Suns work out four point guards

[Irish]

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2008/06/06/20080606sunsside.html

Suns work out four point guards

38 commentsby Paul Coro - Jun. 6, 2008 08:29 PM
The Arizona Republic
The Suns are taking a "best available player" approach with the 15th overall pick in the June 26 NBA draft but held their first major workout Friday with four point guards - Texas' D.J. Augustin, Kansas' Mario Chalmers, Michigan State's Drew Neitzel and France's Rodrique Beaubois.
Only Augustin appears to be a possible No. 15 pick, but he must overcome the same reservations about his size that the Suns had with past prospects they passed on being Steve Nash's backup.

Augustin already has modeled his game after Nash for two years at Texas. It intensified in the past year when he, Chalmers and Neitzel worked at the inaugural Steve Nash Skills Academy last summer.

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Texas coach Rick Barnes has attended Suns training camps and incorporated their tempo and pick-and-roll play into the offense. Texas coaches fed Augustin game tapes and offense-only tapes of Nash to study in preparation for last season.

"I try to learn from him every day," Augustin said. "I watch film on him, how to shoot over big guys and just be crafty in the lane. Because of my size, I have to be able to shoot over bigger guys and get past them using my crafty speed. That's what I try to learn from Steve."
Suns Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin said it was evident that Augustin has modeled his game after Nash's, but his 5-foot-11 stature is an issue.

"It's going to be a challenge for him to adapt it to another level of length and athleticism," Griffin said.

Unlike Augustin, Chalmers needs to prove he can play point guard. He said he is leaning toward staying in the draft if he knows he will go by the 25th pick.

"I've been hearing lots of good things, so I'll probably stay," Chalmers said.
The group also included North Carolina State athletic power forward J.J. Hickson, whose stock is rising. He went against forward Robert Dozier, who likely will return to Memphis.

"He's just incredibly strong for his age," Griffin said of Hickson, a 6-foot-9, 242-pound freshman who models his game after Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan and Amaré Stoudemire. "He has a naturally thick body. He can bang on the perimeter, and he's also got a pretty quick face-up game."

 

[jlove]

I'd love to see Augustin here. Chalmers is a late 1st pick. Hickson was a 2nd rounder not too long ago. If we can get a late first in the 22-26 pick, Hickson would be a good pick up.

 

[Bigdez22]

No thanks on any of the pg in that group


Hickson is interesrting, but not at 15.

Maybe we could trade back up in to the first round

15-Donte Green

22-30-Hickson,Lawson, RUSH!!!!!!!,Lee

If we could get Donte Green and Brandon Rush in the same draft, That would be a great draft

go sign a back up PG and mabey another size guy and that would be a good off season to me

 

[Yuma]

I for one am glad to see them focusing on PG. We NEED a back up to Nash like yesterday! Plus we need to groom a future PG, anyway. Enough of the small forwards in the draft. That seems like all we draft. Center and PG is what we really need!

 

[Treesquid PhD]

at point guard at 15 will likely never be the PGOTF. Even guys like Rondo are marginal and replaceable at any instant.

 

[Mainstreet]

When I see the Suns looking at a PG like Drew Neitzel, I think they are looking at the second round or perhaps France's Rodrique Beaubois as a FA. I think the Suns, even if they get another first round pick, somehow will be looking at the BPA in the first round. I think in all probability Augustin would be gone before the 15th pick but he is more than worthy of consideration with that pick. Chalmers would be a gamble because he did not get enough playing time at PG in college and right now would seem to be a tweener.

 

[Irish]

"It's going to be a challenge for him to adapt it to another level of length and athleticism," Griffin said.

It does not sound like the Suns think Augustine is big enough. It is not just that he's too small to defend the PG spot, but that his offensie may not be good enough because of his size.

Second round an rookie free agents could very well be targeted as stop gap if they don't see a future replacement for Nash at #15.

 

[Mainstreet]

"It's going to be a challenge for him to adapt it to another level of length and athleticism," Griffin said.

It does not sound like the Suns think Augustine is big enough. It is not just that he's too small to defend the PG spot, but that his offensie may not be good enough because of his size.

However, it could be a smokescreen as well.

 

[Irish]

However, it could be a smokescreen as well.

Like everything else they do.

Ideally the Suns could find a free agent who is actually ready to play now, but bringing in a throw away PG could at least make them look like they are trying.