Diogu will stay in the draft

[Biclops]

From RealGM...

According to DraftExpress.com, Ike Diogu is staying in the draft “100%” according to a reliable source close to him.

He has workouts scheduled with Charlotte on the 22nd, the Lakers on the 24th and the Warriors on the 25th. Despite staying in the draft, Diogu cancelled a workout with the Timberwolves today (the 20th) and a workout with the Raptors tomorrow, claiming that he wasn’t feeling well.

These cancellations have led many to speculate that a promise from the Suns is in place

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On a different note I saw it in the draft express that Reno Ukic is working out for the Suns tommorow

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

These cancellations have led many to speculate that a promise from the Suns is in place

Agreed. This is a classic Suns draft move. Bring a guy in for two workouts close to each other, then he can no longer work out to teams above him due to illness.

I still think the Suns will have to trade up.

 

[HooverDam]

If the Suns want to trade up to get Ike, what do they have to offer? They probably want to keep Hunter, McCarty, and Barbosa. I guess it would have to be Voskhul and future considerations?

 

[elindholm]

I'm not sure what the Suns would try to offer. Hunter and McCarty are unrestricted free agents and Voskuhl has negative trade value. Barbosa would probably help them move up a few spots, but I doubt that the Suns are ready to give up on him.

Oh, wait ... remember the good old rights to Vujanic!

 

[George O'Brien]

The most valuable tradable commodity (something they'd be willing to give up) the Suns have is future draft picks. Obviously they proved they were willing to do it before when they took Barbosa.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I'm not sure what the Suns would try to offer. Hunter and McCarty are unrestricted free agents and Voskuhl has negative trade value. Barbosa would probably help them move up a few spots, but I doubt that the Suns are ready to give up on him.

Oh, wait ... remember the good old rights to Vujanic!

LOL. Hey if you get a PG deprived team they might take Vujanic's rights back in a trade. Of course, they would need to get some sort of commitment that he would come over.


Wasn't there a rumor that the Memphis pick was up for sale? If the Suns really wanted to, they could pay 2mil cash for that pick and hope he slides there. That or use the two picks to move up to the early teens (hopefully leapfrogging NJ)

I know I am reaching here, but like others I just cannot see the Suns trading Barbosa just to move up for Ike.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

The most valuable tradable commodity (something they'd be willing to give up) the Suns have is future draft picks. Obviously they proved they were willing to do it before when they took Barbosa.

I don't think that it is so valuable anymore. The Suns made the Barbosa trade while they were a mid first round team. Now they are a bottom 5 draft pick. With the draft being a little weaker in the next year or two when the age limit hits, not sure who would want a pick that bad.

 

[elindholm]

Wasn't there a rumor that the Memphis pick was up for sale?

Ah, I had forgotten about that. Yes, there was. They already have twelve players under contract for next season, so it makes some sense.

 

[Joe Mama]

If the Phoenix Suns have promised to take ike at #21 that doesn't necessarily mean that they are willing to move up to get him. They have him at the top of the list, and if he isn't there they go to plan B. They just all have much to offer.

Joe Mama

 

[scotsman13]

ike is a nice player and will fit in very well on a team like the nets or houston, but i really dont think that he is the player for the suns. he will have a very hard time running with this team and he will have to leave his game of being a post player (his strengh) to move to 15 to 18 to open up the middle for amare.

 

[asudevil83]

I'm not sure what the Suns would try to offer. Hunter and McCarty are unrestricted free agents and Voskuhl has negative trade value. Barbosa would probably help them move up a few spots, but I doubt that the Suns are ready to give up on him.

Oh, wait ... remember the good old rights to Vujanic!

i think the suns are done with McCarty...he really didnt do much of anything with us.
Hunter should be staying if he settles for half the MLE.
Voskuhl doesnt have negative value. when he plays, he playes hard, and doesnt look like a fool doing it. he also has a good attitude, so he'd be a welcome addition to any team looking for a backup C.
Barbosa has a chance to be gone. i dont see the suns trading him until after the draft though.

if the suns really want to move up, they could trade Barbs to Memphis for their 19 pick or even trade a future first for it.....then trade their own pick and this 19 to someone like Toronto for the #16. that's a bit much to move up 5 slots though.

 

[corrado]

Disagree

IMO the Suns had not issued a promise to Ike. I think the Suns (and they have commented on this before) are concerned if IKE fits into what they are trying to do. I think you guys are reading too much into this Ike thing.

I think the front office people have conflicting opinions on who would be the best at 21 to draft. So as of today I still don't think they know who they are going to draft. As far as bringing Ike in for a 2nd workout, hey the guy's in town so why not.

I'm not against drafting him at 21 I just think too much is being read into this particular situation. They brought Ukic in yesterday and I think they also have interest in him although he may not last until 21.

I also think with their 2nd round selection (if they still have it on draft day) they will draft a Euro (i.e. like Gordat) and leave him overses for a year or two to develop.

 

[Joe Mama]

i think the suns are done with McCarty...he really didnt do much of anything with us.
Hunter should be staying if he settles for half the MLE.
Voskuhl doesnt have negative value. when he plays, he playes hard, and doesnt look like a fool doing it. he also has a good attitude, so he'd be a welcome addition to any team looking for a backup C.
Barbosa has a chance to be gone. i dont see the suns trading him until after the draft though.

if the suns really want to move up, they could trade Barbs to Memphis for their 19 pick or even trade a future first for it.....then trade their own pick and this 19 to someone like Toronto for the #16. that's a bit much to move up 5 slots though.

At this time of year Jake Voskuhl probably does have negative trade value. It's because most teams are nickel and diming to get as far under the salary cap as they can. There should be more of these teams this summer if the salary cap increases. That leaves the teams that are over the cap. Many of those teams have limited roster space, especially if they want to use the exceptions to add a couple players. With the few remaining teams Jake might have even trade value, but he surely isn't worth a first-round draft pick.

I seriously doubt the Phoenix Suns are looking to trade Barbosa. To be honest I'm not sure he has much trade value himself.

Personally I think the idea that every player of the Phoenix Suns that has to be able to run with the team is overblown. At most the transition game is 25% of the Phoenix Suns offense. I don't think anybody here is expecting Ike to start right away for the suns. Besides, his rebounding would be great for the transition game. We all know that Shawn Marion and especially Amare Stoudemire like to release a little early. If there's one thing that scares me about Ike its usability/inability to stay in front of NBA caliber forwards and centers. everywhere else I think he would be a great fit.

Joe Mama

 

[corrado]

From Draft Express

Nemanja Aleksandrov- According to his agent David Bauman, Nemanja is fishing for a promise in Top 20 to stay in. As of right now, they have not received one. Even if he does, he will stay in Europe next year to develop and rehab his knee. According to our sources, if Nemanja does stay in, look for him to be drafted by Boston, Memphis, Phoenix or Denver.

This is a paragraph a few below the Ike to Suns promise. Obviously everything you read is pure speculation at this point.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Yesterday's NBA Draft.net has Diogu falling to 27. His stock is starting to fall, as I predicted it would.

It is very interesting that Andriuskevicius has stayed in the draft. He was expected to pull out, so he isn't on any mock drafts. Last year, the Suns would have given their collective left nut to get him.

 

[Joe Mama]

Nemanja Aleksandrov- According to his agent David Bauman, Nemanja is fishing for a promise in Top 20 to stay in. As of right now, they have not received one. Even if he does, he will stay in Europe next year to develop and rehab his knee. According to our sources, if Nemanja does stay in, look for him to be drafted by Boston, Memphis, Phoenix or Denver.

This is a paragraph a few below the Ike to Suns promise. Obviously everything you read is pure speculation at this point.

I suspect that the only reason the Phoenix Suns are mentioned here is that it's been reported they might take a European player and keep him overseas for a year or two. I suspect there are several other European players they would take before this guy. He has Tskitishvili written all over him.

Yesterday's NBA Draft.net has Diogu falling to 27. His stock is starting to fall, as I predicted it would.

It is very interesting that Andriuskevicius has stayed in the draft. He was expected to pull out, so he isn't on any mock drafts. Last year, the Suns would have given their collective left nut to get him.

I really hope that the Phoenix Suns wouldn't give any of their body parts for him this year. This guy has major bust written all over him.

Joe Mama

 

[Chris_Sanders]

He could be a bust...but scouting reports say he runs the court like a fiend. I can understand why the Suns like him.

I still would rather have Diogu since he is more likely to help the Suns next year.

NBADraft.net has Andriuskevicius ranked #3 next year. I think he goes before the Suns and helps another good player to fall.

 

[elindholm]

NBADraft.net has Andriuskevicius ranked #3 next year.

And I think it's true that a year ago, when he pulled out of the 2004 draft, NBADraft.net immediately had him ranked extremely high for 2005 -- maybe #1, if memory serves. So NBADraft.net is high on him, that's for sure, but it's not clear that anyone with decision-making powers is.

 

[hcsilla]

I agree with Joe Mama.

I have seen just clips about Aleksandrov but he indeed seems to be the next Tsikitisvili.

Andriuskevicius may become the smaller and more skinny version of Shawn Bradley.

 

[Joe Mama]

I agree with Joe Mama.

I have seen just clips about Aleksandrov but he indeed seems to be the next Tsikitisvili.

Andriuskevicius may become the smaller and more skinny version of Shawn Bradley.

I would actually rather have Tskitishvili. Even though he hasn't shown much in his short NBA career he does have great size and peace and athleticism. Aleksandrov is never going to get very strong. Look at his frame. I think a skinny version of Shawn Bradley is more generous than what I'm thinking you'll end up as in the NBA.

Joe Mama

 

[F-Dog]

I suspect that the only reason the Phoenix Suns are mentioned here is that it's been reported they might take a European player and keep him overseas for a year or two. I suspect there are several other European players they would take before this guy. He has Tskitishvili written all over him.

Joe Mama

IIRC Skita was more like Pao Gasol, where he'd been protected and sheltered by his team and coach (in Skita's case, Mike D'Antoni). Aleksandrov has practiced against quality big men with Partizan and spent a lot of time in the spotlight with his national junior team. Serbian teams are desperate to get their hands on Aleksandrov, and have been for years.

I'll be very disappointed if it turns out the Suns had a chance at Aleksandrov, and they passed it up for Diogu.

 

[F-Dog]

NBADraft.net has Andriuskevicius ranked #3 next year.

And I think it's true that a year ago, when he pulled out of the 2004 draft, NBADraft.net immediately had him ranked extremely high for 2005 -- maybe #1, if memory serves. So NBADraft.net is high on him, that's for sure, but it's not clear that anyone with decision-making powers is.

That's the way it always seems to work. The 'established' international players start out at the top of the mock drafts, then work their way down as the year goes on. My guess is that the draft services are uncomfortable ranking college and HS players that high.

If Andriuskevicius has a lottery promise this year, he should definitely take advantage. I would be surprised if he gets a better opportunity than that down the road.