Luka Doncic is an entitled p.o.s

[AzStevenCal]

Um, Divac doesn't know anything because he drafted Bagley.

I think the point is that Divac had the connections to know all about Doncic and maybe that's why they passed on him. That can be true even if he's clueless about others in the class. But keep in mind, Bagley was hugely hyped for years and a lot of people though he was going to be special.

 

[overseascardfan]

Obviously the Kings have struggled but perhaps Vlade Divac knew something.

Rumor: Kings passed on Luka Doncic in draft because Vlade Divac doesn't like Doncic's dad

The Kings will undoubtedly push back on this idea (but if so, then they misjudged the talent levels).

nba.nbcsports.com

I believe Gambo reported back then that he heard Doncic was kind of a jerk from his "sources" so I guess the reports were accurate.

Um, Divac doesn't know anything because he drafted Bagley.

Well to be fair, the already had De'Aaron Fox from the year before and really needed a big man. Jaren Jackson III isn't that great IMO and Fox may not be the shooter Young or Doncic are but he is a solid all around PG.

 

[Phrazbit]

I think Carlisle was a problem there.

A part of being an effective leader is understanding your human inventory, playing to their strengths, and talking to them and treating them in an effective manner.

Carlisle clearly had a bit of a "my way or the highway" kind of approach. His treatment of Dennis Smith started to alienate Doncic....sometimes it's unavoidable, but the author of this article clearly thinks that Carlisle could have done a better job.

I can understand Doncic questioning Carlisle after his treatment, but my god, how can Doncic think it's ok to play himself into shape every year? That's just not going to work long term. Any older person knows that if you let yourself get out of shape, it gets harder and harder every year to get back into shape. Doncic's career will be stunted if he doesn't change.

Barkley's back problems in his early 30s probably had a lot to do with him showing up in terrible shape to camp. One of the only seasons he showed up in shape was after spending his summer with the Dream Team in 92, he went onto win the MVP that year.

 

[Mainstreet]

Um, Divac doesn't know anything because he drafted Bagley.

I was pointing out that if there were any flaws to drafting Doncic, Divac was in position to know because of his European connections.

The Kings pick of Bagley was a surprise in 2018 because no one thought he would go #2 but it's not because anyone thought he would be a bad player.

As previously mentioned De'Aron Fox was drafted in 2017.

Also Tyrese Halibuton was drafted in 2020 and Davion Mitchell in 2021.

Those are all solid draft picks.

 

[Raindog]

I predicted that both Doncic and Zion were going to have underachieving careers because of injuries and failing to stay in shape. Zion has been living up to that prediction very aptly, so far. Doncic got off to a better start, but it's easy enough to see where he will very likely be trending eventually.

They are both obviously talented players, but being coddled their entire young lives because of their talent isn't likely to translate to the best attitude or approach once the going gets tougher.

 

[Vacard]

It could be the Suns got the best player in the 2018 NBA Draft after all.

Trae Young

 

[Mainstreet]

Trae Young

I wouldn't trade Ayton for Trae Young straight up.

 

[Carolinacacti]

I wouldn't trade Ayton for Trae Young straight up.

If we didn't have paul ?

 

[Mainstreet]

If we didn't have paul ?

Yes. Ayton is a difference maker in so many ways, offense and defense.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Seems like a spacey Ayton tonight. That’s twice where he didn’t roll hard or looked like he didn’t even know to look for the ball on the roll and he’s getting caught in no man’s land on D.

 

[Carolinacacti]

I wouldn't either but I would give Trey the Max and not Ayton. Go figure...

 

[Finito]

Trae Young

Young is the ultimate Jekyl and Hyde player. One minute he will make your jaw drop and the next he will just have you shaking your head cause he tried to throw a between the legs no look pass that ended up in the third row.

Plus he flat out doesn’t even try on defense.

He’s fun to watch but he would drive me insane if he was on my team

 

[Proximo]

I wouldn't trade Ayton for Trae Young straight up.

Really?

I think you are in the minority there.

I get that Young has flaws defensively, but he is a very good scorer.

For the Suns Ayton is more valuable because we have Booker, but not for most teams.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Really?

I think you are in the minority there.

I get that Young has flaws defensively, but he is a very good scorer.

For the Suns Ayton is more valuable because we have Booker, but not for most teams.

He probably is in the minority but he's not alone. And it's not just because we have CP3 or Booker. Our 50 plus year history shows quite clearly that it is far easier for us to add a quality PG than it is to add a quality center. And I believe a lot of teams would prefer DA for the same reasons.

But even if I'm wrong on this and every other GM would prefer Trae right now, I still think it's the right thing for us. We finally have a quality big man that positively impacts the game on both ends. I'd only trade him for a couple of players and none of them fill a guard slot.

 

[Mainstreet]

Really?

I think you are in the minority there.

I get that Young has flaws defensively, but he is a very good scorer.

For the Suns Ayton is more valuable because we have Booker, but not for most teams.

Yeah, I'd choose Deandre Ayton over Trae Young but not because I don't like Young. I simply think Ayton impacts the game in more different ways.

The best three players from the 2018 NBA Draft is Ayton, Doncic and Young. Probably on any given game it changes.

The number of championships may determine who is best.

 

[Ronin]

I'd take Ayton over Trae

 

[ozzfloyd]

Definitely DA over Trae.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Really?

I think you are in the minority there.

I get that Young has flaws defensively, but he is a very good scorer.

For the Suns Ayton is more valuable because we have Booker, but not for most teams.

I think Young is a significantly better player than Ayton, but like it was said, finding a good big man is so much harder than finding a good guard.

I'd probably still take Ayton over Young because of that. The real error was taking Josh Jackson. Dude was really good at anything other than being an athlete at Kansas. Those guys develop sometimes, but usually they don't. You take guys with real, definable skills high in the lottery.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'd probably still take Ayton over Young because of that. The real error was taking Josh Jackson. Dude was really good at anything other than being an athlete at Kansas. Those guys develop sometimes, but usually they don't. You take guys with real, definable skills high in the lottery.

Yeah, the real error was taking Josh Jackson on top of having taken Bender and Chris (via trade). We had poor luck in the lottery for a few years there but we really shot ourselves in the foot with those 3 decisions.

Just imagine where we'd be if we still had even half the equivalent trade value those three slots represented. We wouldn't be left to scour the discard bin in search of some help.

 

[Phrazbit]

I think Young is a significantly better player than Ayton, but like it was said, finding a good big man is so much harder than finding a good guard.

I'd probably still take Ayton over Young because of that. The real error was taking Josh Jackson. Dude was really good at anything other than being an athlete at Kansas. Those guys develop sometimes, but usually they don't. You take guys with real, definable skills high in the lottery.

Josh Jackson really stings, I was all in on that pick too. But looking back it should not have taken hindsight... a raw player, who needs to really dedicate himself if he wants to be an NBA player... who also does wildly stupid **** off the court.

I don't think James Jones will ever draft that type of player.

 

[Mainstreet]

Josh Jackson really stings, I was all in on that pick too. But looking back it should not have taken hindsight... a raw player, who needs to really dedicate himself if he wants to be an NBA player... who also does wildly stupid **** off the court.

I don't think James Jones will ever draft that type of player.

I wanted De'Aaron in the 2017 draft but early on it became obvious the Suns wanted Josh Jackson. The Suns have passed on some good point guards even in the face of need.

Jalen Smith is a raw player who James Jones surprisingly drafted. However, I think Stix has a good head on his shoulders.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Yeah, the real error was taking Josh Jackson on top of having taken Bender and Chris (via trade). We had poor luck in the lottery for a few years there but we really shot ourselves in the foot with those 3 decisions.

Just imagine where we'd be if we still had even half the equivalent trade value those three slots represented. We wouldn't be left to scour the discard bin in search of some help.

So I'm going to sound like a curmudgeon here:

There is no such thing as luck.

McD was using a flawed process. He kept betting on kids with high potential who had no go to skill on a basketball court.

I wanted Jayson Tatum. I remember quite a few people on this board lauding Jackson and bashing Tatum. Tatum supposedly had little upside, while Jackson was going to be the best player in that draft.

Obviously Danny Ainge was smart enough to know its crazy to bet on guys like Jackson and you take the guy with an NBA skill over guys who are just athletes. The Suns had no shot at Tatum, but they could've taken Fox.

 

[Krangodnzr]

I wanted De'Aaron in the 2017 draft but early on it became obvious the Suns wanted Josh Jackson. The Suns have passed on some good point guards even in the face of need.

Jalen Smith is a raw player who James Jones surprisingly drafted. However, I think Stix has a good head on his shoulders.

I'm not going to be shocked to see Stix as a good backup big on a title team tens years from now.

 

[Finito]

Really?

I think you are in the minority there.

I get that Young has flaws defensively, but he is a very good scorer.

For the Suns Ayton is more valuable because we have Booker, but not for most teams.

I think Most would take Ayton over Young.

Is Young an efficient scorer or more a high volume chucker? I just can’t get past he might be the worst defensive player in the NBA. He’s that bad on that end.

Super fun to watch but very flawed

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm not going to be shocked to see Stix as a good backup big on a title team tens years from now.

We agree about this. I think the Suns gave up on Stix too soon.

They should have concentrated on developing his inside game and then worked on his outside game later.