Paul Millsap

[elindholm]

I'm fine with tanking this season, even though I share Gaddabout's sense that it's bad karma. But hitting the draft lottery can fill only one roster position. The Suns have a ton of holes -- they aren't just one player away, or just two, or probably even just three. They're decent at C and PG and have zilch everywhere else. If a player like Millsap could have been had, and he'll still going to be in his prime for four or five more years, I think you'd have to consider it carefully.

 

[TucsonDevil]

Having lived in SLC for the last three years - there is a reason that Milsap is not as highly sought after as one might think looking at his numbers. He is too slow to guard the 3 spot and too small to guard the 4 spot. He is offensively talented, but in the West with some of the bigs you have to contend with - it's hard to think you would pay him $9M+ for his services. If he were two inches taller, or had a wingspan 4" longer - he would be very highly sought after and would command $11M+ easily.

I for one am glad the Suns did not pick him up. He would have been great a few years ago with Steve, Shaq, Amare, and Grant - but not not now.

 

[BC867]

Wiggins would be a very nice piece for a team that just drafted Alvan Adams II

Do you really think that Alvan Adams at 6'9"-212 playing offense strictly at the top of the key as a third Guard should be mentioned in the same breath as Len at 7'1"-255?

If you're going to limit your thinking about Len, you might suggest Channing Frye. But I don't think that is going to be the case. Jeff Hornacek knows the difference between Centers and Guards (I hope).

 

[devilalum]

Do you really think that Alvan Adams at 6'9"-212 playing offense strictly at the top of the key as a third Guard should be mentioned in the same breath as Len at 7'1"-255?

If you're going to limit your thinking about Len, you might suggest Channing Frye. But I don't think that is going to be the case. Jeff Hornacek knows the difference between Centers and Guards (I hope).

Does anybody play a high post anymore? I don't remember reading anything about Len being a good passer.

 

[Phrazbit]

Does anybody play a high post anymore? I don't remember reading anything about Len being a good passer.

Pau.

 

[sunsfan88]

I don't remember reading anything about Len being a good passer.

While not a polished player at this stage and clearly lacking experience, Len generally shows a solid feel for the game, as he executes well offensively, is highly coordinated, capable of passing out of double teams, and doesn't turn the ball over that frequently.

From DraftExpress.com http://www.draftexpress.com#ixzz2YJqkluwT
http://www.draftexpress.com
​

Willing passing with burgeoning feel for the game

http://www.nbadraft.net/players/alex-len

.

 

[Gaddabout]

Do you really think that Alvan Adams at 6'9"-212 playing offense strictly at the top of the key as a third Guard should be mentioned in the same breath as Len at 7'1"-255?

On defense, Len is probably a legit 7-1. On offense, he may as well be Alvan Adams. Good passer (2.5 ppa), 15-foot jumper that makes scouts dreamy, can't pick-and-roll, scores at an alarmingly low percentage rate in the post ... like less than 35 percent awful. I dunno. Maybe he's as athletic as Adams was. Probably not. Hard to tell watching college ball.

 

[Superbone]

On defense, Len is probably a legit 7-1. On offense, he may as well be Alvan Adams. Good passer (2.5 ppa), 15-foot jumper that makes scouts dreamy, can't pick-and-roll, scores at an alarmingly low percentage rate in the post ... like less than 35 percent awful. I dunno. Maybe he's as athletic as Adams was. Probably not. Hard to tell watching college ball.

I'm glad you've got it all figured out for him at 20 years of age after 1.5 years of college ball on foreign soil.

 

[Gaddabout]

I'm glad you've got it all figured out for him at 20 years of age after 1.5 years of college ball on foreign soil.

He's welcome to develop and surprise, but this is not even my analysis. It's the analysis of dozens of scouts.

I have watched a lot of basketball and recognize young players sometimes exceed their scouting reports. But it's not common. Players usually are what they are without much change.

 

[BC867]

Players usually are what they are without much change.

Players don't develop after entering the NBA? There are probably hundreds of exceptions to that.

It also depends on two major points. The makeup of the roster around them and how skillful the coaching staff is at using their skills to their best advantage. It ain't schoolyard basketball.

 

[slinslin]

Len could be the next Pau Gasol, who knows.

 

[Superbone]

Players don't develop after entering the NBA? There are probably hundreds of exceptions to that.

It also depends on two major points. The makeup of the roster around them and how skillful the coaching staff is at using their skills to their best advantage. It ain't schoolyard basketball.

Not to mention that bigs commonly take the longest to develop.

 

[Dalbrin]

Ya'll are forgetting the biggest concern. Stress fractures. He's twenty years old and he had to limp up to the stage to put our baseball cap on because he's wearing a protective boot.

The best medical staff in the world can't do **** if your foot and ankle bones are unable to absorb the stress of constant running and jumping that is an NBA season. I'm still expecting him to be constantly injured.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Ya'll are forgetting the biggest concern. Stress fractures. He's twenty years old and he had to limp up to the stage to put our baseball cap on because he's wearing a protective boot.

The best medical staff in the world can't do **** if your foot and ankle bones are unable to absorb the stress of constant running and jumping that is an NBA season. I'm still expecting him to be constantly injured.

In the ankle, not the foot. Best med staff in the league. Trusting their judgement

 

[95pro]

I hear Lens growth plates haven't closed. Guy could still grow. Still growing and stress fractures...I know we have a great med staff but you never know for sure especially on a guy who could potentially grow some more.

 

[Dalbrin]

Yep. He's still got growing to do and weight to add. A medical staff isn't going to make his bones stronger. His feet and ankles bear the full load of his weight every time he runs or jumps. He couldn't play a full college season without his ankle breaking, and we're expecting him to play full NBA seasons? Please.

There are limits to what a medical staff can do, no matter how good they are. They can't make Len weigh less, and they can't make his bones invincible to wear and tear. Twenty years old and he's got the same health issues that have felled every other big guy who has gone through them. Yao Ming retired the moment he started getting stress fractures, it just took a couple years for him and the Rockets to realize it.

Wonderful draft pick.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Yep. He's still got growing to do and weight to add. A medical staff isn't going to make his bones stronger. His feet and ankles bear the full load of his weight every time he runs or jumps. He couldn't play a full college season without his ankle breaking, and we're expecting him to play full NBA seasons? Please.

There are limits to what a medical staff can do, no matter how good they are. They can't make Len weigh less, and they can't make his bones invincible to wear and tear. Twenty years old and he's got the same health issues that have felled every other big guy who has gone through them. Yao Ming retired the moment he started getting stress fractures, it just took a couple years for him and the Rockets to realize it.

Wonderful draft pick.

It's not so much their abilities I trust in this situation, its their judgment. If they think he will be ok then I am fine with this pick.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[AzStevenCal]

Yep. He's still got growing to do and weight to add. A medical staff isn't going to make his bones stronger. His feet and ankles bear the full load of his weight every time he runs or jumps. He couldn't play a full college season without his ankle breaking, and we're expecting him to play full NBA seasons? Please.

There are limits to what a medical staff can do, no matter how good they are. They can't make Len weigh less, and they can't make his bones invincible to wear and tear. Twenty years old and he's got the same health issues that have felled every other big guy who has gone through them. Yao Ming retired the moment he started getting stress fractures, it just took a couple years for him and the Rockets to realize it.

Wonderful draft pick.

If only our medical staff knew as much about this as you guys do.

I'm concerned about the possible injury risk too but I think it's way too early to start condemning the front office for this pick. Stress fractures in the foot always seem to be career ending for big men but I don't recall hearing about a big man retiring young when it's an ankle.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

Yep. He's still got growing to do and weight to add. A medical staff isn't going to make his bones stronger. His feet and ankles bear the full load of his weight every time he runs or jumps. He couldn't play a full college season without his ankle breaking, and we're expecting him to play full NBA seasons? Please.

There are limits to what a medical staff can do, no matter how good they are. They can't make Len weigh less, and they can't make his bones invincible to wear and tear. Twenty years old and he's got the same health issues that have felled every other big guy who has gone through them. Yao Ming retired the moment he started getting stress fractures, it just took a couple years for him and the Rockets to realize it.

Wonderful draft pick.

I will take a wait and see mode on Len hoping the Suns medical staff have it right.

However, I found an interesting tidbit from the Suns interview (during pre-draft workouts) with another center candidate, the Suns #57 pick, Alex Oriakhi. He looks to be a very strong man although he only has a marginal chance at making the Suns. During the video (see link below) he talks about his workouts against presumably center Steven Adams. Adams must be one strong dude.

http://www.nba.com/suns/video/2013/06/15/oriakhi130615wmv-2510029

 

[Chaplin]

Yep. He's still got growing to do and weight to add. A medical staff isn't going to make his bones stronger. His feet and ankles bear the full load of his weight every time he runs or jumps. He couldn't play a full college season without his ankle breaking, and we're expecting him to play full NBA seasons? Please.

There are limits to what a medical staff can do, no matter how good they are. They can't make Len weigh less, and they can't make his bones invincible to wear and tear. Twenty years old and he's got the same health issues that have felled every other big guy who has gone through them. Yao Ming retired the moment he started getting stress fractures, it just took a couple years for him and the Rockets to realize it.

Wonderful draft pick.

This could be an issue with ANY big man, so the only true way to avoid it is to never draft or sign big men.

Wonderful strategy.

 

[Mainstreet]

Although Dan Majerle was not classified as a big man, as I recall he had some pins or such placed in his foot (or ankle) and had a very successful career. I believe this was done before the Suns drafted him which some thought raised question marks. I tried to go back in time on the internet but I couldn't find a link. Perhaps someone remembers more about it.

 

[Dalbrin]

This could be an issue with ANY big man, so the only true way to avoid it is to never draft or sign big men.

Wonderful strategy.

Well, actually, anyone not being facetious might see another option. Maybe you just don't draft big men who are already getting stress fractures after two years of college ball, at the old age of twenty.

Wonderful try at wit, try harder.

 

[Dalbrin]

I didn't know that, Mainstreet, that's interesting. Was it a stress fracture or an actual break?

Either way, Dan Majerle wasn't 7'1" 255 (and growing.)

 

[Mainstreet]

I didn't know that, Mainstreet, that's interesting. Was it a stress fracture or an actual break?

Either way, Dan Majerle wasn't 7'1" 255 (and growing.)

Sorry I can't remember more but some on this board should remember more about it. Majerle played for the U.S. Olympic team back in the day. If Majerle hadn't fallen in love with the 3 point shot he would have had a far better NBA career cutting and slashing.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Sorry I can't remember more but some on this board should remember more about it. Majerle played for the U.S. Olympic team back in the day. If Majerle hadn't fallen in love with the 3 point shot he would have had a far better NBA career cutting and slashing.

I'm not sure about this but I always thought that was the result of the back problems he had early in his career.

Steve