How Great is the 2017 draft class?

[JCSunsfan]

Except this last thing about wanting to play for the Lakers over being the #1 pick was from Lonzo.

That is a really bad sign

I looked at the quote. Some reporter asked him, "Which would you prefer, to be the first pick or be picked by the Lakers?" His reply was that it would be cool to be picked by the Lakers because all of his family is in the LA area and they could watch him play.

It was more of an off-hand reply than a career strategy move.

 

[slinslin]

How does it make it better?

It is a stupid thing to say which makes everyone a loser in that situation except the Lakers.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Except this last thing about wanting to play for the Lakers over being the #1 pick was from Lonzo.

That is a really bad sign

#1 or #2 or 3 isn't that big of a deal. If he said he wanted to be a laker so badly he would be willing to be drafted late lotto that's another story. All these kids grow up with favorite teams. Of course they'd love to play for them. But when you're drafted and begin getting paid millions and treated like royalty by a team and it's fans and become friends with your new teammates I think you overlook your fandom pretty quickly.

 

[slinslin]

Maybe, but fans won't love a player who previously said he would rather go to the Lakers than being picked #1 by their team.

Just pass, if anyone saw the SNL parody on Ivanka Trump "complicit". It fits like a glove on Lonzo, he is complicit to his fathers stupidity.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Maybe, but fans won't love a player who previously said he would rather go to the Lakers than being picked #1 by their team.

Just pass, if anyone saw the SNL parody on Ivanka Trump "complicit". It fits like a glove on Lonzo, he is complicit to his fathers stupidity.

Cmon he's a kid. What kid doesn't take a back seat to a strong father? The concept of "complicit" with a 18 or 19 year is just kinda dumb.

I understand why slin's jumping in this crap, bc he doesn't like Ball and looks for any excuse. But the rest of you should be ashamed of yourselves for falling in line with his BS. Many a player were less than excited to go where drafted and have been great boons for their team. Do you think anyone not from Michigan or Wisconsin wants to go to the pistons or bucks? Do you think New Yorkers yearn to play for the knicks (even as dysfunctional as they are Carmelo was excited to go there)? The fact that lonzo would like to play for his hometown team in front of his friends and family really scares you that much? Cmon, grow a pair of normal sized balls (you don't even need big cajones for this call). If lonzo is the best player/best fit for the Suns you draft him and don't look back. And when his first contract is up and he has to pass on gazillions of more dollars in bird rights money to leave his now four-or-five-year teammates/friends for LA the likelihood of that happening becomes very small. When is the last time you heard of guy leaving all the cheddar on the table and his teammates to go home for a discount other than lebron who already jilted that hometown lover, won championships, and only then returned? Uh, almost never. Sack up guys.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Maybe, but fans won't love a player who previously said he would rather go to the Lakers than being picked #1 by their team.

Just pass, if anyone saw the SNL parody on Ivanka Trump "complicit". It fits like a glove on Lonzo, he is complicit to his fathers stupidity.

Fans won't care if the team if they get to watch a good product on the court. You know... people actually like to WATCH basketball, not just read about it and post stats.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I looked at the quote. Some reporter asked him, "Which would you prefer, to be the first pick or be picked by the Lakers?" His reply was that it would be cool to be picked by the Lakers because all of his family is in the LA area and they could watch him play.

It was more of an off-hand reply than a career strategy move.

screw you and your context JC! He's the Anti-Christ, I tell you! The Anti-Christ!!!

 

[Mainstreet]

I think Slinslin was giving us something to talk about.

I do think that the father will be headache if the Suns draft Ball but I'm willing to deal with it if they think he is the right player for the team.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I think they like Jackson.

 

[pokerface]

#1 or #2 or 3 isn't that big of a deal. If he said he wanted to be a laker so badly he would be willing to be drafted late lotto that's another story. All these kids grow up with favorite teams. Of course they'd love to play for them. But when you're drafted and begin getting paid millions and treated like royalty by a team and it's fans and become friends with your new teammates I think you overlook your fandom pretty quickly.

Yeah thats true...But what about is daddy? Already sick of him and we haven't even drafted yet. Lonzo should just pay him off after he gets some money...Stick him on an island somewhere.

 

[pokerface]

I think Slinslin was giving us something to talk about.

I do think that the father will be headache if the Suns draft Ball but I'm willing to deal with it if they think he is the right player for the team.

If Ball is good enough then cool. I just hope all the hype hasn't ruined him. He's not his dad but I hope he can ask him to tone it down.

 

[pokerface]

screw you and your context JC! He's the Anti-Christ, I tell you! The Anti-Christ!!!

Well context makes a big difference. If that's how he said it then ok. I think a lot us are a little weary though. I don't want to prejudge but there is a lot of talent in this draft so everything matters.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm thinking if Ball does not want to be drafted by the Suns, he may refuse to workout for a team other than the Lakers. Or perhaps he expands the pool to other select teams.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I think Slinslin was giving us something to talk about.

I do think that the father will be headache if the Suns draft Ball but I'm willing to deal with it if they think he is the right player for the team.

Here's an idea, just don't listen to him.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I'm thinking if Ball does not want to be drafted by the Suns, he may refuse to workout for a team other than the Lakers. Or perhaps he expands the pool to other select teams.

That's just foolhardy on his part. If he does something like that then he's and idiot and I don't want him because he's an idiot. But that's not gonna happen.

 

[Mainstreet]

Here's an idea, just don't listen to him.

Slinslin might be the best scout on the Suns forum.

If one does not listen, they do it at their own peril.

Of course, you have to sort through his favorites.

 

[Mainstreet]

That's just foolhardy on his part. If he does something like that then he's and idiot and I don't want him because he's an idiot. But that's not gonna happen.

I won't be shocked if Lonzo makes it known the teams he wishes to play for as sort of a deterrent.

 

[Covert Rain]

You can't pay attention to a player preference. It will open Pandora's box. Just shut up and play.

 

[JCSunsfan]

You can't pay attention to a player preference. It will open Pandora's box. Just shut up and play.

You mean like when Keef wanted to be traded, or Nashor Goran, or IT, or Mason Plumlee etc etc etc all the way back to Chuck.

No, it's not the rookies and the draft but it is still player preferences. Cats out of the bag on that one.

 

[Hoop Head]

The quote by Lonzo is nothing to worry about though, even before context was added. With context it's nothing. If he was from Orlando and said he'd like to be drafted by the Magic no one would be saying anything. He wouldn't have been asked more than once but it's the Lakers and he's going to UCLA so it's being blown up to be bigger than it is. I'm sure most players would like to be able to "stay home" when drafted and play for their hometown team who they grew up watching but that's rare, especially for a top prospect, plus it's LA and the Lakers are a storied franchise.

There is a chance the Lakers won't even have a 1st round pick to select Ball, does anyone think he'll stay in school if that happens at the lottery? Not a chance. There isn't a story to be had either if they ask Ball what he'll do if the Lakers lose their draft pick, which is about a 50/50 shot right now. If that happens the Lakers might offer up a lot to try and get Lonzo but I'm not sure the Suns should be willing to do a deal like that, maybe for Ingram and Randle but I'd be shocked if LA was ok with that trade.

I don't see LaVar Ball being that much of a problem in the NBA because he won't be able to tag along with Lonzo like he has in college, his teammates will trash on him for that because who travels with their dad as a pro? I doubt Lonzo will want him around that much once he's a millionaire NBA player either. LiAngelo Ball starts going to UCLA next year and LaVar already knows the system there plus all of the reporters to be able to stay in the spotlight. He'll be their problem until his youngest son finishes up there in about 4 years. Lonzo hired an agent who should try keeping his dad in line if he's a problem at the next stage. Had he announced his dad was his agent then that would be real cause for concern but he didn't. I'm sure his dad suggested that also but Lonzo was smart enough to avoid that headache.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

The quote by Lonzo is nothing to worry about though, even before context was added. With context it's nothing. If he was from Orlando and said he'd like to be drafted by the Magic no one would be saying anything. He wouldn't have been asked more than once but it's the Lakers and he's going to UCLA so it's being blown up to be bigger than it is. I'm sure most players would like to be able to "stay home" when drafted and play for their hometown team who they grew up watching but that's rare, especially for a top prospect, plus it's LA and the Lakers are a storied franchise.

There is a chance the Lakers won't even have a 1st round pick to select Ball, does anyone think he'll stay in school if that happens at the lottery? Not a chance. There isn't a story to be had either if they ask Ball what he'll do if the Lakers lose their draft pick, which is about a 50/50 shot right now. If that happens the Lakers might offer up a lot to try and get Lonzo but I'm not sure the Suns should be willing to do a deal like that, maybe for Ingram and Randle but I'd be shocked if LA was ok with that trade.

I don't see LaVar Ball being that much of a problem in the NBA because he won't be able to tag along with Lonzo like he has in college, his teammates will trash on him for that because who travels with their dad as a pro? I doubt Lonzo will want him around that much once he's a millionaire NBA player either. LiAngelo Ball starts going to UCLA next year and LaVar already knows the system there plus all of the reporters to be able to stay in the spotlight. He'll be their problem until his youngest son finishes up there in about 4 years. Lonzo hired an agent who should try keeping his dad in line if he's a problem at the next stage. Had he announced his dad was his agent then that would be real cause for concern but he didn't. I'm sure his dad suggested that also but Lonzo was smart enough to avoid that headache.

I agree for the most part, but the problem is that it is added to his dad making some dumb statements like that he will ONLY play for the Lakers. Because of that it is going to get blown out of proportion.

 

[Hoop Head]

I agree for the most part, but the problem is that it is added to his dad making some dumb statements like that he will ONLY play for the Lakers. Because of that it is going to get blown out of proportion.

His dad has said a lot of stupid stuff though, like how he could take MJ in a game of one on one back in the day or how he turned down Barkley's challenge for a game of 1 on 1 now because he doesn't want Chuck to have a heart attack. I'm not worried about what he says, he's literally become a meme at this point.

 

[3rdside]

Slinslin might be the best scout on the Suns forum.

If one does not listen, they do it at their own peril.

Of course, you have to sort through his favorites.

I think we'd agree he's the most complete scout, whether he's the best is definitely open for debate...

*cough*...the NBA Draft Power Rankings game...*cough*

More on this to follow..

 

[Hoop Head]

Slin isn't the best scout here but I'd agree with 3rdside that he's the most complete. He reads a ridiculous amount of stats throughout the year so he's got a better idea than a lot of other posters in regards to the draft. One thing I've noticed is despite him being in Germany he doesn't seem to post much insight on European players outside of what fans that are stateside know. Stats don't tell you how well a player's style will mesh with a team though.

I think most posters here go by the mock drafts that are out there and read up on a few players who are supposed to go around when the Suns pick.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

His dad has said a lot of stupid stuff though, like how he could take MJ in a game of one on one back in the day or how he turned down Barkley's challenge for a game of 1 on 1 now because he doesn't want Chuck to have a heart attack. I'm not worried about what he says, he's literally become a meme at this point.

Difference is that this is actually related to something his dad has said.