Lauri Markkanen

[Matt L]

Newsflash...we had the 2nd worst record in the NBA. We arent even contending to win our division next year.

We are in total rebuilding mode. A collection of solid players over multiple drafts will eventually result in a very solid team that is a contender. Look at all the top teams. They have 2 stars, surrounded by solid supports. We have our 2: Booker/Bledsoe. Now you surround them with solid guys. And you eventually win.

This idea that you take a boom/bust type player leads you to more busts than anything.

Newsflash...having Bledsoe as your 1st or 2nd best player doesn't seem to move the team to a playoff contender (let alone finals contender). I agree we need solid players but i think we have 4 or 5 young guys who are shaping up to be solid players. Booker is the only one of the bunch who looks like he may become a superstar. I think we need another potential superstar rather than a potential role player.

 

[Bodha]

Newsflash...having Bledsoe as your 1st or 2nd best player doesn't seem to move the team to a playoff contender (let alone finals contender). I agree we need solid players but i think we have 4 or 5 young guys who are shaping up to be solid players. Booker is the only one of the bunch who looks like he may become a superstar. I think we need another potential superstar rather than a potential role player.

Thats about as valid as talking NFL draft and saying "we need a franchise QB"

I agree. However also, Duh. Its harder said than done.


We would all love to draft HOFrs every year. But sometimes there arent any available. And so you settle for Solid in that situation. When we fell from potentially the #1 overall pick to the #4 pick, our options also became "Solid" players.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I like the idea of a front line of Bender, Chriss and Markkanen. All of them can guard up and down and B&C both provide some rim protection that Lauri is missing. It's anyone's guess which player would draw which positional label but I see enough complementary skills to at least have hope that it would flourish.

I hate the idea of having two relatively non athletic white euros on our front line. That team would be Downey freaking soft.

 

[Matt L]

It really isn't that cut and dried IMO. Sure, we need a superstar but we aren't just a budding superstar away from success either. More than anything, we need to hit with this pick, which means that floor and risk also need to be considered. It's challenging to quantify all that, especially risk, but that's what our GM and scouts are going to have to do.

I can see your point, I just think that the potential of these other players is greater than Markanen and I would prefer the Suns go with the potential.

 

[Matt L]

Thats about as valid as talking NFL draft and saying "we need a franchise QB"

I agree. However also, Duh. Its harder said than done.


We would all love to draft HOFrs every year. But sometimes there arent any available. And so you settle for Solid in that situation. When we fell from potentially the #1 overall pick to the #4 pick, our options also became "Solid" players.

You interpreted my words as me saying we need to draft a future hall of famer?

I mean I am hoping for a guy who's a potential 3 or 4 time all-star. I just don't want to settle for a 7 foot JJ Redick (who's plays about the same amount of defense as redick).

 

[AzStevenCal]

I can see your point, I just think that the potential of these other players is greater than Markanen and I would prefer the Suns go with the potential.

Other than Fultz and maybe Ball I'm not sure I see a player with greater potential than Markkanen but I realize I'm in a distinct minority. I'm also confident that our front office will have more complete information and will do a better job selecting our next player than any of us can so I'm okay with whatever direction they go - until I'm not.

 

[sunsfan88]

Where are you advocating we play Markkanen? Chriss is our 4. Are you playing him at the 5 or saying we should take Chriss' backup at 4?

I'd say he's the 5. If Chriss continues to develop defensively then he can help negate some of Markannen's defensive flaws and would compliment each other well.

 

[Matt L]

Other than Fultz and maybe Ball I'm not sure I see a player with greater potential than Markkanen but I realize I'm in a distinct minority. I'm also confident that our front office will have more complete information and will do a better job selecting our next player than any of us can so I'm okay with whatever direction they go - until I'm not.

I agree with you here. I really think Jackson, Fox, Tatum, Issac are all a level above Markkanen.

 

[Bodha]

You interpreted my words as me saying we need to draft a future hall of famer?

I mean I am hoping for a guy who's a potential 3 or 4 time all-star. I just don't want to settle for a 7 foot JJ Redick (who's plays about the same amount of defense as redick).

3 or 4 time all star? May as well be a HOFr.

Your perception of how many "stars" are in the NBA is ridiculously skewed. As I said, every team essentially has 1, maybe 2, "stars". Then its nothing but role players.

 

[Matt L]

3 or 4 time all star? May as well be a HOFr.

Your perception of how many "stars" are in the NBA is ridiculously skewed. As I said, every team essentially has 1, maybe 2, "stars". Then its nothing but role players.

is everything with you so black and white or is it just sports?

 

[Bodha]

is everything with you so black and white or is it just sports?

Your idea that Stars in the NBA are just falling out of trees could not be more off the mark.

Picking at #4? Yeah we should absolutely find a 1st team all star, cornerstone. Because the NBA is overflowing with max contract guys.


Instead of saying theres 19 all stars available at #4, why dont you just name 1 potential all star at #4. good luck

 

[Matt L]

Your idea that Stars in the NBA are just falling out of trees could not be more off the mark.

Picking at #4? Yeah we should absolutely find a 1st team all star, cornerstone. Because the NBA is overflowing with max contract guys.


Instead of saying theres 19 all stars available at #4, why dont you just name 1 potential all star at #4. good luck

I really think Jackson, Fox and Tatum are potential all-stars. Ball and Fultz are also potential all-stars but won't be there at 5. I don't recall taking the position that stars in the NBA are falling out of trees. I do think your position that "because the draft is a crap-shoot you should settle for a rotational player with a top 5 pick" is silly.

 

[Bodha]

I really think Jackson, Fox and Tatum are potential all-stars. Ball and Fultz are also potential all-stars but won't be there at 5. I don't recall taking the position that stars in the NBA are falling out of trees. I do think your position that "because the draft is a crap-shoot you should settle for a rotational player with a top 5 pick" is silly.

You think theres 5 potential all stars?

2000 1 all star in top 10 (#1)
2001 3 all stars top 10 (#2, #3, #10)
2002 3 all stars top 10 (#1, #9, #10)
2003 5 all stars in the top 10 (#1, #3, #4, #5, #6)
2004 4 all stars in the top 10 (#1, #5, #7, #9)
2005 4 all stars in the top 10 (#1, #3, #4, #10)
2006 2 all stars in top 10 (#2, #6)
2007 3 all stars in top 10 (#2, #3, #9)
2008 4 all stars in top 10 (#1, #4, #5, #10)
2009 4 all stars in the top 10 (#1. #3, #7, #9)
2010 4 all stars in the top 10 (#1, #5, #9, #10)
2011 2 all stars in the top 10 (#1, #9)
2012 3 all stars in the top 10 (#1, #6, #9)

Average is about 3.

Almost always #1 pick. Lots of #2 and #3s, expectedly.

And then....lots of #9 and #10, which points to the chaos and randomness of the NBA. You have.no.idea.

Fultz - lock star.

After that, I dont see any stars at all. If this is a 3 star draft, then itll be Fultz at #1, and then a guy at #8 and another at #22.

 

[Bodha]

You think theres 5 potential all stars?

2000 1 all star in top 10 (#1)
2001 3 all stars top 10 (#2, #3, #10)
2002 3 all stars top 10 (#1, #9, #10)
2003 5 all stars in the top 10 (#1, #3, #4, #5, #6)
2004 4 all stars in the top 10 (#1, #5, #7, #9)
2005 4 all stars in the top 10 (#1, #3, #4, #10)
2006 2 all stars in top 10 (#2, #6)
2007 3 all stars in top 10 (#2, #3, #9)
2008 4 all stars in top 10 (#1, #4, #5, #10)
2009 4 all stars in the top 10 (#1. #3, #7, #9)
2010 4 all stars in the top 10 (#1, #5, #9, #10)
2011 2 all stars in the top 10 (#1, #9)
2012 3 all stars in the top 10 (#1, #6, #9)

Average is about 3.

Almost always #1 pick. Lots of #2 and #3s, expectedly.

And then....lots of #9 and #10, which points to the chaos and randomness of the NBA. You have.no.idea.

Fultz - lock star.

After that, I dont see any stars at all. If this is a 3 star draft, then itll be Fultz at #1, and then a guy at #8 and another at #22.

point being, the odds of you actually finding that star at #4 are very very slim.

So the smart thing to do is to "settle" for the solid role player who comprises the majority of every championship teams roster.

 

[slinslin]

Lauri Markkanen would be a huge reach. His only skill is spot up shooting. He has slow feet, soft, poor rebounder.

There is no way we draft him.

 

[Matt L]

You think theres 5 potential all stars?

2000 1 all star in top 10 (#1)
2001 3 all stars top 10 (#2, #3, #10)
2002 3 all stars top 10 (#1, #9, #10)
2003 5 all stars in the top 10 (#1, #3, #4, #5, #6)
2004 4 all stars in the top 10 (#1, #5, #7, #9)
2005 4 all stars in the top 10 (#1, #3, #4, #10)
2006 2 all stars in top 10 (#2, #6)
2007 3 all stars in top 10 (#2, #3, #9)
2008 4 all stars in top 10 (#1, #4, #5, #10)
2009 4 all stars in the top 10 (#1. #3, #7, #9)
2010 4 all stars in the top 10 (#1, #5, #9, #10)
2011 2 all stars in the top 10 (#1, #9)
2012 3 all stars in the top 10 (#1, #6, #9)

Average is about 3.

Almost always #1 pick. Lots of #2 and #3s, expectedly.

And then....lots of #9 and #10, which points to the chaos and randomness of the NBA. You have.no.idea.

Fultz - lock star.

After that, I dont see any stars at all. If this is a 3 star draft, then itll be Fultz at #1, and then a guy at #8 and another at #22.

How do you expect people to respond to a statement like this?

 

[Matt L]

point being, the odds of you actually finding that star at #4 are very very slim.

So the smart thing to do is to "settle" for the solid role player who comprises the majority of every championship teams roster.

There's a lot of fear in this statement, not much smarts in it.

 

[Bodha]

There's a lot of fear in this statement, not much smarts in it.

Thats the most ass backwards oxymoron statement.

Fear is the same thing as intelligence. Fear is preservation. Fear is taking the road more supported by logic than ego.

Your position is 100% ego. "Any player we draft at #4 will be a superstar, because I say so! Despite the stats saying otherwise, I believe this because otherwise ill be wrong, and I cant have that!" Woooo, extreme! Theres nothing intelligent about sky diving or betting your house and life savings on black. In fact its downright stupid and reckless. Could it pay off? Sure. But theres nothing smart about it. Its gambling. And in the 2017 draft, the odds of us landing a star in this class at #4 are nil.

The numbers, stats and draft history say youre dead wrong. But go ahead and tell me again about smarts.

 

[Matt L]

Woooo, extreme! Theres nothing intelligent about sky diving or betting your house and life savings on black. In fact its downright stupid and reckless.

Who's really being extreme here?

...the odds of us landing a star in this class at #4 are nil.

The numbers, stats and draft history say youre dead wrong. But go ahead and tell me again about smarts.

You keep making this statement as if there has never been a star player picked outside of the top 2. Just because you say it a lot of times does not make it true.

 

[Bodha]

You keep making this statement as if there has never been a star player picked outside of the top 2. Just because you say it a lot of times does not make it true.

Its more true than your belief theres a star at #4 in this draft where I dont even see a star outside of Fultz.

You are acting as if this is the 2003 draft with Lebron and Anthony and Wade and Bosh.

 

[Matt L]

Its more true than your belief theres a star at #4 in this draft where I dont even see a star outside of Fultz.

You are acting as if this is the 2003 draft with Lebron and Anthony and Wade and Bosh.

It really could be. Wade was picked 5th and has had an amazing career. What I am really hoping for is we get a guy like Marion (9th) or Lamar Odom (4th) in the 1999 draft.

 

[pokerface]

It really could be. Wade was picked 5th and has had an amazing career. What I am really hoping for is we get a guy like Marion (9th) or Lamar Odom (4th) in the 1999 draft.

And let's not forget Booker at #13...the guy that dropped 70 in a single game. I don't think people saw that coming!

 

[Krangodnzr]

And let's not forget Booker at #13...the guy that dropped 70 in a single game. I don't think people saw that coming!

I think Booker fits what Bodha is saying. Draft someone that you know will ne a contributor, not the upside guy.

 

[pokerface]

I think Booker fits what Bodha is saying. Draft someone that you know will ne a contributor, not the upside guy.

It's harder nowadays to pick players in the draft because a lot of them are "one and done"... hardly any college experience. Most the time its upside we're dealing with and I'm the type of fan that likes to swing for the fences. I got burned with Len though...

 

[StreetTruckinTitan]

It's harder nowadays to pick players in the draft because a lot of them are "one and done"... hardly any college experience. Most the time its upside we're dealing with and I'm the type of fan that likes to swing for the fences. I got burned with Len though...

We all got burned by Len although I hated the wasted pick when it happened. It will be nice to finally be rid of him.