Lauri Markkanen

[leclerc]

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.

I'm not opposed to drafting Lauri if he's our guy. Including Smith or Nikita and shedding Knight (just dreaming here) is something I'll put in my pipe and smoke!

Do we need a "second tier" point guard? I don't want to send Ulis to the end of the bench. Rather trade Bledsoe and let Ulis start in that case.

Lauri, Chandler (bye bye Len)
Chriss, Bender
Warren, trade for Bledsoe
Booker, or trade for Bledsoe
Ulis, Smith/Nikita

 

[JCSunsfan]

I'm not opposed to drafting Lauri if he's our guy. Including Smith or Nikita and shedding Knight (just dreaming here) is something I'll put in my pipe and smoke!

Do we need a "second tier" point guard? I don't want to send Ulis to the end of the bench. Rather trade Bledsoe and let Ulis start in that case.

Lauri, Chandler (bye bye Len)
Chriss, Bender
Warren, trade for Bledsoe
Booker, or trade for Bledsoe
Ulis, Smith/Nikita

That line up is a huge step backward IMO

 

[3rdside]

Yeah it includes trading Bledsoe at some point, the only problem being that if it's rookie and Ulis running the show we're gonna be awful again next season.

I'm okay with draft Jackson or Tatum and trying to win for a change.

 

[leclerc]

Yeah, Jackson/Tatum, resign Len, keep Bledsoe, and try for the playoffs is my preferred choice as well. Just saying I trust McD if that's where they want to go.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Yeah, Jackson/Tatum, resign Len, keep Bledsoe, and try for the playoffs is my preferred choice as well. Just saying I trust McD if that's where they want to go.

Not mine. I want to see us give major minutes to Booker, Ulis, Warren, Chriss, Bender, Jones Jr and at least one of our new rookies without regard to record. I think there's an outside chance we can do that and make the playoffs but it's unlikely, even if we keep Bledsoe and highly unlikely if we trade him away for a rookie or a pick. I also doubt that any of Jackson, Fox, Tatum or Isaac will have a positive impact on our season even if they are destined for greatness. Rookies lose games.

 

[leclerc]

Okay just to be clear giving minutes to the young core is off course the most important thing. I don't want JD to take minutes from Bender and Warren for instance, and I certainly don't want Knight and Beep Beep to play major minutes while Ulis don't. I just want to play Bledsoe and the young core and try to win. Playoffs are unlikely but that's what they should aim for.

 

[overseascardfan]

To me the main question is what is the long term plan for PG? Will PHX keep Bledsoe and re-sign him to a huge contract in a couple of years or look to deal him and draft his replacement and have him compete with Ulis for the starting job. The answer would obviously determine what PHX does in the draft. Either take the best wing available at #4 or the best PG or trade up and get BPA of draft, Fultz IMHO. If they want a replacement for Bledsoe they need to draft one this year because there is no legit PG in next years draft unless they feel Ulis is the heir apparent.

 

[GatorAZ]

To me the main question is what is the long term plan for PG? Will PHX keep Bledsoe and re-sign him to a huge contract in a couple of years or look to deal him and draft his replacement and have him compete with Ulis for the starting job. The answer would obviously determine what PHX does in the draft. Either take the best wing available at #4 or the best PG or trade up and get BPA of draft, Fultz IMHO. If they want a replacement for Bledsoe they need to draft one this year because there is no legit PG in next years draft unless they feel Ulis is the heir apparent.

I think there's three options none of which includes an extension in two years...

- draft a PG in the top-10 and trade Bled (somewhat likely)
- draft a PG in the top-10, keep Bledsoe and trade him at the deadline or next summer (unlikely)
- don't draft a PG, keep Bledsoe and groom Ulis (most likely)

 

[Mainstreet]

I think there's three options none of which includes an extension in two years...

- draft a PG in the top-10 and trade Bled (somewhat likely)
- draft a PG in the top-10, keep Bledsoe and trade him at the deadline or next summer (unlikely)
- don't draft a PG, keep Bledsoe and groom Ulis (most likely)

I like the third option but I want the Suns to draft BPA even if they trade-down.

 

[Errntknght]

I think there's three options none of which includes an extension in two years...

- draft a PG in the top-10 and trade Bled (somewhat likely)
- draft a PG in the top-10, keep Bledsoe and trade him at the deadline or next summer (unlikely)
- don't draft a PG, keep Bledsoe and groom Ulis (most likely)

I'd like to see a variation on the third option - start Ulis and bring Bled off the bench. Ulis will run a more varied offense which will benefit all the other young guys. Even better dump Watson for a coach who knows his Xs&Os so the team is developing along a path that leads somewhere. If Bled doesn't do a bang up job as the backup then trade him at the deadline.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'd like to see a variation on the third option - start Ulis and bring Bled off the bench. Ulis will run a more varied offense which will benefit all the other young guys. Even better dump Watson for a coach who knows his Xs&Os so the team is developing along a path that leads somewhere. If Bled doesn't do a bang up job as the backup then trade him at the deadline.

Bringing Bledsoe off the bench would create another Dragic type situation. It's better to trade him than do this.

 

[Ronin]

Just saw the video of him making 18 threes in a row. Impressive but of course no one is challenging his shot when he is taking these threes.

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[AzStevenCal]

^^Nice stroke by Lauri but man do I hate that corner 3 that analytics loves. I think they'd stop loving it if they factored in all the times the shooter steps out of bounds along with the number of times it results in an imbalanced defense at the other end because someone was buried in that corner.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think a team drafts Markkanen based on his height, mobility and shooting. He doesn't have the reach, bounce and strength to play inside. Also he will have a tough time playing defense and rebounding. I think most of his shots will have to come from the outside as he does not have the athleticism or explosiveness to get inside.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Just saw the video of him making 18 threes in a row. Impressive but of course no one is challenging his shot when he is taking these threes.

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I would say it is impressive because he never hesitated or had to gather himself. It was like 18 catch and shoots. At least half of those will be open anyway due to the location

 

[Bodha]

Just saw the video of him making 18 threes in a row. Impressive but of course no one is challenging his shot when he is taking these threes.

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I couldnt make 18 running layups in a row. This is extremely impressive.



"Bender is just as good as Lauri" said nobody ever.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Just saw the video of him making 18 threes in a row. Impressive but of course no one is challenging his shot when he is taking these threes.

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Watch his highlights. He rarely ever takes a contested three. Most of the time he is wide, wide, open. You can take that two ways. He has good shot selection or he can't make contested threes.

Personally, I don't think players should be taking contested threes unless its a short clock situation. Any team should be able to pass for an open shot.

 

[Bodha]

Watch his highlights. He rarely ever takes a contested three. Most of the time he is wide, wide, open. You can take that two ways. He has good shot selection or he can't make contested threes.

Personally, I don't think players should be taking contested threes unless its a short clock situation. Any team should be able to pass for an open shot.

Even if they were contested, being a 7 footer benefits the shooter.

 

[Finito]

Shooting in an empty gym for an NBA player isn't impresive at all.

There are a million stories of Shaq hitting all kinds of free throws in practice.

Nobody questions if this kid can shoot it's everything else.

I think Bender has a much much higher ceiling

 

[Bodha]

I think Bender has a much much higher ceiling

Doesnt mean much when he spends most of his time on the first floor

 

[Ronin]

Shooting in an empty gym for an NBA player isn't impresive at all.

There are a million stories of Shaq hitting all kinds of free throws in practice.

Nobody questions if this kid can shoot it's everything else.

I think Bender has a much much higher ceiling

I am really hoping Bender offense catches up with his defense.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Shooting in an empty gym for an NBA player isn't impresive at all.

There are a million stories of Shaq hitting all kinds of free throws in practice.

Nobody questions if this kid can shoot it's everything else.

I think Bender has a much much higher ceiling

There is truth to this. These shots are uncontested and they are all from the same spot one after another. Its a rhythm situation that never happens in a game. If he were to shoot 18 in a row, working his way around the arc, I would be more impressed.

There is predraft video of Nik Stauskas shooting 46 in a row and 70/76 overall outside (not the NBA three), in the rain (no joke).

I do not believe Markkanen is clearly better than Bender.

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

I couldnt make 18 running layups in a row. This is extremely impressive.



"Bender is just as good as Lauri" said nobody ever.

You must be really good at basketball then

 

[Finito]

Doesnt mean much when he spends most of his time on the first floor

right we get it you have an agenda

 

[Bodha]

You must be really good at basketball then

Its hard damn work

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right we get it you have an agenda

Trying to dig this once glorious franchise out of this hell hole its in right now by drafting good proven players rather than more time wasting projects, yeah I have an agenda.