New mock draft, Doug Haller

[Mainstreet]

Doug Haller at azcentral put out his 2nd edition mock draft. It is particularly interesting because he gives some insight on each pick.

He has the 76ers selecting Fox at #3 and the Suns drafting Jackson at #4.

The whole draft can be viewed at the link below.

3. Philadelphia 76ers
De’Aaron Fox, PG 6-4, 171, 19, Kentucky

With Fultz and Ball expected to go 1-2, this is where the draft gets interesting. And much depends on Fox, an athletic, defensive-minded point guard who already has impressed NBA teams at the combine. Kansas small forward Josh Jackson will get a long look here, but Philadelphia needs a point guard.

4. Phoenix Suns
Josh Jackson, SF, 6-8, 203, 20, Kansas

Given his length and defensive ability, Jackson might have made the most immediate sense for the Suns no matter where the lottery slotted them. If Philly, indeed, takes Fox, the Suns will get the draft's best two-way player, someone who can start from Day 1.

I think there is a good chance the draft goes this way with the first four picks. Any thoughts are welcome.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2017/05/17/nba-mock-draft-phoenix-suns/327197001/

 

[Folster]

Wishful thinking. Considering how the draft has already unfolded, if Jackson is the guy we want, Philly will take him.

 

[Mainstreet]

Wishful thinking. Considering how the draft has already unfolded, if Jackson is the guy we want, Philly will take him.

Even so, I think another team, maybe Orlando, might offer #6 and something else (perhaps#25) for this spot if Fox is there. I can see them wanting Fox if he slides to #4.

The 76ers do need a PG though so Fox may still go there at #3. Fox is a really good player IMO.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I would be surprised if the colangeli, pretty astute evaluators of draft talent, took the less talented player (fox) over the more talented player (Jackson). However they have also always showed an affinity for guards (the Suns have almost always been guard dominant with the exception of the Barkley years) and even the raptors were guard ininabt under Bryan. Now that just might be the case that there have been, and always will be, an abundance of good guards compared to big men (there are just many more people in this earth in the 5'11 -6'4 range than in the 6'7 and up range, but I do believe the colangeli do prefer a guard oriented team. So while I doubt we actually get jackson there's some potential there . . .

 

[Ronin]

I don't think the Suns should panic if the Sixers pick Josh Jackson. Jayson Tatum @ 4 is mighty appealing to me.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I don't think the Suns should panic if the Sixers pick Josh Jackson. Jayson Tatum @ 4 is mighty appealing to me.

I think it's a step down, but that's where they go.

 

[Chaplin]

Not a fan of Tatum. I said it once, I'll say it again -- outside of Grant Hill and a few outliers like Kyrie and Jabari Parker, Duke players have been solid, yet unspectacular players. At #4, I want a player that has the chance to be a game-changer. I believe Fox is that, but Tatum is not.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Not a fan of Tatum. I said it once, I'll say it again -- outside of Grant Hill and a few outliers like Kyrie and Jabari Parker, Duke players have been solid, yet unspectacular players. At #4, I want a player that has the chance to be a game-changer. I believe Fox is that, but Tatum is not.

Lots of talk that tatum is the second most polished scorer in the draft.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I would be surprised if the colangeli, pretty astute evaluators of draft talent, took the less talented player (fox) over the more talented player (Jackson). However they have also always showed an affinity for guards (the Suns have almost always been guard dominant with the exception of the Barkley years) and even the raptors were guard ininabt under Bryan. Now that just might be the case that there have been, and always will be, an abundance of good guards compared to big men (there are just many more people in this earth in the 5'11 -6'4 range than in the 6'7 and up range, but I do believe the colangeli do prefer a guard oriented team. So while I doubt we actually get jackson there's some potential there . . .

I have watched the Colangelos for years (since 1976). They always stretch for bigs if they are remotely available. The biggest mistakes Jerry ever made were trying to get bigs. I don't know what Bryan will do now that he has Embiid.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I have watched the Colangelos for years (since 1976). They always stretch for bigs if they are remotely available. The biggest mistakes Jerry ever made were trying to get bigs. I don't know what Bryan will do now that he has Embiid.

But that was when he already had guards. And they already have bugs now. And jackson is not a big.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Lots of talk that tatum is the second most polished scorer in the draft.

Philly needs a wing scorer. We do not. We need a two way animal like Jackson. We have to trade up a pick. We just have to. Someone will trade in front of us if we do not.

 

[elindholm]

I know it's a highlight reel, but I just watched Tatum's write-up on draftexpress and was pretty darn impressed. He looks really smooth and versatile, and definitely has the right body.

 

[Folster]

I know it's a highlight reel, but I just watched Tatum's write-up on draftexpress and was pretty darn impressed. He looks really smooth and versatile, and definitely has the right body.

Haha same as me. I'll watch a player's strength video and think the player looks fantastic. Then I watch the weakness video and think they're a bum.

Lonzo Ball's weakness video makes him look horrible in half court sets and unable to deal with ball pressure. It makes me think siccing Ulis on him with a full course press would completely neutralize him.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I know it's a highlight reel, but I just watched Tatum's write-up on draftexpress and was pretty darn impressed. He looks really smooth and versatile, and definitely has the right body.

Good. Now watch Jackson's. Watch the difference in speed and intensity. Tatum looks good, but similar to TJ. He is probably a slightly better version of TJ, but his defense really lacks.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Haha same as me. I'll watch a player's strength video and think the player looks fantastic. Then I watch the weakness video and think they're a bum.

Lonzo Ball's weakness video makes him look horrible in half court sets and unable to deal with ball pressure. It makes me think siccing Ulis on him with a full course press would completely neutralize him.

I don't like the DX videos much. There are other evaluation videos out there on players that seem much better.

 

[Mainstreet]

Game videos are the best IMO. I got a chance to watch Tatum in the NCAA Tournament. He is not always able to explode to the rim plus he is generally matched up against PFs which make him look better. Maybe he will be alright in the NBA although I have questions about his athletic ability.

 

[JCSunsfan]

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2...-top-pick-celtics-go-with-dukes-jayson-tatum/

This is an interesting mock. It has Tatum going #1 to the Celtics based on need. Then Ball to Lakers, Fultz to Philly (can you imagine that) and the Suns taking Fox and passing on Jackson.

Wow.

 

[elindholm]

Good. Now watch Jackson's. Watch the difference in speed and intensity. Tatum looks good, but similar to TJ. He is probably a slightly better version of TJ, but his defense really lacks.

I didn't watch either video in its entirety, but I saw very little of a midrange isolation game in Jackson. He tries to take everyone off of the dribble, and he's good at that, but that won't work all of the time. I wouldn't make a claim as to whether Jackson or Tatum is the better project, but I don't see the gap between them as huge and I'll be excited if the Suns wind up with Tatum. Also Tatum is a year younger.

Tatum's physical advantage over Warren is significant.

 

[Bodha]

As long as we come out of the draft with Josh Jackson, then everything is fine. Because I wanted JJ at #2.


Otherwise itll be watermark moment in Suns history where we point back to clear 1985 frozen envelope corruption.

 

[Chaplin]

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2...-top-pick-celtics-go-with-dukes-jayson-tatum/

This is an interesting mock. It has Tatum going #1 to the Celtics based on need. Then Ball to Lakers, Fultz to Philly (can you imagine that) and the Suns taking Fox and passing on Jackson.

Wow.

Interesting. Obviously the writer went with BPA (in his opinion) for our pick, as he clearly values Fox over Jackson.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2...-top-pick-celtics-go-with-dukes-jayson-tatum/

This is an interesting mock. It has Tatum going #1 to the Celtics based on need. Then Ball to Lakers, Fultz to Philly (can you imagine that) and the Suns taking Fox and passing on Jackson.

Wow.

Tatum #1 invalidates this entire thing.

 

[sunsfan88]

If Philly really wants a PG but is willing to trade down to some other team and just get Fox or Smith later in the draft, should the Suns try to move up?

Even if it's just one pick, if the Suns really love Jackson then they should go after him.

Maybe trade Bledsoe, Knight + #4 for #3, Henderson, Splitter & Rodriguez (all expirings)?

We get rid of Knight, and we lose Bledsoe who has knee issues every other year and is in line for a fat contract extension after next season plus he doesn't fit the young core.

For Philly, they get a proven PG in Bledsoe and since they have a ton of cap space and being an undesirable FA destination, they have to take chances on young bad contracts like Knight to see if he does better for them than us.

 

[Chaplin]

If Philly really wants a PG but is willing to trade down to some other team and just get Fox or Smith later in the draft, should the Suns try to move up?

Even if it's just one pick, if the Suns really love Jackson then they should go after him.

Maybe trade Bledsoe, Knight + #4 for #3, Henderson, Splitter & Rodriguez (all expirings)?

We get rid of Knight, and we lose Bledsoe who has knee issues every other year and is in line for a fat contract extension after next season plus he doesn't fit the young core.

For Philly, they get a proven PG in Bledsoe and since they have a ton of cap space and being an undesirable FA destination, they have to take chances on young bad contracts like Knight to see if he does better for them than us.

If the Sixers really need a point guard that bad, why would we need to move up? Wouldn't you just assume they'd get Fox at #3? And Bledsoe, Knight and say Fox for Jackson is NOT an equal trade, even if we were in cost-cutting mode.

 

[devilalum]

Tatum #1 invalidates this entire thing.

I'm sure you're right but when's the last time a team with the best record in their conference drafted a prospect to replace their best player?

 

[elindholm]

I'm sure you're right but when's the last time a team with the best record in their conference drafted a prospect to replace their best player?

It's not quite the same, but the Spurs and Duncan (Robinson) are a similar case. If you really believe that the #1 pick is a long-term difference maker, you figure out a way to make it work.