Welcome to the Valley: Bol Bol

[JCSunsfan]

I’m thinking his mindset will be changed by this defensive minded coaching staff.

For what? Will he help us win a championship this year? No. He will not have that kind of impact. If we coach him up, we do so for the team that will sign him next year. There is no real upside to this signing.

 

[CardNots]

For what? Will he help us win a championship this year? No. He will not have that kind of impact. If we coach him up, we do so for the team that will sign him next year. There is no real upside to this signing.

I trust the leadership far more than u

 

[JCSunsfan]

I trust the leadership far more than u

To do what here? I am a homer fan typically. Show me the upside in this signing. I like Bol, but unless there is a wink wink agreement to resign next year if things go this year, there is no point to this signing. Ask Carlos Boozer what those wink wink deals are worth.

Even for Bol, this is a bad deal. In a critical moment in his career he signs with a team that has no motivation to give him significant time and develop him.

The point in signing young developmental players like this is to compensate for the lack of draft picks. But to benefit from the development of a young player you have to have control long enough to offer them a bigger deal with bird rights (early or other). Otherwise all the Suns can offer to resign is the league minimum salary. If you can't do that you just become a g-league team developing players for the benefit of other teams.

We will see. I hope he is good enough to help us win a championship this year because one year is all we get from him.

 

[Covert Rain]

To do what here? I am a homer fan typically. Show me the upside in this signing. I like Bol, but unless there is a wink wink agreement to resign next year if things go this year, there is no point to this signing. Ask Carlos Boozer what those wink wink deals are worth.

Even for Bol, this is a bad deal. In a critical moment in his career he signs with a team that has no motivation to give him significant time and develop him.

We will see. I hope he is good enough to help us win a championship this year because one year is all we get from him.

The upside is having another body to throw out there when the team gets into foul trouble. The upside is getting a peak at a guy that if you can push some progress you may have an inside track to resigning him. Even if the guy does nothing more than practice with our coaches, they will get more insight into him to make that decision.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns were locked into signing Bol Bol for a while.

Initially it appeared to be an odd fit but the new front office doesn't do anything without a reason.

I'm trusting Frank Vogel on this one.

 

[JCSunsfan]

The Suns were locked into signing Bol Bol for a while.

Initially it appeared to be an odd fit but the new front office doesn't do anything without a reason.

I'm trusting Frank Vogel on this one.

I suppose that it might be true that they do not do anything without a reason but I think it's a little to early to know that yet. They tinker ad infinitum. That's for sure. And they have no affinity to Monty's guys. I wonder what JJ's role is in all this. Is someone else making the choices to completely blow up the roster that JJ assembled, or is this what JJ would have done if Sarver wasn't looking over his shoulder?

Trading swaps seems to be a strategy for a team that expects to be picking at the end of the first round anyway because of the apron. JJ has been big on scouting players in the league and in the g-league as much as in the draft. That's how he found Landale.

 

[Mainstreet]

I suppose that it might be true that they do not do anything without a reason but I think it's a little to early to know that yet. They tinker ad infinitum. That's for sure. And they have no affinity to Monty's guys. I wonder what JJ's role is in all this. Is someone else making the choices to completely blow up the roster that JJ assembled, or is this what JJ would have done if Sarver wasn't looking over his shoulder?

Trading swaps seems to be a strategy for a team that expects to be picking at the end of the first round anyway because of the apron. JJ has been big on scouting players in the league and in the g-league as much as in the draft. That's how he found Landale.

It's way too early to form a firm opinion, but it looks to me that James Jones and Matt Ishbia have similar thinking.

If anything, I think Ishbia has encouraged Jones to be a free thinker and has allowed him to make the decisions he has always wanted to make. There is no way a new owner learns to be a GM in 6 months.

We are seeing something very creative happening.

 

[Mainstreet]

@JCSunsfan

Btw, I agree, James Jones has skill for finding hidden gems within the NBA. I suspect he watches a lot of games and does a lot of his own scouting.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

I'd like this more if we had a team or player option for year 2. There's zero incentive to develop him. As an end of the bench guy that's fine but I wonder how effective he might be if he's needed. I guess we'll see.

Can a 1 year contract be extended at any point? For instance if we really like what we are seeing at around the mid point of the season could we work an extension?

If not that is there any sort of bird rights on a 1 year deal where he could be resigned to a bigger contract over the cap? It would suck if the team really liked what they saw out of him, but there was no avenue to potentially re-sign him, but I would guess that's the reality.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Can a 1 year contract be extended at any point? For instance if we really like what we are seeing at around the mid point of the season could we work an extension?

If not that is there any sort of bird rights on a 1 year deal where he could be resigned to a bigger contract over the cap? It would suck if the team really liked what they saw out of him, but there was no avenue to potentially re-sign him, but I would guess that's the reality.

Have to have the cap space.

 

[Bufalay]

So. One year deal. Coach him up and leaves. Don't coach him up and he's worthless. So what's the point? Why a one year deal for a young player? Sign him for three years with team options or don't bother.

The same could be said of Denver signing Bruce Brown last offseason. Of course, in that one season he helped the team win their first championship.

 

[Yuma]

I just watched a couple podcasts and the topic was Bol Bol. Of note that I took away, is one said he shooting averages are inverted. He is over 80% at the rim, which is outstanding, and his percentages go down as he moves out to the three point line, which is where he shot the worst. What I mean by inverted, is he took the least amount of shots at the rim, and took the majority of his shots from the three. In the mid range he was decent on both percentages, from where he took and how many he hit. So the take aways are that he needs to improve his three point shot, OR this is my observation, he needs to stick to taking more at the rim buckets. Probably a mix of both. From the videos on that podcast, he is deadly at the rim. He scores between defenders and finishes the way we always WANT Ayton to do.

The other podcast has Gerald Bourget interviewing an Orlando Magic scout. Probably the main takeaway was the scout said Bol Bol started last season strong. Then he said what knocked Bol Bol down was contracting Covid, and the scout said when Bol Bol came back he never physically looked the same. He said unfortunately for Bol, all the young talent was starting to take off on the Magic, and Bol was not able to keep up with the talent when it was ascending.

Another point the scout made was he wasn't surprised the Magic let him go, but rather the Suns had so much interest. He said Bol Bol has the tools to be an NBA player, but needs playing time and patience to make mistakes while he works on his flaws in his game. To the scout, he thinks that means Bol Bol should be on a round developing team. He is more shocked at the aggressive way Phoenix went after Bol.

Bourget had another scout he interviewed about Boi Bol. I think what I took away is both scouts were complimentary in what they thought Bol Bol could eventually bring to a team on offense. They both seem to think he's a plus defensively. ALso, from what I saw in the first video is a big man that can defend guards really well. You know how CP3, Book, etc, love for the center to get switched to them, they show Bol Bol blocking these guys all the time. All three sources not Bol Bol is also really skilled at blocking the three point shot. This is a skill I can see in situational defense at the end of games that would be nice to get into defending a potential game winning three.

So what the Suns and Vogel expect from Bol Bol based on the aggressive way they pursued him, and yet only gave him a one year deal, who knows?

 

[JCSunsfan]

Why Bol might have wanted to sign here, for the sake of his own development.

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[JCSunsfan]

This evaluation seems right on. Although I am not sure I see Bol Bol as a 5th starter for this team ever. Would that be the NBA's first Triple Towers? Can't imagine running three 7 footers out there on the court at the same time. It will happen at some point this year--at least for a span of a few minutes.

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[Yuma]

This evaluation seems right on. Although I am not sure I see Bol Bol as a 5th starter for this team ever. Would that be the NBA's first Triple Towers? Can't imagine running three 7 footers out there on the court at the same time. It will happen at some point this year--at least for a span of a few minutes.

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That will be fun when it does!

 

[JCSunsfan]

Bol is 7-2 without shoes, has a 7-8 wingspan and a 9-7 standing reach.

He can dunk on tip toes.

He has quick hands and has a particular knack for blocking shots at the three point line. He is a very effective scorer at the rim and out to 10 feet. He loves the three point shot but does not shoot it well.

Early last season he was considered a candidate for most improved player. Then he got Covid and had a long recovery. Covid in its present form is not nearly as life threatening but can linger several months.

This young man's future depends on how coachable he is. Just like DA.

 

[Muggz]

Bol is 7-2 without shoes, has a 7-8 wingspan and a 9-7 standing reach.

He can dunk on tip toes.

He has quick hands and has a particular knack for blocking shots at the three point line. He is a very effective scorer at the rim and out to 10 feet. He loves the three point shot but does not shoot it well.

Early last season he was considered a candidate for most improved player. Then he got Covid and had a long recovery. Covid in its present form is not nearly as life threatening but can linger several months.

This young man's future depends on how coachable he is. Just like DA.

Bol is a not a very big gamble, if Vogel can calm him a little bit and get him to think about maybe not shooting so many 3s he will be fine. As probably the last off the bench or in blowouts there's not a lot riding on him. He does have skills just needs to bring it all together and work on the turnovers. Maybe the center whisperer can help.

He's pretty good finishing at the rim. Kick to the WIDE OPEN Bol and let HIM attack the rim. You know DA wont do it.

For gods sake we have Book Beal and KD, If Bol had a lemonade stand at center court It wouldn't even make a diff.

 

[Germz249]

Bol is a not a very big gamble, if Vogel can calm him a little bit and get him to think about maybe not shooting so many 3s he will be fine. As probably the last off the bench or in blowouts there's not a lot riding on him. He does have skills just needs to bring it all together and work on the turnovers. Maybe the center whisperer can help.

He's pretty good finishing at the rim. Kick to the WIDE OPEN Bol and let HIM attack the rim. You know DA wont do it.

Not a big gamble at all. We have majority of our guys on vet min. I would say all of our moves (free agent signing) is not a big gamble being that its vet min and what is out there. I think we got the best bang for the buck value.

 

[clyde2tw]

Not a big gamble at all. We have majority of our guys on vet min. I would say all of our moves (free agent signing) is not a big gamble being that its vet min and what is out there. I think we got the best bang for the buck value.

All the min. signings except for Damion are in to fight for playing time to show their value to the league, in order to get a better pay day next season. With all except top 4 are of the same type contracts, it's a credible promise by the mgmt and coach that there is no favorism and hidden agenda, that we'd handle the playing time fair and square, solely to serve the purpose of winning. Except for Okogie and Damion, all we can offer next year is another min. contract.
So, Bol is in the same boat like all the others. Why he wants to sign here? I guess he knew his weakness and wanted to learn from his idol KD and train with a good coach like Vogel.

 

[Mainstreet]

All the min. signings except for Damion are in to fight for playing time to show their value to the league, in order to get a better pay day next season. With all except top 4 are of the same type contracts, it's a credible promise by the mgmt and coach that there is no favorism and hidden agenda, that we'd handle the playing time fair and square, solely to serve the purpose of winning. Except for Okogie and Damion, all we can offer next year is another min. contract.
So, Bol is in the same boat like all the others. Why he wants to sign here? I guess he knew his weakness and wanted to learn from his idol KD and train with a good coach like Vogel.

Let's hope Toumani Camara develops into a rotation player because the Suns have him under contract for four years. Also, the Suns have two trade exceptions that can be used by February.

Additionally, they have first round draft picks every other year, plus the second round picks they acquired in pick swaps.

Bottom line, the Suns need to be good at finding and developing young players to add to their core.

My guess is Mat Ishbia is going to invest in additional scouting and a G-League team so the team can sustain itself going forward.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Bol is 7-2 without shoes, has a 7-8 wingspan and a 9-7 standing reach.

He can dunk on tip toes.

He has quick hands and has a particular knack for blocking shots at the three point line. He is a very effective scorer at the rim and out to 10 feet. He loves the three point shot but does not shoot it well.

Early last season he was considered a candidate for most improved player. Then he got Covid and had a long recovery. Covid in its present form is not nearly as life threatening but can linger several months.

This young man's future depends on how coachable he is. Just like DA.

His numbers before and after getting covid are staggeringly different as well.

Pre covid: 37 games, 26 mpg, 12 ppg, 7 rpg, 1.6 bpg, 39% 3P%, 59% FG%

Post covid: 33 games, 16 mpg, 6 ppg, 4 rpg, .8 bpg, 8% 3P%, 47% FG%

I would guess JJ saw those pre covid numbers and is gambling on the idea of that being the guy that we signed. That guy could absolutely play some solid minutes for us. Especially if put in a fairly refined role where he isn't doing much off the dribble stuff.

 

[Yuma]

The Phoenix Suns officially signed former Orlando Magic forward Bol Bol to a one-year contract, the team announced on Wednesday.

 

[JCSunsfan]

His numbers before and after getting covid are staggeringly different as well.

Pre covid: 37 games, 26 mpg, 12 ppg, 7 rpg, 1.6 bpg, 39% 3P%, 59% FG%

Post covid: 33 games, 16 mpg, 6 ppg, 4 rpg, .8 bpg, 8% 3P%, 47% FG%

I would guess JJ saw those pre covid numbers and is gambling on the idea of that being the guy that we signed. That guy could absolutely play some solid minutes for us. Especially if put in a fairly refined role where he isn't doing much off the dribble stuff.

That is really interesting. Those precovid numbers are excellent. Even the three point shooting.

 

[Yuma]

“Bol brings unique skills and abilities to our forward and center positions, which further enhances our depth and versatility,” Suns general manager and president of basketball operations James Jones said in a press release. “His continued growth and development will help make us a more complete team.”

 

[Yuma]

That is really interesting. Those precovid numbers are excellent. Even the three point shooting.

Yeah, I remember watching league highlights and he started the season red hot. He had a little phenom stretch going. I didn't know about the covid. Just knew he ended up deep on the back end of the rotation.