How Great is the 2017 draft class?

[slinslin]

That is a bit of an unfair portrayal of Lebron who is one of the most engaged sports stars in terms of giving back.

 

[Russ Smith]

Based on what I've read about Ball and his father, they seem more interested in parlaying Lonzo's basketball ability into a wealth-earning brand than in succeeding in the game of basketball itself. So it's no surprise if Ball looks up to James, who has been vocal since the beginning of his career about wanting to use basketball specifically to make himself rich.

Yeah I think that's true of the dad, not Lonzo. Lonzo just loves to play, I don't think he'd mind getting rich of course, but I don't think that's his big plan like it was for the dad.

In a sense Lavar Ball is Richard Williams part 2, the dad of Venus and Serena. He chose tennis, Lavar chose basketball. it's quite clear he has a plan and when Lonzo goes pro part of his plan is to sell the BBB brand to someone else, he mentioned Amazon and Facebook, and said his price starts at 1 billion. Sounds nuts but that's his apparent goal here.

 

[Russ Smith]

That is a bit of an unfair portrayal of Lebron who is one of the most engaged sports stars in terms of giving back.

I like Lebron but it's clear from early on he fully intended on getting rich. To be fair it was different, he didn't have to go to college so he did things in HS that got him suspended but had no impact on a college career because he knew he was going straight to the NBA. People forget he got suspended in HS because his mom bought him a Hummer using a loan based on his future NBA salary, stuff like that.

LeBron changed lots of things, remember in HS they made him wear "patches" over his tattoos in televised games, now you see HS kids with tattoos constantly, nobody cares anymore.

 

[elindholm]

That is a bit of an unfair portrayal of Lebron who is one of the most engaged sports stars in terms of giving back.

After his performance in last year's Finals, I can no longer question James's greatness as a basketball player. But he's still a king-sized douche and a terrible role model.

 

[pokerface]

If the Suns were able to swap draft picks (presuming they select #1) for assets and still draft Jackson, I would be ecstatic.

I guess it all depends on how the Suns view the early selections and whether they want to draft a PG.

I'd be ok with that! I'd be ok if they took Fultz too. I guess I'm too easy to please with this draft.

 

[3rdside]

Based on what I've read about Ball and his father, they seem more interested in parlaying Lonzo's basketball ability into a wealth-earning brand than in succeeding in the game of basketball itself. So it's no surprise if Ball looks up to James, who has been vocal since the beginning of his career about wanting to use basketball specifically to make himself rich.

Get with the program old man - brand building is what ALL the cool kids are doing these days!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[chickenhead]

I can also see Lonzo Ball eventually going to the Lakers at the first opportunity because this is reportedly what the father wants. He might want it as well. I would not like to hear this drum beat throughout his tenure with the Suns.

Yeah, I wouldn't like that either, although those sorts of childhood loyalties usually don't end up working out. The player is usually always fine with the team that will pay them the most, sometimes in combination with the chance to win. And the team that drafted them usually has the best chance at paying them the most or extending them early. Most likely it would just be an occasional annoyance, like Larry's dad and the Vikings...

 

[Mainstreet]

Yeah, I wouldn't like that either, although those sorts of childhood loyalties usually don't end up working out. The player is usually always fine with the team that will pay them the most, sometimes in combination with the chance to win. And the team that drafted them usually has the best chance at paying them the most or extending them early. Most likely it would just be an occasional annoyance, like Larry's dad and the Vikings...

Also player endorsements may be a factor in Ball wanting going to the Lakers or at least for the father.

If it were just the player, I would worry less.

 

[DWKB]

Did anyone see Jackson guard Caleb Swanigan last night? Crazy.

 

[Russ Smith]

Did anyone see Jackson guard Caleb Swanigan last night? Crazy.

Yeah that guy is scary good on defense at times. Swanigan got 18 points but he had 6 turnovers and there were multiple points in the game where you could see the frustration on his face. There was a small stretch where Lucas covered him instead and he immediately hit a 3 and I think a putback. It was like someone took a weighted vest off him and he could suddenly move again.

I really hope UCLA and Kansas play in the final 4 watching Jackson guard Leaf or Lonzo will be fantastic.

 

[Dan H]

Yeah that guy is scary good on defense at times. Swanigan got 18 points but he had 6 turnovers and there were multiple points in the game where you could see the frustration on his face. There was a small stretch where Lucas covered him instead and he immediately hit a 3 and I think a putback. It was like someone took a weighted vest off him and he could suddenly move again.

I really hope UCLA and Kansas play in the final 4 watching Jackson guard Leaf or Lonzo will be fantastic.

I'm really becomeing intrigued by the thought of Jackson so we could run a lineup of Bledsoe-Booker-Jackson-Chriss-Chandler to start next season.

 

[sunsfan88]

Is anyone here still willing to draft Lonzo after reading this?

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/03/lav...-coach-lonzo-lamelo-liangelo-ucla-high-school

I wouldn't draft him even if I had the 14th pick instead of the top 5. This is a PR nightmare waiting to happen. I wouldn't touch any of his brothers either. I can see a team like Kings adding to their dysfunction by selecting him though.

 

[slinslin]

Fox and Monk styling on UCLA.

 

[Russ Smith]

Fox and Monk styling on UCLA.

Talk about a backfiring gameplan, they were clearly daring Fox to beat them making him shoot and man did he beat us.

Tough way to end a great season.

 

[Finito]

Kentucky looked great tonight. All that young talent coming together

 

[Russ Smith]

Ball confirmed when asked that he's going pro. Alford just confirmed earlier report Ball pulled groin in the first half played the whole 2nd half with it. You could see him limping but I was thinking it was an ankle not a groin. Bad way to go out maybe my favorite Bruin of all time

 

[overseascardfan]

NBA Draft Net has Jackson going #1 and Fultz going to PHX at #3.

 

[slinslin]

nbadraft.net is not reliable

 

[JCSunsfan]

nbadraft.net is not reliable

Its no more reliable than anyone else.

Jackson may have shaken up the top three. Anything could happen with those three right now. I would be thrilled to add any one of those three to this team next year.

My big worry is what to do if the Suns end up trading 4-6.

 

[slinslin]

Its no more reliable than anyone else.

Jackson may have shaken up the top three. Anything could happen with those three right now. I would be thrilled to add any one of those three to this team next year.

My big worry is what to do if the Suns end up trading 4-6.

Draftexpress has established itself as the far best site that is openly available for fans. Heck the guys running Draftexpress are pro scouts and working for some NBA fans.

Please tell me how they are not a reliable source.

 

[Mainstreet]

Draftexpress has established itself as the far best site that is openly available for fans. Heck the guys running Draftexpress are pro scouts and working for some NBA fans.

Please tell me how they are not a reliable source.

Too bad DraftExpress updated there site the day before yesterday's games. I think things can still change around.

 

[Jay Cardinal]

So where does Jordan Bell go in this draft? What an awesome shot blocker. Can't believe how hard he owned Jackson at the rim tonight.

 

[hsandhu]

Good for suns jackson is out and did not have a big game... after ucla game cant let jackson's stock potentially soar past ball.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I don't get you guys... do you all really think ONE game in the tourney is going to hurt either Ball or Jackson?

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

So where does Jordan Bell go in this draft? What an awesome shot blocker. Can't believe how hard he owned Jackson at the rim tonight.

He's usually listed as a second rounder, but I have to imagine this tournament has moved him up to mid-to-late first round consideration.