It's Lotto Time!

[devilalum]

If the Suns are ever going to win the lotto and get the #1 this would be the year since there is no clear franchise player in this draft.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Why the hell would the Clippers tank when they dont even have their own pick this year?!

If anything, they would try to win as many games as possible.

You're right, I missed that.

Steve

 

[JS22]

What a stupid poster.

Good one!

But anyway, I'm sure the players and coaches feel "dumb" for not purposely tanking the Clippers game just to have a slight chance at moving up in the draft.

Hate to break it to you, but NBA players don't give a crap about their draft position. They want to win. As they should want to do.

I'd rather see the Suns win out, beat a bunch of tough teams, and go into the offseason with a little confidence. Obviously they're playing terrible right now so it's not going to happen. But I can guarantee you it's not because they're trying to be "smart" by tanking games to jump up a spot or two in the draft.

 

[Magnus]

Just now I rolled two dice and I got a 2 and a 5. Just thought people might find that interesting.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

if we landed a top 3 pick i'd go:

1. kyrie irving
2. derrick williams
3. harrison barnes (and i'd even think about going barnes #2) - i think this is kid is gonna be scary good with time.

 

[AzStevenCal]

if we landed a top 3 pick i'd go:

1. kyrie irving
2. derrick williams
3. harrison barnes (and i'd even think about going barnes #2) - i think this is kid is gonna be scary good with time.

I think he has the most upside of the 3.

Steve

 

[sunsfan88]

Good one!

But anyway, I'm sure the players and coaches feel "dumb" for not purposely tanking the Clippers game just to have a slight chance at moving up in the draft.

Hate to break it to you, but NBA players don't give a crap about their draft position. They want to win. As they should want to do.

I'd rather see the Suns win out, beat a bunch of tough teams, and go into the offseason with a little confidence. Obviously they're playing terrible right now so it's not going to happen. But I can guarantee you it's not because they're trying to be "smart" by tanking games to jump up a spot or two in the draft.

Once your eliminated from the playoffs, I can guarantee nobody really tries unless your some really young team trying to prove something.

A team with two 38 year old and 34 year old players, none of them cares how they finish the season. This isn't like the 08 season in which we can say that we didn't make the playoffs because of Terry Porter & Amare missing a lot of games. We didn't make the playoffs this season because we suck.

 

[devilalum]

Once your eliminated from the playoffs, I can guarantee nobody really tries unless your some really young team trying to prove something.

A team with two 38 year old and 34 year old players, none of them cares how they finish the season. This isn't like the 08 season in which we can say that we didn't make the playoffs because of Terry Porter & Amare missing a lot of games. We didn't make the playoffs this season because we suck.

I don't think many teams quit trying but teams do shut down ailing stars, take longer looks at role players to help decide off season decision making, etc. These kinds of measures often lead to more losing.

If the Suns are presented with a chance to knock a team out of the playoffs or down a seed you watch how hard they'll play.

 

[sunsfan88]

Well we had a chance to knock the Spurs down a seed....and we definitely did not play hard in that game so I see your point.

 

[AfroSuns]

Well we had a chance to knock the Spurs down a seed....and we definitely did not play hard in that game so I see your point.

Without Nash, against a team that is desperate after 6 straight losses. Even the sucky Suns did not lose six straight all season.
it is amazing how you go and forth on your assessment of this team. You say they suck, then you say they can beat the number 1 team in the league, if they try without their best player .

 

[sunsfan88]

When did I say we can beat them?

The guy I was referring to said that "if the Suns are presented with a chance to knock a team down a seed, you'll will watch how hard they play"

We may have different opinions of "playing hard" but to me playin hard aint being down by 20+ or 30+ in the 2nd half.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Hate to break it to you, but NBA players don't give a crap about their draft position. They want money. As they should want to do.

FTFY

Just now I rolled two dice and I got a 2 and a 5. Just thought people might find that interesting.

Awesome

 

[sunsfan88]

If the Suns are ever going to win the lotto and get the #1 this would be the year since there is no clear franchise player in this draft.

I don't know about that. Sure there's probably no cut out future HOFer in the draft class but there are definitely guys that have all star potential and can be franchise players.

 

[mojorizen7]

I don't know about that. Sure there's probably no cut out future HOFer in the draft class but there are definitely guys that have all star potential and can be franchise players.

Agreed. Crying "weak draft" is just another excuse from those that are just afraid to pull for a weak team that suffers thru growing pains,and who's only direction is "UP."
Patience.

Its quite a feeling to actually feel like like your favorite franchise has turned the corner and is actually trying to build something from ground zero....and has substance and long term implications.....

I'd LOVE to get that vibe again from the Suns.

 

[Mainstreet]

Agreed. Crying "weak draft" is just another excuse from those that are just afraid to pull for a weak team that suffers thru growing pains,and who's only direction is "UP."
Patience.

Its quite a feeling to actually feel like like your favorite franchise has turned the corner and is actually trying to build something from ground zero....and has substance and long term implications.....

I'd LOVE to get that vibe again from the Suns.

Unless the Suns should miraculously get in the top three picks, they'd likely be better off trading the pick for a young player from a team that is overstocked with talent who will eventually command large dollars. The Suns are clueless in the draft. The last three first round players they drafted and kept were Tucker, Lopez and Clark. That tells a story. If the Suns knew how to scout and draft quality talent then that would be another story.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Unless the Suns should miraculously get in the top three picks, they'd likely be better off trading the pick for a young player from a team that is overstocked with talent who will eventually command large dollars. The Suns are clueless in the draft. The last three first round players they drafted and kept were Tucker, Lopez and Clark. That tells a story. If the Suns knew how to scout and draft quality talent then that would be another story.

This strategy has more merit than most would concede. Even a little NBA experience can be very revealing. It takes a little of the gambling out of the process. Most NBA fans and even execs would often like to go for the big win and try to draft the next Michael Jordan, when they could trade for the next Clyde Drexler. Then they draft the next Ed Pinckney instead.

Yes, we hit it big when we got Marion and Stoudemire. But look at the way this team got Kevin Johnson, Dan Majerle, Joe Johnson, Paul Westphal, Dennis Johnson, and even Marcin Gortat.

I would not be opposed to trading the pick for a young player that shows alot of promise. Lamarcus Alderidge was like that. I do think we had the possibility of trading Amare for him. What a difference that would have made, even if it was an uneven trade.

 

[Covert Rain]

Unless the Suns should miraculously get in the top three picks, they'd likely be better off trading the pick for a young player from a team that is overstocked with talent who will eventually command large dollars. The Suns are clueless in the draft. The last three first round players they drafted and kept were Tucker, Lopez and Clark. That tells a story. If the Suns knew how to scout and draft quality talent then that would be another story.

I don't know if that is really any better. Most young talent that ends up being impact players are already playing lots of minutes and those teams are not going to give them up. Chances are your going to get a young project player in return. I don't really see how that helps.

Having said that I agree that the Suns front office is clueless. The Gortat move was great but it had more to do with Orlando's desperation for some scoring in JRich than the Suns front office being crafty IMO.

 

[Griffin]

Unless the Suns should miraculously get in the top three picks, they'd likely be better off trading the pick for a young player from a team that is overstocked with talent who will eventually command large dollars. The Suns are clueless in the draft. The last three first round players they drafted and kept were Tucker, Lopez and Clark. That tells a story. If the Suns knew how to scout and draft quality talent then that would be another story.

I'm certainly open to the idea, but I don't think the 13th overall pick would garner much interest from teams. This would only work if a team scouted a player they wanted to draft and needed to move up to a position where they could draft him. But I don't think we'd get a proven player in such a deal.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I don't know if that is really any better. Most young talent that ends up being impact players are already playing lots of minutes and those teams are not going to give them up. Chances are your going to get a young project player in return. I don't really see how that helps.

Having said that I agree that the Suns front office is clueless. The Gortat move was great but it had more to do with Orlando's desperation for some scoring in JRich than the Suns front office being crafty IMO.

For me, it's way too early to reach this conclusion. I loved the Hedo trade and I still have reasonable hopes for the Brooks deal especially since IMO, there was really no downside. Yes, Dragic is playing better for Houston but there's no reason to believe he would have had a miraculous turnaround if we had kept him.

Also, anyone judging Brooks based on his play this year isn't being fair. The guy has incredible speed and quickness when healthy and that, by far, is his greatest asset. This year, he's had to play without that advantage. Eventually, (hopefully) after a summer of rest, his ankle will finally heal and he will return to form.

My concern about him is more salary related than performance. If he's willing to stay here on a contract consistent with what you'd pay a very good 6th man than I'm thrilled with keeping him. In the long run though, I don't think you can win in the NBA with an undersized speedster as your starting point guard.

Regardless, I think we've seen enough from this front office to at least hope they can be an effective group going forward. Maybe you're right, maybe the Orlando deal was purely orchestrated by their needs but at this point, that's just guesswork. It's equally possible that we forced their hand in that deal and made them surrender Gortat against their wishes.

Steve

 

[JCSunsfan]

For me, it's way too early to reach this conclusion. I loved the Hedo trade and I still have reasonable hopes for the Brooks deal especially since IMO, there was really no downside. Yes, Dragic is playing better for Houston but there's no reason to believe he would have had a miraculous turnaround if we had kept him.

Also, anyone judging Brooks based on his play this year isn't being fair. The guy has incredible speed and quickness when healthy and that, by far, is his greatest asset. This year, he's had to play without that advantage. Eventually, (hopefully) after a summer of rest, his ankle will finally heal and he will return to form.

My concern about him is more salary related than performance. If he's willing to stay here on a contract consistent with what you'd pay a very good 6th man than I'm thrilled with keeping him. In the long run though, I don't think you can win in the NBA with an undersized speedster as your starting point guard.

Regardless, I think we've seen enough from this front office to at least hope they can be an effective group going forward. Maybe you're right, maybe the Orlando deal was purely orchestrated by their needs but at this point, that's just guesswork. It's equally possible that we forced their hand in that deal and made them surrender Gortat against their wishes.

Steve

There was something going on behind the scenes with Dragic. He had lost his backup position to Dowdell and there are some indications that relationships had broken down somewhere. So, even if Dragic steps it up with Houston, he was likely done here.

Brooks has some real possibilities. If we can draft a decent pg in a draft that is full of them, having Brooks, Dowdell, and draftee leaves us in pretty good shape at that position. If we can turn Nash somehow into another solid prospective young player, well, that is a good start to rebuilding. Add to that a quality young FA pickup and the future won't look so bleak.

That would be my goal this off season, add three really solid young players with big upside. Get one in the draft, get one through a trade, and get one in free agency.

 

[Superbone]

The Suns are clueless in the draft. The last three first round players they drafted and kept were Tucker, Lopez and Clark. That tells a story. If the Suns knew how to scout and draft quality talent then that would be another story.

The Babby and Blanks combo has never drafted for the Suns. My understanding is that the whole scouting department has been revamped. Let's see how they do before we throw them under a bus.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Babby and Blanks combo has never drafted for the Suns. My understanding is that the whole scouting department has been revamped. Let's see how they do before we throw them under a bus.

As I understand it, Suns GM Lance Blanks was brought in to scout players already in the NBA. IMO, this speaks to philosophy.

 

[Sunshooter]

Don't tell me "potential". We need a "NBA ready" rookie.