Presently Satisfied With Robin Lopez Pick AT #15 ?

[Mainstreet]

I haven't studied all the rookies thus far selected in the draft but Robin Lopez at least appears to be a solid pick at #15. There are some players that went after him in the draft like Batum that intrigue me, but considering talent and need I can't fault the Suns selecting him there. See link to draft selections below.

http://www.nba.com/draft2008/board.html#r2

I still think OJ Mayo may be the best player in the draft.

 

[arwillan]

Nicolas Batum looked awesome last night. he's starting for portland iirc, which is very impressive for a guy who wasn't all that well known coming into the draft. I may have rather had him

 

[Covert Rain]

To premature to call. I have seen one good game. Some definite talent at blocking shots but he is also an underachiever on the boards. In a few more weeks I think I will have a better feel for him.

 

[devilalum]

Woooooooooooo

I know the point of a message board is to discuss these things but it is way to early to formulate any kind of opinion. Most people believe it takes at least 2 years to decide whether a player was a good pick and centers usually take a while to develop.

What are we at? 8 games?

 

[Mainstreet]

Woooooooooooo

I know the point of a message board is to discuss these things but it is way to early to formulate any kind of opinion. Most people believe it takes at least 2 years to decide whether a player was a good pick and centers usually take a while to develop.

What are we at? 8 games?

This is why I used the word Presently in my topic heading. Certainly it's too early to evaluate rookies adequately but I am not opposed to see which way the wind is blowing.

 

[devilalum]

This is why I used the word Presently in my topic heading. Certainly it's too early to evaluate rookies adequately but I am not opposed to see which way the wind is blowing.

Fair enough but evaluating rookies is never very fair. If a PG goes to a team that has a great PG is he going to get a fair look compared to a player that goes to a team with no PG? Is it fair to compare a rookie SG to a rookie center? Like I said before centers almost always take longer to develop.

You can look and say right now at this point in time rookie player X is playing the best ball but saying he was the best pick is a stretch.

 

[Mainstreet]

Fair enough but evaluating rookies is never very fair. If a PG goes to a team that has a great PG is he going to get a fair look compared to a player that goes to a team with no PG? Is it fair to compare a rookie SG to a rookie center? Like I said before centers almost always take longer to develop.

You can look and say right now at this point in time rookie player X is playing the best ball but saying he was the best pick is a stretch.

We agree especially long term. I guess what I'm getting at, was there a player available you wanted the Suns to draft that looks like a better selection right now? Of course how it plays out into the future may be a different story. I'm going for a snap shot in time.

 

[95pro]

yep, give it time.

some examples are:

kwame "hands" brown, hasnt and will not develop into anything.

andrew bynum, took a while to get here but his future looks bright. not an all-star yet, but is headed towards the right direction.

another that guys thats taking a while, bogut on the bucks. hasnt done jack sheet, but he should improve this year.

 

[cly2tw]

I'm not disappointed. He stil can grow into a Jeff Foster, Przysbilla type of players.

 

[arwillan]

yep, give it time.

some examples are:

kwame "hands" brown, hasnt and will not develop into anything.

andrew bynum, took a while to get here but his future looks bright. not an all-star yet, but is headed towards the right direction.

another that guys thats taking a while, bogut on the bucks. hasnt done jack sheet, but he should improve this year.

Bogut had better stats than Bynum last year, yet you are hard on him and call bynum a future all-star? how fair is that?

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

not sure why half of you are not only declining to answer the question but telling him its irrelevant. I'm pretty sure he knew we were only a handful of games deep when he created the thread. on topic, lopez is performing as expected in my eyes, and is filling the role he was supposed to fill. time will improve his rebounding, positioning and foul rate, which are my main concerns thus far.

 

[Chaplin]

I'm satisfied so far. The fact he hasn't committed a foul in the last 2 games is a pretty big deal.

 

[Andrew]

Lopez is tougher than I thought he would be, we needed a rebounding guy...

 

[PhxGametime]

He's one of my favorite players! Stoudemire, O'Neal, and Lopez are probably my 3 favorite players... Nash is the man still though.


If he can become anywhere near the player Andrew Lang became in time; I'd be happy... the other Prospect I liked was Mario Chalmers.

 

[Mainstreet]

... the other Prospect I liked was Mario Chalmers.

I agree. However, the NBA philosophy is generally never pass over a quality big and I truly believe the Suns were betting on getting Dragic in the second round.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Remembering that it usually takes a couple of years for a young big to develop (Jermaine ONeal, Bynum, etc), I am happy with the selection.

He is mobile, athletic, and aggressive. That's better than any 7 footer we have ever had (outside of Shaq).

My fear is that the Suns give up on him before he has time to develop.

 

[Yuma]

I am liking Lopez better than Dragic, who a lot of people were geeked on. I think we have a solid 7 footer for the near future.

 

[nowagimp]

I'd rather have antonio Mcdyess than lopez and mario chalmers than dragic.

 

[Chaplin]

I'd rather have antonio Mcdyess than lopez and mario chalmers than dragic.

That wasn't the question. I'd rather have Dwayne Wade than Raja Bell, but that isn't the question either.

 

[Errntknght]

I don't think Lopez is the brilliant move that the Suns FO does but he's okay - poor rebounding but more offense than expected. If he stays reasonably healthy and works hard on his game he'll be a good use of a #15 pick.

I was impressed with Milwaukee's recent second round picks - Ramon Sessions at 56 in '07 is amazing and Mbah a Moute(?) at 34 this last year isn't far behind. If they'd used their first picks as well, they'd be a fearsome team already - though Joe Alexander looks pretty solid. Yi, so far, is looking like a bust from what I've seen.

 

[nowagimp]

That wasn't the question. I'd rather have Dwayne Wade than Raja Bell, but that isn't the question either.

OK at #15 I would have rather taken, chalmers, darrel arthur, mareese speichts than lopez. Then I would have rather signed McDyess. And if arthur or spechts were taken at #15, I'd use singletary as the backup point. Dragic doesnt looks much better than singletary. Even dragics defense is worse than advertized.

I dont think Lopez is a terrible pick, just mediocre. When he becomes valuable is if shaq goes down. But if that happens the suns arent going anywhere anyway as their defense without shaq stinks, and their offense with lopez is not good enough to matter.

 

[Goldfield]

A dirt worker 7 footer that isnt a stiff is a hellova pick at 15 IMO. He is a perfect pick to back up Shaq and eventually start along side Amare. We have some size for the first time.

 

[carrrnuttt]

OK at #15 I would have rather taken, chalmers, darrel arthur, mareese speichts than lopez. Then I would have rather signed McDyess.

Next season, please hook-up the Suns with the same crystal ball that told you that McDyess was going to be traded and bought out after the season starts...

For us non-prognosticating humans, a college-tempered, decent-to-mediocre big, will always trump a college-tempered, decent-to-good guard (Chalmers), especially when we don't have your crystal ball to see what they will both achieve in the NBA. (See: Michael Jordan v. Sam Bowie.)

Oh, and as for the "bigs" on your list (Arthur, Speights), both of them play almost the same way Amare already does (face up, jump-shooting types). We needed a defensive, clogging presence in the middle to spell Shaq, not an Amare-lite to get in his way.

 

[nowagimp]

Next season, please hook-up the Suns with the same crystal ball that told you that McDyess was going to be traded and bought out after the season starts...

For us non-prognosticating humans, a college-tempered, decent-to-mediocre big, will always trump a college-tempered, decent-to-good guard (Chalmers), especially when we don't have your crystal ball to see what they will both achieve in the NBA. (See: Michael Jordan v. Sam Bowie.)

Oh, and as for the "bigs" on your list (Arthur, Speights), both of them play almost the same way Amare already does (face up, jump-shooting types). We needed a defensive, clogging presence in the middle to spell Shaq, not an Amare-lite to get in his way.

Lopez hasnt been getting in anybodys way, not rebounding opponents not anybody. Speichts actually has a low post game, unlike lopez and doesnt commit more fouls than he grabs rebounds. Even Big Jake got more rebounds than fouls and was a defensive clogging presence as good as lopez. But Im sure your crystal ball projects lopez as a clogging defensive presence that REBOUNDS. Except he didnt even do that as a starter in the pac 10.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Lopez hasnt been getting in anybodys way, not rebounding opponents not anybody. Speichts actually has a low post game, unlike lopez and doesnt commit more fouls than he grabs rebounds. Even Big Jake got more rebounds than fouls and was a defensive clogging presence as good as lopez. But Im sure your crystal ball projects lopez as a clogging defensive presence that REBOUNDS. Except he didnt even do that as a starter in the pac 10.

sigh. He is mobile, he works hard, he is 8 games into his career, he is playing behind Shaq, he is averaging a block every 10 minutes or so. . .

Half full, half empty, take your pick.