2018 NBA Draft Live Discussion Thread

[Hoop Head]

He hasn't played in about a year and we've never used him as a pg so excuse me if I'm hesitant. Yeah I'm sure he'll be thrown in there and he might be adequete but coming off an injury he's a unknown right now.

He has played PG in our duel PG lineup. That's not a great indicator but he also covered the Point while Bledsoe sat for stretches while out on the floor with Booker. We killed the duel PG concept after his first full season here where he started in all 50 games he played in. So to say we hadn't used him at PG is incorrect. He had 63 games played under the dual PG Hornacek system in the first year and a half he was with the team. He flamed out as our super 6th man the following year when that offense was killed and Bledsoe & Booker took over the starting guard jobs in 2016-17. Here's a link to his stats. I know that was a dark time, but it did happen.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/knighbr03.html

 

[AzStevenCal]

That's fair. You asked for examples of camaraderie and I tried to provide them. If you're aware of that though I'm not sure what more you'd want to see. It's not like players put themselves out in the public much more than that unless it's Lebron, Melo, Chris Paul, and Wade riding a banana boat. I'd rather not see Booker, JJ, Ayton, and Knight recreate that photo but that's just me.

It's odd that it seems like half the board is taking an optimistic approach towards Knight though. I don't know if that means anything but I'd like to think that people sense he's genuine in his comments about doing what's best for the team going forward and buying into the team concept. He hadn't spoke like that before or played with that sort of attitude so it is new for him. Whether it is genuine, we won't know until the season starts but at the worst we'll see be awful, kill any value he may have had, and probably sit for a while until a buy-out can be reached. If he's capable of providing anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes of quality guard play night in and night out that will help the team a lot. We don't have a lot of quality depth in our backcourt and he was someone who was seen as an up and coming star a couple years ago. He has talent, it's just a matter of him applying that talent in a fashion that benefits the team.

Well, it wasn't really an issue until someone said that the players all liked him. I'm aware of your examples AND I'm aware of the apparent disconnect between him and his teammates the past few seasons. I just don't know what they tell us.

I'm hopeful but not at all confident when it comes to Brandon helping the team. It would be great if he's established a relationship with some of the guys and it would really help us if he's turning over a new leaf on the court. Beyond that, I'm in wait and see mode.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I'm aware of all those but I don't know that they really tell us much. He and his teammates have always seemed distanced during the games and on the sidelines and that goes back to when he was playing, not just his occasional bench appearance last year. I'm not saying they're enemies, I just don't know if there's enough evidence to state that they are all close knit. I hope so but I don't know.

The video of him giving JJ a hard time with the haircut is evidence. You don't get that kind of fun and kidding without having decent camaraderie.

 

[AzStevenCal]

The video of him giving JJ a hard time with the haircut is evidence. You don't get that kind of fun and kidding without having decent camaraderie.

I'll admit, that scene did give me a moment of hope. Not really enough to overcome the two years of indifference I've observed though. But I'm also holding out hope that much of it had to do with Bledsoe and or Watson.

 

[Hoop Head]

Don't know if anyone watched the press conference today or not but George King and Ayton were asked about the scouting report on each other since they met 3 times during the year in the NCAA season, King just said the report on Ayton was "Try your best". That's good stuff. I wonder how much truth there is to that. I can't imagine many college teams can really gameplan for a guy like Ayton, especially a smaller school like Colorado.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Don't know if anyone watched the press conference today or not but George King and Ayton were asked about the scouting report on each other since they met 3 times during the year in the NCAA season, King just said the report on Ayton was "Try your best". That's good stuff. I wonder how much truth there is to that. I can't imagine many college teams can really gameplan for a guy like Ayton, especially a smaller school like Colorado.

Yeah. That was a nice moment. I'm sure he was just joking and they had a detailed game plan. FWIW, Ayton had some nice things to say about King, particularly about his boundless energy. King will be a fun guy to follow at Summer League. He has a little bit of a P.J. Tucker vibe imho

Another thing that stood out: Bridges and Ayton seem to be genuine friends. When one reporter mistakenly called Deandre "Joel", Bridges cracked up and made the type of eye contact with Deandre that only happens with people you enjoy talking with and trust. I got a really, really good vibe from Bridges at this press conference.

 

[Hoop Head]

Yeah. That was a nice moment. I'm sure he was just joking and they had a detailed game plan. FWIW, Ayton had some nice things to say about King, particularly about his boundless energy. King will be a fun guy to follow at Summer League. He has a little bit of a P.J. Tucker vibe imho

Another thing that stood out: Bridges and Ayton seem to be genuine friends. When one reporter mistakenly called Deandre "Joel", Bridges cracked up and made the type of eye contact with Deandre that only happens with people you enjoy talking with and trust. I got a really, really good vibe from Bridges at this press conference.

I've been really impressed with Ayton when I've seen him in these situations, fielding questions from the press. There was this time and the one after his workout. He's a charismatic guy. I do like Bridges as well. Positive vibes from everyone, really.

I liked Elie the best, probably. He reminded me of Barbosa. I think it was the broken english he was speaking. Don't mean that as an insult at all, he sounded fine but you could tell he was selecting his words carefully. He seemed happy to be here, everyone did.

I wish BC had been around to see this press conference so he could have seen Igor up there with everyone being happy and not pouting because his didn't get to draft "his boy" Doncic. I'm glad that storyline should be over with.

 

[gmabel830]

Just gonna leave this here...

You must be registered for see images attach

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[RON_IN_OC]

Just gonna leave this here...

You must be registered for see images attach

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

That's so awesome!

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[Hoop Head]

Same press conference link, Lyndsey Smith is interview Elie Okobo.

https://www.nba.com/suns/now

 

[JCSunsfan]

My gripe with the draft is that I think they should have taken Kostos with 59. All the "lesser brother" comments aside, he has that same body.

 

[Wally]

Is he? I'm not saying you're wrong, I just hadn't noticed any real camaraderie involving Knight and teammates.

Below is a link on an article on Knight April 2018 gives a bit of insight on his status - He also has Instagram account which my grandson follows and he pointed out Knight's turn-around attitude.
http://arizonasports.com/story/1494017/brandon-knight-gains-new-perspective-life-future-suns/

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

In case anyone was concerned our new center isn't a physical freak of nature...

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[BillsCarnage]

You must be registered for see images attach

What's up with Lindsey's pinky??

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Listening to Woj podcast. He's really high on Okobo and said he hs heard the Suns will give him a four year contract, similar to a first round pick.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Listening to Woj podcast. He's really high on Okobo and said he hs heard the Suns will give him a four year contract, similar to a first round pick.

Just think about that. We got two guaranteed starters and one potential starter in one draft.

Guess what? We still have two firsts next year (for the moment). I expect we will trade the Milwaukee pick and I am good with that if it gets us a contributing vet.

 

[pokerface]

So come to find out that Philly pick we got Bridges with is the Lakers pick we gave away for Knight. And it took both Miami picks to get that deal done.

So in essence we gave Dragic away for nothing and are stuck with Brandon who has negative trade value.

Bridges better be a superstud!

 

[Hoop Head]

So come to find out that Philly pick we got Bridges with is the Lakers pick we gave away for Knight. And it took both Miami picks to get that deal done.

So in essence we gave Dragic away for nothing and are stuck with Brandon who has negative trade value.

Bridges better be a superstud!

No, quit thinking like that. Considering how long all the picks have been in play, you can't get caught up on who brought us what and cost what. We've already replaced the GM's and coaches that were here when some of the deals were made. Hell, we inducted one of the players into the Ring of Honor already and he's also gone into the Naismith Hall of Fame because it happened so long ago.

We really did nothing for that Laker pick in the 1st place. We facilitated a sign & trade for Nash to sit injured on the Lakers bench. He wasn't resigning here anyways. The Dragic trade was what it was, we got Bridges for him rather than letting him walk in free agency. That Miami pick will probably be in the 20's. Who knows if it's worth a damn when it conveys. Miami will have a ton of cap room soon and Riley hasn't had a problem rebuilding that team. Miami is a respected franchise in a great location with favorable state taxes for players so they will spend their money acquiring talent and retooling. He wasn't going to let a lottery pick convey if he could help it.

 

[Errntknght]

Is he? I'm not saying you're wrong, I just hadn't noticed any real camaraderie involving Knight and teammates.

I do not trust Brandon Knight. He's pure Lucy!(from Peanuts)

I don't trust Payton either. I think it's a good sign that we drafted Okobo, he's someone that Igor is familiar with and he must like him a good bit since there were several other PGs regarded with comparable expectations. Okobo to start and Shaq Harrison backing him up.

If, for some reason, Okobo comes a cropper and Harrison is not ready to step up, we can go after Tyus Jones in free agency the summer of 2019. Delon Wright from Toronto will be a FA as well - if Toronto retains Vanvleet this year they'll probably let Wright go - of course they might well trade him during the year.

 

[Mainstreet]

I do not trust Brandon Knight. He's pure Lucy!(from Peanuts)

I don't trust Payton either. I think it's a good sign that we drafted Okobo, he's someone that Igor is familiar with and he must like him a good bit since there were several other PGs regarded with comparable expectations. Okobo to start and Shaq Harrison backing him up.

If, for some reason, Okobo comes a cropper and Harrison is not ready to step up, we can go after Tyus Jones in free agency the summer of 2019. Delon Wright from Toronto will be a FA as well - if Toronto retains Vanvleet this year they'll probably let Wright go - of course they might well trade him during the year.

Forgive if it's already been posted but it sounds like the Suns will pursue a PG in free agency.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[pokerface]

No, quit thinking like that. Considering how long all the picks have been in play, you can't get caught up on who brought us what and cost what. We've already replaced the GM's and coaches that were here when some of the deals were made. Hell, we inducted one of the players into the Ring of Honor already and he's also gone into the Naismith Hall of Fame because it happened so long ago.

We really did nothing for that Laker pick in the 1st place. We facilitated a sign & trade for Nash to sit injured on the Lakers bench. He wasn't resigning here anyways. The Dragic trade was what it was, we got Bridges for him rather than letting him walk in free agency. That Miami pick will probably be in the 20's. Who knows if it's worth a damn when it conveys. Miami will have a ton of cap room soon and Riley hasn't had a problem rebuilding that team. Miami is a respected franchise in a great location with favorable state taxes for players so they will spend their money acquiring talent and retooling. He wasn't going to let a lottery pick convey if he could help it.

Well it just seems ironic. In McDs defense who would have known Knights stay here would be such a disaster

 

[Raindog]

My gripe with the draft is that I think they should have taken Kostos with 59. All the "lesser brother" comments aside, he has that same body.

I agree - it wouldn't have been the worst shot in the dark to take at 59. And who knows - if he makes the roster and turns into a serviceable player, maybe it's an added incentive for his brother to come here as a FA some day. You never know, and nothing would have been lost.

 

[Mainstreet]

Listening to Woj podcast. He's really high on Okobo and said he hs heard the Suns will give him a four year contract, similar to a first round pick.

So is there a link to the Suns press conference today? I'm having trouble finding it.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

So is there a link to the Suns press conference today? I'm having trouble finding it.

It was live, unfortunately. Not sure if there is an archived version or not.

 

[Mainstreet]

It was live, unfortunately. Not sure if there is an archived version or not.

I missed it live. It would seem they would make it available for fans who were not able to watch it. Hopefully it shows up but I couldn't find it.