Trade Rumors!

[SirStefan32]

I finally figured out who Bennett reminds me of- Anthony Mason. More athletic, not as smart, but that's by far the best comparison I've been able to come up with- somewhere between Rogers and Johnson.

 

[carey]

What is it about Porter that some of you like so much? I don't see it.

Have you seen the DX video on him? He's incredibly long, passes extremely well, has a *money* mid-range game, has all the tools to be an excellent defender, and even has a post game. Good at moving off the ball, something like 20% of his offense. 3rd among SF in defensive boards and 2nd in assist to to ratio. There's a lot to like. He'll never be a star, but he's going to start in the league for the next decade.

 

[carey]

I finally figured out who Bennett reminds me of- Anthony Mason. More athletic, not as smart, but that's by far the best comparison I've been able to come up with- somewhere between Rogers and Johnson.

Really? I don't remember Mason having anywhere near the offensive repertoire that Bennet already has.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I want someone to come up with a quality trade rumor that nets us Bennett, McCollum, Porter and Nogueira. I'd be okay with substituting Zeller for Bennett.

Steve

 

[JCSunsfan]

Bennett is MUCH better offensively than Rodney Rogers was, but Elton Brand comparison is ridiculous. Brand always loved contact, and until his major injury, he was one of the best rebounders out there. Bennett doesn't like contact nearly as much, he makes Steve Nash look like Jason Kidd/ Rondo on defense, and he seems about as durable as Greg Oden. I'd take him if McLemore, Oladipo, Len, and Porter were gone, but let's be realistic about who Bennett is- a very soft tweener who can score.

I said he had a body like Elton Brand, not a game like him.

 

[Mainstreet]

Well, who is to say that Noel can't develop a deadly sky hook that will allow him to average 30 points per game? Who's to say that Oladipo can't develop into a 45% shooter beyond the ark? Who's to say that McLemore can't pull his head out of his ass and average 30 points per game? Who's to say that a rabid dog isn't gonna bite me on the ass when I walk out of my house tomorrow?

This is very funny stuff. I like it.

Anything is possible, and all of us are speculating and guessing here. From my perspective, some skills translate from college (or Europe) to the NBA- rebounding being one example. Weaknesses translate into the NBA really well, too- defense being a great example. If you can't guard a chair in college, you will not be able to guard a chair in the NBA. He'll be able to score, but he will not be able to defend. He's too short to guard PFs, and way too slow to guard faster SFs.

We shall see how he develops. IMO, there are huge question marks about all the top draft choices.

Maybe he'll end up being the best player in this draft class, but I just don't see it.

That may not be saying much. When all is said and done, a few years from now, a player like Adams may turn out to be the best player in the draft. There is no sure thing in this draft yet quality players will eventually emerge.

 

[SirStefan32]

I said he had a body like Elton Brand, not a game like him.

No, he is not built like Brand either. Brand was probably 270-280lb of muscle, and he was at least an inch taller. Bennett is not anywhere near as strong as Brand was.

 

[SirStefan32]

Really? I don't remember Mason having anywhere near the offensive repertoire that Bennet already has.

You know, my memory played a trick on me. For some reason, I thought Mason was a much better scorer than he really was. I knew that Bennet was more advanced offensively anyway, but it seems I really overrated Mason. My mistake, I was definitely wrong on this one.

 

[carey]

You know, my memory played a trick on me. For some reason, I thought Mason was a much better scorer than he really was. I knew that Bennet was more advanced offensively anyway, but it seems I really overrated Mason. My mistake, I was definitely wrong on this one.

No worries mate. I always remembered Mason as the enforcer type but I think that was the later part of his career only.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Im a Pac 12 Homer but I love the idea of Williams, Shabazz AND #26 and #30?

How is this a bad deal? We get the #2 pick from last year (he is the WRONG situation in Minny) and guy in Shabazz who HAS NBA game (i completely disagree with Cheese here - he has mid range game, 3 point game, and cand handle and slash. Hes selfish but could be a stud in right environment and then #26 and #30 in whats considered a draft that is very similar from Pick #7 to #30.

All for a highly flawed 2 we dont already have? Sign me up.

 

[Folster]

How about Corliss Williamson as a comparison for Bennett? Same size and build with a similar game. He was a monster at Arkansas, but was not able to become much more than a role player in the NBA.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Im a Pac 12 Homer

Ha, should have stopped here.

How is this a bad deal?

Well, first of all, Williams has been in the league 2 years, and is complete crap. What is the obsession with picking up Minny scraps? I know you're looking at him from behind your Wildcat colored glasses, but as an NBA player, Williams sucks. He brings about the same contribution to the table as 80% of our roster, and he's a young version of Beasley. There's a reason Minni's trying to get rid of him, and it's not because he's a young player you build around.

Further, Muhammad is nowhere near the talent of Mac/Dipo. So you're basically giving up on the chance to get a star for the hope that Williams/Muhammad/two late round firsts in a bad draft become rotation players. (Heck, better than our current young "talent")

The NBA is a star league, and we need top 7 rotation talent. If there is one lesson to be learned, you don't trade a potential dollar for a bunch of quarters.

 

[carey]

The NBA is a star league, and we need top 7 rotation talent. If there is one lesson to be learned, you don't trade a potential dollar for a bunch of quarters.

It's just my dumb opinion, but I think McLemore is the only dollar in the draft.

Then again, I think Derrick Williams is fairly good. Obviously kind of crushed under the weight of having been a #2 pick, but he's had good numbers when he played 30 minutes or more. I agree that Minni is not the place for him. I would do the Minni deal if McLemore is gone and McCollum is there at #9 (I do like Shabazz more than most people, but prefer CJ). Take Dieng/Muscala with 26.
Take Ledo/James Ennis with 30. Take Carrick Felix with 57 if he's around (DX has him going undrafted).

Dragic-Marshall
McCollum-Tucker
Dudley-Ledo-Felix
Scola*-Williams-Keef-Marcus-Beasley**
Gortat***-Dieng

*Looking to move Scola after July 1st.
**Preference is to just waive him outright, but McDo might want to give him a chance under new management.
***Preference is to move him at the trade deadline for a young player and pick.

I'd spend nothing on FAs this off-season. We'd probably rack up another 15-20 win season. Especially if we move Scola and Gortat for young guys and future assets. I'd look to make my big FA splash next Summer with hopefully a guy like Wiggins, Parker, Randle, or Smart on board.

 

[Gaddabout]

McLemore keeps getting Ray Allen comparisons, which is funny to me, because Ray Allen was an aggressive SOB when he came into the league. Now he just spots up like an old man should, but when he was a bigger star, he'd embarrass people at the rim if they tried to bump chests with him on the perimeter.

That's not McLemore. It COULD be, but the personalities aren't the same.

 

[carey]

That's not McLemore. It COULD be, but the personalities aren't the same.

Right. It's there. You look at his highlights and you see him do it. Just getting him to do it whenever they're up on him to much will be the challenge.

 

[SirStefan32]

Honestly, if I was the Suns GM and the the first pick, I would go with McLemore, but I am really worried he's going to be another Diaw- enough talent to be an all star every year, yet no mental toughness, desire, or motivation whatsoever.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'd be fine with McLemore. I worry a little about "his people" and where his head is at but he's got enough talent to warrant the risk.

Steve

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Well, first of all, Williams has been in the league 2 years, and is complete crap. What is the obsession with picking up Minny scraps? I know you're looking at him from behind your Wildcat colored glasses, but as an NBA player, Williams sucks. He brings about the same contribution to the table as 80% of our roster, and he's a young version of Beasley. There's a reason Minni's trying to get rid of him, and it's not because he's a young player you build around.

Willliams was a superior player at 19 than Oladipo was at 20. There's basically a year's difference between the two players. Williams will never be a great player unless he falls into a perfect system and supporting cast due to being a tweener, but then what would you call a 6'4 wing who can't shoot or handle the ball (Oladipo)? Comparing him to Beasley is an absolute joke and suggesting he sucks is again an awful take in so many ways most notably the fact the just turned 22 and averaged 12/5 last year.

Further, Muhammad is nowhere near the talent of Mac/Dipo. So you're basically giving up on the chance to get a star for the hope that Williams/Muhammad/two late round firsts in a bad draft become rotation players. (Heck, better than our current young "talent")

The NBA is a star league, and we need top 7 rotation talent. If there is one lesson to be learned, you don't trade a potential dollar for a bunch of quarters.

Mac yes has a greater upside than Bazz but not Oladipo. Unfortunately Mac won't be there at #5 and there"s really no difference between #5 and #9 in this draft honestly. The only think for sure is that at worse Noel is another Tyson Chandler.

 

[elindholm]

The only think for sure is that at worse Noel is another Tyson Chandler.

Well no, at worst he's another Greg Oden.

 

[sunsfan88]

Well no, at worst he's another Greg Oden.

Or Tyrus Thomas...

 

[sunsfan88]

I'd be fine with McLemore. I worry a little about "his people" and where his head is at but he's got enough talent to warrant the risk.

Steve

A team that covets Joe Jones, for example, but knows that Jones won't likely be on the Draft board when their time comes, has no problem spreading the most scurrilous lies about Ol' Joe to gullible members of my profession, so that he might fall to them when their time comes to pick. You know them. (The lies, not the gullible members of my profession.) I hear he's not working out well. Doesn't really go to his right. There's a medical red flag on his knee/elbow/foot. He's kind of a head case. Entourage issues.And on and on.

.....


But no, sorry, I never believe last-minute reports that a prospect is suddenly "slipping" because of this or that issue. Too many people have motivation to start McLemore (or any good player) on a supposed slide down the Draft board with false info. And any GM or team that passes on a player based on one or two workouts isn't worth a damn, anyway.

http://www.nba.com/news/2013-consensus-mock-draft/index.html

Funny but true.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Willliams was a superior player at 19 than Oladipo was at 20. There's basically a year's difference between the two players. Williams will never be a great player unless he falls into a perfect system and supporting cast due to being a tweener, but then what would you call a 6'4 wing who can't shoot or handle the ball (Oladipo)? Comparing him to Beasley is an absolute joke and suggesting he sucks is again an awful take in so many ways most notably the fact the just turned 22 and averaged 12/5 last year.

C'mon Mao, you're typically pretty objective, age nonwithstanding, after two years it's hard to generate any enthusiasm for Williams. Again, if he has so much value, than why is Minny so eager to give up on him?

Comparing him to Beasley is a joke? let's see... His shooting numbers have been awful both years, he doesn't pass at all, he doesn't rebound as a 4, and isn't anything special defensively. Classic tweener, can't shoot or pass well enough to be a wing, can't rebound or defend enough to be a 4. At best, he's an energy scorer off the bench. Whoopie!

We have a roster full of guys like Williams, and frankly I don't see Williams being much better than the rest of our scrubs. Time will prove one of us right, but I like my odds.

Mac yes has a greater upside than Bazz but not Oladipo. Unfortunately Mac won't be there at #5 and there"s really no difference between #5 and #9 in this draft honestly. The only think for sure is that at worse Noel is another Tyson Chandler.

I'll be very interested to see who goes first, Mac or Dipo. Not sure which scouting reports you're seeing, but Dipo has good shooting numbers and is known as more of a creator than Mac. If I were choosing between the two, I'd take Mac despite the fact that he has greater bust potential, but as I said earlier, time to swing for the fences.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

It's just my dumb opinion, but I think McLemore is the only dollar in the draft.

Then again, I think Derrick Williams is fairly good. Obviously kind of crushed under the weight of having been a #2 pick, but he's had good numbers when he played 30 minutes or more. I agree that Minni is not the place for him. I would do the Minni deal if McLemore is gone and McCollum is there at #9 (I do like Shabazz more than most people, but prefer CJ). Take Dieng/Muscala with 26.
Take Ledo/James Ennis with 30. Take Carrick Felix with 57 if he's around (DX has him going undrafted).

Dragic-Marshall
McCollum-Tucker
Dudley-Ledo-Felix
Scola*-Williams-Keef-Marcus-Beasley**
Gortat***-Dieng

*Looking to move Scola after July 1st.
**Preference is to just waive him outright, but McDo might want to give him a chance under new management.
***Preference is to move him at the trade deadline for a young player and pick.

I'd spend nothing on FAs this off-season. We'd probably rack up another 15-20 win season. Especially if we move Scola and Gortat for young guys and future assets. I'd look to make my big FA splash next Summer with hopefully a guy like Wiggins, Parker, Randle, or Smart on board.

Outside of the Williams trade, I'm completely on the same page as you. Draft Mac/Noel/Dipo, get ride of all the guys you mentioned, assume Frye's done, and play all of our young "talent", assuming that maybe one or two of them grows into a credible role player.

This should have been the goal last offseason, but finally it seems the light has turned on.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Funny but true.

Sure but the stories about Ben started before he played his first game at Kansas. I don't know how valid they are but as I said, it wouldn't stop me from drafting him.

Steve

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

C'mon Mao, you're typically pretty objective, age nonwithstanding, after two years it's hard to generate any enthusiasm for Williams. Again, if he has so much value, than why is Minny so eager to give up on him?

I think they are finally beginning to realize he's a face up 4 not the 3 they wanted him to play and the Wolves have a guy named Kevin Love who plays that role for them.

Comparing him to Beasley is a joke? let's see... His shooting numbers have been awful both years, he doesn't pass at all, he doesn't rebound as a 4, and isn't anything special defensively. Classic tweener, can't shoot or pass well enough to be a wing, can't rebound or defend enough to be a 4. At best, he's an energy scorer off the bench. Whoopie!

I guess they're similar from the neck down. Williams will play for a decade in this league whereas Beasley would probably be in China right now with the rest of the league's morons if we hadn't given him that idiotic contract. I never said Williams would be a good fit here due to the aforementioned Beasley contract as well as Channing and the Morris twins, but the idea that he has no value and is a crap player is ludicrous.

We have a roster full of guys like Williams, and frankly I don't see Williams being much better than the rest of our scrubs. Time will prove one of us right, but I like my odds.

Williams is better than the Morris' right now and is almost a couple years younger than them. That's not a comparison. And if you suggest you'd rather heave Beasley the cancer than Williams well I don't know what to tell you. But again the problem is we're stuck with those guys so yeah Derrick should not be here.

I'll be very interested to see who goes first, Mac or Dipo. Not sure which scouting reports you're seeing, but Dipo has good shooting numbers and is known as more of a creator than Mac. If I were choosing between the two, I'd take Mac despite the fact that he has greater bust potential, but as I said earlier, time to swing for the fences.

Dipo has such a small sample size for shooting, hard to say what kind of shooter he will be in the pros especially at his size.