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Suns take extra look at 2 point guards
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 20, 2004 12:00 AM
Four lottery-bound point guards have made the predraft race's final turn and are jockeying for position down the stretch.
"My boy's got a strong forearm," Shaun Livingston said after the Suns worked him out Saturday with Saint Joseph's point guard Jameer Nelson, visiting Phoenix for a second time.
Strength may be the primary concern with Livingston, a slender 6-foot-7 point guard from Peoria (Ill.) Central High School. But of the draft's top four point guards, including Connecticut's Ben Gordon and Wisconsin's Devin Harris, Livingston may be in the strongest position going into Thursday's draft.
Connecticut's Emeka Okafor and Atlanta high schooler Dwight Howard figured to be the draft's top two picks, but Livingston could pique the Clippers' interest if they stay at No. 2. Atlanta and Charlotte, which both pick ahead of Phoenix at No. 7, also will have looked at Livingston twice before the draft.
Livingston is touted for his passing instincts, touch and length, which compensate for defensive liabilities and enhance his shifty moves. He is up to 187 pounds after finishing high school around 170.
"He's got another 15 or 20 pounds to go," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. "He's only 18, and he's going to be very good."
"This team obviously has great players at the two, three and four spots," Livingston said, referring to Joe Johnson, Shawn Marion and Amaré Stoudemire. "I could come in and make a contribution to get guys in strength spots."
Head-to-head workouts with Nelson, Harris and Gordon have helped him raise his game, he said. Forearms from Nelson, a stout 5-11, 192-pounder, helped see to that.
"He took a lot of them," Nelson said. "I hit him a few times. It was not to intimidate him, but to get him a taste of what it's going to be like."
Nelson's return to Phoenix could be a sign of his rising stock or simply that he provides a powerful veteran matchup to evaluate a player such as Livingston. Regardless, the Chester, Pa., native who grew up idolizing Charles Barkley is enjoying Phoenix's interest.
"I can't do anything but move forward," Nelson said. "Everyone says I'm moving up. I'm excited to be here."
Phoenix's point guard situation could go in several directions with the available draft prospects, Leandro Barbosa still learning the position, Howard Eisley holding two more years on his contract, the Suns holding rights to Serbia's Milos Vujanic, Johnson getting a taste of point work and Steve Nash being among the biggest names in free agency.
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 20, 2004 12:00 AM
Four lottery-bound point guards have made the predraft race's final turn and are jockeying for position down the stretch.
"My boy's got a strong forearm," Shaun Livingston said after the Suns worked him out Saturday with Saint Joseph's point guard Jameer Nelson, visiting Phoenix for a second time.
Strength may be the primary concern with Livingston, a slender 6-foot-7 point guard from Peoria (Ill.) Central High School. But of the draft's top four point guards, including Connecticut's Ben Gordon and Wisconsin's Devin Harris, Livingston may be in the strongest position going into Thursday's draft.
Connecticut's Emeka Okafor and Atlanta high schooler Dwight Howard figured to be the draft's top two picks, but Livingston could pique the Clippers' interest if they stay at No. 2. Atlanta and Charlotte, which both pick ahead of Phoenix at No. 7, also will have looked at Livingston twice before the draft.
Livingston is touted for his passing instincts, touch and length, which compensate for defensive liabilities and enhance his shifty moves. He is up to 187 pounds after finishing high school around 170.
"He's got another 15 or 20 pounds to go," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. "He's only 18, and he's going to be very good."
"This team obviously has great players at the two, three and four spots," Livingston said, referring to Joe Johnson, Shawn Marion and Amaré Stoudemire. "I could come in and make a contribution to get guys in strength spots."
Head-to-head workouts with Nelson, Harris and Gordon have helped him raise his game, he said. Forearms from Nelson, a stout 5-11, 192-pounder, helped see to that.
"He took a lot of them," Nelson said. "I hit him a few times. It was not to intimidate him, but to get him a taste of what it's going to be like."
Nelson's return to Phoenix could be a sign of his rising stock or simply that he provides a powerful veteran matchup to evaluate a player such as Livingston. Regardless, the Chester, Pa., native who grew up idolizing Charles Barkley is enjoying Phoenix's interest.
"I can't do anything but move forward," Nelson said. "Everyone says I'm moving up. I'm excited to be here."
Phoenix's point guard situation could go in several directions with the available draft prospects, Leandro Barbosa still learning the position, Howard Eisley holding two more years on his contract, the Suns holding rights to Serbia's Milos Vujanic, Johnson getting a taste of point work and Steve Nash being among the biggest names in free agency.
