I was dead on in this draft again

[Russ Smith]

thanks. That's about what I figured regarding Marcus Williams. I'm sure that's why the Phoenix Suns passed on him because on the basketball court he would be a very good fit for this team.

I still think a lot of teams will regret passing on him, but I do understand why they did it.

Joe

Marcus went to Crenshaw in LA and there was a lot of negative stuff around him coming out of there, he went to Oak Hill as a senior. There's a reason a kid from LA wasn't heavily recruited by most of the Pac 10. he didn't have the grades for UCLA but even USC didnt't want any part of him. He missed time at UCONN over grades, then got suspended for stealing. They actually stole laptops that belonged to the womens athletic department, I think it was the womens basketball team of all things.

Really is a tough situation he's a very good player and like you I think teams will wish they'd picked him later, but I also wouldn't be surprised at all to see his name in the news somewhere down the line for another negative thing.

You never know people can and often do completely turn around their lives, but I think Marcus got a serious case of karma last night.

 

[nowagimp]

But to play devil's advocate (even though I side with the Suns on this one) it sucks to have to wait another year to see young talent. Talent being the key word.

I also like to see new talent, but we suns fans have been spoiled by the likes of JJ, Barbs, Diaw, Amare. It really is very rare that young talent becomes as good as these guys. Next years pick will be a much better pick, and I view this draft decision as preserving the suns financial ability to retain talent and draft that pick. I also suspect that D'Antoni is the mastermind, he obviously understands the complexities of the NBA cap, as he should.

I dont know why everyone suspects sarver of being a micromanager. A good businessman defers decision making power to those with the best decision making skill set for each particular decision. By all appearances, this is what sarver does. In hindsight, it appears that the failure to sign JJ may have been both a good financial and a good basketball decision. If sarver was such a tight wad why did he give Amare the max knowing that his knee was seriously injured(couldnt play)? Also, the value of the suns team has definitely increased since sarver took over. Value appreciation has made more owners more money than yearly operational profits anyway. Breaking even in yearly earnings may not be as critical as it seems if the value of the team increases by 20-30 million in that year.

 

[just do it]

In regards to the picks next year and the cap, I can see the team hopefully after winning a ring, moving either all or part of Marion, KT and LB and restocking with this draft next year.

 

[Chaz]

You all can blame Sarver for being cheap if you want (those that are) but as it relates to this draft I think you are off base.

D'Antoni didn't sound very excited about this draft yesterday and while I am disappointed we didn't pick up a rookie to root for I understand the decision and agree it is probably what is best for the team at this point.

Being pissed that the Suns traded out of this draft is an emotional reaction not a logical one.

 

[cepstrum]

Being pissed that the Suns traded out of this draft is an emotional reaction not a logical one.

That may be true for some people, but I dont see how you can defend "selling" the 27th pick. If you dont want to add salary take a european and leave him there *cough* Sergio *cough* *cough*

I dont mind trading the 21st pick since we actually get something back.

 

[Chaz]

That may be true for some people, but I dont see how you can defend "selling" the 27th pick. If you dont want to add salary take a european and leave him there *cough* Sergio *cough* *cough*

I dont mind trading the 21st pick since we actually get something back.

Our coach and GM said directly that he did not like Rodriguez.

Why would he want the rights to player he wouldn't play even if he was here?

 

[F-Dog]

Why would he want the rights to player he wouldn't play even if he was here?

Dunno, maybe he'd like him better after a couple of years.

The point is to preserve your team assets rather than liquidating them--once the cash goes onto the organization's balance sheet, it's very difficult to reinvest it back into the team.




Maybe instead of a draft party every year, the Suns should hold a draft wake. I'm just sayin'.

 

[cepstrum]

Our coach and GM said directly that he did not like Rodriguez.

Why would he want the rights to player he wouldn't play even if he was here?

Big deal! Danny Ainge said he liked Maggette more than Marion before that draft. You can't deny the fact that the kid has talent and he is young. He will only get better and he costs the team very very little since he would be playing in Europe.

You don't just give up prospects!

 

[Azlen]

Oh, I nearly forgot that the Phoenix Suns received another late first-round draft pick next year and then deal with Boston for the #21. That will probably be a very laid draft pick.

The second coming of Wilt?!?

 

[pokerface]

Big deal! Danny Ainge said he liked Maggette more than Marion before that draft. You can't deny the fact that the kid has talent and he is young. He will only get better and he costs the team very very little since he would be playing in Europe.

You don't just give up prospects!

Did you ever hear of free agency? The draft isnt the only way of aquiring talent.

 

[Chaz]

You don't just give up prospects!

Sure you do. If they don't fit your roster or salary structure.

Teams give up on prospects all the time. This isn't baseball.


As much as I want the NBA to have a baseball like farm system it just isn't there yet and it may never be.

 

[cepstrum]

Did you ever hear of free agency? The draft isnt the only way of aquiring talent.

By drafting someone and leaving him in europe you do not hurt your free agency possibilities at all. At all!

 

[cepstrum]

Sure you do. If they don't fit your roster or salary structure.

Teams give up on prospects all the time. This isn't baseball.


As much as I want the NBA to have a baseball like farm system it just isn't there yet and it may never be.

Well leaving him in europe could have served as a "farm system" We didnt have to bring him over. I sound like a broken record.

 

[George O'Brien]

There is no reasonable justification for the 27 pick than to get money to sign TT. Assuming that's the reason, then there's your answer: TT or guy you can leaving in Europe, like Vujanic perhaps?

 

[Treesquid PhD]

There is no reasonable justification for the 27 pick than to get money to sign TT. Assuming that's the reason, then there's your answer: TT or guy you can leaving in Europe, like Vujanic perhaps?

no kidding, but most average fans just want a new face, it's exiciting to them, plus they can't help it if they are stupid.

 

[cepstrum]

There is no reasonable justification for the 27 pick than to get money to sign TT. Assuming that's the reason, then there's your answer: TT or guy you can leaving in Europe, like Vujanic perhaps?

So what you are saying is that they would not have had money to sign TT and to leave the guy in Europe? Is that your stance? The team that had the highest profit last year couldn't do both???

 

[cepstrum]

no kidding, but most average fans just want a new face, it's exiciting to them, plus they can't help it if they are stupid.

What I find stupid is that people can't understand the fact that the suns can sign TT to a reasonable extension (assuming he wants to stay for a reasonable extension) and that the suns can take a player in the draft and leave him overseas. No matter how you cut it, the suns can only offer TT the MLE with or without the 27th pick. Go look it up!

 

[Joe Mama]

I wanted Marcus Williams. Somewhere yesterday I read that Coach Mike said he didn't think Williams could run enough for the Phoenix Suns. I don't know about that. Perhaps he was questioning Williams ability to get into the condition needed to push this team possession after possession. That I could understand a little, but Williams did a great job of running the fast break at Connecticut, and he liked to push the ball.

That said, if they really didn't like any guys at #21 a whole lot I like the deal. It's not just the money they saved either. They cleared a roster spot and returned what should be a better draft pick for next year and period of us disappointed during the draft, but if they weren't going to take Williams I feel this was the right move.

Now, regarding #27, the Phoenix Suns got $3 million for this draft pick. Frankly I can't believe they got that much money for one of the last picks in the first round of what was being regarded as a very weak draft. they didn't want Rodriguez, so I really don't understand why they would want to leave him in Europe (assuming he was willing to actually stay there). This guy has been around for a while. I dealt the Phoenix Suns believed he was going to develop into a player that they really wanted, and they did receive $3 million for him. That's not petty cash.

I really hope they can re-sign Tim Thomas, but did not count me among those who would be devastated if they aren't able to do it. If some other team offers him a five-year deal that the mid-level exception I would probably rather pass. Of course I would then expect them to use that mid-level money on somebody else who could help the team next season.

I also won't be disappointed if the Phoenix Suns are unable to get Barbosa signed to an extension this summer, especially if he is really asking for $7-8 million or more. I would be disappointed if they DID spend that much money on Barbosa.

I really hope they can get Boris Diaw signed though. He's my favorite player. However if he is asking for anything close to a maximum contract I think it makes sense to pass them to wait to see what he does next season and what kind of contracts he is offered.

Joe

 

[cepstrum]

they didn't want Rodriguez, so I really don't understand why they would want to leave him in Europe (assuming he was willing to actually stay there).

Im not really sure why everyone is assuming this. If you listen to the video on suns.com, Griff actually says that Sergio would be potentially a great fit but he isnt ready to contribute right now. Besides the point though, I just used Sergio as an example. I would be down with whoever was at the top of their draft board.

 

[Kolo]

As far as drafting a guy in the 1st and leaving him overseas, the Suns wouldn't have to pay him now, but his cap number would count--meaning they'd have $1 million or so less to spend to stay under the cap. I would imagine they could have moved the pick for a 2nd rounder or something, but obviously they preferred $3 million.

 

[TBaslim]

I read somewhere that Coach D indicated they considered drafting a player they liked at 27 and leaving him overseas for awhile, but each one they considered wanted to come stateside next year.

My guess is, Sergio was one of those players. There are other comments in the press about him wanting to definately play in the NBA next year.

 

[Chaz]

Well leaving him in europe could have served as a "farm system" We didnt have to bring him over. I sound like a broken record.

Europe is a worse farm system than the NBADL.


The thing is a kind of agree with you personally about Sergio. I would have liked to see him on the Suns. I think, however, that Coach D has a better idea about this guy as a player and the needs of the team than I do.