How Great is the 2017 draft class?

[ColdPickleNachos]

Jackson would be an absolutely amazing addition to this team.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Local take on Josh Jackson:

Tom Keegan: Josh Jackson gets that the point is winning

He showed so many point guard skills, some of which are only attainable for a player his size. At 6-foot-8, Jackson can see over the defense, which blended with his peripheral vision, makes him see potential buckets for others that most don’t see.

Check out his November/December/January/February statistics in four categories: Scoring, rebounding, 3-point percentage, free-throw percentage.

Scoring: 14.1, 15.3, 17.3, 17.8.

Rebounding: 5.7, 6.7, 7.6, 8.2.

3-point percentage: .294, .222, .385, .478.

Free-throw percentage: .541, .545, .553, .582.

Other than a 3-point dip from November to December, Jackson improved every month in every category.

Not many players can say they guarded a 7-footer for most of the game and on the final defensive play stayed in front of a sub-6-foot point guard the way Jackson did in the victory at Baylor.

“He’s a good passer,” Self said of Jackson. “He’s probably our best passer on the team. He’s got great vision.”

One of the coolest things about Jackson’s approach to his career at Kansas is that he never looks like a player whose focus strays from the task at hand, which always is winning that day’s game. He seems content to let NBA talent judges project his talents and he’ll take care of helping Kansas extend its season.

http://www2.kusports.com/news/2017/mar/05/tom-keegan-josh-jackson-gets-point-winning/#comments

Would be amazing if we don't fall too far in the draft and can then draft Jackson.

Off topic, but how about that KU back court? IMO that combo of Mason and Graham might be the best in the nation. That mixed with Jackson makes for a very fun team to watch.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I really hope Grayson Allen goes un-drafted. Actually, I hope some coach, somewhere, has the guts to yank his team even at the risk of the likely forfeit if K doesn't kick him off the team forever.

This guy creates an unacceptable safety risk for the players that he plays against. If I was that kid that he recently elbowed in the face I'd be contacting a lawyer too and I wouldn't be going after Allen.

It's an embarrassment how Coach K keeps selling his soul to keep this kid on the court. Captain Uncourageous, or maybe Coach Coward, we shouldn't be calling him Coach K anymore. At least a half dozen documented tripping and elbow to the head attacks on opponents and all he gave him was an indefinite suspension of exactly one game? Shameful.

 

[sunsfan88]

Jackson's off court issues are a bit troubling. He reportedly harassed a member of the Kansas women's basketball team and he's also allegedly part of the group that raped a 16 year old at the Kansas men's basketball team dorms.

 

[DWKB]

he's also allegedly part of the group that raped a 16 year old at the Kansas men's basketball team dorms.

OMG no he is not. Jesus....

 

[JCSunsfan]

Jackson's off court issues are a bit troubling. He reportedly harassed a member of the Kansas women's basketball team and he's also allegedly part of the group that raped a 16 year old at the Kansas men's basketball team dorms.

No accusation has been made of that. He was called as a potential witness, but that could just be because he was living in the dorm at the same time.

Speculation like this is premature, speculative, and potentially damaging. I do not think anyone has even ALLEGED he raped anyone.

 

[sunsfan88]

No accusation has been made of that. He was called as a potential witness, but that could just be because he was living in the dorm at the same time.

Speculation like this is premature, speculative, and potentially damaging. I do not think anyone has even ALLEGED he raped anyone.

What about the allegations of him following a woman outside a bar and threatening her car and hitting her windshield and causing various damages to her car? He did that with a teammate too.

All our recent picks have never had any kind of criminal allegations in college or high school and I like that. The worst that any of our current players have done is Bledsoe cheating on the ACTs.

You look at superstars in the NBA like LeBron, Durant, Harden, Steph, Westbrook, Butler, CP3, IT etc and you would be hard pressed to find any cases of assault or harassment allegations especially towards women. Even the up and coming players like Towns, Porzingis, Embiid, Booker, Jokic etc all have clean records as well.

 

[JCSunsfan]

What about the allegations of him following a woman outside a bar and threatening her car and hitting her windshield and causing various damages to her car? He did that with a teammate too.

All our recent picks have never had any kind of criminal allegations in college or high school and I like that. The worst that any of our current players have done is Bledsoe cheating on the ACTs.

You look at superstars in the NBA like LeBron, Durant, Harden, Steph, Westbrook, Butler, CP3, IT etc and you would be hard pressed to find any cases of assault or harassment allegations especially towards women. Even the up and coming players like Towns, Porzingis, Embiid, Booker, Jokic etc all have clean records as well.

Again. There is NO indication whatsoever he was involved in ANY rape. I have no problem avoiding a player because of off-the-court issues, but there is no issue with this. Maybe something will come out we haven't heard about, but there nothing there now.

He damaged a car. That is something. Not a lot, but something.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

I really hope Grayson Allen goes un-drafted. Actually, I hope some coach, somewhere, has the guts to yank his team even at the risk of the likely forfeit if K doesn't kick him off the team forever.

This guy creates an unacceptable safety risk for the players that he plays against. If I was that kid that he recently elbowed in the face I'd be contacting a lawyer too and I wouldn't be going after Allen.

It's an embarrassment how Coach K keeps selling his soul to keep this kid on the court. Captain Uncourageous, or maybe Coach Coward, we shouldn't be calling him Coach K anymore. At least a half dozen documented tripping and elbow to the head attacks on opponents and all he gave him was an indefinite suspension of exactly one game? Shameful.

Amen

 

[Mainstreet]

As much as I would like for the Suns to be in position to draft a player like Josh Jackson, I don't think this is going to happen unless they come back down to earth. The Suns have 19 games left with only 9 on the road. If the Suns continue to play .500, which they have over the last 10 games, I'm not sure where they draft.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Again. There is NO indication whatsoever he was involved in ANY rape. I have no problem avoiding a player because of off-the-court issues, but there is no issue with this. Maybe something will come out we haven't heard about, but there nothing there now.

He damaged a car. That is something. Not a lot, but something.

If it was your car it would be "a lot" - I don't dismiss that out of hand. I'd want to know more.

 

[Mainstreet]

Anyone watching college basketball want to comment on players that might go in the second round?

The Suns have two second round picks, their own and another from the Raptors.

I was keen on Allonzo Trier but he seemingly has worked his way into the first round. It would be great to find a gem in the second round like the Suns found with Ulis.

 

[DWKB]

If anyone is interested in it, the girl was date Lagerald Vick and it seems to be a tumultuous relationship. The night in question, she threw a drink in Vicks face. Jackson is accused of misdemeanor property damage to her car after that incident.

As for the rape claim earlier. It's ******** plain and simple. Get your facts straight.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Anyone watching college basketball want to comment on players that might go in the second round?

The Suns have two second round picks, their own and another from the Raptors.

I was keen on Allonzo Trier but he seemingly has worked his way into the first round. It would be great to find a gem in the second round like the Suns found with Ulis.

It's so hard to guess who will be there. You have to figure that someone like Kobi Simmons or Moses Kingsley or Chris Boucher will be available (if they go pro). But there are also some intriguing prospects such as Caleb Swanigan or Johnathan Motley that might go as soon as the early teens or as late as the second round depending on how they play in the postseason.

I doubt either Swanigan or Motley will still be there but there's also the possibility of combining both second round picks to grab someone around 28th and one of them could easily slip to the bottom of the round. Plus there's a lot of international bigs that might be worth a look.

There's a lot of second or third tier players that I have some interest in such as Josh Collins, Zach Collins, Allonzo Trier, Swanigan, Motley, Kobi Simmons, Harry Giles, Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges, Ivan Rabb, Justin Patton, OG Anunoby, Bam Adebayo and even though some of these are projected high, a number of them will have to fall to the second round. But if I were to take a wild guess, I'd say our best match of need meets availability will be Thomas Bryant.

 

[JCSunsfan]

If it was your car it would be "a lot" - I don't dismiss that out of hand. I'd want to know more.

I think calling it "something but not a a lot" is not dismissing out of hand.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I think calling it "something but not a a lot" is not dismissing out of hand.

It's certainly nowhere near the level of rape. I really don't know what his actions tell us although it definitely requires some due diligence on the part of our front office. I've seen or heard nothing though that should take him off our list of possibles.

 

[sunsfan88]

I think right now ( and this will more than likely change soon), my favorite pick is Jayson Tatum. Fultz is the dream but the Suns have destroyed their tank and will have no chance at him. I like Tatum because he seems to have quite a bit of Otto Porter Jr type all around game in him. I think he will end up being a better version of Porter today.

 

[Russ Smith]

Local take on Josh Jackson:

Tom Keegan: Josh Jackson gets that the point is winning

He showed so many point guard skills, some of which are only attainable for a player his size. At 6-foot-8, Jackson can see over the defense, which blended with his peripheral vision, makes him see potential buckets for others that most don’t see.

Check out his November/December/January/February statistics in four categories: Scoring, rebounding, 3-point percentage, free-throw percentage.

Scoring: 14.1, 15.3, 17.3, 17.8.

Rebounding: 5.7, 6.7, 7.6, 8.2.

3-point percentage: .294, .222, .385, .478.

Free-throw percentage: .541, .545, .553, .582.

Other than a 3-point dip from November to December, Jackson improved every month in every category.

Not many players can say they guarded a 7-footer for most of the game and on the final defensive play stayed in front of a sub-6-foot point guard the way Jackson did in the victory at Baylor.

“He’s a good passer,” Self said of Jackson. “He’s probably our best passer on the team. He’s got great vision.”

One of the coolest things about Jackson’s approach to his career at Kansas is that he never looks like a player whose focus strays from the task at hand, which always is winning that day’s game. He seems content to let NBA talent judges project his talents and he’ll take care of helping Kansas extend its season.

http://www2.kusports.com/news/2017/mar/05/tom-keegan-josh-jackson-gets-point-winning/#comments

yep that's the perfect description of Josh Jackson, he just does what it takes to win games, whatever it takes,

Great player

 

[Russ Smith]

If anyone is interested in it, the girl was date Lagerald Vick and it seems to be a tumultuous relationship. The night in question, she threw a drink in Vicks face. Jackson is accused of misdemeanor property damage to her car after that incident.

As for the rape claim earlier. It's ******** plain and simple. Get your facts straight.

There was some claim she was also involved in a situation with Carlton Bragg before that but I've read mixed stories on that so I don't know what's true.

Doesn't excuse Jackson's behavior of course but there's apparently history there that led to what happened.

 

[DWKB]

There was some claim she was also involved in a situation with Carlton Bragg before that but I've read mixed stories on that so I don't know what's true.

Doesn't excuse Jackson's behavior of course but there's apparently history there that led to what happened.

Bragg situation with him being pushed down and accused of assault was a different girl completely. Dude's have been choosing to date crazy this year.

 

[Mainstreet]

It's so hard to guess who will be there. You have to figure that someone like Kobi Simmons or Moses Kingsley or Chris Boucher will be available (if they go pro). But there are also some intriguing prospects such as Caleb Swanigan or Johnathan Motley that might go as soon as the early teens or as late as the second round depending on how they play in the postseason.

I doubt either Swanigan or Motley will still be there but there's also the possibility of combining both second round picks to grab someone around 28th and one of them could easily slip to the bottom of the round. Plus there's a lot of international bigs that might be worth a look.

There's a lot of second or third tier players that I have some interest in such as Josh Collins, Zach Collins, Allonzo Trier, Swanigan, Motley, Kobi Simmons, Harry Giles, Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges, Ivan Rabb, Justin Patton, OG Anunoby, Bam Adebayo and even though some of these are projected high, a number of them will have to fall to the second round. But if I were to take a wild guess, I'd say our best match of need meets availability will be Thomas Bryant.

IMO, it will be a steal if the Suns could draft Trier in the second. I don't think he will slip this far. I haven't watched much video for second round players but I did watch Thomas Bryant. I like that he could feel a need (center) if Len leaves. I like the way he finishes and he has developed an outside shot although he is still raw. Perhaps he could be another find like Alan Williams.

After the Suns had success with drafting Ulis in the last draft, I'm hoping they can find another player in the second round as they have two bites at the apple especially in a deeper draft.

 

[AzStevenCal]

IMO, it will be a steal if the Suns could draft Trier in the second. I don't think he will slip this far. I haven't watched much video for second round players but I did watch Thomas Bryant. I like that he could feel a need (center) if Len leaves. I like the way he finishes and he has developed an outside shot although he is still raw. Perhaps he could be another find like Alan Williams.

After the Suns had success with drafting Ulis in the last draft, I'm hoping they can find another player in the second round as they have two bites at the apple especially in a deeper draft.

I'm still shocked that Ulis was available, I was even willing to use our 13th pick on him. And still, there are people suggesting he can be a nice backup. NOT. I'd take him over Thomas right now, no questions asked and just imagine what he can be when he gets some experience under his belt.

I remember watching a mix tape of him of his high school days and I fell in love with his game there. I don't watch Kentucky play all that often but he was the best reason to watch that team last season.

As for Trier, I don't expect him to make it past the teens but you never know. If he has a bad tourney the Cats might even be one and done and a lot of players would likely jump past him. The way Arizona is succumbing to zone defenses, a one and done tourney is not out of the question even if Trier plays well.

Markkanen was such a great weapon against the zone, I sure hope his shot returns by then. OTOH, if it doesn't we might be able to swap the Miami picks for the chance to draft him in the teens.

 

[JCSunsfan]

It's certainly nowhere near the level of rape. I really don't know what his actions tell us although it definitely requires some due diligence on the part of our front office. I've seen or heard nothing though that should take him off our list of possibles.

Totally agree. A sexual assault is a serious accusation. It should not be the stuff of idle message board speculation.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I'm still shocked that Ulis was available, I was even willing to use our 13th pick on him. And still, there are people suggesting he can be a nice backup. NOT. I'd take him over Thomas right now, no questions asked and just imagine what he can be when he gets some experience under his belt.

I remember watching a mix tape of him of his high school days and I fell in love with his game there. I don't watch Kentucky play all that often but he was the best reason to watch that team last season.

As for Trier, I don't expect him to make it past the teens but you never know. If he has a bad tourney the Cats might even be one and done and a lot of players would likely jump past him. The way Arizona is succumbing to zone defenses, a one and done tourney is not out of the question even if Trier plays well.

Markkanen was such a great weapon against the zone, I sure hope his shot returns by then. OTOH, if it doesn't we might be able to swap the Miami picks for the chance to draft him in the teens.

Someone really good is going to drop to the beginning of the second round. This draft is too deep for that NOT to happen.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm still shocked that Ulis was available, I was even willing to use our 13th pick on him. And still, there are people suggesting he can be a nice backup. NOT. I'd take him over Thomas right now, no questions asked and just imagine what he can be when he gets some experience under his belt.

I remember watching a mix tape of him of his high school days and I fell in love with his game there. I don't watch Kentucky play all that often but he was the best reason to watch that team last season.

As for Trier, I don't expect him to make it past the teens but you never know. If he has a bad tourney the Cats might even be one and done and a lot of players would likely jump past him. The way Arizona is succumbing to zone defenses, a one and done tourney is not out of the question even if Trier plays well.

Markkanen was such a great weapon against the zone, I sure hope his shot returns by then. OTOH, if it doesn't we might be able to swap the Miami picks for the chance to draft him in the teens.

You are correct, Ulis was a steal. I guess most smaller guards around 5'10" or so go in the second round. I'm sure there are exceptions. I remember Isaiah Thomas was drafted #60. At least McDonough saw value comes in smaller packages when he traded for Thomas and drafted Ulis.

I was watching Markkanen play when Trier caught my eye. I think both are legit.

Are you thinking the Suns may try to get another first round pick by using the Miami picks? They would need protection.