2014 Draft Thread

[Revived]

Dante Exum to force his way to the Lakers ala Kobe Bryant style?

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-bas ... -to-lakers

[Revived]

I'm a Duke fan, but the thing that bothers me about Hood is that I don't think he's a very good passer and his BballIQ isn't great. Too many times I've seen him force a shot or not make the clear pass for a better shot. Too many times on the break, he doesn't make the right play and seems a little selfish. I am not denying that he is a excellent player, but I've been disappointed in his decision making.

If you look at MCdizzles past draftees he certainly seems to like those high basketball IQ kids. Rondo, Alex, Archie, Bradley. I can't think of any other players he is semi responsible for but it certainly seems like a trend.

Archie a high basketball IQ? I don't know about that. I remember Calipari said the kid was uncoachable. He may turn into one under the tutelage of Hornacek, but I don't know that he had a high basketball IQ out of college.

More importantly, Goodwin is making the right plays at the right speed at the right time. Hornacek has been a fan of the rookie’s basketball I.Q. since day one, citing the lack of repetition he needs to learn the Suns’ offense.

“Archie, all year long, he might know the plays better than anybody on the team,” Hornacek said. “When we call a play, he always knew not only what he was doing, but what everyone else was doing.”

High praise from the coach is met by simple motivation from a rookie that doesn’t want to look the part.

“Whenever we’re running a play, I always try to lock in and make sure I know what’s going on,” Goodwin said. “I don’t want to be the odd-ball out and be the guy that doesn’t know what’s going on when the play needs to be run.”

Goodwin has progressed in leaps and bounds in that regard. His growth is easily visible when his recent play is broken down:

- Against the Spurs last week, Goodwin waited on the weak side of the floor until Ish Smith set a down screen. He promptely used it to cut baseline and caught the ball in the paint. Seeing a defender behind him, he took a power dribble, established better position to prevent his defender from contesting the shot, and banked in the easy bucket.

- In the same game, Goodwin ran in semi-transition, but Ish Smith saw a better option on the other side of the floor. Instead of giving up as the non-option, Goodwin crashed the boards and slammed home Marcus Morris’ missed three-pointer.

- Against the Timberwolves four days later, Goodwin started out in the far left corner as Goran Dragic initiated the offense. As P.J. Tucker posted up on the right block, Goodwin flashed toward the suddenly empty area above the restricted area in the key. Tucker passed the ball out to Markieff Morris, who drove down toward the right side of the hoop. Goodwin promptly floated toward the next empty area, this time at the top of the key. Morris recognized the open rookie, who took advantage of the over-rotated defense and drove straight to the hoop for two.

- With Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe out due to injury, Goodwin was pressed into backup point guard duty at Utah. After running an initial pick-and-roll with Channing Frye, Goodwin passed to Dionte Christmas on the wing. He then shouted and gestured to Christmas that Frye had a mismatch in the post. Christmas drove the ball instead, but recognized the help defense coming and kicked it back out to Goodwin, who nailed a three-pointer from straightaway.

One common theme among those plays: they all came thanks to Goodwin’s work off the ball. That’s a notable development for a guy who, in college, led the SEC in free throw attempts and nearly always had direct control of the offense.

Goodwin, however, has accepted the most basic yet hard-learned lesson of all: the NBA is not college.

“Sometimes as a scorer, you can’t get the ball in your hand every time,” he said. “You have to find ways to score without the ball in your hands, which is cutting, offensive rebounds, getting steals, fast breaks, anything. You don’t always have to have the ball in your hands.”

http://www.nba.com/suns/news/goodwin-su ... -potential

[bwgood77]

Dante Exum to force his way to the Lakers ala Kobe Bryant style?

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-bas ... -to-lakers

Yeah, I mentioned before in some thread that he's reached out to Kobe and wants to play there. If they end up winning the lottery though, I can't see them taking him over Embiid or Wiggins or Parker, though I guess I've never seen him play.

[bhawk]

Saturday morning man crush: Clint Capelas

Draft Express has him at 16 and two spots behind Jusuf Nurkic.

Reminds me of an Amare / Marion hybrid at 6.10. Check out the highlights if you haven't already.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Clint-Capela-6359/

Hope he stays in the 15-20 range so the Suns have a chance at him.

[WeekapaugGroove]

Saturday morning man crush: Clint Capelas

Draft Express has him at 16 and two spots behind Jusuf Nurkic.

Reminds me of an Amare / Marion hybrid at 6.10. Check out the highlights if you haven't already.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Clint-Capela-6359/

Hope he stays in the 15-20 range so the Suns have a chance at him.

intriguing prospect for sure. If the suns don't trade either theirs or the wash pick I'm totally in favor or drafting two high upside forwards like Capela and hoping one pans out.

[WeekapaugGroove]

KJ McDaniels would be nice with the indi pick. Super athletic and could be a lockdown defender at the 3.

He's not a good 3 point shooter now but does shoot free throws well so you would think he could improve his jumper overall.

[Ryu]

KJ McDaniels would be nice with the indi pick. Super athletic and could be a lockdown defender at the 3.

He's not a good 3 point shooter now but does shoot free throws well so you would think he could improve his jumper overall.

I dunno much about him yet but I`d draft him just because of his name.

[SunsFanSSOL]

Will we trade into the top 5? I can see us most likely ending up with the 14th, 18th and 29th picks, I'm not sure if that's enough to move up. I'd love Julius Randle or Noah Vonleh on this team. Maybe a team like Sacramento might be willing to trade with us.

[WeekapaugGroove]

Will we trade into the top 5? I can see us most likely ending up with the 14th, 18th and 29th picks, I'm not sure if that's enough to move up. I'd love Julius Randle or Noah Vonleh on this team. Maybe a team like Sacramento might be willing to trade with us.

no ones trading out of the top 5 or 6 in this draft. You might see some movement with picks 6-13.

[bwgood77]

Will we trade into the top 5? I can see us most likely ending up with the 14th, 18th and 29th picks, I'm not sure if that's enough to move up. I'd love Julius Randle or Noah Vonleh on this team. Maybe a team like Sacramento might be willing to trade with us.

No, I think we keep all three picks and use them. If they think we don't need that many rookies, than we can draft a european player who may not come over this year.

Picks in the range we will have them are such a good value that I think it's wise to use them if you think their is talent there. Picks in the top 5 are fairly expensive by the end of their rookie contract, so if they are a bust, it is quite a bit of money to be paying. For example, Evan Turner made about $6.7 million this year, while the Morris twins made a combined $4 million. And McD, being a scout, probably is excited to make the picks.

I think Julius Randle might end up being a bust. I wouldn't be surprised if he dropped quite a bit in the draft. He hasn't impressed me.

[SunsFanSSOL]

Will we trade into the top 5? I can see us most likely ending up with the 14th, 18th and 29th picks, I'm not sure if that's enough to move up. I'd love Julius Randle or Noah Vonleh on this team. Maybe a team like Sacramento might be willing to trade with us.

No, I think we keep all three picks and use them. If they think we don't need that many rookies, than we can draft a european player who may not come over this year.

That would be a bad idea IMO - keeping all 3 picks, but knowing that, the Suns will probably do it then.

[bwgood77]

Will we trade into the top 5? I can see us most likely ending up with the 14th, 18th and 29th picks, I'm not sure if that's enough to move up. I'd love Julius Randle or Noah Vonleh on this team. Maybe a team like Sacramento might be willing to trade with us.

No, I think we keep all three picks and use them. If they think we don't need that many rookies, than we can draft a european player who may not come over this year.

That would be a bad idea IMO - keeping all 3 picks, but knowing that, the Suns will probably do it then.

We've sold or traded enough picks over the years. I'd rather let Hornacek develop some cheap young talent and have players we can watch grow into good players.

[sunsbum]

We dont have room for 3 picks, we are having trouble giving time to 2 rookies as it is.

[SunsFanSSOL]

No, I think we keep all three picks and use them. If they think we don't need that many rookies, than we can draft a european player who may not come over this year.

That would be a bad idea IMO - keeping all 3 picks, but knowing that, the Suns will probably do it then.

We've sold or traded enough picks over the years. I'd rather let Hornacek develop some cheap young talent and have players we can watch grow into good players.

We've already got a lot of cheap players. No one in that range is going to be franchise changing and those picks are going to be valuable trade assets. We aren't even going to have time to give to 3 rookies, especially if we intend on contending for the playoffs next year. Enough with the cheap role players this team needs to shoot for a star.

[In2ition]

That would be a bad idea IMO - keeping all 3 picks, but knowing that, the Suns will probably do it then.

We've sold or traded enough picks over the years. I'd rather let Hornacek develop some cheap young talent and have players we can watch grow into good players.

We've already got a lot of cheap players. No one in that range is going to be franchise changing and those picks are going to be valuable trade assets. We aren't even going to have time to give to 3 rookies, especially if we intend on contending for the playoffs next year. Enough with the cheap role players this team needs to shoot for a star.

I'm a little on your side of things. I tend to think that they may have only one rookie to develop next year. They are developing two right now, and they will continue to be working with them next year too. I don't think more than 3 good young developing 1st or 2nd year players at a time is a great idea for a team that is pushing for the playoffs and trying to get themselves in position to compete for a title.

[bwgood77]

That would be a bad idea IMO - keeping all 3 picks, but knowing that, the Suns will probably do it then.

We've sold or traded enough picks over the years. I'd rather let Hornacek develop some cheap young talent and have players we can watch grow into good players.

We've already got a lot of cheap players. No one in that range is going to be franchise changing and those picks are going to be valuable trade assets. We aren't even going to have time to give to 3 rookies, especially if we intend on contending for the playoffs next year. Enough with the cheap role players this team needs to shoot for a star.

You never know where in the draft you are going to get franchise players. Dragic was picked what, like 57th? Tony Parker was taken 28th. Rondo was taken 21st. Look at Indiana. George was picked 10th. David West was taken 18th. Lance Stephenson was taken 40th. George Hill was taken 26th. Hibbert was taken 17th. Even Granger, who was one of the best players from that draft was taken 17th.

Also, most of the guys at the very top will be very raw and likely won't be real difference makers for a few years. Some of the guys that go in the mid to late teens, like Adreian Payne and Doug McDermott are probably more ready to immediately be role players.

The top of the draft is almost all hype. None of these guys have taken college basketball by storm, like Durant or even Beasley did.

There is no way we can trade into the top 6 or 7.

[bwgood77]

We've sold or traded enough picks over the years. I'd rather let Hornacek develop some cheap young talent and have players we can watch grow into good players.

We've already got a lot of cheap players. No one in that range is going to be franchise changing and those picks are going to be valuable trade assets. We aren't even going to have time to give to 3 rookies, especially if we intend on contending for the playoffs next year. Enough with the cheap role players this team needs to shoot for a star.

I'm a little on your side of things. I tend to think that they may have only one rookie to develop next year. They are developing two right now, and they will continue to be working with them next year too. I don't think more than 3 good young developing 1st or 2nd year players at a time is a great idea for a team that is pushing for the playoffs and trying to get themselves in position to compete for a title.

You're also putting all your eggs in one basket for a pick that could be a bust. I'd rather have that war chest of young players for either a potential trade, or to build for the future. Now if we end up making the playoffs, and our picks are like 18th, 21st and 29th, I'd probably be more for trading a couple of them to move up. But I think if we have the 14th and 18th, that using those two to trade up a few spots likely won't necessarily net us much better of a player.

[In2ition]

We've already got a lot of cheap players. No one in that range is going to be franchise changing and those picks are going to be valuable trade assets. We aren't even going to have time to give to 3 rookies, especially if we intend on contending for the playoffs next year. Enough with the cheap role players this team needs to shoot for a star.

I'm a little on your side of things. I tend to think that they may have only one rookie to develop next year. They are developing two right now, and they will continue to be working with them next year too. I don't think more than 3 good young developing 1st or 2nd year players at a time is a great idea for a team that is pushing for the playoffs and trying to get themselves in position to compete for a title.

You're also putting all your eggs in one basket for a pick that could be a bust. I'd rather have that war chest of young players for either a potential trade, or to build for the future. Now if we end up making the playoffs, and our picks are like 18th, 21st and 29th, I'd probably be more for trading a couple of them to move up. But I think if we have the 14th and 18th, that using those two to trade up a few spots likely won't necessarily net us much better of a player.

I thought I said something about developing players, forgive me if I didn't clarify that. They could pick a guy like Doug McDermott, who isn't a developing player and could probably contribute right away. They could also get a couple young Euros to stash away for a year or two. I'm not advocating selling off or foolishly trading away the picks, just don't think you want more than 3 1st and/or 2nd year players on your roster that you have to develop. If you have more than that on the roster, you risk not developing them.

[SunsFanSSOL]

We've sold or traded enough picks over the years. I'd rather let Hornacek develop some cheap young talent and have players we can watch grow into good players.

We've already got a lot of cheap players. No one in that range is going to be franchise changing and those picks are going to be valuable trade assets. We aren't even going to have time to give to 3 rookies, especially if we intend on contending for the playoffs next year. Enough with the cheap role players this team needs to shoot for a star.

You never know where in the draft you are going to get franchise players. Dragic was picked what, like 57th? Tony Parker was taken 28th. Rondo was taken 21st. Look at Indiana. George was picked 10th. David West was taken 18th. Lance Stephenson was taken 40th. George Hill was taken 26th. Hibbert was taken 17th. Even Granger, who was one of the best players from that draft was taken 17th.

Also, most of the guys at the very top will be very raw and likely won't be real difference makers for a few years. Some of the guys that go in the mid to late teens, like Adreian Payne and Doug McDermott are probably more ready to immediately be role players.

The top of the draft is almost all hype. None of these guys have taken college basketball by storm, like Durant or even Beasley did.

There is no way we can trade into the top 6 or 7.

Dragic was taken 45th because he was highly under scouted being a European prospect from a small country. Tony Parker is a product of the Spurs amazing scouting, Rondo was a weird case, Paul George went to a small school, Lance Stephenson had character issues etc. But this is not normally the case. For every Tony Parker you'll get 10 Alando Tucker's. We're a team filled with role players and 2 all-star caliber players. If we have very valuable trade assets with these picks and have no time to fully develop these rookies, it would be smart to trade the picks to acquire another all-star caliber player.

[bwgood77]

Dragic was taken 45th because he was highly under scouted being a European prospect from a small country. Tony Parker is a product of the Spurs amazing scouting, Rondo was a weird case, Paul George went to a small school, Lance Stephenson had character issues etc. But this is not normally the case. For every Tony Parker you'll get 10 Alando Tucker's. We're a team filled with role players and 2 all-star caliber players. If we have very valuable trade assets with these picks and have no time to fully develop these rookies, it would be smart to trade the picks to acquire another all-star caliber player.

I'm all for trading them if we do it for an all star caliber player that will stick around for more than a year. I just don't know that trading two picks in the teens for one around 10/11 makes a whole lot of sense. There probably isn't much difference in the talent levels.

Then again, if McD has targeted a specific player and REALLY thinks he can be a steal with that pick, that's fine, but there is a little more risk that one guy around that spot is a bust, than there is with two guys in the teens BOTH being busts.