The 2018-2019 Around the NBA thread

[AzStevenCal]

I would be hesitant to do Okobo and Melton for Fultz. There's no reason to believe that he would improve mentally here compared to Philly. His confidence is shot and that's similar to what's wrong with Bender. I'd rather not have 2 headcases that are their own worst enemies.

I thought Fultz was highly overrated at UW and the fact his team consistently played better without him was a huge red flag. But OTOH, I find it difficult to believe that he can't be developed into a quality player. I don't think we should risk it but if Philly trades him or gives up on him, I'd expect to see him succeed elsewhere.

 

[95pro]

I would be hesitant to do Okobo and Melton for Fultz. There's no reason to believe that he would improve mentally here compared to Philly. His confidence is shot and that's similar to what's wrong with Bender. I'd rather not have 2 headcases that are their own worst enemies.

Disclaimer: I don't watch or really follow college ball.

I watched some Fultz clips and games, and yes! he looks like a confident guy out there with all his shot attempts and dunks. Its crazy trying to watch him fit in with philly, he's pretty much a ghost or shell of his college self. He's shell shocked or something being at this level of talent, being the #1 pick didn't help him.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I thought Fultz was highly overrated at UW and the fact his team consistently played better without him was a huge red flag. But OTOH, I find it difficult to believe that he can't be developed into a quality player. I don't think we should risk it but if Philly trades him or gives up on him, I'd expect to see him succeed elsewhere.

I'm with you on him being overrated back in college days, but his complete and utter meltdown as a professional player has been such a freaking head-scratcher.

 

[hcsilla]

It is simply unbelieavable how much Fultz is scared to shoot the basketball.

I understand that this is basically his rookie year but I'm not sure how he can escape from such a misterious fear.

 

[Errntknght]

Please no Fultz... the benefit of drafting 4th was that there was little chance that either Fultz or Lonzo would be available - I could imagine McD feeling compelled to take one. Jackson was mainly hype, too, but at least there's hope with him. Too bad we didn't listen to AzSteve and take Markannen - with Chriss and Bender looking like dreck we needed a big anyway.

 

[Hoop Head]

Larry Drew finally signed a deal to take over as the Cav's head coach. I know there was an issue there because he wouldn't take the head coach job unless he got a real contract but ownership was reluctant since they're still paying Ty Lue, David Blatt, and Mike Brown still. The contract he signed gives him a buyout amount for next season if he's not retained.

http://www.nba.com/article/2018/11/05/cleveland-cavaliers-coach-larry-drew-agree-deal

As bad as the Suns have been and with our coaching turnover, it hasn't been as bad as Cleveland. The Cavs have made the finals for the last 4 years also. Regardless of that sort of success they haven't been able to keep a decent coach. Ty Lue will probably go down as the worst head coach to win an NBA title. I'm not sure who #2 would even be looking back a ways, maybe Doc Rivers. Since 1981 there have only been 11 coaches who have won a title. Knowing Lue is in the company of Riley, Phil Jackson, and Popovich is not right.

 

[Hoop Head]

Please no Fultz... the benefit of drafting 4th was that there was little chance that either Fultz or Lonzo would be available - I could imagine McD feeling compelled to take one. Jackson was mainly hype, too, but at least there's hope with him. Too bad we didn't listen to AzSteve and take Markannen - with Chriss and Bender looking like dreck we needed a big anyway.

I'm skeptical whenever someone pushes for the Suns to take a UofA or ASU player. Sometimes it seems like they have homer glasses on and see them for more than they are. There have been cases where the player works out well, like Ayton, but I think local talent like that busts more than hits. It looks like Lauri is legit though.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'm skeptical whenever someone pushes for the Suns to take a UofA or ASU player. Sometimes it seems like they have homer glasses on and see them for more than they are. There have been cases where the player works out well, like Ayton, but I think local talent like that busts more than hits. It looks like Lauri is legit though.

I understand that reasoning but I believe it's ultimately flawed. There are fanboys and such that post things that you really can't put much stock in but when someone like DWKB talks about a Kansas player or Russ Smith talks about a Bay Area star, I give it more credence not less. I'd much rather hear from someone that has watched every game, followed every local report, than rely on the internet scouts that just watch highlight reels and participate in group think analysis. But I will say, in general, I'm a little skeptical whenever anyone posts against the grain.

 

[Hoop Head]

I understand that reasoning but I believe it's ultimately flawed. There are fanboys and such that post things that you really can't put much stock in but when someone like DWKB talks about a Kansas player or Russ Smith talks about a Bay Area star, I give it more credence not less. I'd much rather hear from someone that has watched every game, followed every local report, than rely on the internet scouts that just watch highlight reels and participate in group think analysis. But I will say, in general, I'm a little skeptical whenever anyone posts against the grain.

At the time, I know your reasoning was solid but I still didn't think Markkannen would end up being anything like he was. I thought he might be a good pro but not good enough to go #4. He ended up being all you said he would be though, maybe even a little more. I thought Channing Frye was his ceiling and Cody Zeller as his floor, with Frank Kaminsky being the most likely comparison. I was wrong and will admit as much.

I agree with the reasoning here also, about taking certain people's word for certain players. After you nailed the Lauri pick, I put more weight in your Ayton talk than most others. With Ayton though he was virtually a sure thing at #1 who seemed like a pipedream for the Suns, even with the worst record in the league. I didn't expect to land that pick. I hoped for #2 and would have been elated with that. I'm still surprised we have Ayton. The Suns have a star in the making at Center and it's not someone playing out of position like Amare years back.

 

[AzStevenCal]

At the time, I know your reasoning was solid but I still didn't think Markkannen would end up being anything like he was. I thought he might be a good pro but not good enough to go #4. He ended up being all you said he would be though, maybe even a little more. I thought Channing Frye was his ceiling and Cody Zeller as his floor, with Frank Kaminsky being the most likely comparison. I was wrong and will admit as much.

I agree with the reasoning here also, about taking certain people's word for certain players. After you nailed the Lauri pick, I put more weight in your Ayton talk than most others. With Ayton though he was virtually a sure thing at #1 who seemed like a pipedream for the Suns, even with the worst record in the league. I didn't expect to land that pick. I hoped for #2 and would have been elated with that. I'm still surprised we have Ayton. The Suns have a star in the making at Center and it's not someone playing out of position like Amare years back.

I had no doubts about Markkanen but I will tell you, I've missed on many through the years. But I watch a lot of Pac 12 ball, especially the Cats and the Devils and I don't know if I've ever missed on one of them. I think the difference is that I watched every game unlike with Stromile Swift, I watched him help destroy the Wildcats and a tourney game, I watched his highlight tapes, I read the idiot scouting reports and, like many, I was convinced he'd become a star. Had I been an LSU fan, watched every game, I highly doubt I would have missed his obvious flaws.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm skeptical whenever someone pushes for the Suns to take a UofA or ASU player. Sometimes it seems like they have homer glasses on and see them for more than they are. There have been cases where the player works out well, like Ayton, but I think local talent like that busts more than hits. It looks like Lauri is legit though.

It can be the other way around as well. I didn't think Harden would be as good as he is.

 

[GatorAZ]

As a UA fan I was lower on Markannen and Ayton more than most for different reasons. I didn’t think Markkanen had a complete-enough skill set to be worthy of a top-5 pick. His rookie year he displayed the ability to handle the ball and score from anywhere. He also put on a lot of good weight and held his own on the boards. I think Bender being a bust after two years soured me a bit on Lauri pre-draft. Remember before that draft Chriss was coming off a promising rookie year and Jackson was a better fit in retrospect.

My concerns with Ayton are mostly mental/motivational.

 

[Errntknght]

Poop Head,
"At the time, I know your reasoning was solid but I still didn't think Markkannen would end up being anything like he was. I thought he might be a good pro but not good enough to go #4. He ended up being all you said he would be though, maybe even a little more."

More? Steve guaranteed that Lauri would be first ballot HOF!

 

[Hoop Head]

Poop Head,
"At the time, I know your reasoning was solid but I still didn't think Markkannen would end up being anything like he was. I thought he might be a good pro but not good enough to go #4. He ended up being all you said he would be though, maybe even a little more."

More? Steve guaranteed that Lauri would be first ballot HOF!

I don't recall Steve ever going that far out on a limb with his thoughts on Markkannen, I could be wrong, but I remember him saying he would be a good pro and a likely all-star if he's used properly. Hall of famer? I don't think Steve of all posters would make that sort of guarantee. Some of us exaggerate more than others but I don't think Steve falls in the more category.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Poop Head,
"At the time, I know your reasoning was solid but I still didn't think Markkannen would end up being anything like he was. I thought he might be a good pro but not good enough to go #4. He ended up being all you said he would be though, maybe even a little more."

More? Steve guaranteed that Lauri would be first ballot HOF!

It won't be long before the legend of Steve has Markkanen as the greatest player of all time.

I think I said if the Lauri we saw in the first half of his year at UA is the real Lauri, he will waltz into the HOF. And I still believe he'll have a great career although I'm starting to worry about his availability, he's missed a lot of games already.

 

[Mainstreet]

Go Tyson!

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Now seeing Nash in a Lakers uniform hurt.

 

[Mainstreet]

These are Len's stats thus far this season. Not bad at all.

http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2596107

 

[Hoop Head]

These are Len's stats thus far this season. Not bad at all.

http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2596107

His game log tells a better story, I think. He's still up and down like he was for us. Following up games that looked like he finally put things together but then he would revert to old stone hands in the next game. I'm glad we don't have him here anymore. He never would have lived up to his draft position, which would have stayed with him while he was here.

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[Mainstreet]

His game log tells a better story, I think. He's still up and down like he was for us. Following up games that looked like he finally put things together but then he would revert to old stone hands in the next game. I'm glad we don't have him here anymore. He never would have lived up to his draft position, which would have stayed with him while he was here.

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I think the days of hoping Len lives up to draft expectations are long since past. However, I wouldn't mind Len playing backup center for the Suns. Anyway, time to move on.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Richaun Holmes with some minutes looks like he’ll give us what we need as backup C.

 

[Ronin]

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[JCSunsfan]

Can we just ban all Doncic posts? I am so tired of the endless comparisons.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Can we just ban all Doncic posts? I am so tired of the endless comparisons.

This is the “around the nba” thread. And in the last post it was just about Doncic. No “comparison” (unless you’re mad about them comparing him to Oscar, in which case I don’t know what to tell you).

 

[GatorAZ]

That’s the most specific arbitrary stat I’ve ever heard.

 

[GatorAZ]

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