Lauri Markkanen

[Chris_Sanders]

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.

I know you used my research here but I only went to the top 10. There were more all stars per draft, they were just further down the line.

Lots of candidates for that this year in the 10-20 range. I really hope we somehow get back into this draft in the middle.

 

[Matt L]

I know you used my research here but I only went to the top 10. There were more all stars per draft, they were just further down the line.

Lots of candidates for that this year in the 10-20 range. I really hope we somehow get back into this draft in the middle.

Markannen might be a good candidate to target in the 10-20- range

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Markannen might be a good candidate to target in the 10-20- range

That is what I am thinking. It looks like the big man run is going to start about pick 11.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

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.

Fear = intelligence

Wow

And no

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

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

But let's be honest, even "sure things" bust. So you can't really say "know will be a contributor"

 

[Bodha]

Fear = intelligence

Wow

And no

Not 100% but in general yes it is. Fear is the bodies natural response to perceived danger. Self preservation. If theres a bear in front of you and youre scared, its because its your body telling you the smart thing to do is run away. Which is in fact the smart thing to do.

 

[sunsfan88]

That is what I am thinking. It looks like the big man run is going to start about pick 11.

Theoretically the Suns could draft Fox at #4 then trade Bledsoe to Kings their #10 pick and then use that on Markannen.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

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.

This is being touted as an extremely strong draft. By experts. Of which you are not one.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Not 100% but in general yes it is. Fear is the bodies natural response to perceived danger. Self preservation. If theres a bear in front of you and youre scared, its because its your body telling you the smart thing to do is run away. Which is in fact the smart thing to do.

And this is where you evidence ignorance. Fear triggers the reptilian portion of your brain. The REACTIVE part. Not the thinking part. That's not intelligence. In fact, running from the bear is not smart. Thinking you might run into a bear and bringing pepper spray is thinking and intelligent. If you are confronted by a bear your fear tells you to run. Bears are faster than humans. You're dead. If you were smart and brought pepper spray you ignore your fear that would force you to run and be killed and eaten by the bear because you're prepared and you spray the bear which has proven to be the most effective way to avoid being killed and eaten by a bear. But go ahead and live your life in fear and be eaten.

GMs do this in the draft. Although not an exact science they - GASP - do research into the players. They PREPARE. Then they can make calculated (intelligent) risks in optimizing their assets (draft selection). I guarantee you the best GMs don't make decisions out of fear. Nor do the most successful (dare I say "intelligent?") people in business and life.

I, for one, chose not to be eaten throughout my life. And as a result my life has gotten better and better with each risk I've taken. Had I taken your approach and curled up fetal I'd still be living in a scorching desert, in a miserable relationship, stuck in a crappy (if not well-paying) job. Instead I'm minutes from the ocean with a beautiful woman, two great boys, and a friggin' amazing (and more well-paying) job to die for. Screw fear.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Theoretically the Suns could draft Fox at #4 then trade Bledsoe to Kings their #10 pick and then use that on Markannen.

I know it wasn't going to happen, but man does it bum me out to think we were trying to devise ways to come away from this draft with ball and Jackson and now we're relegated to talking about fox and markenaan.

 

[Bodha]

And this is where you evidence ignorance. Fear triggers the reptilian portion of your brain. The REACTIVE part. Not the thinking part. That's not intelligence. In fact, running from the bear is not smart. Thinking you might run into a bear and bringing pepper spray is thinking and intelligent. If you are confronted by a bear your fear tells you to run. Bears are faster than humans. You're dead. If you were smart and brought pepper spray you ignore your fear that would force you to run and be killed and eaten by the bear because you're prepared and you spray the bear which has proven to be the most effective way to avoid being killed and eaten by a bear. But go ahead and live your life in fear and be eaten.

GMs do this in the draft. Although not an exact science they - GASP - do research into the players. They PREPARE. Then they can make calculated (intelligent) risks in optimizing their assets (draft selection). I guarantee you the best GMs don't make decisions out of fear. Nor do the most successful (dare I say "intelligent?") people in business and life.

I, for one, chose not to be eaten throughout my life. And as a result my life has gotten better and better with each risk I've taken. Had I taken your approach and curled up fetal I'd still be living in a scorching desert, in a miserable relationship, stuck in a crappy (if not well-paying) job. Instead I'm minutes from the ocean with a beautiful woman, two great boys, and a friggin' amazing (and more well-paying) job to die for. Screw fear.

Im not reading any of that. Without looking I can tell its a try-hard effort to sound smart.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Im not reading any of that. Without looking I can tell its a try-hard effort to sound smart.

And there's the dumbest argument of all! Congratulations!

 

[AzStevenCal]

Markannen might be a good candidate to target in the 10-20- range

I'll be very surprised if Lauri is still there in the teens. I know the current rankings say otherwise but I believe he'll be gone by the 7th pick (hopefully by the 4th).

 

[sunsfan88]

I know it wasn't going to happen, but man does it bum me out to think we were trying to devise ways to come away from this draft with ball and Jackson and now we're relegated to talking about fox and markenaan.

Jackson is a high risk/high reward player so he may bust and there are many who believe that Fox will be better than Ball in the NBA so it's certainly possible we end up fine in the long run with both guys.

 

[3rdside]

I'll be very surprised if Lauri is still there in the teens. I know the current rankings say otherwise but I believe he'll be gone by the 7th pick (hopefully by the 4th).

I haven't really looked at markannen but a mobile 7ft'er who can shoot 3's sounds eerily like a project we already drafted last year.

 

[sunsfan88]

I haven't really looked at markannen but a mobile 7ft'er who can shoot 3's sounds eerily like a project we already drafted last year.

Markannen's a much better shooter than Bender was as a prospect. Stronger and has more more weight on than Bender too.

 

[SirStefan32]

Markannen's a much better shooter than Bender was as a prospect. Stronger and has more more weight on than Bender too.

Bender seems to move much better, handle the ball better, run better, pass better, defend much better.
Disclaimer: I have not seen this kid play a whole lot, so I could be wrong on some of this based off of my very limited observations.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I haven't really looked at markannen but a mobile 7ft'er who can shoot 3's sounds eerily like a project we already drafted last year.

They're both tall, white, mobile and European but they really don't have a lot in common as basketball players. I certainly see no reason that they couldn't play together. I like Bender's skill set but, watching both of them, I believe it takes more imagination to see Bender succeeding in the NBA than it does Lauri. That might be due to Bender's physical maturity which appears to be a few years behind Markkanen's.

 

[Mainstreet]

They're both tall, white, mobile and European but they really don't have a lot in common as basketball players. I certainly see no reason that they couldn't play together. I like Bender's skill set but, watching both of them, I believe it takes more imagination to see Bender succeeding in the NBA than it does Lauri. That might be due to Bender's physical maturity which appears to be a few years behind Markkanen's.

With maturity I think Bender could fill the role of a high post center with his PG skills. Also, only going from memory, Bender seemed more comfortable shooting from the top of the key. If it happens, this would leave minutes for Markkanen at PF behind Chriss.

 

[AzStevenCal]

With maturity I think Bender could fill the role of a high post center with his PG skills. Also, only going from memory, Bender seemed more comfortable shooting from the top of the key. If it happens, this would leave minutes for Markkanen at PF behind Chriss.

I don't think either one of those guys ever beats Lauri out for minutes. I know there's a difference in opponents (college vs NBA) but to me, Markkanen is already a better and more developed player than either Bender or Chriss.

Out of curiosity I just went back to the college season for both Marquese and Lauri and compared stats; for whatever it's worth, about the only category where Chriss truly wins is in blocks and to a lesser extent, DBPM. Markkanen is quite a bit above him in most of the other categories and where he doesn't have a significant lead, the difference (either way) is minimal.

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

We are not drafting Markkanen at 4...no way, no how. If we traded back into the teens, which we won't, then there's a chance we would draft him, but that's not happening.

 

[3rdside]

I just watched video of markkanen - if we don't get Jackson at 4, I'd be all for trading down for something like him and smith; kid looks very impressive.

 

[AzStevenCal]

We are not drafting Markkanen at 4...no way, no how. If we traded back into the teens, which we won't, then there's a chance we would draft him, but that's not happening.

It's great that you're so confident about the future but what's your reasoning? Are you just echoing the big, white stiff rhetoric that accounts for most of the action in this thread or have you actually watched him play enough to add your own insight?

Also, I would point out, there really isn't anyone here suggesting he'll go in the top 5. I'm probably his biggest supporter and I've already said multiple times that I do not believe we'll take him at 4. I do, however, think there's a good chance we'll regret not having done so. Not a guarantee, by any means, but I think even if he stays at his floor, he'll still be among the better players in this class. I can't say that about too many of his peers (Fultz and Ball and that's about it).

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

It's great that you're so confident about the future but what's your reasoning? Are you just echoing the big, white stiff rhetoric that accounts for most of the action in this thread or have you actually watched him play enough to add your own insight?

Also, I would point out, there really isn't anyone here suggesting he'll go in the top 5. I'm probably his biggest supporter and I've already said multiple times that I do not believe we'll take him at 4. I do, however, think there's a good chance we'll regret not having done so. Not a guarantee, by any means, but I think even if he stays at his floor, he'll still be among the better players in this class. I can't say that about too many of his peers (Fultz and Ball and that's about it).

I've watched some film, but mostly been reading about him. I just think with his limited capabilities he's (obviously) just another version of Frye, or Anderson, and while both are great assets to a team...you certainly wouldn't want to draft a Frye in the top 10. Lauri isn't a player that can catapult your team to the next level, and with his defensive limitations as a big man...that can hurt your team significantly if he's not consistently knocking down shots. There's a good amount of very talented big men and guards in this draft...ones that if they reach their potential could be much more of an impact than Lauri.

Here's a decent article on Lauri:
https://www.si.com/nba/2017/05/26/2017-nba-draft-lauri-markkanen-arizona-dirk-nowitzki-ryan-anderson

 

[Mainstreet]

I don't think either one of those guys ever beats Lauri out for minutes. I know there's a difference in opponents (college vs NBA) but to me, Markkanen is already a better and more developed player than either Bender or Chriss.

Out of curiosity I just went back to the college season for both Marquese and Lauri and compared stats; for whatever it's worth, about the only category where Chriss truly wins is in blocks and to a lesser extent, DBPM. Markkanen is quite a bit above him in most of the other categories and where he doesn't have a significant lead, the difference (either way) is minimal.

You like Markkanen a lot to have him as the Suns starting PF.

I mostly see him as a role player until he develops physically somewhere down the road.

My current top five picks are currently as follows: Fultz, Ball, Fox, Tatum and Jackson. I'm beginning to think more and more the Suns draft Tatum and I'm getting comfortable with it. He does so many things well. Hopefully he can improve his defense.