Dj Traded!!

[Goldfield]

I was a big fan of DJ. His D was outstanding, and he seemed to make nice passes.

But after watching some of Singletary's highlights, it is easy to see his potential.

Singletary's game looks a lot like Marbury when it comes to the speed & athleticism.

 

[LV-Suns]

His skillset reminds me a lot of Kyle Lowry. Doubt his D is upto the standards.

 

[carey]

Singletary's game looks a lot like Marbury when it comes to the speed & athleticism.

I'm glad you said this. I was thinking exactly that but didn't want to give SS the kiss of death.

 

[elindholm]

I don't get the outcry that some have made over losing Strawberry.... D.J. wouldn't have seen any time this year and neither will Singletary. No big deal.

Yes, thank you, I'm glad someone gets it.

 

[eastcoastSUN]

Wow, that is some really interesting news! I always lurk around here and read what others post, but I feel like this really warrants a post from me.

I just graduated this past spring from UVA, and have met Sean a few times around campus. The first time was my sophomore year and saw him on 'The Corner' (a strip of bars at school) and he came up to me and asked, "aren't you <insert random name I forgot>, didn't you play AAU ball in Philly"? I looked perplexed and said no, and asked if he was on the basketball team (at that time, I really wasn't following our mediocre basketball team). He returned my perplexed look with a sly grin, "Yea, of course". It then occurred to me that it was no. 44, although I couldn't put the name to his face, so all I could mutter sheepishly was, "hey yea, aren't you no. 44?". He nodded, both out of aknowledgement and perhaps out of mild annoyance. I went ahead and took a pic with him on my cell phone that night (although I've changed phones since, but I am going to look for it later tonight).

Last time I saw him, was at the gym in late April, and he was playing some pick up. I was on court 3 running some games with the 'less superior' atheletes, and then himself and Adrian Joseph (starting SF) came onto our court and wanted to run a game. Needless to say, I eventually had to guard him for 4-5 possessions. Let me say one thing, this guy is QUICK. I think he literally had me going 3 or 4 directions every time I had him on the top of the key. He would either do a jab step or go to his left, then pull up for a jumper. I think he buried two jumpshots while I had a hand in his face (maybe 4, but who's counting?)

4 yrs at UVA and never met a single Suns fan (I grew up in Tempe until 12), and now a UVA player is going to the Suns! How likely is that combination?

Mind you, I am not a blind homer for SS because he went to my school and I met him a few times. However, I've seen him play live at all our home games and he has potential! Don't forget, he averaged over 6 assists and close to 2 steals his senior year. He has a really good stroke and can hit the 3 ball. He can really put in some good minutes under the tutelage of Nash.

My only concern is his size. Although he is listed as 6 foot even, I'm 6"1 and standing next to him, I would say I EASILY had 3 inches on him. Wonder if he could translate his speed and strength in the NBA.

 

[Kaizoku]

If you want DJ back, you will likely be able to sign him. The reason the Rockets traded for him was simply because Singletary's contract was partially guaranteed while we could cut Strawberry the night before our first game and it wouldn't cost us a cent.

 

[AceP]

I see no importance of such a trade. Whoever goes and comes, just an end of bench youth who won't be a factor this season.

 

[arwillan]

I see no importance of such a trade. Whoever goes and comes, just an end of bench youth who won't be a factor this season.

if dragic doesn't pan out then he very well could be a factor this year.

it's not necessarily just for this year, either. Adding a young guard with some potential is a move for the future more than anything.

 

[Andrew]

I liked DJ, I am gonna miss him.

 

[Irish]

My nephew is a student of UVA so I pay some attention to them. Singletary appeared to be about the only NBA quality player on their team, so it's hard to know if he'll be any good with quality teammates.

For whatever it is worth, Singletary is one of only three point guards taken in the second round: Chalmers at #34, Singletary at #42, and Dragic at #45. Singletary was drafted by the Kings.



http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Sean-Singletary-448/

NBA Pre-Draft Camp, Day Three
May 30, 2008
Sean Singletary also had a nice showing, displaying excellent creativity an
d court-vision distributing the ball, and also being very aggressive as a scorer, finishing the game with an impressive 15 points and 8 assists. He may have over-dribbled at times and is likely kicking himself for missing all three of his attempts from beyond the arc, but it was good for him to break out of his shell here finally.

This is from March 3rd

As a point guard, Singletary does much of his creating through drive-and-kick situations, where he does a very good job of penetrating with his head up, and then finding the open man on the perimeter with the ball. He also does a solid job running the pick-and-roll and feeding the post, making all the passes a point guard needs to in the half-court.

... As a scorer, Singletary is immensely talented, having an excellent jump shot, with great form and a high, quick, and consistent release. With his excellent ball-handling skills and quickness, he creates separation very well to get his jump shot off, either from behind the arc or from the mid-range. Singletary is at his best using crossovers and stepbacks to get open shots from the perimeter, which he does very well with when he gets his feet beneath him.

... On the defensive end, Singletary is a mixed bag, as he shows great hands and the ability to make some stellar plays, picking off steals in man-to-man defense or from the weakside, but he often overplays, leading to blow-bys. He also sags off his man when he doesn’t have the ball, leading to open shots, and doesn’t fight very hard through screens, leading to more open shots. Despite his quickness, he also gets beat laterally more than he should.

 

[BC867]

I liked DJ, I am gonna miss him.

I liked DJ, too. But I think we're in a better position to face a long season now than we were yesterday. And to rest Steve Nash more.

Nash and Barbosa at the point replaced by Nash and Dragic and a veteran backup Point Guard would have been the best combination.

I see Nash and Dragic and Singletary, on the roster at the start of this season, as the next best alternative .

And I'm glad that Terry Porter is going to be the one coaching them.

It's an interesting concept and it just might work, as the season progresses.

 

[sLapzsHaQ]

I think it's a good trade, maybe Kerr's not really a big fan of Strawberry. Strawberry is more of a 2-guard anyway, we need true PG's.

 

[Mainstreet]

I liked DJ, too. But I think we're in a better position to face a long season now than we were yesterday. And to rest Steve Nash more.

Nash and Barbosa at the point replaced by Nash and Dragic and a veteran backup Point Guard would have been the best combination.

I see Nash and Dragic and Singletary, on the roster at the start of this season, as the next best alternative .

And I'm glad that Terry Porter is going to be the one coaching them.

It's an interesting concept and it just might work, as the season progresses.

Well said. At least the Suns have a couple of young PGs in the pipeline. I'm hoping Dragic develops quickly as the season develops but I wouldn't be surprised if Singletary gets involved at some point if he can really run a team.

 

[Irish]

BTW, Singletary came to Houston in the Artest deal.

http://www.nba.com/suns/news/singletary_080825.html

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Singletary was a three-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference First Team selection.
Garrett Ellwood/NBAE/Getty Images




Posted: Aug 25 2008 4:51PM
Posted Aug. 25, 2008
PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns announced today that the club has acquired rookie guard Sean Singletary from the Houston Rockets in exchange for guard D.J. Strawberry.
“Sean gives us depth at the point guard spot,” said Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Steve Kerr. “We like his instincts and his ability to run a team. He also puts a lot of pressure on the ball defensively. We thank D.J. for his contributions and wish him well.”

In Singletary, the Suns acquire a dynamic 6-0, 185-point rookie guard, who was the 42nd overall selection (second round) of the Sacramento Kings in the 2008 NBA Draft. Singletary was then traded to the Rockets along with Patrick Ewing, Jr. in the deal that sent Ron Artest to Houston in exchange for Donte Green, Bobby Jackson and a future first-round pick on August 14, 2008. Singletary was a member of the Kings’ 2008 Las Vegas Summer League squad, averaging 5.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 32.2 minutes with appearances in each of the club’s five games.

A four-year standout at Virginia, Singletary was a three-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference First Team selection. During his senior season of 2007-08, the soon-to-be 23-year-old led his team in scoring for the second-straight season (19.8 points) and was the lone Division I player to rank in the top 40 in both scoring and assists. That production earned Singletary an Honorable Mention All-America Selection from the Associated Press and made him a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award, given annually to the nation’s top collegiate point guard.

A three-time co-captain for the Cavaliers, Singletary finished his career as the only player in ACC history with 2,000 career points, 500 assists, 400 rebounds and 200 steals. Singletary’s jersey was retired by Virginia before his final home game.
Strawberry was selected by the Suns with the 59th overall pick (second round) of the 2007 NBA Draft. In his rookie campaign with Phoenix in 2007-08, the 6-5, 201-pound guard averaged 2.2 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 8.1 minutes, appearing in 33 games.

Azcentral

Suns send Strawberry to Houston

142 commentsby Paul Coro - Aug. 25, 2008 02:24 PM
The Arizona Republic

The Suns traded second-year guard D.J. Strawberry to Houston for rookie point guard Sean Singletary on Monday.
It had become clear Strawberry would not have much of a chance to play this season and his agent, Bill Duffy, suggested recently that he would not discourage Strawberry from going elsewhere.

Strawberry appeared in 33 games last season for Phoenix and had Development League stints and did not show progress at NBA Summer League, where he averaged more turnovers than assists.

Singletary, 6 feet and 185 pounds, averaged 19.8 points and 6.1 assists as a senior at Virginia last season, making him the only Division I player to rank in the top 40 nationally for both categories.

He is a three-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference performer who is best known for his ability to run a team, pass and pressure defend but only shot 42.6 percent in college.

“Sean gives us depth at the point guard spot,” Suns General Manager Steve Kerr said in a prepared statement. “We like his instincts and his ability to run a team. He also puts a lot of pressure on the ball defensively. We thank D.J. for his contributions and wish him well.”

Singletary was drafted with the 42nd pick in June by Sacramento but then traded with Ron Artest and Patrick Ewing Jr. to Houston for Donte Green, Bobby Jackson and a draft pick.

He played for the Kings' summer team, averaging 5.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 32.2 minutes per game.
Singletary, a four-year college player who turns 23 on Sept. 6, could complete the Suns' roster at 13 players.

Here is the East Valley Tribune

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/124013

Suns send Strawberry to Houston for Singletary

Comments 2| Recommend 0
Matt Paulson, Tribune

Less than a week after word broke that Goran Dragic would join the Suns this season, Phoenix added more depth at point guard Monday by acquiring rookie Sean Singletary from the Houston Rockets in exchange for D.J. Strawberry.

Singletary (6-0, 185 pounds) was a second round pick of the Sacramento Kings but was traded to Houston on Aug. 14 along with Patrick Ewing, Jr. as part of the Ron Artest deal.

A four-year standout at Virginia, Singletary was a three-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference First-Team selection. He led the Cavaliers in scoring last season (19.8 points) and was the lone Division I player to rank in the top 40 in both scoring and assists (6.1).

“We like his instincts and his ability to run a team,” Suns general manager Steve Kerr said. “He also puts a lot of pressure on the ball defensively.”

The Suns made the trade in part to help the development of Strawberry. The second-year combo guard would have been the last player off the bench, but he is expected to receive more playing time in Houston. In 33 games last season, the 2007 second-round pick averaged 2.2 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists and was praised for his defense.

The 23-year-old Singletary will take over Strawberry’s rotation spot and isn’t expected to contribute much this season. The true point guard, who has the reputation of a hard worker and a good chemistry guy, will provide Phoenix with a good practice player. He is projected to spend part of the season with the Suns’ NBA Development League team in Iowa, where he will work on improving his outside shot.

Singletary finished his college career as the only player in ACC history with 2,000 career points, 500 assists, 400 rebounds and 200 steals. Singletary’s jersey was retired by Virginia before his final home game

 

[cly2tw]

His skillset reminds me a lot of Kyle Lowry. Doubt his D is upto the standards.

It's what I was about to say too. Lowry has great D and I was willing to trade LB to get him. Let's hope Singletary develop into a good PG for us!

 

[arwillan]

It's what I was about to say too. Lowry has great D and I was willing to trade LB to get him. Let's hope Singletary develop into a good PG for us!

from what i've read he's a gambling defender with good lateral quickness (which he apparently doesn't use all that well defensively). Reminds me of chris paul's defense, somewhat.

 

[Irish]

Kerr is probably lying. The Rockets have 13 guys and a salary structure of $72.6 million - without working something out for Landry. I'd be very skptical about Strawberry's chances of making the Rockets. I'd guess he'll be cut before camp.

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/houston.htm

http://www.storytellerscontracts.info/resources/08-09salaries.htm

Oddly enough, DJ's best chance of making the Rockets is as an SG.

 

[cly2tw]

from what i've read he's a gambling defender with good lateral quickness (which he apparently doesn't use all that well defensively). Reminds me of chris paul's defense, somewhat.

Paul at 6'0/175, Lowry at 6'0/173, SS at 6'0/185 have similar size. SS was the sole offensive weapon at UVA and naturally was allowed to gamble on defense like Nash under DA to save energy for offense. Given his potential though, if he acquires a positive attitude towards defense to earn minutes under Porter, he might develop into someone really useful in this league.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Dragic is supposedly an excellent wing defender. It sounds like he and DJ were just redundant. Singleton gives them more of a shooter, and distributor.

I assume Houston was looking for a wing defender or looking for someone they could cut.

 

[Bufalay]

At worst this a lateral move....unless of course DJ developes into Bruce Bowen II
New young faces under a different coaching staff is a positive thing IMO.
LOPEZ
DRAGIC
SINGLETARY

I'm pretty sure you don't want "Bruce Bowen II" or variation of that cornholio on the Suns.

 

[Irish]

Like every other deal this summer, it is not clear this will help. At this point, the question is whether the alternatives are any better. Cassell? Chris Quinn? Damon Stoudamire? The veterans don't look all that appealing.

I wondered if Shaun Livingston was their target; but I get the impression that Kerr figured the Heat were willing to pay more. So rather than waiting for the Rockets to cut him, they made their move to get Singletary so they could be sure they got him.

On the surface, Singleton appears better ready for the role of backup PG than DJ and Leandro. That is damining with faint praise, but this is something the Suns had to do for this season. Hope somebody can get the job done.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

I usually squat on "comparisons" to current NBAers, because most of them are so far off the mark it's unreal, however Draft Xpress is the one site that has ones which are halfway decent.

In Singletary's case, his "best case scenario" comparison is Speedy Claxton. More or less, the guy's never going to be an NBA All Star, but as a backup and bench relief, he won't be too shabby.

If the Rockets DO wind up cutting DJ, I sure hope Kerr brings him back. I'd like to see him develop a little more as a possible heir to Raja.

 

[mojorizen7]

I'm pretty sure you don't want "Bruce Bowen II" or variation of that cornholio on the Suns.

Point taken. I do admire his tenacity though.

 

[leclerc]

Sad to see DJ go. From what I've seen of him and Tucker I'd rather trade Tucker for Singletary. It's hard to say which of these three will help us most or if they'll even get important minutes (here or elsewhere).

Good luck to DJ and I hope he makes it in the NBA!

Looking forward to seeing video from training camp and preseason. Good to hear Diaw and Amare & co are already in the gym.

 

[JCSunsfan]

After watching some tape of Singletary there are some things that stand out (highlight tape can be deceiving of course).

1. He's a pg. He's not an athletic player that we hope to have develop pg skills. He was obviously a vocal leader of his team on the court. He took charge, directed traffic in the half court, he even directed players on the court with verbal and hand signals. His head was up and it was clear he was aware where his teammates were at all times. I am not sure if he will be good enough to succeed in the NBA, but he has the mentality for the position.

2. Because of #1, he is not Banks #2. Banks, DJ, and LB, seem to be followers on the court. Even when they bring the ball up, they run their own plays or defer to someone else. They don't direct traffic.

3. Singletary reminds me of Avery Johnson.

He might not be as talented or as athletic as DJ but he is a pure pg and that fills a need for us.