"Baby Shaq" Intrigues Suns

[arthurracoon]

http://www.nba.com/suns/news/draft03_report_030621.html

"Baby Shaq" Intrigues Suns


By Dustin Krugel, Suns.com
Posted: June 21, 2003

Last year the Phoenix Suns struck gold by drafting a then 19-year-old Amaré Stoudemire and they may dig for more with the 17th pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft.

Sofoklis Schortsanitis, who will turn 18 on Sunday, displayed a powerful inside game Saturday afternoon in the Suns' final pre-draft workout, which also included Mississippi State point guard Derrick Zimmerman, Arizona State swingman Donnell Knight and Fresno State forward Noel Felix.

The 6-9, 310-pound forward/center with a 7-4 wingspan doesn’t fulfill an immediate need for the Suns, but he may be too tempting to pass up.

“Good Lord! Eighteen years old and a body like that?” Suns Head Coach Frank Johnson raved afterwards. “He has great hands, great feet, a nice little soft touch. You start thinking, ‘Okay, two, three years, what if?’ There are a lot of possibilities there. He is very intriguing.”

Schortsanitis, whose mother is from Cameroon and his father from Greece, played his first full season in the Greek League in 2002-03 with Iraklis after making his debut as a professional at the tender age of 15. This past season he was listed among the top 10 in the league in field goal percentage (58.3%) and in the top 20 in rebounding (6.2) in only 22 minutes.

“He really only played one year of organized ball and the kid has made tremendous progress physically, tactically, skill-wise," Suns International Scouting Consultant Tim Shea said, "Mentally? We'll find out."

The teenager's strong post presence earned him the nickname “Baby Shaq” from Iraklis teammate and former Golden State Warrior forward Tony Farmer, but the Greek Junior National Team member brushed off any comparisons to the Lakers’ All-Star center Shaquille O’Neal.

“No. No. Shaq is very good player, but I don’t think I have similarities with him," said Schortsanitis, who was named to the All-Star team after finishing second with 10.1 rebounds per game at the 2001 European Junior Championships in Latvia. "He’s really strong and bigger than me.”

While he can’t match Shaq’s size and ability, Schortsanitis showed he can set one heck of a pick, even if he was cheating a little bit.

“(I told him) ‘Don’t move on your screen.’ I said, ‘If you go down and set a screen, it’s going to take them all day anyways to get around you. Don’t worry about that,'” Johnson joked. “He’s so big.”

Schortsanitis, who aggravated a quad injury during the tryout, was uncertain if he would schedule any more workouts before Thursday's draft. Including Phoenix, he has auditioned for 10 NBA teams.

 

[fordronken]

If we do draft him, and he ends up turning into a good player, then he may end up like Steve Nash for us: really good, but backing up an (eventual) all-star.

 

[slinslin]

When we had Steve Nash we had two allstar type of PGs on the roster ahead of Nash.
Nash also couldn't play two positions.

Shorty can play center against 80% of the NBA's starting centers at 6'10 and 7'4 wingspan. Adonal Foyle etc. aren't bigger than Shorty.

 

[elindholm]

Shorty can play center against 80% of the NBA's starting centers

So can Stoudemire, whose vertical quickness compensates for his (somewhat) shorter arms. I think most Suns fans would prefer to stop using PFs who "can play center" in that role.

 

[slinslin]

Anyway everyone we draft at #17 will likely always be a bench player as long as he is on the Suns if he can't play center because all of the other starting positions are filled.

We already have a 7'2 center to match up against the few big centers that are out there. But he simply can't guard PFs who play center for the other team.
I much rather play 2 strong skilled PFs than 1 PF and a big stiff at the center position.

Baby Shaq is 6'10 massive and long arms at the age of 17. There is a good chance he grows an inch at least.

Either he could be a starter at the center position or he could be a 6th man backing up the center and PF spot. How many teams have a skilled 7 footer in their 2nd unit?

The truth is that there are hardly any 7 footers who are good enough to get minutes. You don't have to be 7' anymore to be a true center. 6'11 is easily enough.
Alonzo Mourning is 6'10, Brad Miller is 6'11, Adonal Foyle 6'10, Erick Dampier 6'11, Jamaal Magloire 6'11, Eddy Curry 6'11, Jarron Collins 6'10, Lorenzen Wright 6'11, Dale Davis 6'11, Tony Battie 6'11, Theo Ratliff 6'10, Raef LaFrents 6'11, Antonio Davis 6'9, Jahidi White 6'9 etc etc

 

[hcsilla]

Originally posted by elindholm
Shorty can play center against 80% of the NBA's starting centers

So can Stoudemire, whose vertical quickness compensates for his (somewhat) shorter arms. I think most Suns fans would prefer to stop using PFs who "can play center" in that role.

It doesn't matter what Suns fans would prefer while Frank Johnson is the headcoach of Phoenix Suns.

 

[Goldfield]

Seems to me, it doesnt matter how tall you are to the top of your head. Its all about the wing span... At 7'4" he will be pleanty tall.

I dont know what kinda talent will be there at #17 but I wouldnt mind him as our pick...

 

[elindholm]

It doesn't matter what Suns fans would prefer while Frank Johnson is the headcoach of Phoenix Suns.

Is the point of this thread to guess whom the Suns will pick, or is it to voice our preferences about the kind of player we'd like and how we'd like to see him used?

 

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by elindholm
Shorty can play center against 80% of the NBA's starting centers

So can Stoudemire, whose vertical quickness compensates for his (somewhat) shorter arms. I think most Suns fans would prefer to stop using PFs who "can play center" in that role.

Does Amare Stoudemire have shorter arms? The wish I would have copied the measurements for last year's draft class. I didn't, but I thought he had a good but not great reach.

I definitely think that if they can stay out of foul trouble (Sofakles supposedly is prone to it) he and Amare Stoudemire can play the 4 & 5 against most teams.

Joe Mama

 

[jw7]

I thought Eddy Curry was "Baby Shaq"


LOL anyone else remember "Baby Jordan" - Harold Miner? Whatever happened to him?

 

[Chris_Sanders]

So I think we can safely say that the Suns have the following guys as their big 3.

Zarko, Cook, Schortsanitis


It is clear they want to add size. Each guy brings a different thing to the table. I have no idea what order they are in.

 

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by Chris_Sanders
So I think we can safely say that the Suns have the following guys as their big 3.

Zarko, Cook, Schortsanitis


It is clear they want to add size. Each guy brings a different thing to the table. I have no idea what order they are in.

Unfortunately you can probably add Ridnour to that list if he slips to #17. Collison as well.

Joe Mama

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by Joe Mama
Unfortunately you can probably add Ridnour to that list if he slips to #17. Collison as well.

Joe Mama

Zarko
Ridnour
West
Sofoklis
Cook

Our pick will most likely be one of those five. My order of preference:

1. Zarko
2. West
3. Sofoklis
4. Cook
5. Ridnour

 

[Chris_Sanders]

So are we starting a:

Just say NO to RidNOur?

 

[cheng]

Originally posted by Joe Mama
Does Amare Stoudemire have shorter arms? The wish I would have copied the measurements for last year's draft class. I didn't, but I thought he had a good but not great reach.

Joe Mama

From last year I remember Nene has 7'4 wingspan, 6'10 1/4 without shoes. Stoudemire was measured about 7'1, 6'8 1/2 without shoes. Stoudemire is bigger and taller than both Wilcox and Gooden.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

hmm, if those are the five we're lookin' at i'd say the following order:

shorty
ridenour
west
cook
zarko

i know that's counter to much of the thought on this board, but here's my reasoning:

if we're going big, let's gamble on LARGE potential. shorty has the greatest chance of being a real bulldozer. we need more muscle whether it be at PF or C or swing position between the two. ridenour is still one of the top 4 pgs in the draft (though i'd prefer barbosa is he falls - the language excuse is ridiculous to me and the shot, well, i've seen some tape, it's awkward, but effective). i think ridenour can excel at the backup slot for a couple of years while gaining weight and learning defensive tricks of the trade. eventually i think he could develop into a good enough pg that he'll be tradable for a value draft pick (ala steve nash). west may be the most polished of those listed. he's probably the closest to being ready to produce this year. i don't think he has as much upside of ridenour/shorty/zarko (from all reports), but may be a better pro early on. cook has talent. he may not be the most athletic individual, and yeah, his play has been soft, but this past season i think he stepped up. also, just behind west, he's the most ready. zarko i know little about. mostly scouting reports and articles. everything that i've read has been so contradictory that i just can't excited about him. if the suns draft him i'll get excited based purely on our excellent track record of finding steals.

 

[Goldfield]

Originally posted by Ouchie-Z-Clown


if we're going big, let's gamble on LARGE potential. shorty has the greatest chance of being a real bulldozer. we need more muscle whether it be at PF or C or swing position between the two.

west may be the most polished of those listed. he's probably the closest to being ready to produce this year.

That is why I like West sofar... I will trust the suns with who ever they take, they seem to beable to find alot of good players...


But I want a BIG that can do alittle of everything, and is ready to help now...


A similar role to that of Malik Rose. A backup who can give quality min's at the PF slot...

If Shorty can become a good Center then I would think about trading down and adding a second rounder, then grabbing shorty pluss another player...

 

[cly2tw]

From Shea's interview, it looks if we draft Shorty, we'll let him develop in Europe for 1-2 years. This way, he'd get playing time and the Suns get cap relief for this season with Googs contract still on. It'd be the best, particularly if Sofoklitis did have the potential to be a good center.

If they really want somebody to contribute right away, I'd go for West who seems to be the complete package judging from his stats in college. Either way, the Suns will do good.

 

[Goldfield]

Originally posted by cly2tw
From Shea's interview, it looks if we draft Shorty, we'll let him develop in Europe for 1-2 years. This way, he'd get playing time and the Suns get cap relief for this season with Googs contract still on. It'd be the best, particularly if Sofoklitis did have the potential to be a good center.

If they really want somebody to contribute right away, I'd go for West who seems to be the complete package judging from his stats in college. Either way, the Suns will do good.

I agree, sofar I am thinking WEST, but Shorty seems intristing!

 

[sunsfn]

I believe the thinking on the suns is that whoever they draft will be here, not in Europe.
If they draft Sofoklitis, I think he will be here.

 

[mark1]

Sofoklis Schortsanitis should be the man. He just turned 18, he already has an NBA body, and has more upside than Zarko or Cook. This team needs a center who can rebound, and run the floor. NBA draft net says he is a hard worker and still growing, this kid might be a 7 footer in a year. The Suns have said they want to get tougher, and Cook and Zarko are not tough, Sofoklis Schortsanitis is. With Shorty and Amare on the frontline, teams won't drive the lane as often as they've done in the past.

This kid has the most upside, we should draft an athlete not just a guy who can shoot the 15-18 footer, who can't play on the low block or rebound. Of course Shorty is raw but, didn't they say that about Amare before last years draft?

 

[Chaplin]

A 2nd rounder is prime candidate for development overseas. Not the #17.

 

[Goldfield]

Originally posted by mark1
Sofoklis Schortsanitis should be the man. He just turned 18, he already has an NBA body, and has more upside than Zarko or Cook. This team needs a center who can rebound, and run the floor. NBA draft net says he is a hard worker and still growing, this kid might be a 7 footer in a year. The Suns have said they want to get tougher, and Cook and Zarko are not tough, Sofoklis Schortsanitis is. With Shorty and Amare on the frontline, teams won't drive the lane as often as they've done in the past.

Of course Shorty is raw but, didn't they say that about Amare before last years draft?

Good point about the tuffness...

Also, I think we could afford to wait on a guy like shorty sice we all expected to have to wait on Amare...

man the draft is fun!