Article related to Budinger and Suns

[corrado]

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 06.15.2008


Sometime today or Monday, Chase Budinger almost certainly will announce that he will remain in the NBA draft and the Arizona Wildcats will be left with a small forward rotation of Zane Johnson and Jamelle Horne.

Not exactly Richard Jefferson and Luke Walton.

While we're doing some forecasting, here's another: The Phoenix Suns will select Budinger with the No. 15 pick in the draft. They will be drawn to him because he is a person of good character and good size with one tempting skill — perimeter shooting — who has not tapped his vast potential.

Budinger will automatically receive $1.62 million for his rookie season in the 15th slot. He will be a happy dude.

The debate that rages within the Suns office, as with all other NBA clubs, is whether Budinger will be the next Brent Barry, selected No. 15 overall out of Oregon State in 1995, or the next Shareef Abdur-Rahim, chosen No. 3 overall out of Cal in 1996.

Budinger is apt to have a career much closer to that of Barry, a designated shooter who cannot create his own shot and doesn't have enough lateral quickness to be a defensive stopper. Barry has earned $49.4 million in his NBA career, playing for five clubs. He was a starter for four of his 13 pro seasons.

 

[Proteus]

Yah...just what this team needs to add : another player who doesn't play defense.

 

[tobiazz]

Rush is better and will be on the board.

 

[Irish]

Too bad they don't have real reporters in Tucson.

 

[devilalum]

I know the mocks have him going in this range but why would the Suns automatically take this guy? I don't think Kerr and Sarver will give any preference to UofA guys. That would just be stupid with all the talent that's out there.

 

[Irish]

The problem with Budinger is that he's not even vaguely a "need". Given a choice, I'd suggest their priorities are:

1. Athletic power forward who can replace Marion and Diaw (who should be an SF). Beasley would be nice.

2. Serious point guard who can push the ball, run the offense, shoot the ball, and play defense. Rose on a good day would be acceptable.

3. Shut down defender who can deal with Parker, Paul, and Kobe.

How far down the list is another soft shooter?

 

[cly2tw]

I certainly would puke over this selection. Budinger is CJ Jacobson. His ceiling seems to be Luke Walton and Vujajic. Brent Barry was super athletic and had a great handle apt for PG duties in Seattle. At least, Rush looks like a Posey, Prince kind of talent with a mature game.

 

[PhxGametime]

IMO and it is that (my opinion) along with stat overlooking; Budinger is better athlete, better scorer, better rebounder, better NBA body, better passer, better ballhandler, comparable shooter (Rush is more of spot up shooter), can create better offense, even averages more steals, and finishes better from the games I've seen, etc.


and hasn't even lived up to all of his potential... so he's not the best defender.


Let it be known I'm a U of A fan but I've also seen nearly EVERY single Wildcat get criticized every single year on this board come Draft time and I'd put up the Wildcats talent in NBA to any Collegiate Team (although could use a few more bigmen in NBA). Call ME a homer...

 

[HooverDam]

Budinger would be an absolutely horrific selection. The Suns need a Center, a Small Forward and a Point guard. He doesn't fill a need at all. Budinger is the type of guy you'd be thrilled to get in the 2nd round, he'll probably have a fine NBA career full of hitting wide open 3's, but #15 is a bit high for that skillset.

 

[Irish]

IMO and it is that (my opinion) along with stat overlooking; Budinger is better athlete, better scorer, better rebounder, better NBA body, better passer, better ballhandler, comparable shooter (Rush is more of spot up shooter), can create better offense, even averages more steals, and finishes better from the games I've seen, etc.


and hasn't even lived up to all of his potential... so he's not the best defender.


Let it be known I'm a U of A fan but I've also seen nearly EVERY single Wildcat get criticized every single year on this board come Draft time and I'd put up the Wildcats talent in NBA to any Collegiate Team (although could use a few more bigmen in NBA). Call ME a homer...

You mean like in Homer Simpson?

Have you looked at Rush's videos? I'm not sure why you think Budinger is more athletic than Rush. Do you have a videos of Budinger blocking a shot by Durant?

 

[Chaplin]

IMO and it is that (my opinion) along with stat overlooking; Budinger is better athlete, better scorer, better rebounder, better NBA body, better passer, better ballhandler, comparable shooter (Rush is more of spot up shooter), can create better offense, even averages more steals, and finishes better from the games I've seen, etc.


and hasn't even lived up to all of his potential... so he's not the best defender.


Let it be known I'm a U of A fan but I've also seen nearly EVERY single Wildcat get criticized every single year on this board come Draft time and I'd put up the Wildcats talent in NBA to any Collegiate Team (although could use a few more bigmen in NBA). Call ME a homer...

Look, I understand homerism, and hell, I'm a UA alum, but you can't POSSIBLY believe any of this. Please.

Budinger would be an awful, awful, AWFUL pick at #15. Griffin himself said that he was a "late first rounder". This is typical Tucson journalism, that is, no news at all, just lame opinions no better than what you find on hoopsworld.

I'm even iffy on Bayless being a top 5 pick. The kid is good, but he's undersized and has never played against competition quite like the NBA. The guy's a tweener like Barbosa (who was taken at the end of the first round).

 

[padsboltsbearssuns]

He won't be Barry or even close to Shareef. See Luke Jackson, Oregon.

 

[tobiazz]

Look, I understand homerism, and hell, I'm a UA alum, but you can't POSSIBLY believe any of this. Please.

Budinger would be an awful, awful, AWFUL pick at #15. Griffin himself said that he was a "late first rounder". This is typical Tucson journalism, that is, no news at all, just lame opinions no better than what you find on hoopsworld.

I'm even iffy on Bayless being a top 5 pick. The kid is good, but he's undersized and has never played against competition quite like the NBA. The guy's a tweener like Barbosa (who was taken at the end of the first round).

Barbosa probably "fell" due to the language barrier, Brazilian competition, and his weird shot release. People say this is a very deep draft but even the very high picks seem to have far more flaws than the players in last year's draft.

If the Suns take Rush at #15, I am interested to see how he stacks up against Nick Young, taken at #16 in 2007. Young is the same age as Rush and seems like he should continue to be a better player than Rush. I think that's a caliber of player you can be pretty happy with at 15. Young started performing nicely toward the end of the year.

 

[Mainstreet]

Coach Olsen, please convince Budinger to go back to school. He needs it... let me clear my throat, the Suns need it.

 

[Mainstreet]

The debate that rages within the Suns office, as with all other NBA clubs, is whether Budinger will be the next Brent Barry, selected No. 15 overall out of Oregon State in 1995...

I don't see the Brent Barry comparison because it was widely known when Barry was drafted, he could play PG. The Suns still have coveted him his whole career because he could shoot lights out and run the PG position as well.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

It should be noted that Kerr and the UA's relationship is not what it was a year ago making some sort of "loyalty pick" highly unlikely.

 

[Rab]

Whenever I think of Chase, names like Casey Jacobsen and Luke Walton come to mind. I think he would be a terrible pick for the Suns.

 

[JCSunsfan]

The problem with Budinger is that he's not even vaguely a "need". Given a choice, I'd suggest their priorities are:

1. Athletic power forward who can replace Marion and Diaw (who should be an SF). Beasley would be nice.

2. Serious point guard who can push the ball, run the offense, shoot the ball, and play defense. Rose on a good day would be acceptable.

3. Shut down defender who can deal with Parker, Paul, and Kobe.

How far down the list is another soft shooter?

1. bpa
2. bpa
3. bpa

 

[Ronin]

I certainly would puke over this selection.

me too.

 

[nowagimp]

The problem with Budinger is that he's not even vaguely a "need". Given a choice, I'd suggest their priorities are:

1. Athletic power forward who can replace Marion and Diaw (who should be an SF). Beasley would be nice.

2. Serious point guard who can push the ball, run the offense, shoot the ball, and play defense. Rose on a good day would be acceptable.

3. Shut down defender who can deal with Parker, Paul, and Kobe.

How far down the list is another soft shooter?

So the suns need a pat burke, majek lampe, steven hunter, zarko, Jake Tsakilidis, Jake Voskuhl? Damn, the suns have had like one good draft in 8 years(amare), while passing up great talent too often. The suns dont need another stiff who wont play in the NBA, they need someone who can play and contribute without killing the teams chances of winning. The suns are OLD, and need help fast. When Nash and shaqs contracts expire in 2 years, they can go after a quality big(PF/C). They have wasted too many picks on longshots, and #15 pick is a longshot for PF/C in the NBA. If a good PG falls that far, OK, but thats not what the mocks say is going to happen, and PG also takes alot of experience to get the NBA level skills, everyone isnt CP3. The big men likely available at #15 will be ready in 3-4 years, if ever, they are too young to be of any help in the next 2 years. There have been lots of young big men that take their whole rookie contract to become servicable and then bolt to free agency, I say let someone else train them and the suns can hire them as a FA in 3-4 years. Rush is fine with me, perhaps another better impact contributor is available, but it seems the SF/SG position is the deep part of this draft and the suns need a 3pt shooter and defender at those positions. NO MORE JAKING in the draft.

 

[Mainstreet]

So the suns need a pat burke, majek lampe, steven hunter, zarko, Jake Tsakilidis, Jake Voskuhl? Damn, the suns have had like one good draft in 8 years(amare), while passing up great talent too often. The suns dont need another stiff who wont play in the NBA, they need someone who can play and contribute without killing the teams chances of winning.

If you're saying the Suns have been bad at drafting for a number of years, you are absolutely correct. However, among the bigs you mention above, only Big Jake and Zarko were drafted by the Suns so Stoudemire helps to offset that. However, one can say the Suns have been almost equally bad at smalls they chose to keep, e.g., Jacobsen, Tucker, Strawberry with Barbosa being the exception. I give the Suns a worse grade at smalls because they did not recognize the value in the selections they sold or traded away. Not keeping the selection for Iggy or Deng really hurts going all the way forward up to Rondo.

 

[nowagimp]

If you're saying the Suns have been bad at drafting for a number of years, you are absolutely correct. However, among the bigs you mention above, only Big Jake and Zarko were drafted by the Suns so Stoudemire helps to offset that. However, one can say the Suns have been almost equally bad at smalls they chose to keep, e.g., Jacobsen, Tucker, Strawberry with Barbosa being the exception. I give the Suns a worse grade at smalls because they did not recognize the value in the selections they sold or traded away. Not keeping the selection for Iggy or Deng really hurts going all the way forward up to Rondo.

Talent evaluation is in and out of the draft. The suns have invested alot of time with big stiffs, they took em when other teams didnt want them. I guess they had to prove to themselves that they couldnt do it. It scares me that they evaluate the talent of bigs so badly. Tucker and strawberry were late picks(wonder why they were still there?). Most guys that are picked at the end of the first round or later dont make it. The suns pick best when they do it for someone else(Rajon Rondo, Luol Deng). We'll see if rudy fernandez(suns pick at #24, given to the blazers to unload salary), DJ or tucker make it. I hear fernandez may play for the blazers this year.

 

[Covert Rain]

While we're doing some forecasting, here's another: The Phoenix Suns will select Budinger with the No. 15 pick in the draft.

If this happens I will literally .

This team cannot continue to draft guys with no defensive ability. We already have enough of that. We need a guy who plays solid defense. Not to mention that drafting Budinger that high is a big reach IMO. You don't draft that type of player at 15 in this draft.

 

[Irish]

Right now it is hard to be sure if Tucker and Strawberry are going to be players or not. We cannot evalute guys who were not rotation players because D'Antoni only played rotation players and absolutely hates rookies.

 

[nowagimp]

Right now it is hard to be sure if Tucker and Strawberry are going to be players or not. We cannot evalute guys who were not rotation players because D'Antoni only played rotation players and absolutely hates rookies.

Playing rookies will get you beat in many cases. The suns are still 2 years from knowing whether tucker or DJ will be NBA players, regardless of DAntoni. The celtics gave up on JJ, JJ wasnt worth crap until his 4th year, same with LB. Rookies develop faster on bad teams that can afford to play them through their inexperience. The expectations in Phoenix did not allow for much in the way of biffing games to train rookies. I expect most fans dont have an appreciation for watching your prized rookie turn the ball over and screw up defensive assignments on the way to a terrible +/-. Its always easy to second guess when your a__ and job arent on the line. Watching Doc Rivers play rondo, and not play him has been interesting(played 15 mins last night). Rondo creates all kind of spacing problems on offense, but is their best defender. If rondo wasnt a good(smart) defender, I expect Doc would have set him on the bench most of this, his 2nd year. Doc played House and cassel at the PG for 32 mins last night. Im sure suns fans would have been bitching that Rondo wasnt playing enough, but it was probably the right call. DA played LB through his terrible defense and turnovers, he hurt the suns much more than Rondo hurt the celts int he playoffs. Powe got a whole 5 mins last night, even with KG in foul trouble, Doc went with PJ brown, his vets, played his young guys very little.