How good is Booker?

[Raze]

I like Booker but not THAT much.

Yeah. Love me some Booker but some people are going to have disappointing expectations of the kid.

(Ouchie, I moved the Booker talk back over here, which seemed more on topic)

I agree with JC. He has all the tools to be a stellar player IF we get the right pieces around him.

What frees up Steph Curry to do what he does? He's a poor defender, but he has so many defensive studs around him he can hide on D. That frees him up to be amazing on O. Why couldn't Devin be the same?

Let's say we landed a solid PG who was a 3 and D type AND Jackson becomes the player we all hope he can become. That means 2/3's of the perimeter player are covered. Devin can guard the weakest one. That will give him even more energy to excel on O. Then add a shot blocking big man that eats up the glass and he's covered from behind.

Booker isn't Jordan or Kobe or LeBron. He's just never going to be a great defender. However, he can be Steph. And that means getting defensive talent around him that compliment his unique giftedness on O.

 

[Raze]

I see a Reggie Miller winner in Booker

It's a decent comp, but I actually think he's potentially better than Reggie. Reggie almost exclusively got his shots off of screens and roll outs. He relied on his teammates to get him the ball. Devin can score all over and can do so much more around the basket.

 

[Chaplin]

I'm not saying he'll be as good as Kobe, but it would be interesting to do a comparison of where Kobe was at during this particular stage of HIS career.

I know a few Laker fans here in LA that said they were having minor deja vu.

 

[GatorAZ]

I'm not saying he'll be as good as Kobe, but it would be interesting to do a comparison of where Kobe was at during this particular stage of HIS career.

I know a few Laker fans here in LA that said they were having minor deja vu.

Kobe had a better frame and was much more athletic/explosive. But the similarities are there skill wise.

 

[JCSunsfan]

He’s a bigger Steph Curry. He’s a player you can build around. I would commit to doing that.

 

[pokerface]

Disagree. You can be content with the record that it takes to get a good pick without actively rooting for the team to lose. It isn't even close to the same thing.

What are we supposed to root for? A so so record and a mid first rounder? No thanks. That's not as exciting.

 

[Cheesebeef]

(Ouchie, I moved the Booker talk back over here, which seemed more on topic)

I agree with JC. He has all the tools to be a stellar player IF we get the right pieces around him.

What frees up Steph Curry to do what he does? He's a poor defender, but he has so many defensive studs around him he can hide on D. That frees him up to be amazing on O. Why couldn't Devin be the same?

Let's say we landed a solid PG who was a 3 and D type AND Jackson becomes the player we all hope he can become. That means 2/3's of the perimeter player are covered. Devin can guard the weakest one. That will give him even more energy to excel on O. Then add a shot blocking big man that eats up the glass and he's covered from behind.

Booker isn't Jordan or Kobe or LeBron. He's just never going to be a great defender. However, he can be Steph. And that means getting defensive talent around him that compliment his unique giftedness on O.

Steph's a next-level passer that Booker will never be. He can get better passing, but Steph's got that natural eye-popping ability that only comes around a couple times per generation.

 

[BC867]

...No one is talking about future tanks except the anti tank zealots.

That's not fair, pokerface. You know I quoted your recent post where you referred to tanking "the next couple of seasons".

'Glad to see you changed your mind. Hold that thought.

 

[pokerface]

That's not fair, pokerface. You know I quoted your recent post where you referred to tanking "the next couple of seasons".

'Glad to see you changed your mind. Hold that thought.

I never said that...you said that. You made some comment I never replied to and took it as some affirmative.

You guys need to get off it anyway. You don't tell other fans how to think or try to make them feel bad for enjoying what they want. I want a high draft pick.. so what. I want an offseason to look forward to. If you guys don't agree I could care less. The nba is about entertaiment not fans half baked beliefs and what they think should be. I don't cower to peer pressure... especially if they don't offer a more appealing alternative to what I already think.

Better to root for suns losses than to not care at all.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

What are we supposed to root for? A so so record and a mid first rounder? No thanks. That's not as exciting.

I’m not talking about rooting for a mediocre season. I’m talking about starting game threads with comments like “it sure would be great if we lost tonight”. I think we are all on board with the idea that if we can’t make the playoffs we would rather get a high pick, but it doesn’t mean we have to be happy every time we lose a game either.

 

[Superbone]

Whether we nail the lottery or not this year is the last year of the tank. Anybody disagree with that?

 

[Finito]

Whether we nail the lottery or not this year is the last year of the tank. Anybody disagree with that?

Yeah I'm perfectly fine with losing this year if it lands us one of the really good bigs or a Luca Donic.


Draft Donic and sign Boogie to a max deal.

We need to start turning all these assets into something. I wouldn't mind trading Chriss and Warren but Bender is off the market as far as I'm concerned

 

[Hoop Head]

Yet again you guys talk of signings and trades. Who is signing with us? Even pre-last year (which was the first year the suns overtly tanked) no one of consequence signed with this team. And now things will magically change? Why, because you want them to?

And we’ve made trades. How did those work out for us?

So far none of your suggested solutions have worked. Why are you still so against an alternative solution (particularly as it netted us Jackson last year)?

We haven't been looking to make trades or signing to improve since we signed Chandler a couple years ago and he signed here without a hitch while we went after Aldridge. It's not that we can't sign free agents, it's that we're not signing FA. Answer the question, is this draft enough to put us in win now mode so the team can quit bottoming out and look to improve through other avenues than the draft? That is the only way we've been adding players for the last 2 years and we haven't attempted to sign any FA or make trades that improve the roster rather than get more assets.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

If we get a top 5 pick, it's good enough on paper for us to quit bottoming out. No guarantees the prospect works out (which will be true every year), but if we luck into a top 5 pick, we should go all in. Sign the right veterans, do trades, make sure the team is built in a complementary way. The whole shebang!

The way I see it, we need a starting PG and a star big. If the draft takes care of one (I'm a believer in a Doncic-Booker backcourt), pursue the other vigorously in a trade or free agency.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

We haven't been looking to make trades or signing to improve since we signed Chandler a couple years ago and he signed here without a hitch while we went after Aldridge. It's not that we can't sign free agents, it's that we're not signing FA. Answer the question, is this draft enough to put us in win now mode so the team can quit bottoming out and look to improve through other avenues than the draft? That is the only way we've been adding players for the last 2 years and we haven't attempted to sign any FA or make trades that improve the roster rather than get more assets.

We pursued free agents prior to chandler and came up empty. Chandler went without a hitch because he wasn’t in demand. Hardly an impact signing. And he was signed in the pursuit of Aldridge, so his signing was in fact a failure.

We pursued trading for the unicorn and uncle drew this past offseason, both unsuccessfully.

So we have tried both of those avenues unsuccessfully.

Truth is, if we land a top 5 pick the young talent should be in place to take a major step forward in another season or two (the youth still has to develop). At which point vets should see the potential and be champing at the bit to come aboard.

 

[SirStefan32]

We pursued free agents prior to chandler and came up empty. Chandler went without a hitch because he wasn’t in demand. Hardly an impact signing. And he was signed in the pursuit of Aldridge, so his signing was in fact a failure.

We pursued trading for the unicorn and uncle drew this past offseason, both unsuccessfully.

So we have tried both of those avenues unsuccessfully.

Truth is, if we land a top 5 pick the young talent should be in place to take a major step forward in another season or two (the youth still has to develop). At which point vets should see the potential and be champing at the bit to come aboard.

Nobody wants to play for a losing team! Suns need to start winning, and free agents will show up.

 

[Carolinacacti]

Only speculation but I think the Suns can sign a good PG in FA. Good Bigs are hard to sign even with Booker looking good.

 

[Mainstreet]

I never said that...you said that. You made some comment I never replied to and took it as some affirmative.

You guys need to get off it anyway. You don't tell other fans how to think or try to make them feel bad for enjoying what they want. I want a high draft pick.. so what. I want an offseason to look forward to. If you guys don't agree I could care less. The nba is about entertaiment not fans half baked beliefs and what they think should be. I don't cower to peer pressure... especially if they don't offer a more appealing alternative to what I already think.

Better to root for suns losses than to not care at all.

You did say it, at least sort of Pokerface. This has been an ongoing conversation between you and BC.

It goes like this. See below.

Don't make me do this again. LOL

What is your solution? Hang on to Chandler until his value goes down to zero and watch him mess up our next couple drafts? No thanks!

Next couple of drafts?!? So you admit that you're already planning three tank seasons in a row, following a bunch of losing seasons. Ouch!

No, Chandler is not the solution, although his presence is a plus to the young players. The hanging-on I don't believe in is Len. He has had more than enough chances to become a starting Center and he has failed. All we need is a solid role player.

I challenged Pokerface's post that we should tank "for the next couple of seasons", but never saw a response. So now his plan is three years in a row?

And that is not going to piss off Devin Booker? The Tank pissed off Bledsoe and his potential is nowhere near DBook's.

The Suns have Devin locked up? Yeah, until he tweets from the hairdresser's. (I didn't use a smiley face because it's not a joke.)

I'm not thinking about a tank beyond this season. There is an unusual set of circumstances this year between the lottery rules that are set to change and a abundance of interesting bigs. We are already bad from last season so we have a "head start" on the draft.

This season is too uphill. Truthfully, you guys might want to rethink this. The suns are going to lose a lot so instead of getting ticked off you might as well embrace the draft because that seems more exciting and a bigger payoff. I think we would be absolutely thrilled to get a top five pick.

Booker isn't going to walk over another bad season. We have years to turn his thinking around. Even players know about the draft...they know what's up. They know more help is coming.

So there we have it. Pokerface is not thinking about tanking beyond this season.

Now we just have to hold him to his word.

 

[pokerface]

You did say it, at least sort of Pokerface. This has been an ongoing conversation between you and BC.

It goes like this. See below.

Don't make me do this again. LOL










So there we have it. Pokerface is not thinking about tanking beyond this season.

Now we just have to hold him to his word.

I only said couple drafts because Chandler is here this season and next season.

 

[pokerface]

Whether we nail the lottery or not this year is the last year of the tank. Anybody disagree with that?

In theory I agree with that but it's the suns team that has to play ball. If they are going to stink it up a big portion of next season then management and fans will think tank yet again. They have to stop losing more games than they win.

 

[JS22]

What are we supposed to root for? A so so record and a mid first rounder? No thanks. That's not as exciting.

Yes, actually.

At this point I am rooting for the development of all the young guys. Which can, unfortunately for the ping-pong balls crowd, lead to wins.

 

[Cheesebeef]

We haven't been looking to make trades or signing to improve since we signed Chandler a couple years ago and he signed here without a hitch while we went after Aldridge. It's not that we can't sign free agents, it's that we're not signing FA. Answer the question, is this draft enough to put us in win now mode so the team can quit bottoming out and look to improve through other avenues than the draft? That is the only way we've been adding players for the last 2 years and we haven't attempted to sign any FA or make trades that improve the roster rather than get more assets.

He signed here without a hitch... LOL. That’s because he was older than dirt, coming off a bad season and we threw a TON of money at him.

If signings like Chandler are what you’re talking about, this team still goes nowhere.

 

[pokerface]

Yes, actually.

At this point I am rooting for the development of all the young guys. Which can, unfortunately for the ping-pong balls crowd, lead to wins.

I want the players to play good and develop. That doesn't always translate to wins. Other teams are improving too.

 

[Mainstreet]

I only said couple drafts because Chandler is here this season and next season.

In theory I agree with that but it's the suns team that has to play ball. If they are going to stink it up a big portion of next season then management and fans will think tank yet again. They have to stop losing more games than they win.

Oh no. You are walking it back after saying, "I'm not thinking about a tank beyond this season."

 

[pokerface]

Answer the question, is this draft enough to put us in win now mode so the team can quit bottoming out and look to improve through other avenues than the draft? That is the only way we've been adding players for the last 2 years and we haven't attempted to sign any FA or make trades that improve the roster rather than get more assets.

I'd like to believe the next draft 'could' put the suns in a win now mode. If they fill a gaping hole in the front court with a player that adds some defense and rebounding. I think it would make a difference.

Everything doesn't come down to the draft. If players we have improve that of course has a big impact as well. Bender could be the front court player we want on many levels.... could be. But looking at our record now and the competition in the west this still is a transition year. This draft could solidify and reinforce what we are building and give us another potential blue chip to keep up with the Celtics and Phillys of the world. We are in a bit of an arms race with future contenders.