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

[AzStevenCal]

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.

You're right, he doesn't. And that's exactly what he said when asked about it. He said positive things about Doncic's potential but acknowledged that he had no real information on anyone else. And he wasn't going to be pushing an agenda because of his lack of knowledge on the other prospects.

 

[AzStevenCal]

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.

Seriously? I'm surprised. I honestly can't remember a Euro player hyped as much as Doncic has been. I guess maybe I feel that way because Luka has been talked about for so long now. Others have been pushed into the limelight for a few months before the draft but Luka has been there for a few years now.

 

[sunsfan88]

Seriously? I'm surprised. I honestly can't remember a Euro player hyped as much as Doncic has been. I guess maybe I feel that way because Luka has been talked about for so long now. Others have been pushed into the limelight for a few months before the draft but Luka has been there for a few years now.

I read somewhere that Luka is the most accomplished Euro prospect to ever come into the NBA. There was a comparison of guys like Rubio vs Hezonja vs Porzingis vs Doncic vs Ginobili etc and he did stand out.

And then all the prominent draft experts and NBA experts such Kevin O'Connor, Jonathan Givony, Adrian Woj, Bill Simmons, Zach Lowe etc being very high on his game has certainly led to some added hype. Dragic and Kokoskov certainly added to it with comments like these

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[Hoop Head]

Seriously? I'm surprised. I honestly can't remember a Euro player hyped as much as Doncic has been. I guess maybe I feel that way because Luka has been talked about for so long now. Others have been pushed into the limelight for a few months before the draft but Luka has been there for a few years now.

I remember a ton of Rubio coverage, probably the same amount as Doncic, but we're paying more attention because the player they're talking about could end up on our team. With our coach being his only real tie to the NBA we're hearing a bit more as well. I think the perception for Suns fans is skewed some with Doncic though because the chances of him being our pick was quite high before the lottery drawing and back when Rubio was drafted we were a perennial playoff team that didn't concern ourselves with the very top of the draft order because that wasn't in the cards for us.

Also for as much as Doncic is hyped, Suns fans were seeking out info on him because he was a realistic target in the draft for us. Since we won the lottery that changed though. We're getting Ayton and that's great but when we thought we'd be picking 2,3, or 4 things were different. We needed to see who would be the best as well as fit the best of Bagley, Bamba, JJJ, Doncic, Porter, and Young. Doncic is probably the most NBA ready of those prospects and with the ties to the team through our coach, it looked like the stars aligned for us to get him. Of course winning the lottery changed that but winning the lottery also made Suns fans greedy. Everyone who questioned taking Doncic #2 or #3 became sold on the idea of somehow leaving the draft with Ayton and Doncic somehow. If we could do that there would be less pressure for Doncic to turn into a megastar for us because Ayton should be a sure thing. I know we'd give up assets for Doncic but the risk would be lower since we already added a great player from this draft with him and if he doesn't pan out, we're not looking back and thinking we missed out on a sure thing.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Dragic and Kokoskov certainly added to it with comments like these

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I've seen this quote before, but not heard it directly...But on ESPN he said a similar quote that was MUCH more tame. "I've been in basketball for 25 years...Probably one of the most talented players I ever worked with..."

Huge difference. Those two qualifiers are everything. Quote is at 4:25 in this video.

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[slinslin]

And then all the prominent draft experts and NBA experts such Kevin O'Connor, Jonathan Givony, Adrian Woj, Bill Simmons, Zach Lowe etc being very high on his game has certainly led to some added hype. Dragic and Kokoskov certainly added to it with comments like these

Again these are not experts. Zach Lowe does not watch college basketball at all, Adrian Woj is a reporter not a scout, Bill Simmons is an entertainer.

Kevin O'Connor is just a fan turned writer.

The only expert you mentioned is Givony and he had Ayton #1 on this draft board all year.

 

[Willie D]

I've seen this quote before, but not heard it directly...

IIRC, Redford's "Wonderboy" bat was broken, and replaced by the batboy's own creation, the "Savoy Special." Splintered like Sam Bowie's tibia.

The only thing that would have made this better is if Stern was still the commish. Just imagine all the Knicks fans who would boo the dog snot out of him while he walks up with that smug grin on his face to announce the Kareem curse is finally over. I wonder if Ayton he has to give part of his rookie contract to Sean Miller.

 

[sunsfan88]

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.

Not #2 because I do think Luka's all but reserved that spot but #3 would not surprise me. That tweet, however, was just a big board ranking the prospects without considering fit or team.

 

[pokerface]

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

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I'm not that surprised. JJJ has a overall better game I think. But Bamba could be more dominating. It's close.

 

[pokerface]

I remember a ton of Rubio coverage, probably the same amount as Doncic, but we're paying more attention because the player they're talking about could end up on our team. With our coach being his only real tie to the NBA we're hearing a bit more as well. I think the perception for Suns fans is skewed some with Doncic though because the chances of him being our pick was quite high before the lottery drawing and back when Rubio was drafted we were a perennial playoff team that didn't concern ourselves with the very top of the draft order because that wasn't in the cards for us.

Also for as much as Doncic is hyped, Suns fans were seeking out info on him because he was a realistic target in the draft for us. Since we won the lottery that changed though. We're getting Ayton and that's great but when we thought we'd be picking 2,3, or 4 things were different. We needed to see who would be the best as well as fit the best of Bagley, Bamba, JJJ, Doncic, Porter, and Young. Doncic is probably the most NBA ready of those prospects and with the ties to the team through our coach, it looked like the stars aligned for us to get him. Of course winning the lottery changed that but winning the lottery also made Suns fans greedy. Everyone who questioned taking Doncic #2 or #3 became sold on the idea of somehow leaving the draft with Ayton and Doncic somehow. If we could do that there would be less pressure for Doncic to turn into a megastar for us because Ayton should be a sure thing. I know we'd give up assets for Doncic but the risk would be lower since we already added a great player from this draft with him and if he doesn't pan out, we're not looking back and thinking we missed out on a sure thing.

Winning the lottery definitely changed expectations. And yes...we got greedy(insane?) wanting another top 3 pick. But interestingly enough Memphis cracked the door to a possible trade for #4 so insanity is giving way to possible reality?


This draft is so unreal and we are center stage!

 

[Hoop Head]

Winning the lottery definitely changed expectations. And yes...we got greedy(insane?) wanting another top 3 pick. But interestingly enough Memphis cracked the door to a possible trade for #4 so insanity is giving way to possible reality?


This draft is so unreal and we are center stage!

Memphis is just the team people are focused on now in regards to trading their pick. People have gone through various scenarios for the Kings, Hawks, and Mavericks unloading their picks also, as well as the Cavs. Virtually every team but the Magic has been discussed as a team who may trade their lottery pick. I'd be surprised if anyone does.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Does anyone have any idea how next years draft is going to look? The Suns will have firepower again next year, especially with that Miami pick looking like it could be a good one with Dragic getting old and that team lacking real star power for the foreseeable future.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Does anyone have any idea how next years draft is going to look? The Suns will have firepower again next year, especially with that Miami pick looking like it could be a good one with Dragic getting old and that team lacking real star power for the foreseeable future.

A lot of wing prospects. It has generally been considered a weaker class, but who knows how it develops.

Duke has three of the biggest names in RJ Barrett, Zion Williamson, and Cameron Reddish. Nassir Little, a swing going to UNC, has looked good lately. Bol Bol is in this draft, which is fun...

Overall, it currently looks a bit underwhelming. Hopefully, the Suns will be more focused on surrounding the best young core in basketball with role players and veteran leadership this time next year.

 

[pokerface]

Does anyone have any idea how next years draft is going to look? The Suns will have firepower again next year, especially with that Miami pick looking like it could be a good one with Dragic getting old and that team lacking real star power for the foreseeable future.

Well ppl been saying around here the next draft is weak...

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

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.

So your argument is . . . having the additional information/insight is a BAD thing?!?

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

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.

Rubio wasn’t considered a candidate for the #1 days before the draft.

 

[elindholm]

Rubio wasn’t considered a candidate for the #1 days before the draft.

True, but that was seven years ago, when the phenomenon of "controversial" click-baiting wasn't so extreme as it is now. I strongly suspect that no one seriously considers Doncic a candidate for #1 either, but they're all pretending the make the argument in order to get attention.

 

[Mainstreet]

Not #2 because I do think Luka's all but reserved that spot but #3 would not surprise me. That tweet, however, was just a big board ranking the prospects without considering fit or team.

The big board rankings gave me a reason to explain where I think Jackson should go in the draft... not that he will go there. Bagley and Doncic may push him to #4.

If the Suns were not drafting Ayton, I would be pushing for them to draft Jackson if they had the 2nd pick. Bagley and Doncic will probably pay more immediate dividends but I think Jackson may be the better player long term.

 

[Hoop Head]

Rubio wasn’t considered a candidate for the #1 days before the draft.

No, he wasn't, but when he was considered the top European in that draft and a top prospect in general. It was still sort of taboo for an NBA team to take a PG at #1 in those days. That was the pre-Warriors NBA. A year before that Rubio draft I recall people hyping Beasley at #1 simply because Rose was a PG. That is one of those cases where going with the big would have been the wrong move. Who knows how the NBA would look now if Rose didn't go #1 to Chicago in 08. Back to Rubio, he was definitely seen as a top 5 pick.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

No, he wasn't, but when he was considered the top European in that draft and a top prospect in general. It was still sort of taboo for an NBA team to take a PG at #1 in those days. That was the pre-Warriors NBA. A year before that Rubio draft I recall people hyping Beasley at #1 simply because Rose was a PG. That is one of those cases where going with the big would have been the wrong move. Who knows how the NBA would look now if Rose didn't go #1 to Chicago in 08. Back to Rubio, he was definitely seen as a top 5 pick.

Top pick, yes. Number one in a stacked draft, no. The Doncic hype is the greatest we’ve ever seen for a European player. The only other that was close imo is kukoc. And that’s a difficult comparison bc the nba and euros was such a different dynamic back then. But the anticipation for kukoc’s coming to the nba was incredibly hyped. And I still believe had he gone to a team other than the bulls, and maybe a year or two earlier he would’ve been a big star.

 

[Chaplin]

Top pick, yes. Number one in a stacked draft, no. The Doncic hype is the greatest we’ve ever seen for a European player. The only other that was close imo is kukoc. And that’s a difficult comparison bc the nba and euros was such a different dynamic back then. But the anticipation for kukoc’s coming to the nba was incredibly hyped. And I still believe had he gone to a team other than the bulls, and maybe a year or two earlier he would’ve been a big star.

Some people need to realize that "Best in Europe" doesn't automatically mean "Best in World."

 

[AzStevenCal]

Some people need to realize that "Best in Europe" doesn't automatically mean "Best in World."

I think the rest of the world is likely putting USA in there instead of Europe.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Some people need to realize that "Best in Europe" doesn't automatically mean "Best in World."

Who thinks that “automatically?” Certainly no one on this board.

 

[Chaplin]

Who thinks that “automatically?” Certainly no one on this board.

Dude, I was supporting you! What the hell?

I never said it was anyone on this board. The anti-Ayton people think that Doncic is the next best thing to sliced bread. You disagree?

 

[Chaplin]

I think the rest of the world is likely putting USA in there instead of Europe.

Wait, what? The rest of the world is saying that Doncic is the "Best in USA?"