Alex Len

[Maystack]

Do you think it will be a bold claim to say he's going to start at least 5 games?

[Suns Court 23]

Do you think it will be a bold claim to say he's going to start at least 5 games?

He might near the end of the season if he proves to be more productive than Plumlee.

[lilfishi22]

He started 3 last year so it's not really a bold claim.

[phrazbit]

so what are suns fans' expectation of him? is he part of the core or is it plumlee? because both are centers

I think the organization would obviously love for him to be part of the core, and I think he is going to get a lot more leeway than Plumlee when it comes to getting PT regardless of results... but IMO its more likely that Len ends up with his team option year being declined than him turning into a "core" building block of this team.

I like Plumlee more, but I dont think either of them represent a long term solution as a starting center.

[JDLAW]

so what are suns fans' expectation of him? is he part of the core or is it plumlee? because both are centers

I think the organization would obviously love for him to be part of the core, and I think he is going to get a lot more leeway than Plumlee when it comes to getting PT regardless of results... but IMO its more likely that Len ends up with his team option year being declined than him turning into a "core" building block of this team.

I like Plumlee more, but I dont think either of them represent a long term solution as a starting center.

I think you're off on this one. I think there is almost no chance Len's option is not picked up after this year.

[lilfishi22]

so what are suns fans' expectation of him? is he part of the core or is it plumlee? because both are centers

I think the organization would obviously love for him to be part of the core, and I think he is going to get a lot more leeway than Plumlee when it comes to getting PT regardless of results... but IMO its more likely that Len ends up with his team option year being declined than him turning into a "core" building block of this team.

I like Plumlee more, but I dont think either of them represent a long term solution as a starting center.

Even Greg Oden had his team options picked up despite playing only 82 games in the 1st two guaranteed seasons. I don't see Len's deal not getting picked up.

[phrazbit]

Greg Oden, when healthy, was decent and was viewed as a generational talent in a strong draft. His situation was very different from Len, who was taken in a draft likely to go down as one of the worst of all time.

I think, for sure, the Suns will pick up his 3rd year option (I believe they have to decide on it before this season starts), its his 4th year one that I think will be a question mark. It would not be the first high pick in recent years to get dropped before their rookie contract ended, Hasheem Thabeet, Johnny Flynn and Wes Johnson (by the Suns no less) all had their options declined. And its worth noting that each of those guys, as bad as they were, had better rookie years than Len.

And remember, I'm saying I think this is more likely than him becoming a core member of the team, not that this is a lock.

[lilfishi22]

Oden was a much better player during and coming out of college than Len but it still goes to show you don't just easily give up on big man talent. Len isn't the talent Oden was but he's cheap enough to keep around and it could pay dividends down the line (ie Rolo).

[Jdiddy701]

Len will not start over Plumlee. If anything I can see them starting together.

I would love it. The defense could be really good but offense would be very interesting.

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[phrazbit]

Starting them together would be a nightmare. It would totally negate Dragic's play style. We'd be slow in transition and we'd have no spacing with two very limited big men clogging the lane on offense. And I think it would be pretty bad on D too. Len struggled with his movement when trying to play center... covering powerforwards who would pull him from the lane, I cannot picture how he'd be anything but a liability.

[lilfishi22]

They aren't starting together. It's not going to work and I'd rather see Kieff start next to Plumlee as well.

[Saberestar]

I think we need to have low expectations about Alex Len. He is a project, and probably he will not crack the rotation this year if we want to play faster than last year's team. We have Markieff, Marcus, Tolliver and Plumlee playing minutes at PF and C (Marcus will not play too much minutes at F with PJ, TJ and Green looking for minutes at that spot), so he has to earn his minutes and stay healthy to play consistent time. It is not a given, but hopefully he makes an step forward and he is for real in 2016.

[sunsbum]

Phrazbit would rather polish a turd than say anything remotely positive about Alex. I have no idea who you are watching but to say Len has no motor is super ridiculous. I've probably said this over 20 times but I expect absolutely 0 from him him in his first 2-3 years, anything else is a bonus.

[phrazbit]

Phrazbit would rather polish a turd than say anything remotely positive about Alex. I have no idea who you are watching but to say Len has no motor is super ridiculous. I've probably said this over 20 times but I expect absolutely 0 from him him in his first 2-3 years, anything else is a bonus.

I just think he is a lousy player. This is not like Beasley where he utterly disgusted me. And while I disagreed with the Len pick, IMO he was a lousy player in a draft filled with them, so I cant condemn the team for it.

But if you expect "nothing" from a guy for 2-3 years, then he is not worth a high pick, and his ceiling is probably very low. Maybe you could make a "nothing" expectation for a high school kid, but Len played two (mediocre) college seasons.

And again, I said I thought his release was more likely than him becoming a core player, not that it was highly likely in itself. I think the most likely scenario for Len's career is like that of Timofey Mozgov.

[No-Man]

Picking Len ahead of Noel or Adams was a turrible and inexplicable choice back in the day, that I still cant unerstand.

[lilfishi22]

Picking Len ahead of Noel or Adams was a turrible and inexplicable choice back in the day, that I still cant unerstand.

It's a mixture of an almost pure hustle guy vs athletic defensive guy vs a skilled guy who can play both ends of the court.

I don't agree with the pick but I can understand the rationale.

[Maystack]

I think a part of their choice was that part of the organisation believed that we would be a rebuilding project for a few years. Goodwin and Len are both players who I think will be really good in a couple of years. But then the team played really well and the rookies lost a lot of minutes.

[WeekapaugGroove]

Picking Len ahead of Noel or Adams was a turrible and inexplicable choice back in the day, that I still cant unerstand.

Noel was debatable but from what I've heard the suns didn't like what they saw with his knee. And he's just so light that he might have trouble with bigger centers. Adams is pure hindsight. Not sure there was a gm who didn't have len as the better prospect. So far Adams looks good but len might have more upside.

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[jcsunsfan]

I am still convinced that Len has the most potential long term. Patience.

http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2014/ ... rustration

Len played one SL game, scoring six points, grabbing six rebounds and blocking two shots. Len's presence defensively was evident, using his length and agility to defend the rim multiple times on single possessions. In short, he was a force.

But now Len is pissed, for lack of a better word.

And this:

I can't wait to see Len in training camp. I really feel that, if he can string together some continued health, he can be a force in this league. He doesn't have the personality to demand the ball, but he can be better than most centers the league has to offer if he can just stay on the court. He's got a meanness to his game. He's a bit like Dragic in that he won't take any crap from an opponent, and isn't afraid to lay a hard foul on them when necessary.

[jcsunsfan]

They aren't starting together. It's not going to work and I'd rather see Kieff start next to Plumlee as well.

I would love to see Len starting over Plumlee. Plum is what he is. If Len is starting, its because he is beginning to perform to his potential.