Chris Paul , Wake Forrest

[slinslin]

He was mentioned in insider a couple of days ago as a possible candidate to rise his status in the NCAA tournament.

Seeing how we are sorely lacking a playmaker in the backcourt. And Barbosa showing little to nothing especially in the halfcourt as an assist-man he might be a new candidate for one of the Suns picks.
I don't think we can get by with Barbosa/Vujanic next season if we don't get Kobe and expect to win considerably more games.

Too often we end up with more turnovers than assists.

Chris Paul's statistics are impressive.

For a freshman PG on a good team like Wake Forest he is averaging:

14.2ppg 3.2rpg 5.8apg 2.8spg 0.4bpg 49%FG 46.9%3s

And a better assist/turnover ratio than Jarrett Jack (soph), Mustafa Shakur(fresh), Jameer Nelson (sr). Tied with Raymond Felton(soph) and slightly worse than Devin Harris(soph) who averages 1.4 less apg.

And Paul isn't turning 19 until 6th May.

A strong tournament and he should be way way up the draft charts. Probably as high as top 5.

Here is what ESPN says about Paul
One of the best point guards in his class ... A lethal scorer and playmaker, with outstanding quickness and penetration abilities ... Shows unusual maturity in his decision making ... Rather than sagging on the perimeter and using his outstanding shooting skills for buckets, he will take advantage of his speed to garner high-percentage shots going to the basket ... Still will look for the set 3-pointer, and he nails it when he gets it ... Has incredible ability to anticipate, he collects a ton of steals and forces the transition game ... Makes players around him better, creating shot opportunities for his teammates who move off the ball ... Limits turnovers ... A 2003 McDonald's High School All- American (East Team) ... Dished out 10 assists in the McDonald's HS All-America game and was awarded the sportsmanship award ... Participated in the USA Basketball Men's Youth Development Festival and holds the individual festival record for most steals (14) by an East team member ... Averaged 30.8 points, 8.0 assists, 6.0 steals and 5.0 rebounds per contest ... Scored 61 points in one game last season days after his grandfather was tragically murdered at the age of 61 ... When he reached the 61-point mark, he intentionally missed a free throw, then took himself out of the game even though the state high school scoring record was well within reach ... Brother, C.J. plays basketball for the University of South Carolina-Spartanburg.

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[Joe Mama]

slin, IMO you're dreaming if you think the Phoenix Suns are going to use a top five draft pick to take a young, smallish point guard when they will already have two young point guards on the roster. I just don't see it happening. I watched him play a few times in the last couple weeks. He is a very good player. I saw Harris for the first time the other day, and I was honestly more impressed with him. But then again I'm not a pro scout.

Joe Mama

 

[slinslin]

Well I can tell you I am not dreaming because I am not in favor of drafting a PG. I am in favor of drafting the best player available and the Suns could use good players at every position.

Milos Vujanic is far from a sure thing as a capable PG. Howard Eisley doesn't deserve to play in the NBA. Leandro is very raw in terms of playmaking.

The Suns might not even sign Vujanic if he doesn't impress them in the summerleague. At least I have heard Colangelo or West say that they want to bring him over early in the summer to evaluate him.

Looking at the top picks the only big guys in the top10 who look like they are worth being drafted that high are Howard and Okafor.

 

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by slinslin
Well I can tell you I am not dreaming because I am not in favor of drafting a PG. I am in favor of drafting the best player available and the Suns could use good players at every position.

Milos Vujanic is far from a sure thing as a capable PG. Howard Eisley doesn't deserve to play in the NBA. Leandro is very raw in terms of playmaking.

The Suns might not even sign Vujanic if he doesn't impress them in the summerleague. At least I have heard Colangelo or West say that they want to bring him over early in the summer to evaluate him.

Looking at the top picks the only big guys in the top10 who look like they are worth being drafted that high are Howard and Okafor.

I see. I do agree that if the Phoenix Suns keep their draft pick they should take the best player available. However I think if there's any question they will go with a big man. I'm not sure how we can really say that Howard is definitely a better prospect than some of these European big man that none of us have really seen play. Let's not forget that in many cases these high school players have proven even less than some of these European guys playing pro ball.

Joe Mama

 

[PhxGametime]

I'd prefer to draft a prospect ala Andre Iguodala that can play PG and 2 other positions than a pure PG with Suns pick. I'm high on Barbosa and Vujanic could be an excellent back-up - add Iguodala to the mix with Joe Johnson and Casey Jacobsen and thats a solid young backcourt with size.

 

[scotsman13]

personally i am in favor of drafting a center. there are a couple good center propects. if the suns move white (i wish they wouldnt) then we are very light at center. if lampe can really hit the wieghts this summer along with summer play then we might be a little stronger here. in that case we should take the best player that we think maybe able to get some time to develop.

 

[George O'Brien]

I would say there is a zero chance of the Suns taking a PG with their lottery pick. If they keep their Cleveland pick (they won last night BTW), then a PG is a remote best player available pick.

My understanding is that Vujanic has been focusing on being more of a PG this season than in the past. But like Barbosa, he may not be ready to take over a playoff bound.

If the Suns get Kobe (I still doubt it), then the Suns will spend the summer working JJ exclusively at PG. They may end up doing it anyway unless the Suns were to pick up someone like Brent Barry who could play point.

For the lottery pick, if not in the top two, I think the Suns will go for a Euro big man or trade the pick.

 

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by BbaLL_31
I'd prefer to draft a prospect ala Andre Iguodala that can play PG and 2 other positions than a pure PG with Suns pick. I'm high on Barbosa and Vujanic could be an excellent back-up - add Iguodala to the mix with Joe Johnson and Casey Jacobsen and thats a solid young backcourt with size.

I like Iguodala as a defender, ball handler, and distributor, but I'm opposed to using a high first-round draft pick on him. This guy just doesn't shoot well. I don't think the Phoenix Suns can afford to put another perimeter player out there who can't shoot from outside.

Joe Mama

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by Joe Mama
I like Iguodala as a defender, ball handler, and distributor, but I'm opposed to using a high first-round draft pick on him. This guy just doesn't shoot well. I don't think the Phoenix Suns can afford to put another perimeter player out there who can't shoot from outside.

Joe Mama

If Iguodala is still available and the Suns keep the Cleveland pick, he would be a reasonable choice. But most mock drafts have him going in mid lottery which IMHO is too high - at least for the Suns.

 

[F-Dog]

I still think that the Cleveland pick would be best used on a foreign prospect that we could leave with his club team for a year--someone like Peja Samardszki or Rudy Fernandez.


It's probably a moot point, though, since the Suns seem almost desperate to get rid of the pick.

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by F-Dog
I still think that the Cleveland pick would be best used on a foreign prospect that we could leave with his club team for a year--someone like Peja Samardszki or Rudy Fernandez.


It's probably a moot point, though, since the Suns seem almost desperate to get rid of the pick.

I am pretty sure that at least one of the top four Euro centers will drop to the Cleveland pick. Everyone has them going earlier, but I expect one or two college players to move up while many teams are going to be scared off by the mimimal productivity of Darko Milicic and Nikoloz Tskitishvili. Most lottery teams need lots of help and really cannot afford to wait three years for the guy to develop while a team like Detroit can.

 

[slinslin]

Chris Paul is just trying to lead his team to a comeback in the first round.

Wow if Wake Forrest went out early that would really mess up my brackets.

 

[Joe Mama]

I picked Manhattan over Florida. I also had UTEP over Maryland, but I changed it at the last minute.

Joe Mama

 

[slinslin]

I am 5-1 so far, stupid Florida.

 

[slinslin]

Chris Paul is the real deal. The Next great PG.

28pts 8reb 6ast 3stl 2blk and just 1 turnover?

He lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks in the 2nd round game.

And he is still 18. If we have a pick and Okafor and Dwight Howard are gone I don't think you could pass up on that.
We have a couple of young PGs but none of them is close to a sure thing.

Paul has no flaws really except probably strength. He shoots well, defends well, passes well....

If we can trade Eisley, our pick (if it is top2) and Clevelands pick for Charlotte's pick. Take Paul and use Barbosa or the rights to Vujanic as trade bait, Marion, Johnson, Barbosa for TMac.