Is the draft terrible for is if we don't get Zion? Morant might be just as good for us.

[Carolinacacti]

Take another wing because that's where the talent is. Same old BS of we need this so draft that is getting old.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Take another wing because that's where the talent is. Same old BS of we need this so draft that is getting old.

What? Neither of the top two prospects in this draft are wings. One would be our PF and the other would be our PG. I would rather trade the pick than draft any of the wings in this draft.

 

[slinslin]

No it wouldn't.
Booker: 27,250,000
Johnson: 19,245,370
Warren: 10,810,000
Ayton: 9,562,920
Jackson: 7,059,480
Bridges: 4,161,000
Melton: 1,416,852
Okobo: 1,416,852

That's $80,922,474M

Oubre's hold is 9,625,890, and Holmes' is 1,618,520.

That's 92,166,884. Cap is expected to be $109M. That's around $17M. Slightly less than $20M, but it's still a good chunk of change, even with a $9M pick hold.

You are forgetting draft picks, minimum roster space holds, the MLE and the bi-annual exception

 

[1Sun]

What? Neither of the top two prospects in this draft are wings. One would be our PF and the other would be our PG. I would rather trade the pick than draft any of the wings in this draft.

R.J. Barrett is a wing, and Zion and he are the top 2 prospects by far.

 

[1Sun]

No it wouldn't.
Booker: 27,250,000
Johnson: 19,245,370
Warren: 10,810,000
Ayton: 9,562,920
Jackson: 7,059,480
Bridges: 4,161,000
Melton: 1,416,852
Okobo: 1,416,852

That's $80,922,474M

Oubre's hold is 9,625,890, and Holmes' is 1,618,520.

That's 92,166,884. Cap is expected to be $109M. That's around $17M. Slightly less than $20M, but it's still a good chunk of change, even with a $9M pick hold.

This is why they needed to use their cap space for better players and longer term deals the last two offseasons, before Booker's extension kicked in, so they could then go over the cap with Booker's deal. They lost over $20 million in functional cap space there.

 

[JCSunsfan]

You are forgetting draft picks, minimum roster space holds, the MLE and the bi-annual exception

I think the MLE and bi-annual space hold do not apply to teams under the cap. Teams under the cap cannot use them. But yes on the other two.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

That comes out to 25/12/3 per 36 minutes. He is a legit outside shooter as well. With Ayton playing out on the perimeter a little more they might actually pair together pretty well. What pick range do you expect him to go in though? Assuming we are out of the range of both Zion and Morant and somewhere around 6 would it make sense to draft him there?

I was pimping for all these reasons at the beginning of the year (preinjury). The knock on him is effort and he’s suuuuuuper skinny.

 

[AZCrazy]

We've had enough rebuilding. Our young players are getting older all by themselves. In order to win we need a PG in the worst way, and not another 19 yo rookie.
If we land the first pick again, keep it and take Zion as he is a game changer. Everyone else in the draft is just like all the other guys at the top of every other draft. Trade picks 2- whatever as part of a big package for a seriously good and grown up star quality PG.
Every ascension of the Suns to the top of the league throughout their history has been precipitated by the acquisition of a top tier point guard.

Mid 70's Suns got really good after acquiring Paul Westphal.
Early 80's Suns went routinely deep in the playoffs after acquiring Dennis Johnson.
Late 80'-early 90's Suns were big time after acquiring Kevin Johnson.
Mid 2000's Suns were great after getting Steve Nash.

It's what we need to do.

 

[GatorAZ]

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[JCSunsfan]

We've had enough rebuilding. Our young players are getting older all by themselves. In order to win we need a PG in the worst way, and not another 19 yo rookie.
If we land the first pick again, keep it and take Zion as he is a game changer. Everyone else in the draft is just like all the other guys at the top of every other draft. Trade picks 2- whatever as part of a big package for a seriously good and grown up star quality PG.
Every ascension of the Suns to the top of the league throughout their history has been precipitated by the acquisition of a top tier point guard.

Mid 70's Suns got really good after acquiring Paul Westphal.
Early 80's Suns went routinely deep in the playoffs after acquiring Dennis Johnson.
Late 80'-early 90's Suns were big time after acquiring Kevin Johnson.
Mid 2000's Suns were great after getting Steve Nash.

It's what we need to do.

Kevin Johnson was a rookie when we traded for him.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Kevin Johnson was a rookie when we traded for him.

True but he was a 4 year player at Cal.

 

[GatorAZ]

True but he was a 4 year player at Cal.

What is a 4 year college player?

 

[Folster]

Jah Morant or Lonzo Ball. Pick one.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Jah Morant or Lonzo Ball. Pick one.

Morant. Lonzo is two years in and hasn't proven to be a good NBA player at this point. Not suggesting that he is a bust, but I would rather take my chances with Morant who has a solid chance at being better than Lonzo at this point. I would be willing to trade away the rights to Morant for a proven good PG, but I just don't think Lonzo is that player.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

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Morant just led his team to the conference championship to face Belmont with a 76-74 win over Jacksonville State. Murray State had lost to the same Jacksonville State team by 20 in their previous meeting this season.

He finished with 29 points on 9-14 shooting with 8 assists and 6 rebounds. He hit the go-ahead basket (and 1) with about 8 seconds left.

The downside is that he had 7 turnovers...but I'd like to take this moment to point out that James Harden leads the NBA in turnovers and that Greek Freak is top 5. Morant has a better assist-to-turnover ratio than both leading MVP candidates. When you're the focus of your offense, you're going to turn the ball over. Ja Morant is his entire team.

Sure, there are some questions about level of competition, shooting, and defense...but this kid is a special prospect.

Note: The championship game against Belmont is tonight at 6pm on ESPN2. Belmont's Dylan Windler is another NBA prospect to watch.

 

[Mainstreet]

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Supplemental to the tweet you posted.

Jonathan Givony‏Verified account @DraftExpress 11h11 hours ago


Jonathan Givony Retweeted Jonathan Givony

Not just Sarver here from the Suns. Looking around, I've also seen James Jones, Trevor Buckstein, Bubba Burrage and Jake Loos from Phoenix's front office as well. Maybe others too.

I guess we are getting a better look at those who are involved in scouting for the Suns.

 

[Krangodnzr]

I think he is going to shoot up draft boards. He has spent this entire year working on his body and preparing for the draft. The kid has skills. He can handle the ball, he has a post up game, he can shoot from anywhere. At 7-3 he has a pretty good crossover. He is thicker than his father already. If that kid can add 15 pounds of muscle from injury date to draft, it would be huge. Better leg strength will help him land more softly and avoid future foot injuries.

Here is how I would draft.

1. Zion
2. Ja
3. Barrett. I just take him. He is the best player there. Figure it out later.
4. or 5. I think I take Bol and hang the projections. He is a 7-3 shot blocking three point shooting power forward. He can play along side Ayton. Just draft the freak.

Here is what we have seen in recent drafts. Skills matter. Skills plus another factor really matter. Skills plus athleticism, skills plus size. Bol can close out on blocks like very few players in the NBA. Players just stop trying to shoot within 10 feet of him. He is Gobert with skills. In fact, his measurements are very similar to Gobert at the same age.

Of course, its 1 am and long before the draft and I reserve the right to change my mind. Since I don't think we would get much in trade for any pick beyond three, I think you just swing for the fences and draft Bol.

Good courses of action.

 

[Mainstreet]

If the Suns can't get Zion or Morant they are probably better off trading the pick if the return is worthwhile.

 

[1Sun]

If the Suns can't get Zion they are probably better off trading the pick if the return is worthwhile.

FIFY. I maintain that Morant will be a colossal bust, especially if thrown right into the starting line-up as a rookie. He really is no different than Melton.

 

[Mainstreet]

Everyone after Zion is risk or a duplication of what the Suns already have.

It appears to be a weak draft.

Bol Bol would be interesting if the Suns drafted later.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I was a bit concerned with Givony's tweet. Is Sarver now the chief scout too? Owner, GM, scout--he does it all!

But then I saw this one.

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[JCSunsfan]

BTW. I do not know where the narrative on Morant's defense being bad came from. He is not just a decent defender, he is a very good defender. He is sporting an Ortg of 120 and a Drtg of 95.2.

To put that in perspective. Trae Young was 115 and 108.

And if you say, well, Ja is a sophomore, his freshman numbers were 123 and 99.

If we trade out of taking Ja, we will regret it. He will be exactly what we want a pg. Sometimes you just have to be patient.

 

[sunsfan88]

If the Suns can't get Zion or Morant they are probably better off trading the pick if the return is worthwhile.

If we can’t get Zion, I think the Suns are better off trading the pick to New Orleans for Jrue Holliday who is an All Star caliber player.

Rather than waiting another 4 years for a rookie to develop, we could actually go into next season with playoff aspirations with an excellent 2 way player like Holliday, and then rest of core Ayton, Booker, Bridges, hopefully Oubre and the Suns can perhaps sign a PF in free agency as well.

 

[1Sun]

BTW. I do not know where the narrative on Morant's defense being bad came from. He is not just a decent defender, he is a very good defender. He is sporting an Ortg of 120 and a Drtg of 95.2.

To put that in perspective. Trae Young was 115 and 108.

And if you say, well, Ja is a sophomore, his freshman numbers were 123 and 99.

If we trade out of taking Ja, we will regret it. He will be exactly what we want a pg. Sometimes you just have to be patient.

Like we have been for the last 9 years? In the meantime, his defensive numbers might be decent, but look at who he's defending. Again, how is Morant any better of a prospect than Melton?

 

[SunnyBaller]

Like we have been for the last 9 years? In the meantime, his defensive numbers might be decent, but look at who he's defending. Again, how is Morant any better of a prospect than Melton?

He can score unlike Melton and is a far superior play maker and passer