How Great is the 2017 draft class?

[AsUpRoDiGy]

The Lakers are picking top three.



The lottery is not rigged, right?

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

If the Lakers get the 1st pick...I will never watch the NBA again!

 

[Mainstreet]

If the Lakers get the 1st pick...I will never watch the NBA again!

I understand your feelings no matter how much the evidence points to the contrary.

The Suns have been screwed so much over the years it's hard not to be a little paranoid.

It would definitely make me think the lottery is rigged at least for moment.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I understand your feelings no matter how much the evidence points to the contrary.

The Suns have been screwed so much over the years it's hard not to be a little paranoid.

It would definitely make me think the lottery is rigged at least for moment.

I really do not believe it is now or ever has been rigged but if it is and they cheat for LA, I think I'd be nothing but happy. I'd love it if LA got the first pick, just in front of us, and then drafted Lonzo. I have no idea what he'll be as a player but as I said early this year, I want no part of the Ball group.

 

[Mainstreet]

I really do not believe it is now or ever has been rigged but if it is and they cheat for LA, I think I'd be nothing but happy. I'd love it if LA got the first pick, just in front of us, and then drafted Lonzo. I have no idea what he'll be as a player but as I said early this year, I want no part of the Ball group.

This is another way of looking at it as long as the Lakers draft Ball and not another player I really like.

Of course I like trade-downs from the #1 or #2 slot.

I bet the Lakers have already discussed trade-downs with the Celtics.

No BBB for me.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I bet the Lakers have already discussed trade-downs with the Celtics.

No BBB for me.

I really despise speculative collectors so I'm hoping that every item that is purchased is done on speculation and everyone involved loses a small fortune. But I'm not petty or anything.

 

[Errntknght]

While I dislike Lavar for trying influence coaches and who teams draft, I think his going head to head with the powerful shoe companies is great. That's how the free enterprise system is supposed to work. The pricing is terrible though... almost everyone who will pay that price is doing it out of speculation, not to wear the shoes.

 

[Mainstreet]

I really despise speculative collectors so I'm hoping that every item that is purchased is done on speculation and everyone involved loses a small fortune. But I'm not petty or anything.

I learned my lesson on collecting basketball cards. I have boxes and boxes laying around.

 

[Mainstreet]

While I dislike Lavar for trying influence coaches and who teams draft, I think his going head to head with the powerful shoe companies is great. That's how the free enterprise system is supposed to work. The pricing is terrible though... almost everyone who will pay that price is doing it out of speculation, not to wear the shoes.

I don't know the father but what I hear about him rubs me wrong. However, my mind can be changed. I guess if I thought the father would not be a negative factor in regards to drafting Lonzo, the shoe thing wouldn't bother me. I guess my concerns go back to player agents that are too controlling.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I learned my lesson on collecting basketball cards. I have boxes and boxes laying around.

I love collecting, I hate the ones that buy a thousand of an item hoping to capitalize on a "shortage".

 

[Russ Smith]

While I dislike Lavar for trying influence coaches and who teams draft, I think his going head to head with the powerful shoe companies is great. That's how the free enterprise system is supposed to work. The pricing is terrible though... almost everyone who will pay that price is doing it out of speculation, not to wear the shoes.

I kind of feel that way too my only concern is as I said before in a sense what he's doing is taking his paycheck and buying lottery tickets with it hoping for the big score. Except it's not his paycheck, it's Lonzo's.

Lonzo is still only 19 but his dad is essentially pushing him to do something like tell his dad get lost it's my career. That's got to be incredibly tough, it's his dad, the guy who coached and trained him since he was a small kid. It can't be easy for him to say dad I appreciate everything you did for me, I love you, but you gotta stay out of my career now you're harming not helping me at this point.

I almost get the impression that Lonzo is "taking one for the team" thinking if he did that the dad would get even more involved with Gelo and Melo and screw things up for them.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I kind of feel that way too my only concern is as I said before in a sense what he's doing is taking his paycheck and buying lottery tickets with it hoping for the big score. Except it's not his paycheck, it's Lonzo's.

Lonzo is still only 19 but his dad is essentially pushing him to do something like tell his dad get lost it's my career. That's got to be incredibly tough, it's his dad, the guy who coached and trained him since he was a small kid. It can't be easy for him to say dad I appreciate everything you did for me, I love you, but you gotta stay out of my career now you're harming not helping me at this point.

I almost get the impression that Lonzo is "taking one for the team" thinking if he did that the dad would get even more involved with Gelo and Melo and screw things up for them.

I kind of feel the same. As an adult it's much easier to stand up to a dominant figure. As a nineteen year old it's virtually impossible. Particularly if everything that dominant figure has done all his life is prepare you to be a top draft pick and it's worked. As nuts and abrasive as the dad is, he's done something's right. Lonzo is positioned to be a top three pick in the NBA draft. Lots of kids are born with great athletic potential, very few reach this stage.

I strongly believe that as Lonzo grows a bit older he'll tell his father to round the edges, or deflect the crazy in the press. Or, of course, the apple may not fall far from the tree and he may be a peacock in disguise waiting for the spotlight.

 

[overseascardfan]

I learned my lesson on collecting basketball cards. I have boxes and boxes laying around.

I love collecting, I hate the ones that buy a thousand of an item hoping to capitalize on a "shortage".

Man, trading basketball card with my buddies after a trip to the local card shop brings back memories. I would always go for rookie card in trades as I felt long term they would eventually make me money. I've tried finding 1984 box sets in effort to find a Michael Jordan rookie card but alas no luck.

 

[Mainstreet]

Man, trading basketball card with my buddies after a trip to the local card shop brings back memories. I would always go for rookie card in trades as I felt long term they would eventually make me money. I've tried finding 1984 box sets in effort to find a Michael Jordan rookie card but alas no luck.

I collected lots of basketball cards back in this time frame. A friend got me started and it was so much fun until the market became saturated and crashed. Then the cards became mostly worthless except the rookie card of Jordon and such.

Now I have many boxes of memories. LOL

 

[AzStevenCal]

I collected lots of basketball cards back in this time frame. A friend got me started and it was so much fun until the market became saturated and crashed. Then the cards became mostly worthless except the rookie card of Jordon and such.

Now I have many boxes of memories. LOL

I never collected basketball cards but I couldn't resist buying some when Amare was a rookie. I ended up with some kind of deluxe card for both Stoudemire and Marion.

I did collect a lot of baseball cards growing up but my stepfather disposed of them (and my comic books, clothes, records etc) when I joined the Army. What I remember most about those days is that I had a friend who kept getting cards of Wilber Wood (pitcher) whereas I ended up with more than 40 Norm Cash cards.

 

[Mainstreet]

I never collected basketball cards but I couldn't resist buying some when Amare was a rookie. I ended up with some kind of deluxe card for both Stoudemire and Marion.

I did collect a lot of baseball cards growing up but my stepfather disposed of them (and my comic books, clothes, records etc) when I joined the Army. What I remember most about those days is that I had a friend who kept getting cards of Wilber Wood (pitcher) whereas I ended up with more than 40 Norm Cash cards.

It sounds like the Amare and Marion cards were solid finds. I had given up collecting during this time frame. Also I couldn't figure out which brands to buy and which were true rookie cards. Beckett used to print a card guide as to value but I gave up subscribing as most of my cards were worthless.

Too bad you do not have those early cards. They would probably be worth something today. Those were the days when they did not overproduce a card which lowered the value.

I still have a bunch of Shawn Kemp rookie cards that I thought were going to make me rich some day.

 

[overseascardfan]

It sounds like the Amare and Marion cards were solid finds. I had given up collecting during this time frame. Also I couldn't figure out which brands to buy and which were true rookie cards. Beckett used to print a card guide as to value but I gave up subscribing as most of my cards were worthless.

Too bad you do not have those early cards. They would probably be worth something today. Those were the days when they did not overproduce a card which lowered the value.

I still have a bunch of Shawn Kemp rookie cards that I thought were going to make me rich some day.

I purchased rookie cards of Lebron, Kobe, Durant in hopes someday they will be worth what Jordan's is today. I wonder how common was it to find a Jordan rookie card back in '84.

 

[Mainstreet]

I purchased rookie cards of Lebron, Kobe, Durant in hopes someday they will be worth what Jordan's is today. I wonder how common was it to find a Jordan rookie card back in '84.

It wasn't terribly hard to find a Jordon rookie card but I did not have much luck getting many. However, they were easier to get in packs of Fleer.

If I recall I purchased some extras at card shops which were everywhere back in this era. I haven't looked at my cards literally in 20 + years so it tells you how much I got burned out collecting. I could never keep up with all the new additions and variations.

I'm thinking Jordon cards cost about $5-10 dollars back in the day.

Those Kobe, Lebron, Durant cards should be worth money $$$.

 

[Russ Smith]

A buddy of mine had such a huge collection of baseball cards he were told they were virtually impossible to sell, the local shops said we'd actually have to hire someone to cover the shop so we could take the time to go through your collection and appraise it for buying from you. I think he eventually started breaking it up into a few hundred at a time and selling that way but no idea what he got for them.

I remember getting some vintage comic books at a flea market as a kid, one of them was an early Fantastic Four. We walked to a bookstore that had this book with values on comics and mine was worth over $100! This is probably 35 years ago. We took it to a comic store where I got the unfortunate news that there was a good size tear in the upper right hand corner and mine was worth about 5 dollars because of that, the 100 dollars was if it was in much better shape.

My dad has a bunch of fly fishing reels that are collectables now. He has original Seamasters he bought in person from the guy who made the reels in Florida, I think he said he never paid more than 75 bucks for any of them back in the early 70's and often had to wait 6 months or longer to get one after placing his order in person. most of them are worth over $1000 each now. He's got some Mako's and Charlton reels that are worth several thousand each too.

I suspect fly reels are a slightly better risk than cards or comics because the reels that become valuable now are high end reels, the industry is just not that big so they're not made in massive numbers because not that many people can afford over 1000 dollar to buy a reel, even if they think it will be worth 5 times that someday. My dad reached a point with the Seamasters where they were just too valuable to fish with so they sit in boxes now.

 

[sunsfan88]

I don't know the father but what I hear about him rubs me wrong. However, my mind can be changed. I guess if I thought the father would not be a negative factor in regards to drafting Lonzo, the shoe thing wouldn't bother me. I guess my concerns go back to player agents that are too controlling.

His father as a whole has done things that we can't just brush over. For example, he constantly belittled, humiliated and embarrassed Lonzo's high school coach. I'm not saying that he would do that in the NBA too but that's still alarming. Lavar basically got that coach fired at the end. And then Lavar never let his owns sons see their mom when she was in the hospital because he thought that would distract them from basketball. That shows this guy has zero clue on what priorities are in life.

I don't have anything against any of his kids but because I know that he's trying to live through his kids and use their spotlight for his own selfish reasons, I dont think I can ever root for his kids to be successful.

 

[sunsfan88]

I kind of feel the same. As an adult it's much easier to stand up to a dominant figure. As a nineteen year old it's virtually impossible.

Isn't 19 an adult? In America, isn't everyone considered an adult once they turn 18? Of course you still can't buy alcohol or tobacco til 21 but in terms of legal adult age, I believe its 18.

 

[sunsfan88]

I'm starting to like this Lauri Markannen kid for the Suns if we fall in the draft or trade Bledsoe for a pick in the top 10.

I like him as a C, not a PF. He's got enough physicality to play C if he can add some weight. Rebounding isn't bad and defensively, if Chriss can become a prime Serge Ibaka type player then his defense won't matter too much. And even defensively, he actually isn't all that bad.

Offensively he's got almost the whole package and would be a lethal weapon for Booker and Ulis to use on pick and rolls. Would stretch the floor very, very well.

Good size at 7'0 too. Let Len walk and get this kid to develop and learn behind Tyson for a bit before throwing him into the fire.

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[Mainstreet]

His father as a whole has done things that we can't just brush over. For example, he constantly belittled, humiliated and embarrassed Lonzo's high school coach. I'm not saying that he would do that in the NBA too but that's still alarming. Lavar basically got that coach fired at the end. And then Lavar never let his owns sons see their mom when she was in the hospital because he thought that would distract them from basketball. That shows this guy has zero clue on what priorities are in life.

I don't have anything against any of his kids but because I know that he's trying to live through his kids and use their spotlight for his own selfish reasons, I dont think I can ever root for his kids to be successful.

After the tennis shoe promotion I have moved on. It's not one thing but a pile of things put together some of which you note. I hope the Suns do not draft Lonzo unless they draft him in a trade-down scenario with another team.

 

[Mainstreet]

I like Markkanen but I wonder how the Suns would use him. He is really a stretch 4. Perhaps he could back up Chriss. He is an excellent shooter at 7 feet and mobile.

I don't think Markkanen is strong enough to play center. Also he doesn't rebound well or block shots. IMO, Bender has a better chance to play center down the road. He seems to have the better frame for it.

All that said, I believe in drafting BPA. If the Suns could get another pick in the top 10 they could do worse. However, if the Suns get another pick in the top 10 I'm intrigued by Zach Collins as a center candidate.

However, the Suns might be able to draft a capable center at #32.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I don't think positions matter all that much in the NBA but I expect Lauri to defend the 5 most of the time. I have no problem with his defense although he struggles with team defense and he will never be a good rim protector. But he's actually pretty strong. As for rebounding, pulling down 7 boards a game in 30 minutes isn't bad at the college level especially when you spend time at each of the 3 front court positions.

His shooting tailed off considerably the second half of the season, I'm convinced it was primarily due to tired legs. And if that is the case, I'd move him into the top spot for most likely to excel in this class. But if his early season shooting was the aberration and my "tired legs" explanation is more of an excuse than reality, he's probably not much better long term than a Channing Frye.

 

[Mainstreet]

If I were going to pick one player out of the draft I think the Suns want, it would be Josh Jackson.

A 6'8" SF who can play defense and score. He is also tough as nails. He would be hard for the Suns to turn down.

Markkanen might be a luxury for the Suns.