Official 2009 Draft Thread

[Ronin]

Stock Watch: Risers and fallers in NCAA tourney
Griffin had one dunk in which he exploded from outside the key and then, when no contact happened, decided to flush the ball. The same type of play happened with Hansbrough only he seemed to forget that he was Tyler Hansbrough and not Blake Griffin as he came up three feet short on his dunk attempt.

Griffin also had one turnaround fadeaway jump shot in the first half that was eerily reminiscent of Karl Malone. Griffin reminds some scouts of Malone (only with much more explosiveness) and it's incredible to think of how strong he will end up considering he turned 20 just two weeks ago.

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/9410780/Stock-Watch:-Risers-and-fallers-in-NCAA-tourney

 

[slinslin]

Griffin better hope we don't luck into the #1 or #2 pick then because knowing the Suns they will try their best for him to not put any additional pounds of muscle.

 

[Ronin]

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/97971-cavs-scouting-brandon-jennings?eref=fromSI
Cavs scouting Brandon Jennings.....

 

[slinslin]

Doh the Cavs won't get a top 10 pick to pick Jennings.

 

[Mainstreet]

Doh the Cavs won't get a top 10 pick to pick Jennings.

Never know what trades might come together.

 

[Folster]

Ty Lawson is an absolute stud. I don't know why he is projected to fall out of the lottery. I don't care if he's only 6'. He was solid in the regular season and a monster in the tournament when he played. He reminds me a lot of Chris Paul. 21 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds and 8 steals in the final game is ridiculous. He is the perimeter defender we need to contain the Tony Parkers and Chris Pauls who have sliced and diced us for the past couple of years. If he is available at 14, I don't see how we can pass him up. I hope management doesn't make the mistake of thinking that they addressed the pg position with Dragic last year and pass on Lawson.

I'm officially starting the draft Ty Lawson bandwagon.

 

[Mulli]

Ty Lawson is an absolute stud. I don't know why he is projected to fall out of the lottery. I don't care if he's only 6'. He was solid in the regular season and a monster in the tournament when he played. He reminds me a lot of Chris Paul. 21 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds and 8 steals in the final game is ridiculous. He is the perimeter defender we need to contain the Tony Parkers and Chris Pauls who have sliced and diced us for the past couple of years. If he is available at 14, I don't see how we can pass him up. I hope management doesn't make the mistake of thinking that they addressed the pg position with Dragic last year and pass on Lawson.

I'm officially starting the draft Ty Lawson bandwagon.

yes please!

 

[slinslin]

Never know what trades might come together.

Nothing on Cleveland's roster could warrant giving up a very high pick.

Lebron obviously won't be traded, Williams neither and even if it wouldn't be a given that he could fetch that kind of pick because teams are looking at him as product of Lebron James.

 

[leclerc]

Thanks Kerr for giving up the GS second round pick in 2009 for Dragic. I'm sure another second round pick would have worked. Also thanks for not putting any protection on the Suns first round pick in 2010. The Suns GM needs to go.

I remember even Atlanta (they've not been much of a club for the last 10 years) had protection on the pick they owed us, and that saved them... and gave us Robin Lopez?

Hello, Kerr? Anybody home?

I'd like us to get Lawson or Tyreke Evans with our pick.

 

[Mainstreet]

Ty Lawson is an absolute stud. I don't know why he is projected to fall out of the lottery. I don't care if he's only 6'. He was solid in the regular season and a monster in the tournament when he played. He reminds me a lot of Chris Paul. 21 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds and 8 steals in the final game is ridiculous. He is the perimeter defender we need to contain the Tony Parkers and Chris Pauls who have sliced and diced us for the past couple of years. If he is available at 14, I don't see how we can pass him up. I hope management doesn't make the mistake of thinking that they addressed the pg position with Dragic last year and pass on Lawson.

I'm officially starting the draft Ty Lawson bandwagon.

I like Lawson but I worry about his length and his ability to get his shot off on the NBA level and finish around the rim. I agree the Suns need another PG.

 

[Mainstreet]

I remember even Atlanta (they've not been much of a club for the last 10 years) had protection on the pick they owed us, and that saved them... and gave us Robin Lopez?

Hello, Kerr? Anybody home?

I'd like us to get Lawson or Tyreke Evans with our pick.

I think the GS pick will offer some good prospects. The Suns would likely have gotten two keepers in the draft with their own first round pick and the GS second round pick (#37). Too bad the Spurs have it. I think the talent level drops significantly after the GS pick. Kerr just does not understand the value of draft picks.

The Suns need a PG and a big man in the draft. I'm not sure if they will get both unless they go big first. There are a number of PGs in the draft. I'm intrigued by Patrick Patterson as a Boozer type but that means passing on PGs like Ty Lawson who are ready to contribute now. The Suns need extra pick(s) for 2009 and a first rounder for 2010.

Also just think about who will be making the draft selections... Kerr and Griffin. I will puke if they draft Hardin or Budinger.

 

[Folster]

In no particular order the Suns need:

A pg, particularly a good perimeter defender. I like Dragic, but I'm not sold on him.
A sf. Hill is probably gone but is old regardless if he stays, Barnes is not a long term answer.
A pf/c. It's no secret we need help down low. Shaq is gone in a year, maybe earlier and that leaves us with Amare and Lopez with Lou and Dudley as a serviceable bench/energy guys. I wouldn't waste the 14th pick on a center as most competent ones are selected prior. A young athletic pf with potential might be a good choice but usually wingmen are the best players available at that spot. If a solid pg falls i.e. Ty Lawson, we shouldn't hesitate.

 

[Ronin]

Thabeet announced today that he is going pro.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/basketball/ncaa/04/14/thabeet.nba/index.html

 

[Ronin]

Collins and aldrich staying at Kansas
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/basketball/ncaa/04/13/Collins.Aldrich.ap/index.html

 

[slinslin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSBLKrZCkeU

In this thread as well and MERGE please with the other draft thread. Do we even had a mod on this board?

 

[Ronin]

Report: Syracuse guard Flynn to sign with agent
Syracuse point guard Jonny Flynn will sign with an agent, a newspaper reported Monday.
Flynn, a 6-foot sophomore, said last week that he planned to enter his name in the NBA draft but had not yet hired an agent. However, The Post-Standard in Syracuse reported Flynn is expected to sign with Leon Rose, the agent for NBA star LeBron James.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/9453402/Report:-Syracuse-guard-Flynn-to-sign-with-agent

 

[joshstmarie]

In no particular order the Suns need:

A pg, particularly a good perimeter defender. I like Dragic, but I'm not sold on him.
A sf. Hill is probably gone but is old regardless if he stays, Barnes is not a long term answer.
A pf/c. It's no secret we need help down low. Shaq is gone in a year, maybe earlier and that leaves us with Amare and Lopez with Lou and Dudley as a serviceable bench/energy guys. I wouldn't waste the 14th pick on a center as most competent ones are selected prior. A young athletic pf with potential might be a good choice but usually wingmen are the best players available at that spot. If a solid pg falls i.e. Ty Lawson, we shouldn't hesitate.

why do we need a point gaurd if nash is coming back and dragic is an above average defender already at this point?

 

[Mainstreet]

why do we need a point gaurd if nash is coming back and dragic is an above average defender already at this point?

Kerr, per Paul Coro's latest blog, indicates the Suns want a big man that can defend the pick and roll. Also the Suns should be able to get a third PG in the second round of the draft unless the Suns can get another first round pick later in the draft to fill that need.

Never can have enough PGs after years of not having a backup.

 

[slinslin]

Screw Kerr, this is a PG draft.

…”There is some buzz that Wall believes he might be eligible for THIS year's draft. I've been doing some digging and will be filing a story later today. The short rub is this: Wall is a 5th year senior and depending on how you read the collective bargaining agreement, 5th year seniors are eligible for the draft as long as the turn 19 in the calander year (Wall does). The league is taking a wait and see approach. If he declares, they'll research and make a ruling. If he does declare and is ruled eligible (two big ifs) he's a Top 5 pick in this draft. Maybe Top 3.

Three top notch PG coming out this year plus Lawson, Maynor and Flynn.

 

[leclerc]

So the rumours out of the front office is to a) get a big (4/5) who can defend the pick and roll and b) get a point guard to back up Steve Nash? (I'm not saying -- I'm asking)

My wish right now is to pick the best player available at #14.

If we can get one of the absolute top PG talents (Rubio, Wall, Jennings) then do that, if a top wing prospect is available then do that (Evans, DeRozan, Clark maybe), if not get a good point guard (Lawson, Flynn, Maynor) or a big with a high ceiling (someone living on the top floor of an old building).

It seems odd if they yet again want to get someone "who can help right away" from the draft.

 

[cly2tw]

So the rumours out of the front office is to a) get a big (4/5) who can defend the pick and roll and b) get a point guard to back up Steve Nash? (I'm not saying -- I'm asking)

My wish right now is to pick the best player available at #14.

If we can get one of the absolute top PG talents (Rubio, Wall, Jennings) then do that, if a top wing prospect is available then do that (Evans, DeRozan, Clark maybe), if not get a good point guard (Lawson, Flynn, Maynor) or a big with a high ceiling (someone living on the top floor of an old building).

It seems odd if they yet again want to get someone "who can help right away" from the draft.

Exactly.

Big for pnr defense to complement Nash? That'd be from FAs, not from the draft.

 

[Folster]

Exactly.

Big for pnr defense to complement Nash? That'd be from FAs, not from the draft.

Free Agency? What kind of pick and roll defender so you think we are going to land with the vet minimum? Unless we shed significant payroll (i.e. not pick up Nash's option), free agency is not an option. And why the heck are we going to continue to build a team around Nash? Hand the team over to Barbs and Amar'e and let's rebuild this thing already! Clinging to the Nash D'Antoni era is only going to prolong our suffering.

 

[Mainstreet]

Screw Kerr, this is a PG draft.

Three top notch PG coming out this year plus Lawson, Maynor and Flynn.

I do agree it is a PG draft even into the second round.

The trouble is, IMO, the Suns need a mobile big man as well. The Suns sure could use another first round pick.

 

[Ronin]

Australian Patrick Mills announces NBA draft intentions
Adam Cooper
April 17, 2009 03:55pm

AUSTRALIAN basketball star Patrick Mills is about to embark on a punishing physical regime to help secure his dream of being drafted by an NBA team.
Mills confirmed he would nominate for this year's draft, where the 20-year-old from Canberra could become an instant millionaire if selected as a first-round pick on June 25.

The speedy guard, whose stocks rose through an impressive Olympic campaign last year and two stand-out seasons with Californian college side St Mary's, is aiming to join Andrew Bogut and Nathan Jawai as Australians in the world's best league.

To do that, he must combine his studies with travelling all over the US over the next two months to perform at franchise try-outs, and add five kilos more muscle to his 82kg frame.

"If you chucked me in there now with the big boys they'd probably have their way with me and handle me like a rag doll," he said.

"So getting in the weights room is going to be important over the next few months."

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,25347400-5005401,00.html

 

[leclerc]

Reading this funny post on Little Jake Voskuhl and Casey Jacobsen (the plastic man with his plastic barbie) made me think of all the terrible bench players and rookies we've had in recent years. This years bench was miles away from some of them. Let's get a quality rookie this summer!