Is Ullis a starting PG?

[NashDishesDimes]

As the draft approaches and the best players being point guards, I think the most important question we have about Suns roster is Ullis.

It baffles me that he is not considered a cornerstone. As a starter, Ullis averaged 16.5ppg and 8.5apg. Those are incredible rookie averages, especially with no veteran star players around him.

The reason he is not as highly regarded is obviously because of his size and he was a 2nd rounder.

Ill venture out and say Ball and Fultz would be extremely happy to come out their rookie year and average 16 and 8. If they did, everyone will continue to talk about how they are budding superstars.

Is Ullis too short to play defense? Maybe, but he is scrappy and gives max effort. Id say it is a minor shortfall if any.

Can we give this man the respect he deserves and stop religating him to a backup?

If it were me id trade Bledsoe immediately, and let Ullis and Knight split the show to rebuild Knights value and eventually move him as well.

The other thing Ullis does, is keep Booker happy. They are good buddies, mistreatinf Ullis could have an effect on resigning Book.

Ullis SHOULD be the PG of the future, at least certainly over that clown show Ball family.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Yes. He can be. Here are the reasons.

1. He is a facilitating guard so he can be productive all the time. IT has weaknesses because in a playoff situation his offense can get shut down. He is not nearly as good at making others better. Ulis can do that all the time.

2. Defense is usually the problem for a small player, but Ulis is a very good defender. He is pesky, gets alot of steals etc. It is one of his strengths. The problem would be if opposing pg's who are bigger just post him up. Ulis would have to be matched with a versatile defensive wing who who guard bigger pg's.

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

I can see him being really good if he develops his jump shot and make teams respect his outside game. He's already a better passer than IT, but not near as good offensively.

 

[Mainstreet]

@ NashDishesDimes

1. Bledsoe will be the starter unless he is traded.

He was playing well when the Suns sit him. Also Bledsoe is in his prime scoring 21.1 ppg this past season and 6.3 assists.

2. I really do not want to see any more of Knight unless he is a bench warmer. He had an opportunity to play down the stretch last season but declined. I don't want anyone on the Suns roster with their own agenda.

3. Even if the Suns started Ulis (by trading Blesoe) the Suns would still need another PG with talent. So the Suns would need to address it in the draft or otherwise.

I like Ulis a lot. Maybe he is the PG of the future but I don't think the Suns can go into the season relying on it. They need at least two solid PGs on their roster.

Another thought, Booker could play some PG as well.

 

[sunsfan88]

I feel like we've had multiple variations of this thread since he took the starting job.

 

[Mainstreet]

I feel like we've had multiple variations of this thread since he took the starting job.

What's your thoughts.

There is still plenty of time to discuss it.

 

[sunsfan88]

Yes. He can be. Here are the reasons.

1. He is a facilitating guard so he can be productive all the time. IT has weaknesses because in a playoff situation his offense can get shut down. He is not nearly as good at making others better. Ulis can do that all the time.

2. Defense is usually the problem for a small player, but Ulis is a very good defender. He is pesky, gets alot of steals etc. It is one of his strengths. The problem would be if opposing pg's who are bigger just post him up. Ulis would have to be matched with a versatile defensive wing who who guard bigger pg's.

You know that you and the media have been saying this all season and all that IT's done is bury this notion right? He had 52 just few games ago against John freaking Wall and company. Not even Amare nor Nash ever had that many in a playoff game.

Ulis won't ever be better than IT. To be an elite player at that size, you need to have a consistent knock down jumper and IT had that coming in to the league, he's always been a shooter. Ulis doesn't have that. Even if he improves on it, it would probably be similar to Bledsoe's.

And he tries hard on defense and doesn't give up but most players just shoot right over him. He's a negative on that end of the court. I believe Suns led the NBA in giving up ppg to opposing teams starting PGs and it's not all Ulis fault but he's a part of it.

I like Ulis but I'm not gonna put much stock in his numbers because many of that could've been achieved when the other teams empty their bench after leading the Suns by 15-20 pts. Watson rarely pulled Ulis and usually gave him like nearly 40 mins even in blowout games.

I'm fine with Ulis going into next season as starter but he shouldn't be seen as the long term solution at PG. There's been more 5'8 PGs who have flamed out in the NBA than there have been those become starting caliber players. If the Suns have a chance to get Fultz or a PG prospect that they are very high on then they should do it without thinking much about Ulis. Booker is the only cornerstone player on this team at the moment.

 

[pokerface]

Ulis would have to be matched with a versatile defensive wing who who guard bigger pg's.

If I didn't know better I'd say that's a vote for Jackson.

 

[Phrazbit]

I'm excited for Ullis' future but I cannot put too much stock in stats on a dozen games, almost all losses, towards the end of a dead season when half the league isn't trying. I like him, I like what I've seen, but ignoring Ball, Fultz... whoever, we'd be absolute idiots to look over draft a top 3 pick based on "need" rather than the best player regardless of position, because we're assuming a kid who put up decent stats for a month is going to have the position locked down for years to come.

 

[pokerface]

I'm excited for Ullis' future but I cannot put too much stock in stats on a dozen games, almost all losses, towards the end of a dead season when half the league isn't trying. I like him, I like what I've seen, but ignoring Ball, Fultz... whoever, we'd be absolute idiots to look over draft a top 3 pick based on "need" rather than the best player regardless of position, because we're assuming a kid who put up decent stats for a month is going to have the position locked down for years to come.

Plus too Ulis is never going to get the playing time needed to prove himself playing on the same team with Bledsoe.


We are almost in the same situation as we were when we had Thomas. If we draft a PG then the situation will be nearly identical.

 

[Phrazbit]

Plus too Ulis is never going to get the playing time needed to prove himself playing on the same team with Bledsoe.


We are almost in the same situation as we were when we had Thomas. If we draft a PG then the situation will be nearly identical.

No... because Ulis is still so young and under contract for so long they could literally let him be the 12th man for a full season as they debated what to do with Bledsoe/Fultz/Ball and then have 2 more years to analyze Ulis as a regular rotation player.

If they draft Ball or Fultz I think they should trade Bledsoe, but not to free up Ulis, rather so they can capitalize on his value. But maybe wait until the all-star break. I actually like Bledsoe as a mentor. He is a player who has shown consistent improvement and the last few years has been the guy bringing the team together in the offseason to workout and bond. I also would like to see them part with him on good terms. He has been the good soldier throughout the whole mixed PG ordeal, he never complained, made no ultimatums and willingly deferred to whoever he has been out there with (even a 19 year old kid in Booker he let have the offensive spotlight).

 

[Carolinacacti]

I would hate to lose Bledsoe and you have to wonder what that first pick is worth. Could the Suns actually trade the first pick?

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I'm trying to remember the last time there was this type of talent at the top and anyone traded out of it.

It seems like there's a LOT more talk this year of trading down or out of the top on this board. Feels like a lot of you guys are equating the NBA draft to the NFL draft in that regard. It's not the same thing gang.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think the reason there is talk of trading down is because the Suns might get as good a player at #3 or #4 if they draft at #1 or #2. Of course the asset would have to be worth it.

Also the Suns are not in dire need at PG with Bledsoe and Ulis so they might be a trade partner for a team wanting a PG.

There are probably 6 players that stand out: Fultz, Ball, Fox, Jackson, Tatum and Markkanen.

Last year the Suns were able to trade into the top 10 for Chriss at #8 after drafting Bender at #4. IMO, there is more talent in this draft.

 

[Dr. Jones]

To answer the original question. Hell no.

Good #2 pg? Maybe. But that's it.

 

[GatorAZ]

He's still 21 and rail thin. Isaiah Thomas probably has 50 lbs on him... By the time Tyler is in his physical prime, maybe 26-27 years old and has changed his frame I think he'd have the talent and toughness to be a starting caliber PG. He needs to become a knockdown shooter.

Until then he should be an excellent backup.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Well, if we draft Jackson (or anyone other than a pg) Ulis might be in his best position behind Bledsoe. Bled will be able to rest more because Ulis is capable of playing more minutes as a superior #2 pg, and he will likely get plenty of runs as a starter when Bledsoe is injured.

 

[Mainstreet]

This doesn't answer whether Ulis is a starting PG but my observation this past season is that he can play with any guard.

The Suns can put Bledsoe, Ulis and Booker out there together and not miss a beat. The reason is because Ulis has the instincts of a PG so he advances the skills of all the players on the court. Whereas, when Knight played PG or SG the ball stopped moving.

If Bledsoe stays, I think we will see more of Bledsoe, Ulis and Booker on the court at key moments in the game. Maybe we get hung up on starter labels.

 

[NashDishesDimes]

He's still 21 and rail thin. Isaiah Thomas probably has 50 lbs on him... By the time Tyler is in his physical prime, maybe 26-27 years old and has changed his frame I think he'd have the talent and toughness to be a starting caliber PG. He needs to become a knockdown shooter.

Until then he should be an excellent backup.

See, this to me is a common assessment. You pointed out his physical limitations but not the product on the court. He is small....so?

 

[GatorAZ]

See, this to me is a common assessment. You pointed out his physical limitations but not the product on the court. He is small....so?

I did point out the product on the court. Read again.

 

[AzStevenCal]

There are 18 players under 6 feet tall playing in the NBA (heard this while watching the Combine). If there was ever a time someone like Ulis could be a valuable starter, it's now. He's not quite good enough to be a starter just yet but he isn't a finished product either.

I expect him to be given the chance to be our starter within the next year or two (unless we draft Fultz) and if he can't handle the position, we'll have plenty of opportunities to find a better option. Hopefully, if he's given a fair shot and comes up short, he'll accept that it's better for the team if he comes off the bench. Regardless, I still think he's a huge steal as a second round pick.