harris and draft from todays azcentral

[scotsman13]

Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 22, 2004 12:00 AM


A funny thing happened as Devin Harris and Shaun Livingston tried to pass one another on NBA teams' draft boards for point guards.

They hired the same agent. They worked out with the same trainer. They became friends.

Two days after Livingston visited Phoenix, his pal from Wisconsin came in Monday for his second workout with the Suns. The workout also included Russian 7-foot-4 center Pavel Podkolzine.

"He (Livingston) is a young buck, and I try to remind him of that all the time," said Harris, a grizzled 21-year-old.

The 6-foot-3 Harris, who averaged 19 points a game as a junior, also is reminding teams of the speed and scoring tears that made him Big Ten Player of the Year.

He works out with Tim Grover, Michael Jordan's trainer. And he knows whom to keep happy.

"They (the Suns) already got a star in the making in Amaré (Stoudemire), so just feed him," Harris said.



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Phoenix is the only team to work out Harris twice. Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said he's impressed with Harris' defense and shooting.


Mystery man


Podkolzine is a mystery to most, but Suns President and General Manager Bryan Colangelo has seen him many times in Italy. D'Antoni was coaching there when Podkolzine turned pro at 16. He withdrew from last year's draft due to a pituitary gland disorder.

The practice court went silent when Podkolzine collided with Pacific guard Miah Davis on a drive and went down holding his right knee. He walked off under his own power.

"Last year, I played more games and more minutes and (have) more movement," Podkolzine said.


Cancellation


Connecticut point guard Ben Gordon canceled his Monday workout with the Suns due to illness. Gordon, whom Phoenix worked out privately in Chicago two weeks ago, had a strong weekend workout for the Clippers and headed east.


Farewell, Jahidi


By this evening, Jahidi White should be on his third team in a year, and the Suns should be close to $14.8 million under the salary cap.

Charlotte is expected to take on White's final contract year of $5.9 million in today's expansion draft. In return for helping Phoenix clear cap space, Charlotte will get a Suns first-round pick (not this year's) and up to $3 million.

White will account for almost one-fifth of Charlotte's initial salary cap.

 

[scotsman13]

Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 22, 2004 12:00 AM

Each time the Suns' brightest basketball minds gather four floors above Jefferson Street, their views of Camelback Mountain are clearer than their outlooks on whom they should select seventh in Thursday's NBA draft.

There is a short list - and a possibility the Suns will deal the pick if that list is decimated by the first six selections.

In recent years, the Suns staff was better homed in by draft week. This week, the Suns still are bouncing scenarios and candidates around the meeting room like dodge balls.

"At seven, I still think we're going to get a player we like, and it could be a piece for us as we move forward," Suns President and General Manager Bryan Colangelo said. "It's interesting because there's generally more of a predictable order at this stage. It's a little complicated."

One thing is certain. If Phoenix maintains the pick, the staff will take the best available player rather than trying to project what it might be able to pull off in July's free-agent chase.

It is likely that at least one of the four point guards the Suns have worked out privately twice (or tried to work out twice, in the case of Connecticut's Ben Gordon) will still be on the board at No. 7.

That only serves to complicate the situation at point guard, with returning late-season rookie starter Leandro Barbosa and free agents such as ex-Sun Steve Nash among the possibilities. The Suns also could pass on a point guard despite taking hard looks at Gordon, Peoria (Ill.) prepster Shaun Livingston, Devin Harris of Wisconsin and Jameer Nelson of St. Joseph's.

"Barbosa has had a great summer," Colangelo said. "Not only did he get the experience, but he's gotten a little bit bigger and stronger and is working his tail off. As we look at the draft, yes, there are a couple players that would possibly address point guard, but nobody I could see at No. 7 to beat out Leandro.



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"The other variable is that free agency looms, and it may be an area we address that same position. In certain situations, a veteran point guard might be someone to help Leandro. The draft is certainly something that will affect the direction we go in free agency, and our ultimate flexibility may guide us in the draft process."

The Suns' other area of most need is center, but the draft offers little help there.

Russian 7-foot-4 center Pavel Podkolzine would seem to fit the Suns about as well as any clothes off the rack. Unpolished Latvian power forward Andris Biedrins, 18, would not supply the Suns the immediate help they desire, either.

That leaves a swingman, whom the Suns would hope could play shooting guard, with Shawn Marion, Casey Jacobsen and Zarko Cabarkapa all returning next season to play small forward.

The candidates would include Arizona's Andre Iguodala and Stanford's Josh Childress. Both would need to become better shooters, but Iguodala's athleticism and potential and Childress' knack for the game make them attractive under the "best player available" scenario.

Even Duke's Luol Deng could slip to No. 7. Although his athleticism is intriguing, Oak Hill Academy swingman Josh Smith may be too young for what is already a young squad.

"I would be surprised if our (preferred) guys aren't there with just the way things are going," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said.

 

[scotsman13]

That only serves to complicate the situation at point guard, with returning late-season rookie starter Leandro Barbosa and free agents such as ex-Sun Steve Nash among the possibilities. The Suns also could pass on a point guard despite taking hard looks at Gordon, Peoria (Ill.) prepster Shaun Livingston, Devin Harris of Wisconsin and Jameer Nelson of St. Joseph's.

"Barbosa has had a great summer," Colangelo said. "Not only did he get the experience, but he's gotten a little bit bigger and stronger and is working his tail off. As we look at the draft, yes, there are a couple players that would possibly address point guard, but nobody I could see at No. 7 to beat out Leandro.

wow, it looks like they feel that barbosa is really putting it together.

 

[Joe Mama]

I heard Devin Harris on the radio yesterday. He sure sounded like the kind of guy the Phoenix Suns like. He was very well spoken and fully capable of answering questions intelligently. Quite honestly it was nice to hear a draft prospect that could actually carry on a conversation without mumbling or simply repeating the same cliché to answer every question.

Joe Mama

 

[cepstrum]

I heard Devin Harris on the radio yesterday. He sure sounded like the kind of guy the Phoenix Suns like. He was very well spoken and fully capable of answering questions intelligently. Quite honestly it was nice to hear a draft prospect that could actually carry on a conversation without mumbling or simply repeating the same cliché to answer every question.

Joe Mama

Im hoping that they dont draft him. If they are set on a pt guard, they might as well trade down for two mid rounders and draft jameer nelson and a big guy. BTY out of subject but have you ever heard Shawn Marion try to do an interview? thats some funny sh*t

 

[hcsilla]

I think it's more and more likely that the Suns will take Harris.

 

[slinslin]

I think it's more and more likely that the Suns will take Harris.

I thought that as well after reading the article earlier today.

It also seems like we can absolutely rule out trading up or something like that.

 

[scotsman13]

i have said for a couple days that i think that they suns will take harris. this isnt who i would take or who i wish they would draft. it is who i think that the team is going to draft at the 7th spot.


this draft is full of long term projects who have a lot of upside and not a lot of impact now.

 

[George O'Brien]

I think it will depend on who drops. Harris and Jackson are almost certainly going to be available, but we really don't know who else.

In the Republic's Mock Draft they have Atlanta taking Gordon, which seems very unlikely if they are drafting for themselves since he is the same size as Jason Terry - their only solid player. My hope is that Gordon or Iggy fall to #7.

 

[scotsman13]

george some how i think that this draft is going to be a royal #$%@ job. i think at least one team in front of us is going to make the bonehead move and take someone they shouldnt. i am thinking the clippers or the bulls. here is some ideas

1 orlando howard, with out mtac the go for the player who has the most upside
2 charlottedeng he is the charlottle home town guy and would be a big fav of the fans. the only reason charlotte would move ahead of the bulls is because they believe that the bulls would take him.
3 bulls dont need a power forward but they do need a small forward so they take iggy.
4 clippers ok finally the take okafor but put him up for trade right away.
5 washington takes biedrins in hopes that he will develop into a center
6 altantia take josh smith to bring in some home town fans to see him.
7 at this point the suns really can take any one of 3 players livingston, gordan, and harris. who do they take? the suns go even younger by taking livingston. how is this for a shocker.

 

[slinslin]

lol scottsman that's some comedy

And Deng is from the UK, born in Africa and went to highschool in New Jersey or so. Charlotte hometown guy?

Besides that Bickerstaff already stated he will take whoever Orlando doesn't take.

 

[Goldfield]

I heard Devin Harris on the radio yesterday. He sure sounded like the kind of guy the Phoenix Suns like. He was very well spoken and fully capable of answering questions intelligently. Quite honestly it was nice to hear a draft prospect that could actually carry on a conversation without mumbling or simply repeating the same cliché to answer every question.

Joe Mama

I heard the same interview... Harris was very well spoken. Seemed bright.

 

[Quagmire]

I heard the same interview... Harris was very well spoken. Seemed bright.

That reminds me of a Chris Rock joke...

 

[slinslin]

Was the interview on ktar or xtra910? Maybe they have that interview on their homepage.

I can't remember any other draft prospects ever doing radio interviews before the draft except Amare...

 

[capologist]

I think it's more and more likely that the Suns will take Harris.

I agree. I think it’s likely that the top six pick will be, in some order, Okafor, Howard, Deng, Livingston, Gordon, and Iggy.

Out of what’s left at that point, Harris seems to be the most likely pick.

I hope we can find a way to swap Eisley for a big man with an equally bad contract. The PG position is going to get awfully crowded, especially if we sign Vujanic. Harris+Barbosa+Vujanic+Eisley = too many point guards.

Plus, if we use our cap room on a SG (Allen? Barry? Kobe Bryant, even?), or if Casey major strides, then we will sometimes play JJ at the point in a big backcourt. Too many PGs; too few big men. Familiar story, no?

 

[hcsilla]

I hope we can find a way to swap Eisley for a big man with an equally bad contract.

Eisley for Weatherspoon?