Thoughts on this draft...

Mainstreet

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Why not Adreian Payne at #14 ?

There were comments during the draft at 620 Sports radio that Payne has a problem with stamina (he reportedly has small lungs) and also his basketball IQ.
 

JCSunsfan

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There were comments during the draft at 620 Sports radio that Payne has a problem with stamina (he reportedly has small lungs) and also his basketball IQ.

They said something about a learning disability. Sounded like it was more serious than just bball IQ.
 

Mainstreet

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They said something about a learning disability. Sounded like it was more serious than just bball IQ.

I didn't want to go that far as I was unsure about all the details.
 

tobiazz

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Here's my thoughts on our draft picks:
Tyler Ennis: Really like this kids game, but like many have mention above, I do not think he is a good fit for this team. Add that to the fact that I was ecstatic that Gary Harris was just sitting there and would have fit perfectly here really ticked me off. But this pick does intrigue me as pertains to the current roster. It makes me think the Bledsoe will probably not be back next year. I know they have already refuted that but I think he will be dealt in a sign and trade, probably for a SG. Well see what happens in the next coming weeks, after the smoke clears. May like this pick better if we get the right piece for another PG we have.

Per McD, the Suns want to run lots of pick and rolls, which makes a lot of sense these days. One of the knocks on Harris is that he sucks at PnR, so they probably had little interest in him. Ennis and Warren both look like good PnR weapons. Ennis better be good at PnR because he can't penetrate in isolation.

You can never tell, but I feel like the Suns will keep/match Bledsoe unless they find a trade they love, and Ennis will be potential insurance when Goran is an UFA next year. Obviously, tons can happen during the current free agency.
 

AzStevenCal

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Sarcasm. Ok cool but i'll play it straight. BTW Kate Upton needs to eat more often :)

Top 5 would be difficult i agree, but as i posted, top 10 should have been very doable. We have tradeable talent in the backcourt don't we? Why not include a player that i hear many talking about possibly leaving anyway?

There looks to have been a few PF's available there that appear to me that could've really helped us in the frontcourt. Just better talent regardless of position.

My point is how do the Suns expect to get better by sitting on three #1's and drafting three players that will likely have no impact for years to come?

Look, i haven't followed the team in quite awhile(so please forgive me for being somewhat misinformed), but i'm a bit perplexed as to how they managed to even get into the 2014 draft without a top 10 pick. The team played better than expected last season i get that...but they didn't do a very good job of positioning and managing their picks it seems.

Accumulating number one picks in the NFL is a great way to turn around a franchise...not so much in the NBA it seems. I graded the draft a C only because i'm not very familiar with the Suns current contracts and player development system, otherwise i'd give them a solid D.

Is FA going to help turn the tide? Hope so because it appears that this draft was wasted in terms of opportunities. Three #1's and this is what they come up with?

I'm not sure how it helps you to trade a probable star for a possible star. But even if it were possible, the rules take it out of the equation. Bledsoe is a restricted free agent and we can't trade him just yet.

Steve
 

mojorizen7

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There were comments during the draft at 620 Sports radio that Payne has a problem with stamina (he reportedly has small lungs) and also his basketball IQ.

They said something about a learning disability. Sounded like it was more serious than just bball IQ.

Interesting. Thats too bad. Atlanta at #15 didn't get the memo apparently.
 

AzStevenCal

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Interesting. Thats too bad. Atlanta at #15 didn't get the memo apparently.

They did. It was all well known. He was picked right around where he belongs and I wouldn't have minded if we grabbed him at 14. But the guy we drafted was the ACC Player of the Year in a year where that conference put a guy into the draft at the 2 spot. I didn't watch TJ a lot but I don't think it's carved in stone that he can't become a star in this league. I'd guess his ceiling is somewhat higher than Payne's and it's not like Payne would have solved our need for a true big man. He's more of a Frye replacement than he is the banger so many of us want.

Steve
 

mojorizen7

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They did. It was all well known. He was picked right around where he belongs and I wouldn't have minded if we grabbed him at 14. But the guy we drafted was the ACC Player of the Year in a year where that conference put a guy into the draft at the 2 spot. I didn't watch TJ a lot but I don't think it's carved in stone that he can't become a star in this league. I'd guess his ceiling is somewhat higher than Payne's and it's not like Payne would have solved our need for a true big man. He's more of a Frye replacement than he is the banger so many of us want.

Steve

Yeah sorry, i was being sarcastic.
Looking at his game, his potential and our roster and i would have made the pick despite the risk.
 

AzStevenCal

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Yeah i was being sarcastic. Looking at his game, his potential and our roster and i would have made the pick despite the risk.

Like I said, I would have taken Adreian too but I'm not at all sure he's a better player than the one we took. I'm also quite sure that he would have replaced Frye as our whipping boy of choice had we actually drafted him.

Steve
 

sunsfan88

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They did. It was all well known. He was picked right around where he belongs and I wouldn't have minded if we grabbed him at 14. But the guy we drafted was the ACC Player of the Year in a year where that conference put a guy into the draft at the 2 spot. I didn't watch TJ a lot but I don't think it's carved in stone that he can't become a star in this league. I'd guess his ceiling is somewhat higher than Payne's and it's not like Payne would have solved our need for a true big man. He's more of a Frye replacement than he is the banger so many of us want.

Steve
I'd say Warren as much a chance of becoming a star in this league as Marcus Morris does. Similar numbers and similar size/length.
 

SweetD

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Here is my take. All picks were chosen because they produced consistently. This is McD all over it. TJ is someone that can create his own shot at a very high percentage. The rest are just backups or trade fillers. With Austin not being in the draft that was one less player to move down the talent.

I think TJ has the skills to move into the six man role this year.
 

AzStevenCal

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Here is my take. All picks were chosen because they produced consistently. This is McD all over it. TJ is someone that can create his own shot at a very high percentage. The rest are just backups or trade fillers. With Austin not being in the draft that was one less player to move down the talent.

I think TJ has the skills to move into the six man role this year.

Austin wasn't going to be a factor in this draft regardless of health. He was a likely second rounder but going undrafted wouldn't have been a shock.

Steve
 
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drk3351

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Here's my thoughts on our draft picks:

TJ Warren: The kid is a baller. His outside game is not good, but I wouldn't call it awful either. If he puts work into developing his shot, the tools are all there. I wanted to draft Gary Harris with this pick, but the Suns were right to pass on him here as he was also there with the second 1st round pick. Like the intensity he brings and think this was a very good pick.

Tyler Ennis: Really like this kids game, but like many have mention above, I do not think he is a good fit for this team. Add that to the fact that I was ecstatic that Gary Harris was just sitting there and would have fit perfectly here really ticked me off. But this pick does intrigue me as pertains to the current roster. It makes me think the Bledsoe will probably not be back next year. I know they have already refuted that but I think he will be dealt in a sign and trade, probably for a SG. Well see what happens in the next coming weeks, after the smoke clears. May like this pick better if we get the right piece for another PG we have.

Bogdan Bogdanovic: Love this kid lol. He has some serious swagger when playing. Watching his 15 minute video, you can see he plays with a LOT of intensity! Hope they can get him here sooner than later because he is really good at 2 things - playing defense and shooting the ball. Reminds me of a bigger Manu.

Alec Brown: Don't know if he will make the team, but he is an excellent shot blocker in the paint and can shoot the 3 ball. Frye insurance IMO.

Manu was 10x better athlete and passer, horrible comparison. And Brown as Frye insurance is hilarious.
 

Folster

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Does anybody think the Kings drafted Stauskas for us and there is truth to the rumors of a S&T with Bledsoe going to Sacramento for Thomas and the #8? Obviously Bledsoe would have to agree to the trade, but Stauskas was our guy according to reports and Sacramento happened to nab him when they already have McLemore at his position.
 

elindholm

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Does anybody think the Kings drafted Stauskas for us and there is truth to the rumors of a S&T with Bledsoe going to Sacramento for Thomas and the #8?

God, I hope not. That would be idiotic. If the Suns could imagine their lineup working with Thomas, why not just keep Bledsoe?
 

jagu

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What are some of you expecting at 14 and beyond? They are all projects for the most part or flawed players with some skills. Roll your dice and move on. The odds are against all the picks by the Suns and that's just how it goes.
 

devilalum

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Does anybody think the Kings drafted Stauskas for us and there is truth to the rumors of a S&T with Bledsoe going to Sacramento for Thomas and the #8? Obviously Bledsoe would have to agree to the trade, but Stauskas was our guy according to reports and Sacramento happened to nab him when they already have McLemore at his position.

So the Suns will have 5 new rookies to add to last years crop.
 

KloD

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Does anybody think the Kings drafted Stauskas for us and there is truth to the rumors of a S&T with Bledsoe going to Sacramento for Thomas and the #8? Obviously Bledsoe would have to agree to the trade, but Stauskas was our guy according to reports and Sacramento happened to nab him when they already have McLemore at his position.

I did think about that since there was the rumor, but I doubt it. They probably took the player they felt was best available.
 

Covert Rain

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Does anybody think the Kings drafted Stauskas for us and there is truth to the rumors of a S&T with Bledsoe going to Sacramento for Thomas and the #8? Obviously Bledsoe would have to agree to the trade, but Stauskas was our guy according to reports and Sacramento happened to nab him when they already have McLemore at his position.

Do you have a link to that rumor? Just curious.
 

Chaplin

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Alec Brown will almost certainly not be on the roster come opening day, so I'm not worried about needing a roster spot for him. I liked Ish, so I don't understand this overwhelming need for a point guard, but whatever. Ennis is his replacement.

As for Warren, I like the guy's pedigree, and considering we probably won't have Shavlik Randolph next season, roster spots is the least of my worry.

Tucker, Bledsoe and Frye are the big questions right now. Do we bring all 3 of them back? Do we make a big trade? There are a lot of questions but no real answers yet. My guess is we'll have to wait until Tuesday before we hear anything.
 

tobiazz

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Does anybody think the Kings drafted Stauskas for us and there is truth to the rumors of a S&T with Bledsoe going to Sacramento for Thomas and the #8? Obviously Bledsoe would have to agree to the trade, but Stauskas was our guy according to reports and Sacramento happened to nab him when they already have McLemore at his position.

Seems rather unlikely:

1) As noted, Bledsoe would have to want to sign in SAC.
2) I think The Suns would have to take back as much or more salary than Bledsoe would be getting paid, and it's not like they want a year of Gay for $18M.
 
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