Preview: Future Suns

[Proteus]

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 Runs 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.

I recall Eddie Johnson saying during a Suns game last season that Tucker was really 6'4".

 

[JoRain]

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 Runs 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.

Yeah, I also heard that he is closer to 6'4", but the size isn't the only thing that matters. There are also things like wingspan, lenght, reach that matters and can compensate for lack of size.
His game though is more of a forward than a guard.

 

[cly2tw]

Tucker is a Q type of player, without the rebounding and 3pt. From the vids, Rush is more like Prince, Brewer, Battier.

 

[Irish]

Tucker is a Q type of player, without the rebounding and 3pt. From the vids, Rush is more like Prince, Brewer, Battier.

draftexpress listed Tucker at 6'5" 205 and this year lists Rush at 6'7" 211.

 

[da_suns_fan]

Tucker will be lucky just to stay in the league.

Same with Strawberry.

Suns need a SG for the future.

 

[JoRain]

Tucker will be lucky just to stay in the league.

Same with Strawberry.

Suns need a SG for the future.

this is one thing Suns definetely don't need !!!

And Strawberry and Tucker belong in this league and definetely will stick around !

As for the shooting guard Suns still haven't sold Barbosa (he is still youbg too) and SG is the position for him. Strawberry also can and will play just because of his defence!

I still like Tucker at wing for the Suns. Better than prospect of Rush there

 

[Irish]

So far neither Tucker nor Strawberry have proven they can shoot the three accurately. This is a huge part of the Suns style and they can't wait.

We can't get caught up in worrying about immediate need. The Suns need Rose, but they won't get him. Augustine might fit and might fall to #15, but he's very small and has to prove he can play against much bigger guys who are just as fast. I'm unconcined.

It will be interesting to see what Porter thinks of Ausustine she Porter was the one that turned TJ Ford into a starter.

 

[The Commish]

Nobody can say if Tucker/Strawberry should or should not be in the league - they haven't been given a chance to prove it.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

It will be interesting to see what Porter thinks of Ausustine she Porter was the one that turned TJ Ford into a starter.

hmm, this is one thought that hadn't occurred to me. good point george. only problem, ford was much more of an exceptional athlete than augustine. augustine couldn't dream of attempting to dunk on kobe. and despite the fact that ford's attempt was packed, he could physically consider it, whereas there is no way that could happen with augustine.

 

[WuRaider]

Budinger will work out for Suns

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UA's Chase Budinger during a game in February 2008 in Tucson.

by Paul Coro - Jun. 11, 2008 10:50 PM
The Arizona Republic

It's been a while since tantalizing draft names were dangled in front of Suns fans.
Phoenix has not planned for a pick as high as this year's No. 15 since trading the No. 7 pick in 2004 and have not added a pick this high to its roster since selecting Amaré Stoudemire ninth in 2002.

But with each draft workout, the names become more interesting. After workouts centered on point guards and big men, the Suns bring in wing players Thursday with a group featuring possible mid-first-round selections in West Virginia 6-foot-8 junior Joe Alexander, Arizona 6-foot-7 sophomore Chase Budinger and 19-year-old Frenchman Nicolas Batum.

While the sweet-shooting Budinger decides whether to stay in the draft, Alexander's stock soars due to a tough demeanor and super athleticism, such as a 39-inch vertical leap.

The group also includes Mesa High and Brigham Young star Lee Cummard, Nevada-Las Vegas swingman Curtis Terry (Jason Terry's brother) and Oregon senior forward Maarty Leunen.

Suns affiliate

The NBA announced a new Development League affiliation system that changes the Suns affiliate to the Iowa Energy in Des Moines.

Phoenix and Chicago are assigned to Iowa, one of 16 D-League teams where NBA teams can send first- or second-year players. The Suns had been affiliated the past two years with Albuquerque, which now is tied to Dallas and Miami.

Chicago meets Del Negro

Vinny Del Negro, a Suns front-office member the past two years, met Chicago media Wednesday as the new head coach of the Bulls.

Chicago General Manager John Paxson sold Del Negro as a communicator and leader who will invest time with players and use creative ideas.

"What I like tremendously about this roster is looking at Thabo (Sefolosha) and Tyrus (Thomas) and (Joakim) Noah, versatile guys we would've loved to have had in the draft (in Phoenix)," Del Negro said. "We pinpointed them in Phoenix but couldn't get them."

Del Negro talked about using a style much like what Phoenix pursued in hiring Terry Porter - quick offense but with defensive emphasis.

He said he would "put an arm around" Chicago's young players and be well prepared, as he was with a detailed book of practice plans and concepts in his interviews.

"Do I feel totally prepared right now?" Del Negro said, knowing he is under scrutiny because he has never coached. "No. And that bothers me. But by the time those decisions need to be made, I will be."
__________________

 

[nowagimp]

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

Agree about JJ, had great handles, which is rushs weakness. JJ was also physically alot stronger, a real horse at the NBA '2'. Disagree about the bigs, they are a gamble and will not pan out for years. If the suns are going to make a run, they need 3pt shooters like rush. The suns 3 pt shooting depth is worse than it has been in years and its worse than the hornets, lakers, spurs. If the suns dont get a 3pt shooter or two to open up the lane for amare, the best offensive PF in the NBA wont be of much use in crunch time. The lack of 3 pt shooters(and good defenders) will also(and has already) reduce nashs effectiveness on the P/R by allowing teams to pack the lane area. I see this as the key to losing to the spurs this year. If you cant get the spacing, you cant run the P/R.

 

[Irish]

Everyone thought he could be superstar coming out of college, but it took him a long time to grow into the job.

2001 was the year of the HS center: K Brown, Chandler, Gasol, Curry, and Diop all went before him. JJ was the secongp SG drafted in 2001 (Prior was Jason Richardson). Battie, Eddie Grffin, and Rodney While were SF/PF combos..

Back to Rusn, I think the focus on his three point shooting misses the other reason he's being looked at. Rush is reported to be an extreemly good defender with very long arms. He's very athletic and very quick. He may not be the most outstanding offensive threat, but compared to guys like Alexander, Budinger, CDR, etc. he's rated much higher as a defender.

Why does that matter? To get to the championship, the Suns need to beable to deal with Parker, Paul, Peja, and Kobe. Hill is 36, Bell is 31, and Diaw is not supoerquick.

Obviously the Suns cannot afford a defensive specialist with no offensive skills nor a guy who mostly attacks the basket. They need to be able to defend the wing and still keep the floor spread. Right now Rush is the best fit for that particular need. Here is a video of him blocking Durant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kkhc9hsn3sA

 

[Errntknght]

I watched a number of YouTube videos featuring Rush and one thing that stood out was the way he pulled up on his drives for mid/short range jumpers and floaters... rather reminiscent of Grant Hill, I thought. He also laid the ball off to bigs fairly well.

On fast breaks he showed good body control at high speed when he finished and made the pass when that was the right play.

Unfortunately, they didn't show much of him defending except for some weak side blocks - showy, of course, but not too meaningful.

 

[Irish]

I watched a number of YouTube videos featuring Rush and one thing that stood out was the way he pulled up on his drives for mid/short range jumpers and floaters... rather reminiscent of Grant Hill, I thought. He also laid the ball off to bigs fairly well.

On fast breaks he showed good body control at high speed when he finished and made the pass when that was the right play.

Unfortunately, they didn't show much of him defending except for some weak side blocks - showy, of course, but not too meaningful.

That's the sad part about basketabll. Defense is so important and we are left with opinions since the stats are deceptive and nobdoy records sold defense.

Budinger understands that defesnive is his biggest problem:
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2008/06/12/20080612suns.html

Budinger knows the knocks against him. He has added 10 pounds since the season ended to address strength. He said he needs defensive improvement but notes how far he has come.

"I couldn't play a lick of defense coming into Arizona ,so I think it's definitely improved," Budinger said.

 

[PhxGametime]

It's too bad NBADraft.net doesn't have any clips of Marreese Speights; I don't have ANY gamefilm (at all )this year of him and I'm not sure looking at the games I have last year, will help any...


With the Suns working him out twice; maybe he's in consideration still?? Everywhere I read, Rush is target but I'm not sure I'm sold on the Pick.

 

[Irish]

It's too bad NBADraft.net doesn't have any clips of Marreese Speights; I don't have ANY gamefilm (at all )this year of him and I'm not sure looking at the games I have last year, will help any...

With the Suns working him out twice; maybe he's in consideration still?? Everywhere I read, Rush is target but I'm not sure I'm sold on the Pick.

Here is another "just wait a few years" guy. Most mocks have in the 20's because he's just not ready.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Marreese-Speights-1183/

What we saw during the second day probably brought us back to the proper proportions, for his sake, and ours as well. Speights seemed to fall in love with his jump-shot way too much for our personal liking, spending virtually the entire two hours behind the 3-point line and rarely if ever going inside to make his presence felt.

We need to keep in mind that this was a very informal setting where the players were more interested for the most part in having fun than winning at all costs, but it was still hard not to be bothered at times by his shot-selection and extremely poor defensive (and overall) intensity. When he did decide to focus and take things seriously, again we saw the flashes of talent that made many people think he’s a lottery pick in the making, putting the ball on the deck and finishing a play with a running one-handed floater, taking an offensive rebound, dribbling backwards and draining an incredibly difficult contested 19-foot turnaround jumper while being fouled, or spotting up effortlessly and knocking down an NBA 3-pointer. He has more potential as a two-dribble slasher taking his man off the bounce from the high post than we were able to see at Florida, something that could serve to be a great weapon for him in the pros considering the superior spacing he’ll enjoy in the NBA.

All in all, we still feel pretty strongly about the fact that if Speights is somehow able to harness all the talent he shows and put it all together over the next few years, he will be looked back at as a player that clearly should have been drafted in the lottery. With that said, we can see why he isn’t there right now considering what we saw and know from the rumblings about his overall approach to the game, as opposed to his talent. What we want to know is: how bad could his work ethic be if he went from barely being considered a top-50 high school recruit to one of the most skilled big men in the draft and a potential lottery pick in the span of just two years? Like so many players in this whacky draft, though, he’s incredibly young, incredibly talented, and still has a great deal of time to pan out in a huge way and reward the team that decides to “take a chance on him.” That just goes to show you how difficult a job NBA teams have…especially in this case.