This is amazing...

[az1965]

Someone posted this on the azcentral comments. I knew we screwed up as far as giving up draft picks. This is a nice summary of what could have been ours.

posted by heller on Apr 26, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Ah, if only we had a defensive-minded backup point guard with any offensive skills... Where could the Suns have gotten one of those? Oh, wait, they DID have one of those. Actually, they drafted several of those, but cheapskate owner Robert Sarver kept dumping his first-round picks. That's got as much to do with D'Antoni's lack of bench play as the coach's own stubbornness.

Check it out:

2004, Luol Deng, 6-9 Forward. Traded to the Bulls. At age 23, he is "owned" by over 99% of fantasy leaguers. His averages in 63 games: 17 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1 steal (all in 33 minutes). Salary: Just $3.3 million.

Also in 2004, Kirk Snyder. 6-6 Guard. Traded to Utah (through the Knicks). 24 years old. 2007-08 averages in 36 games with Minnesota: 7.3 points, 1.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 21 minutes per game. Salary: All of $2.3 million.

2005, Nate Robinson. 5-9 Point Guard. Traded to the Knicks. Now 23, he averaged 12.7 points, 2.9 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 72 games this year (26 minutes per game), and made a whopping $1.2 million.

2006, Rajon Rondo, 6-0 Point Guard. Traded to Boston. 22 years old, averaged 30 minutes, 10.6 points, 5.1 assists, 4.2 rebound and 1.6 steals in 77 games this year. Salary: $1.2 million.

Also in 2006, Sergio Rodriguez, 6-3 Point Guard. Traded to Portland, where he averaged 2.5 points and 1.7 assists in 72 games, playing fewer than nine minutes per. Salary: $817,000. Wow.

The two players we did draft in 2007, Alando Tucker and D.J. Strawberry, combined for 45 games, each averaging about 8 minutes per game. So maybe something can be said for D'Antoni's refusal to utilize his bench...

Either way, incomprehensible mismanagement at the very top of this organization is to blame for the predicament we are in. All they had to do was keep the '04 squad together, and who knows how many banners would be hanging from the rafters?

Sure, we can (and probably should) fire Mike D'Antoni, but the real problem will remain: Robert Sarver.

 

[passenger]

luol deng and r.rondo,wow.

 

[wsupkid]

This is not what it seems Some of the trades were part of deals before the draft started. ie. I know we were trading whoever we picked at 21 for the bulls before the draft started.(deng) It was just a formality for the SUNS to pick at 21 and then trade to Chi.

 

[damo]

Also, they were planning on taking Andre Iguodala, but they thought he'd be gone, which is why they took Deng for Chicago at 7 and traded it for Jackson Vroman a future first rounder (anyone know what became of this?) and $3million. Philadelphia went on to pick Iguodala at 9. It sucks.

 

[tobiazz]

I think the statute of limitations has run out on lamenting the 2004 draft. If the Suns kept the pick and selected Iggy, the team would likely look much different than it does now--not necessarily better. You can't just pretend the roster would be as it is now plus Iggy, Rondo, etc.

 

[devilalum]

I think the statute of limitations has run out on lamenting the 2004 draft. If the Suns kept the pick and selected Iggy, the team would likely look much different than it does now--not necessarily better. You can't just pretend the roster would be as it is now plus Iggy, Rondo, etc.

Lamenting the draft is a waste but if you want to figure out why the Suns are who they currently are you have to examine recent history.

While other teams have stockpiled their bench with useful role players (defenders, shooters, rebounders etc...) the Suns have been selling picks. The Suns are not going to get better for a long time.

The original post didn't even mention the KT and 2 firsts for NOTHING deal.

Sarver rolled the dice over and over and lost.

Now its time to pay the house.

 

[cly2tw]

Also, they were planning on taking Andre Iguodala, but they thought he'd be gone, which is why they took Deng for Chicago at 7 and traded it for Jackson Vroman a future first rounder (anyone know what became of this?) and $3million. Philadelphia went on to pick Iguodala at 9. It sucks.

that Deng pick became Rondo which became Rodriguez, which then became just 3 mil. cash.

 

[D-Dogg]

Sometimes I marvel at some of the teams the Suns could have fielded. Unreal.

 

[MiamiHeat]

yeah but the premise of the thread is already wrong because the team you have now would not have happened if you had some of those other guys, and who is to say they would have developed and turned into who they are now? like Iggy

 

[LV-Suns]

yeah but the premise of the thread is already wrong because the team you have now would not have happened if you had some of those other guys, and who is to say they would have developed and turned into who they are now? like Iggy

considering that

"We are not here to develop players"

None of them.

 

[pokerface]

This thread is laughable!


If only we kept every draft pick...

If only we kept every player drafted...

If only we kept every free agent....

If only we kept every player traded...

If only we had Mark Cuban who doesnt care about the luxury tax...

If only we could see into the future...

If only we could learn from the past...



If only only only

 

[TheHopToad]

This thread is laughable!


If only we kept every draft pick...

If only we kept every player drafted...

If only we kept every free agent....

If only we kept every player traded...

If only we had Mark Cuban who doesnt care about the luxury tax...

If only we could see into the future...

If only we could learn from the past...



If only only only

If only Colangelo had called tails back in '69 we would have had Kareem and who knows how many titles we would have had (not to mention how many less the Lakers would have).

 

[cly2tw]

We gave up those picks partially because DA was not gonna, or unable to, develop young players. Hey, he even wouldn't use more than 7-8 veteran players in his rotation. Rondo, Farmar, Landry wouldn't have done anything on the Suns. Bottomline, it came with the coach.