Welcome Keita Bates-Diop

CardsSunsDbacks

Not So Skeptical
Joined
Aug 26, 2012
Posts
10,143
Reaction score
6,582
Keita and Yuta will compete for the spot opposite KD. Okogie will also make an attempt.
I think Okogie will have a hard time grabbing that last starter spot due to his lack of 3 point shooting. The last thing you want around those other 4 guys is someone that doesn't stretch the defense and make the defense pay for being left wide open.

Diop provides a similar defensive versatility, but can knock down those open looks. Yuta doesn't quite have that level of defense, but will make the opposing defense have to pay attention to him because he will torch teams that leave him wide open.
 

clyde2tw

All Star
Joined
Jan 27, 2023
Posts
640
Reaction score
638
Location
abroad
I think Okogie will have a hard time grabbing that last starter spot due to his lack of 3 point shooting. The last thing you want around those other 4 guys is someone that doesn't stretch the defense and make the defense pay for being left wide open.

Diop provides a similar defensive versatility, but can knock down those open looks. Yuta doesn't quite have that level of defense, but will make the opposing defense have to pay attention to him because he will torch teams that leave him wide open.
I believe Okogie will start as default. He is really a 1st-team all-D quality defender, well complementary to the big 4 who all need to score. He will take on the best playmaker of the other team, to mitigate Book and Beal's defensive exposure.
 

Yuma

Suns are my Kryptonite!
Joined
Jan 3, 2003
Posts
22,683
Reaction score
12,432
Location
Laveen, AZ
I believe Okogie will start as default. He is really a 1st-team all-D quality defender, well complementary to the big 4 who all need to score. He will take on the best playmaker of the other team, to mitigate Book and Beal's defensive exposure.
Not disagreeing with you, but I see him and Jordan Goodwin battling it out as they are both dog defenders. I hope they both get on the court in some games to see if they can shut down opposing teams guards! Could be fun!
 

NashDishesDimes

Hall of Famer
Joined
Dec 16, 2008
Posts
1,872
Reaction score
627
I believe Okogie will start as default. He is really a 1st-team all-D quality defender, well complementary to the big 4 who all need to score. He will take on the best playmaker of the other team, to mitigate Book and Beal's defensive exposure.

Agreed. Lack of shooting here a concern but at times the first half of last year he shot well. I think his energy, offensive rebounding, back cuts, and defense however could be an asset to that starting group. He can get lost in some space with some nice backdoor cuts on this starting group.
 

Ouchie-Z-Clown

I'm better than Mulli!
Joined
Sep 16, 2002
Posts
63,555
Reaction score
57,912
Location
SoCal
I can’t say enough how excited I am for KBD signing. I think we are going to look back over this year and just be so pumped we added him. I’ll be shocked if he’s not the fifth starter. That’s a bigger lineup:

Beal 6’4
Booker 6’5
Bates Diop 6’8
Durant 7’
Ayton 7’
 

CardsSunsDbacks

Not So Skeptical
Joined
Aug 26, 2012
Posts
10,143
Reaction score
6,582
I can’t say enough how excited I am for KBD signing. I think we are going to look back over this year and just be so pumped we added him. I’ll be shocked if he’s not the fifth starter. That’s a bigger lineup:

Beal 6’4
Booker 6’5
Bates Diop 6’8
Durant 7’
Ayton 7’
And four of which can make open threes.
 

CardNots

ASFN Lifer
Joined
Sep 12, 2002
Posts
4,942
Reaction score
5,410
Location
Jenks, Oklahoma
I can’t say enough how excited I am for KBD signing. I think we are going to look back over this year and just be so pumped we added him. I’ll be shocked if he’s not the fifth starter. That’s a bigger lineup:

Beal 6’4
Booker 6’5
Bates Diop 6’8
Durant 7’
Ayton 7’
Did Durant grow during the offseason?
 

JCSunsfan

ASFN Icon
Joined
Oct 24, 2002
Posts
22,114
Reaction score
6,547
Yuta vs Keita for the starting 3 spot. I kinda think Yuta might be a better choice because of shooting.
 

Ouchie-Z-Clown

I'm better than Mulli!
Joined
Sep 16, 2002
Posts
63,555
Reaction score
57,912
Location
SoCal
Did Durant grow during the offseason?
Everything I’ve heard from commentators for a decade is he’s 7 foot. You see him next to Ayton and he’s clearly the same height. I think him coming into the league as a one and done meant he hadn’t stopped growing. I could be wrong. Even if he’s just his listed 6’10 that lineup is likely the tallest ever in suns history.
 

Yuma

Suns are my Kryptonite!
Joined
Jan 3, 2003
Posts
22,683
Reaction score
12,432
Location
Laveen, AZ
Everything I’ve heard from commentators for a decade is he’s 7 foot. You see him next to Ayton and he’s clearly the same height. I think him coming into the league as a one and done meant he hadn’t stopped growing. I could be wrong. Even if he’s just his listed 6’10 that lineup is likely the tallest ever in suns history.
I don't know if it is camera angles, but he's taller than Ayton. Which makes sense because Ayton is like 6'10"

EDIT: HA HA! Suns have Ayton at 7 feet even and KD at 6' 10". I am like @Ouchie-Z-Clown, I have watched KD ever since he's been in the league, and every announcers says he's 7 foot.

He still looks taller than Ayton when they stand side by side on the sidelines.
 

GatorAZ

feed hopkins
Joined
Oct 17, 2011
Posts
25,440
Reaction score
18,327
Location
The Giant Toaster
KB-D
Yuta
Gordon
Eubanks
Metu
Goodwin
Lee

All six players combine for less than $20m next year and the Suns have early-bird rights on everyone expect Metu so should they opt-in next season they could be kept long term (specifically looking at Watanabe & Bates-Diop). I’m almost positive one of them blows up in their role and gets a fair sized offer though.
 

Yuma

Suns are my Kryptonite!
Joined
Jan 3, 2003
Posts
22,683
Reaction score
12,432
Location
Laveen, AZ
KB-D
Yuta
Gordon
Eubanks
Metu
Goodwin
Lee

All six players combine for less than $20m next year and the Suns have early-bird rights on everyone expect Metu so should they opt-in next season they could be kept long term (specifically looking at Watanabe & Bates-Diop). I’m almost positive one of them blows up in their role and gets a fair sized offer though.
I also heard on the radio today, that next season we have team option on Goodwin, and RFA rights on Saben Lee.
 

GatorAZ

feed hopkins
Joined
Oct 17, 2011
Posts
25,440
Reaction score
18,327
Location
The Giant Toaster
I also heard on the radio today, that next season we have team option on Goodwin, and RFA rights on Saben Lee.
Goodwin yes not sure about Lee. Forgot about Camara who is making just over $1m. The way they filled out the roster rivals those Miami teams that added Allen, Miller and Battier to the big-3.
 

Yuma

Suns are my Kryptonite!
Joined
Jan 3, 2003
Posts
22,683
Reaction score
12,432
Location
Laveen, AZ
Goodwin yes not sure about Lee. Forgot about Camara who is making just over $1m. The way they filled out the roster rivals those Miami teams that added Allen, Miller and Battier to the big-3.
Yeah, IDK why on the radio they didn't include Camara. I noticed with Camara's contract, it is regular this year, then two years listed as non guaranteed, then the fourth year is listed as Team Option. I know this means something. Just not sure what the difference is from non guaranteed to team option is in practical terms?
 
Top