Now its about #16, 31, and 59

[Mainstreet]

It's an easy call for me. I like Holidays but for me, Aaron ranks between The International Meow Like a Pirate Day and The Biscuit Appreciation Holiday. IOW, nowhere close to the International Ninja Day which I'm sure we all celebrate every December.

So are you liking DiVincenzo better or do you have a particular player in mind?

 

[AzStevenCal]

So are you liking DiVincenzo better or do you have a particular player in mind?

Of the ones talked about for 16, I prefer either Zhaire or Donte. I also like Huerter a lot but there are locker room concerns with him (and to a lesser extent with Donte too).

 

[Phrazbit]

The last time we used a mid round pick on the 6th man from the team who spent most of the year ranked #1 it worked out pretty good for us.

 

[Mainstreet]

Of the ones talked about for 16, I prefer either Zhaire or Donte. I also like Huerter a lot but there are locker room concerns with him (and to a lesser extent with Donte too).

I like Donte because I have seen him play and Zhaire looks like a nice player as well. I am not on top of their personalities especially Huerter.

Here is where I feel like a dog chasing his tail. I'd be fine with Zhare, Donte or someone else being drafted at #16 and then draft a PG at #31. However, there seems to be a consensus on this forum and elsewhere that keeping three rookies is not the way to go. So I go around in a circle thinking maybe the Suns should draft a PG at #16 if they don't value #31.

Then there is the question, about Payton coming back.

 

[Phrazbit]

I like Donte because I have seen him play and Zhaire looks like a nice player as well. I am not on top of their personalities especially Huerter.

Here is where I feel like a dog chasing his tail. I'd be fine with Zhare, Donte or someone else being drafted at #16 and then draft a PG at #31. However, there seems to be a consensus on this forum and elsewhere that keeping three rookies is not the way to go. So I go around in a circle thinking maybe the Suns should draft a PG at #16 if they don't value #31.

Then there is the question, about Payton coming back.

I'm sure the Suns already know the answer to that. If they extend him the qualifying offer, I expect he will be here, either on the QO or a 2 or 3 year deal for like 6 mil per.

If they don't offer him the QO... he gone.

 

[Mainstreet]

The last time we used a mid round pick on the 6th man from the team who spent most of the year ranked #1 it worked out pretty good for us.

I'd say. I'm thinking you are referring to Devin Booker.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm sure the Suns already know the answer to that. If they extend him the qualifying offer, I expect he will be here, either on the QO or a 2 or 3 year deal for like 6 mil per.

If they don't offer him the QO... he gone.

Qualifying Offers are being made to players now. I'm wondering how long the Suns have to make an offer to Payton if that is what they choose.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Here is where I feel like a dog chasing his tail. I'd be fine with Zhare, Donte or someone else being drafted at #16 and then draft a PG at #31. However, there seems to be a consensus on this forum and elsewhere that keeping three rookies is not the way to go. So I go around in a circle thinking maybe the Suns should draft a PG at #16 if they don't value #31.

Then there is the question, about Payton coming back.

I think I've uncovered the secret when it comes to drafting outside the lottery. The 31st pick almost never survives in the NBA so if you have a prospect you like and are considering for the second round, it's better to take him at 16. 16th picks are much more likely to make it.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think I've uncovered the secret when it comes to drafting outside the lottery. The 31st pick almost never survives in the NBA so if you have a prospect you like and are considering for the second round, it's better to take him at 16. 16th picks are much more likely to make it.

Before DiVincenzo's stock went up, I liked him at #31. So maybe the Suns should draft him at #16 if your analysis holds up.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I have a feeling we’re drafting Holiday. One thing you have to tank into account is with Booker and Ayton he can focus on facilitating and defense. At UCLA last year his teammates were raw and really couldn’t do much offensively. His responsibility was too big. He’s not a guy that can do everything great but might flourish with a defined role. Once again we turn to @Russ Smith for his wisdom.

Also the suspensions and early on and departures the previous year really ended any chances UCLA had to be good. Without Holiday they might have had a losing record.

Russ likes holiday but is in record on him not being a great starter at pg.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Of the ones talked about for 16, I prefer either Zhaire or Donte. I also like Huerter a lot but there are locker room concerns with him (and to a lesser extent with Donte too).

This is the first I’m hearing of locker room concerns of those two. Elaborate?

 

[Errntknght]

I've been on the PG bandwagon at 16 but if Zhaire Smith drops I hope we take him... IIRC he has PG inclinations. Then at 31 we could reach for Jevon Carter - he'd be great coming off the bench when we need to disrupt the opponents offense. Of course, if Igor likes Shaq Harrison for that role, I'm happy with that.

Payton, I hope we've seen the last of - but if Igor wants him, I'd grudgingly go along with him. I really hope not because trying to rehabilitate Knight and him is too much.

 

[AzStevenCal]

This is the first I’m hearing of locker room concerns of those two. Elaborate?

I'm not overly concerned about either player but they both have red flags. Donte made some homophobic and racially charged tweets in high school and Huerter, reportedly, isn't well liked by his teammates. Having said that about Huerter, I'm having trouble finding where I originally heard or read that.

 

[Russ Smith]

I have a feeling we’re drafting Holiday. One thing you have to tank into account is with Booker and Ayton he can focus on facilitating and defense. At UCLA last year his teammates were raw and really couldn’t do much offensively. His responsibility was too big. He’s not a guy that can do everything great but might flourish with a defined role. Once again we turn to @Russ Smith for his wisdom.

Also the suspensions and early on and departures the previous year really ended any chances UCLA had to be good. Without Holiday they might have had a losing record.

Riley was the only suspended player who was going to play much. What killed UCLA was how unprepared Hands was, he played well against bad teams and that one fluky end of half 3 point bonanza against ARizona but largely he was not that great when they needed him to be good. To be fair that was largely due to how inconsistent Prince Ali was.

Holiday is a scorer not a playmaker, he can pass but he's a head down take it to the rim or pull up and shoot guy. he's very good at that, but he doesn't really have a PG feel he's a 2 in a 1's body. Had a terrific year but he had some really disastrous games too like the Michigan and St bonny's losses where he completely melted down.

 

[GatorAZ]

Riley was the only suspended player who was going to play much. What killed UCLA was how unprepared Hands was, he played well against bad teams and that one fluky end of half 3 point bonanza against ARizona but largely he was not that great when they needed him to be good. To be fair that was largely due to how inconsistent Prince Ali was.

Holiday is a scorer not a playmaker, he can pass but he's a head down take it to the rim or pull up and shoot guy. he's very good at that, but he doesn't really have a PG feel he's a 2 in a 1's body. Had a terrific year but he had some really disastrous games too like the Michigan and St bonny's losses where he completely melted down.

He basically played entire games and had a Lebron-like responsibility for UCLA so it’s not surprising he would be get exposed a bit. I thought being a 7-8 assist guy could be in his nature if it was a defined role. If Leaf came back and UCLA had slight upgrades over Hands/Ali I think he would’ve looked better in that department.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Assuming we can't get back into the lottery to grab Young (or even Doncic) then I'd like to see the draft go like this: At 16 we take Zhaire Smith, Brandon McCoy at 31 and then target a guard at 59 or trade it for a future 2.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Assuming we can't get back into the lottery to grab Young (or even Doncic) then I'd like to see the draft go like this: At 16 we take Zhaire Smith, Brandon McCoy at 31 and then target a guard at 59 or trade it for a future 2.

McCoy is one I can’t figure out. He’s big. His numbers were pretty good. And he had a helluva duel with Ayton. But he gets zero love.

 

[AzStevenCal]

McCoy is one I can’t figure out. He’s big. His numbers were pretty good. And he had a helluva duel with Ayton. But he gets zero love.

Apparently he's been inconsistent but you're right, that matchup with Ayton was very impressive (on both sides). At the time I was thinking he was a sure-fire lottery pick but he's really dropped out of the draft conversation for some reason.

 

[Errntknght]

Assuming we can't get back into the lottery to grab Young (or even Doncic) then I'd like to see the draft go like this: At 16 we take Zhaire Smith, Brandon McCoy at 31 and then target a guard at 59 or trade it for a future 2.

I'm with you on Zhaire at 16, but you're not thinking PG at 31. I like Jevon Carter for his defense, though I don't see him as a starter. There are a number of PG's that might be there - I'm thinking Igor might want Okobo and he might be there though he's been climbing. If he really wants him, we may wind up drafting him at 16, I suppose. If Zhaire isn't there and Igor is lukewarm on Okobo we might be able to get Tyus Jones from the Wolves for Ulis and the 16th pick, maybe less. Of course we can put in a bid for Vanvleet.

 

[Russ Smith]

McCoy is one I can’t figure out. He’s big. His numbers were pretty good. And he had a helluva duel with Ayton. But he gets zero love.

Has a rep as being very lazy and "different" He's a musician and has other interests I think people just don't think he loves basketball. But very talented kid

 

[Mainstreet]

This is interesting particularly concerning Aaron Holiday.

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[BC867]

I have a feeling we’re drafting Holiday. One thing you have to tank into account is with Booker and Ayton he can focus on facilitating and defense. At UCLA last year his teammates were raw and really couldn’t do much offensively. His responsibility was too big. He’s not a guy that can do everything great but might flourish with a defined role. Once again we turn to @Russ Smith for his wisdom.

Also the suspensions and early on and departures the previous year really ended any chances UCLA had to be good. Without Holiday they might have had a losing record.

I'm sure it was a typo, but please don't say 'tank'.

 

[Hoop Head]

This is interesting particularly concerning Aaron Holiday.

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Don't see the point in that. They're going to parade them around for what reason exactly? Feels sophmoric, not how players should be introduced to the NBA world.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I'm sure the Suns already know the answer to that. If they extend him the qualifying offer, I expect he will be here, either on the QO or a 2 or 3 year deal for like 6 mil per.

If they don't offer him the QO... he gone.

They will extend the QO but he will not sign while he is checking out the market. If the Suns find a better FA choice than Elf they will withdraw the QO offer. His cap hold comes off the books, he becomes and UFA and the Suns can sign whoever they want.

 

[Hoop Head]

They will extend the QO but he will not sign while he is checking out the market. If the Suns find a better FA choice than Elf they will withdraw the QO offer. His cap hold comes off the books, he becomes and UFA and the Suns can sign whoever they want.

Wouldn't declining the QO hurt his ability to look elsewhere? I could be wrong but I was fairly sure that RFA's had to sign their qualifying offers in order to start looking elsewhere for a new contract. If they didn't need to then what keeps players from declining the QO and just signing somewhere else outright? That would keep their original team from matching a deal so they'd be able to go where they please.