Draft Prospects thread

[boisesuns]

The grizzlies are giving away lottery car antena balls for their last game....

Classic....

 

[azirish]

The grizzlies are giving away lottery car antena balls for their last game....

Classic....

The Grizzlies would almost certainly take Oden if they have the chance. With their front line guys of Gasol, Warrick, and Gay all good offensive players; their main concern is defense and rebounding. Add Oden and some health and that could be a very dangerous team.

If Oden is taken, they may take Durant and then shop Gasol.

 

[JCSunsfan]

This draft is going to be a lot of fun--especially with the 23 and 29 picks. Because of the amount of talent, several players are going to "slip." Every year it happen, but this year even more.

 

[azirish]

This draft is going to be a lot of fun--especially with the 23 and 29 picks. Because of the amount of talent, several players are going to "slip." Every year it happen, but this year even more.

It appears a lot of guys are coming out, although we won't know for sure for a while.

 

[boisesuns]

The Grizzlies would almost certainly take Oden if they have the chance. With their front line guys of Gasol, Warrick, and Gay all good offensive players; their main concern is defense and rebounding. Add Oden and some health and that could be a very dangerous team.

If Oden is taken, they may take Durant and then shop Gasol.

They do have Jerry west making the pick for them. I think they take a serious look at Durant to make the team have two great players at different positions.

 

[azirish]

They do have Jerry west making the pick for them. I think they take a serious look at Durant to make the team have two great players at different positions.

This season, the Griz have a -2.72 rebound differential and rank 25th in rebounding differential despite having athletic types like Warrick, Gay, and Swift. Durant is a very good rebounder in college, but at 225 is pretty light for PF.

In taking Dden, the Griz would be able to move Gasol back to his natural position of PF and become a vastly better defensive and rebounding team. Considering how hard it is to keep Oden away from the basket, it would be extremely hard for anyone to double Gasol in the post.

I honestly hope Oden goes to an Eastern team. As good as Durant will be, I'm not sure he would have the same impact Oden would have on turning the Griz into contenders.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Let's say the Hawks get the #1 pick. They take Oden. Then with the #12 (from Indiana) the take Conley.

Seems to me that could make them a little better team next year.

 

[Chaplin]

This draft is going to be a lot of fun--especially with the 23 and 29 picks. Because of the amount of talent, several players are going to "slip." Every year it happen, but this year even more.

Don't bother--there's no way we use both those picks, especially if we get the Atlanta pick.

 

[fordronken]

I've decided I either want Horford of Conley with the Hawks pick. Either a defensive, athletic presence or a point guard to give Nash rest and eventually take the reins in four years.

 

[sunsfn]

I've decided I either want Horford of Conley with the Hawks pick. Either a defensive, athletic presence or a point guard to give Nash rest and eventually take the reins in four years.

Horford, Wright or ?

But they are not going to take a pg with the Atlanta pick.
We have a pg that is the MVP and they will worry about replacing him in a couple years, or unless they get lucky with the 24th and he or someone they like is there.
They need to draft the best player that can help them win now and, the next couple years. That player is not a point guard.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Horford, Wright or ?

But they are not going to take a pg with the Atlanta pick.
We have a pg that is the MVP and they will worry about replacing him in a couple years, or unless they get lucky with the 24th and he or someone they like is there.
They need to draft the best player that can help them win now and, the next couple years. That player is not a point guard.

Its a funny thing about the draft. I remember when we picked Nash (was it 15th?). Most everyone was ticked that we didn't get some big guy that was slipping that year. Ainge called Nash the "safe pick" which aggravated message boarder types even more.

Now he is working on his 3rd mvp. Whodathunkit?

 

[cly2tw]

Its a funny thing about the draft. I remember when we picked Nash (was it 15th?). Most everyone was ticked that we didn't get some big guy that was slipping that year. Ainge called Nash the "safe pick" which aggravated message boarder types even more.

Now he is working on his 3rd mvp. Whodathunkit?

From potential observable to others, Nash was just a "safe" pick back then and he didn't start producing more than an average 15th pick would before his 5th NBA season.

 

[TheHopToad]

I can't remember any Suns draft picks that the fans were really happy with. They didn't like it when we drafted Amare out of high school, and you can go all the way back to when we took a nobody named Dan Majerle--everybody was outraged.

However, I think we've done quite well over the years, Zarko notwithstanding.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Its a funny thing about the draft. I remember when we picked Nash (was it 15th?). Most everyone was ticked that we didn't get some big guy that was slipping that year. Ainge called Nash the "safe pick" which aggravated message boarder types even more.

Now he is working on his 3rd mvp. Whodathunkit?

it was john wallace. and i was one of those pissed fans. i was also pissed when we passed on maggette for marion. on the positive side i was absolutely going nuts when i saw finley dropping to us. so i was right about that one at least . . .

 

[Joe Mama]

I don't think the Phoenix will try to replace Steve Nash through the draft unless somebody they like slips.

Chad

 

[azirish]

I don't think the Phoenix will try to replace Steve Nash through the draft unless somebody they like slips.

Chad

Of course, we don't know who they like.

IMHO, the target is unlikely to be future Nash replacement, but someone who can run the offense (somewhat) and can play defense. The signing of Banks was based on trying to get that, the fact that Banks didn't come through doesn't mean they will stop trying.

If the Suns draft a PG in the first round, it will mean they've given up on Banks ever being a PG. This would not mean they might not try to convert him to a small SG if they can't trade him, but it is one thing to teach a guy to shoot and quite another to teach a guy to run an offense.

 

[Russ Smith]

So what do people think of USC guard Gabe Pruitt? He's declaring tomorrow, without an agent but it's rumored if he gets a first round guarantee he'll stay in the draft. He's had academic problems his whole career and with Mayo signed there's some concern he won't get to play as much PG next year and might actually harm his NBA rep in the process.

He's an interesting kid he was a SG out of HS, has NBA range, is very athletic, quicker than people realize, and he's terrific in the passing lanes on defense. But, he's very skinny, plays in spurts, until the NCAA tourney struggled guarding quicker PG's(but did well against Augustin and Lawson), and he's always had a rep of being unreliable.

 

[azirish]

So what do people think of USC guard Gabe Pruitt? He's declaring tomorrow, without an agent but it's rumored if he gets a first round guarantee he'll stay in the draft. He's had academic problems his whole career and with Mayo signed there's some concern he won't get to play as much PG next year and might actually harm his NBA rep in the process.

He's an interesting kid he was a SG out of HS, has NBA range, is very athletic, quicker than people realize, and he's terrific in the passing lanes on defense. But, he's very skinny, plays in spurts, until the NCAA tourney struggled guarding quicker PG's(but did well against Augustin and Lawson), and he's always had a rep of being unreliable.

Pruitt is nice player, but he doesn't get my attention like some of the others. If I was looking for another combo guard, I'd be shopping for someone who is lot more physical. (I was really high on Brandan Roy in the last draft but knew he was out of range by mid season of his senior year).

 

[OldDirtMcGirt]

Chad Ford just made another one of those mock lotteries. Most of the time he has the Suns picking Brandan Wright, which is definitely the best case scenario. Tremendous athlete, rebounder, blocked shots, and defense. Just what the doctor ordered.

 

[azirish]

Chad Ford just made another one of those mock lotteries. Most of the time he has the Suns picking Brandan Wright, which is definitely the best case scenario. Tremendous athlete, rebounder, blocked shots, and defense. Just what the doctor ordered.

Maybe. He's not a physical defender and lacks a consistent jump shot. I would not get upset if the Suns got him, but I want a physical but athletic defender to keep Amare out of trouble.

 

[Folster]

I heard a little tidbit from a someone who had an informal conversation with Dan Dantoni. Supposedly, Dan said that the Suns were taking a look at Jared Jordan out of Marist. It's not surprising to me that Dan would be interested in him. I don't think Jordan is even projected to be drafted so it's not a huge story. I just thought that it was odd that Dan would mention him. If this is true, I wonder how much interest the Suns have in him or if Dan just likes him. Maybe we'll pick him up with our late second rounder or pick him up as an undrafted rookie.

 

[Russ Smith]

Pruitt is nice player, but he doesn't get my attention like some of the others. If I was looking for another combo guard, I'd be shopping for someone who is lot more physical. (I was really high on Brandan Roy in the last draft but knew he was out of range by mid season of his senior year).

Apparently he's not declaring today afterall but is expected to declare later in the week. He decided to let Nick young have the spotlight today when he declares.

Katz also says Taj Gibson is not declaring at all, but Jon Wilner continues to say he hears Gibson is asking for NBA feedback from Floyd and would be very tempted to declare without an agent if he has any chance at all of the first round.

 

[Russ Smith]

Nick young made it official, will hire an agent.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Nick young made it official, will hire an agent.

i like this kid - good upside, decent shooting, nice athleticism - I could see us packaging our two late picks to move up into the mid teens to take him - he'll be a solid shooting guard in a couple years.

if the Suns can get a big man with the hawks pick and a good shooting guard of the future it will be a banner draft for them.

man, this draft is gonna be deeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.

 

[Russ Smith]

i like this kid - good upside, decent shooting, nice athleticism - I could see us packaging our two late picks to move up into the mid teens to take him - he'll be a solid shooting guard in a couple years.

if the Suns can get a big man with the hawks pick and a good shooting guard of the future it will be a banner draft for them.

man, this draft is gonna be deeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.

I'm pulling for Young, great story, ineligible for 2 years in HS because of issues related to the murder of his older brother by gang members. Finally got to a different school, hit the books. Farmar was his AAU teammate, helped him prep for the SAT. On graduation day from HS, Young found out he'd passed the SAT.

He has to improve his guard skills but he's improved by leaps and bounds every year, you have to remember not playing his first 2 years of HS, means he's a late bloomer, made a huge improvement this year with his outside shot.