Looking at next year's draft

[Lefty]

Now that it looks like the Suns will not make the playoffs what college player out there would you want the Suns to draft?

Two guys I like are Emeka Okafor and Arthur Johnson. A darkhorse might be Ike Diogu.

Or do the Suns trade their pick if it's a top-10?

 

[fordronken]

Originally posted by Zona90
Or do the Suns trad their pick if it's a top-10?

Package it with Marion and make a run at Grant Hill. I think he could really give Penny a run for his money on some of those suns.com polls.

 

[sly fly]

I'm definitely intrigued by Ike Diogu (if he comes out).

In some facets, he's more advanced than Amare.

- A great touch to about 20 feet.

- Great footwork.

- Gets to the line a ton.

- And, is money from the line.

Diogu, in my mind, could be the best player in college ball this year. The only reason he doesn't go off for 30 each night is because of triple teams.

He's going to be a fantastic pro.

 

[George O'Brien]

I LIke Ike, But...

Ike is only 6'8" tall, so I'm not sure he is a lottery pick. None of the boards I've read have him the top 20. If they want Ike, the Suns might do a deal where they trade down to late teens or early 20's.

My feeling is that Emeka Okafor is the only college player that would justify a lottery pick by the Suns.

 

[Joe Mama]

I know we went over this last week, but I still swear Ike is not 6'8". My brother-in-law has seen him a bunch of times at ASU and at the games, and he says there's no way he is that tall. He says he is at most 6'6".

Joe Mama

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

ike's a great college player. he won't be nearly as good in the pros. i read where he admitted that his 6'8 listing is generous and that he's really 6'7. that said, he isn't a leaper. he's a grunt, though a very good one. at 6'7 and a power player you have to have hops (ala charles or a young larry johnson). ike won't be great at the next level. he won't even approach elton brand status. okafor could be a very nice complimentary player, though i'd rather package him and marion for a stud sg (tmac, kobe, or ray allen).

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by Ouchie-Z-Clown
ike's a great college player. he won't be nearly as good in the pros. i read where he admitted that his 6'8 listing is generous and that he's really 6'7. that said, he isn't a leaper. he's a grunt, though a very good one. at 6'7 and a power player you have to have hops (ala charles or a young larry johnson). ike won't be great at the next level. he won't even approach elton brand status. okafor could be a very nice complimentary player, though i'd rather package him and marion for a stud sg (tmac, kobe, or ray allen).

T-Mac has a player option for 05/06; Ray Allen's contract expires after 04/05; Kolbe has a player option for 04/05.

The Suns risk getting into a McDyess situation with T-Mac or Allen. Kolbe may be a free agent anyway.

 

[Chaplin]

Right now, Cleveland is 4.5 games back from the 8th seed for the playoffs. If we don't make the playoffs and the Cavs do, it would be nice if we could snatch up Tiago Splitter with our first pick and then Andre Igoudala with our second, wouldn't it?

(FYI, I am only half serious here)

 

[fordronken]

Originally posted by Chaplin
Right now, Cleveland is 4.5 games back from the 8th seed for the playoffs. If we don't make the playoffs and the Cavs do, it would be nice if we could snatch up Tiago Splitter with our first pick and then Andre Igoudala with our second, wouldn't it?

(FYI, I am only half serious here)

In all honesty, can we afford to to have many more successful drafts? If we draft as well as we have lately, there is no way we'll be able to pay this team. I think the draft picks would be better served as trade bait for servicable veterans(read: not Tom Gugliotta). Jon Barry quality players(not necessarily him or his position), but players who will give you solid, consistent, smart play on a nightly basis.

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by fordronken
In all honesty, can we afford to to have many more successful drafts? If we draft as well as we have lately, there is no way we'll be able to pay this team. I think the draft picks would be better served as trade bait for servicable veterans(read: not Tom Gugliotta). Jon Barry quality players(not necessarily him or his position), but players who will give you solid, consistent, smart play on a nightly basis.

Well, if Jahidi or Casey happens to be taken by the Bobcats, that would leave us room. But I pretty much tend to your side of the fence on this one--for once we have too many players. Too bad we can't win with them.

 

[Joe Mama]

I wonder if the Suns could use one or both of their draft picks to persuade Charlotte to take Hardaway and his contract this summer.

Joe Mama

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by Joe Mama
I wonder if the Suns could use one or both of their draft picks to persuade Charlotte to take Hardaway and his contract this summer.

Joe Mama

Intriguing.

Even with his contract, I'd be hard-pressed to turn down Hardaway and 2 first-rounders. In addition to the first rounder they're already going to have.

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by Chaplin
Well, if Jahidi or Casey happens to be taken by the Bobcats, that would leave us room. But I pretty much tend to your side of the fence on this one--for once we have too many players. Too bad we can't win with them.

I'm not sure any team every has too many good players. The Suns have several guys who have a lot of potential, but aren't really useful as trade bait yet. Hopefully by year end, they will be either good enough for the team to win or be traded to meet unmet needs.

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by George O'Brien
I'm not sure any team every has too many good players. The Suns have several guys who have a lot of potential, but aren't really useful as trade bait yet. Hopefully by year end, they will be either good enough for the team to win or be traded to meet unmet needs.

If you reread my post, I said we have many players, not many good players.

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by Chaplin
If you reread my post, I said we have many players, not many good players.

I know that's what you MEANT...

At the end of the season; Googs, Williams, and Harvey come off contract. Googs has no chance of coming back. They will have 11 guys under contract:

C - White, Voskuhl, Trybanski
PF - Stoudemire
SF - Marion, Carbakapa
SG - Hardaway, Johnson, Jacobsen
PG - Marbury, Barbosa

Assuming Trabanski goes to IR, the Suns will be adding either two or three people. Williams and/or Harvey MIGHT come back only if the Suns do not get a couple of big men.

I am guessing the Suns will draft a big man unless they trade away their pick(s). None of the highly ranked guards in the draft are good enough shooters to be an improvement over what the Suns have already.

Using their second pick (Cleveland) for Andre Igoudala looks like a reach, but in any case it would only make sense if one of the Suns guards is traded or taken by the Bobcats. In any case, I'm inclined to sign someone like Brent Barry, who will be a free agent, rather than developing another rookie guard.

 

[Joe Mama]

I suspect Brent Barry will cost AT LEAST the full mid-level exception. In fact it wouldn't shock me of one of these teams that's far enough under the salary cap gave him even more. I mean wouldn't he fit beautifully in Utah?

Chap, I agree that it doesn't make much sense to draft another shooting guard unless he is a very good shooter, or they are sold that he is going to be something very special. Of course if they aren't sure they want to pay JJ they might want to draft his replacement.

Joe Mama

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by Joe Mama


Chap, I agree that it doesn't make much sense to draft another shooting guard unless he is a very good shooter, or they are sold that he is going to be something very special. Of course if they aren't sure they want to pay JJ they might want to draft his replacement.

Joe Mama

That's what I was thinking about actually. But I have to say, JJ has been a much better player since D'Antoni took over, we just have to see if he can sustain it.

 

[hcsilla]

Originally posted by Joe Mama
I suspect Brent Barry will cost AT LEAST the full mid-level exception. In fact it wouldn't shock me of one of these teams that's far enough under the salary cap gave him even more. I mean wouldn't he fit beautifully in Utah?

Even with their huge cap room O'Connor didn't want to overpay anyone and gave solid offer sheets to Maggette and Terry which leads to the conclusion that he probably won't overpay Barry either.
I doubt that Barry will get even the mid-level. He will be 33 years old.

Anyway he would be indeed a good fit to Sloans' system but every single NBA team could use a versatile, unselfish sharpshooter .