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

ColdPickleNachos

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@Poop Head

I didn't really answer your question about Kemba Walker. The problem with Walker is he is only under contract for next season and he will be looking for a big contract thereafter.

I worry about the Suns being able to keep him in FA and pay the salary he will command.

Otherwise, there is a lot to like.

The upside to that, however, is that you can likely acquire him for less in assets than it would otherwise require.
 

Cheesebeef

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To what end? We're not going to contend and in couple years when we might be ready... he'll be toast. And I don't see Miami trading him to us without getting that pick back.

agree. shouldn't give up assets solely for a guy who could take us from 34 wins to 41ish.
 

Phrazbit

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i never followed college ball.
how did the prospect hype after Duncan, Robinson, and Olajuwon's FIRST college year compare to Ayton?

They don't. Ayton's production blows theirs out of the water. But, to be fair, it was a different time, guys didn't leave early so freshmen rarely received the minutes Ayton did.
 

pokerface

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Maybe it’s just me...... but is anyone worried about what the future of the NBA looks like for big men?

No dominant bigs for the past few years have made an impact in the playoffs. Capela, Horford, Green, and Thompson in final four while Davis, Embid, and others sit at home.
A league trending more and more towards 3 pointers and pace of play.
Ayton is a remarkably poor defender adding to our current issues.


I’m not advocating for Doncic, just don’t think this becomes what you all think it may become. He’s not Duncan, Robinson, Olajuwon, or even Anthony Davis IMO. And he may not even be a Jokic level player in this league. Hell.....He’s not even the prospect Oden was as his defensive liabilities really detract from any offensive impact he may have.

Who really knows though. I may be viewed as a fool in 3 years but damn...... I didn’t expect this much drooling over him. Even the usual pessimists are beaming!




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Yeah well this is a big man draft and Ayton is the best prospect. He scores and boards and his defense can improve.
 
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Hoop Head

Hoop Head

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i never followed college ball.
how did the prospect hype after Duncan, Robinson, and Olajuwon's FIRST college year compare to Ayton?

It's really hard to compare Ayton to their first year because there really wasn't talk of them leaving college to go pro at that point. Of the bigs drafted over the last 2 decades, like Anthony Davis, Karl Anthony Towns, Joel Embiid, etc I think Ayton falls being Davis in the hype department but ahead of Towns and Embiid.
 

Cheesebeef

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It's really hard to compare Ayton to their first year because there really wasn't talk of them leaving college to go pro at that point. Of the bigs drafted over the last 2 decades, like Anthony Davis, Karl Anthony Towns, Joel Embiid, etc I think Ayton falls being Davis in the hype department but ahead of Towns and Embiid.

I think he's behind Towns too, but probably at least the equal of Embiid. I'm still surprised at just how ridiculously talented he ended up being.
 

GatorAZ

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To what end? We're not going to contend and in couple years when we might be ready... he'll be toast. And I don't see Miami trading him to us without getting that pick back.

I’m just not seeing these star PG’s in their primes that are available right now. McD will acquire a vet this summer most likely at PG.
 

Raindog

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The major reason the league has moved away from interior play to exterior is that there have scarcely been any quality big men come into the league over the better part of the past (going on three) decades. So offensive systems have gone in other directions to compensate for the lack of strong interior play - specifically with three point shooting (Curry) and athletic slashers (Lebron/Harden).

But when genuinely offensively consistent and talented post players do happen to come along, rare as it is compared to the heyday of the 1960s through (part of) 1980s, they are still extremely dominant and successful (ie, Shaq and Duncan). The game is still ultimately about putting the ball in the basket at a greater rate than the opponent, and the easiest and most consistent way to do that is when you have someone who can dependably do it from close to the basket.
 

Mainstreet

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We'd have his bird rights and a team on the rise, clearly, we'd have to be more attractive than Charlotte for him. I know the cost may be an issue but there would be more options next summer than there are this year. I think if they added Walker they could contend for a playoff spot and if he gets along with our core I don't see why we couldn't retain him. Adding Ayton could be huge, our blueprint doesn't contain as much "luck" and "hope" as it did, it'd be clear where we're headed as our guys develop and I trust Kemba would see that if we got him this year and he could play with Ayton, Jackson, and Booker.

I expressed my concerns about Walker. The player I like. I'm not sure how he fits into the equation though in terms of a trade and salary.
 

Phrazbit

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Embiid is much better than Towns if we’re talking overall impact.

I think he is talking about the perceptions of them prior to the draft.

I'd say, in recent memory, he exceeds everyone except the Brow and Oden in the hyperbole department.
 

Mainstreet

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The upside to that, however, is that you can likely acquire him for less in assets than it would otherwise require.

Maybe but the Hornets might want a ransom for him. What do you think the Suns would have to give up to get him?
 

Dr. Jones

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Feels like prisoner of the moment thinking. This team isn't going to be competing with today's NBA Super Powers by the time it matures into a title contender. Gotta look to the future and who the up and coming teams are and right now that's Boston, Sixers, Utah, NO (especially if they EVER pair Davis with another legit star). Three of those 4 clubs have very good-great Cs. Those are tomorrow's contenders and those are the teams we'll need to keep in mind when constructing our own. Hell, I could even throw Minny in there.
Meh....

3 years from now KD, Steph, Harden, AD, Simmons, and Giannis will be running things.

Maybe even 5 to 7 years from now.

All of them have ball handling skill except for maybe AD but he is so transcendent defensively that it trumps everything.

One of those studs above will have to pick us as a destination of we are to win titles IMO. And they won't choose Sarver no matter how nice the weather is or how hot the girls are at the local strip clubs.

KAT, Jokic, Embid, etc won't be winning finals MVPs in the future if the rules continue to move more towards the perimeter.

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Phrazbit

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I’m just not seeing these star PG’s in their primes that are available right now. McD will acquire a vet this summer most likely at PG.

If we're dead set on trading for a "star" PG, then I'd much rather get Kemba Walker than Dragic, but, personally I think they should go after someone who can be a capable starter and worry about the "star" point guard part for a later date and time.

And regardless... again, to what end? I honestly don't see the point in acquiring Dragic. We're not going to contend next year, by the time we're ready his production will have likely fallen off a cliff. And on top of all that, I don't see him and Booker as an ideal pairing.
 

Raindog

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Meh....

3 years from now KD, Steph, Harden, AD, Simmons, and Giannis will be running things.

Maybe even 5 to 7 years from now.

Durant and Curry will not likely be dominant three years from now. And probably not even relevant beyond then. Harden will likely be slipping, too.
 

Errntknght

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My preference for a PG is Colin Sexton in this draft. Plays good D, athletic as the devil, high energy, questionable as 3pt shooter. I see him as the kind of PG we need to put next to Book. I'm a little more inclined toward Trae Young since I've heard he's been hard at work getting stronger, though it doesn't really imply he'll defend much better. (My starting point with him was he and Book could well be a distastrous pairing on defense.) Among the FA's I like Fred VanVleet from Toronto. Works hard on D and shoots over 40% on threes. Also Ast/TO ratio of 3.3. Toronto may not match because Delon Wright is a comparable young PG and is 4 inches taller at 6'5 - he's on their roster, too, of course. Tyus Jones from Minny is not a FA but he will be soon and the Wolves have to worry about keeping him - if they're concerned about being able to retain him because of his salary they might be amenable to a trade. Jerian Grant from Chi is in a similar circustance, behind Dunn. Both Jones and Grant have Ast/TO near 4.0 (3.8, 3.9)
 

SirStefan32

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my secret hope is that somehow my biggest whipping boy... Bender... grows a set of huevos and becomes a solid three point shooting stretch 4... o

I hope Igor can help Dragan pull his head out of his behind. He would be an ideal PF for this crew.
 

GatorAZ

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If we're dead set on trading for a "star" PG, then I'd much rather get Kemba Walker than Dragic, but, personally I think they should go after someone who can be a capable starter and worry about the "star" point guard part for a later date and time.

And regardless... again, to what end? I honestly don't see the point in acquiring Dragic. We're not going to contend next year, by the time we're ready his production will have likely fallen off a cliff. And on top of all that, I don't see him and Booker as an ideal pairing.

Kemba will command something in the range of Mike Conley’s deal. He’s played 3 less seasons than Dragic but only has one less season’s worth of minutes played. He’ll eventually probably cost more via trade given their asking price at the deadline. He’s obviously better but we’re already giving Booker the max starting 2020.
 

Chaplin

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We don't need a star at PG. We just need someone that can run the team. I would love Trae Young, but that is a tall order. So, you get yourself a decent point guard. Heck, if Igor is content with possibly making Doncic an actual point guard, why not go bigger and try Bender at the point forward if you draft Ayton? Then you can put all your attention on getting a 4 that is more than just a head case.

Hell, with Igor's motion offense, do you really need a top-dollar scoring point guard right now?
 

Phrazbit

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Kemba will command something in the range of Mike Conley’s deal. He’s played 3 less seasons than Dragic but only has one less season’s worth of minutes played. He’ll eventually probably cost more via trade given their asking price at the deadline. He’s obviously better but we’re already giving Booker the max starting 2020.

I don't really want to trade for Walker, I'm just saying if we're dead set on getting a high profile PG then he makes waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more sense to me than Dragic, because... I just don't see any point in getting Dragic at all. He's in decline, he's expensive, he'll cost a fair amount in trade and I think he is a bad fit.
 

Phrazbit

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If Ayton is even on the shallow end of our hopes, then, by virtue of the double teams he'll draw in the post, he would make life for a guy like Bender pretty easy.
 

pokerface

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The possibilities are endless now!

Top pick...cap room...mid first rounder ...early second rounder...tradable assets .

This is the BEST.
 

JCSunsfan

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We don't need a star at PG. We just need someone that can run the team. I would love Trae Young, but that is a tall order. So, you get yourself a decent point guard. Heck, if Igor is content with possibly making Doncic an actual point guard, why not go bigger and try Bender at the point forward if you draft Ayton? Then you can put all your attention on getting a 4 that is more than just a head case.

Hell, with Igor's motion offense, do you really need a top-dollar scoring point guard right now?
You need a pg, who can pass, shoot, and play solid D. Doesnt have to be stellar. Need a Malcom Brogdon type of pg.
 

Shaggy

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As the Suns GM, Ryan McDonough has to be savoring having the #1 pick in a loaded draft.

He will work it for all it's worth but I trust him to make the right decision come draft day.

I hope so!
 

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