The Suns with the 2018 #1 overall pick select....

[CardsSunsDbacks]

http://arizonasports.com/story/1518060/suns-james-jones-players-love-owner-robert-sarver/

I can believe what he is saying here. From what I have heard Sarver has supposedly learned from his past mistakes. If that is the case than I could certainly believe that James Jones doesn’t know Sarver as someone that meddles in talent decisions. Hopefully that continues to be true from here on out.

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

I would pick Ayton at #1, but *IF* the knocks are true about motor and instincts, it would be a mistake. The problem is then this board will be "What are the coaches doing?!!!"; "They aren't using him correctly!"; "Why aren't the coaches motivating him"; etc.

This is what still gnaws at me. Far all of the hyperbolic Doncic statements - on both sides - he is a winner, even if he is a jack-of-all-trades type of 6'7" player. Regardless of competition, this seems to be borne out in the facts.

I have had enough of the "great-measurables-except-the-heart-and-between-the-ears" type of player. Anyone else share this concern?

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

An anecdote I enjoyed from David Aldridge's column:

The Suns, according to a source, interviewed a player who is a projected top five pick—which made sense, considering Phoenix has the top pick in the Draft after winning the Lottery.

The player told the assembled front office and coaches, ”I’d love to play for the Phoenix Suns. I’m not just saying that because you guys have the number one pick—I really feel like I’m the best player in the Draft and the best fit for your roster. I’d be saying that even if you guys didn’t have the number one pick. I don’t care where I get picked—I just want to be in Phoenix.” It was impressive.

After a beat, Suns GM Ryan McDonough answered: ‘Great. We also have the 16th pick. Do you want to try to work something out so we can pick you at 16?’

Player: Silence. Followed by the room breaking up.

http://www.nba.com/article/2018/05/...interesting-tidbits?collection=david-aldridge

 

[JCSunsfan]

I just read this on another web site. It is food for thought. It's a one on one league, still, for the most part. So the questions would apply to straight one-on-one defense in a five on five game situation.

How many defenders in the league could cover Doncic?
How many could Doncic cover?

How many defenders could cover Ayton?
How many could Ayton defend?

As I watch the video, Ayton's one on one defense looks pretty good. It's his help awareness that is the big problem.

Doncic is a better team defender but will have limitations one on one.

A good aggressive, in your face, defender is going to give Doncic problems. He may be able to pass out, probably will, but it will limit him.

I am not sure anyone can stop Ayton straight up man defense, maybe Embiid.

 

[overseascardfan]

I have a feeling PHX tries to move up and get a second Top 5 pick and take Doncic. You can get your Big 4 (assuming they wouldn’t have to trade Jackson) on the cheap for the next 3 years. By the time GS starts their decline either these kids are ready to make some noise or you know they aren’t it and you don’t have to re-sign them to max contracts.

 

[Hoop Head]

An anecdote I enjoyed from David Aldridge's column:

The Suns, according to a source, interviewed a player who is a projected top five pick—which made sense, considering Phoenix has the top pick in the Draft after winning the Lottery.

The player told the assembled front office and coaches, ”I’d love to play for the Phoenix Suns. I’m not just saying that because you guys have the number one pick—I really feel like I’m the best player in the Draft and the best fit for your roster. I’d be saying that even if you guys didn’t have the number one pick. I don’t care where I get picked—I just want to be in Phoenix.” It was impressive.

After a beat, Suns GM Ryan McDonough answered: ‘Great. We also have the 16th pick. Do you want to try to work something out so we can pick you at 16?’

Player: Silence. Followed by the room breaking up.

http://www.nba.com/article/2018/05/...interesting-tidbits?collection=david-aldridge

Is there an info available about what players the Suns interviewed? I don't think it would be that hard to narrow it down and figure out who said that. My guess would be Trae Young. The way it was worded with the player being a "Top 5 selection" makes me think it's him. I think they would have said a "Top 3" pick if it were Bagley, although I can't see Bagley saying that with his history in Phoenix. I think he would have said something different tying his history with the city and state to wanting to be a Sun.

I didn't know interviews were limited either. I can understand why they are, to a point, but it should be limited based on how many picks a team has. Teams like the Heat or Raptors don't have any picks while the Suns have 4, the Suns should be able to interview more than them. With how the Suns picks are spread out also, at #1, #16, #31, and #59 they can't really kill 2 birds with one stone like the Clippers who pick #12 and #13. Everyone they interview is a candidate at both spots while the players the Suns are looking to pick at #1 won't be available at #16 or even those at #16 will be off the board by the time they pick at #31.

 

[pokerface]

I would pick Ayton at #1, but *IF* the knocks are true about motor and instincts, it would be a mistake. The problem is then this board will be "What are the coaches doing?!!!"; "They aren't using him correctly!"; "Why aren't the coaches motivating him"; etc.

This is what still gnaws at me. Far all of the hyperbolic Doncic statements - on both sides - he is a winner, even if he is a jack-of-all-trades type of 6'7" player. Regardless of competition, this seems to be borne out in the facts.

I have had enough of the "great-measurables-except-the-heart-and-between-the-ears" type of player. Anyone else share this concern?

Yeah there is no bad talk about Doncics motor. His across the board stat production and overachieving is proof of that.

 

[pokerface]

I have a feeling PHX tries to move up and get a second Top 5 pick and take Doncic. You can get your Big 4 (assuming they wouldn’t have to trade Jackson) on the cheap for the next 3 years. By the time GS starts their decline either these kids are ready to make some noise or you know they aren’t it and you don’t have to re-sign them to max contracts.

I don't have that 'feeling' at all. Pretty hard to recrack the top 5.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Ayton defensive motor. It's not really about his offense, I don't think. Here is the game against UNLV where McCoy had a career game. It was in December and Ayton improved after this. But here are some things I noticesd

1. Ristic guards McCoy to begin with and cannot handle him.
2. Ayton plays a lot more help defense in this game, but gets burned for it repeatedly. When he switched off of McCoy, McCoy scored every time. I can see Miller telling Ayton after this game just to stay home on his player. UofA's other players just could not handle McCoy.
3. Ayton switches to block more than normal in this game. It burned him too. It took him out of rebounding position and McCoy scored off of the offensive rebounds.
4. There are few times where he switched, but then just could not find his man to switch back. If you have played a switching defense, you know that is the most awkward part--when do you switch back to your more appropriate assignment?
5. Just plain, straight up one-on-one, Ayton looked just fine.
6. He had a couple of attention lapses (motor, fatigue?). He did play more minutes than anyone else in the game (39) which is a lot for a big man who is carrying the primary defensive load for his team.
7. The other UofA players are not good defenders, especially in this game. If he switched on every drive, he would switch on every play.

To me, this looks like a coaching issue, not motor. He is working out there.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[Raindog]

I just read this on another web site. It is food for thought. It's a one on one league, still, for the most part. So the questions would apply to straight one-on-one defense in a five on five game situation.

How many defenders in the league could cover Doncic?
How many could Doncic cover?

How many defenders could cover Ayton?
How many could Ayton defend?

As I watch the video, Ayton's one on one defense looks pretty good. It's his help awareness that is the big problem.

Doncic is a better team defender but will have limitations one on one.

A good aggressive, in your face, defender is going to give Doncic problems. He may be able to pass out, probably will, but it will limit him.

I am not sure anyone can stop Ayton straight up man defense, maybe Embiid.

This is a good/reasonable take. Of course, the Doncic cult will go on about how he has "dominated at the highest level of European basketball" blah, blah, blah... as if that has any kind of one-to-one correlation with the NBA, when it does not.

It's like asserting because some kid hits .300 in the minors, he is a shoo-in vs. major league pitching. While Europe may indeed be "the second best pro-league" (over what, the Chinese league? The NBDL?), it is still the minors compared to the level of competition in the NBA. Euro-fans refuse to see it that way, but it's true, even if they have sent a handful of players here who have been pretty good.

 

[DevonCardsFan]

This is a good/reasonable take. Of course, the Doncic cult will go on about how he has "dominated at the highest level of European basketball" blah, blah, blah... as if that has any kind of one-to-one correlation with the NBA, when it does not.

It's like asserting because some kid hits .300 in the minors, he is a shoo-in vs. major league pitching. While Europe may indeed be "the second best pro-league" (over what, the Chinese league? The NBDL?), it is still the minors compared to the level of competition in the NBA. Euro-fans refuse to see it that way, but it's true, even if they have sent a handful of players here who have been pretty good.

Nailed it! spot on with all of that.

It's Insanity if the Suns pass on the big man, I would denounce this team.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Is there an info available about what players the Suns interviewed? I don't think it would be that hard to narrow it down and figure out who said that. My guess would be Trae Young. The way it was worded with the player being a "Top 5 selection" makes me think it's him. I think they would have said a "Top 3" pick if it were Bagley, although I can't see Bagley saying that with his history in Phoenix. I think he would have said something different tying his history with the city and state to wanting to be a Sun.

I didn't know interviews were limited either. I can understand why they are, to a point, but it should be limited based on how many picks a team has. Teams like the Heat or Raptors don't have any picks while the Suns have 4, the Suns should be able to interview more than them. With how the Suns picks are spread out also, at #1, #16, #31, and #59 they can't really kill 2 birds with one stone like the Clippers who pick #12 and #13. Everyone they interview is a candidate at both spots while the players the Suns are looking to pick at #1 won't be available at #16 or even those at #16 will be off the board by the time they pick at #31.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/spo...nix-suns-marvin-bagley-nba-combine/624146002/

They interviewed pretty much everyone to whom that anecdote could apply.

It was likely Bagley, JJJ, Young, Porter Jr., or Bamba and they are all on that list.

 

[JCSunsfan]

https://www.azcentral.com/story/spo...nix-suns-marvin-bagley-nba-combine/624146002/

They interviewed pretty much everyone to whom that anecdote could apply.

It was likely Bagley, JJJ, Young, Porter Jr., or Bamba and they are all on that list.

It was Bagley. He really wants to be here.

 

[BC867]

It's Insanity if the Suns pass on the big man, I would denounce this team.

I posted when we got #1 that if the Suns choose a Small Forward (even with passing skills) over the Center prospect of the decade(s), I would continue to follow, and post to, the ASFN D-backs and Mercury boards, but never open this Suns board again. Or watch a Suns game. Or follow their continued management disappointments.

Not to be dramatic but, well, because of my age. Having been a Suns fan for 48 years, I don't have decades to wait for a new regime that includes winning in their priorities.

In other words, I agree with your post, Devon. I will divorce the Suns. And that would break my heart!

 

[JCSunsfan]

I posted when we got #1 that if the Suns choose a Small Forward (even with passing skills) over the Center prospect of the decade(s), I would continue to follow, and post to, the ASFN D-backs and Mercury boards, but never open this Suns board again. Or watch a Suns game. Or follow their continued management disappointments.

Not to be dramatic but, well, because of my age. Having been a Suns fan for 48 years, I don't have decades to wait for a new regime that includes winning in their priorities.

In other words, I agree with your post, Devon. I will divorce the Suns. And that would break my heart!

I want Ayton, but not that badly. Luka is also a great player.

 

[DevonCardsFan]

I posted when we got #1 that if the Suns choose a Small Forward (even with passing skills) over the Center prospect of the decade(s), I would continue to follow, and post to, the ASFN D-backs and Mercury boards, but never open this Suns board again. Or watch a Suns game. Or follow their continued management disappointments.

Not to be dramatic but, well, because of my age. Having been a Suns fan for 48 years, I don't have decades to wait for a new regime that includes winning in their priorities.

In other words, I agree with your post, Devon. I will divorce the Suns. And that would break my heart!

Yes to grab a wing when you have 3 Wings already is Insanity! How often does a legit big man come around, it would be Insanity

I am really hoping it's revealed who the Suns are taking, I would be livid on draft night if this happened. The only way I would be able to deal with it, is if they grabbed Doncic and ended up with Bamba or Bagley as well.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I posted when we got #1 that if the Suns choose a Small Forward (even with passing skills) over the Center prospect of the decade(s), I would continue to follow, and post to, the ASFN D-backs and Mercury boards, but never open this Suns board again. Or watch a Suns game. Or follow their continued management disappointments.

Not to be dramatic but, well, because of my age. Having been a Suns fan for 48 years, I don't have decades to wait for a new regime that includes winning in their priorities.

In other words, I agree with your post, Devon. I will divorce the Suns. And that would break my heart!

So you’re saying in the unlikely event they draft Doncic and he becomes Euro-Magic and leads the Suns to 60 wins you’re not coming back? Cmon, gimme a break.

 

[DevonCardsFan]

So you’re saying in the unlikely event they draft Doncic and he becomes Euro-Magic and leads the Suns to 60 wins you’re not coming back? Cmon, gimme a break.

Yeah because there ehas been so many Euro Magics lol, The Sade bet is there never had been one and there still won't be one lol

 

[AzStevenCal]

I posted when we got #1 that if the Suns choose a Small Forward (even with passing skills) over the Center prospect of the decade(s), I would continue to follow, and post to, the ASFN D-backs and Mercury boards, but never open this Suns board again. Or watch a Suns game. Or follow their continued management disappointments.

Not to be dramatic but, well, because of my age. Having been a Suns fan for 48 years, I don't have decades to wait for a new regime that includes winning in their priorities.

In other words, I agree with your post, Devon. I will divorce the Suns. And that would break my heart!

How will you feel if we draft Ayton and his lack of defense makes him a liability throughout his career while Young and Doncic face off in the finals several times? I don't know what's going to happen with this group of players but I'm surprised how strong the feelings are even from fans that almost never watch college basketball.

A great wing or a great point guard or a great shooting guard - all of those things are better than a mediocre big man. We desperately need a good 4 or 5 from this draft (hopefully the best of the class) but I have no idea whether that will be Ayton, JJJ, Bamba, Bagley, Porter, Carter, Williams or none of them.

 

[Mainstreet]

Yes to grab a wing when you have 3 Wings already is Insanity! How often does a legit big man come around, it would be Insanity

I am really hoping it's revealed who the Suns are taking, I would be livid on draft night if this happened. The only way I would be able to deal with it, is if they grabbed Doncic and ended up with Bamba or Bagley as well.

I think the key is to draft BPA regardless of position.

The Suns wanted the Warriors to draft Stephen Curry for them when they still had Steve Nash.

 

[JCSunsfan]

How will you feel if we draft Ayton and his lack of defense makes him a liability throughout his career while Young and Doncic face off in the finals several times? I don't know what's going to happen with this group of players but I'm surprised how strong the feelings are even from fans that almost never watch college basketball.

A great wing or a great point guard or a great shooting guard - all of those things are better than a mediocre big man. We desperately need a good 4 or 5 from this draft (hopefully the best of the class) but I have no idea whether that will be Ayton, JJJ, Bamba, Bagley, Porter, Carter, Williams or none of them.

Oh, I have an idea! I am pretty sure I am right. But there is a small chance I could be wrong.

We haven't had this type of big man come out in a long time.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Oh, I have an idea! I am pretty sure I am right. But there is a small chance I could be wrong.

We haven't had this type of big man come out in a long time.

I don't know if you're talking Bamba or Ayton but I give Ayton the best odds of becoming the dominant big man and star from this class. I figure his chances are somewhere around 1 in 4, maybe 1 in 5. So, for me, the draft field is more likely to supply that dominant big man than whichever big man we draft.

 

[devilalum]

It was Bagley. He really wants to be here.

Bagley went to my sons high school.

He’s a valley kid.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Yeah because there ehas been so many Euro Magics lol, The Sade bet is there never had been one and there still won't be one lol

I said unlikely. Saying it’s not going to happen, which you can’t guarantee, is a cop out from answering the question.

 

[GatorAZ]

Bagley went to my sons high school.

He’s a valley kid.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

CDS!!