2019 Draft Discussion - Suns with 6th pick!

[kennydorglas]

Whoever gets the #4 pick from LA will draft him.

[Kerrsed]

They wouldn't promise a guy before working him out or giving him medical tests. That's ridiculous.

Well, since we dont have draft scouts, it makes perfect sense.

We do, they just are not official, and they are in the process of hiring another one now.

Yeah, i saw the Suns post on LinkedIn looking to hire people for scouting. Funny way to go abut it.

Spoiler:

[oddity]

I'm surprised that Jarrett Culver came in under 200 pounds. He has the frame to carry more weight, but he's already not all that quick despite playing light. He's shorter, lighter, and less athletic than Josh Jackson though, so there's zero chance that he's playing any power forward in the NBA early in his career. He's starting to look like an Evan Turner-type to me. I think he's about average athletically and I have questions about how his range will extend.

Kevin Porter Jr is an interesting prospect. Seattle baller that's built like a tank at 6'4.5" and 213 pounds with a 6'10" wing span. Lefty, athletic, very shifty with the ball, creates his own shot, and knocks down the 3 ball. Really curious what's going on with his free throws though. He didn't have a great year with USC, but he has some boom potential in the NBA with his skillset, athleticism, and body. I can see him being a riser during the workout process.

It was probably the Suns or Bulls that promised Garland. The Lakers have no reason to make promises when you can guarantee that pick is on the trade block for LeBron reinforcements. Seems a bit weird to make a promise on a guy that played so few games, but maybe the team that promised him has already saw his medicals before promising.

I think Jarrett Culver can put on some healthy weight without losing speed. He is young and only 5% body fat, so he can afford it.

Kevin Porter Jr has some great physical tools but his shot is mystery meat and I have major doubts about his decision making at a high level.

[King Ken]

If there is a promise for Garland I would guess it’s Chicago. That seems like the absolute lowest he would drop anyway.

They are the king of promises

[Kerrsed]

Gambo said that he got a text message from a high ranking NBA guy saying him that the Suns is the team that has promised to Garland that we will pick him at #6.

Gambo added that he knows that we like Garland for sure and that an option that we are thinking too is to trade #6 for Lonzo Ball.

Gambo also said this recently:

Read on Twitter

You know Gambo, gotta cover both sides so he is always right somehow.

[darealjuice]

Gambo said that he got a text message from a high ranking NBA guy saying him that the Suns is the team that has promised to Garland that we will pick him at #6.

Gambo added that he knows that we like Garland for sure and that an option that we are thinking too is to trade #6 for Lonzo Ball.

Gambo also said this recently:

Read on Twitter

You know Gambo, gotta cover both sides so he is always right somehow.

I was listening to that segment, Gambo said that he received a text from someone saying they think the Suns made the promise, not that it definitely was the Suns. It's obviously Chicago making the promise and having him back out like Hutchison last year.

[oddity]

Is Clarke really better than some guy like Randle that we can get in free agency?

[Ghost of Kleine]

I’m thinking maybe we can hustle the grizzlies to do a trade. I’m thinking tj, #6, mil pick, 2020 pick top 3 protected for #2 and whatever makes the salaries match

I don't think that would get it done. I think the FO is super excited to pair Ja with JJJ.

Agreed, I have been saying this for a while now. But there are some on here that are fairly sure that Memphis would rather pass on Ja for Barrett.

Personally I see them taking Ja( obviously) and then looking to move Conley for expirings and picks. Then using the picks to fill out there roster holes with talent, similar to what Atlanta is doing.

[lilfishi22]

Is Clarke really better than some guy like Randle that we can get in free agency?

Depends what you need at that 4 spot. I think we need shooting and defense to put next to Ayton. Randle gives us neither shooting nor defense. Clarke at least potentially will be a good defender in the NBA and has a chance he could be extend his offense out of the paint.

[WeekapaugGroove]

Is Clarke really better than some guy like Randle that we can get in free agency?

Can't view any of these picks that way IMO. No matter who they draft they still need to find a starting PG and PF. With the caveat that I guess if you took a PG you might just start Johnson for a year and maybe bring in some Ronnie price like dude as vet bench dude.

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[nevetsov]

Is Clarke really better than some guy like Randle that we can get in free agency?

Depends what you need at that 4 spot. I think we need shooting and defense to put next to Ayton. Randle gives us neither shooting nor defense. Clarke at least potentially will be a good defender in the NBA and has a chance he could be extend his offense out of the paint.

Ideally I think you want a Robert Horry/ Lamar Odom type PF next to Ayton. Kinda what we hoped Bender would be.

[Walt_Uoob]

I'm surprised that Jarrett Culver came in under 200 pounds. He has the frame to carry more weight, but he's already not all that quick despite playing light. He's shorter, lighter, and less athletic than Josh Jackson though, so there's zero chance that he's playing any power forward in the NBA early in his career. He's starting to look like an Evan Turner-type to me. I think he's about average athletically and I have questions about how his range will extend.

The Stepien has Culver at #2 in a two-man tier with Barrett, but I wonder how much of that is due to their little theory that Culver is around 6'8" and growing, and how far he'll drop in their estimation now that he's officially listed at 6'6.75". That's still taller than his previously listed 6'5" and still great size for a backcourt player, but it's not the Giannis-like "gigantic human being" territory they seemed to let themselves get hyped up about.

Culver and Clarke's measurements are bringing it back into focus that this is basically a 3-player draft and then a crapshoot, but in that type of draft there's always one or more guys drafted later who end up being steals, so I'm just going to hope we're the ones who luck out. And either of those two guys seems worthy of rolling the dice on.

But I think that also means we have to go BPA, unfortunately, even if it's not a clean fit, like Culver, Reddish, etc. We might have to hear more spin about amassing interchangeable wings, but at least it won't be from McD this time.

[lilfishi22]

Is Clarke really better than some guy like Randle that we can get in free agency?

Depends what you need at that 4 spot. I think we need shooting and defense to put next to Ayton. Randle gives us neither shooting nor defense. Clarke at least potentially will be a good defender in the NBA and has a chance he could be extend his offense out of the paint.

Ideally I think you want a Robert Horry/ Lamar Odom type PF next to Ayton. Kinda what we hoped Bender would be.

Yeah I've always said Bender was theoretically the perfect complementary player to Ayton. Smart defensive player, 3PT shooting, will make the smart pass to the big man, could even run some PnR and most importantly, wouldn't be in the same space as Ayton on offense. .

That's why I'm still a proponent of bringing back Bender for some cheap deal.

[Mr Puddles]

Is Clarke really better than some guy like Randle that we can get in free agency?

Depends what you need at that 4 spot. I think we need shooting and defense to put next to Ayton. Randle gives us neither shooting nor defense. Clarke at least potentially will be a good defender in the NBA and has a chance he could be extend his offense out of the paint.

Randle will likely also cost significantly more. If we were a team desperate for scoring, I'd take Randle. Given the Suns roster I'd rather take a flyer on Clarke rather than tying up 15-18 mil a year on Randle. Worst case scenario I could see him working out as second unit guy (e.g. with Bender).

[nevetsov]

That's why I'm still a proponent of bringing back Bender for some cheap deal.

If only we could flip the player options for next year on JJ and Dragan.

[Mr Puddles]

Depends what you need at that 4 spot. I think we need shooting and defense to put next to Ayton. Randle gives us neither shooting nor defense. Clarke at least potentially will be a good defender in the NBA and has a chance he could be extend his offense out of the paint.

Ideally I think you want a Robert Horry/ Lamar Odom type PF next to Ayton. Kinda what we hoped Bender would be.

Yeah I've always said Bender was theoretically the perfect complementary player to Ayton. Smart defensive player, 3PT shooting, will make the smart pass to the big man, could even run some PnR and most importantly, wouldn't be in the same space as Ayton on offense. .

That's why I'm still a proponent of bringing back Bender for some cheap deal.

I agree, unless we can use the money we save on him to add a difference maker, I'd like to bring Bender back. I know he's been frustrating but he was drafted as a long term / high upside project so we shouldn't give up on him after two seasons - especially if we don't have an alternative player to fill his envisioned role. He's the same age as guys like Rui Hachimura and De'andre Hunter, and two years younger than Clarke. Hopefully we can re-sign Bender on the cheap and see what he looks like under Monty.

[Mr Puddles]

Can we add a poll? Curious to see what Suns fans want to do with this pick.

• Draft Garland
• Draft Clarke
• Draft Hunter
• Draft Culver
• Draft White
• Draft Reddish
• Move down
• Move up
• Trade for a veteran player

Or something along those lines...

[AtheJ415]

Darius Garland at 6
Cam Johnson at 32

Need shooting to win in the NBA. Those guys light it up.

I'd love Johnson at 32 but feel like he'll be gone by then.

[Kerrsed]

The Stepien has Culver at #2 in a two-man tier with Barrett, but I wonder how much of that is due to their little theory that Culver is around 6'8" and growing, and how far he'll drop in their estimation now that he's officially listed at 6'6.75". That's still taller than his previously listed 6'5" and still great size for a backcourt player, but it's not the Giannis-like "gigantic human being" territory they seemed to let themselves get hyped up about.

Those "Rankings" are from 2 months ago.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Darius Garland at 6
Cam Johnson at 32

Need shooting to win in the NBA. Those guys light it up.

I'd love Johnson at 32 but feel like he'll be gone by then.

I've mentioned it a few times before that we could quite possibly send out Jackson and the Milwaukee pick to Indiana, For their pick in the 18-20 range.

And then use it on Cam Johnson. Indiana was Coveting Jackson not too long ago, and had interest in trying to develop him behind Oladipo.

The trade would also give us a bit more cap space ( about 4.5 million extra) from moving Jacksons' 6 million salary for Cams' 1.4 million rookie salary for that range of pick.

And Cam would address our needs for a floor spacing big man, as he's been shooting just over 46% on his threes for the whole season too.