News and Notes on Training Camp

[Ronin]

Scrimmage today....

Paul Coro ‏@paulcoro
Ronnie Price hits a 3 during Suns scrimmaging at NAU but Eric Bledsoe is the one standing out so far.

Paul Coro ‏@paulcoro 29m29 minutes ago
Hornacek called a T on Tucker for disputing a foul call. Tucker has been into it intensely the entire time. Chandler: "It's winning time."

Paul Coro ‏@paulcoro 16m16 minutes ago
P.J. Tucker missed a potential winner at the horn and his constant smack adversary, Tyson Chandler, told him he's going to learn about that.

 

[Ronin]

Matt Petersen ‏@TheMattPetersen 54m54 minutes ago
Bledsoe has had some NASTY pass fakes today. Losing defender for easy layups. #SunsCamp

oh man our perimeter defense must really stink.JK

Matt Petersen ‏@TheMattPetersen 41m41 minutes ago
Hornacek said Leuer always seemed to be on winning teams in pickup. Big driving and - one in "overtime" of this scrimmage. #SunsCamp

Matt Petersen ‏@TheMattPetersen 45m45 minutes ago
Len dunk through Chandler after drive and dish by Price. #SunsCamp

 

[JCSunsfan]

You hear that about Leuer. His teams do well. Sort of reminds me of Kurt Rambis back in the day.

 

[95pro]

Price seems to be getting hype now but doesn't produce during real games.

 

[sunsfan88]

Price seems to be getting hype now but doesn't produce during real games.

He's the type of guy who isn't that talented to perform too well in games but works hard enough to be a nuisance in practice.

 

[Ronin]

Booker working on his turn around jump shot:
https://twitter.com/TheMattPetersen/status/651140569863815169

 

[Mainstreet]

Booker working on his turn around jump shot:
https://twitter.com/TheMattPetersen/status/651140569863815169

I try not to get too excited about an 18 year old player but Booker seems to have the skills and maturity to become a star player.

 

[Ronin]

I try not to get too excited about an 18 year old player but Booker seems to have the skills and maturity to become a star player.

Yup, I love the fact that it seems that Booker is working on his game to get better.

 

[BC867]

I try not to get too excited about an 18 year old player but Booker seems to have the skills and maturity to become a star player.

As I posted after the Scrimmage on McDowell, I was impressed by Booker's presence on the court and the confidence he showed.

But I wonder how the Suns obsession with multi-tweener Guards will affect his chances to develop and fit in as a straight Shooting Guard.

 

[Mainstreet]

As I posted after the Scrimmage on McDowell, I was impressed by Booker's presence on the court and the confidence he showed.

But I wonder how the Suns obsession with multi-tweener Guards will affect his chances to develop and fit in as a straight Shooting Guard.

This is a good point especially since the Suns will be playing Brandon Knight alongside Bledsoe. I think the Suns want Devin Booker to develop as a shooting guard but I'm not seeing the minutes right now especially with Sonny Weems, Archie Goodwin and Bogdan Bogdanovic, if he comes over next season. Somewhere along the line, the Suns are going to have to make some decisions.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns first three preseason games are scheduled to be streamed at Suns.com

Paul Coro ‏@paulcoro 2h2 hours ago

The Suns' first 3 preseason games will be live-streamed on http://Suns.com & the mobile app w/@JonBloom & @cjacobsen23 on the call.

https://twitter.com/paulcoro

 

[elindholm]

I think the Suns want Devin Booker to develop as a shooting guard but I'm not seeing the minutes right now especially with Sonny Weems, Archie Goodwin and Bogdan Bogdanovic, if he comes over next season.

If Booker outperforms his draft position by even a little, he'll blow those other players away and it won't be an issue.

 

[JCSunsfan]

If Booker outperforms his draft position by even a little, he'll blow those other players away and it won't be an issue.

Correct. We might like those other players, but in reality they are good role players at the very most.

 

[Phrazbit]

Weems is a stopgap, Goodwin is closer to playing in Europe than being an NBA starter and Bogdan won't be here for 2 years, if ever.

The only thing that will prevent Booker from getting PT is his performance, which probably will be very uneven early on given his age.

 

[Mainstreet]

If Booker outperforms his draft position by even a little, he'll blow those other players away and it won't be an issue.

I wondered why my quote looked different. You left out my first sentence.

This is a good point especially since the Suns will be playing Brandon Knight alongside Bledsoe. I think the Suns want Devin Booker to develop as a shooting guard but I'm not seeing the minutes right now especially with Sonny Weems, Archie Goodwin and Bogdan Bogdanovic, if he comes over next season. Somewhere along the line, the Suns are going to have to make some decisions.

It's not just Weems, Goodwin and maybe Bogdanovic next season, it's Brandon Knight as well. As good as Booker may be (and I believe he will be an excellent player), he has to fight for playing time at SG with a number of players. This may slow his development. He is still only age 18 and Hornacek wants a roster that can win now. As Phrazbit points out, Booker's performance may be uneven given his age.

 

[sunsfan88]

I'm not gonna lie, I'm decently excited for this season. Unlike last season where I had my doubts about the IT signing, I love the Chandler addition and I really think he will make a big difference for this squad.

I just hope we don't suffer any major injuries, feel like we've been unlucky in that regard past few years.

 

[Phrazbit]

I suspect the Suns have been one of the healthier teams in the NBA the last few years. When Len was drafted his ankle was broken already, so I wouldn't count that. The only other long injuries were Bledsoe's knee, he missed just under 40 games, and Knight's ankle, he missed about 20, and I bet he could have come back if the Suns had anything to play for.

 

[Mainstreet]

One of the players I am hoping can make the Suns 15 man roster is center Henry Sims. I like the idea of the Suns carrying three centers that can contribute. Sims is reportedly a hard worker and a willing passer. I enjoy the idea of being three deep at the center and PF positions.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...-henry-sims-anxious-start-preseason/73486020/

 

[JCSunsfan]

Weems is a stopgap, Goodwin is closer to playing in Europe than being an NBA starter and Bogdan won't be here for 2 years, if ever.

The only thing that will prevent Booker from getting PT is his performance, which probably will be very uneven early on given his age.

I don't see Weems as a stopgap. We have players in that position. Weems was signed as a solid veteran glue guy--a more athletic version of Jared Dudley. He will be in the rotation and get minutes but will never threaten as a starter.

I don't see Archie as having a role unless he beats out Booker. Booker would have to underperform significantly for that to happen. The guard rotation in terms of minutes played, barring injuries will be:

1. Bledsoe
2. Knight
3. Booker
4. Weems
5. Price
6. Archie

The only way Weems gets more minutes than Booker is if he gets them at SF.

 

[Mainstreet]

In regard to Goodwin, I still think he will be a very good NBA player. IMO, it's always been about when, not if. Do the Suns have the patience to continue to develop him?

 

[JCSunsfan]

In regard to Goodwin, I still think he will be a very good NBA player. IMO, it's always been about when, not if. Do the Suns have the patience to continue to develop him?

I don't think its about patience, its about priority. You can only develop so many players. They are already committed to Len, TJ, and Booker. They already have Bledsoe and Knight.

So, you sort of have to choose. Booker or Archie.

Its like the Cavs back when they had Mark Price and KJ. Both were going to be good players, but they were not going to develop KJ while Price was on the team.

Choose well.

 

[Mainstreet]

I don't think its about patience, its about priority. You can only develop so many players. They are already committed to Len, TJ, and Booker. They already have Bledsoe and Knight.

So, you sort of have to choose. Booker or Archie.

Its like the Cavs back when they had Mark Price and KJ. Both were going to be good players, but they were not going to develop KJ while Price was on the team.

Choose well.

Whatever the Suns do, I hope the they never use Goodwin as filler in a trade. He is too valuable to be a throw-in. If he is ever traded, he should be a chip in making a trade work.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Whatever the Suns do, I hope the they never use Goodwin as filler in a trade. He is too valuable to be a throw-in. If he is ever traded, he should be a chip in making a trade work.

Not sure how that can NOT be the case. Archie has been in the league quite a while now and really hasn't shown consistency or growth. There are LOTS of players like that in the league.

 

[sunsfan88]

Whatever the Suns do, I hope the they never use Goodwin as filler in a trade. He is too valuable to be a throw-in.

I'm with you. I think he will put it together and be a solid rotation player at the least eventually.

 

[Phrazbit]

Barring a huge leap in development I think this is Goodwin's last season here, probably his last 3-4 months.

IMO his potential is Iman Shumpert and he has a looooooong way to get to that point. Goodwin is in a rough spot, he has so many huge deficiencies in his game but I don't see them improving without playing time, but unless a team is tanking there is no way he should be in an NBA rotation. Other than getting to the rim he does nothing well, and that one strength is countered by his extremely poor finishing once he gets inside.