How Great is the 2017 draft class?

[hcsilla]

If PHX could acquire 3 first rounders for Bledsoe/Knight/Chandler I would hope for 3 of any combination of these 6 players:
Markele Fultz / Lonzo Ball
Jason Tatum / Josh Jackson
Lauri Markkenan / Johnathan Motley

I have higher ambitions.

In my dream scenario the Suns get #1, MIA takes #2 and trade it to Phoenix for Bender and their 2018 1st rounder. Then the Suns trade Bledsoe for Aaron Gordon, ORL's 2017 pick, Watson and filler, draft Fultz, Ball and Giles, dump Knight for whatever they can, move Booker to SF, Warren to a 6th man role and have the lineup of:

Ball/Ulis
Fultz/Booker
Booker/Warren
Gordon/Chriss/Dudley
Chandler/Len/Giles

 

[leclerc]

How young can we get? We must be careful to stay above the drinking age so our veterans can buy the young guys a beer and take them to the cinema to see horror movies. Kindergarten team.

So I'm happy with one more rookie. Hopefully top 4-5, or move some pieces to go higher, if there's someone McD really likes. He hit the jackpot this year I think.

 

[DWKB]

Mason is definitely a sleeper at PG. He wasn't highly rated out of HS was he?

No, he was set to go to Towson originally. We actually discovered him on a recruiting trip to watch another player.

Luke Winn has a great article at SI about Mason and Graham if you're interested in their story. Pretty amazing really.

http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2017/01/11/frank-mason-iii-devonte-graham-kansas-jayhawks

 

[GatorAZ]

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[hsandhu]

Been watching some highlights, fultz is dwyane wade with better shooting and out to 3 point range.

Would be sick to get him.

 

[slinslin]

Fultz is a full package PG.

 

[hsandhu]

Fultz is a full package PG.

If we have a chance to get him, have to do it and then trade bledsoe.

If another team in the top 8 or 9 is more concerned about winning now, new Orleans for example or even Dallas since cuban refuses to rebuild, trade bledsoe for that pick. Then take another top prospect from this draft.

 

[elindholm]

If we have a chance to get him, have to do it and then trade bledsoe.

What would be the hurry? Bledsoe's contract is up in 2019 and who knows, he might be more effective playing alongside a real PG.

 

[hsandhu]

What would be the hurry? Bledsoe's contract is up in 2019 and who knows, he might be more effective playing alongside a real PG.

I doubt he wants to play alongside another PG after having gone through that mess already

 

[AzStevenCal]

I doubt he wants to play alongside another PG after having gone through that mess already

Yeah, Bledsoe, Fultz and Booker make no sense to me. Bledsoe, Booker and Ball might actually work but if you're drafting Fultz, it needs to be in place of Bledsoe IMO.

 

[Phrazbit]

I don't know that that combo makes sense but I don't think Bledsoe would mind playing beside another PG much, he has consistently shown a willingness to defer on offense.

 

[Covert Rain]

I don't know that that combo makes sense but I don't think Bledsoe would mind playing beside another PG much, he has consistently shown a willingness to defer on offense.

He might which is good we have Isaiah Thomas ....... wait.

 

[slinslin]

He might which is good we have Isaiah Thomas ....... wait.

Dragic was the one bitching, Bledsoe and Thomas played well and kept their mouth shut.

 

[Covert Rain]

Dragic was the one bitching, Bledsoe and Thomas played well and kept their mouth shut.

Who said any of that wasn't true?

 

[GatorAZ]

Lonzo is fantastic. Really impressed with his speed and handle.

Pretty crazy how stacked this draft is. Markkanen at his age and size is doing things we haven't really seen from a freshman.

 

[Mainstreet]

Lonzo is fantastic. Really impressed with his speed and handle.

Pretty crazy how stacked this draft is. Markkanen at his age and size is doing things we haven't really seen from a freshman.

If the Suns can't draft a top PG early how do you feel about the Suns possibly moving down and drafting Markkanen?

I always about drafting BPA.

 

[AzStevenCal]

If the Suns can't draft a top PG early how do you feel about the Suns possibly moving down and drafting Markkanen?

I always about drafting BPA.

I doubt that will be possible. Lauri dropped a little bit but at one time he was being projected as high as 5th or 6th. Now that PJC and Trier are back he gets to spend more time at his natural position. That fact along with getting his second wind (he'd played ball all offseason) should see him move back into the conversation for a top 6 player. That's not going to leave much room between where we fall and where he'll go in the draft. But I have no problem drafting Lauri and am intrigued by the possible frontcourt of Chriss, Bender and Markkanen.

 

[Mainstreet]

I doubt that will be possible. Lauri dropped a little bit but at one time he was being projected as high as 5th or 6th. Now that PJC and Trier are back he gets to spend more time at his natural position. That fact along with getting his second wind (he'd played ball all offseason) should see him move back into the conversation for a top 6 player. That's not going to leave much room between where we fall and where he'll go in the draft. But I have no problem drafting Lauri and am intrigued by the possible frontcourt of Chriss, Bender and Markkanen.

The Suns were able to work a trade to draft Chriss so who knows.

 

[AzStevenCal]

The Suns were able to work a trade to draft Chriss so who knows.

I guess anything can happen but what you're talking about is quite a bit different than what happened with Chriss. When you make that deal you have all the info you need, when you trade down you're taking a gamble that the player or players you want will still be there. Not a problem if you have several targets, but if you only have a few teams to deal with it gets challenging.

In this case, if you get the number 1 pick, you take Fultz and that's it. He's the kind of player every team is praying to get when they tank. I think the same goes with Ball, if you're drafting second there's really no reasonable offer that should sway you from taking him.

From 3 down I could see the justification for trading it away but if Markkanen is looking like the 5th or 6th best prospect, you have very little room to do anything. At that point it's probably best to take the consensus highest pick with ours and then try to swing a deal once someone actually takes Markkanen or do it like last year with Chriss. But you never know how highly that team might value him.

 

[GatorAZ]

Markkanen would be starting right now based on his 3pt shooting alone. He's literally the best shooting big man prospect since Dirk. Certain aspects of his game need to improve but 19 year old seven ft simply aren't supposed to be doing this.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Markkanen would be starting right now based on his 3pt shooting alone. He's literally the best shooting big man prospect since Dirk. Certain aspects of his game need to improve but 19 year old seven ft simply aren't supposed to be doing this.

If he just had the desired NBA length for his height, he'd easily be the first player taken IMO even over the very impressive Markelle Fultz.

I think Lauri projects to be a stretch 4 and along with his quick release, his arm length should be less of an issue. He can probably defend down low as he's going to be a very strong player when he fully develops. But he will be rebounded over fairly often when he's down there. As it is, I doubt he slips out of the top 6. If he has a strong tourney I wouldn't be shocked to see him climb as high as the 3rd spot.

 

[Phrazbit]

That is the most talented UofA team since 2003 and Markkanen is their best player since Bibby.

 

[Mainstreet]

I guess anything can happen but what you're talking about is quite a bit different than what happened with Chriss. When you make that deal you have all the info you need, when you trade down you're taking a gamble that the player or players you want will still be there. Not a problem if you have several targets, but if you only have a few teams to deal with it gets challenging.

In this case, if you get the number 1 pick, you take Fultz and that's it. He's the kind of player every team is praying to get when they tank. I think the same goes with Ball, if you're drafting second there's really no reasonable offer that should sway you from taking him.

From 3 down I could see the justification for trading it away but if Markkanen is looking like the 5th or 6th best prospect, you have very little room to do anything. At that point it's probably best to take the consensus highest pick with ours and then try to swing a deal once someone actually takes Markkanen or do it like last year with Chriss. But you never know how highly that team might value him.

A trade down is not likely to happen unless the Suns move down only a notch or two, such as if another lottery team within the top 5 falls in love with a particular player where the Suns draft.

Also I've been meaning to discuss further the Suns have the two Heat picks to use move around in the draft or as trade. However, the Suns would need to put some kind of protection on them, something like the Suns get the best of the Suns/ Heat picks in those years when those picks are conveyed. I'm assuming it can be done.

 

[AzStevenCal]

A trade down is not likely to happen unless the Suns move down only a notch or two, such as if another lottery team within the top 5 falls in love with a particular player where the Suns draft.

Also I've been meaning to discuss further the Suns have the two Heat picks to use move around in the draft or as trade. However, the Suns would need to put some kind of protection on them, something like the Suns get the best of the Suns/ Heat picks in those years when those picks are conveyed. I'm assuming it can be done.

I'd have no problem packaging the 2 Miami picks in an effort to grab Markkanen. If he falls to 6th or so, those picks might be enough to swing a deal.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Is anyone else violently jealous of the celtics? They're going to end up in the playoffs and get the #1 pick, aren't they? The issue is they likely don't need fultz or ball. Maybe they could send it to Sacramento for cousins?