Pick Watch 2018

[ColdPickleNachos]

I'm starting to think we should keep all our draft picks this year and bring as many guys into camp as we can. I'm not wanting the team to get younger or anything but we are handicapped by our current youth failing to improve or regressing. They've mostly had ample opportunity except for Reed and Peters, but Reed has been shooting so badly you have to wonder if he's worth keeping even so. Canaan was looking promising but who knows what that awful injury has done to him. Ulis has lived down to his 'Useless' nickname. House's only good point is that he doesn't turn the ball over much. I thought Daniels would be a good 'gunner' off the bench, but he hasn't improved his game and his shooting is slipping.
I guess it's still to early to give up on Bender and Chriss but it's getting hard to have much hope for either of them with their glacially slow improvement.

Here's the list of players currently on the team that I'd like to see on the team next year:

1. Devin Booker
2. Josh Jackson
3. T.J. Warren
4. Dragan Bender (I still have hope, but it's just that: "hope")
5. Shaquille Harrison
6. Alan Williams
7. Elfrid Payton

Here's the list of players I strongly want to be a part of this team's future:

1. Devin Booker
2. Our Top Pick
3. Josh Jackson

That's pretty much it at this point.

 

[BC867]

Here's the list of players currently on the team that I'd like to see on the team next year:

1. Devin Booker
2. Josh Jackson
3. T.J. Warren
4. Dragan Bender (I still have hope, but it's just that: "hope")
5. Shaquille Harrison
6. Alan Williams
7. Elfrid Payton

Here's the list of players I strongly want to be a part of this team's future:

1. Devin Booker
2. Our Top Pick
3. Josh Jackson

That's pretty much it at this point.

Speaking of 'point', please explain why you list Payton at #7 and why you don't strongly want him to be part of our future.

So far, his skills and team attitude are what the Suns have been hoping for at Point Guard ever since Steve retired.

Aside from the hairstyle, of course. It is his unique trademark, to set him aside from the rest of the NBA players.

Maybe that is why DBook has started wearing a headband. For a trademark. And to take pressure off Payton.

With Payton in our plans, we can concentrate on drafting a post player, thus fulfilling our two greatest needs.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Speaking of 'point', please explain why you list Payton at #7 and why you don't strongly want him to be part of our future.

So far, his skills and team attitude are what the Suns have been hoping for at Point Guard ever since Steve retired.

Aside from the hairstyle, of course. It is his unique trademark, to set him aside from the rest of the NBA players.

Maybe that is why DBook has started wearing a headband. For a trademark. And to take pressure off Payton.

With Payton in our plans, we can concentrate on drafting a post player, thus fulfilling our two greatest needs.

On the first question...I wasn't listing them in any particular order. I obviously have Payton ahead of Harrison, for instance. Sorry if it was unclear that the list was not sequential.

On the second one, I'm very open to Payton being a part of the future...it's the "strongly" part that disqualifies him. That's mainly because of the lack of floor spacing he provides. Same reason I didn't include Warren, even though I think he's an excellent player. I thought Zach Lowe summed it up well this week:

7. When Phoenix forgets that shooting is a thing
The Phoenix Suns are awful regardless of who is on the floor, but when they sit both Devin Booker and Dragan Bender, they somehow manage to trot out lineups featuring precisely zero capable 3-point shooters. In 2018, you should get a trophy for that.

Talent and smarts can make up for a shooting deficit, but you need at least some spacing to function. I don't really care how much off-the-bounce juice, old-school spunk and distracting hair a grouping of Elfrid Payton, Josh Jackson, TJ Warren, Marquese Chriss, and Alex Len (or Tyson Chandler) brings to the table. They are not going to be able to score.

The Suns have managed 98.0 points per 100 possessions when both Booker and Bender sit, per NBA.com -- almost two points below Sacramento's league-worst team mark. Since they acquired Payton -- one of the league's brickiest point guards -- that number has cratered to about 86.5 points per 100 possessions. Even in a tiny sample -- just 63 minutes since the trade deadline -- it is hard to be so futile. Opponents have outscored the Suns by 56 points in those 63 minutes. Sickening. (Thankfully, Phoenix didn't sabotage themselves with any such minutes until garbage time Thursday against Oklahoma City. Troy Daniels also provides a shooting buffer at times.)

Bender has games in which he doesn't do anything, but he's shooting 38 percent on 3s. Defenses at least have to honor him.

Payton was worth a low-cost flier -- and perhaps a longer look depending on his market in free agency. But entering its eighth consecutive draft lottery, Phoenix still has a gaping hole at point guard and an alarming shortage of 3-point shooting. It is almost astonishing how much Booker has improved his playmaking in this environment. The second he turns the corner on a pick-and-roll, he sees four and sometimes five defenders walling off every pathway to the basket.

 

[BC867]

I'm very open to Payton being a part of the future...it's the "strongly" part that disqualifies him. That's mainly because of the lack of floor spacing he provides. Same reason I didn't include Warren, even though I think he's an excellent player.

I understand. But whereas providing floor space applies a lot to Warren at Small Forward (who are a dime a dozen), isn't the priority at Point Guard for a facilitator who, even more, makes the rest of the team better? And, as Payton did when Booker was out, step up and lead the team in scoring as well.

I see running the Point and guarding the Post as unique positions in terms of performance, defense, leading rebounder, etc. The rest should be staffed to cover 3's spreading the floor and all of the other needs.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

I understand. But whereas providing floor space applies a lot to Warren at Small Forward (who are a dime a dozen), isn't the priority at Point Guard for a facilitator who, even more, makes the rest of the team better? And, as Payton did when Booker was out, step up and lead the team in scoring as well.

I see running the Point and guarding the Post as unique positions in terms of performance, defense, leading rebounder, etc. The rest should be staffed to cover 3's spreading the floor and all of the other needs.

I agree to a point (excuse the pun), and I really like a lot of aspects to Payton's game. My concern is that the league is filled with point guards with range and so Payton leaves us at a deficit at one position, meaning we have to make up for it elsewhere.

Payton surrounded by shooters is an intriguing option, but we have a deficit of those, and with Jackson and Warren taking all of the playing time at small forward, we're left with only one shooter out of our backcourt and small forward position, which is not ideal in today's NBA.

I like Payton...I really do. I just worry about where he fits given the other limitations of our roster.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Also, I just realized I stole your "point" joke. I must have had my "guard" down.

 

[BC867]

Also, I just realized I stole your "point" joke. I must have had my "guard" down.

Ah, let's move "forward". 'Sorry, I've decided to stop short of "center", "shooting". "small" and "power".

 

[Cheesebeef]

On the first question...I wasn't listing them in any particular order. I obviously have Payton ahead of Harrison, for instance. Sorry if it was unclear that the list was not sequential.

On the second one, I'm very open to Payton being a part of the future...it's the "strongly" part that disqualifies him. That's mainly because of the lack of floor spacing he provides. Same reason I didn't include Warren, even though I think he's an excellent player. I thought Zach Lowe summed it up well this week:

7. When Phoenix forgets that shooting is a thing
The Phoenix Suns are awful regardless of who is on the floor, but when they sit both Devin Booker and Dragan Bender, they somehow manage to trot out lineups featuring precisely zero capable 3-point shooters. In 2018, you should get a trophy for that.

Talent and smarts can make up for a shooting deficit, but you need at least some spacing to function. I don't really care how much off-the-bounce juice, old-school spunk and distracting hair a grouping of Elfrid Payton, Josh Jackson, TJ Warren, Marquese Chriss, and Alex Len (or Tyson Chandler) brings to the table. They are not going to be able to score.

The Suns have managed 98.0 points per 100 possessions when both Booker and Bender sit, per NBA.com -- almost two points below Sacramento's league-worst team mark. Since they acquired Payton -- one of the league's brickiest point guards -- that number has cratered to about 86.5 points per 100 possessions. Even in a tiny sample -- just 63 minutes since the trade deadline -- it is hard to be so futile. Opponents have outscored the Suns by 56 points in those 63 minutes. Sickening. (Thankfully, Phoenix didn't sabotage themselves with any such minutes until garbage time Thursday against Oklahoma City. Troy Daniels also provides a shooting buffer at times.)

Bender has games in which he doesn't do anything, but he's shooting 38 percent on 3s. Defenses at least have to honor him.

Payton was worth a low-cost flier -- and perhaps a longer look depending on his market in free agency. But entering its eighth consecutive draft lottery, Phoenix still has a gaping hole at point guard and an alarming shortage of 3-point shooting. It is almost astonishing how much Booker has improved his playmaking in this environment. The second he turns the corner on a pick-and-roll, he sees four and sometimes five defenders walling off every pathway to the basket.

Another reason, yet again, that I don’t want McD getting the opportunity to put this team together anymore. He doesn’t even To seen to know what’s axtually needed in today’s NBA more than anything else... shooting and spacing.

And the two “big time” FA he really wanted Griffin/Aldridge weren’t going to help there either.

I know a lot of you bang on me for saying he’s has five years to build something and that he’s really been rebuilding for only the last three years. But even if I gave him that and absolved him of the disasterous first two years, in a rebuilding mode, you’re supposed to get BETTER over time.

In this three year rebuild, we’ve literally gotten WORSE ever year. By end of year three, there should be some light at the end of the tunnel. You should see noticeable improvement for the team as a whole. That’s not what’s happening here, IMO.

Anywho... that’s my McD post of the week. Rip away!

 

[pokerface]

Another reason, yet again, that I don’t want McD getting the opportunity to put this team together anymore. He doesn’t even To seen to know what’s axtually needed in today’s NBA more than anything else... shooting and spacing.

And the two “big time” FA he really wanted Griffin/Aldridge weren’t going to help there either.

I know a lot of you bang on me for saying he’s has five years to build something and that he’s really been rebuilding for only the last three years. But even if I gave him that and absolved him of the disasterous first two years, in a rebuilding mode, you’re supposed to get BETTER over time.

In this three year rebuild, we’ve literally gotten WORSE ever year. By end of year three, there should be some light at the end of the tunnel. You should see noticeable improvement for the team as a whole. That’s not what’s happening here, IMO.

Anywho... that’s my McD post of the week. Rip away!

Just saying,

He got Payton for a second rounder. Drafted Jackson. Fired Watson (yeah I know he hired him). Accumulated some draft picks.

Yeah McD had some misses too but I think he's on the uptick.

 

[Mainstreet]

I understand. But whereas providing floor space applies a lot to Warren at Small Forward (who are a dime a dozen), isn't the priority at Point Guard for a facilitator who, even more, makes the rest of the team better? And, as Payton did when Booker was out, step up and lead the team in scoring as well.

I see running the Point and guarding the Post as unique positions in terms of performance, defense, leading rebounder, etc. The rest should be staffed to cover 3's spreading the floor and all of the other needs.

One thing for sure. Payton will get a lot more assists and look better when he has some shooters on the court.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Just saying,

He got Payton for a second rounder. Drafted Jackson. Fired Watson (yeah I know he hired him). Accumulated some draft picks.

Yeah McD had some misses too but I think he's on the uptick.

and yet the team has been on a down tick for three years with a worse record every year. That's not typical for a rebuilding team... or at least a successful one in my opinion. This was the year we should have started swinging up, instead we've bottomed out.

 

[pokerface]

So we have Chicago, Atlanta, and Memphis on the menu tonight. For dessert we have [email protected] tasty!

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

So we have Chicago, Atlanta, and Memphis on the menu tonight. For dessert we have [email protected] tasty!

Lets hope that results in the RIGHT 4 W’s!

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Kings beat the Magic and now have 2 more wins than the Suns. Grizzlies play the Mavs tomorrow and one of them has to win.

 

[pokerface]

Kings beat the Magic and now have 2 more wins than the Suns. Grizzlies play the Mavs tomorrow and one of them has to win.

Yeah all true but we need to take care of business against the Hornets. They are on a losing streak and lost to Brooklyn at home recently. Suns need to out tank their asses.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Yeah all true but we need to take care of business against the Hornets. They are on a losing streak and lost to Brooklyn at home recently. Suns need to out tank their asses.

Did you see the game thread? Bordow's injury tweet?

 

[Mainstreet]

I don't think the Grizzlies are going to win another game this season.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

I don't think the Grizzlies are going to win another game this season.

I have to believe they find a way to win at least one game. That being said, so will the Suns so I just don't see a way that we get past them at this point.

 

[Mainstreet]

I have to believe they find a way to win at least one game. That being said, so will the Suns so I just don't see a way that we get past them at this point.

Definitely do not see the Suns getting past the Grizzlies.

It looks like Gasol is not playing tonight and Evans is still out.

The Mavericks are really thrashing them.

 

[Hoop Head]

The league should warn them. They're sitting Evans even though he's healthy, I can't see that as any different than what Chicago was doing before they caught the attention of the Commissioner.

 

[pokerface]

Been reading about the draft....when its all said and done I'd be happy if we drafted in the top four. Yeah Ayton would be awesome but Bagley, Porter, or Doncic wouldn't make me sad. Bamba would even fit good on the suns although he's more of a x factor. Jackson would be an upgrade no doubt.

A top pick added to Booker, Jackson, and Warren would get me excited...maybe excited enough to not give a crap about Bender and Chriss.

 

[Hoop Head]

Been reading about the draft....when its all said and done I'd be happy if we drafted in the top four. Yeah Ayton would be awesome but Bagley, Porter, or Doncic wouldn't make me sad. Bamba would even fit good on the suns although he's more of a x factor. Jackson would be an upgrade no doubt.

A top pick added to Booker, Jackson, and Warren would get me excited...maybe excited enough to not give a crap about Bender and Chriss.

I think I've been getting sold on the Anti-Doncic stuff around here lately because my board for the Suns goes Ayton, Bagley, Young, Bamba, Porter, Doncic, Jackson. I have Doncic and Jackson about even, same with Young and Bamba. Porter is a question mark right now, if his health checks out I might have him even with Bagley though. Ayton is #1, without a doubt.

I still really like Young though. I know he's cooled off but he and Booker would make for a younger version of Curry and Thompson except they're both better playmakers than the splash brothers, IMO.

 

[Mainstreet]

Knicks have only won 1 of their last 16 games.

The dark side is strong.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Cheering for Philly over Brooklyn tonight. I don't think Brooklyn is going to "catch" us in the tank wars, and I would love to have a little more room with that Milwaukee pick.

 

[pokerface]

Knicks have only won 1 of their last 16 games.

The dark side is strong.

Mavs@Knicks on Tuesday. Should be interesting.