Markieff Morris is now a SUN

[Cheesebeef]

That is what I get for doing a quick google cut and paste versus doing my own research like I usually do. I was in a hurry. What can I say.

meant to say in my post that I wasn't pasting that to call anyone out. there's just always hilarious stuff that comes out of most of our arguments on this board.

 

[BC867]

Is Channing Frye going to stand in his way?

Because of Channing Frye's ability to "spread the floor" (a 3rd Guard on offense) and his improvement in rebounding and defense (from pathetic to mediocre), if Markieff shows promise, will the Suns front office be willing to change the philosophy of using the Power Forward position as a Wing?

If not, it will leave Markieff with meaningless minutes no matter what. Will he get a chance to develop a game alongside Gortat?

On the other hand, if they use him as a backup Center, because he is stronger than Frye, it will his destroy his NBA confidence right from the start.

BTW, I am not saying that Frye should be our backup Center. He should not. He is a man without a position. We still need a backup Center to play ten minutes every night.

 

[Covert Rain]

meant to say in my post that I wasn't pasting that to call anyone out. there's just always hilarious stuff that comes out of most of our arguments on this board.

I deserved to be called out on that one. I posted it. lol.

 

[jlove]

Not to mention one hell of a range. It's one thing to say 13-15 ppg, but to say 13-20? Why stop at 20? Why not suggest that he could be a 13-50 point per game player? If you're going to use a ridiculous range, have fun with it at least....

I say 13-20 because he is a much better PnR player than Gortat and look at the numbers he put up with Nash. Plus he can spread the floor with his shooting all over the court. Not saying he will average 20, just saying on a game to game basis I think he will consistently score between 13-20 a game for the Suns with decent playing time.

 

[jlove]

Per Channing Frye's Facebook.....

Channing Frye I'd only seen our pick play once or twice he's aggressive on the boards and is solid down low. But why would we pick a Wong like Leonard when we have Dudley hill Childress pietrus and Carter?

Sounds to me her preferred the Suns picking up another banger big rather than a shooter. I agree.

 

[Joe Mama]

We know they weren't looking to trade down. They were happy with their pick.

For anyone who is questioning whether or not the suns COULD have traded.. the answer is an emphatic YYYYEEEESSSSSS....

You want to know how I know this is a fact....

2 picks later Kawii Leonard was taken (who should have been picked by the suns period), and guess what happend..

He was traded for GEORGE HILL...

By a show of posts how many of you want an up and coming solid player who could become a star at a position of need, rather than a PF with limited upside...

My vote is Hill, and its not even that close....

I'd really like to know what could have been had for that draft pick. My guess is that it was the 3 second round picks Indiana gave San Antonio that got that deal done. I like Hill, but he is really not a point guard. He's a combo guard without a solid outside shot. I think this is also his contract year. Still, I would have made that deal as well, but my guess is that we didn't have the other pieces to get it done with San Antonio even if we wanted to do it.

because he doesn't. he was ranked the 5th worst athlete in the entire draft.

In another thread slin said that, but I couldn't find anywhere where he was ranked the fifth worst athlete. His standing and running vertical are almost identical to Leonard's. I didn't see any numbers for the Lane agility for Morris. Where did the "fifth worst athlete in the entire draft" ranking originate?

If Morris can find a level between Kurt Thomas and Horace Grant, we'll all be happy for a long time. Let Gortat be our frontcourt star and Morris be the grunt guy in the background. All I would like out of Morris is 13/9 with some defense. Thomas, Grant, Otis Thorpe, Buck Williams. Those kind of players provide the template Morris should copy.

I've also seen comparisons on this board to Nene, Andrew Bynum, Brian Grant, David West, and Dale Davis. Of course there's something that all of these guys had that Morris doesn't. They all have long arms relative to their size. A couple of them are several inches taller than Morris as well. Morris's arms are average length.

I'm frequently wrong about these draft picks, but to me it looks like the best case we got a solid power forward off the bench. Looking at the draft that may have been the best we could have done at #13.

Joe

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Looking at the draft that may have been the best we could have done at #13.

Joe

Yeah, I can't get too fired up about this draft one way or another. Nobody intriguing dropped to our spot, and outside of the top two picks, seems totally devoid of talent.

I think the vitriol comes from a total lack of direction and future for our favorite team. The idea that we're going nowhere and will continue a pathetic effort to claw to a 7-8 seed while avoiding the dreaded "r" word. Not good days to be a Suns fan, that's for sure.

 

[jlove]

Markieff, after originally stating he wanted to wear #5 for his love of Kevin Garnett, has gone with #11 due to #5 being in the Ring Of Honor....the "Original" Dick Van Arsdale

 

[jlove]

Markieff's Intro Press Conference:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkYcxv0Agdk&feature=youtu.be

 

[Mainstreet]

Maybe I missed it when Markief's physical dimensions were being dissected. A factor comes into play that is important. Is Markief a wide body that can occupy space. His measurements and weight would suggest this is the case. Proper positioning and the ability to occupy space is a big factor on defense, rebounding and offense. This can help substitute for lack of length which I'm not sure is a huge factor with him.

 

[Magnus]

Markieff's Intro Press Conference:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkYcxv0Agdk&feature=youtu.be

One interesting point in that interview is when Gentry said that if they had a higher pick, Markieff would still be the guy.

So either way, the Suns would end up with him. Luckily the choices were narrowed down and we didn't have a higher pick so it doesn't seem as much of a deal hah. And luckily Suns didn't try to trade up. If we had Detroit's pick and passed on Brandon Knight for Markieff, that would be really something.

 

[Mainstreet]

In the NBA Draftnet write-up they said something to the effect, Markieft was one of the safest selections in this years draft. Really a very impressive write-up on him. I can still remember when the Suns drafted Steve Nash because he was considered a safe pick.

 

[SunsTzu]

maybe for some, but I was bored stiff last year.

the only games i watched in their entirety last season were when I had jaw surgery and could literally do nothing but lie down and take painkillers. that last 2 games. otherwise, I didn't sit through a single game once.

The point I was trying to make was keeping or trading Nash doesn't matter with the front office the Suns have in place. Replacing Nash with a couple of players the same caliber the Suns have been drafting will not improve the teams ability to rebuild a contender, only an overhaul with how the team is run will do that.

 

[Folster]

Just found out on Draft Express that according to combine scores, Kevin Love is a marginally better athlete than Markieff Morris. Kevin Love has a higher vert and 3/4 court sprint. That's crazy! They are quite similar physically. That should put to rest any incorrect description of Markieff being athletic.

 

[Mainstreet]

Just found out on Draft Express that according to combine scores, Kevin Love is a marginally better athlete than Markieff Morris. Kevin Love has a higher vert and 3/4 court sprint. That's crazy! They are quite similar physically. That should put to rest any incorrect description of Markieff being athletic.

Okay, comparing Markief to Kevin Love, I'll take it.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Okay, comparing Markief to Kevin Love, I'll take it.

it's comparing them ATHLETICALLY not by their actual game.

that's terrifying... Kevin Love is a big mother with incredible natural instincts. marqueef is... none of those things... and a worse athlete. awesome.

 

[Mainstreet]

it's comparing them ATHLETICALLY not by their actual game.

that's terrifying... Kevin Love is a big mother with incredible natural instincts. marqueef is... none of those things... and a worse athlete. awesome.

I know, but I take what the defense gives me. I saw an opportunity and I took it.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I know, but I take what the defense gives me. I saw an opportunity and I took it.

and i admire you're can do attitude about the suns... I just can't!

 

[PhxGametime]

The 5 worst athlete in the Draft statement - was actually the 5 worse athlete at Draft combine and that's over at Draftexpress.


I just watched Kansas at Baylor; Kansas/Richmond (a few days ago), and next up for me is Arizona/Kansas. heh


I still think he's more of positional defender, banger, etc. - than a weakside shotblocker but will also take a charge; boxes out well, not sure if he can rebound out of position but solid rebounder; shoots well from Collegiate 3PTer (hopefully has NBA range); passes well in a zone, from high post, or from posting up; good pick n pop shooter - although don't really see him roll much; runs the court better than advertised; etc. etc.

 

[SirStefan32]

Man, I know this is probably not going to happen, but I hope Morris turns into another Kevin Love. I have never seen this much hate towards a new player on this board. I really hope the kid makes it big in this league.

 

[Mainstreet]

and i admire you're can do attitude about the suns... I just can't!

Maybe your standards are too high. The Suns didn't have much to choose from at #13. I'd like the Suns to have a more traditional line-up this season with a true center backing up Gortat (maybe Lopez, maybe someone else) and Markief backing up Frye at PF. I choose to view Markief as a back-up PF that may turn into a Millsap type player or better down the road. If he will play inside which Clark refused to do, I will be satisfied at least for now. I just want Markief to be a solid back-up PF.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Man, I know this is probably not going to happen, but I hope Morris turns into another Kevin Love. I have never seen this much hate towards a new player on this board. I really hope the kid makes it big in this league.

Unfortunately, I really doubt he becomes another Kevin Love. I have seen this much hate and more for a new player on this board, just go back to the signing of Frye or the bashing many of us gave Robin when he was drafted. As for your last comment, I'm with you. I really hope he makes it big in this league.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

Maybe your standards are too high. The Suns didn't have much to choose from at #13. I'd like the Suns to have a more traditional line-up this season with a true center backing up Gortat (maybe Lopez, maybe someone else) and Markief backing up Frye at PF. I choose to view Markief as a back-up PF that may turn into a Millsap type player or better down the road. If he will play inside which Clark refused to do, I will be satisfied at least for now. I just want Markief to be a solid back-up PF.

I don't know, maybe we'd be better off plugging Morris into the starting lineup if we can find a team interested in trading for a big guy that can shoot the 3. I like Channing but I really think he'd be better on a team that could put him alongside a small forward and a center than could better hide his weaknesses. I think we often underrate his strengths and it's made worse because our lineup tends to highlight his flaws.

Steve

 

[Folster]

I know, but I take what the defense gives me. I saw an opportunity and I took it.

If it's any consolation, I though Love was going to be an absolute bust and ridiculed the T-Wolves for trading Mayo for him in a draft day trade.

 

[AzStevenCal]

If it's any consolation, I though Love was going to be an absolute bust and ridiculed the T-Wolves for trading Mayo for him in a draft day trade.

I usually miss the other way. I thought Love would be a very good pro but I felt the same way about Don MacLean and Stromile Swift.

Steve