Anyone else nervous about next Tuesday?

[AzStevenCal]

Blech. I expect the worst.

Given that I consider this draft to be either a huge dropoff and/or a huge gamble beyond Zion, expecting the worst is sensible. Still, I'm going to believe we're getting Zion until reality kicks me in the nuts.

 

[Mainstreet]

Blech. I expect the worst.

A good motto is hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think in some years Barrett wouldn't go in the top 7 but in this draft, he's clearly top 3 right now. The comments from Nash ease my concerns some but RJ often seemed to put himself above his teammates (especially Zion) which would worry me a bit at the next level. Still, if we end up at 3 and can't get top 3 value in a trade, he's the best pick IMO.

I totally agree with this take.

 

[Chaplin]

Because odds are pretty good that we will.

Not to be overly optimistic, but there is no team right now that has BETTER odds than we do.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Very nervous bout today hoping for 1 or 2 but expecting 3 or worse.....

Praying to the nba gods the balls land in suns favor

It is incredibly hard to win num 1 twice...

Just hoping for at least top 3. Depending on who has #2 I could very much see Morant being there at #3. It's not uncommon for teams to reach for position needs and thus I wouldn't be shocked if they take Barret or maybe Culver over him (though I think Culver might be a stretch in this scenario).

 

[slinslin]

I think in some years Barrett wouldn't go in the top 7 but in this draft, he's clearly top 3 right now. The comments from Nash ease my concerns some but RJ often seemed to put himself above his teammates (especially Zion) which would worry me a bit at the next level. Still, if we end up at 3 and can't get top 3 value in a trade, he's the best pick IMO.

Ok I'll bite

which of the last 10 or 20 drafts would Barrett not go top 7? I can't think of any.

This draft is overall weak but the top 3 is as strong as in any draft.

2018? I'd say Barrett could go as high as #2 and no lower than 5th or 6th ahead of Bamba or Wendell Carter, I'd be shocked if so many teams took bigs over him. Maybe in some super unlikely scenario 8th but he is far superior prospect to Sexton.

2017? He would go first without a doubt ahead of Fultz, Ball, Tatum

2016? He would go first or second with Simmons ahead of Ingram and Brown.

2015? He would go second ahead of Russell with a chance to go over Towns depending on the team needs. Anyway no way he drops below Hezonja, WCS or Mudiay.

2014? He would go first ahead of Wiggins, Parker and an injured Embiid.

2013? He would go first ahead of Bennett and Oladipo

2012? He would go second after Anthony Davis ahead of MKG, Beal and Waiters.

2011? He would go first ahead of Kyrie Irving, Derrick Williams, Enes Kanter and Tristan Thompson

2010? He would go second or third behind Wall and Evan Turner but ahead of Wesley Johnson and Derrick Favors

2009? He would probably go second after Blake Griffin ahead of Thabeet, James Harden, Rubio, Flynn

 

[GatorAZ]

Why do I have the sinking feeling we are going to drop like a lead balloon in this lottery?

That’s easy. Because we are.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Ok I'll bite

which of the last 10 or 20 drafts would Barrett not go top 7? I can't think of any.

This draft is overall weak but the top 3 is as strong as in any draft.

Yeah...I'm not a huge Barrett fan and I think last year was loaded at the top. It's obviously just an opinion, but I would assume he would have fallen around 6 last year. Bamba and Carter were really good prospects but lack the star potential of Barrett.

He's got flaws, but has a solid chance of developing into a #1 option. Those guys tend not to fall out of the top 5.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Not to be overly optimistic, but there is no team right now that has BETTER odds than we do.

That is true. Some team is going to feel really lucky tonight.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Yeah...I'm not a huge Barrett fan and I think last year was loaded at the top. It's obviously just an opinion, but I would assume he would have fallen around 6 last year. Bamba and Carter were really good prospects but lack the star potential of Barrett.

He's got flaws, but has a solid chance of developing into a #1 option. Those guys tend not to fall out of the top 5.

Did playing next to Zion help or hurt Barrett's status?

 

[slinslin]

Yeah...I'm not a huge Barrett fan and I think last year was loaded at the top. It's obviously just an opinion, but I would assume he would have fallen around 6 last year. Bamba and Carter were really good prospects but lack the star potential of Barrett.

He's got flaws, but has a solid chance of developing into a #1 option. Those guys tend not to fall out of the top 5.

Yeah going through the last 10 drafts I think there is good chance he would be the #1 pick in 4 (Fultz, Benett, Irving, Wiggins) and an argument could maybe be made in 4 more (Simmons, Towns, Wall, Griffin).

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Did playing next to Zion help or hurt Barrett's status?

I think it definitely hurt it. But he was the favorite to be #1 overall coming into the season and was a very, very highly touted prospect. So even though some of the luster has worn off, I think he's still probably got a lot of value as a prospect.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Did playing next to Zion help or hurt Barrett's status?

Arguably both helped and hurt. It hurt him in the sense that he had Zion next to him to be compared directly to, but helped in the sense that it made his job easier and likely helped his stats a little as well.

 

[slinslin]

Arguably both helped and hurt. It hurt him in the sense that he had Zion next to him to be compared directly to, but helped in the sense that it made his job easier and likely helped his stats a little as well.

I dont think it helped his stats.

Barrett was the #1 option on Duke, not Zion and I am not sure if Zion is an assist magnet since he scores a lot off of his own drives and putbacks instead of jumpers.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

I think it definitely hurt it. But he was the favorite to be #1 overall coming into the season and was a very, very highly touted prospect. So even though some of the luster has worn off, I think he's still probably got a lot of value as a prospect.

He is going to be a damn good NBA player. He has good size, good handles, good passing, potential as a shooter and is a pretty good athlete. If the shooting comes along like I think it will than I think he is going to have a real shot at being a top 10 player in the league some day.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

I dont think it helped his stats.

Barrett was the #1 option on Duke, not Zion.

Sure, but he had Zion playing off the ball and the defense always had to account for him when he was on the floor. Especially if he was anywhere near the basket.

 

[slinslin]

2017 - solid chance he goes over Fultz imho
2013 - almost definitely goes #1. Bennett went 1st in that draft.
2011 - I could see him going ahead of Kyrie because Kyrie played so little that year; Williams wasn't as good a prospect at all and went #2.

Those are the only 3 I see, but I agree with your general point.

Wiggins was a much worse prospect than Barrett, you think Wiggins goes ahead of him?

They are both Canadian but Barrett was way more highly touted than Wiggins and had a great college year while Wiggins had an underwhelming college year and only got picked first because of Embiid's health.

I would almost want to put him over Simmons too, I probably should considering scouts questioned Simmons even over Ingram who was not as good a prospect as Barrett.

 

[Western Font]

We had good luck in the lottery just. last. year. But I understand how historically it hasn't been great for the Suns. More than anything I just wish there were more intriguing players in the top 6. But it will be interesting no matter what once we know where we land.

 

[JCSunsfan]

If we end up with the 6 or 7 pick and cannot trade it, I think I would just take Brandon Clarke. His numbers are truly phenomenal. Every year it seems that there are players who have had fantastic years but somehow just don't get the hype. It's like we forget that actual production matters. Markannen, Tatum to a certain extent, Shawn Marion, even Steve Nash when he was drafted--they were all in this category. Clarke, to me, is a player with a very high floor--kinda like Mikal last year. I think he can play pf too. He is athletic, but his arms look short to me.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Wiggins was a much worse prospect than Barrett, you think Wiggins goes ahead of him?

They are both Canadian but Barrett was way more highly touted than Wiggins and had a great college year while Wiggins had an underwhelming college year and only got picked first because of Embiid's health.

I just remember there being a TON of buzz about Wiggins and Parker that year. He definitely didn't help himself in the tournament, but the hype for Wiggins coming into that year was out of control.

Maybe I'm remembering it wrong, but I recall Wiggins being seen as a franchise savior. He had enough residual hype that Minnesota gave him a massive contract even after it was pretty clear he was a disappointment.

 

[AzStevenCal]

He is going to be a damn good NBA player. He has good size, good handles, good passing, potential as a shooter and is a pretty good athlete. If the shooting comes along like I think it will than think he is going to have a real shot at being a top 10 player in the league some day.

His shooting is a problem but my concern has more to do with his decision making. He had many opportunities to feed the almost unstoppable Zion when he would call his own number instead. And if his shooting matched his physical gifts, that would have been less of an issue.

 

[slinslin]

I just remember there being a TON of buzz about Wiggins and Parker that year. He definitely didn't help himself in the tournament, but the hype for Wiggins coming into that year was out of control.

Yeah because his dunking mixtapes. I was hyped for Wiggins as well but he showed nothing to be excited about at Kansas.

As I remember the hype of Wiggins and Parker was all highschool hype that wasn't really there anymore. Wiggins was even traded for Kevin Love something you basically never see.

Barrett does not have the media hype I guess but I have known about Barrett for probably 4 or 5 years now and he had always been projected as a lock to be a future #1 pick. He had a lot of incredible junior national games for Canada where he destroyed even USA teams.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I just remember there being a TON of buzz about Wiggins and Parker that year. He definitely didn't help himself in the tournament, but the hype for Wiggins coming into that year was out of control.

Yeah I don't know how to measure it but I thought there was a lot more buzz on Wiggins and Parker. Maybe it's because I bought into the hype that year?

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Yeah because his dunking mixtapes. I was hyped for Wiggins as well but he showed nothing to be excited about at Kansas.

Barrett does not have the media hype I guess but I have known about Barrett for probably 4 or 5 years now and he had always been projected as a lock to be a future #1 pick. He had a lot of incredible junior national games for Canada where he destroyed even USA teams.

It's certainly a fair argument. Wiggins obviously didn't work out, and I agree that Barrett has been a top prospect on the radar for years.

 

[slinslin]

Yeah I don't know how to measure it but I thought there was a lot more buzz on Wiggins and Parker. Maybe it's because I bought into the hype that year?

Wiggins 17.1ppg 5.9rpg 1.5apg 33mpg
Barrett 22.6ppg 7.6rpg 4.3apg 35mpg

Raw numbers are flawed but the difference is gargantuan.