Draft workouts

[JCSunsfan]

Just heard on the radio that the Suns are working out McLemore, Oladipo, Shabazz, and Zeller today. Oh, and Gobert will be there too. Wow! that's some workout.

All of them the same day. I like it. I also like it that it isn't a secret.

Hope we can keep track of workouts on one thread.

 

[Mainstreet]

I was making comments about the Suns workouts (first day) under the "2012-2013 NBA Prospects thread." However, I agree it would be nice if the workouts can be combined on one page.

Here is a post from that thread that I think should carry over.

The Suns worked out 6 players on Monday including former Wisconsin's SF Ryan Williams and Marquette's Guard Vander Blue. There is a video clip for Williams and Blue being interviewed plus one of Ryan McDonough talking about his thoughts at the Suns Official site. See link below.

http://www.nba.com/suns/

It's great to see who the Suns will be working out for the #5, #30 and perhaps some more prospects for the #57 picks. This new period of openness harkens back to the Jerry Colangelo era. Also I wouldn't be surprised if the Suns do not try to pick another pick or two for this draft or a future draft.

 

[JS22]

It's still a shame that the Lakers ended up making the playoffs by a single game, only to get swept with ease by the Spurs. Would have been nice to get that late lottery pick.

 

[slinslin]

Len is the 6th guy today, but he can't participate due to injury.

Michael Carter-Williams flew to Phoenix today for a workout, likely tomorrow and since CjMcC tweeted that he was going for the west coast swing of workout I guess it will be Carter Williams and McCollum tomorrow.

 

[Mainstreet]

Paul Coro at azcentral wrote an article today about the planned workouts of the players mentioned. The following comments were interesting.

The slight knock emerging on McLemore is whether he has the aggressive mindset to fulfill his potential as a scoring star with his mix of athleticism and a pure shot. He was not the only one in this group to be considered a No. 1 possibility not long ago. Zeller, the younger brother of former Suns power forward Luke Zeller, was ranked atop this draft class to some before the last college season started. He is trying to prove that he can be a face-up NBA power forward despite not taking many perimeter shots at Indiana and that he can be as tough inside as he is athletic in individual testing.


Oladipo’s stock, boosted by his defense, athleticism and motor, has risen to the point hat he gets mentioned as a possible No. 2 overall pick to Orlando. Between that and the possibility of Trey Burke being a top-three pick too, the Suns now seem to have a chance at having a player like McLemore or Georgetown small forward Otto Porter Jr. slipping to their spot in three weeks.

It's early but perhaps McLemore or Porter could drop. May be wishful thinking but still. I like how the Suns are looking at big PGs as well.

It's nice to know Ryan McDonough is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to player talent wherever it may be. I'm excited the Suns are giving the draft the focus it deserves. Also interesting to note Hornacek directed today's workouts.

http://www.azcentral.com/insiders/paulcoro/2013/06/05/now-this-is-a-suns-draft-workout/

 

[Mainstreet]

A link to after workout video involving Shabazz Muhammed, Victor Oladipo, and Ben McLemore.

http://www.azcentral.com/video/2437150722001

 

[Gaddabout]

Horny compared Zeller to Tom Chambers. I took down my Horny poster for that comment. It won't go back up until I'm certain the Suns are done with Zellers.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Horny compared Zeller to Tom Chambers. I took down my Horny poster for that comment. It won't go back up until I'm certain the Suns are done with Zellers.

I think Cody is a lot closer to Tom Chambers as a player than he is to any of the other Zellers. He wouldn't be my first choice but if you could pair him alongside a true center I think he'd have a very productive NBA career.

Steve

 

[sunsfan88]

Paul Coro at azcentral wrote an article today about the planned workouts of the players mentioned. The following comments were interesting.



It's early but perhaps McLemore or Porter could drop. May be wishful thinking but still. I like how the Suns are looking at big PGs as well.

It's nice to know Ryan McDonough is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to player talent wherever it may be. I'm excited the Suns are giving the draft the focus it deserves. Also interesting to note Hornacek directed today's workouts.

http://www.azcentral.com/insiders/paulcoro/2013/06/05/now-this-is-a-suns-draft-workout/

I really hope we don't end up stuck with Otto Porter. Jack of all trades, master of none kinda guy.

I would rather take the gamble on Shabazz than Porter.

 

[Mainstreet]

I really hope we don't end up stuck with Otto Porter. Jack of all trades, master of none kinda guy.

I would rather take the gamble on Shabazz than Porter.

Interesting comment by Paola Boivin in an azcentral article dated 6-5-13.

Off-the-court issues have hounded Muhammad, however, including an investigation into improper benefits while at UCLA, the revelation that he was 20 and not 19 as the Bruins believed, and reports that his father is in house arrest because of federal fraud charges.

Opinions vary on his game, too, although Hornacek said “you look at him and go, ‘That guy offensively can do some things.’ ”

McDonough said the team has done extensive background research on Muhammad and “he checked out very well. I think a lot of the perception of Shabazz is unfair based on the information we’ve gathered.

“I think he’s one of hardest workers in the draft.”

Shabazz may be a real option.

 

[leclerc]

Any word on McC?

 

[Waysouth]

Burke needs to jump to #2 to Orlando

If that happens Suns will get the remaining of McLemore or Oladipo.

Suns then need to trade a second round this year and next to Dallas for #13 and pick one of Zeller/Len/Gobert/Adams/Olynyk/Dieng,

The BPA or Euro at #30.

 

[JCSunsfan]

interesting the pg workout. I highly doubt we are planning on drafting a pg. You have to look at building a team, not just the BPA. I am all for the BPA if you are going to use that player. But if not, you have to look at his trade value, or the trade value of the person he would replace (Dragic in this case). Pg's are in good supply right now. So drafting another one, even if he is the BPA does not help the team long term as much as drafting a quality wing.

 

[Mainstreet]

interesting the pg workout. I highly doubt we are planning on drafting a pg. You have to look at building a team, not just the BPA. I am all for the BPA if you are going to use that player. But if not, you have to look at his trade value, or the trade value of the person he would replace (Dragic in this case). Pg's are in good supply right now. So drafting another one, even if he is the BPA does not help the team long term as much as drafting a quality wing.

The Suns are reportedly using the BPA available strategy. So unless the Suns are pretending otherwise they should be willing to draft a PG if they feel he is the BPA when they pick. The Suns weren't afraid to draft Steve Nash in a similar situation although it was the #15 pick.

IMO, this draft is so level I wonder if the Suns would consider trading down a bit. If the Suns draft at #5 and Trey Burke is available, he would be hard to turn down. He might be the best player in the draft.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns are scouring the cupboards. Mostly FA prospects or perhaps second round prospects.

Per Paul Coro:

Paul Coro ‏@paulcoro 4h

Today's #Suns draft group: NCSU PF Leslie, St. Mary's PG Dellavedova, Princeton PF Hummer, ISU PG Lucious, KSU SG McGruder & MU PG Pressey.

https://twitter.com/paulcoro

 

[elindholm]

The Suns are scouring the cupboards. Mostly FA prospects or perhaps second round prospects.

Per Paul Coro:

Princeton PF Hummer

Hey, the colors are orange and black, at least!

 

[Mainstreet]

Hey, the colors are orange and black, at least!

Good catch. I guess I do not follow Princeton much.

 

[AzStevenCal]

The Suns are scouring the cupboards. Mostly FA prospects or perhaps second round prospects.

Per Paul Coro:




https://twitter.com/paulcoro

I'm really surprised to see Leslie rated as a possible second round pick. On pure talent and athleticism, I think he's one of the players that has a legit shot at being the best of this draft class. It probably won't happen but if he had his head on straight, he'd be a top 10 pick IMO. As it is, he's probably Hakim Warrick in the NBA.

I'd have been a lot happier with their 2nd round group if they'd included Mike Muscala. I wouldn't mind seeing us take him at the bottom of round one.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm really surprised to see Leslie rated as a possible second round pick. On pure talent and athleticism, I think he's one of the players that has a legit shot at being the best of this draft class. It probably won't happen but if he had his head on straight, he'd be a top 10 pick IMO. As it is, he's probably Hakim Warrick in the NBA.

I'd have been a lot happier with their 2nd round group if they'd included Mike Muscala. I wouldn't mind seeing us take him at the bottom of round one.

Steve

Interesting comments. Draftnet. has CJ Leslie going #39 if we are talking about the same player.

The Suns still have time to look at Mascala and they probably will. The Suns seem to have a strategy of leaving no stone unturned in finding the best players.

I still want the Suns to somehow get Peyton Siva in the second round. It would be interesting if the Suns end up with a boatload of PGs, where I think the talent is in this draft.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Interesting comments. Draftnet. has CJ Leslie going #39 if we are talking about the same player.

The Suns still have time to look at Mascala and they probably will. The Suns seem to have a strategy of leaving no stone unturned in finding the best players.

I still want the Suns to somehow get Peyton Siva in the second round. It would be interesting if the Suns end up with a boatload of PGs, where I think the talent is in this draft.

I'm not a Siva fan by any means but yes, I was talking about CJ. Most preseason magazines projected him as a strong ACC Player of the Year candidate and he was key to just about every NC State victory but he was also key to most of their losses. Incredible athlete but lazy, loses focus, doesn't work on weaknesses and other comments are the norm when his name comes up. Still, in a very imperfect draft, he brings more talent to the table than all but a few. Talent-wise he's up there with McLemore, Shabazz and Bennett.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm not a Siva fan by any means but yes, I was talking about CJ. Most preseason magazines projected him as a strong ACC Player of the Year candidate and he was key to just about every NC State victory but he was also key to most of their losses. Incredible athlete but lazy, loses focus, doesn't work on weaknesses and other comments are the norm when his name comes up. Still, in a very imperfect draft, he brings more talent to the table than all but a few. Talent-wise he's up there with McLemore, Shabazz and Bennett.

Steve

At azcentral they have a good video discussion with Ryan McDonough talking about Friday's players especially CJ Leslie. I think the Suns like what Leslie brings to the table. See link below.

It's interesting that Ryan McDonough feels there may be opportunities to move around in the draft except for at the very top.

http://www.azcentral.com/video/2451023474001

 

[Mainstreet]

Per a Paul Coro article at azcentral dated 6-8-13 the Suns looked at the following players Saturday.

Besides visiting with Bennett, the Suns held a six-man Saturday workout. Three are possible No. 30 candidates — Kentucky guard Archie Goodwin, Virginia Tech point guard Erick Green and Illinois State power forward Jackie Carmichael.South Dakota State point guard Nate Wolters, Oklahoma power forward Romero Osby and Davidson power forward Jake Cohen were also in the group.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/sun...so-many-choices-for-no-pick-in-nba-draft.html

This should please some Archie Goodwin fans.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Per a Paul Coro article at azcentral dated 6-8-13 the Suns looked at the following players Saturday.



http://www.azcentral.com/sports/sun...so-many-choices-for-no-pick-in-nba-draft.html

This should please some Archie Goodwin fans.

I would have thought that a year playing college ball would have put an end to the Archie Goodwin fans. Great length, excellent athlete and has some NBA skills but he's so far away from even the college level when it comes to most Point Guard skills. He can't shoot from mid-range or deeper, he has poor judgement, turns the ball over regularly and has below average vision (or lacks the ability to process what he sees, the end result is the same).

He was very highly regarded coming into school and now he's leaving after one year not because he's ready for the next level but because he probably won't be the starter next season. In fact, he projects to get very little court time if he doesn't make huge strides this offseason. I think someone will fall in love with his strengths and grab him in the first round but he's a long term project at best.

Steve

 

[slinslin]

He is a shooting guard, not a point guard and for a SG he has very good playmaking skills as well as drawing fouls.

perimeter shooting is the biggest question with Goodwin.

He is also the youngest player in the draft.

 

[AzStevenCal]

He is a shooting guard, not a point guard and for a SG he has very good playmaking skills as well as drawing fouls.

perimeter shooting is the biggest question with Goodwin.

He is also the youngest player in the draft.

No, I'd say judgement is the biggest question with Goodwin. And he's a combo guard similar to Tyreke Evans.

Steve