How Great is the 2017 draft class?

[Mainstreet]

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

No biggie, or another warning flag?

I couldn't help but note that Ball was considered a top 5 pick in the article. Previously he was always mentioned in the same breath as one of the top two picks.

I don't think this means anything but question marks are mounting... at least in the eyes of the media.

 

[Mainstreet]

I found this article an interesting read about, if the Suns go PG in the draft. The article mainly delves into three players, Fultz, Fox and Ball.

After reading it, it's likely Fultz goes number 1. Really not much doubt about it.

However, I would not be shocked if Fox is the second PG chosen.

Here are some remarks regarding Fox.

• 
  

  [*]Attitude: “He’s a little bit nasty,” the Division I coach said. “He has that intensity, that fire that you love to see from the point guard.”
  [*][*]Athletic ability: “A lot of times a kid is a great athlete in high school and then they become a very good athlete in college,” Fraschilla said. “But then all of a sudden they’re just a good athlete in the NBA. The level just increases. You’re no longer a man among boys, you’re actually a boy among men. In De’Aaron’s Fox’s case, he’ll be an elite NBA athlete from the day he steps on the court at training camp.”

• Defense: “He picks you up 94 feet,” said Tony Delk, a SEC Network analyst who played at Kentucky and spent 10 years in the NBA, including two with the Suns. “He can turn guys left and right.”

"He’s going to have to become a little more cerebral with his decision-making, but it’s not bad,” Fraschilla said. "He’s got a good in-between game, makes mid-range shots, makes floaters. But the one question everyone has is: Is it in his DNA to work on his 3-point shooting? If he ever became an average-to-above-average 3-point shooter, he’d be unguardable like a number of guys in the league."

by Doug Haller at azcentral
http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...nix-suns-lonzo-ball-markelle-fultz/307313001/

 

[pokerface]

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.

They love Jackson but have him #3 on their board?? They seem as undecided as the rest of us!

 

[pokerface]

If it's #1 it's going to be Fultz...not Ball.

 

[pokerface]

I wonder if the suns are spreading disinformation about which player they are really targeting.

 

[Mainstreet]

Years ago the Suns were quite obvious with their likes for players they intended to draft with Zarko Cabarkapa being a prime example.

However, I think McDonough has changed the Suns into a more secretive organization especially concerning trades.

I also think with this draft being one of the more important drafts he will make, I don't think he will be telegraphing any moves.

Oh, I think he will talk about the players he likes, but I'm thinking he is not going to give his draft choices away.

 

[Matt L]

I'm really starting to get on the DeAaron Fox bandwagon.

 

[Sunburn]

Ball me.

 

[Errntknght]

If the Lakers pick before us and take Ball, we should strongly consider taking Fox... we could enjoy Fox giving him fits for years. I'm always up for drafting a good defender anyway. I guess we could draft Jackson and let him guard Ball - situation permitting. I'm pretty resigned to taking Fultz if we draft first - if we don't he's almost certain to be gone anyway...

 

[slinslin]

My dream scenario would be picking Fultz first and moving a combination of Bledsoe, Miami 2018, Miami 2021, Bender, Knight for Josh Jackson. That would be an opportunity to cash in on our assets even if we overpay to get Jackson to create a core of Fultz, Booker, Jackson, Chriss and possibly Bam Adebayo. 2018 is a strong center draft too.
But even if we have the assets to make an offer too good to refuse for Josh Jackson the team with the pick might say no anyway.

Knight to Philly for #36 and #39. - Philly gets a reclamation project for cheap that should fit well with a point-forward like Ben Simmons

Dudley, #32, #53 to Portland for Crabbe #15, #26 - Portland gets salary relief in exchange for a valuable cheaper role player.

Bledsoe, #15, Miami 2018, Miami 2021 for Josh Jackson - Suns throw the kitchen sink at whoever would be in position to draft Josh Jackson.

PG depth - few options - trade a 2nd rounder for someone like Ish Smith or another backup PG with good attitude as safety net for Fultz and Ulis. Look at free agent PGs like Michael Carter-Williams, Tyler Ennis, Patty Mills...

Chandler/Williams/Adebayo(26)
Chriss/Bender/Bell(39)
Jackson(3)/Warren/Jones
Booker/Crabbe/Mushidi(36)
Fultz(1)/Ulis/(X)

Roster spots 16 and 17 (rosters are expanded to 17 players next season to make room for Dleague projects) - Leandro Barbosa and 1 open spot.

that is one heck of a core.

Draft picks are worth so much right now, look at the FA class. There is basically nobody that would fit our roster besides players that can't be had like Gordon Hayward.

 

[Russ Smith]

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.

I think the individual team workouts do more for that than the combine does. We've talked about that on UCLA boards for awhile now, Lonzo is at a disadvantage in that setting because most of the workouts are at most 4 guys playing 2 on 2, where Lonzo excels is 5 on 5 making the other 4 guys better.

So I've kind of always expected the only things Lonzo can do to help himself in the pre draft workouts is shoot well and show the scouts he can do things in drills they didn't see him do at UCLA.

The workout stuff is made for a guy like fultz who's been doing these drills with a professional trainer for 10 years.

 

[Russ Smith]

I'm really starting to get on the DeAaron Fox bandwagon.

He's a terrific player.

 

[slinslin]

Fultz is not working out at the combine. No top pick is.

Fultz is attending the combine for interviews and such.

There is nothing to gain for him to workout there. He is going to workout for teams anyway and teams are doing the measurements and athletic testings again anyway.

Fox and Jackson would be my second favorite option behind Fultz and Jackson. It is probably more realistic too since it does not require us to win the lottery and trading for Fox would be easier than trading for Jackson.

We would really have to be on those 2 turning into competent 3pt shooters though. It would be risky.

 

[Chaplin]

My dream scenario would be picking Fultz first and moving a combination of Bledsoe, Miami 2018, Miami 2021, Bender, Knight for Josh Jackson. That would be an opportunity to cash in on our assets even if we overpay to get Jackson to create a core of Fultz, Booker, Jackson, Chriss and possibly Bam Adebayo. 2018 is a strong center draft too.
But even if we have the assets to make an offer too good to refuse for Josh Jackson the team with the pick might say no anyway.

Knight to Philly for #36 and #39. - Philly gets a reclamation project for cheap that should fit well with a point-forward like Ben Simmons

Dudley, #32, #53 to Portland for Crabbe #15, #26 - Portland gets salary relief in exchange for a valuable cheaper role player.

Bledsoe, #15, Miami 2018, Miami 2021 for Josh Jackson - Suns throw the kitchen sink at whoever would be in position to draft Josh Jackson.

PG depth - few options - trade a 2nd rounder for someone like Ish Smith or another backup PG with good attitude as safety net for Fultz and Ulis. Look at free agent PGs like Michael Carter-Williams, Tyler Ennis, Patty Mills...

Chandler/Williams/Adebayo(26)
Chriss/Bender/Bell(39)
Jackson(3)/Warren/Jones
Booker/Crabbe/Mushidi(36)
Fultz(1)/Ulis/(X)

Roster spots 16 and 17 (rosters are expanded to 17 players next season to make room for Dleague projects) - Leandro Barbosa and 1 open spot.

that is one heck of a core.

Draft picks are worth so much right now, look at the FA class. There is basically nobody that would fit our roster besides players that can't be had like Gordon Hayward.

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[Chaplin]

Lonzo Ball's dad asking $200 for Lonzo's signature shoe.

This guy lives in Bizarro World.

 

[slinslin]

Ball, Jackson, Tatum, Monk, Markannen, Isaac and Smith are skipping the combine.

Looks like only Fultz and Fox will attend the combine.

 

[Mainstreet]

Ball, Jackson, Tatum, Monk, Markannen, Isaac and Smith are skipping the combine.

Looks like only Fultz and Fox will attend the combine.

I'm looking forward to seeing these two players. It looks like Fultz looks to further solidify that he is the number 1 pick and Fox looks to move up in the draft. Of the players not attending the combine I think it could hurt Ball the most.

 

[Ronin]

SLAM Magazine‏Verified account@SLAMonline 27s27 seconds ago
Report: The Knicks are targeting 6-5 French guard Frank Ntilikina as a potential lottery pick in the 2017 Draft. http://slam.ly/CfrJma

 

[slinslin]

The Knicks are the only team I can envision doing this due to Jacksons insistence on the triangle offense which might make them believe a 3&D Point Guard who has little clue how to run an offense and be a creator could be a defendable #7 pick in a stacked draft.

Assuming the top 5 is fultz, jackson, fox, tatum and ball, they would pass on Isaac, Smith, Monk, Bridges and Markkanen for Ntilkina.

He is my #1 pick for total bust and he is a project.

 

[Ronin]

Steve Kyler‏Verified account@stevekylerNBA 3m3 minutes ago
Steve Kyler Retweeted Pat Kearon

Have been told Sixer very high on Fox, see him as high upside talent... Jackson is right there too.

Pat Kearon‏@patkearon
Replying to @stevekylerNBA
Thoughts on Fox over Jackson at 4 for the Sixers?

 

[Mainstreet]

The Lakers are picking top three.

According to Luke Walton, though, Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson said there's a zero-percent chance they fall outside of the top three.

"Magic's already ensured me that we're going to get our top three pick this year so I'm excited about that," Walton said with a straight face on CBS Sports' We Need to Talk on Wednesday.

Walton sounds resolute in his prediction: He laughed only after the snickering of hosts Lisa Leslie and Dana Jacobson became apparent to him.

The lottery is not rigged, right?

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...-lakers-getting-top-nba-draft-pick/310665001/

 

[Ronin]

SLAM Magazine @SLAMonline
The @NBA has announced the 67 players who will attend next week's combine in Chicago

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[Ronin]

Jeff Goodman @GoodmanESPN
Just reached out to a trio of NBA execs: All three said they would be extremely surprised if Donovan Mitchell doesn’t go in the first round.

 

[Ronin]

Zach Collins reportedly rising up NBA draft boards
Zach Collins is one of the most gifted prospects attending the NBA Draft Combine and he’s reportedly gaining a lot of fans.

Many top prospects are skipping the NBA Draft Combine, but not Zach Collins. The seven-footer from Gonzaga is coming off a fine freshman season, where he made a strong impact in limited playing time. Before speculation could really begin as to whether he’d even test the NBA waters, Collins signed with an agent.

And you can’t really blame him. He was so dominant in so few minutes and the center class this year is pedestrian. Collins could have been the face of Gonzaga next season, but he must have gotten some word on his draft stock.

http://www.wgmd.com/zach-collins-reportedly-rising-up-nba-draft-boards/

 

[Mainstreet]

SLAM Magazine @SLAMonline
The @NBA has announced the 67 players who will attend next week's combine in Chicago

You must be registered for see images attach

Fultz and Fox participating in the combine gives it some Pizazz plus other interesting players that can work there way up in the draft like Zach Collins as you mention.