Igor Kokoskov will be Suns new head coach

[BC867]

False. Lonzo Ball can't drive on anyone. He has zero lateral quickness .

Doncic's floor is Ball.

You can say "Lonzo Ball sucks and you explained all of this last year Chris" but he is a NBA PG

Doncic will play the point for better or worse

Chris, don't Suns fans deserve better than "better or worse" after eight years of missing the playoffs?

It's time to plan for "better". Isn't that why the team has been rooting for failure? To get a pick who can play a key role in turning things around?

A player without a natural position isn't going to accomplish that? We've been living with too many of those.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Another point to consider: every European import that has had extraordinary success in the NBA (Nowitzki, Giannis, Porzingis, Gasol, etc.) has been some combination of extraordinary size, extraordinary athleticism for his size, and/or extraordinary shooting touch for his size. Doncic doesn't have any of those. His supposedly extraordinary skills are bball IQ/court vision and passing. And you know who the closest analog to that is? Ricky Rubio. I don't want to be taking another Ricky Rubio with the first or second (or maybe even third) pick in a draft that has the likes of Ayton, Bagley, and some of the other guys at the top that this draft has. No thanks.

The comparison for Doncic that seems to be getting made more and more recently is Ginobili. And I wouldn't want another Ginobili either out of this draft. Ginobili has had a nice career, but if he hadn't played next to Duncan all those years, he would be nothing but a forgotten footnote in NBA history at this point.

uh... I'd LOVE a Ginobli, but he ain't near the athlete Ginobli was.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Our GM loves Euros. I think Sarver is stepping aside for McDonough

This seems like a brilliant move considering how those Euros have worked out for us so far.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

I rank them

Ayton
Doncic
Bagley
Bamba

So clearly I want a big man.

But Doncic has the highest floor in this draft. So absent of Ayton's ceiling, I want the highest floor.

We can't draft a bust

 

[Chris_Sanders]

This seems like a brilliant move considering how those Euros have worked out for us so far.

I am not agreeing. I am just seeing the writing on the wall and preparing myself

 

[Cheesebeef]

I am not agreeing. I am just seeing the writing on the wall and preparing myself

I feels ya.

 

[Raindog]

False. Lonzo Ball can't drive on anyone. He has zero lateral quickness .

Doncic's floor is Ball.

You can say "Lonzo Ball sucks and you explained all of this last year Chris" but he is a NBA PG

Doncic will play the point for better or worse

You can keep insisting that, but I guarantee there is not a team in the NBA that will be playing Doncic at PG next year.

As for Ball's athleticism, if say the Suns were theorerically just crazy enough to draft Doncic and play him at PG, whenever the Lakers play the Suns next year, Ball will spend the game driving around Doncic like he's a traffic cone.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

You can't guarantee it when literally if the Suns draft him he is playing the 1.

Lottery teams and where he plays

Suns - 1
Memphis - 2 and move to 1 when Conley sits
Dallas 2 and move to 1 when Smith sits
Atlanta -2
Orlando - 1
Bulls - 1 and move to 2 when Dunn plays

Thats is the top 6 . He starts at 1 for 2 teams and plays significant minutes at the 1 for 2 more.

A big part of his appeal is versatility.

 

[Hoop Head]

Another point to consider: every European import that has had extraordinary success in the NBA (Nowitzki, Giannis, Porzingis, Gasol, etc.) has been some combination of extraordinary size, extraordinary athleticism for his size, and/or extraordinary shooting touch for his size. Doncic doesn't have any of those. His supposedly extraordinary skills are bball IQ/court vision and passing. And you know who the closest analog to that is? Ricky Rubio. I don't want to be taking another Ricky Rubio with the first or second (or maybe even third) pick in a draft that has the likes of Ayton, Bagley, and some of the other guys at the top that this draft has. No thanks.

The comparison for Doncic that seems to be getting made more and more recently is Ginobili. And I wouldn't want another Ginobili either out of this draft. Ginobili has had a nice career, but if he hadn't played next to Duncan all those years, he would be nothing but a forgotten footnote in NBA history at this point.

I get what you're saying but if Doncic is a PG like a lot of people suggest then he does have extraordinary size for his position. I still question him being a PG in the NBA but I don't think we as fans know for sure what he'll be, that's up to his coaches and if Igor thinks he's a PG then that would help provide some reassurance to those like me who don't see him as a PG.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

And Lonzo Ball's 1.4 FTs per game and bottom 10% shooting percentage at the rim means he can't drive by anyone. And even if he could he is too passive to try.

So no Ball isn't driving by anyone

 

[JCSunsfan]

Nash learned this from Igor. Watch Igor's training videos for shooters and its the same thing.

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[Phrazbit]

If we somehow are picking between Ayton and Doncic without any outside influence... we're already farther ahead in the game than we've ever been.

And, while I'm happy about Igor... I still think Ayton goes 1st, no matter what. If the Suns "prove" me wrong then... well... at least we didn't pick 4th.

 

[Ronin]

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[Ronin]

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[Ronin]

Yes!! Go suns!

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[Hoop Head]

Yes!! Go suns!

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Nash was a big supporter of Triano's also since Jay was the coach of the Canadian national team. The door is open for Nash to come in an assistant whenever he wants. I think there might be too much pressure on him and our head coach if he became an assistant with the Suns though. People would be counting the days until Nash took over for the coach, no matter who it was, how long their contract was for, or how successful they were. Nash being the Suns head coach could end up like Hornacek's tenure as well. I doubt players would disrespect Nash like they did Hornacek but who knows what will happen in the next few years. The young players now probably didn't see Hornacek play live while they saw Nash's Suns teams. In a few years they'll only have heard about Nash's Suns teams though. He's made his mark on NBA history while Hornacek can't say the same.

 

[Ronin]

Matt Petersen‏@TheMattPetersen 18m18 minutes ago

Kokoskov was in PHX for great times and there when you-know-what hit the fan. Seen the franchise at its best and worst. Takes a lot of confidence/faith/trust to come back after witnessing the latter up close. Good sign for him and Suns

 

[Covert Rain]

Doncic will play the 1

Oh God I hope not. He will be smoked by other PGs in the NBA IF his foot speed per the scouting reports are accurate in terms of the next level. We will be stuck in perpetual rotations to double his guy (a la Nash).

 

[Raindog]

Oh God I hope not. He will be smoked by other PGs in the NBA IF his foot speed per the scouting reports are accurate in terms of the next level. We will be stuck in perpetual rotations to double his guy (a la Nash).

This. Except instead of having the likes of Bell and Marion and Joe J. on help defense, we will have Booker, Chriss, and JJ (who while he may have the speed, does not yet have the experience to be a skilled defender).

And I am not even convinced that Doncic would be a particularly competent PG on offense. Aside from his size, he has no other qualities that would make him superior to others at the 1... and that advantaged will be canceled out to some degree by his lack of athleticism compared to other PGs.

 

[Chaplin]

I’m hoping we don’t draft Doncic now so we can avoid the incessant whining that will inevitably occur on this message board.

 

[JCSunsfan]

McD was just on Doug and Wolf. He said all the things we already know about Kokoskov.

Doug Franz did ask him about what happened between Sarver and Budenholzer when that negotiation was going on.

McD said he would prefer to not talk about the coaches that he did not hire but what has been reported is unfair to Sarver.

He said that when you are negotiating with a coach who is still under contract with another team, it is a three way negotiation and not just a two way negotiation, which makes it very difficult. He said that sometimes its just not a good fit for either party in the present circumstances.

That was a very difficult question to answer and be discreet. It sounds like the Suns were not willing to give up the assets that Atlanta wanted in order to let him go. Maybe the salary between Atlanta and Phoenix was also complicated. But whatever the case it is pretty clear that Bud's contract with Atlanta and their willingness to let him go was the sticking point. McD commented about Bud and Atlanta later completely parted ways. Again, it sounds like Bud finally went back to Atlanta (after his NY interview) and played hardball with them in order to let him go.

 

[Mainstreet]

You can keep insisting that, but I guarantee there is not a team in the NBA that will be playing Doncic at PG next year.

As for Ball's athleticism, if say the Suns were theorerically just crazy enough to draft Doncic and play him at PG, whenever the Lakers play the Suns next year, Ball will spend the game driving around Doncic like he's a traffic cone.

If Doncic should join the Suns he would not be limited to the PG position and Booker should not be limited to the SG position. So long as the parts are interchangeable it should work.

Adding Doncic alongside Booker would be another way to add more offensive punch. So long as the Suns have a good passing game it should work. Also having a player that can play multiple positions, increases the flexibility of what the Suns can do. Who knows, perhaps Warren, Jackson or even Doncic can play PF in small ball situations.

I'm still attached to drafting Ayton at #1 but my mind is open to what Doncic can bring to the table.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I’m hoping we don’t draft Doncic now so we can avoid the incessant whining that will inevitably occur on this message board.

So you think that if we draft Ayton and he busts that all will be roses and champagne here? Whatever whining we'll have about drafting Doncic (if it happens) will either intensify or disappear depending on the success we have with him. But, yeah, if we draft Doncic it's going to be pretty noisy for awhile until we see what impact he has on the Suns.

 

[JCSunsfan]

OK. I am not a Doncic fan, but the D is not as big an issue as some make it. Young will be a problem on D too. First. Just because he plays pg on offense, does not mean he plays it on D. My guess is that JJ would draw the more difficult pg matchups. But also players weaknesses, especially defensive ones tend to get exaggerated at this point. Fans never seem to call a draft prospect an average defender. He either a stopper or a traffic cone. Doncic is neither of those. His D against 2's and 3's looks ok.

To me, its his shooting. He gets called a good shooter, but the numbers just do not bear it out. He seems like a nice player, but not a 1 or 2 pick in an exceptional draft.

 

[Cheesebeef]

If Doncic should join the Suns he would not be limited to the PG position and Booker should not be limited to the SG position. So long as the parts are interchangeable it should work.

Adding Doncic alongside Booker would be another way to add more offensive punch. So long as the Suns have a good passing game it should work. Also having a player that can play multiple positions, increases the flexibility of what the Suns can do. Who knows, perhaps Warren, Jackson or even Doncic can play PF in small ball situations.

I'm still attached to drafting Ayton at #1 but my mind is open to what Doncic can bring to the table.

Doncic/Booker back court... ugh. If they do this, we just learn nothing from our double combo guard experiment, thinking that this time it ‘ll Work... because they’re bigger!