How Great is the 2017 draft class?

[Covert Rain]

We better get the #2 but for fracking sake...how about the Suns get lucky for once and pull off an upset for the #1? I agree with the above. The Suns are due.

 

[GatorAZ]

88% top-4

Fultz/Ball/JJ/Tatum

 

[hsandhu]

88% top-4

Fultz/Ball/JJ/Tatum

That's why 2 was so important it limits how far you can slide out of top 4, with 3 it was a 70% chance at top 4.

Pick 4 will initially be a little dissapointing, but it'll likely be tatum, and can't be too disappointed in that

 

[pokerface]

That's why 2 was so important it limits how far you can slide out of top 4, with 3 it was a 70% chance at top 4.

Pick 4 will initially be a little dissapointing, but it'll likely be tatum, and can't be too disappointed in that

I agree with your post. We'd settle on #4 if need be but more excited to get top 2.

I feel relieved we got #2 slot. If you are a little apprehensive imagine how Lakers fans must feel. They're sweating bullets about now.

 

[JCSunsfan]

When we read all these scouting reports, remember how wrong they can get certain things. consider this one.

"no superstar potential"
"safe pick"

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Devin-Booker-NBA-Draft-Scouting-Report-and-Video-Breakdown-4934/

I do find it amusing how many times a "safe pick" ends up being a star or close to it. I am thinking Booker, Nash, and Majerle.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

When we read all these scouting reports, remember how wrong they can get certain things. consider this one.

"no superstar potential"
"safe pick"

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Devin-Booker-NBA-Draft-Scouting-Report-and-Video-Breakdown-4934/

I do find it amusing how many times a "safe pick" ends up being a star or close to it. I am thinking Booker, Nash, and Majerle.

Great find. Something to consider when evaluating Jayson Tatum, who looks like a sure thing, but with seemingly limited upside relative to the other top prospects.

 

[pokerface]

Great find. Something to consider when evaluating Jayson Tatum, who looks like a sure thing, but with seemingly limited upside relative to the other top prospects.

That really is it for me. Tatum being the "safe" pick...not the exciting "upside" pick. He's an excellent fallback position if our draft goes south though. He's substantial and solid enough to help our team get to the next level. Cool.

 

[JCSunsfan]

THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC .era THURSDAY JUNE 27, 1996
3 -team deal could snare Mutombo

By Bob Young Staff writer

No one knows whether Kobe Bryant, a Philadelphia schoolboy, will develop into an NBA star, but the Suns, picking 15th, were thinking about selecting him and probably would have, if Charlotte, picking 13th, hadn't taken him first. It's a crazy business, a risky one. Each year the players turning pro get younger. The job of deciding who to pick gets riskier. "In 20 years," said chief scout Dick Percudani, who has lost much of his hair, but not his sense of humor, "a mother is going to wheel a baby carriage in with this huge kid in it and say, 'Here's the No. 1 pick in the draft!' " The Suns are rebuilding, although it s not word they like to use. They want to get better immediately, but they must look two and three years ahead. ' Who to pick? r "Wal-lace! Wal-lace!" they bawled. ; When it came time for the Suns to pick, many who attended the draft at America West Arena loudly campaigned for John Wallace, a 6-foot-9 forward from Syracuse. The brain trust look out at the crowd. "Wal-lace! Wal-lace!" : The clock was ticking. The pressure was on. Rite of passage Cotton Fitzsimmons usually announces the names of the Suns' draftees. This year the coach sent Danny Ainge, his future successor, to the podium for what Ainge later called "my initiation." ; "We're excited to have Steve Nash," Ainge said smiling, as the boos began. "We think... " Booooooooooo! ... 1 "He's a . . ." Booooooooo! . . . "safe pick." BOOOooooooooo! It was as if Ainge had announced all Suns games next season will be on pay-per-view. The scattering of cheers in support of the Suns' choice were drowned out by the voices of discontent, f Some of the same people booed the Suns last year when they drafted Michael Finley. They also booed when the club announced it was drafting a kid out of Central Michigan, named Dan Majerle. ,- To Fitzsimmons, the negative reaction was amusing and reassuring. Better than the pood Housekeeping Seal of Approval, s "I worried about the Steve Nash pick until I heard the boos," -he said, egging on the crowd like a like a nightclub comic answering a heckler. The negative reaction wasn t directed at Nash as much as it was at the Suns for not taking Wallace. The Suns didn't like Wallace's attitude and questioned whether he would play defense. Nash isn t an exciting pick. He s a safe pick, as Ainge called him, and a practical one.

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/124081151/

 

[Dan H]

Gah.

Screw David Stern with a rusty pitchfork for putting a stop to that Mutombo trade.

 

[hsandhu]

I'm just listening to gambo today, he says suns board is

1. Lonzo
2. Fultz
3. Jackson
4. Tatum
5. Issac or fox

They love jackson, and would consider him at 1 or 2.

I wish lonzo was down a couple spots and fultz/jackson were 1 and 2. If you take lonzo, you need to try and get back in the top 10 with a bledsoe deal.

 

[GatorAZ]

Watching some highlights of Jackson. He moves pretty well despite not having very quick feet. I still prefer Tatum.

 

[3rdside]

I'm just listening to gambo today, he says suns board is

1. Lonzo
2. Fultz
3. Jackson
4. Tatum
5. Issac or fox

They love jackson, and would consider him at 1 or 2.

I wish lonzo was down a couple spots and fultz/jackson were 1 and 2. If you take lonzo, you need to try and get back in the top 10 with a bledsoe deal.

Exactly how I see it - surprised elindholm hasn't posted a hypothetical #1 draft pick poll to gauge the board's reaction to be honest!....I'll do it on his behalf.

 

[elindholm]

Exactly how I see it - surprised elindholm hasn't posted a hypothetical #1 draft pick poll to gauge the board's reaction to be honest!....I'll do it on his behalf.

Heh! Please be my guest. When I've done draft polls in the past, it has been after the Suns' drafting position is known. (Not coincidentally, I have a bit more free time during that part of the year -- April is always crazy.)

 

[GatorAZ]

He was doing all of that as a sophomore? Or he was doing that the summer before his senior year? I know it is Lavar talking, but he is expecting another growth spurt for Lamelo that would put him at or above Lonzo's height. Dunking is also getting easier and easier for Lamelo as the year has progressed.

Melo is a just about a year younger than Lonzo was at the same age and it wouldn't surprise me at all if he's still growing. Lonzo is more athletic but he's older, he got more athletic as he got older seems reasonable Melo might too. Gelo should be playing TE in football, he can score but he takes terrible shots and plays "bully ball" which worked in HS but won't work in college he's not big enough or athletic enough to post up in college.

It could be interesting since Lavar seems to think Gelo will lead the team in scoring but I don't think Alford is going to give in on that. If the dad isn't happy, he'll pull Gelo and Melo never plays for UCLA.

Released yesterday:

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[CardsSunsDbacks]

Released yesterday:

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Yeah it definitely looks like he was more athletic than Lamelo at an even younger age. He honestly looked more advanced in his game in 9th grade than Lamelo did this year in 10th grade.

 

[Russ Smith]

Yeah it definitely looks like he was more athletic than Lamelo at an even younger age. He honestly looked more advanced in his game in 9th grade than Lamelo did this year in 10th grade.

Yeah I don't think Melo is as good at the same age and won't be as good ultimately. He does things Lonzo didn't do at that age, has a great floater and is exceptionally good at finishing against size with either hand. But he doesn't have the passing skill and court vision of Lonzo he's a pure scorer not a PG.

Lonzo was the best HS guard in California since Jason Kidd, there's no shame in not being as good as your older brother when your older brother is Lonzo Ball.

He might not end up the best guard from Cali in that time frame of course, that includes Westbrook, Lillard, Klay Thompson etc but for how good they all were in HS, he was the best of them.

 

[GatorAZ]

Can Collins play the 5? Hes pretty strong and has some bounce (much more than Sabonis) at that age. He only shot 21 three's but hit 10 of them...

 

[Mainstreet]

Can Collins play the 5? Hes pretty strong and has some bounce (much more than Sabonis) at that age. He only shot 21 three's but hit 10 of them...

I take it you are talking about Zach Collins. After watching him in the NCAA tournament he looks like he should be able to play center. At Gonzaga he had to accommodate Karnoski who played center. I'd like to see more quickness from him but Sabonis seems to be doing fine.

 

[Ronin]

Bouna Alboury Ndiaye‏@Boundiaye 1h1 hour ago
7'2 French big man @J_Jeanne971 has entered the NBA draft. Watch his last game highlights https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBg5zjIsY7M&sns=tw… via @youtube

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Bouna Alboury Ndiaye‏@Boundiaye 1h1 hour ago
7'2 French big man @J_Jeanne971 has entered the NBA draft. Watch his last game highlights https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBg5zjIsY7M&sns=tw… via @youtube

Who is this guy?

 

[Ronin]

Fran Fraschilla‏ @franfraschilla
One of my favorite internationals is in NBA Draft. 7-1 Lithuanian Laurynas Birutis. 1st Rd talent on size & athleticism alone. Bright future

 

[Ronin]

Jeff Goodman @GoodmanESPN
Here is the list I have put together of those who have received invites to the NBA Combine. There are 59 names, a few still not confirmed.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Dan H]

bleacherreport.com/articles/2706663-lonzo-ball-reportedly-will-skip-2017-nba-draft-combine

No biggie, or another warning flag?

 

[Russ Smith]

bleacherreport.com/articles/2706663-lonzo-ball-reportedly-will-skip-2017-nba-draft-combine

No biggie, or another warning flag?

Several guys at the top did that last year too. In fact right now none of the top 4 projected guys, Fultz, Ball, Jackson and Tatum are expected to do any workouts there. Fultz said he'll do the interviews, Jackson and Tatum haven't committed to doing anything.

It sucks but it's been going this way for years the top guys are told by their agents they have nothing to gain and everything to lose by going there and working out(could get hurt, not perform well etc).

 

[sunsfan88]

Its a high risk high reward thing imo. If Ball doesn't workout at the combine and Fultz does and does badly then Ball's stock may increase over Fultz.

But if Ball doesn't workout at the combine and Fultz does and does well then Fultz's stock may increase over Ball.