ESPN Insider tidbits

[Joe Mama]

I found a few comments regarding the Phoenix Suns in today's ESPN Insider. I'm not sure I buy the stuff about Phoenix trying to get a second first-round draft pick. They already have nine players under contract and would like to re-sign Little Jake and Scott Williams. - Joe Mama

Several other teams are trying to move down. The Sonics are dangling pick No. 14; the Celtics are willing to move pick No. 20. The question is, can they find a taker? Four teams to watch are the Nuggets, Suns, Pistons and Mavericks. The Nuggets and Suns are both looking for a second first-round pick. The Pistons are trying to get a little bit higher and the Mavs fear that the guy they want won't be on the board at No. 29.

Brazil's Leandrinho Barbosa's hip flexor has been hurting his stock. While no one believes that he'll have a long term issue, it's limited his exposure. The Suns snuck Barbosa in for a last-minute workout on Wednesday and walked away impressed. He could be in the mix at No. 17 if Cabarkapa slides.

 

[ThatsAmare]

As a side note, I don't see the point of bringing Williams back if we are going to be drafting big. We'll have Amare, Jake, Bo, Jake II, Googs and the draft pick (Cook, Carp or whoever), so the last thing we need is another backup-quality big man in our rotation. I understand Williams is a locker room guy, so why not bring him back as an assistant coach or consultant, rather than forking out half a million to keep him on as a player? With our tax situation it just seems idiotic, since we'll essentially be forking out twice that amount for him

 

[jbeecham]

I was thinking the same thing for a while now. Why would we be talking about drafting a big man if we plan on having 3 centers on the team already next year? Unless the Suns think they can't afford to resign little Jake, but they said resigning Jake was a priority. Also, we are still going to have Bo & Googs as backup PF's behind Amare. There could be a whole lot of smokescreen with our talk of going big in the draft.

I can really see us picking a point guard like Barbosa. He's a sleeper for sure because he hasn't worked out for a lot of teams and he was said to be one of the most athletic guys in the draft. He has good size for a PG and great speed and quickness.

 

[slinslin]

If we could get Shorty with #17 and Barby with an additional pick I would be more than happy.

 

[Freddie]

One of the centers is always on the IR, so it really won't matter if we carry an extra.

 

[cly2tw]

Originally posted by slinslin
If we could get Shorty with #17 and Barby with an additional pick I would be more than happy.

It's exactly my sentiment too when I read that Boston might be shopping their #20 pick. We could give them the Cleveland #1 and #2 picks for it and select Shorty and Barbosa! NBA Draft has Shorty rated at #19 to Utah and Barby at #31. So, they are both in our range if we do have these two picks. I'd be ecstatic if that happens!

 

[slinslin]

Williams/Sofoklis/Jake/Big Jake
Amare/Outlaw/(Sofoklis)
Marion/(Johnson)
Penny/Johnson/Jacobsen
Marbury/Barbosa

Looks pretty good just that we would probably be better off signing a small forward than resigning Jake or Scott Williams.

If Sofoklis doesn't start we would have a backup PG (Barby), a G/F (JJ) and a F/C (Shorty) on the bench which should be pretty versatile plus a 3-point specialist SG (CJake), a defensive specialist (Outlaw), a big center stiff (Big Jake) and 3 energy guys (Barby/Outlaw/Jake).

 

[Chaplin]

That is a nice lineup slin, although I find it odd you put Scott Williams as the starter. And twice no less!

 

[slinslin]

I put Williams as the starter because they will likey change the starter at center depending on matchups again.
By putting Williams as the starter I had more positives to say about the bench.
Of course Williams twice was a mistake, I had Sofoklis there at first but then decided to put Williams ahead but forgot to delete his name on the other end.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Originally posted by ThatsAmare
As a side note, I don't see the point of bringing Williams back if we are going to be drafting big. We'll have Amare, Jake, Bo, Jake II, Googs and the draft pick (Cook, Carp or whoever), so the last thing we need is another backup-quality big man in our rotation. I understand Williams is a locker room guy, so why not bring him back as an assistant coach or consultant, rather than forking out half a million to keep him on as a player? With our tax situation it just seems idiotic, since we'll essentially be forking out twice that amount for him

IMO they are bringing Williams back to serve the role they intended for him last year. He was supposed to play a couple min a game, but mostly be there to teach and be a good influence on the young kids. Injuries forced him into a larger role than was desired by the suns. Same thing happened with Mario Ellie when they brought him in, but he was later forced to start. Scott said all the right things and acted great unlike Elie did.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

BC Quote from Today

From today's paper:

What the Suns do know is they're picking 17th today and aren't likely to make any major deals - although they're trying.

"I've talked to one team that is possibly interested in doing something with a pick in front of us," said Suns President and general manager Bryan Colangelo, who declined to specify the team. "But there hasn't been a lot of headway."

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/0626draft0626.html