Victor Oladipo

[Gee!]

This is the guy the Suns should get if available in this draft.. Just wanted to get it out there.. I think he is gonna be special..

 

[JCSunsfan]

I agree. I think I take McLemore first but after that. I am unsure about Noel. That knee has blown up twice now.

 

[slinslin]

nooooooooooo, just say no to that undersized offensively limited junior shooting guard.

McLemore or bust. But I'd still take Noel, Porter, Muhammad and maybe Bennett over Victor O.

Complimentary player in college, complimentary player in the pros (if even that). If he didnt have the luxury of playing for a finely tuned Indiana team he would barely be on the draft radar

 

[JCSunsfan]

I have already said my piece VO.

 

[Folster]

We could do worse than Oladipo.

 

[slinslin]

We could do worse than Oladipo.

Not if we draft top 4-5 which is likely.

 

[Superbone]

I cannot lie. A backcourt of Dragic and Oladipo would be intriguing.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Oladipo or McLemore. Both scare me. McLemore never took over like he should have, and Oladipo wasn't considered his teams best player.

Who really cares though. This team needs a new owner first.

 

[devilalum]

I don't know jack about evaluating college talent but this guy was by far my favorite college player to watch this past year. Lock down defender, human highlight reel. I feel confident that he would immediately become the Suns best player.

 

[Errntknght]

If Oladipo defends as well as people say, he's my first choice. My first choice would a 'big' that was a lockdown defender but there doesn't seem to be anyone one like that in this draft. I'd be happy to get Dieng with the 30th pick - which one mock draft had us doing.

 

[SirStefan32]

If Oladipo defends as well as people say, he's my first choice. My first choice would a 'big' that was a lockdown defender but there doesn't seem to be anyone one like that in this draft. I'd be happy to get Dieng with the 30th pick - which one mock draft had us doing.

Oladipo will be a fine defender. I really don't think anyone questions that. My concern is really about offense, and more specifically, about him being able to create his own shot. His outside shooting has improved, and I am confident it will improve even more, but my concern is whether he will be able to put the ball on the floor and create something, which is what the Suns desperately need.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Oladipo will be a fine defender. I really don't think anyone questions that. My concern is really about offense, and more specifically, about him being able to create his own shot. His outside shooting has improved, and I am confident it will improve even more, but my concern is whether he will be able to put the ball on the floor and create something, which is what the Suns desperately need.

I agree. I like Victor and wish we were in a position to truly benefit from him but we're not. Oladipo will improve a good team but he'll struggle on the Suns because with us, he'll just be one more player that doesn't require a double team and struggles to create his own shot. I can live with this pick but he won't make us appreciably better. OTOH, I'm not sure who will in this draft but I'd still rather shoot for a guy with a higher ceiling.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

I agree. I like Victor and wish we were in a position to truly benefit from him but we're not. Oladipo will improve a good team but he'll struggle on the Suns because with us, he'll just be one more player that doesn't require a double team and struggles to create his own shot. I can live with this pick but he won't make us appreciably better. OTOH, I'm not sure who will in this draft but I'd still rather shoot for a guy with a higher ceiling.

Steve

I never allow myself to think the Suns will get more than a top 4 or 5 pick pick. So with this in mind, Len intrigues me as well as the other early projected big men to go but I have already had enough of the Zeller brothers. I guess I'm engrained with the philosophy of big over small unless one thinks a smaller player (1-3) is going to be a star. I really like Trey Burke but question whether he can get worked over defensively because of his size... but then he could be the next Ty Lawson.

I really like Anthony Bennett if can be an NBA SF.

 

[SirStefan32]

I never allow myself to think the Suns will get more than a top 4 or 5 pick pick. So with this in mind, Len intrigues me as well as the other early projected big men to go but I have already had enough of the Zeller brothers. I guess I'm engrained with the philosophy of big over small unless one thinks a smaller player (1-3) is going to be a star. I really like Trey Burke but question whether he can get worked over defensively because of his size... but then he could be the next Ty Lawson.

I really like Anthony Bennett if can be an NBA SF.

I am warming up to Bennett, but his history of injuries and his inability to guard a chair really worries me.

Porter is the safest pick, but we already have Dudley and Tucker, as well as some useless small forwards (Beasley and Morris) so I think he's out unless we can dump Beasley and trade one of the two "D and 3" SFs (Dudley/ Tucker) for something of some value.

Len is risky, but you're not gonna get a 7'1 260lb guy these days who is not risky to some degree.

Bazz has Beasley written all over him, Burke is risky and we already have a good PG, so I am glad I am not in charge of making the choice on draft night. I'd be OK with Oladipo, knowing full well we will suck next year and get a game-changer in the next draft and/ or free agency.

EDIT:
Just to be fair, Oladipo is freakishly quick, athletic, and strong, which makes him a nightmare in the open court, and definitely makes me think he might be able to score in the half-court set as well. He is also extremely efficient and smart- I've only watched five Indiana games this year, but I have not seen him take a bad, ill-advised shot.

 

[Mainstreet]

I am warming up to Bennett, but his history of injuries and his inability to guard a chair really worries me.

Porter is the safest pick, but we already have Dudley and Tucker, as well as some useless small forwards (Beasley and Morris) so I think he's out unless we can dump Beasley and trade one of the two "D and 3" SFs (Dudley/ Tucker) for something of some value.

Len is risky, but you're not gonna get a 7'1 260lb guy these days who is not risky to some degree.

Bazz has Beasley written all over him, Burke is risky and we already have a good PG, so I am glad I am not in charge of making the choice on draft night. I'd be OK with Oladipo, knowing full well we will suck next year and get a game-changer in the next draft and/ or free agency.

EDIT:
Just to be fair, Oladipo is freakishly quick, athletic, and strong, which makes him a nightmare in the open court, and definitely makes me think he might be able to score in the half-court set as well. He is also extremely efficient and smart- I've only watched five Indiana games this year, but I have not seen him take a bad, ill-advised shot.

This is why I think the Suns need a GM who can better evaluate talent. The Suns should draft the BPA wherever they draft irregardless of position. I do not have a firm grip on who that player might be.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Oladipo or McLemore. Both scare me. McLemore never took over like he should have, and Oladipo wasn't considered his teams best player.

Who really cares though. This team needs a new owner first.

I don't think this is correct. He wasn't projected to be his team's best player but as the season progressed he was talked about as the difference maker for Indiana. And Mclemore did take over, he just didn't do it every game. Not that unusual for a first year player.

Steve

 

[Errntknght]

Oladipo will be a fine defender. I really don't think anyone questions that. My concern is really about offense, and more specifically, about him being able to create his own shot. His outside shooting has improved, and I am confident it will improve even more, but my concern is whether he will be able to put the ball on the floor and create something, which is what the Suns desperately need.

I disagree about the Suns being in desperate need of someone who can create shots for himself. That was what Beasley brought to the team and it didn't work out too well. I'd rather the team not have a great scorer next year, so they will be forced to utilize teamwork to score. That is the foundation they need to build at this point in time. (That and team D, of course.)

Since we won't be in contention for the title, we're better off working on the foundation and hopefully get an early pick in the draft... a top notch scorer could ruin that.

 

[SirStefan32]

This is why I think the Suns need a GM who can better evaluate talent. The Suns should draft the BPA wherever they draft irregardless of position. I do not have a firm grip on who that player might be.

Yeah, exactly. I really don't think there is a single game-changer in this draft, and the Suns have so many holes on so many different positions that they have to take the best player available. I do hope that defense is weighed as much as offense- that's my only caveat.

 

[Errntknght]

Yeah, exactly. I really don't think there is a single game-changer in this draft, and the Suns have so many holes on so many different positions that they have to take the best player available. I do hope that defense is weighed as much as offense- that's my only caveat.

Sums up my position pretty well, too...

 

[SirStefan32]

I disagree about the Suns being in desperate need of someone who can create shots for himself. That was what Beasley brought to the team and it didn't work out too well. I'd rather the team not have a great scorer next year, so they will be forced to utilize teamwork to score. That is the foundation they need to build at this point in time. (That and team D, of course.)

Since we won't be in contention for the title, we're better off working on the foundation and hopefully get an early pick in the draft... a top notch scorer could ruin that.

I agree with you as far as the second paragraph goes. Build the foundation, and stay in the deep lottery while building the foundation.

I strongly disagree with your first paragraph though- you can work as a team all you want, but at some point someone has to be able to take the ball and create something. Bringing Beasley into the discussion doesn't seem relevant. He is just a terrible player, but when he was on, the Suns looked pretty good. Now, if you want to argue that your second point trumps the first point (building a foundation and sucking for another year or two trumps having a real scorer who can create his own shot) I will agree, but to say that the Suns are not desperate for a go-to scorer is just not accurate.

 

[JCSunsfan]

McLemore is not at all that great at creating his own shot either. The best in this draft at that might be Bennett or maybe Shabazz. But they have such deficiencies elsewhere, its not worth it.

I probably take McLemore first, and Oladipo after that. The "all-around" type of player (Porter) scares me (Morris twins type of scared).

I only draft Noel if the Suns med staff is absolutely confident. Two ACL failures on the same knee seems like a pretty good indication that he will be injury washout type of failure.

 

[AzStevenCal]

McLemore is not at all that great at creating his own shot either. The best in this draft at that might be Bennett or maybe Shabazz. But they have such deficiencies elsewhere, its not worth it.

I probably take McLemore first, and Oladipo after that. The "all-around" type of player (Porter) scares me (Morris twins type of scared).

I only draft Noel if the Suns med staff is absolutely confident. Two ACL failures on the same knee seems like a pretty good indication that he will be injury washout type of failure.

I think that's a bit unfair, comparing Otto to the Wonderless Twins. He isn't that typical "all-around" player that does everything decently but nothing very well. He has true NBA level skills to go along with an NBA body and great length. He's part Tayshaun Prince and part Boris Diaw. It's the Diaw part that scares me but still, I'd be very happy with this pick.

Steve

 

[Folster]

I only draft Noel if the Suns med staff is absolutely confident. Two ACL failures on the same knee seems like a pretty good indication that he will be injury washout type of failure.

Reminds me of Danny Manning build and injury wise.

 

[Errntknght]

I just watched Olidipo's and McLemore's DX video scouting reports - twice each. Maybe DX is biased but they questioned Ben's ability to create his own shot, said he didn't shoot well off the dribble and had trouble getting all the way to rim in the half court - settling for contested floaters instead. He avoids contact and draws few fouls. His strong suit in the half court is shooting off screens - and ally-oops. Heck of a leaper though - that and his overall game reminded me of Shannon Brown. I realize something must be missing if he's in the running for the top spot in the draft - or this is one really pathetic draft.
Oladipo is limited in his ability to create his own shot, too, but he does go all the way to the rim and doesn't shy away from contact. And he's an excellent offensive rebounder - not bad at putting the ball back in the hoop once he gets it. One of the concerns about him is that his long range shooting was quite bad until this year, and his high percentage this year is based on only 35 shots. At this point you have to discount him as a three point threat - with a little plus for shot selection.
They didn't dwell on ball handling and passing but McLemore has the edge in both. Oladipo is the better cutter and I'd go so far as to say, you want to give him the ball after he's on the move as much as possible, preferably when he's headed toward the basket.
McLemore's strong suit is the open floor but so is Olidipo's and I'd say they were about a wash in that area.
Defensively, there's no comparison though they did say that Ben has defensive potential because of his reach and quickness... from what they showed its definitely unrealized potential. In my experience defensive potential of that kind is very rarely ever tapped.

Up until now I thought McLemore was the kind of player you couldn't pass on but I'd take Oladipo over him without hesitation at any draft slot.

 

[Phrazbit]

It is a bad draft, but not quite at the level of a Shannon Brown level prospect going top 5.

McLemore has a much prettier shot than Brown does. I think a lot of scouts would LIKE McLemore to play a bit more like Shannon the Cannon. I've heard a few times that McLemore needs to be more assertive and perhaps he does not know how good he really is.

Oladipo is a safer bet, his motor and defensive ability IMO makes him a lock to be a solid NBA player who could be an important part of a contender, but mostly as a defensive stud and stretch/transition scorer. McLemore has a higher ceiling, but lower floor. McLemore could be the next Ray Allen... or the next Randy Foye.

In this draft I wouldnt complain if we ended up with Oladipo at #5 or 6, but I'd take McLemore over him in a heartbeat.