Sports network - Suns draft preview

[sunsfn]

Just another opinion you may like to read.

I found this on Maurer scouting services web site.
Scroll down and it is on the left. Other teams there also.

The Maurer site is not updated, other than these team reports, not sure why?
http://www.maurerscouting.com/


Phoenix Suns 2003 Draft Preview
By Bryan McGovern, NBA Analyst

(Sports Network) - The Phoenix Suns made the best value pick of the 2002 Draft when they selected Amare Stoudemire with the ninth overall selection. The 6- foot-10, 245-pound Stoudemire wowed the NBA by averaging 13.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game en route to the league's Rookie of the Year award.

The Suns will be hard-pressed to get such an impact player at 17; there's a chance the club will trade the pick for a couple selections later in the draft to upgrade its overall depth.

Like just about every other team in the NBA, Phoenix needs a center and more frontcourt size and toughness. Euro center Zaza Pachulia could be around when the Suns picks at 17, but he's one of the few big men worthy of a first-round pick. Phoenix is also interested in Zarko Cabarkapa, a 6-foot-11 hybrid forward with the versatility to play all three frontcourt positions.

If there isn't an intriguing center around late in the first round, the Suns seem intent on adding a versatile forward like Cabarkapa or Arizona's Luke Walton, who might be the best passing forward in the draft. Other potential targets include Kansas PF Nick Collison, Georgetown PF Mike Sweetney, Polish seven-footer Maciej Lampe, Mississippi State PF Mario Austin, Illinois PF Brian Cook and Serbian F Aleksandar Pavlovic.

Starting Lineup: C-Scott Williams, PF-Amare Stoudemire, SF-Shawn Marion, SG- Penny Hardaway, PG-Stephon Marbury.

Bench: C-Jake Tsakalidis, F-Bo Outlaw, F-Tom Gugliotta, F/G-Joe Johnson, C- Jake Voskuhl, G-Casey Jacobsen, G-Randy Brown.

Team Needs: Center, overall size and depth.

Draft Selections: 1st round (17th overall).

 

[Chaplin]

Funny how Lampe is mentioned. He won't be there when we draft. But if he is, I have no doubt that we will pick him.

 

[capologist]

Originally posted by sunsfn
there's a chance the club will trade the pick for a couple selections later in the draft to upgrade its overall depth.

I doubt it. With Steph, JJ, Shawn, Amare, the two Jakes, and C-Jake, we already have seven talented youngsters. If we increase that total to nine, we’ll have to expose one of them to the expansion draft, and end up with eight. So we might as well just stockpile eight.

 

[slinslin]

I wouldn't be very afraid that the expansion team is going to steal one of the Jakes, Casey or #17.

Big Jake is restricted FA after next season isn't he?

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Re: Re: Sports network - Suns draft preview

Originally posted by capologist
I doubt it. With Steph, JJ, Shawn, Amare, the two Jakes, and C-Jake, we already have seven talented youngsters. If we increase that total to nine, we’ll have to expose one of them to the expansion draft, and end up with eight. So we might as well just stockpile eight.

Has the number of protections been set at 8 for the expansion draft? I know that was what it was last time (at least I think) but that was with 2 teams entering, and 2 less overall teams in the league.

 

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by slinslin
I wouldn't be very afraid that the expanion team is going to steal one of the Jakes, Casey or #17.

Big Jake is restricted FA after next season isn't he?

I disagree about Big and Little Jake, but I think you are right about Casey Jacobsen. I don't think he would be taken with the expansion draft. There would almost certainly be better players available.

Joe Mama

 

[slinslin]

My thinking was that after next year either Big Jake, Jake Voshkul, Casey Jacobsen or #17 will have done too little to be picked by the Bobcats.

We wouldn't protect the worst one of them and I think it is pretty likely that one of those 3 doesn't improve or doesn't do anything.

 

[elindholm]

Right now, I don't see why anyone affiliated with the Suns should be losing any sleep over the prospect of losing Casey Jacobsen to expansion.

 

[sunsfn]

I think if the suns trade down to pick up a 2nd round pick, they will still get a first rounder. (not 2, 2nd rounders) They are still looking for value late in the first round.

If they do that they are thinking that they can get someone after 17 that will do the job just as well as the player they can get at 17, and a bench player in the 2nd round.

Unless that 2nd rounder happens to be a diamond in the rough, they will not have to protect him in the expansion draft next year.

They might draft a foreign player and leave him oversees for a year or two..........

Marbury, Marion, Amare, big Jake, (yes they will protect him!!!!)
little Jake, JJ, # 17, & Penny, (just kidding)
Casey would have to really improve to have to protect him.
(he could though)

 

[fordronken]

Right now, I don't see why anyone affiliated with the Suns should be losing any sleep over the prospect of losing Casey Jacobsen to expansion.

Other than marketing.