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

[sunsfan88]

The last 48 hours and then the actual day of the draft always feels like the longest till it actually starts.

 

[sunsfan88]

Michael Porter Jr apparently may redshirt his rookie season which could kill his stock quite a bit.

 

[sunsfan88]

I really think that Doncic is going to be completely unexceptional in the NBA. Maybe not an epic bust like Milicic or Tskitishvili (similarly over-hyped Euros of the recent past), but just an average journeyman Euro import when all is said and done. I just don't see that the physical talent is there to allow him to really excel against upper level NBA athletes the way that he has been able to against what is essentially NBA reject level and minor league talent in Europe.

I think he basically ends up as either a good passing, under-sized power forward, or a bulky, slow swing SG/wing.

I don't think this becomes true and the Suns HC Igor Kokoskov, who has 20 years of NBA experience having coached for and against many superstars, disagrees with you vehemently

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[Phrazbit]

Michael Porter Jr apparently may redshirt his rookie season which could kill his stock quite a bit.

Redshirt is something college kids do to keep eligibility. You don't redshirt as a pro.

Just say "Michael Porter Jr might be horribly broken".

 

[BC867]

I don't think this becomes true and the Suns HC Igor Kokoskov, who has 20 years of NBA experience having coached for and against many superstars, disagrees with you vehemently

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Having coached Doncic, Igor is not a disinterested party. Of course he is biased . . . vehemently.

 

[Raindog]

Michael Porter Jr apparently may redshirt his rookie season which could kill his stock quite a bit.

Interesting... he would be the fourth player to (more or less) do that in the last four years... two of which (Embiid, Simmons) made it work,and the jury is out on the third (Fultz).

All of which means, the Sixers likely end up with Porter, of course.

 

[Mainstreet]

The last 48 hours and then the actual day of the draft always feels like the longest till it actually starts.

It seems like something should be happening other than more mock drafts. The NBA needs have trades before the draft to get everyone excited.

 

[sunsfan88]

It seems like something should be happening other than more mock drafts. The NBA needs have trades before the draft to get everyone excited.

I wish they would do what the NFL does and have free agency open up before the draft.

 

[Mainstreet]

I wish they would do what the NFL does and have free agency open up before the draft.

It would certainly add an element of surprise before the draft.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

If you re gonna rip doncic... I'm glad you're back!

It's incredible how the people who are his biggest fans ignore his bad performances like today, yet tweet out how stupid everyone who criticizes him is whenever he has a good game.

I don't get it, why is there a cult quality to some of his followers

Games like this one is exactly why I have slowed down on Doncic quite a bit. I still like him, but I do question his star potential at this point. TBF though he has been playing for like 2 years straight with almost no rest. Part of his poor performances may have to do with wearing down.

 

[Krangodnzr]

I really think that Doncic is going to be completely unexceptional in the NBA. Maybe not an epic bust like Milicic or Tskitishvili (similarly over-hyped Euros of the recent past), but just an average journeyman Euro import when all is said and done. I just don't see that the physical talent is there to allow him to really excel against upper level NBA athletes the way that he has been able to against what is essentially NBA reject level and minor league talent in Europe.

Particularly notable to me is that is his physique is not especially sleek - he is blocky in build, with a lot of baby fat. At 19, of course, he has room to physically mature, and he will probably lose the baby fat to some extent if he starts conditioning in the manner an NBA team will mandate. But with his build, it seems more likely to me he will fill out in a bulkier manner rather than in any way that is going to enhance his agility or quickness... which is going to basically rob him of whatever little athleticism he has now. I think he basically ends up as either a good passing, under-sized power forward, or a bulky, slow swing SG/wing.

Comparing Doncic to Milicic and Tskitishvili is asinine. Neither were even 1/10 as accomplished as Doncic is. Yes they were overhyped, but Doncic is probably hyped right where he should be, because he is supremely accomplished in a league most would say is much tougher than the NCAA.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Having coached Doncic, Igor is not a disinterested party. Of course he is biased . . . vehemently.

Well, we're all biased to some degree but I think you make far too much of this. It's almost as if you are damning him for having actual inside information. The man has coached a lot of players, hundreds, maybe more. Is he going to be pushing us to sign or draft every one of them? And do you apply this same reasoning to every coach? They have all worked with many players in their past.

I'm going to take the man at his word, he has said multiple times that he will not be pushing a Doncic agenda. And he has said that Doncic will be a star if he works on his weaknesses and that he will not be a point guard. Not too much different from what most of us say about Luka.

 

[Covert Rain]

Well... this draft is not predictable. I've seen no consensus on any pick after #1.

I'm 99.9% sure we're taking Ayton.

I'm 100% sure Bagley goes in the top 5 but I have no idea where. Doncic top 6.

Then you've got guys like Bamba and Young who could go anywhere from 2nd to 10th.

I think that the top 5 are not going to shift much in reality. You won’t see Doncic drop out of the top 10 or someone skyrocket to the top 5 nobody is talking about.

 

[elindholm]

a league most would say is much tougher than the NCAA.

Most of whom? I guarantee that most people who follow basketball in the U.S. would not say that Euroleague is "much tougher" than the NCAA.

 

[Mr. Boldin]

It seems it is the twitter hivemind that all sucks on the nipple of Cole Zwicker ultimately although Cole Zwicker had Monk and Isaac top 5, Tatum 9th, Markkanen 14th or so and Adebayo 40+

Evan Sidery, Kellan Olson and others off their twitter clique are really loud and Sidery, don‘t get me started if Sidery writes an opinion piece I don‘t even read it anymore.

Thats a great point. I follow all these guys pretty closely, but I disagree with a lot of what they write/say. Its a simple equation for me, albeit I breakdown guys pretty thoroughly when I have the time.

The #1 skill in the NBA, IMO, is shot creation. If you can create off the dribble, that is as valuable as anything. The bigger/longer you are, the more important that trait is.

Add in two way play, shooting (especially off the dribble), and the ability to play and rebound while moving up a position.

You also can factor in that guys who just pop off the screen. Thats Ayton for me. Hes the more talented player I have seen in Tucson since Sean Elliot. Those types of guys pop and are easy to imagine what they look like with additional spacing and better talent around them.

Again, thats my basic algebra. I can expand far, far deeper, or more broadly (my competent wings example ive been pushing), but I digress.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Thats a great point. I follow all these guys pretty closely, but I disagree with a lot of what they write/say. Its a simple equation for me, albeit I breakdown guys pretty thoroughly when I have the time.

The #1 skill in the NBA, IMO, is shot creation. If you can create off the dribble, that is as valuable as anything. The bigger/longer you are, the more important that trait is.

Add in two way play, shooting (especially off the dribble), and the ability to play and rebound while moving up a position.

You also can factor in that guys who just pop off the screen. Thats Ayton for me. Hes the more talented player I have seen in Tucson since Sean Elliot. Those types of guys pop and are easy to imagine what they look like with additional spacing and better talent around them.

Again, thats my basic algebra. I can expand far, far deeper, or more broadly (my competent wings example ive been pushing), but I digress.

I think the reason I remain such a Doncic skeptic that he will be amazing, or an All-Star or a Magic-esque player is that lack of pop off the screen. I get that he's the best of a league of men, but if you're not popping off a screen against them, it just leaves me to question if he'd be able to the highest level.

Take for example the entire Magic isn't fast discussion. No, Magic wasn't fast, but he DEFINITELY popped off the screen regardless. There was a power to his passes, threading needles the way no one else could, a fluidity to his movements, able to spin off guys and still make the ridiculous or just perfect dish. Just haven't seen that POP from Doncic.

That said, I also didn't see it with Tatum and to an extent, Simmons. But I DEFINITELY see it with Simmons now when I watch him play.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Undoubtedly, it happens with American prospects, too. But I can't think of any American prospect in recent years who anyone insisted is "no way he's going to miss" in the same way the post-millennial Twitter-based media has gone to town hyping Doncic. And I suspect that will only get worse with each passing year and each new phenom they can find to generate clicks.

Whether he is good or not, I don't see any way that he is going to be Euro-Bird/Magic/Lebron that the media, super-fan bloggers, and Twitter booger-eaters are making him out to be. I would bet my wooden leg (if I had one) that in four years, no one is going to care about Luka Doncic any more than anyone cares about Dante Exum today.

That’s wrong. Oden was cant miss. Wiggins was can’t miss.

 

[Mr. Boldin]

I think the reason I remain such a Doncic skeptic that he will be amazing, or an All-Star or a Magic-esque player is that lack of pop off the screen. I get that he's the best of a league of men, but if you're not popping off a screen against them, it just leaves me to question if he'd be able to the highest level.

Take for example the entire Magic isn't fast discussion. No, Magic wasn't fast, but he DEFINITELY popped off the screen regardless. There was a power to his passes, threading needles the way no one else could, a fluidity to his movements, able to spin off guys and still make the ridiculous or just perfect dish. Just haven't seen that POP from Doncic.

That said, I also didn't see it with Tatum and to an extent, Simmons. But I DEFINITELY see it with Simmons now when I watch him play.

I agree with you on Doncic. I like him, but he needs to be in the right situation to be used effectively. I still have him #2 on my board, but my expectations are a bit tempered on him.

Regarding Tatum, I know I wasnt on here at the time, but I loved him and made it well known on UA Scout. Why? Competent wing, could create off the dribble, had good length, solid athlete, could play the 3 and 4, had a projectable jumper (although nobody expected it to improve that fast).

Doncic is a different prospect, and while he might be able to create and finish at the rim like Tatum, he has an ace skill Tatum doesnt; Elite passing and vision.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Rex was one of the most athletic players in the league at the time. He had a 40 inch vert. Rex was more athletic than Majerle by a lot.

Agree 100%. Rex had crazy hops and movement skills.

 

[Mainstreet]

Aggregation of the popular Top 100 draft rankings. #1 Doncic, and #2 Ayton. Surprising to see JJJ above Bamba.

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I wouldn't be shocked if Jaren Jackson Jr. went #2. McDonough was amazed at his shooting skills not to mention he is a rim protector.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I wouldn't be shocked if Jaren Jackson Jr. went #2. McDonough was amazed at his shooting skills not to mention he is a rim protector.

Those are rankings not mock draft projections.

 

[Mainstreet]

Those are rankings not mock draft projections.

Maybe so, but talent wise Jackson might go as early as #2. McDonough was very excited about Jackson after seeing him shoot. Almost as much as Ayton.

Bagley and Doncic may go #2 and #3 but Jackson might be the best player in the draft hopefully right after Ayton.

 

[Hoop Head]

I wish they would do what the NFL does and have free agency open up before the draft.

It'd be nice if they allowed something, like having restricted free agency play out before the draft. That would help teams determine what they need. It might actually give those players more of a chance to get deals as well. It would at least help some players and teams know the direction they need to take in the draft and then the rest of free agency. Some restricted players might even lose their restricted sort of hold and be able to enter regularly free agency as well, if their team elected not to offer them a qualifying offer of some sort.

 

[BC867]

Well, we're all biased to some degree but I think you make far too much of this. It's almost as if you are damning him for having actual inside information. The man has coached a lot of players, hundreds, maybe more. Is he going to be pushing us to sign or draft every one of them? And do you apply this same reasoning to every coach? They have all worked with many players in their past.

That works both ways. Igor has inside info about Doncic. But does he have equivalent inside information about Ayton or any other of the big men? He does not.

So his inside information is incomplete concerning the choice of a #1 pick. Especially when it concerns a Small Forward who wants to be a Point Guard. On a very young team that needs an experienced Point Guard running the offense, after choosing a Center.

Igor's inside info on a player he coached is a small part of the the big picture and, therefore, does not put him in the position to choose a Small Forward as our #1 pick.

 

[Hoop Head]

Comparing Doncic to Milicic and Tskitishvili is asinine. Neither were even 1/10 as accomplished as Doncic is. Yes they were overhyped, but Doncic is probably hyped right where he should be, because he is supremely accomplished in a league most would say is much tougher than the NCAA.

But those players were hyped quite a bit. I think Rubio was hyped just as much as Doncic is now. I don't recall Milicic or Tskitishvilli being that highly touted because they hadn't accomplished anything but Rubio had, to a certain degree. He'd been seen on Spain's national team and in the Euroleague. He wasn't all potential. Doncic may be nothing like the duds but that doesn't mean they weren't oversold to a ridiculous degree.