Positions to draft

[panfolk]

IMHO, the future of the Suns will be Amare at 5 and Diaw at 4, with Thomas (and others) coming off the bench. Diaw has a ways to go physically to be able to rebound well enough, but he has shown he can play defense and is growing into a an offensive threat scoring and passing that will compliment Amare a lot.

Going forward, a lot will depend on whether improved conditioning will turn Skita into a Suns type player. His work habits will determine whether the Suns go after another project big man.

Skita is iffy. If he turns into a player we scored if not we didn't risk anything great. However, if what some say is true and Skita has bulked up enough to play against 4s and 5s defensively you might be right. All the same would there really be harm in loading up on high post centers? We have: Bell, Barbosa, House, and Thompson at SG and Marion, Jones, Bell, and Thompson at SF. 4 deep if Thompson improves over the summer! Hassan Adams would be a crowd pleaser but would he get off the bench? Haryasz might beat out Skita and Burke for minutes in his first year (assuming they are even on next year's team).
Amare is a PF. He wants to be a power forward. His lot is against Jermaine O'neal, Duncan, Garnett, Rasheed Wallace and the other elite big men (not in any order). Shaq is the one elite center to be found. Diaw is a combo forward pressed into service as a PF/C. Diaw could be an all time great sixth man coming in at any position on the court at any time. He doesn't have the excessive ego of other athletes. KT has shown that he considers himself a starter. I really think the combination of bruiser PF with high post center (Diaw is too small and doesn't have the outside shot yet) is the future of the Suns. I really think a high post center like Haryasz would be a good way to use the second first round pick. If for no other reason than it gives us that particular option to play with.
Sorry if I sound cranky...

 

[panfolk]

The first time I saw Farmar, when he was a freshman, I said, "Mike Bibby".

I've gone back and forth on Farmar since then. He's obviously not Bibby--for one thing, he's not as athletic--but I still think he'll have a decent career in the pros.



The problem for the Suns is that Farmar can't play SG at all; the Suns' offensive system is centered around their PG, Farmar has to play PG to get on the court, and Farmar's closest comp in the NBA is probably Beno Udrih. If the Suns pick Farmar, though, I've seen enough good things from him that I'll be willing to trust their judgment.

cool. Thanks.

 

[Yuma]

The Skita trade suggests the Suns are convinced there won't be a big man worth taking available when they pick. Considering how weak this draft is, there are serious doubts about whether any team would decide to trade down and pass on a guy like Aldridge.

What would I be looking for if there are no top big men? (An underachiever like Boone is a possibility but I not holding my breath). Ideally, another Chris Paul would nice, but the reviews are not encouraging about the available point guards.

Besides simply taking the BPA, I would consider going for an athletic wing defensive specialist like Prince was when he came out. Prince is at least 4 inches taller than Bell and is long enough to give guys like Kobe problems. I know this doesn't fit D'Antoni's "five shooters" offense, but when the Suns are getting killed by a Ray Allen, Kobe, T-Mac, LeBron class player - it would be nice to have someone who could limit them.

I don't think so. They said they aren't looking for him to be a center or PF. So I would think big men are still on the radar for us.

 

[panfolk]

I don't think so. They said they aren't looking for him to be a center or PF. So I would think bog men are still on the radar for us.

They said he'd be a SF?

 

[panfolk]

Here are the ESPN write-ups on three bigs that would make sense for the suns to draft. They are all athletic and can run the court.

I would not be surprised if the suns took a shooting guard on their first pick they will be getting from Atlanta.

(They always take the best available player)

These guys would be lanky shotblockers with little offensive skill. Sound familiar? Unless one of these guys plays stellar defense I don't see them getting into D'A rotation. I was thinking we needed a classic shotblocker until someone on the board reminded me that we are a solid shot blocking team without having that type of presence.
If House isn't likely to come back I can see the shooting guard pick. Even with House our first pick should be the best available point or PF/C prospect as I maintain we will be good on wings for several years.

 

[sunsfn]

I really think the suns will find a big this off season. This team is so close to being a team that can win it all, that they need someone that can block shots in 4th quarter crunch time to get some stops. It will be a problem finding one that has an offensive game, but I think they will have to find one for winning those close games and in the playoffs.

The suns may use one or both of their picks to find one that is on a team now. I can tell you the suns do not want two first round picks this year and I expect them to trade one of them for sure if not both. They may not do it until draft day, but it will probably happen. (that will happen right after we spend hours discussing this and doing research to figure out who they are going to draft)

I look for replacements next year for, Burke, JJackson, and Brian Grant.

 

[George O'Brien]

I really think the suns will find a big this off season. This team is so close to being a team that can win it all, that they need someone that can block shots in 4th quarter crunch time to get some stops. It will be a problem finding one that has an offensive game, but I think they will have to find one for winning those close games and in the playoffs.

The suns may use one or both of their picks to find one that is on a team now. I can tell you the suns do not want two first round picks this year and I expect them to trade one of them for sure if not both. They may not do it until draft day, but it will probably happen. (that will happen right after we spend hours discussing this and doing research to figure out who they are going to draft)

I look for replacements next year for, Burke, JJackson, and Brian Grant.

Here's the part of the roster I see as set:

Inside - Stoudemire, Thomas, Grant, and Diaw

SF/PF Swing - Marion and Jones

SG/Combo - Bell, Barbosa, House

PG - Nash

JJax had no chance of returning even before he stopped playing.

Grant has a two year deal, so I'd expect he'll be back if he's even close to being healthy.

Thompson has a second round contract. So far he hasn't shown much, but I expect he'll be given a long look during summer league.

Skita and Burke are minimum priced guys who are likely to be in training camp, but only one makes the regular season roster and perhaps not either.

 

[elindholm]

If Grant is on the roster next season, it will be for cosmetic purposes only. He's finished. I say that reluctantly, because I've always admired his game and work ethic, but facts are facts.

 

[boisesuns]

If Grant is on the roster next season, it will be for cosmetic purposes only. He's finished. I say that reluctantly, because I've always admired his game and work ethic, but facts are facts.

I haven't heard oficially is he's done. Do you know for sure? If he is, it's not surprising with those knees.

 

[elindholm]

I haven't heard oficially is he's done.

No, it's not official, and he may be able to drag a few more minutes out of himself at the end of this season. But he's been injured at least 75% of the time the last few years. Enough is enough.

 

[panfolk]

Sadly Elindholm is probably right about Grant's coming back next year. Burke won't be. Skita MIGHT be. So what's the harm in burning a draft pick on Haryasz, or picking up he and Farmar. I don't think UConn's Marcus Williams will be a Sun what with his legal issues. Rondo is going too high. Gibson is just another combo guard.

Presuming House gets a better contract elsewhere while we resign Barbosa and Diaw, Thompson doesn't come back, Grant's knees are shot, and Skita's option is picked up:

PG: Nash Farmar
SG: Barbosa Bell
SF: Marion Jones
PF: Amare Diaw Skita
C: KT Haryasz

That's a young team but with enough experience to go all the way.

You have 3 guys rolling, 3 guys popping, Bell and Jones bombing away, and Nash and Barbosa driving. Offensive juggernaught. Now if we could pick up a big veteran like Davis or somebody for reasonable we'd be set for several years.

 

[elindholm]

I think if the Suns can't find a big man they're interested in, they're fairly likely to trade the pick and spend the salary on a low-level free agent. Or, they could package a player and the pick to get a big man who's out of favor with his current team, say someone like Gadzuric.

Either that, or they'll take another guard and keep playing small, using Stoudemire almost exclusively at center and Marion and Diaw usually at PF.

 

[F-Dog]

Grant is probably finished, which paradoxically means there's a good chance he'll stay. Move him one slot down in the rotation (to Burke's chair) and he's worth having around.

The problem is that Grant can't play more than a few minutes per year any more, but if the minutes are high-leverage enough...



Now that the Suns are contenders, the 'third big' role will probably go to an over-the-hill veteran, like Lorenzen Wright. And (as I've said before) I'm almost certain they'll dump one of their picks by draft day.

 

[HooverDam]

Why are we talking as if the Suns need to do something in the off season to win it all? If Amare comes back and is 90%+ of his old self, I wouldnt bet against us being in the NBA finals this year. The Spurs are getting older every day and seem to be just waiting for an injury, the Mavs don't really scare me if we have Amare, and there is no one else in the West who is scary

 

[coloradosun]

Sergio Rodriguez

Just went back to a draftexpress.com article and it stated that he may enter the 2006 draft, not sure if that is still the case. Now would be the perfect time to groom Nash's replacement.

The Laker pick may not be high enough to get him but this would be the player to move up to get.

If he does not declare then drop back and draft Mike Gansey from West Virginia. They compare him to Hornacek, I agree with that evaluation after watching him in the tournament last spring.

 

[slinslin]

I want James White. First of all we don't really have a SG except Bell who is just 6'5 or so.
Second of all I'd like to have a stylish dunker on the team.

 

[Gaddabout]

Sergio Rodriguez

Just went back to a draftexpress.com article and it stated that he may enter the 2006 draft, not sure if that is still the case. Now would be the perfect time to groom Nash's replacement.

The Laker pick may not be high enough to get him but this would be the player to move up to get.

If he does not declare then drop back and draft Mike Gansey from West Virginia. They compare him to Hornacek, I agree with that evaluation after watching him in the tournament last spring.

I'm addressing a philosophy, not attacking you personally, so please don't take this the wrong way.

Show me a time in the past 30 years where a young player has been successfully "groomed" by watching an older player. It just doesn't happen anymore. That went out with feathered hair, man. Players get "groomed" for stardom by a) having a significant amount of talent and skill in the first place and b) and being given lots and lots of playing time. The idea of transitioning between one fading star to a rising one is as quaint as romance and chivalry. If it happens these days it's because the old star has already been spent and he's just collecting a salary while the new kid takes all his minutes and gets thrown into the shark tank to learn how to survive.

I'm going to go out on a limb here ... when Steve Nash retires or his body finally gives out, D'Antoni will be fired and the team will retool with some new coach and a new collection of talent. There won't be some new crazy talented PG to take Nash's role. He's unique and there's no one like him, and when he's done so are the current Suns. That's the state of the NBA. Either that, or the Suns will undergo another slow burn decline until management figures out they have to do something different.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

PF Nick Fazekas Nevada

If the draft were today, I'd pick him with one of my two firsts.

 

[MastersofCombat]

Snake in all honesty that may be the Suns target...

 

[MastersofCombat]

Nick Fazekas
Height / Weight:
6-11 / 235
Junior



FAZEKAS' GAME: An extremely skilled athlete...pre- and postseason awards candidate...Has the ability to score inside and out...Possesses a nice shooting touch

2004-05 (SOPHOMORE): One of two players to start all 32 games...Named the WAC Player of the Year and a first-team All-WAC selection...Earned Honorable-Mention All-America honors from the Associated Press, Sports Illustrated.com and Rivals.com...Named to the United States Basketball Writers Association All-District 8 First Team and the National Association of Basketball Coaches District 13 First Team... selected to the Basketball Times All-Rockies team...Led the WAC in scoring at 20.7 points per game...also ranked third in the league in rebounding (9.4 rpg), fourth in blocked shots (1.59 bpg) and sixth in both field-goal percentage (.502) and free-throw percentage (.789)...Averaged a double-double in conference play with 21.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per WAC game...Led the team and ranked third in the conference with 16 double-doubles...Scored in double figures in every game and led the Wolf Pack in scoring in 26 of 32 contests...Finished the season ranked 14th in the nation in scoring and 22nd in rebounding..



THIS IS OUR NEWEST SUN>>>>>> PLEASE>>>>

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Nick Fazekas
Height / Weight:
6-11 / 235
Junior



FAZEKAS' GAME: An extremely skilled athlete...pre- and postseason awards candidate...Has the ability to score inside and out...Possesses a nice shooting touch

2004-05 (SOPHOMORE): One of two players to start all 32 games...Named the WAC Player of the Year and a first-team All-WAC selection...Earned Honorable-Mention All-America honors from the Associated Press, Sports Illustrated.com and Rivals.com...Named to the United States Basketball Writers Association All-District 8 First Team and the National Association of Basketball Coaches District 13 First Team... selected to the Basketball Times All-Rockies team...Led the WAC in scoring at 20.7 points per game...also ranked third in the league in rebounding (9.4 rpg), fourth in blocked shots (1.59 bpg) and sixth in both field-goal percentage (.502) and free-throw percentage (.789)...Averaged a double-double in conference play with 21.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per WAC game...Led the team and ranked third in the conference with 16 double-doubles...Scored in double figures in every game and led the Wolf Pack in scoring in 26 of 32 contests...Finished the season ranked 14th in the nation in scoring and 22nd in rebounding..



THIS IS OUR NEWEST SUN>>>>>> PLEASE>>>>

If he falls to the Suns wherever they pick with the first of their two first rounders, I can not imagine the Suns passing up on him either Masters. He's got too much upside.

 

[Joe Mama]

Most of you have probably seen the post at the top of the message board for Synergy Sports Technology. Right now we have one guy that has been doing 99% of our college phase 2 logging. He's also a member of the Chicago media and said he was open to writing a draft article for this web site.

Right now he's doing around 40 college games per week. I know he absolutely loves Gansay from West Virginia and Batista from Gonzaga. I have to ask him what he thinks about their chances in the NBA.

Oddly enough theGrahamcrackr and I record around 50 college games per week, and I know I probably haven't watched more than two games all season.

Joe

 

[hcsilla]

Gansey is a very good NCAA player who will have a nice NBA career, IMO as a complementary player ala Fred Hoiberg.

 

[coloradosun]

I'm addressing a philosophy, not attacking you personally, so please don't take this the wrong way.

Show me a time in the past 30 years where a young player has been successfully "groomed" by watching an older player. It just doesn't happen anymore. That went out with feathered hair, man. Players get "groomed" for stardom by a) having a significant amount of talent and skill in the first place and b) and being given lots and lots of playing time. The idea of transitioning between one fading star to a rising one is as quaint as romance and chivalry. If it happens these days it's because the old star has already been spent and he's just collecting a salary while the new kid takes all his minutes and gets thrown into the shark tank to learn how to survive.

I'm going to go out on a limb here ... when Steve Nash retires or his body finally gives out, D'Antoni will be fired and the team will retool with some new coach and a new collection of talent. There won't be some new crazy talented PG to take Nash's role. He's unique and there's no one like him, and when he's done so are the current Suns. That's the state of the NBA. Either that, or the Suns will undergo another slow burn decline until management figures out they have to do something different.

No offense taken but hopefully you will follow this logic.

The Suns need a player like Nash to make Amare who he is. Marbury and Barbosa were similar type players for the system they had before Amare. Barbosa was being groomed for that offense and used Marbs as a tutor. Once Nash arrived Barbosa was a better player running with Nash instead of backing him up. Barbs and Amare will benefit from a player like Sergio, better to "groom" someone like that to run the offense in future. Draftexpress.com hesitated to compare Sergio to Nash but did bring Steve's name into the profile. It is easier to become a star when you are in a system that fits your style. Is Marbury really Starbury, I would say no because it is very difficult to have point guard be your dominating player.

Who knows, D'A could be the next Jerry Sloan and be with the Suns for the rest of his career. The name of Cotton Fitzsimmons comes to mind as a guy that the franchise fell in love with and kept around for consulting.

 

[PhxGametime]

I'm not going to say I've seen him play this year but he looked more like a SF, last year than a future replacement for KT (Nick Fazekas). He's probably a bonafide PF this year but I can't see him being a Center in the NBA and there are plenty of PF types to Draft in that range...


I'd like to make sure I have more Gamefilm of Mike Gansey... running out of tapes