2016 Draft

[AtheJ415]

I don't think there's any chance we take Murray if we end up 5. Top 5 are clear cut imo between Simmons, Ingram, Bender, Dunn, and Brown. I'm not sure why everyone thinks McDonough would draft a combo guard. Archie is the only combo guard he's drafted. Every other top pick has been a true SG, a true SF, and a true C. Also Ennis, a true PG, and Bogdan, a 2/3 combo. Even if you do believe the 2 PG system is McDonough's creation and not Hornacek's, he hasn't drafted a bunch of combo guards and is clearly invested in the 2 we still have.

I was semi joking, but you left out the fact he traded for two combo guards. One could possibly consider Bledsoe more of a pure pg, but I've seen analysts/writers talk about him as more of a sg. Personally I don't think of Bledsoe as a sg though, but I do think he sometimes iso's a bit much.

If he did take Murray I would assume it's because he felt he was the top talent on the board, and knowing the league is going toward great shooters, he already shoots over 40% from 3 as a freshman. Dunn, a junior, is more of a pg, but he does shoot a lot too (13.3 shots per game) at 43% and hits 35.5% from 3. Then he has 6.3 assists per game to 3.7 turnovers per game.

I'm not sure top 5 is totally set. Ellenson might end up there too.

And we could drop to 6. I got that once after a few more tries (got 2nd twice too). Say the top 5 are who you think is the clear cut top 5 are and we drop to 6. Who would you take there?

I think we're going to catch LA and guarantee a top 5 pick. I know they suck, but if we lose both our remaining games to them we'll be just 1 back in the win column, and we've been much worse than even them of late (last 30 games or so). We'll see, but I feel pretty good about that unless Knight comes back and plays well. I'll just say I don't want Murray unless we're trading one of Bledsoe and Knight, and if we're trading Bledsoe, we really ought to be certain we can draft Dunn imo. He's the safest pick of the draft imo due to his defense and projectability. There's not a lot of risk with him from what I've seen. Very high floor.

[AtheJ415]

Hield is definitely moving up draft boards, he and the Sooners put together a good tourney run and I can see it becoming a top three draft of Simmons, Ingram, Hield. With the order changing based on teams and the hype of course.

I'd be thoroughly surprised to see a senior who wasn't particularly special until his senior year go that high. If we pick Hield over the likes of Bender, Dunn, or Brown at pick 3 I will be beyond upset.

Yeah, I really like Hield and I think he is gonna be a good pro, but he is three or four years older than some of these guys. He is only a few months younger than Len or Warren....so probably his upside is low.

But there are players like Lillard or Draymond Green who were "older" rookies and they are All Stars talents....so you never know.

If we draft him, I wouldn't be upset at all because I love his game, he is one of my favourites players in this draft and I think he can split minutes with Booker and Warren like our wings of the future ( we would need to trade Knight for sure in this case).

I'd be 100% fine with Hield at 10 (although I'll prefer Rabb if he's there). I think he'll be good. But I agree with his ceiling possibly being limited. He's a small SG at 6'4", and while I'd love his shooting, I just don't see him being better than the others available at 3.

[bwgood77]

I don't think there's any chance we take Murray if we end up 5. Top 5 are clear cut imo between Simmons, Ingram, Bender, Dunn, and Brown. I'm not sure why everyone thinks McDonough would draft a combo guard. Archie is the only combo guard he's drafted. Every other top pick has been a true SG, a true SF, and a true C. Also Ennis, a true PG, and Bogdan, a 2/3 combo. Even if you do believe the 2 PG system is McDonough's creation and not Hornacek's, he hasn't drafted a bunch of combo guards and is clearly invested in the 2 we still have.

I was semi joking, but you left out the fact he traded for two combo guards. One could possibly consider Bledsoe more of a pure pg, but I've seen analysts/writers talk about him as more of a sg. Personally I don't think of Bledsoe as a sg though, but I do think he sometimes iso's a bit much.

If he did take Murray I would assume it's because he felt he was the top talent on the board, and knowing the league is going toward great shooters, he already shoots over 40% from 3 as a freshman. Dunn, a junior, is more of a pg, but he does shoot a lot too (13.3 shots per game) at 43% and hits 35.5% from 3. Then he has 6.3 assists per game to 3.7 turnovers per game.

I'm not sure top 5 is totally set. Ellenson might end up there too.

And we could drop to 6. I got that once after a few more tries (got 2nd twice too). Say the top 5 are who you think is the clear cut top 5 are and we drop to 6. Who would you take there?

I think we're going to catch LA and guarantee a top 5 pick. I know they suck, but if we lose both our remaining games to them we'll be just 1 back in the win column, and we've been much worse than even them of late (last 30 games or so). We'll see, but I feel pretty good about that unless Knight comes back and plays well. I'll just say I don't want Murray unless we're trading one of Bledsoe and Knight, and if we're trading Bledsoe, we really ought to be certain we can draft Dunn imo. He's the safest pick of the draft imo due to his defense and projectability. There's not a lot of risk with him from what I've seen. Very high floor.

I'd be cautiously optimistic about finishing worse than LA. Four games back with about 22 games left I just don't see it. I think we will win a game at some point. They have even more reason to lose than we do. I guess it might depend on their and our health. If we lose both to them the chances would certainly look better, though if we were tied it would come down to coin flip and not h2h I think.

[JMac1]

We must get Dunn or Simmons or Ingram........the rest are totally blah at top 5. Don't care about the 12-13th pick. Shoot for the fences with that one.

[AtheJ415]

I was semi joking, but you left out the fact he traded for two combo guards. One could possibly consider Bledsoe more of a pure pg, but I've seen analysts/writers talk about him as more of a sg. Personally I don't think of Bledsoe as a sg though, but I do think he sometimes iso's a bit much.

If he did take Murray I would assume it's because he felt he was the top talent on the board, and knowing the league is going toward great shooters, he already shoots over 40% from 3 as a freshman. Dunn, a junior, is more of a pg, but he does shoot a lot too (13.3 shots per game) at 43% and hits 35.5% from 3. Then he has 6.3 assists per game to 3.7 turnovers per game.

I'm not sure top 5 is totally set. Ellenson might end up there too.

And we could drop to 6. I got that once after a few more tries (got 2nd twice too). Say the top 5 are who you think is the clear cut top 5 are and we drop to 6. Who would you take there?

I think we're going to catch LA and guarantee a top 5 pick. I know they suck, but if we lose both our remaining games to them we'll be just 1 back in the win column, and we've been much worse than even them of late (last 30 games or so). We'll see, but I feel pretty good about that unless Knight comes back and plays well. I'll just say I don't want Murray unless we're trading one of Bledsoe and Knight, and if we're trading Bledsoe, we really ought to be certain we can draft Dunn imo. He's the safest pick of the draft imo due to his defense and projectability. There's not a lot of risk with him from what I've seen. Very high floor.

I'd be cautiously optimistic about finishing worse than LA. Four games back with about 22 games left I just don't see it. I think we will win a game at some point. They have even more reason to lose than we do. I guess it might depend on their and our health. If we lose both to them the chances would certainly look better, though if we were tied it would come down to coin flip and not h2h I think.

Well it's 3 in the win column. When teams are this bad, losses are almost guaranteed, so the wins are what matter. 3 wins back with 2 head to head. I think it's doable. We just really need to lose both Laker games.

[bwgood77]

I think we're going to catch LA and guarantee a top 5 pick. I know they suck, but if we lose both our remaining games to them we'll be just 1 back in the win column, and we've been much worse than even them of late (last 30 games or so). We'll see, but I feel pretty good about that unless Knight comes back and plays well. I'll just say I don't want Murray unless we're trading one of Bledsoe and Knight, and if we're trading Bledsoe, we really ought to be certain we can draft Dunn imo. He's the safest pick of the draft imo due to his defense and projectability. There's not a lot of risk with him from what I've seen. Very high floor.

I'd be cautiously optimistic about finishing worse than LA. Four games back with about 22 games left I just don't see it. I think we will win a game at some point. They have even more reason to lose than we do. I guess it might depend on their and our health. If we lose both to them the chances would certainly look better, though if we were tied it would come down to coin flip and not h2h I think.

Well it's 3 in the win column. When teams are this bad, losses are almost guaranteed, so the wins are what matter. 3 wins back with 2 head to head. I think it's doable. We just really need to lose both Laker games.

OK, fair enough, but back to my original question...lets say we don't catch them, and somehow slide down 3 spots, and your top 5 are gone. Who would you take at 6?

I'm probably more worried about Brooklyn being worse than us than the hoping to catch the Lakers. They have no incentive to lose though, so you would think they'd be ok, but they just lost Johnson, probably their second best player.

[saintEscaton]

I'd be cautiously optimistic about finishing worse than LA. Four games back with about 22 games left I just don't see it. I think we will win a game at some point. They have even more reason to lose than we do. I guess it might depend on their and our health. If we lose both to them the chances would certainly look better, though if we were tied it would come down to coin flip and not h2h I think.

Well it's 3 in the win column. When teams are this bad, losses are almost guaranteed, so the wins are what matter. 3 wins back with 2 head to head. I think it's doable. We just really need to lose both Laker games.

OK, fair enough, but back to my original question...lets say we don't catch them, and somehow slide down 3 spots, and your top 5 are gone. Who would you take at 6?

I'm probably more worried about Brooklyn being worse than us than the hoping to catch the Lakers. They have no incentive to lose though, so you would think they'd be ok, but they just lost Johnson, probably their second best player.

If Dunn,Brown and Bender are all gone then thats the worst possible scenario and this tankjob was for naught. We'd probably reach for Ellenson or Rabb

[Qwigglez]

It would be nice if we could land either Simmons or Ingram. Bender to me is more of a role player, looks too passive in the clips I've seen of him. Jaylen Brown doesn't look any better than Stanley Johnson and I wouldn't want to take him in the top 5. Kris Dunn looks pretty good but if we drafted him would he even play? Jamal Murray looks good too, but same problem we'd have if we drafted Dunn.

I hope the basketball gods are on the Suns side and give us a top 2 pick. I reckon the media could have something to talk about if the Lakers draft 1, and the Suns 2. Punish the Sixers for tanking so hard!


On another note where do you guys feel like Booker would go in this draft had he stayed in college another year? Top 5?

[Mulhollanddrive]

We're 4 games ahead of LA now and 2 behind Brooklyn, so I think we're set for 3rd with a 1 in 3 chance at top 2 pick.

I'd still need to see Ingram in March to keep this a clear top 2.

This board is sleeping on Hield, because we have Booker.

[DirtyDez]

Murray is 3 years younger than Hield. In my mind it's not even a debate if both were available and had to take one.

Hell if we end up with #3 I wouldn't be against trading down.

[Bogyo]

We're 4 games ahead of LA now and 2 behind Brooklyn, so I think we're set for 3rd with a 1 in 3 chance at top 2 pick.

I'd still need to see Ingram in March to keep this a clear top 2.

This board is sleeping on Hield, because we have Booker.

Nope, the board is sleeping on Hield becouse he is a senior with less chance to improve, and becouse he is a 6'4 shooting guard.

[Bogyo]

I'd be cautiously optimistic about finishing worse than LA. Four games back with about 22 games left I just don't see it. I think we will win a game at some point. They have even more reason to lose than we do. I guess it might depend on their and our health. If we lose both to them the chances would certainly look better, though if we were tied it would come down to coin flip and not h2h I think.

Well it's 3 in the win column. When teams are this bad, losses are almost guaranteed, so the wins are what matter. 3 wins back with 2 head to head. I think it's doable. We just really need to lose both Laker games.

OK, fair enough, but back to my original question...lets say we don't catch them, and somehow slide down 3 spots, and your top 5 are gone. Who would you take at 6?

I'm probably more worried about Brooklyn being worse than us than the hoping to catch the Lakers. They have no incentive to lose though, so you would think they'd be ok, but they just lost Johnson, probably their second best player.

I'd slit my wrist if we landed 6th in this draft after this season.

[Mulhollanddrive]

Here's some info to show why I like a player like Hield:

Looking at the draft pick number of the only 7 NBA guards who score 20 points and shoot over 35% from 3 (and years at college):

3 - Harden (2 years)
6 - Lillard (4 years)
7 - Curry (3 years)
9 - Walker (3 years)
10 - McCollum (4 years)
11 - Thompson (3 years)
24 - Lowry (2 years)

That's the Hield prototype:
- Drafted below the top tier because limited physically and older.
- Not drafted as Freshman as not glitzy with athleticism, relying on skills and putting numbers on the board.
- Playmaking (20 ppg) and Shooting (3 point %) translates despite perceived limitations.

[Bogyo]

Here's some info to show why I like a player like Hield:

Looking at the draft pick number of the only 7 NBA guards who score 20 points and shoot over 35% from 3 (and years at college):

3 - Harden (2 years)
6 - Lillard (4 years)
7 - Curry (3 years)
9 - Walker (3 years)
10 - McCollum (4 years)
11 - Thompson (3 years)
24 - Lowry (2 years)

That's the Hield prototype:
- Drafted below the top tier because limited physically and older.
- Not drafted as Freshman as not glitzy with athleticism, relying on skills and putting numbers on the board.
- Playmaking (20 ppg) and Shooting (3 point %) translates despite perceived limitations.

I can see us picking him up if we are the 4th or 5th pick, but man we really need to make some trades then if we want to keep him.
Bled, Knight, Booker, Archie, Bogdan (Price and Weems) and Hield?
One major problem for me would be Booker/Hield minutes - one would not be getting sufficent minutes and shots to develop.
The other is his height. He has OK athleticism, but the 6'6 6'7 shooting guards would just shoot over him with ease. And he is no PG for sure.

[No-Man]

I wont touch Hield in the top10, late lotto if you really need a guy like him as the missing piece, not the case of Phoenix, you should go for BPA and highest ceiling no matter what, sure, you can look at him, but for me he belongs in the 15-25 range most likely.

[DRK]

Murray is 3 years younger than Hield. In my mind it's not even a debate if both were available and had to take one.

Hell if we end up with #3 I wouldn't be against trading down.

Hield screams Marcus Thornton to me. Not impressed. Yeah the guy can shoot... but hes old and would he still be able to get his shot off against NBA level defences?

[Saberestar]

Well it's 3 in the win column. When teams are this bad, losses are almost guaranteed, so the wins are what matter. 3 wins back with 2 head to head. I think it's doable. We just really need to lose both Laker games.

OK, fair enough, but back to my original question...lets say we don't catch them, and somehow slide down 3 spots, and your top 5 are gone. Who would you take at 6?

I'm probably more worried about Brooklyn being worse than us than the hoping to catch the Lakers. They have no incentive to lose though, so you would think they'd be ok, but they just lost Johnson, probably their second best player.

If Dunn,Brown and Bender are all gone then thats the worst possible scenario and this tankjob was for naught. We'd probably reach for Ellenson or Rabb

At #6 it wouldn't be crazy to pick Hield. I see some McCollum in him (worse ball handler/creator but better defensively).

[Saberestar]

I wont touch Hield in the top10, late lotto if you really need a guy like him as the missing piece, not the case of Phoenix, you should go for BPA and highest ceiling no matter what, sure, you can look at him, but for me he belongs in the 15-25 range most likely.

I understand you, but like Oladipo or McCollum in the last few years this guy has improved A LOT in his last year in college. He was a second round pick option entering this season (or late first round pick at best)...but like Oladipo in his junior year in Indiana he has improved at everything over the summer and physically is really good (not Jimmer Fredette comparison here).

I think that he isn't gonna be available at #12 (Wiz pick)...but if he is there I would take him in a heartbeat.

[No-Man]

I wont touch Hield in the top10, late lotto if you really need a guy like him as the missing piece, not the case of Phoenix, you should go for BPA and highest ceiling no matter what, sure, you can look at him, but for me he belongs in the 15-25 range most likely.

I understand you, but like Oladipo or McCollum in the last few years this guy has improved A LOT in his last year in college. He was a second round pick option entering this season (or late first round pick at best)...but like Oladipo in his junior year in Indiana he has improved at everything over the summer and physically is really good (not Jimmer Fredette comparison here).

I think that he isn't gonna be available at #12 (Wiz pick)...but if he is there I would take him in a heartbeat.

Oladipo is not precisely a good example, he would go late lotto again if that Draft were tohappen again.

McCollum yes, but he is much craftier, quicker, shiftier and a better ballhandler than Hield, is not even in the same ballpark game.
Hield is going to be a solid player, like a better defensive version of Wayne Ellington, or a more well-rounded, less chucker, more efficient Jodie Meeks, but he is a low-end prospect, and unless you really need that type of catch-shoot starter at 2 and he is the piece missing, maybe for Chicago if they miss the PO, for example, you dont pick him that high.

I completely expect him to be available around 10-14, thats the earliest he should go, any team taking him higher is nuts.

[Saberestar]

I wont touch Hield in the top10, late lotto if you really need a guy like him as the missing piece, not the case of Phoenix, you should go for BPA and highest ceiling no matter what, sure, you can look at him, but for me he belongs in the 15-25 range most likely.

I understand you, but like Oladipo or McCollum in the last few years this guy has improved A LOT in his last year in college. He was a second round pick option entering this season (or late first round pick at best)...but like Oladipo in his junior year in Indiana he has improved at everything over the summer and physically is really good (not Jimmer Fredette comparison here).

I think that he isn't gonna be available at #12 (Wiz pick)...but if he is there I would take him in a heartbeat.

Oladipo is not precisely a good example, he would go late lotto again if that Draft were tohappen again.

McCollum yes, but he is much craftier, quicker, shiftier and a better ballhandler than Hield, is not even in the same ballpark game.
Hield is going to be a solid player, like a better defensive version of Wayne Ellington, or a more well-rounded, less chucker, more efficient Jodie Meeks, but he is a low-end prospect, and unless you really need that type of catch-shoot starter at 2 and he is the piece missing, maybe for Chicago if they miss the PO, for example, you dont pick him that high.

I completely expect him to be available around 10-14, thats the earliest he should go, any team taking him higher is nuts.

Hopefully you are right and we can pick him with the Wizars pick.