Preview: Future Suns

[WuRaider]

These guys are projected at #13-#18:

Joe Alexander

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Position: SF
Height: 6-8
Weight: 220
Age: 21
School: West Virginia





DeAndre Jordan

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Position: C
Height: 7-0
Weight: 255
Age: 20
School: Texas A&M





Brandon Rush

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Position: SG
Height: 6-7
Weight: 205
Age: 22
School: Kansas





Donte Green

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Position: SF
Height: 6-10
Weight: 225
Age: 20
School: Syracuse





Javale McGee

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Position: PF
Height: 7-0
Weight: 237
Age: 20
School: Nevada

 

[WuRaider]

I really hope the Blazers trade us their #13 pick. We def need Brandon Rush and picking up DeAndre or Javale as our future center would be icing on the cake. I love Joe Alexander's game but he'd more of a luxury piece, we have other major holes to fill.

 

[Mainstreet]

I really hope the Blazers trade us their #13 pick. We def need Brandon Rush and picking up DeAndre or Javale as our future center would be icing on the cake. I love Joe Alexander's game but he'd more of a luxury piece, we have other major holes to fill.

This would be great if the Suns could get the 13th pick. I would also be willing to go with Augustin (if he is there) and one of the bigs and call it a great draft. However, I also like Rush. I too can see the Suns going with Rush and one of the bigs you mention and looking for a player like Nietzel for role playing PG in the second round.

 

[High Stakes]

how could we get their 13 pick?

 

[Irish]

Unless Augustine drops, the Suns will certainly get somebody who can dunk.

The odd part about watching the Rush video is realizing this is a guy who came off ACL surgery last year. In watching the video you might not realize that Rush was accused of being "too unslefish", but that may be a result of coming off his injury. He wasn't measured at Orlando, but reports of very long arms are certainly evident from the video.

 

[tobiazz]

Rush is really the one that would fit in from that group. McGee looks like he has some game, but he doesn't appear to be very explosive and he can't play D. Jordan is a scrub. The Suns are desperate for three point shooting while Alexander and Greene don't have enough range on their shots, though Alexander impressed me in the NCAA tournament.

 

[Bigdez22]

If Jordan falls to 15, I would run to make that pick.

Green has the most upside of any of these guys. He could be a superstar.

Rush scares me a bit. I am not sure he has the pure athleticism to play in the NBA night in night out

McGee????I dont know. Did not see him that much if at all

I like Joe Alexander but not at 15. I would like to try and trade back in to the first round 22-30. I think there is a better chance of that then going after a pick 1-14

 

[dodie53]

how could we get their 13 pick?

trade them LB

 

[da_suns_fan]

Brandon Rush is the only guy that impresses me. The other guys all look way too raw.

Jordan just tried to overpower smaller people. He won't have the opportunity in the NBA.

I would rather trade LB for Noah than anyone of those guys.

 

[Irish]

I would rather trade LB for Noah than anyone of those guys.

That may have been killed with Noah's legal problems.

 

[cly2tw]

I don't know why everybody likes Noah so much. His ceiling seems to be a Varaijao type of player.

 

[Irish]

Brandon Rush is the only guy that impresses me. The other guys all look way too raw.

Rush is a junior, meaning he's older, more experienced, physically mature, and simply a bit more ready to play in the NBA than some of the younger players.

Teams frequently discount juniors and seniors becasue the really obvious prospects leave after their freeshman or sophmoe years. Many time the teams get totally focused on the guy's potential and try to look beyond theose measures of maturity..

Everyone thinks Donte Green has unlimited upside, but he's a freshman who played on a weak team. Rush played on the national champion and within a team structure. Donte appares to be a Brandan Wiight type prospect who won't do much in his rookie year. The case for Rush is that he appears to be more NBA ready than the other guys projected in that part of the draft.

Let's be clear, the Suns need a guy who can possibly be a rotation guy this season. Bordow of the East Valley Tribune indirectly makes the same point, "The truth is, Porter has inherited an old team that's only going to get older and slower." http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/118078 Rush is very fast and athletic, plus unlike Tucker and Strawberry, Rush can shoot NOW while still play defense.

 

[Mainstreet]

Unless Augustine drops, the Suns will certainly get somebody who can dunk.

The odd part about watching the Rush video is realizing this is a guy who came off ACL surgery last year. In watching the video you might not realize that Rush was accused of being "too unslefish", but that may be a result of coming off his injury. He wasn't measured at Orlando, but reports of very long arms are certainly evident from the video.

I know medical technology has considerably improved but knee injuries still worry me.

 

[LV-Suns]

I don't know why everybody likes Noah so much. His ceiling seems to be a Varaijao type of player.

He is much more offensively skilled. And a little leadership skills.

 

[Gaddabout]

Rush looks like he's in the mold of a Joe Johnson to me ... inside/outside player who can handle and play defense. Not sure which skill he has that's a double plus but I see a lot of pluses up and down his list of abilities. That spells immediate impact to me.

 

[da_suns_fan]

Rush looks like he's in the mold of a Joe Johnson to me ... inside/outside player who can handle and play defense. Not sure which skill he has that's a double plus but I see a lot of pluses up and down his list of abilities. That spells immediate impact to me.

Thats exactly what I thought. Joe Johnson through and through. He even has the same weaknesses (not extremely explosive, sometimes dissapears in games).

 

[LV-Suns]

Rush looks like he's in the mold of a Joe Johnson to me ... inside/outside player who can handle and play defense. Not sure which skill he has that's a double plus but I see a lot of pluses up and down his list of abilities. That spells immediate impact to me.

Exactly. Their talent is very similar. They also share the same weakness from college. Raw Handling, which rumored to be greatly improved during the workouts.


They also share very similar numbers too.

JJ. 6'8 225 lbs

Shooting Per Game Season Age College

arkansas- FG% 3P% FT% MP PTS TRB AST
arkansas .464 .368 .759 31.8 16.0 5.7 2.2 1999-00 18
arkansas .468 .443 .747 29.1 14.2 6.4 2.6 2000-01 19
arkansas .466 .406 .753 30.3 15.0 6.1 2.4 Career

Rush. 6'6 210 lbs

SEASON MIN PTS REB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P%
2005-2006 31.7 13.5 5.9 2.0 2.5 .78 .9 .7 1.2 .474 .761 .472
2006-2007 32.5 13.8 5.6 2.0 2.1 .97 .4 .9 1.6 .443 .681 .431
2007-2008 29.7 13.3 5.1 2.1 1.8 1.17 .8 .8 1.6 .435 .779 .419

 

[Bigdez22]

When did Joe Johnson ever have bad handles? Joe Johnson was compared to Magic Johnson at Ark.


Its not even close.

Joe Johnson is way more talented then Rush. I dont know why everyone likes Rush so much. I think its because he is the only one people know around the spot we pick( people have seen him play in final 4)

If we can trade back into the first round and grab Rush at 22-30, I am all for it, but I am not picking Rush over Green, Jordan, Mcgee, Arthur, Batum, or Jason Thompson

 

[Gaddabout]

When did Joe Johnson ever have bad handles? Joe Johnson was compared to Magic Johnson at Ark.


Its not even close.

Joe Johnson is way more talented then Rush. I dont know why everyone likes Rush so much. I think its because he is the only one people know around the spot we pick( people have seen him play in final 4)

If we can trade back into the first round and grab Rush at 22-30, I am all for it, but I am not picking Rush over Green, Jordan, Mcgee, Arthur, Batum, or Jason Thompson

I watched Rush play six or seven times this year and never saw a bad handle. I was impressed with his ability to put the ball on the floor and he passed very well for someone of his position at the college level. More importantly, I didn't say Rush was = to Joe Johnson, I said he was in the mold of Joe Johnson ... point being he can do a lot of things well, if none exceptionally well.

 

[elindholm]

Based on those videos, it's Rush by a landslide. No one else really looks like an NBA player.

 

[Irish]

I was nevre impressed with JJ's handle (he was just not good in traffic when he was with the Suns). What confuses people is that he was known for being a good passer.

http://www.nbadraft.net/profiles/joejohnson.htm written in 2000

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]NBA Comparison: Penny Hardaway[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Strengths: Only a given few have the ball skills that Johnson possesses at 6-9. Penny Hardaway (6-7), Lamar Odom, and Magic Johnson come to mind. Has very good vision and passing skills. Great intangibles. Has that certain feel for the game that the great ones have, knows where to be, what to do. Great shot, handle, passing, vision, confidence.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Weaknesses: Must get stronger, learn the game. Entering just his sophomore season, Johnson still has alot of basketball to learn. Must stay aggressive.[/FONT]

With Rush, I'm not expecting an all star. I'm just looking for a quicker, more athletic version of Jones who can finish on the break and play ight defense. Ths other stuff would be just extras.

 

[JoRain]

I watched Rush play six or seven times this year and never saw a bad handle. I was impressed with his ability to put the ball on the floor and he passed very well for someone of his position at the college level. More importantly, I didn't say Rush was = to Joe Johnson, I said he was in the mold of Joe Johnson ... point being he can do a lot of things well, if none exceptionally well.

You know - I heard a lot of the same song last year after we drafted Tucker. Especially the part about mold of Joe Johnson - do a lot of things well, but none exceptionally well.
Right now Suns have a plenty of wings - Barbosa, Bell, Tucker, Strawberry, Hill, also Diaw can play 3 and possible resigning of GG. Thats 7 possible guys who can fill SG, SF possision. Why we would need another one ??? Rush will also take minutes from Tucker and Strawberry.
Rush with 15th pick is a reach in my opinion


Also I haven't given up on Tucker just yet !!

Besides, teams can pick guys like Rush every year on free agency using MLE. You don't draft players like that if there's better options available !

I like Joe Alexander but not at 15. I would like to try and trade back in to the first round 22-30. I think there is a better chance of that then going after a pick 1-14

I also like Joe Alexander. I think he could be a combo forward for the Suns just like Marion. I also don't think he will be available there at 15 anymore.

With Rush, I'm not expecting an all star. I'm just looking for a quicker, more athletic version of Jones who can finish on the break and play ight defense

Again, thats Tucker with an outside shot. I believe Alando can get that shot of his working

But if were OK to take mediocre guys why not consider Robin Lopez ?? Hes probably never going to be an All-Star as well, but at least he has size. he also isn 't bad defenter, which considering his size is a Big bonus for the Suns. He also rebounds and hustles and knows how to play with offensive Big !

 

[Gaddabout]

Except Rush is actually a + on shooting. Tucker was a big negative, otherwise he would've gone much earlier in the draft.

 

[JoRain]

Except Rush is actually a + on shooting. Tucker was a big negative, otherwise he would've gone much earlier in the draft.

On the other hand Tucker is a lot better with his mid range game and getting to the hoop
Tuckers mid range jumper isn't bad too. Tucker just never had to shoot 3's in college.

Also Tucker was rated higher than Rush last year prior to ACL torn !

Considering how last years draft went I don't think Tucker would've gone much higher even if he coud prove he can shoot

 

[Irish]

My read on it is that the Suns hope Tucker will develop his shot, but aren't counting on it happening this year.

I have a suspicion that there are some measurment issues. Tucker is listed at 6'6", but was not measured at last year's combine and is reported to be shorter and probably without the exceptional reach that Rush has. If I'm correct, Tucker is probably limited to playing SG with hopes of becoming an heir to Bell's position. It is worth noting that Bell is not as effective at SF when he has to guard really tall players.