Post#2277 » by Sunsdeuce » Tue Jun 23, 2015 8:48 pm
Oehler: What the Suns draft board SHOULD look like
by -Jody Oehler
We are a couple days away from the NBA Draft. The Suns have seemingly angered the basketball gods and have been punished to draft purgatory once again, making their first selection at 13th overall.
Is there hope for the Suns to land an impact player at 13 in this years draft? Yes; if they follow my draft board.
Here’s how my Suns draft board would look:*
* I’m assuming Devin Booker, Stanley Johnson and Mario Hezonja are off the board. All 3 would immediately become #1. Now back to the more realistic draft board…
1) Kelly Oubre, F, Kansas - At 19 years old, 6’7 (with a 7’2 winspan) and 208 pounds, Oubre has all the skills needed to be a prototype NBA 3. He’s the ultimate draft wildcard with all the tools to be an impact player but very little performance in college to back it up. He’s likely 2-3 years away from realizing anything close to his full potential but he projects to be a 3 and D wing who can also put the ball on the floor. Not sold yet? He’s left handed and everyone loves a smooth shooting lefty.
NBA Comp: Gerald Green without the knuckleheaded-ness.
2. Sam Dekker, F, Wisconsin - The NBA is moving closer to a league with fewer and fewer positional boundaries and with his size and skill set, Dekker is exactly what teams are looking for. At 6’9, 219 pounds Dekker has the size and athleticism to play 3 positions. If his 3 point shot develops as hoped, he’s likely to be an impact starter for years to come. Worst case scenario if he struggles would be to hypnotize him to believe every NBA opponent is the University of Arizona and watch him catch fire.
NBA Comp: Keith Van Horn. No, seriously, I believe he is literally Keith Van Horn.
3. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, F, Arizona - At 13 the Suns are going to be picking a promising player who all have at least one significant red flag. Hollis-Jefferson (6’7, 210 pounds) may have the biggest in that he doesn’t really have an offensive game. Now having watched him closely the last 2 seasons at Arizona, I think Hollis-Jefferson is capable of being a better offensive player than most. With an NBA schedule, coaching staff and regimen the skills are there to at least be a serviceable offensive player. He can kind of slash. He can kind of shoot. And he can definitely finish in transition. When you combine that with his incredible defensive acumen it’s a worthwhile risk at 13. Also, he’d immediately become the most likeable player on the Suns and would likely lead the team in jersey sales regardless of how his rookie season goes. Normally that wouldn’t be a factor in drafting a player but for a team as starved for good PR as the Suns are, it doesn’t hurt.
NBA Comp: Kawhi Leonard without the freakishly gigantic hands.
4. Myles Turner, C, Texas - He was the 2nd ranked player out of high school and went to Texas and promptly underachieved. We call that the Rick Barnes effect. He’s 6’11, 239 pounds and averaged nearly 3 blocks per game while showing an ability to knock down outside shots. So, why would a near 7 footer with range out to the NBA 3 point line last until 13? Because, apparently, he DOESN’T KNOW HOW TO RUN. Seriously. There are concerns about his lateral quickness and motor but the biggest red flag is his awkward running style. How an athlete could get to the NBA process without anyone telling him he runs like a 58 year rec league player with a charlie horse is beyond me. If I’m the Suns, I’m taking a chance on this talented 7 footer and hoping he, you know, figures out how to run like the 19 year old freak nature that he is.
NBA Comp: Fellow Longhorn LaMarcus Aldridge if Aldridge ran like he was 58.
5. Trey Lyles, F, Kentucky - Lyles (6’10, 240) could be the perfect compliment to Suns C Alex Len with his ability to play all over the floor offensively and distribute the ball. I’d rank him slightly ahead of Bobby Portis from Arkansas, mostly based on his midrange jumper and his ability to compliment Len. He, like most Kentucky players not named Anthony-Towns, didn’t really get a chance to showcase his talent in the platoon system. But make no mistake, he didn’t choose Kentucky because he was a scrappy, overachiever who wanted a taste of glory. No, he chose Kentucky because...actually I have no idea why he chose Kentucky when a year at North Carolina or Kansas likely would’ve propelled him to top 10 lock. Remember - never go to Kentucky, or something like that.
I am such a lucky NBA fan. 8647 My favorite team went from the most greedy and racist owner to the most ego driven dumbass owner in all of sports fdt.
Only a fan of Arizona teams!
Cardinals
Dbacks
Suns
Let's continue creating pages of a Cousins trade fantasies for two days, then draft someone at 13 just to hear all the "Boogie" salivators cry foul after the pick of Kaminsky, Lyles, or Turner.
