Who Don't You Want the Suns to Draft

[George O'Brien]

I expect we give David Griffin the respect to say we trust his judgment. Still, Sarver is a hands on guy and he might push for a mistake so here is my list of guys I'd just as soon they pass on.

Bargnani - The reviews are really great about him, almost as good as for Darko, Skita, Lampe, and Zarko (I lied about Zarko). In any case, he's another soft Euro seven footer who can shoot but not defend. If he was available at 21 it would be different, but it would take an awful lot to get him and I don't like what I read.

Morrison - Every time I read about him I can't help thinking "a shorter Danny Ferry".

JJ Redick - Duke has a long history of having guys looking very good in college and not really being that good in the NBA. Redick is a great shooter who will be playing against much bigger and faster defenders but without the athleticism to defend against them. I keep seeing a taller Eddie House.

Shelden Williams - My read on him is that he's too slow and not a good enough shooter to help the Suns. I think he'll be better than many other PF's, but not on the Suns.

Randy Foye - As a PG without great PG skills and no outside shot, I'm not sure I'd want him at 21 much less top ten.

Marcus Williams - As the best pure PG in the draft he will be gone long before 21, but I don't feel he'd be worth trading up to get. He's not very athletic and is not much of a shooter.

Oleksiy Pecherov - Love him at 27, but not much earlier. He's not very quick and not very strong. I'm not convinced he's not just another Euro who can shoot.

Rajon Rondo - I'd take a chance at 21 on the hopes the Suns can teach him to shoot, but I would not trade up for him. The Suns cannot use guys with no obvious shooting ability.

Kyle Lowry - Not really a PG, not a great shooter, and not very big.

Josh Boone - No apparent offensive skills and overall play has declined over the past two years.

Quincy Douby - Not much PG skills and really light. I expect him to be a defensive liability.

Kevin Pittsnogle - Really slow and not athletic.

Obviously some guys are ranked much higher than others, but what is important is not their ranking but how they fit the Suns.

 

[slinslin]

Redick, Collins Douby, Pittsnoggle, Pecherov among others.

 

[George O'Brien]

At this point Collins could drop to 27, where I might take him. But I agree I don't think hed be a good fit on the Suns.

 

[boisesuns]

I would not draft Shelden Williams, Jordan Farmar, or Rondo

I agree with some others on your list as far as not to draft, but there are a few worth taking on there.

 

[sunsfn]

JJ Redick is not going to be drafted by the suns but, here is a report from Insider on his ablility to score. Pretty impressive!

Scouts Inc. Evaluation: Big-time shooter with NBA range. He has a very quick release and an excellent knack for coming off screens and getting his shot off. Very good shooter off the catch. Also has the ability to catch and square and break you down off the dribble. His catch and jab series is excellent. Jab jumper, jab shot fake jumper, jab shot fake one dribble shot, jab shot fake one dribble, pull-back dribble shot are all very good.
He can really get out in transition and will pull up from 3-point range and bury shots. He also can play two-man game in early transition. Has great ability to play the pick-and-roll game and come off the screen shooter ready. He needs to improve his ability to get to the rim and finish. He sometimes relies too much on being just a jump shooter.
He is fast enough and intelligent enough to space people on the defensive end. He is quicker than people think. His basketball IQ is excellent, which makes up for any lack of quickness. He will be able to guard in the league because of his mental toughness and competitiveness.
Will be very good if he plays with a penetrating point guard who can draw and dish to him for off-the-catch shots. He also will be a non-stop, moving-without-the-ball player, as he is in great condition and has very good stamina.
Will be a very good NBA player who can make open shots and play the two-man game. A dedicated player who will continue to work hard to prove wrong the doubters who say he isn't good enough.

 

[panfolk]

Any combo guard.

edit: unless Barbosa is traded. In my view the combo guard spot on a team is like a Highlander competition.

 

[pokerface]

Eric Hicks...dont want him

 

[George O'Brien]

JJ Redick is not going to be drafted by the suns but, here is a report from Insider on his ablility to score. Pretty impressive!

Scouts Inc. Evaluation: Big-time shooter with NBA range. He has a very quick release and an excellent knack for coming off screens and getting his shot off. Very good shooter off the catch. Also has the ability to catch and square and break you down off the dribble. His catch and jab series is excellent. Jab jumper, jab shot fake jumper, jab shot fake one dribble shot, jab shot fake one dribble, pull-back dribble shot are all very good.
He can really get out in transition and will pull up from 3-point range and bury shots. He also can play two-man game in early transition. Has great ability to play the pick-and-roll game and come off the screen shooter ready. He needs to improve his ability to get to the rim and finish. He sometimes relies too much on being just a jump shooter.
He is fast enough and intelligent enough to space people on the defensive end. He is quicker than people think. His basketball IQ is excellent, which makes up for any lack of quickness. He will be able to guard in the league because of his mental toughness and competitiveness.
Will be very good if he plays with a penetrating point guard who can draw and dish to him for off-the-catch shots. He also will be a non-stop, moving-without-the-ball player, as he is in great condition and has very good stamina.
Will be a very good NBA player who can make open shots and play the two-man game. A dedicated player who will continue to work hard to prove wrong the doubters who say he isn't good enough.

And his defensive skills?

The Suns already have a guard who is a liability on defense in Nash. Steve tries, but he's just not quick enough, strong enough or tall enough to keep from getting burned. That's why it is so important that he be pared up with someone who really can defend.

Leandro is not close to being where he needs to be, but has the quickness and arm length to become pretty good someday. But Reddick presents the same problem House does, which is that his offense is vastly better when playing with Nash but it is a defensive disaster to have them both at guard at the same time.

Reddick is supposed to be better than House, but it doesn't matter if he can't play when Nash is on the floor.

 

[Cheesebeef]

white guys... hee hee.

 

[panfolk]

At this point Collins could drop to 27, where I might take him. But I agree I don't think hed be a good fit on the Suns.

Somehow I agree with both sentences even though my M. Collins fandom has slowed with his poor workouts. Better yet would be if he fell into the second round like some pages are predicting

 

[Nash]

Hilton Armstrong,

Boone,

Redick (mainly because I've grown tired of hearing his name endlessly during the NCAA season and his 'golden boy' status; not golden anymore after the DWI in any case ),

Shelden Williams (no aliens allowed)

 

[NastyOne]

I see Redick more as a Michael Redd than Eddie House.

Hes the best three point shooter in the World right now.

His shot would be murder against other teams cause unlike guys like Barbosa you cannot leave him alone.

 

[Gaddabout]

Hes the best three point shooter in the World right now.

That's a big stretch. I'd love to see how he shoots with NBA guards and forwards in his face.

The Suns should just adopt a "no Dukie" policy right now. I can live missing on an Elton Brand to avoid the Mike Dunleavy Jr's of the draft.

I think when this draft is over, there are going to be lots of teams wondering why they were in love with X player. Lots of would-be contributors, but very few that look capable of being a team leader. I predict at least six players from this draft will end up on the Celtics bench by 2008.

 

[tobiazz]

Any PG in this draft and any Dukie.

 

[NastyOne]

That's a big stretch. I'd love to see how he shoots with NBA guards and forwards in his face.

Redick hits 30+ footers during games all the time, and he hit threes over guys like Josh Howard when he was playing in the ACC.Not to mention all the other talented guards/forwards (Now in the NBA) that hes played against in the ACC during his four year career.

The only thing that throws Redick off his game is when he has to work ridiculousy hard running around trying to get open looks.

There is no one in the NBA,NCAA or Overseas that can shoot the 3 with as much range and accuracy as JJ Redick.

Any kind of 3 point shot you can think of, Redick can knock it down.

Fadeaways,Leaners,30+fter,Spotup,Off Screens and with guys hanging off him.

Our style of play would be a perfect compliment to Redicks game, cause he would either have a single defender on him or will have wide open looks.

 

[scoutmasterdave]

Hes the best three point shooter in the World right now.

His shot would be murder against other teams cause unlike guys like Barbosa you cannot leave him alone.

Wow. Barbosa shoots 44% from three last year (third in the league), and all of a sudden you can just leave him open? I'd rather have Barbosa than Redick any day of the week.

 

[NastyOne]

Wow. Barbosa shoots 44% from three last year (third in the league), and all of a sudden you can just leave him open? I'd rather have Barbosa than Redick any day of the week.

How many 3's did Leo hit with a hand in his face?

Exactly, just like Joe Johnson,Quentin Richardson and Raja Bell, Leo too had wide open looks playing with Steve Nash.

Redick doesnt have to be wide open to drain 3's on the other team.

Leo is better than Redick at attacking the paint because of his ungodly speed but thats it.

Both are poor defenders and arent true PGs even though they have PG bodies.

Redick is the better shooter from all areas of the court and has better floor vision.

 

[George O'Brien]

How many 3's did Leo hit with a hand in his face?

Exactly, just like Joe Johnson,Quentin Richardson and Raja Bell, Leo too had wide open looks playing with Steve Nash.

Redick doesnt have to be wide open to drain 3's on the other team.

Leo is better than Redick at attacking the paint because of his ungodly speed but thats it.

Both are poor defenders and arent true PGs even though they have PG bodies.

Redick is the better shooter from all areas of the court and has better floor vision.

Leandro is only about average as a defender. His biggest problem is one Redick will have which is that he's not strong enough to keep guys from posting him up.

However, I think Leandro is going to become a much better defender because he has the quickness and long arms you want from for a defender. You can teach footwork and develop strength, but you can't teach his type of quickness.

 

[NastyOne]

Leandro is only about average as a defender. His biggest problem is one Redick will have which is that he's not strong enough to keep guys from posting him up.

However, I think Leandro is going to become a much better defender because he has the quickness and long arms you want from for a defender. You can teach footwork and develop strength, but you can't teach his type of quickness.

Why can't Redick get stronger to handle bigger guards?

Redick is a smart defender, his only weakness is that hes weak.

If he gets stronger he will never be a great defender, but he can be decent enough that his offense will offset his defense.

 

[slinslin]

Why can't Redick get stronger to handle bigger guards?

Redick is a smart defender, his only weakness is that hes weak.

If he gets stronger he will never be a great defender, but he can be decent enough that his offense will offset his defense.

He is just 6'4 , not the frame to put up pounds, not really athletic, ALLIGATOR arms. He is going to be undersized and will have trouble on defense as well as shooting over taller players.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

I know this may get a lot of people scratching their heads, but I really hope the Suns do NOT select Sene.

His upside is obviously tremendous, and if he becomes the next Mutumbo, I'll eat my words. However, the fact that the guy has just four years experience, none of which came at a high level of competition has me a slight bit concerned.

Granted, neither Dikembe Mutumbo or Hakeem Olajuwon has heaps of experience either, but at least the two of them had their time at Georgetown and Houston respectively where they could stake a claim to have spent time in big time basketball.

 

[panfolk]

I know this may get a lot of people scratching their heads, but I really hope the Suns do NOT select Sene.

His upside is obviously tremendous, and if he becomes the next Mutumbo, I'll eat my words. However, the fact that the guy has just four years experience, none of which came at a high level of competition has me a slight bit concerned.

Granted, neither Dikembe Mutumbo or Hakeem Olajuwon has heaps of experience either, but at least the two of them had their time at Georgetown and Houston respectively where they could stake a claim to have spent time in big time basketball.

Would you still feel that way after they drafted him and left him over seas for a couple years to make a Ginobili like rookie explosion? That is a longshot but with his upside it seems possible.

 

[George O'Brien]

Sene is not likely to be any help in the next two years. With the shorter rookie contracts, I'm not sure I see the point unless to save cap money by leaving him overseas.

 

[panfolk]

I would not draft Shelden Williams, Jordan Farmar, or Rondo

I agree with some others on your list as far as not to draft, but there are a few worth taking on there.

Just curious, why not Farmar?

 

[Nash]

I know this may get a lot of people scratching their heads, but I really hope the Suns do NOT select Sene.

His upside is obviously tremendous, and if he becomes the next Mutumbo, I'll eat my words. However, the fact that the guy has just four years experience, none of which came at a high level of competition has me a slight bit concerned.

Granted, neither Dikembe Mutumbo or Hakeem Olajuwon has heaps of experience either, but at least the two of them had their time at Georgetown and Houston respectively where they could stake a claim to have spent time in big time basketball.

exactly the reason why I'm not too big on picking Sene. And wasn't Kandi-man thought/expected to be Hakeem/Dikembe like?

Projects like him(Sene) always have a huge question mark hanging over their heads. Granted, even Diop plays decently after 4 yrs of gestation in Cleveland. Sene may go on to be a good player but I think the Suns can ill afford a project like him.

Our objective is to capitalize on the MVP we have by surrounding him with impact players. The next 2 years may be the golden years for the Suns if they get a solid supporting cast for Nash. Its our best shot at the championship in a long time. In addition, the uncertainty over how Amare is going to be, means we need to pack the team with guys that can contribute from Day one.
Sene doesn't fit that bill.

Redick - as much as I don't like him for the favoritism he recd from NCAA refs and how the media fawned over him, I should ack he is a nice shooter. Bad defenser, stubby arms? yes. But I'm in the camp that thinks he will be a success in the NBA. He has great shooting mechanics, moves great w/o the ball and more than anything is a very hard worker. So he'll find a way to be good.
All that said, I wouldn't want Redick with the Suns.
esp. not at the cost of Barbosa.