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

[francosy]

“I’ve been in the league since 2003 and he’s the most productive European player I’ve ever seen. What he did last year in the EuroBasket (2017) playing for Igor, what he’s doing for Real Madrid is unprecedented in a couple of decades. Most Americans who haven’t seen Luka play in person will be surprised by just how big he is. … I think his physical measurements are similar to Joe Johnson, and Joe is a big, strong, thick guy. You see Luka on film or see the highlights, you see the skill, the high-level passing, the incredible feel and court vision but then you see him up close and say, ‘God, this is a big, strong guy who has produced at a high level.'”

Sounds like McDonough has a very strong opinion on Doncic. However, Ayton is favorite (IMO), but I prefer option with Doncic on 1 and Capela on 5. In that case, our team would be in playoffs, 100%. Not sure if we can achieve this with Ayton and let say Payton. Maybe in 2 years, but not next year.

 

[elindholm]

I'm glad my brother isn't a Suns fan.

 

[francosy]

Also one important thing - Doncic said yesterday that he is in non-stop contact with Igor, they hear each other more than once a week. I'm quite sure that Igor will suggest McDonough that we should pick Doncic, regardless what he sees in next weeks by Ayton.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Maybe we can all agree the truth is likely somewhere in the middle. Igor probably didn't spend his past year diligently following the progress of all the top college prospects. But after it became likely he was getting the Suns job - and especially after he did - I am sure he got up to speed as quickly as possible on Ayton and everyone else we might have a chance of getting. I would have to believe he wouldn't be so foolish as to automatically assume we were taking Doncic no matter what, and then just get caught flat-footed when that became extremely unlikely.

But there’s no reason for him to do so “as quickly as possible.” The draft is not for some time. And his organization has professionals that have been doing it for an entire season (or more for some prospects). He will have plenty of time to do it. But he has more pressing responsibilities right now like building a staff and becoming one of the faces of the franchise. Does he need to come up to speed ASAP to satisfy the fans? Cmon. That doesn’t work . . .

 

[WildBB]

“I’ve been in the league since 2003 and he’s the most productive European player I’ve ever seen. What he did last year in the EuroBasket (2017) playing for Igor, what he’s doing for Real Madrid is unprecedented in a couple of decades. Most Americans who haven’t seen Luka play in person will be surprised by just how big he is. … I think his physical measurements are similar to Joe Johnson, and Joe is a big, strong, thick guy. You see Luka on film or see the highlights, you see the skill, the high-level passing, the incredible feel and court vision but then you see him up close and say, ‘God, this is a big, strong guy who has produced at a high level.'”

Sounds like McDonough has a very strong opinion on Doncic. However, Ayton is favorite (IMO), but I prefer option with Doncic on 1 and Capela on 5. In that case, our team would be in playoffs, 100%. Not sure if we can achieve this with Ayton and let say Payton. Maybe in 2 years, but not next year.

Your forgeting how bad defensively a Doncic and Booker back court would be.They could get tore up consistently. And getting Capela on anything less then the max is a pipe dream. Booker will sign for it, then JJ, then Ayton.

 

[Cheesebeef]

You want simple, here’s simple:

HE INTERVIEWED FOR HEAD COACH. HE WAS HIRED AS COACH. HE WAS NOT INTERVIEWED AS GM OR PLAYER PERSONNEL. HE IS NOT GM OR PLAYER PERSONNEL.

If I were hiring a COACH literally ALL of my questions would center around COACHING and CULTURE and PHILOSOPHY. I HAVE a GM (or I AM the GM). If I even asked about the pending draft (a) I wouldn’t expect an assistant fresh out of the playoff to possess much information and (b) I would expect an answer of “I am looking forward to digging into the prospects alongside your front office and identifying the optimal candidate.” This isn’t Pop they hired. This isn’t Phil they hired. This is a first time head coach with very little power or persuasion. So there’s NO WAY the biggest question Sarver/McD asked was about the draft. That’s an idiotic statement. If anything the draft was a secondary question asked because Sarver and McD know THEY are making that decision.

And analogizing to a movie is plain stupid. You know full well that your industry doesn’t operate even slightly similarly to ANY other industry. And you think WB expects Nolan to be well-versed on every potential candidate?!? That’s absurd. Once they hire him they likely engage in that conversation and if he needs to learn about the candidates he does so, but not in the front end.

And your analogy for MY industry is literally the dumbest argument you made, even moreso for its fumbling lack of specificity. (A) if I don’t know what my actual options are beforehand I can’t appropriately prepare, (B) if I know someone else at that company is tasked with that specific responsibility no way do I step on their toes, and (C) the best answer in an interview is NEVER an off-the-cuff answer but rather “that’s a good question. I want to provide you a thorough answer, let me dive into with a little time and get back to - but if you want a limited answer . . . “. And we have no idea if that’s what Igor did. We aren’t saying he knows NOTHING about Ayton (which seems to be your now current position - arguing that we believe he knows nothing about Ayton, which was never our position). We are saying his knowledge is likely much more limited regarding ALL prospects than it is Doncic and thus he’s reticent to discuss (or more likely hasn’t even been directly asked) any of the others in greater detail until he’s more proficient. I know that blurting out whatever's in your head without thinking has always been YOUR MO, but other professionals typical take a more measured thinking approach.

Oh, and you didn’t address any of the points I made. Good job doing exactly what you lambast others for doing.

Jesus dude. Switch to decaf.

I’ve got bigger fish to fry right now. I’ll get back to this in a bit, but there’s no reason to be this much of a jerk, Ouch.

 

[Covert Rain]

Maybe we can all agree the truth is likely somewhere in the middle. Igor probably didn't spend his past year diligently following the progress of all the top college prospects. But after it became likely he was getting the Suns job - and especially after he did - I am sure he got up to speed as quickly as possible on Ayton and everyone else we might have a chance of getting. I would have to believe he wouldn't be so foolish as to automatically assume we were taking Doncic no matter what, and then just get caught flat-footed when that became extremely unlikely.

What does any of this matter? Who cares if he did in the past or payed any attention? It's his job to study the hell out of game tape. It's his job to go over all the top prospects with a meticulous comb so to speak.

I think most of the commentary above about how much he paid attention is completely pointless. It's academic at this point.

He will know everything about these players by the time the draft comes around.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I'm glad my brother isn't a Suns fan.

Ha!

 

[Raindog]

I'm glad my brother isn't a Suns fan.

My brother is... but I don't think he is even aware of this website.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Good grief. We will argue about nearly anything on this board.

 

[elindholm]

Good grief. We will argue about nearly anything on this board.

No we won't.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Your forgeting how bad defensively a Doncic and Booker back court would be.They could get tore up consistently. And getting Capela on anything less then the max is a pipe dream. Booker will sign for it, then JJ, then Ayton.

OK. I am not the biggest Doncic fan but his defense is not as bad as people say. Again. This is the time of year when either a players defense is stellar or horrible. No one ever says it is above average or average. Doncic really works hard on D and understand spacing. He defends like a young Jared Dudley, which is not bad at all. His problem is that he will have great difficulty defending small quick point guards. There are two options for dealing with this. First, there is JJ. He can defend 1-3 with his speed and size. Then we could also add a smaller defensive specialist to the bench to help too. Doncic will be fine defending most 2-4 players.

 

[SunsTzu]

I'm glad my brother isn't a Suns fan.

Based on recent history I'm sure he's even more glad not to be one.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Just curious. Who is the older brother?

 

[Covert Rain]

My brother is... but I don't think he is even aware of this website.

My brother lurks here but he never posts.

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

I think either Ayton or Doncic would be a welcome addition to the team. Each for their own reasons. Neither one, individually, makes this roster complete. But I do know that if Doncic is drafted with our first pick, I will need to vacate the site until the season begins. This forum will become unbearable.

 

[pokerface]

Yes, you could draft-and-stash Doncic.

The only reason Ayton isn’t the consensus #1 overall is because of Igor’s relationship with Doncic. Had we’ve hired Fizdale, the only debate is about what number he’d wear in Phoenix. Logic says it should be Ayton. For me, the kicker is the dude really wants to be here and has been talking about it all offseason. That’s refreshing to hear because the last 8 years or so have been hell.

I'm starting to get a little tired hearing about Igor (in the media) and somehow we are supposed to draft Doncic now because of their bro-mance. Like we are going pass on a unicorn because of that?? It's like they are trying to create some drama...pfft...not buying it...at all.

 

[AzStevenCal]

But I do know that if Doncic is drafted with our first pick, I will need to vacate the site until the season begins. This forum will become unbearable.

Actually this could be a lot of fun if you have a sick sense of humor. Yes, a few fans will go ballistic over the Doncic choice. But there will be a healthy contingent of Euro fans that will join the fray to carry the Luka torch. And a few of them will likely be in the Andrew class (major fanboi).

 

[Chaplin]

Just curious. Who is the older brother?

I believe Ouchie is the older one, but not sure.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Also one important thing - Doncic said yesterday that he is in non-stop contact with Igor, they hear each other more than once a week. I'm quite sure that Igor will suggest McDonough that we should pick Doncic, regardless what he sees in next weeks by Ayton.

See I don’t think so. If he studies Ayton and thinks he will make a larger impact he will get onboard with Ayton. I mean, NO SMART PERSON sabotages their dream job for a personal relationship.

He’s close with Doncic. Makes sense given their past. But by all appearances Igor is a smart reasonable individual. He will want to succeed. I’d be shocked if he recommended a course of action that wasn’t in his, and the organizations, best interest. And both are aligned.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I'm glad my brother isn't a Suns fan.

Haha. This is a VERY rare circumstance where we are not operating in collective Borg mentality.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Jesus dude. Switch to decaf.

I’ve got bigger fish to fry right now. I’ll get back to this in a bit, but there’s no reason to be this much of a jerk, Ouch.

You’re a dummy.

Kick some butt at the pitch.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Just curious. Who is the older brother?

I’m older by 7 years. He’s the baby of the family.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I’m older by 7 years. He’s the baby of the family.

Wasim says you’re wrong. So does Jesse!

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Wasim says you’re wrong. So does Jesse!

Conspiracy theory Wasim and weird guy are in your camp? Should be enough to convince you that you’re wrong.