2016 NBA DRAFT NIGHT THREAD

[Qwigglez]

I was also on the draft Dunn and trade up for Chriss train. But that was only if Bender was taken by Boston as Bender was my first choice, Dunn 2nd. If we had taken Dunn and still made the Chriss trade we'd have more holes to fill than the route we just went. I really like Dunn's intangibles but the route we went should be fine too.

[bwgood77]

Spoiler:

Yes, Frank, we know. And had we selected Dunn and Hield, you would've questioned why we selected two guys at a positions we had already have locked up, like you pointed out when we brought in IT; or had we brought in Ellenson and Sabonis, you would've questioned why McD selected those with defensive and shooting woes (Ellenson) or a guy with T-Rex arms; or had we selected Poeltl, well, why would we select him when we have Len and Chandler.

Yes, we are all very aware of your utter disdain for McD's decision making, but you'll have to excuse me as I tend to side with 95%of the rest of the basketball world (Suns' fans, Non-Suns' fans, Media, Scouts, etc.) who believe that McD made some wise decisions with our picks last night, while you continue to pine for days of old when we sold Draft Picks for Cash or made such stellar choices like Marshall and Markieff...

...of course there is a chance that young, inexperienced guys like Bender and Chriss might fail, but considering the relative weakness of the class, and the fact that we do not get to draft top 4 or trade for the 8th overall allows for a bigger chance to 'fail', but I'd much rather go for talents at a dire position of need than go for a 3" taller Bledsoe Clone, or a SG with defensive issues of his own and only a 25% record of success so he can either rot on the pine or push Booker into defending SFs, when he has issues with defending those of his own position.

But go ahead Frank, and continue to question the move of our likely best GM in years...maybe you'll be right and get your wish and McD will be replaced...

Blah blah blah ... Blah blah blah... quit making S*** up with your assumptions on what I would do ... I should have known better to get into to your slippery rabbit hole and greasy logic.

I merely said Dunn was the #2 talent and Im not the only one. He was a passport to trading for 'play now' players. May be you haven't noticed, but we lack 'good players'. Dunn would have made both Bledsoe and Knight expendable. Bledsoe... who, BTW will surely be packing before the Boy Wonders see any significant playing time.

And I haven't heard the 'Wise' tacked on to McMully's recent maneuvers by anyone but you. Ballsy ? yes... as he went all in on these two kids. And love the 'likely best GM in years' comment. WTF ? sure... whatever. go ahead and tack on another playoff-less year. What will it be ... 7 ... 8 ( is this #5 for McMully?) Culburn would of had a field day. 0 and 49... 'Let us Proceed'. But I don't expect you to understand that. You are dreamy in love with the hopes and plans for the future. LOL Don't look now, but this stalled rebuild (or second or third one) has been passed by others in the west. We were better than other rebuilding teams .... not so much now. May be they have their 'best GM s in the past yrs ' too Dammit... what bad timing.

Who knows, may be Bender will be ready sooner than later... I have my doubts with Chriss as he couldn't hardly stay on the court in the Pac12. But YAY, he can run fast and jump high. Oh well... sad thing is the rookie most likely to contribute is the littlest and last one selected. BTW, I have read more than one place that Ulis is the reason why the Suns draft was rated high. Not the head scratching prior picks. Isn't one project enough ? You do realize by the time Either of these kids is ready, Bledsoe will be seeking his next deal. Doesn't that make him expendable now ? Shouldn't we just get on with it and sack everyone over 25 ???



Watch this kid Dunn... he's a tough as they come and one of the few projected all stars.
http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2015/12/11/kris-dunn-providence-friars-player-year-ed-cooley
We missed a chance to be better now... and it may turn into a big whiff right when we needed an extra base hit. You can't afford to miss on early picks. Thats a fact. We are still a poorly constructed team with no real identity, no system, a muddled back court, and non existent front court. we can only hope McMully defies odds (and history) and scores big in Free Agency/Trades, else this season is tagged and bagged already. But hey... you just wait till next year... or the year after... and so on.

And you talk about my "Rabbit Holes"...or, no, sorry, NavLO's, whoever the hell he his Fank.

I'm glad Dunn is tough--to bad he can't shoot worth a lick, but let's add that to our 'muddled backcourt'--yep, that would be smart. And projecting it will take Chriss and Bender 3 years (When Bledsoe is up for another contract)--are you a fortune teller, too, like some of these other posters?

And what's wrong with liking Ulis @ #34 better than Dunn @ #4.

3.56 career A/TO vs 1.75 career A/TO
6.5 career PPR vs 1.61 Pure POINT Rating
.56 career TS% vs .52 career TS%
50.5 career eFG% vs. 47.3 career eFG%
83.2% career FT% vs. 69% career FT%

But hey, he's 6" taller with a 7" longer Wingspan, yet managed a career 2.63 STL rate/40, and Ulis managed 1.65, not to mention his .5 BLK/40 vs Ulis .1 BLK/40--so yeah, he does have those advantages.

Yet Ulis provided 7.7 Asst/40 vs Dunn's 7.5 Asst/40 last season.

And let me ask you Frank...let's take Dunn @ 4 and trade Knight and/or Bledsoe. Which starting PF do you think we'll get for those 'dime a dozen' PGs in a PG saturated league??

We addressed a positon of need--TWICE in the top 8. DX had Bender and Chriss ranked 3 and 6 and we took them at 4 and 8.

CBS had them ranked 4 and 12
NBA Draft.net had them ranked 6 and 7.

Look, that's fine that you think Dunn would've taken us over the hump; we all have our opinions. But those of us that are thrilled that we filled a position of need with two very promising prospects that can shoot (better than Dunn, BTW), well, there's no need to 'piss on our parade' because we are happy with what McD has done.

You've had it out for McD for over a year now, and if you don't think other posters recognize this 'hate'--yeah, I said it, you are a McD 'hater', and you can claim otherwise until you are blue in the face, but your constant McD attacks, name calling, point out every little mistake he makes, not giving credit to things he does right--that makes you a 'hater' pure and simple. So no matter what McD would've done on Draft night, you would've complained about it--that was my point, and I and others can see it as plain as day.

I'm glad you are a passionate Suns fans, but until the day McD is fired or quits, any posts you make with a "Mc[enter 'dis' here]" is just further proof of your 'hate' the for this man, and like I said, maybe the days where we sold draft picks for cash, or traded out of positions to take players like Ibaka, or picking Morris over Kawhi...maybe you desire to go back to those days because we were winning with a 30+ YO elite PG. But those days are over, and McD took over a '****" of a team with the likes of Beasley, Marshall, Brown, Scola, Kieff, and Wesley Johnson, with the only 'decent' players being Dragic and Gortat, who took us to a 25-57 record, then he completely re-framed the team and took them to 48 wins. Then he took on IT and all hell broke loose. Dragic and his 'drama queen' theatrics, etc. He just went to a team filled with All-Stars, and was 'the man' at PG. Surrounded by a better team than he EVER had here, and posted a 14.1/5.8 slash line, a 51.3% eFG--his lowest since 2012-2013. A 72.7% FT%, his lowest since 2010, a 53.7% TS%, his lowest since 2010--and he got PAID $17M to do it!! And in the meantime, McD fleeced Miami out of two, one barely protected and the other not at all, 1st Rd draft picks, all for the right to NOT have to pay Dragic $17M this year to out up crap stats. He did not lead that team to the playoffs, the rest of the team 'dragged' him along to them.

So yeah, there's your 'rabbit hole' you were trying to avoid, but how about this? You just stop posting here, since you have ZERO patience for team rebuilding, and when we start winning again, you c'mon back...because I'm sorry, I'm going to put my faith in the guy who gets paid millions to build the team, rather than the guy that comes up with 'cutsy' nicknames for him and has ZERO vision for potential future success. And this way, you can avoid my, or whoever NavLO is, 'rabbit holes'. Is that a deal, Fank??

I think he wanted Dunn more so for that killer trade deal like Minnesota got for him.

[saintEscaton]

Ulis's best case is a featherweight Mike Conley Jr, he won't crack an NBA rotation without first completing a bulking regimen so that he won't get blown over when sneezed at. Even then he has a red flagged hip and his frame may not hold up. Dunn may have been the inferior college player, but he wins hands don they aren't even comparable at the next level

[Qwigglez]

Ulis's best case is a featherweight Mike Conley Jr, he won't crack an NBA rotation without first completing a bulking regimen so that he won't get blown over when sneezed at. Even then he has a red flagged hip and his frame may not hold up. Dunn may have been the inferior college player, but he wins hands don they aren't even comparable at the next level

Disagree. Ulis's best case scenario is he grows 3 inches over the next two years, becomes the next Chris Paul and we have a dynamite backcourt with Ulis/Booker.

[Frank Lee]

I guess this place should be one GD lovefest eh? I feel it .

Sorry to disappoint you NavLo,and thanks for the predictable volley displaying your own animosity. Obviously, I don't buy into your blind optimistic faith in double talking McMulligan. You can blow sunshine up a number of rumps here, just not mine. Until we field a good competitive team, McD remains McMully. And thanks for the recap, but its time you quit living in the past. Now is the most important moment. And NOW we have an unfinished, poorly constructed roster that needs some serious tweaking/additions if we are to compete.... its on McMully to take the next step and when he does, I'll be the first to applaud him. Well, likely not the first as a legion of backslappers will erupt from his butt. But what if he signs a couple old guys ???? Wait... isn't he interested in Mirza ? Are the 'Youthers' ok with that ?

And BTW... I think I'll stay on a bit longer.

[jcsunsfan]

8-) I guess this place should be one GD lovefest eh? I feel it .

Sorry to disappoint you NavLo,and thanks for the predictable volley displaying your own animosity. Obviously, I don't buy into your blind optimistic faith in double talking McMulligan. You can blow sunshine up a number of rumps here, just not mine. Until we field a good competitive team, McD remains McMully. And thanks for the recap, but its time you quit living in the past. Now is the most important moment. And NOW we have an unfinished, poorly constructed roster that needs some serious tweaking/additions if we are to compete.... its on McMully to take the next step and when he does, I'll be the first to applaud him. Well, likely not the first as a legion of backslappers will erupt from his butt. But what if he signs a couple old guys ???? Wait... isn't he interested in Mirza ? Are the 'Youthers' ok with that ?

And BTW... I think I'll stay on a bit longer.

So, what would have made you happy? Let's say you took over as GM one week prior to the draft. What would you have done and what would you be trying to do in free agency?

[JMac1]

I have to tell you guys a story.

Has anyone seen "Once Brothers," the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary?

Vlade Divac is the narrator. He recalls that in 1990, the Yugoslavian national team was really, really good. They had Drazen Petrovic and Toni Kukoc, and at the FIBA cup they beat the United States and won gold.

A couple years later, right before Divac and Petrovic get drafted by LA and Portland respectively, Croatia declares its independence. Divac is Serbian and Petrovic is Croatian, so there’s tension. At one of the medal ceremonies, Divac makes a unity gesture of some kind. Petrovic is really, really pissed off at Divac for this. Divac wants the nation states to stay together as Yugoslavia, but this is really offensive to Petrovic.

They both go to the NBA within a year or two of each other, or maybe the same year. Divac is starting in LA while Petrovic is sitting behind Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter in Portland. Divac tries to bond with Petrovic whenever they are playing each other, but Petrovic wants nothing to do with Divac.

As we all know, Petrovic dies a couple years later in a car accident. He was a really special player, and he could’ve been one of the all-time greats.

So what does this have to do with the Suns?

Well, Dragan Bender is Croatian. Drazen Petrovic is Croatian. Toni Kukoc is Croatian, but Vlade Divac and Bogdan Bogdanovic are Serbian. I know, right?

Dragan Bender says his hero is Toni Kukoc, who is Croatian. Last night Vlade Divac really wanted Bogdan Bogdanovic. There has been no mention of Divac being interested in Bender. Now I’m starting to wonder whether it had anything to do with Bender’s heritage. I am pretty sure this is one reason why Divac wanted Bogdanovic, though. Maybe Bogdan reminds Vlade of Drazen stylistically? I also wonder why Bender doesn’t compare himself to Divac, who is closer in size, and even style of play, than Kukoc. (edit: thought Kukoc was smaller. oops.)

Wow……that is deep, for real.

IN ADDITION….Mirza Teletovic is Bosnian. According to someone on Yahoo! Answers, Bosnians and Croatians are cool with each other. I have no idea if that’s accurate, but what if it plays into Mirza’s free agency? Probably not, I would think….maybe. Maybe it gets him signed. Maybe Mirza and Bender will be good friends.

Crazy.

Wow! Your conjecture is sensible. Nationalism is a bwitch, always has been always will be. We might have benefited from it in a funky way.

[MathiasPW]

Hah. We couldn't stay happy for a day after draft

[thamadkant]

Ulis's best case is a featherweight Mike Conley Jr, he won't crack an NBA rotation without first completing a bulking regimen so that he won't get blown over when sneezed at. Even then he has a red flagged hip and his frame may not hold up. Dunn may have been the inferior college player, but he wins hands don they aren't even comparable at the next level

Disagree. Ulis's best case scenario is he grows 3 inches over the next two years, becomes the next Chris Paul and we have a dynamite backcourt with Ulis/Booker.

I had Paul's scouting report openned comparing it to Ulis's... Before suns made the pick, as he was my guess for pick 34...

I pondered also.... If Ulis is still growing... But not sure.

Chris Paul's body type allowed him to be a very good defender... Narrow shoulders but thick torso and semi long arms... He can body up bigger players whilst poking the ball away or disrupting lanes.

Ulis is tiny... Same body as Isaiah Thomas and Tyus Edney...
Basically.. PGs can bully him and do what they want to do...

He needs to bulk up... Like Nate Robinson... Who was decent defensively because he was strong... For his height he was able to hold his own against taller PGs.

[JTrain]

[saintEscaton]

[saintEscaton]

Ulis's best case is a featherweight Mike Conley Jr, he won't crack an NBA rotation without first completing a bulking regimen so that he won't get blown over when sneezed at. Even then he has a red flagged hip and his frame may not hold up. Dunn may have been the inferior college player, but he wins hands don they aren't even comparable at the next level

Disagree. Ulis's best case scenario is he grows 3 inches over the next two years, becomes the next Chris Paul and we have a dynamite backcourt with Ulis/Booker.

I had Paul's scouting report openned comparing it to Ulis's... Before suns made the pick, as he was my guess for pick 34...

I pondered also.... If Ulis is still growing... But not sure.

Chris Paul's body type allowed him to be a very good defender... Narrow shoulders but thick torso and semi long arms... He can body up bigger players whilst poking the ball away or disrupting lanes.

Ulis is tiny... Same body as Isaiah Thomas and Tyus Edney...
Basically.. PGs can bully him and do what they want to do...

He needs to bulk up... Like Nate Robinson... Who was decent defensively because he was strong... For his height he was able to hold his own against taller PGs.

Mighty Mouse had a sturdier build and Robinson was always yoked, Felder is similar. Ulis is much slighter but has a long wingspan, prolific generating on ball pressure and disrupting passing lanes, denying his man on the baseline. His awareness is off the charts, always was at the right place at the right time setting his feet to draw charges

[saintEscaton]

A point guard’s primary duties are to serve as the coach on the court, orchestrate the offense, and ultimately, produce points. To that end, Ulis headlines the Cousy finalists in offensive rating per 100 (an estimate of points produced per 100 possessions) with a 131.5 rating — a staggering 25.5 points more than Dunn, a projected top-five pick.

IN ANALYZING ULIS’ EFFORTS ALONGSIDE THE OTHER NINE BOB COUSY AWARD FINALISTS — PRESENTED TO THE NATION’S TOP POINT GUARD — ULIS’ NAME APPEARS AMONG THE UPPER ECHELON OF NEARLY EVERY MEANINGFUL ADVANCED STAT.

Only five NBA teams currently average 100-plus possessions per game, with the Phoenix Suns just over that mark with a 100.1 pace rating — number of possessions for 48 minutes; your average NBA game. Essentially, the discrepancy in offensive rating between Ulis and Dunn would mean if they were to each orchestrate the Suns’ offense all game, Phoenix would score 25.5 more points with Ulis at the helm.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-basketball-men/article60613726.html#storylink=cpy

[bwgood77]

A point guard’s primary duties are to serve as the coach on the court, orchestrate the offense, and ultimately, produce points. To that end, Ulis headlines the Cousy finalists in offensive rating per 100 (an estimate of points produced per 100 possessions) with a 131.5 rating — a staggering 25.5 points more than Dunn, a projected top-five pick.

IN ANALYZING ULIS’ EFFORTS ALONGSIDE THE OTHER NINE BOB COUSY AWARD FINALISTS — PRESENTED TO THE NATION’S TOP POINT GUARD — ULIS’ NAME APPEARS AMONG THE UPPER ECHELON OF NEARLY EVERY MEANINGFUL ADVANCED STAT.

Only five NBA teams currently average 100-plus possessions per game, with the Phoenix Suns just over that mark with a 100.1 pace rating — number of possessions for 48 minutes; your average NBA game. Essentially, the discrepancy in offensive rating between Ulis and Dunn would mean if they were to each orchestrate the Suns’ offense all game, Phoenix would score 25.5 more points with Ulis at the helm.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-basketball-men/article60613726.html#storylink=cpy

I remember reading that before and probably posted in in draft forum or something.

[jcsunsfan]

Disagree. Ulis's best case scenario is he grows 3 inches over the next two years, becomes the next Chris Paul and we have a dynamite backcourt with Ulis/Booker.

I had Paul's scouting report openned comparing it to Ulis's... Before suns made the pick, as he was my guess for pick 34...

I pondered also.... If Ulis is still growing... But not sure.

Chris Paul's body type allowed him to be a very good defender... Narrow shoulders but thick torso and semi long arms... He can body up bigger players whilst poking the ball away or disrupting lanes.

Ulis is tiny... Same body as Isaiah Thomas and Tyus Edney...
Basically.. PGs can bully him and do what they want to do...

He needs to bulk up... Like Nate Robinson... Who was decent defensively because he was strong... For his height he was able to hold his own against taller PGs.

Mighty Mouse had a sturdier build and Robinson was always yoked, Felder is similar. Ulis is much slighter but has a long wingspan, prolific generating on ball pressure and disrupting passing lanes, denying his man on the baseline. His awareness is off the charts, always was at the right place at the right time setting his feet to draw charges

Sounds like a basketball version of Tyrann Matthieu

[Mulhollanddrive]

Too early to look at 2017? I think if we get a high pick and take position into account we'd probably be focusing on a PG or SF:

PGs seem to be a group with high level athleticism and ball handling ability - Fultz, Ntilikina, Fox, Smith, Ball, Monk.

SFs similar with athleticism and length - Tatum, Jackson, Isaac, Bridges.

* DeAaron Fox will be a Kentucky G.

[MrMiyagi]

Too early to look at 2017? I think if we get a high pick and take position into account we'd probably be focusing on a PG or SF:

PGs seem to be a group with high level athleticism and ball handling ability - Fultz, Ntilikina, Fox, Smith, Ball, Monk.

SFs similar with athleticism and length - Tatum, Jackson, Isaac, Bridges.

* DeAaron Fox will be a Kentucky G.

Skal Labissiere would approve of using the ESPN Recruiting rank for draft purposes.

[darealjuice]

Too early to look at 2017? I think if we get a high pick and take position into account we'd probably be focusing on a PG or SF:

PGs seem to be a group with high level athleticism and ball handling ability - Fultz, Ntilikina, Fox, Smith, Ball, Monk.

SFs similar with athleticism and length - Tatum, Jackson, Isaac, Bridges.

* DeAaron Fox will be a Kentucky G.

Skal Labissiere would approve of using the ESPN Recruiting rank for draft purposes.

It's pretty much all we've got right now, it's not like there's a bunch of game tape and meaningful stats floating around for them yet outside of highlight reels

[MrMiyagi]

Too early to look at 2017? I think if we get a high pick and take position into account we'd probably be focusing on a PG or SF:

PGs seem to be a group with high level athleticism and ball handling ability - Fultz, Ntilikina, Fox, Smith, Ball, Monk.

SFs similar with athleticism and length - Tatum, Jackson, Isaac, Bridges.

* DeAaron Fox will be a Kentucky G.

Skal Labissiere would approve of using the ESPN Recruiting rank for draft purposes.

It's pretty much all we've got right now, it's not like there's a bunch of game tape and meaningful stats floating around for them yet outside of highlight reels

He asked if it was too early. My response was a proxy yes - it's too early.

[Saberestar]

I have been saying the last two months that Tyler Ulis is one of the better talents in this daft. I am very happy with him on board, the guy is the typical underdog who LOVES basketball and is pure talent/hard work.

He is a team player, great passer, amazing court awareness, defensively he is a pest and gives his heart on every game. His ball handling is off the charts, be ready to watch him breaking some ankles. He is not egocentric like Isaiah, in some sense he reminds me Steve Nash/Tyrone Bogues.

He is a player that you wants to root for him and we need it that.