Suns invites for training camp starting Tuesday

[Mainstreet]

Per an article by Paul Coro at azcentral dated 9-30-12 the Suns have invited the following additional players to training camp. See below. Monday is media day before the Suns head off to camp in La Jolla, California. Training camp starts Tuesday.

The Suns have invited NBA veteran power forward/center Solomon Jones, power forward/center Luke Zeller, swingman Othyus Jeffers and point guard Diante Garrett to training camp, which opens Tuesday with the first of four consecutive two-a-day sessions at UC-San Diego. The camp, which is closed to the public, will conclude Saturday with an intrasquad scrimmage before the Suns return to Phoenix to prepare for their Oct. 10 preseason opener at Sacramento.

Perhaps Jones or Zeller have an outside shot to make the Suns roster with Frye likely out for the season.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/sun...-battle-final-roster-spot.html?nclick_check=1

 

[Chaplin]

Ike Diogu was also added.

 

[Griffin]

Ike Diogu was also added.

I like this pickup. Played well in the Olympics. Local product. Could make the roster, even though undersized for a center.

 

[Mainstreet]

Agree with all. I believe Ike Diogu has the best chance of the invites to make the roster.

However, Diante Garrett has a chance to make the team at PG if Telfair is unhappy being the third PG and the Suns decide to move him for a second round pick.

 

[carey]

Who is giving us a pick for Bassy?

 

[Mainstreet]

Who is giving us a pick for Bassy?

Purely conjecture on my part if Marshall is going to be the second PG off the bench.

 

[Mainstreet]

Sean Rooks will be working with Suns big men all season as a player development coach. Ralph Sampson will be working in the same capacity, player development, but it is onen ended. No offense to Rooks but I expected something more. Dragic has a sprained ankle apparently incurred in a pickup game last Wednesday.

http://twitter.com/PaulCoro

 

[elindholm]

Sean Rooks will be working with Suns big men all season as a player development coach. Ralph Sampson will be working in the same capacity, player development, but it is open ended.

Good lord, please tell me that "The Onion" is the source for this. Rooks and Sampson? Seriously?

 

[Mainstreet]

Good lord, please tell me that "The Onion" is the source for this. Rooks and Sampson? Seriously?

No, it's from Paul Coro.

In a discussion with Bruce Cooper, Kayte Christensen and Paul Coro, Christensen thinks Jermaine O'Neal will be the vocal leader of the team.

http://www.azcentral.com/video/1871731906001

 

[elindholm]

In a discussion with Bruce Cooper, Kayte Christensen and Paul Coro, Christensen thinks Jermaine O'Neal will be the vocal leader of the team.

The Suns' front office must think that they are dealing with the most credulous fans in the world.

 

[Chaplin]

The Suns' front office must think that they are dealing with the most credulous fans in the world.

Not just the Suns front office, almost every player at media day yesterday said that JO would be the leader in the locker room. Including Jared Dudley and Gortat.

 

[KloD]

No, it's from Paul Coro.

In a discussion with Bruce Cooper, Kayte Christensen and Paul Coro, Christensen thinks Jermaine O'Neal will be the vocal leader of the team.

http://www.azcentral.com/video/1871731906001

Watch the media day interviews on suns.com. Those players who were asked about leadership say the exact same thing and that's where she's getting it from I'd bet. O'Neal has been the leading voice in the locker room the past few weeks. I've seen the guy at he beginning of his career being in Portland and he was immature and I hated the guy. I don't know how much interviews speak to his character, but I've been happy to hear a difference, large one, in his past few.

 

[Mainstreet]

I would guess the Suns players feel the oldest most experienced player wins. IMO, the vocal leader of the team will evolve based upon leadership on the court. I just don't see it happening if JO is not starting. His ability to stay healthy is also a question.

IMO, Dragic or Scola are the best candidates to be the leader of the Suns.

 

[Griffin]

I would guess the Suns players feel the oldest most experienced player wins. IMO, the vocal leader of the team will evolve based upon leadership on the court. I just don't see it happening if JO is not starting. His ability to stay healthy is also a question.

IMO, Dragic or Scola are the best candidates to be the leader of the Suns.

I don't think O'Neal has to start to be a leader. He definitely says all the right things in those interviews. I was very impressed with his demeanor. His teammates seemed to have already embraced him in that role.

But, the guys who are playing majority of minutes need to be vocal too. The team captains appear to be Gortat, Dragic and Dudley. They are the ones who need to lead by example and be vocal. You can add Scola to that group too.

The most important thing is to create a positive, nurturing environment for our younger and less mature players so that the Suns don't turn into Kings or T'Wolves.

 

[leclerc]

Dragic and Gortat should lead this team. Duds should be in the mix. If Beasley impresses he should also have a say, but first and foremost Dragic should step up. Can't believe they just step down for Jermaine O'Neal. That's wrong.

And Sean Rooks? They couldn't get anyone better than that? Some ex star player with good fundamentals, playoff experience (starting, not cheering) and a brain? Don't know how many of these Sean Rooks has, but I don't think he ever starred/started...

Again I'll support Telfair. I think he'll back up Dragic. Can't see how that role is not his to loose. He played well the second half of last season and brings an edge and a toughness. If he can stay positive and continue to work hard and do well, the rookie should ride the pine and collect garbage minutes this year.

 

[leclerc]

IMHO the rotation will look like this:

Gortat and Scola down low. Morris and O'Neal will sub.
Beasley and Dudley on the wing with Johnson getting the rest of the minutes.
Dragic and Telfair at point guard.

If O'Neal plays like crap he should get token minutes. I hope they sign Ike Diogu. I liked him for the Mavs (wasn't it?).

I hope Kayte Christensen sticks to reading from the Twitter stream and does not get into sports journalism. Doesn't seem very knowledgeable to me.

 

[Superbone]

And Sean Rooks? They couldn't get anyone better than that? Some ex star player with good fundamentals, playoff experience (starting, not cheering) and a brain? Don't know how many of these Sean Rooks has, but I don't think he ever starred/started...

Those who can, do; those who can't, teach. That being said, I have no idea if Rooks is a good teacher or not.

 

[Superbone]

I hope Kayte Christensen sticks to reading from the Twitter stream and does not get into sports journalism. Doesn't seem very knowledgeable to me.

As long as I can see her, I don't care what she says.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Those who can, do; those who can't, teach. That being said, I have no idea if Rooks is a good teacher or not.

Yeah, I don't understand the Rooks bashing. I remember him as a fairly solid big man although not overly gifted. IIRC, he was occasionally slowed by asthma too and still was able to parlay his skills into a successful NBA career. I know he lasted about a decade as a backup/occasional starter and that's the kind of guy who typically learns his craft fairly well.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

As long as I can see her, I don't care what she says.

These were my thoughts as well.

However, her remarks were made in a thoughtful manner, not just throwing it out there, so she had to be basing it on something. Maybe she needs more time to learn to weight the value and context of her sources. Players tend to want to say the right thing.

 

[Mainstreet]

Markieff Morris is looking like the man in scrimmage. I wish there was some mention about the PG position with Dragic out with a sprained ankle. Wonder how Marshall is playing. Also the name of P.J. Tucker keeps rolling around in my head... like I should remember him but he has not played much in the NBA. No, I'm not thinking about Alando Tucker.

See article from Paul Coro at azcentral dated 10-3-12 for more tidbits.

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/PaulCoro/172648

 

[Chaplin]

Absolutely terrific video of Jermaine O'Neal on Media Day talking about his role on the team and our training staff. Really good watch, even for those that think he's a waste of a roster spot.

http://www.foxsportsarizona.com/10/01/12/Revamped-Suns-will-answer-to-new-leaders/landing_suns.html?blockID=798379&feedID=3605

 

[Mainstreet]

Absolutely terrific video of Jermaine O'Neal on Media Day talking about his role on the team and our training staff. Really good watch, even for those that think he's a waste of a roster spot.

http://www.foxsportsarizona.com/10/01/12/Revamped-Suns-will-answer-to-new-leaders/landing_suns.html?blockID=798379&feedID=3605

I don't think anyone thinks Jermaine O'Neal is a waste of a roster spot with the departure of Lopez but to attach the label of leader on a player that may not play a lot is a bit much IMO. Let's see if he can walk the walk before he talks the talk.

I wish I could have seen the whole video but it buffered badly on my computer so I could not watch it all.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I don't think anyone thinks Jermaine O'Neal is a waste of a roster spot with the departure of Lopez but to attach the label of leader on a player that may not play a lot is a bit much IMO. Let's see if he can walk the walk before he talks the talk.

I wish I could have seen the whole video but it buffered badly on my computer so I could not watch it all.

I must have been reading a different forum. I really could have sworn that I've seen several different posters here assert that he has absolutely no value. He hasn't shown much the past few years so the naysayers may well be right about him. But, with our roster I see no problem with the rest of us holding on to that small hope that our training staff can work wonders on him.

Steve

 

[Phrazbit]

I will raise my hand as to thinking he is a waste of a roster spot. I dont see why a rebuilding team is signing a severely diminished veteran. Its an odd move. If you are scouring the dregs of the remaining big men why do you decide to target the oldest and most washed up one on the block?

And if Jermaine O'Neal, a player noted for his poor conditioning and being a malcontent on his last team, is going to be our locker room leader then I think we have a real void in leadership. Hopefully Dudley or Dragic find their voice during the season.