2020 Draft

[Phrazbit]

you clearly didn’t read the part where I agreed with Bam.

Moral of the story, virtually every draft has 1 or 2 legit "stars" taken outside of the top 10. It is obviously unlikely that your team will be the one to stumble into one of those players but history has shown that almost every draft someone is going to strike gold on a relatively overlooked player.

And in this year's draft in particular I think it is very likely. Lots of depth in this draft but no obvious stars.

In the last decade: Leonard, Gobert, Green, Booker, Giannis, Paul George, Klay Thompson, Jimmy Butler, Jokic, Mitchell, Bam... all taken at 10 or later, all of them are obvious "star" caliber players.

 

[Raindog]

I think the "no stars get taken outside the top few picks" meme is an excuse used by lots of organizations with lazy/incompetent front offices. "We didn't get lucky enough to have the first pick the year Lebron, Magic, Shaq, etc. were available, so the deck is stacked against us."

Meanwhile, consistently successful franchises like the Spurs, Celtics, Lakers, and a few others still find top notch talent and even the occasional star player picking in the teens, twenties, and later. Success usually correlates to good ownership and upper management.

The Suns used to be one of those franchises. Go back to the 1980s through 2000s when the Suns regularly got very good to star players later in the first round, and in one case (Hornacek), even the second round.

The whole "it's impossible to find real talent outside the very tip top of the draft" thesis is a cop-out.

 

[1Sun]

I think the "no stars get taken outside the top few picks" meme is an excuse used by lots of organizations with lazy/incompetent front offices. "We didn't get lucky enough to have the first pick the year Lebron, Magic, Shaq, etc. were available, so the deck is stacked against us."

Meanwhile, consistently successful franchises like the Spurs, Celtics, Lakers, and a few others still find top notch talent and even the occasional star player picking in the teens, twenties, and later. Success usually correlates to good ownership and upper management.

The Suns used to be one of those franchises. Go back to the 1980s through 2000s when the Suns regularly got very good to star players later in the first round, and in one case (Hornacek), even the second round.

The whole "it's impossible to find real talent outside the very tip top of the draft" thesis is a cop-out.

Don't forget Cedric Ceballos and Richard Dumas in the second round as well.

The Suns used to be one of the best run organizations in sports. Not just the NBA. All of professional sports. Oh how we've fallen.

 

[Raindog]

Don't forget Cedric Ceballos and Richard Dumas in the second round as well.

The Suns used to be one of the best run organizations in sports. Not just the NBA. All of professional sports. Oh how we've fallen.

True enough.

 

[Finito]

Moral of the story, virtually every draft has 1 or 2 legit "stars" taken outside of the top 10. It is obviously unlikely that your team will be the one to stumble into one of those players but history has shown that almost every draft someone is going to strike gold on a relatively overlooked player.

And in this year's draft in particular I think it is very likely. Lots of depth in this draft but no obvious stars.

In the last decade: Leonard, Gobert, Green, Booker, Giannis, Paul George, Klay Thompson, Jimmy Butler, Jokic, Mitchell, Bam... all taken at 10 or later, all of them are obvious "star" caliber players.

that’s awesome but that wasn’t my point that you could find good or star players at any position in the draft.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I think the "no stars get taken outside the top few picks" meme is an excuse used by lots of organizations with lazy/incompetent front offices. "We didn't get lucky enough to have the first pick the year Lebron, Magic, Shaq, etc. were available, so the deck is stacked against us."

Meanwhile, consistently successful franchises like the Spurs, Celtics, Lakers, and a few others still find top notch talent and even the occasional star player picking in the teens, twenties, and later. Success usually correlates to good ownership and upper management.

The Suns used to be one of those franchises. Go back to the 1980s through 2000s when the Suns regularly got very good to star players later in the first round, and in one case (Hornacek), even the second round.

The whole "it's impossible to find real talent outside the very tip top of the draft" thesis is a cop-out.

yup. Michael Finley, future all-star with the 24th pick (how he ever lasted that long was crazy), Nash at 16, Wes Person in the 20s, even Oliver Miller was a great talent who unfortunately ate himself out of the league.

 

[Raindog]

And Larry Nance at 20 or so, I believe.

Majerle was like 14th, too.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

you clearly didn’t read the part where I agreed with Bam.

Saw that later.

 

[Yuma]

I think not only can you find good players outside the top ten spots in the draft, but the opposite has been very true, too! You can find really bad players in the top ten! We have seen that wreck franchises!

 

[1Sun]

I think not only can you find good players outside the top ten spots in the draft, but the opposite has been very true, too! You can find really bad players in the top ten! We have seen that wreck franchises!

Including ours...

 

[GatorAZ]

Stretch Four? Older and experienced...

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[Mainstreet]

Stretch Four? Older and experienced...

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On the NBA level I think he will need to be a stretch 4 without elite athleticism. The nearest thing I could find about wingspan was that it was near 7 foot. He may have trouble creating his own shot.

 

[1Sun]

On the NBA level I think he will need to be a stretch 4 without elite athleticism. The nearest thing I could find about wingspan was that it was near 7 foot. He may have trouble creating his own shot.

Basically a bigger version of Mikal Bridges. We could certainly do worse...

 

[GatorAZ]

On the NBA level I think he will need to be a stretch 4 without elite athleticism. The nearest thing I could find about wingspan was that it was near 7 foot. He may have trouble creating his own shot.

If he can be DeMarre Carroll with a 3pt shot I’ll take it.

 

[Mainstreet]

If he can be DeMarre Carroll with a 3pt shot I’ll take it.

Maybe someone like Jae Crowder who is tough as nails. Also PJ Tucker comes to mind.

 

[WildBB]

I think the "no stars get taken outside the top few picks" meme is an excuse used by lots of organizations with lazy/incompetent front offices. "We didn't get lucky enough to have the first pick the year Lebron, Magic, Shaq, etc. were available, so the deck is stacked against us."

Meanwhile, consistently successful franchises like the Spurs, Celtics, Lakers, and a few others still find top notch talent and even the occasional star player picking in the teens, twenties, and later. Success usually correlates to good ownership and upper management.

The Suns used to be one of those franchises. Go back to the 1980s through 2000s when the Suns regularly got very good to star players later in the first round, and in one case (Hornacek), even the second round.

The whole "it's impossible to find real talent outside the very tip top of the draft" thesis is a cop-out.

Just look at the league MVP!

Any hidden talent outside of the lottery who could be a franchise type or All Star?

 

[GatorAZ]

I haven’t done a full 180 but I’m growing less enamored with a PG at #10. Some has to do with Haliburton likely being gone. I used to be on the Riller bandwagon but his jumper is going to be an issue with that low release point and it was below average in college. Kira I’m 50/50 on. I see a very good athlete but not De’Aaron Fox.

I like the idea of the Bey/Vassell’s that are snipers and can do a few other things well. I still like the idea of Cam being 7-8th in minutes and I’m not sure how durable he’ll be longterm.

 

[1Sun]

I haven’t done a full 180 but I’m growing less enamored with a PG at #10. Some has to do with Haliburton likely being gone. I used to be on the Riller bandwagon but his jumper is going to be an issue with that low release point and it was below average in college. Kira I’m 50/50 on. I see a very good athlete but not De’Aaron Fox.

I like the idea of the Bey/Vassell’s that are snipers and can do a few other things well. I still like the idea of Cam being 7-8th in minutes and I’m not sure how durable he’ll be longterm.

Kira's slight frame and turnover rate scare me. There are other prospects I like less (including Terry, Riller and Bane), but I hope the Suns stay away.

Bey and Vassell are climbing up my list...

 

[JerkFace]

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[Mainstreet]

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Awesome. I can hardly wait. This usually affects where some players are drafted.

 

[JerkFace]

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I am not a fan of selecting Maxey for the Suns, but this is a pretty impressive video. The guy seems like a really hard worker and boy, his shooting form is text book. When all is said and done I wouldn’t be surprised if he has a 10 year career as a scoring combo guard off the bench.

 

[1Sun]

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I am not a fan of selecting Maxey for the Suns, but this is a pretty impressive video. The guy seems like a really hard worker and boy, his shooting form is text book. When all is said and done I wouldn’t be surprised if he has a 10 year career as a scoring combo guard off the bench.

He looks impressive in a practice video, but in games his selfishness and poor shot selection are major turnoffs. He actually has great athleticism and decent skills on paper, and he might be a hard worker, but he is a chemistry killer in terms of inability to play within a team concept. Really conjures up memories of Monta Ellis. Capable of put up big numbers and being a pesky defender, but will be a net negative to his team as he shoots his team out of games.

 

[AzStevenCal]

He looks impressive in a practice video, but in games his selfishness and poor shot selection are major turnoffs. He actually has great athleticism and decent skills on paper, and he might be a hard worker, but he is a chemistry killer in terms of inability to play within a team concept. Really conjures up memories of Monta Ellis. Capable of put up big numbers and being a pesky defender, but will be a net negative to his team as he shoots his team out of games.

I'll say it again, Monta Ellis with defense added is a value pick for today's game.

 

[Mainstreet]

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I am not a fan of selecting Maxey for the Suns, but this is a pretty impressive video. The guy seems like a really hard worker and boy, his shooting form is text book. When all is said and done I wouldn’t be surprised if he has a 10 year career as a scoring combo guard off the bench.

Passing on Kentucky players always makes me queasy. There are four in this draft.

I've heard teams have expressed added interest in Immanuel Quickley.

 

[1Sun]

I'll say it again, Monta Ellis with defense added is a value pick for today's game.

Not if he makes the team worse and kills team chemistry in the process.