How Great is the 2017 draft class?

[DWKB]

Bias plays no part in my opinion. If Markennan played for KU, wouldn't make a difference. Yes, his offense is much more advanced at this point than his defense but his shooting efficiency is extremely impressive and he is a stretch 4 in every sense of the word.

I don't have a horse in who the Suns draft and was just making an observation on what would really be a natural thing anywhere. An NBA fan on the west coast would watch more west coast NCAA and an NBA team close to a good NCAA team would have fans that want those players on their team.

I admit I don't get the Suns fans focus with drafting a "stretch 4" though.

 

[AzStevenCal]

The Cardinals survived Fitz's father. Is he more of distraction than that?

I don't think there's any comparison. I don't know that I've ever seen a father like Ball's dad. I don't even think Fitz's dad plus Fitz's brother comes anywhere close to Ball senior.

 

[slinslin]

Isaac is a SF, MArkannen is not.

Huge difference. I have a hard time seeing Markannen being a plus defender in the NBA at any point.

And we already have 2 19 year old big man who can shoot 3s.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I don't have a horse in who the Suns draft and was just making an observation on what would really be a natural thing anywhere. An NBA fan on the west coast would watch more west coast NCAA and an NBA team close to a good NCAA team would have fans that want those players on their team.

I admit I don't get the Suns fans focus with drafting a "stretch 4" though.

The entire league is focused on drafting a "stretch 4". It's the current trend; designed to overcome the combination of zone defenses and the 24 second clock.

But your "just making an observation" sounds weak to me. That earlier post was clearly a putdown (mild though it was). It might not have come across that way if you'd said some of the things there that you said here but you didn't and given your obvious Kansas devotion, it seemed a bit holier than thou too.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Isaac is a SF, MArkannen is not.

Huge difference. I have a hard time seeing Markannen being a plus defender in the NBA at any point.

And we already have 2 19 year old big man who can shoot 3s.

Markkanen is much better than either of our 19 year olds. Lauri might never become a dominant rim protector but I see no problem with him guarding the post position. And while his defense hasn't been special, it hasn't been horrible either. It's misleading to just make that comment without also acknowledging he'd been having to play out of position in college due to an absence of wing players.

It's also of note that he played all offseason and hit an obvious wall in December. He's since found his second wind and with the return of PJC and now Trier, he's back to playing mostly the 4. Subsequently, he's playing much better than he had been and your "analysis" seems to be focused on just that moment in time when he was at his worst.

Lastly, to suggest that we don't need Lauri's 3 point shooting because "we already have two 19 year old big man who can shoot 3s" has to be a joke. Markkanen is shooting 3s like few big men have ever done on any level and while his mediocre arm length will negate some of his strengths at the next level, his quick release, his passing, and his ability to put the ball on the floor will make him an offensive force in the NBA.

 

[BleedRed]

If the Suns are considering drafting a point guard Bledsoe needs to be traded at the deadline. His stock is as high as it will be. Honestly I'm a fan, but trading him is the best idea in my opinion. He's not a true PG anyways (we're near the bottom in assists). Draft one of the top PG's in a year when there are several with star potential and let him grow with Booker, Chriss and Bender. The sooner the better we need to tank at this point. TANK!

 

[AzStevenCal]

Markennan would be my pick if I were McD. I think he is more NBA ready than either Chriss or Bender. In fact, I would consider moving Chriss out to the 3, it makes sense because he has 3pt range (supposedly), former PG so he can handle the ball, he has agility and is mobile enough to defend the wing. Plus, it hides his lack of defensive rebounding and should keep him out of foul trouble not having to battle with bigger, stronger post players. Markennan and Moses Kingsley in Round 2 would be my picks. In case PHX doesn't re-sign Len and keeps Chandler, Kingsley would be a nice back up. Guy can defend, rebound and actually has some shooting range. If ARZ is interested in dealing Bledsoe, hopefully a lotto team looking for an established PG rather than taking a chance on guys like Dennis Smith, De'Aaron Fox or to some extent Ball then maybe PHX can land another top 5 pick this year and manuever into a position to take Ball or Fultz.

Chandler/Markennan/Chriss would be a very BIG frontcourt, with Kingsley, Bender and Warren coming off the bench.

I like the idea of a Chriss, Bender, Markkanen front court a few years down the road but I think you'd need to be a soothsayer to peg which position each of them will play. And Lauri is far more NBA ready than Bender and Chriss are. I'm pretty sure that if he stayed 3 or 4 seasons he'd be the leader in the "best Arizona player ever" argument. I'm not positive how his game will translate to the NBA but it sure seems to me that he'll be at least as good at the next level.

 

[DWKB]

The entire league is focused on drafting a "stretch 4". It's the current trend; designed to overcome the combination of zone defenses and the 24 second clock.

But your "just making an observation" sounds weak to me. That earlier post was clearly a putdown (mild though it was). It might not have come across that way if you'd said some of the things there that you said here but you didn't and given your obvious Kansas devotion, it seemed a bit holier than thou too.

Right, but the Suns just drafted a "stretch 4", didn't they?

I don't see the put down honestly, but if t came off that way I apologize. I don't know what my KU fandom has to do with anything though or where that makes me "holier than thou". I think that's projecting honestly.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Right, but the Suns just drafted a "stretch 4", didn't they?

We drafted two tall guys, who knows what position they'll play in the NBA? I wouldn't be shocked to see Chriss in the center position, Bender in the small forward spot and the GM in the 'where in the world do I find a starting power forward' position. Nor would I be shocked to see Chriss and Bender reversed. I'm starting to have doubts that either one can be our future starting 4 but they are very raw and it's still very early.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I prefer Markannan over Isaac and I do not care a whit about UofA. Watch both of them move. To me Isaac's gait is stiff and awkward. He even seems slow. Markannan's running gait is much more natural. He cuts and changes more easily. For a seven footer he makes a euro step look easy.

When I look at Isaac, it looks to me like he is going to blow out a knee on any give play.

I prefer Markkanen over Isaac too but I'd be thrilled with Isaac if that's who it came down to. I don't see the problem with his gait although I'll admit, I've mostly watched him in the half court. It's also hard to tell what his ceiling is given that's he's far from being the focus on that very deep Florida State team. He's nominally a small forward right now but I suspect he'll fill out and eventually play the 4 at the next level.

 

[Phrazbit]

Right, but the Suns just drafted a "stretch 4", didn't they?

I don't see the put down honestly, but if t came off that way I apologize. I don't know what my KU fandom has to do with anything though or where that makes me "holier than thou". I think that's projecting honestly.

I honestly don't care and I enjoy some needling between college fans... but... come on, this is hardly the first time you've said stuff in a transparent effort to rile UofA fans on the Suns board. I recall you, out of the blue, popping off on TJ McConnell, a backup on a terrible team. I highly doubt you'd have ever mentioned or even remotely cared about him if he had played anywhere besides Arizona.

 

[overseascardfan]

Isaac is a SF, MArkannen is not.

Huge difference. I have a hard time seeing Markannen being a plus defender in the NBA at any point.

And we already have 2 19 year old big man who can shoot 3s.

Isaac is listed as a combo forward by NBA Draft Net and say Markkanen is never a plus defender, his offensive ability is what his calling card will be in the NBA. Bender and Chriss are shooting 31% & 32%, Markkanen is shooting over 50%...big difference.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I swear I change my mind on who I want almost daily. This is just such a great looking class: from Fultz to Ball to Jackson to D Smith to Markkanen to Isaac to Ntilikina(?) to Monk and so many more. Even a little later you can grab someone like Justin Patton or maybe Giles or Hartenstein(?) or Rabb or R Williams or Adebayo or Leaf or Anunoby or Jarrett Allen and more than a couple of them have the chance to be the best player from this draft.

We NEED a second pick this season, maybe even a third although there will still be serious talent in the 2nd round. Someone like Allonzo Trier or Johnathon Motley or Thomas Bryant or Caleb Swanigan or Chris Boucher or John Collins will fall that far and might hit it big in the NBA. I just love this class, I can't remember being this excited about a draft class (this late in the season) in quite some time.

The (?) are for players I haven't watched.

 

[DWKB]

I honestly don't care and I enjoy some needling between college fans... but... come on, this is hardly the first time you've said stuff in a transparent effort to rile UofA fans on the Suns board. I recall you, out of the blue, popping off on TJ McConnell, a backup on a terrible team. I highly doubt you'd have ever mentioned or even remotely cared about him if he had played anywhere besides Arizona.

I'd say you're not paying attention then. I ridiculed McConnell because he plays for the 76ers, which I follow because of Embiid. That was Nov and I've since said he has improved from that Nov performance. McConnell isn't a backup, he's the starting PG for that team.

 

[GatorAZ]

Markkanen has a high floor due to his shooting ability. He's literally putting up 3pt effiency numbers we've never seen from a 7ft'er. 51% from 3 on 107 attempts... Those are make believe numbers.

Whether he developes into more of a complete player remains to be seen. For the Suns he'll probably be lower than on other team's draft boards.

Ball/Fultz
Jackson
Smith Jr

Markkanen is right there with guys like Monk, Tatum and Isaac. Giles would be ahead but he has too many red flags physically.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'd say you're not paying attention then. I ridiculed McConnell because he plays for the 76ers, which I follow because of Embiid. That was Nov and I've since said he has improved from that Nov performance. McConnell isn't a backup, he's the starting PG for that team.

Yeah but that's not his fault. He's tiny, slow and groundlocked but he keeps outplaying all the guards in front of him. Mostly because he takes pretty good care of the ball and he knows how and to whom to throw the ball. But his ceiling is quality backup IMO.

 

[DWKB]

I swear I change my mind on who I want almost daily. This is just such a great looking class: from Fultz to Ball to Jackson to D Smith to Markkanen to Isaac to Ntilikina(?) to Monk and so many more. Even a little later you can grab someone like Justin Patton or maybe Giles or Hartenstein(?) or Rabb or R Williams or Adebayo or Leaf or Anunoby or Jarrett Allen and more than a couple of them have the chance to be the best player from this draft.

We NEED a second pick this season, maybe even a third although there will still be serious talent in the 2nd round. Someone like Allonzo Trier or Johnathon Motley or Thomas Bryant or Caleb Swanigan or Chris Boucher or John Collins will fall that far and might hit it big in the NBA. I just love this class, I can't remember being this excited about a draft class (this late in the season) in quite some time.

The (?) are for players I haven't watched.

I think you want to stay away from Giles and Swanigan. Not that they aren't talented, but Giles is fragile and playing time limited. Now that isn't different than Embiid, but he's just more talented than Giles is. I think Swanigan beats up on smaller competition, but he's slow. I actually thought he'd declare last year.

Motley is a good second pick. I'd also say Anunoby is a guy who will be a steal. IU isn't on a radar and he just got injured, but he will be NBA talent at a reasonable spot.

 

[DWKB]

Yeah but that's not his fault. He's tiny, slow and groundlocked but he keeps outplaying all the guards in front of him. Mostly because he takes pretty good care of the ball and he knows how and to whom to throw the ball. But his ceiling is quality backup IMO.

I'd agree. His best attribute is getting the ball to Embiid, but that's not an attack, the best attribute for Delavadova was getting the ball to LeBron and that got him a ring and got him paid.

The truth is, he sucked this Nov and that's when I made the comment.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Markkanen has a high floor due to his shooting ability. He's literally putting up 3pt effiency numbers we've never seen from a 7ft'er. 51% from 3 on 107 attempts... Those are make believe numbers.

Whether he developes into more of a complete player remains to be seen. For the Suns he'll probably be lower than on other team's draft boards.

Ball/Fultz
Jackson
Smith Jr

Markkanen is right there with guys like Monk, Tatum and Isaac. Giles would be ahead but he has too many red flags physically.

I really doubt it. He might be in a group with Isaac but I can't see us valuing Monk or Tatum at the same level. But at least you didn't put Fox in there with them. As for Smith, I think he's a likely target if we trade Bledsoe but doubt we'd have interest beyond that.

My guess, our board is more likely to go Fultz, Jackson, Ball followed by a coin toss between Markkanen and Isaac with the UA audience providing the tie-breaker.

 

[DWKB]

I really doubt it. He might be in a group with Isaac but I can't see us valuing Monk or Tatum at the same level. But at least you didn't put Fox in there with them. As for Smith, I think he's a likely target if we trade Bledsoe but doubt we'd have interest beyond that.

My guess, our board is more likely to go Fultz, Jackson, Ball followed by a coin toss between Markkanen and Isaac with the UA audience providing the tie-breaker.

Oh I'd bet money right now on PHX going for a PG. if not one of the holy trinity, then the foreigner. PHX has no problems drafting international. Any other position is because the PGs are gone and it's a best available talent situation.

 

[Mainstreet]

Oh I'd bet money right now on PHX going for a PG. if not one of the holy trinity, then the foreigner. PHX has no problems drafting international. Any other position is because the PGs are gone and it's a best available talent situation.

The Suns need a PG but the Suns front line is incredibly weak. After this upcoming PG dominated draft there should be some good PGs on the market. So maybe the Suns go big. The Suns should find a big man to their liking in the top ten.

 

[DWKB]

The thing is, this isn't a big man draft. Are you going to use a pick on Giles or Patton? Hopefully not. Hopefully you have a slot to get a PG.

 

[Mainstreet]

The thing is, this isn't a big man draft. Are you going to use a pick on Giles or Patton? Hopefully not. Hopefully you have a slot to get a PG.

So you don't like Markkanen?

I agree this isn't the best big man draft. A PG is probably the BPA but let's hope the Suns can add another big man to their roster via trade (they have the Miami picks). Also there is free agency.

 

[JCSunsfan]

The thing is, this isn't a big man draft. Are you going to use a pick on Giles or Patton? Hopefully not. Hopefully you have a slot to get a PG.

The Suns just need a star player out of this draft. The position does not matter except maybe SG.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SirStefan32]

The Suns just need a star player out of this draft. The position does not matter except maybe SG.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah, I agree. You take the best player available.