfan that he has the potential to be the best player in the entire draft; I mainly have him listed 7th because I think 6 players have that kind of potential (and JJJ is awesome), and Porter solves the least amount of the Suns' problems.

I do worry about players that do not play because of injury, e.g., Fultz.

Dontay does seem to have skills for an 18 year old.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

I do worry about players that do not play because of injury, e.g., Fultz.

Me too. But I'd still take him at 7 if the training staff approves.

 

[Mainstreet]

Me too. But I'd still take him at 7 if the training staff approves.

You are not alone as do most draft experts.