2019 Draft Discussion - Suns with 6th pick!

[Damkac]

Sorry I remembered it wrong then.
I know there are highlights but I think they aren't the best way to judge players.

[sunsbg]

Sorry I remembered it wrong then.
I know there are highlights but I think they aren't the best way to judge players.

Agreed, but they are good enough to judge the offensive skillset of a player and to me it's clear RJB is much more skilled in this regard than JJ.

P.S. Zion looks much closer to JJ IMO. Which of his skills are guaranteed to translate in NBA other than dunking ?

[WeekapaugGroove]

Do R.J. Barrett reminds Josh Jackson a bit? I got this impression when reading about him but I don't watch college games so I might be wrong. How do those two compares? IIRC bwgood77 likes Barrett a lot?
(I really got day of asking questions today)

Ive heard Harrison Barnes as a comp for Barrett.

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[lilfishi22]

Do R.J. Barrett reminds Josh Jackson a bit? I got this impression when reading about him but I don't watch college games so I might be wrong. How do those two compares? IIRC bwgood77 likes Barrett a lot?
(I really got day of asking questions today)

Ive heard Harrison Barnes as a comp for Barrett.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using RealGM mobile app

Given what I know about Barrett so far, I think that's a fair comparison.

[TheLogician]

Watch on YouTube

[lilfishi22]

Zion's fit defensively on the Suns is a little bit more clear to me than on offense. Anyone have any ideas on how he'll fit the Suns offensively? Is he a guy you play in the perimeter? Post? As a cutter?

[sunskerr]

Zion's fit defensively on the Suns is a little bit more clear to me than on offense. Anyone have any ideas on how he'll fit the Suns offensively? Is he a guy you play in the perimeter? Post? As a cutter?

For me, there are two things that I have questions about for Zion:

I cant get a read on whether his handles are actually good. For one thing, there are lots of differing opinions on his handle. And it just looks...weird seeing someone that muscular handle the ball, so I can't even trust youtube highlights.

Then there's the shooting. Can he shoot the three? It looks like most of shots come in close range. How often does he create his own shot? Again, I hear differing opinions on this.

If those questions were answered it would be more clear. I for one am completely done with drafting "once in a lifetime" athletes with absurd physical skills but without relevant NBA skills.

[lilfishi22]

Zion's fit defensively on the Suns is a little bit more clear to me than on offense. Anyone have any ideas on how he'll fit the Suns offensively? Is he a guy you play in the perimeter? Post? As a cutter?

For me, there are two things that I have questions about for Zion:

I cant get a read on whether his handles are actually good. For one thing, there are lots of differing opinions on his handle. And it just looks...weird seeing someone that muscular handle the ball, so I can't even trust youtube highlights.

Then there's the shooting. Can he shoot the three? It looks like most of shots come in close range. How often does he create his own shot? Again, I hear differing opinions on this.

If those questions were answered it would be more clear. I for one am completely done with drafting "once in a lifetime" athletes with absurd physical skills but without relevant NBA skills.

Yeah he has surprisingly good handles for a guy who really should be a big man in the league. But I don't really buy his handles yet at the NBA level. So if the Suns coaching staff doesn't think his handles are ready to be a 2nd or 3rd ball handler on offense then what is he offensively? A cutter? Seems like a bit of a waste of his talent.

His 3PT shot is shakey, I don't think he has NBA range and I'm not sure if he'll ever be an above average 3PT shooter. If that's the case, again, what is he offensively? Where do you play him? A PnR guy that can't pop it from the 3 or mid-range?

I'm more convinced that he's an NBA player than ever before but even then I have serious questions about a few facets of Zion's game.

[TheLogician]

He dribbled through four defenders in that video. He's thick LeBron.

[lilfishi22]

He dribbled through four defenders in that video. He's thick LeBron.

He also lost the ball multiple times with those handles. It's good but I'm not sure if it's NBA level yet

Another thing I've seen it time and time again is his tendency to gets a lot of his points in the paint though jumping into the big man defender and using his hang time to shoot over defenders arms. I'm not really buying that's going to work in the NBA consistently against NBA defenders who are bigger, longer, more physically mature and more disciplined.

[AtheJ415]

Zion is not a guy you worry about "fit" with. He plays a position of need for us, and you adjust your system to fit a player like him. If you can't find a fit for him then you fire your coach because he's a moron.

[lilfishi22]

Zion is not a guy you worry about "fit" with. He plays a position of need for us, and you adjust your system to fit a player like him. If you can't find a fit for him then you fire your coach because he's a moron.

What about fit with the roster? Next to Booker/Ayton. Where is his offensive value maximized? What's his role?

[sunskerr]

He dribbled through four defenders in that video. He's thick LeBron.

He also lost the ball multiple times with those handles. It's good but I'm not sure if it's NBA level yet

Another thing I've seen it time and time again is his tendency to gets a lot of his points in the paint though jumping into the big man defender and using his hang time to shoot over defenders arms. I'm not really buying that's going to work in the NBA consistently against NBA defenders who are bigger, longer, more physically mature and more disciplined.

I,too, seriously doubt that would work in the NBA. Everyone is just as strong, if not stronger at the center position. He may become very adept at drawing fouls, however, which is extremely attractive if I'm looking at him with the number 1 pick.

Perhaps Giannis on offense could be a sort of target to aim for, if he is not adept at shooting. How is his playmaking? It seems like he either bulldozes his way in the paint by himself or someone else is creating for him. Is it possible he can learn to create for others?

I think you take Zion if you are confident the team can mold him into a #1a/1b option on offense where the ball goes through him and he handles the ball a lot. If you don't think he can be like that, then you should probably look elsewhere in the draft.

In terms of fit, if he does not develop his shooting, then you have a major offensive problem with spacing because Ayton does not shoot 3s either.

[GoodBehavior]

He dribbled through four defenders in that video. He's thick LeBron.

He also lost the ball multiple times with those handles. It's good but I'm not sure if it's NBA level yet

Another thing I've seen it time and time again is his tendency to gets a lot of his points in the paint though jumping into the big man defender and using his hang time to shoot over defenders arms. I'm not really buying that's going to work in the NBA consistently against NBA defenders who are bigger, longer, more physically mature and more disciplined.

I,too, seriously doubt that would work in the NBA. Everyone is just as strong, if not stronger at the center position. He may become very adept at drawing fouls, however, which is extremely attractive if I'm looking at him with the number 1 pick.

Perhaps Giannis on offense could be a sort of target to aim for, if he is not adept at shooting. How is his playmaking? It seems like he either bulldozes his way in the paint by himself or someone else is creating for him. Is it possible he can learn to create for others?

I think you take Zion if you are confident the team can mold him into a #1a/1b option on offense where the ball goes through him and he handles the ball a lot. If you don't think he can be like that, then you should probably look elsewhere in the draft.

In terms of fit, if he does not develop his shooting, then you have a major offensive problem with spacing because Ayton does not shoot 3s either.

I disagree about the strength. This kid's strength is legit, he could be stronger than Charles Barkley. With his speed, motor, and explosiveness, he's basically a tank with rocket propeller. If he's getting within 3-5 feet of the rim, it's over.

There are some big issues with him though. His handle is not good enough. It's fine on transition or semi-transition plays but in tight quarters it's inadequate. Giannis can navigate in just about any settings, Zion just can't with his handle. His handle could improve, but rarely do you see a prospect improve his handle drastically. I don't see him as a primary ball handler or even a second ball handler. His shooting needs a lot of help. He's a ridiculous athlete with some fine basketball skill levels. But without a jumper and average handles, I don't see a good fit with ayton and book.

FYI, this is a very poor draft. The Suns pick a terrible time to be godawful even by Sun's already low standards. Everyone below Zion carry some serious question marks. I like Ja Morant and I see some serious issue with him. He's going top 5, possibly #2.

[SlovenianDragon]

what do you guys think of Coby White he just had a 27/7/6/4 game

[lilfishi22]

He also lost the ball multiple times with those handles. It's good but I'm not sure if it's NBA level yet

Another thing I've seen it time and time again is his tendency to gets a lot of his points in the paint though jumping into the big man defender and using his hang time to shoot over defenders arms. I'm not really buying that's going to work in the NBA consistently against NBA defenders who are bigger, longer, more physically mature and more disciplined.

I,too, seriously doubt that would work in the NBA. Everyone is just as strong, if not stronger at the center position. He may become very adept at drawing fouls, however, which is extremely attractive if I'm looking at him with the number 1 pick.

Perhaps Giannis on offense could be a sort of target to aim for, if he is not adept at shooting. How is his playmaking? It seems like he either bulldozes his way in the paint by himself or someone else is creating for him. Is it possible he can learn to create for others?

I think you take Zion if you are confident the team can mold him into a #1a/1b option on offense where the ball goes through him and he handles the ball a lot. If you don't think he can be like that, then you should probably look elsewhere in the draft.

In terms of fit, if he does not develop his shooting, then you have a major offensive problem with spacing because Ayton does not shoot 3s either.

I disagree about the strength. This kid's strength is legit, he could be stronger than Charles Barkley. With his speed, motor, and explosiveness, he's basically a tank with rocket propeller. If he's getting within 3-5 feet of the rim, it's over.

There are some big issues with him though. His handle is not good enough. It's fine on transition or semi-transition plays but in tight quarters it's inadequate. Giannis can navigate in just about any settings, Zion just can't with his handle. His handle could improve, but rarely do you see a prospect improve his handle drastically. I don't see him as a primary ball handler or even a second ball handler. His shooting needs a lot of help. He's a ridiculous athlete with some fine basketball skill levels. But without a jumper and average handles, I don't see a good fit with ayton and book.

FYI, this is a very poor draft. The Suns pick a terrible time to be godawful even by Sun's already low standards. Everyone below Zion carry some serious question marks. I like Ja Morant and I see some serious issue with him. He's going top 5, possibly #2.

It's not that he isn't strong enough, he will definitely be in the top percentile in regards to physical strength and athleticism. It's more that there is no one that could match his strength now which is why he looks so damn dominant but in the NBA, the gap between him and the competition is significantly smaller. When you can't out-strength a player, you can scheme for it.

Yeah FWIW Giannis wasn't a great ball handler either early in his career and slowly worked on it. I don't see him as a primary ball handler either. I love the fit defensively because he's long, he's quick and he has great defensive awareness. It's just on offense I'm not sure how he fits...on any team really. I don't know what he is offensively.

[SlovenianDragon]

Watch on YouTube

[No-Man]

Zion is not a guy you worry about "fit" with. He plays a position of need for us, and you adjust your system to fit a player like him. If you can't find a fit for him then you fire your coach because he's a moron.

What about fit with the roster? Next to Booker/Ayton. Where is his offensive value maximized? What's his role?

who cares? he is a better prospect than either of those two, if you end up with the lucky balls to draft him, you figure that out later

[SlovenianDragon]

no thoughts on coby white?

[bwgood77]

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