Poll: Was selling the draft pick for cash a good move?

[Chaplin]

The Phoenix Suns already have an almost full roster. We all knew last year there was no way they were going to draft more than one player in the first round. Besides, they answer to your question is easy. They were confident that Tucker would be there #29, and Portland was willing to pay $3 million and take James Jones for the #24. It's not like they told the Phoenix Suns they would do that for either pick.

I mean seriously, are we just looking for something to criticize at this point? It sure seems that way with a lot of these posts. I have my fair share of gripes with the moves the organization has made, but some of these posts are just nitpicking IMO.

Joe Mama

 

[Chris_Sanders]

So looking at this so far it seems I was off base on how irritated people were by this.

The numbers stand at an approximate 45% being annoyed, 50% in a "wait and see mode", and 5% being okay with the move.

As time passes away from the heat of the moment I move more in the wait and see mode. I just hope I we aren't disappointed.

 

[elindholm]

The Phoenix Suns already have an almost full roster. We all knew last year there was no way they were going to draft more than one player in the first round. Besides, they answer to your question is easy. They were confident that Tucker would be there #29

Sure, the same way they were "confident" that Deng and Iguodala would be off the board when they sold that pick. The point is, their ability to predict how other teams are going to draft apparently isn't all that good. The fact that they got away with it this time doesn't mean that it was a sound strategy.

 

[Chaplin]

Sure, the same way they were "confident" that Deng and Iguodala would be off the board when they sold that pick. The point is, their ability to predict how other teams are going to draft apparently isn't all that good. The fact that they got away with it this time doesn't mean that it was a sound strategy.

Please, stop comparing the #24 pick to a #7 pick.

 

[elindholm]

Please, stop comparing the #24 pick to a #7 pick.

WTF? If anything, predicting what other teams are going to do in the mid-20s is harder than predicting what they'll do in the lottery. Either you missed the point altogether or you're just being difficult.

 

[Chaplin]

WTF? If anything, predicting what other teams are going to do in the mid-20s is harder than predicting what they'll do in the lottery. Either you missed the point altogether or you're just being difficult.

Of course, comparing Luol Deng or Andre Igoudala to Tiago Splitter makes sense. Gotcha.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Of course, comparing Luol Deng or Andre Igoudala to Tiago Splitter makes sense. Gotcha.

is this serious? are you even reading what eric's saying? you're just putting really stupid words in his mouth based on either a) an UNBELIEVABLY bad reading of his argument or b) because, well, I don't know what the other reason would be.

 

[Chaplin]

The point is, comparing the incredibly stupid move of giving away the pick that became Luol Deng to this latest selling is just wrong. The #7 pick that year has more value than the #24 pick this year. So "giving away" that pick, which I agree was absolutely the dumbest thing the organization has done in the past few years (yes, even dumber than signing Banks), is a little different than "giving away" the #24 this season. We may have known all along that Portland would take Fernandez if Bellinelli wasn't there. That's a much different situation where our guy wasn't there--the blunder from a few years ago happened when our guys were still there, it was just blindly giving away the pick. The last few years haven't been blindly giving away the pick. I'm not saying they were the right decisions, but the way these late picks were sold is completely different than the way that early rounder was.

Again, I will reiterate that I think we could have gotten something good with that #24 pick. I was hoping for Splitter, even if it meant stashing him in Brazil for another year. We wouldn't have to pay him either, so it would be a free pick for 2007-2008. Unfortunately, having one of the highest payrolls in the league forced our hand when we couldn't get rid of KT's contract. I'm not saying I like the move, but I am saying I understand it, and it has NOTHING to do with how we traded away that top 10 pick a couple years ago.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

If nothing else, selling the #24 was just plain inconsistent and/or risky, since they then took Tucker at #29. The salary difference between 24 and 29 is trivial, so if they wanted him, they should have taken him at 24 and sold 29.

Did they have a backup plan at 29? If so, why not draft both players -- Tucker at 24 and the backup at 29? And if not, why gamble that Tucker would get taken in the meantime?

bingo. this reasoning is in-line with gambo reporting that the 24 was for sale during the 13th selection, at which time belinelli was still potentially available at the 24 . . . if gambo knew the 24 was virtually sold at that point the suns did NOT decide to sell the pick b/c "one of their guys wasn't going to be around" they decided based purely on the money aspect. and the more i get comfortable with that, the less i care about the action, but the post-spin it turns out is a lie. and that i have a problem with. it's like they don't think we're intelligent enough to see through what they say. they need better PR folks. but i guess that's obvious if you attend a single game and have to put up with ced and microphone.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

So looking at this so far it seems I was off base on how irritated people were by this.

The numbers stand at an approximate 45% being annoyed, 50% in a "wait and see mode", and 5% being okay with the move.

As time passes away from the heat of the moment I move more in the wait and see mode. I just hope I we aren't disappointed.

you're going to continue to "hope" for something? haven't you been crushed repeatedly enough?

i have no more hope. only surprises for me at this point. we won't sign grant hill. we'll settle for diener.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Please, stop comparing the #24 pick to a #7 pick.

cripes chap, reading comprehension. he wasn't comparing the picks, he was analogizing the front office's ability to judge talent and draft slotting. and he's accurate in that. and it's part of what worries about this front office once nash retires.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

The point is, comparing the incredibly stupid move of giving away the pick that became Luol Deng to this latest selling is just wrong. The #7 pick that year has more value than the #24 pick this year. So "giving away" that pick, which I agree was absolutely the dumbest thing the organization has done in the past few years (yes, even dumber than signing Banks), is a little different than "giving away" the #24 this season. We may have known all along that Portland would take Fernandez if Bellinelli wasn't there. That's a much different situation where our guy wasn't there--the blunder from a few years ago happened when our guys were still there, it was just blindly giving away the pick. The last few years haven't been blindly giving away the pick. I'm not saying they were the right decisions, but the way these late picks were sold is completely different than the way that early rounder was.

Again, I will reiterate that I think we could have gotten something good with that #24 pick. I was hoping for Splitter, even if it meant stashing him in Brazil for another year. We wouldn't have to pay him either, so it would be a free pick for 2007-2008. Unfortunately, having one of the highest payrolls in the league forced our hand when we couldn't get rid of KT's contract. I'm not saying I like the move, but I am saying I understand it, and it has NOTHING to do with how we traded away that top 10 pick a couple years ago.

wow, you really do NOT get it. slow down and try this out:

the suns' front office mistakenly guessed that iggy would be gone by the time the 7th pick rolled around. it is their drafting acumen and intelligence that is being questioned.

the suns' front office mistakenly believed that belinelli would be available at the 24 and thus made no move to trade up to get him. again, it is their drafting acumen and intelligence that is being questioned.

nowhere did e compare the magnitude of the mistakes, just the decisionmaking ability.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

you're going to continue to "hope" for something? haven't you been crushed repeatedly enough?

i have no more hope. only surprises for me at this point. we won't sign grant hill. we'll settle for diener.

Yeah I am skeptical too, but being crushed leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate lead to the...

 

[Chaplin]

wow, you really do NOT get it. slow down and try this out:

the suns' front office mistakenly guessed that iggy would be gone by the time the 7th pick rolled around. it is their drafting acumen and intelligence that is being questioned.

the suns' front office mistakenly believed that belinelli would be available at the 24 and thus made no move to trade up to get him. again, it is their drafting acumen and intelligence that is being questioned.

nowhere did e compare the magnitude of the mistakes, just the decisionmaking ability.

NOBODY thought Bellinelli would go as high as #18, so don't single the Suns out for that. They had a friggin deal for the #8 20 minutes before the draft! It's not their fault GS swooped in at the last second and gave them a better deal.

I agree with you that they have made some bad decisions, but I disagree with you about lumping them all together and generalizing about how good or bad their scouting is.

 

[pokerface]

The Suns drafted a first rounder in the same range as the pick they sold so I dont even know why this is up for discussion. I think there was a knee jerk reaction to the #24 pick being sold and instead of calming down after the #29 pick was used some people wanted to be right and stay angry and try to justify their feelings anyway.

I've heard different points being expresssed about why this wasnt a good move but I think everyone one of them can be explained away.

"This was just a money move....assets shouldnt be sold"

Then what do you call the Marbury trade? That was a strictly financial move that eventually brought us Nash. Teams that strengthen their financial position are able to make moves. Just because this was a small money move and a trade wasnt involved doesnt mean that money wont be used elsewhere.

"The Suns are very profitable they could afford the pick"

Yeah and they stay profitable by not making dumb moves such as drafting extra players they will have to pay double on because of the tax. Why should the Suns draft an extra player they dont want....just to make you guys happy for the moment? All of a sudden he turns into a bust then you're blaming Sarver for making stupid picks he didnt need.

Blaming Sarver for not using both picks is like blaming him in years he only has one pick and saying he should have bought another one. You guys should be GRATEFUL that he actually drafted a first rounder this time instead of selling BOTH picks. Some of you arn't happy no matter what.

Sarver in so many ways has proven he's willing to spend. This whole "draft issue" is a total sham. Like I said before because he's in the tax he has to pay double so in reality we're lucky he drafted anyone. Even if he wasnt in the tax he still drafted a player so for the love of Cotton put this thing to rest!

 

[Errntknght]

I'm one of those that is upset about the selling of the #24 pick but not so much because of the details - its more that its a continuation of the philosophy that gives us bench with creaky old timers that can't keep up with the team. Very much like Eric's point.

Last year when they obtained that #24 pick, the Suns apologists (homers) said that yeah, we passed on Rondo but, just think, we're getting a comparable pick in a much better draft! We'll get someone much better! Surprise fellas!

The money crunch we're in now, we've seen coming for several years. Faced with that the brass could have decided we couldn't afford to keep many first round draft picks with their guaranteed contracts, so they could have stockpiled second round picks for the flexibility they offer. Instead they elected to stumble along with fantasies of trading up in drafts to get the precise players they coveted.
The only 'coup' they pulled off was the Chicago trade! Remember them telling us they had the 'Sausage King' pegged as the 15th best player in that draft.

A lazy GM who had no scouts at all and picked by reading published scouting reports and mock drafts would have done much better than the Suns for the last several years. Assuming he simply used his available picks and didn't try to outfox other GMs.

I am happy the team did wind up picking two guys and I like the fact they are touted as good defenders but I'd be happier if one of them was a muscular rebounder.