Official 2012 NBA Draft thread

[tobiazz]

to sum it up.. I will be pissed if we don't draft Austin Rivers if he is even there at #13.

I will probably be even more upset if he gets picked a couple spots before us while we end up with choosing between Jeremy Lamb (bust), John Henson (stiff) or other leftovers.

I really really like Royce White. He really has some Barkley in him.

It would be nice to have a SG that can create for the first time in a while, but I'm frightened when a SG who is also a coach's son, shoots 65% FT.

Lamb is either very slow or always baked like Uncle Cliffy. I'd stay away from a guy that is that ignorant or unenthusiastic about pro ball. Would a guy like Kobe, Ray Allen, or Reggie Miller come into the league not knowing what players are on teams?

 

[Mainstreet]

I don't see Fab Melo going at #13 to the Suns but he is scheduled to workout for the Suns. Interesting. Maybe the Suns are looking at options as Lopez is a RFA.

@darthmueller Appreciate that! Fab Melo is slated to work out for the #Suns at some point but they seem set at center if they retain Lopez.

http://twitter.com/#!/PaulCoro

 

[ASUCHRIS]

I don't see Fab Melo going at #13 to the Suns but he is scheduled to workout for the Suns. Interesting. Maybe the Suns are looking at options as Lopez is a RFA.



http://twitter.com/#!/PaulCoro

It's hilarious to me that we're so dead set to keep Lopez, who is by any measure a below average player.

 

[Mainstreet]

It's hilarious to me that we're so dead set to keep Lopez, who is by any measure a below average player.

The Suns have been rumored to shop Lopez in the past. They might in fact let him walk if another team offers him too much money or seek a trade. He seems to be at worst a role backup center with some upside at the ripe old age of 24.

 

[PhxGametime]

I'll add Damian Lillard to my list. He tested 40 inch vert. but I have no game-film. I hope the Suns buy/Trade for another Pick, lots of talent.


Terrence Jones F, Austin Rivers G, Terrence Ross G/F, Meyers Leonard F/C, Damian Lillard PG, Moe Harkless SF, Dion Waiters G, Tony Wroten Jr. G, Jeremy Lamb SG, Jeff Taylor G/F, John Henson PF, Tyler Zeller C, etc.


That's every possible position covered. Maybe Perry Jones for G/F/C?? heh

 

[sunsfan88]

It's hilarious to me that we're so dead set to keep Lopez, who is by any measure a below average player.

I agree. They look at his size and think he's gonna be good some day but seriously, have they not seen him play?

Lopez is the PERFECT example of the saying "size doesn't mean everything"

Guy blows...its shameful to think that God wasted a 7'0 body on him instead of giving it to someone like...idk Chuck Hayes?

 

[Joe Mama]

I agree. They look at his size and think he's gonna be good some day but seriously, have they not seen him play?

Lopez is the PERFECT example of the saying "size doesn't mean everything"

Guy blows...its shameful to think that God wasted a 7'0 body on him instead of giving it to someone like...idk Chuck Hayes?

he's not great, but for the most part he played well coming off the bench as a backup center. I'll have a problem if they pay him anything more than $2-$3 million per season, but he's worth that much unless they surprise us and use their draft pick on another center.

Joe Mama

 

[PhxGametime]

Athletic Testing numbers are at: Draftexpress

 

[slinslin]

Terrence Ross supposedly great athlete nowhere to be found in the top 5s but Harrison Barnes is.
Also Ross just 2 bench press

Sullinger - Snail

Perry Jones - Fast

 

[slinslin]

Rivers
11.54 agility
3.32 sprint
1 bench
37.5 vert

Ross
11.78 agility
3.28 sprint
2 bench
37.5 vert

 

[slinslin]

Sullinger is actually the slowest of all tested in both sprint and agility combined with the fact that he is barely 6'9 in shoes. His max vertical is 6th worst.

goodbye lottery hello #20 pick

Edit: Even in the benchpress Sullinger is in the bottom half , one of the weakest of all the big guys.

 

[slinslin]

Perry Jones III did more benchpress repetitions than Drummond, Melo and Sullinger.

Drummond also measured just 33.5" vertical opposed to the previously reported 38".

Quincy Miller almost stronger than Sullinger and tested pretty well across the board.

 

[slinslin]

Harkless, MKG, Ross did all worse than expected

Marshall, Beal and Barnes did great

Rivers
11.54 agility
3.32 sprint
1 bench
37.5 vert

Ross
11.78 agility
3.28 sprint
2 bench
37.5 vert

Beal
10.95 agility
3.28 sprint
8 bench
39 vert

Barnes
10.93 agility
3.16 sprint
15 bench
39.5 vert

Lamb
10.98agility
3.25 sprint
5 bench
38 vert

Harkless
10.87agility
3.25 sprint
5 bench
37 vert

Quincy Miller
11.05 agility
3.48 sprint
8 bench
36 vert

MKG
11.77 agility
3.18 sprint
6 bench
35.5 vert

Marshall
12.03 agility
3.23 sprint
N/A bench
37 vert

Lillard
11.15 agility
3.34 sprint
13 bench
39.5 vert

 

[95pro]

i'll be honest i havent really paid attention to the draft, nor cared about it too much. but i've been watching tv and youtube and reading up on some players.

i like rivers, you know at first i saw how they say he's not much of a passer and sort of has tunnel vision.

but watching some clips and video of him, he just reminds me of a taller tony parker. the way he gets that first step, the floater/tear-drop, avoiding contact from the defender who's trying to pick up a charge.

he's also going to have no problem with range as well, putting up a 3pt shot, combine that with his quick first step and ability to finish a tough layup or with the floater, i think he'll turn out fine. i don't see how he can turn out to be a "bust" at the 13th pick.

doc rivers said that his son has been preparing for the nba his whole life, not for college competition, but for the nba ranks. it just tells a little bit of the mentality and confidence of austin rivers.

 

[Russ Smith]

Terrence Ross supposedly great athlete nowhere to be found in the top 5s but Harrison Barnes is.
Also Ross just 2 bench press

Sullinger - Snail

Perry Jones - Fast

Yet on the court Ross appears to be a much better athlete than Barnes. THe next guy Barnes beats off the dribble will be the first, Ross on the other hand had a very quick first step. he's not a perfect player but I'm not overly worried about his workout numbers.

I
Barnes/Ross is kind of similar to Mayo/Westbrook a few years agoIMO. Barnes is much more physically developed and appears to have less room to get better. I think Barnes is a 3, Ross is probably going to wind up as a 2 although he might be able to play some 3. note I'm not saying Ross is going to wind up as good as Westbrook, but he's improving rapidly, Barnes isn't IMO.

I like Ross I thought he was easily the best player in the Pac 12, his problem was he played with Wroten who while a very gifted passer, is a very selfish kid and I think really mucked up the chemistry at UW.

Curious to see how Wroten pans out, he can't shoot but otherwise has all the necessary skills to be a star. But he is the classic make the spectacular play don't do any of the little things player. he could be a great player or he could be a huge bust.

 

[SunsTzu]

I like Ross I thought he was easily the best player in the Pac 12, his problem was he played with Wroten who while a very gifted passer, is a very selfish kid and I think really mucked up the chemistry at UW.

Curious to see how Wroten pans out, he can't shoot but otherwise has all the necessary skills to be a star. But he is the classic make the spectacular play don't do any of the little things player. he could be a great player or he could be a huge bust.

I really like Ross too, but I want the Suns to stay far away from Wroten. Lillard, J Lamb or T Ross on draft night and I'll be really happy, won't happen though.

 

[Russ Smith]

I really like Ross too, but I want the Suns to stay far away from Wroten. Lillard, J Lamb or T Ross on draft night and I'll be really happy, won't happen though.

I like Lillard, not sure on Lamb, seems so laid back, almost makes him look lazy on the court at times.

wroten is just one of those guys whose mental approach to the game is all wrong IMO. he's the classic AAU player he's all about stats and doesn't seem to hate losing as long as he gets his stats.

 

[sunsfan88]

Harkless, MKG, Ross did all worse than expected

Marshall, Beal and Barnes did great

Rivers
11.54 agility
3.32 sprint
1 bench
37.5 vert

Ross
11.78 agility
3.28 sprint
2 bench
37.5 vert

Beal
10.95 agility
3.28 sprint
8 bench
39 vert

Barnes
10.93 agility
3.16 sprint
15 bench
39.5 vert

Lamb
10.98agility
3.25 sprint
5 bench
38 vert

Harkless
10.87agility
3.25 sprint
5 bench
37 vert

Quincy Miller
11.05 agility
3.48 sprint
8 bench
36 vert

MKG
11.77 agility
3.18 sprint
6 bench
35.5 vert

Marshall
12.03 agility
3.23 sprint
N/A bench
37 vert

Lillard
11.15 agility
3.34 sprint
13 bench
39.5 vert

What are Waiters numbers?

 

[Phrazbit]

Those reports on Sulinger are not surprising, he has a lot of pudge for a wing player.

I think he would be great value in the late teens and early 20s, especially to a team who wants a player who is ready to contribute immediately. But his ceiling looks low. Already very polished and not that athletic. Poor man's Glenn Robinson.

 

[PhxGametime]

Dion Waiters skipped the athletic testing because he has a promise.


My Pick would probably be Meyers Leonard but it doesn't look like the Suns are looking for a big. Rivers, Lillard, Waiters, and Lamb all have been mentioned as not dropping lower than Suns selection... decisions, decisions.

 

[sunsfan88]

Dion Waiters skipped the athletic testing because he has a promise.

David from Portland
This years draft is going to be pretty important to the Blazers, which 2 players do you think they should draft with their two picks assuming they fall to them? Beal, Drummond, Meyers, Lillard, Barnes, Sullinger, Zeller, or any other players you think would be a good pick.

Steve Kyler
My latest Mock has them taking Drummond and Waiters… Drummond is too talented to pass and Waiters has a promise from someone, hearing its not Phoenix or Toronto, so either there is a trade in play for him or its the Blazers

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Not according to others...

From today:

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/e...77/dion-waiters-lottery-promise-is-suns-at-13

From yesterday:

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/06/14/report-dion-waiters-lottery-promise-from-phoenix/


This is the best part and I could see this front office being this stupid:

One thing to watch: Don’t be shocked if some team like the Raptors (No. 8) pick him as part of a pre-arranged draft day trade. That way the Suns get their guy and the Raptors would get the No. 13 pick and another player (or future pick).

 

[Mainstreet]

Not according to others...

From today:

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/e...77/dion-waiters-lottery-promise-is-suns-at-13

From yesterday:

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/06/14/report-dion-waiters-lottery-promise-from-phoenix/


This is the best part and I could see this front office being this stupid:

The Suns should be concentrating on adding another first round pick instead of trading out of #13. If the Suns move did move to #8, I would not be promising Waiters. Lance Blanks ability as GM really concerns me. The Suns should be adding more picks not losing them.

 

[JCSunsfan]

nbadraft.net has PJ3, Hansen, and Royce White all now at the end of round 1. Boy would I love to have another pick or two at the end of the round. PJ3 (and any of those others) might be a risk early, but he would be a great gamble in the 20's.

I am not sure what the intrigue is with Waiters. He is a 6-3 tweener that was a 6th man in college. Can someone explain?

 

[Mainstreet]

nbadraft.net has PJ3, Hansen, and Royce White all now at the end of round 1. Boy would I love to have another pick or two at the end of the round. PJ3 (and any of those others) might be a risk early, but he would be a great gamble in the 20's.

I am not sure what the intrigue is with Waiters. He is a 6-3 tweener that was a 6th man in college. Can someone explain?

This is my concern. That the Suns FO believe they have found a diamond in the rough even though they do not draft well. The Suns are not smarter than other NBA teams.