Pre Draft Discussion

[AtheJ415]

Well I wouldn't say he can't shoot or that he doesn't make plays. He is super effective off the ball because he is a terror on the glass and has a high IQ in terms of cutting and setting up the defense. His release is slow, but he hits at a good rate though over low efficiency (I think 40.5% from 3 on 1 3 pt. attempt per game). He needs to speed up the release in the NBA, but he isn't raw. He doesn't lack touch. He does all of the little things defensively and setting picks and boarding. It's just creating off the dribble and speeding up his release that needs refinement. Both need help but honestly speeding up the jumper is very doable and even if he never learns how to create off the dribble he would still be a super elite 3 and D player at that point. If he learns to create a little bit off the dribble he would be an all star.

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You're selling me man!

Yeah, so in the video you can see the top of his release isn't bad at all. It's a little 2 handed but the rotation is great. He also hits a lot of his shots which is good. The reason it is slow is because he brings the ball down to his knees before entering the shooting motion. Remove that downward motion and he should be fine. After that it is just a matter of getting him comfortable shooting and creating off the dribble. Good news is we know for a fact he has the athleticism to beat his man. So it's more of developing the moves and knowing when and how to use them. I think his floor is an elite 3 and D player in all honesty, which is what we need around Ayton, Booker, Jackson. I also think his athleticism and age grant him the upside to be more.

[jcsunsfan]

I am all for Ayton. It would be nice to have Luka's mom at the games though.

[Kerrsed]

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[WeekapaugGroove]

Athe- how do you rank smith against the other wings in that range. Huerter, Walker, Brown. All different players but I go smith, walker, brown, huerter.

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[Mjee]

Just about 100 percent of every basketball player former or current and coach and pre-analytics expert has said the exact same thing your cousin has said. The analytic guys are the only ones sour on Ayton, because they don't have the ability to see past numbers....its mind boggling. The speed limit says 75, doesn't matter if the traffic is going 100mph or 35 in the snow, they can't think outside of that box, so they drive 75 no matter what, because they don't know what it takes to play at that level and be successful. The intangibles that don't show up in their numbers leaves them lost and they are too stubborn to move, its funny to me.

When I heard what Avery Johnson said, I was 100 percent Ayton. Everyone else, including your cousin, just reinforced it.

Totally .... I was just having this convo with him (I’ll say who it is if he gets drafted .... or more than likely put on a summer league squad) but a realgm poster posted a Luka Spanish league poster with 2 other players on it recently and it had his old college teammate on it (previously that player was on the Knicks) ......
Anyway that player said luka was a complete arrogant ass , and that his game won’t translate to superstar status in the nba !!!

Plus my cousin..... who’s won many NCAA accolades , says Ayton was an absolute beast !!!!!
An offensive powerhouse who was played out of position and not to his full potential !!!! Said that every time Ayton touched the ball they double teamed him....... and he still averaged 20 and 11 ........ you don’t pass on that talent !!!!!!!!

And I guatentee McD won’t !!

So what you are saying is, that your cousin is Randle. The guy is trash, he is not even in Real Madrid rotation. He gets some garbage time minutes every few games. How the hell can he comment on Spanish legue intensity when he only plays in garbage time. Him commenting on Doncic skill translating is also amuzing, since his own skill aperantly don't even translate into Spanish Legue bench role player. The guy barely played even when Real had half of the squad injured.

He's basically saying that fat party animal Doncic is still good enough to be MVP of the Euroleague. Just imagine what he will become, if he stops with parties and junk food.

But thank you for sharing this info, we now know where Gambo gets his info on Doncic. Prime example of jealousy.

You better hope Real Madrid management don't find out about one of their players leaking information.

Hahahahha Hahahahah really !? Randle is not my cousin and he never said anything bad besides that he thinks Doncic is an ass and parties !!!!!

My cousin was giving me his opinion because he played against Ayton and thought he was an absolute beast !!!!

In addition my cousin has a little more validity than you do, as he is currently going though the draft process himself at this moment !!!

[SuperSunsFan]

I am all for Ayton. It would be nice to have Luka's mom at the games though.

wow, are you kidding me? who will be the next delonte, Hield, Bogdan or Fox?

[ATTL]

I am all for Ayton. It would be nice to have Luka's mom at the games though.

I must be getting older, the new draftee's moms are looking better every year.

[AtheJ415]

I think Okobo is the guy I want. I know a lot of Bucks fans are hoping they take him at 17.

My dream scenario would be Miami willing to part with Dragic for #31 and the Suns drafting Okobo.

I am fine with Okobo at 16 if Zhaire is off the board.

[DirtyDez]

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Confirmed by @LegitSource?

[AtheJ415]

Athe- how do you rank smith against the other wings in that range. Huerter, Walker, Brown. All different players but I go smith, walker, brown, huerter.

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I go Smith ahead of all of them. I do really like Huerter though. Not as high on Walker or Brown at 16. Walker has the tools but I just have a feeling he doesn't end up putting it together. Brown is a toss up for me. I like him but not enough to put in my top 16 so I am not hoping we take him there.

[Kerrsed]

Grayson Allen crazy workout

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[Saberestar]

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What a surprise! I can not believe that Divac wants to draft Doncic.

[Saberestar]

I 100% disagree!!!!!!

I am at my cousins graduation and not only was he a D1 basketball player who played against Ayton .... he has also worked out for GS, SAC, ATL, BKL during pre draft workouts (I obv won’t say his name but he’s a west coast Player) ......

I say who would you take at #1 !???.....
Ayton 100%

He said that Although the Spanish league is good, it’s not like it used to be !!! And his old teammate plays with Luka at real (or used to) and that as an 18 year old he’s got some extremely bad habits (poor diet, partying, kind of an **** at times) ...... says that the NCAA tournament is the same intensity as a regular season game in Spain ..... at #1 you don’t take risks .....

Not to be disrespectful.... but take it for what it’s worth! My cousin knows more **** than most people watching film tape.

Just about 100 percent of every basketball player former or current and coach and pre-analytics expert has said the exact same thing your cousin has said. The analytic guys are the only ones sour on Ayton, because they don't have the ability to see past numbers....its mind boggling. The speed limit says 75, doesn't matter if the traffic is going 100mph or 35 in the snow, they can't think outside of that box, so they drive 75 no matter what, because they don't know what it takes to play at that level and be successful. The intangibles that don't show up in their numbers leaves them lost and they are too stubborn to move, its funny to me.

When I heard what Avery Johnson said, I was 100 percent Ayton. Everyone else, including your cousin, just reinforced it.

Totally .... I was just having this convo with him (I’ll say who it is if he gets drafted .... or more than likely put on a summer league squad) but a realgm poster posted a Luka Spanish league poster with 2 other players on it recently and it had his old college teammate on it (previously that player was on the Knicks) ......
Anyway that player said luka was a complete arrogant ass , and that his game won’t translate to superstar status in the nba !!!

Plus my cousin..... who’s won many NCAA accolades , says Ayton was an absolute beast !!!!!
An offensive powerhouse who was played out of position and not to his full potential !!!! Said that every time Ayton touched the ball they double teamed him....... and he still averaged 20 and 11 ........ you don’t pass on that talent !!!!!!!!

And I guatentee McD won’t !!

Thanks for sharing all that info.

[Kerrsed]

Confirmed by @LegitSource?

Look at the first comment!

[Fo-Real]

I am all for Ayton. It would be nice to have Luka's mom at the games though.

OH MY DAMN!!! That kid needs a competent STEPDAD!!! I will sacrifice myself for the sake of the boy!!!

[Fo-Real]

Confirmed by @LegitSource?

Look at the first comment!

Ron Jer..... Uh huh, I mean.... LEGIT is the truth!!! ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!?!

[thamadkant]

I am all for Ayton. It would be nice to have Luka's mom at the games though.

wow, are you kidding me? who will be the next delonte, Hield, Bogdan or Fox?

Bogdan





The thing is... Luca's dad is/was a professional basketball player in Euroleague, its not hard to fathom that they (players) get hot women... thus you have Luca's mom the way she is.

[Saberestar]

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[Revived]

Interesting that most non Suns fans who participated in a poll of "Who would you take #1 overall in the draft" actually would take Doncic (55%) over Ayton (22%).

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1714357

Prior to the lottery, I had browsed few of top lotto teams' forums like Grizz/Kings/Mavs etc and it certainly felt like most of their fans actually wanted Doncic if their teams had won the lottery as well.

It worked out extremely well for Ayton that his hometown team got the #1 overall pick with him having huge local fan support in Phoenix. Just a guess but I think there's strong chance that he loses out on #1 overall money and goes #2 or later had another team won the lottery.

[Archx]

The eye test is tangible and all of the advanced analytics are not. Analytics doesn't tell you if he can beat elite one on one defense and that is what concerns people. The Suns take BOTH into account.

No one needs to see advanced numbers to identify that Ayton is a monster.

The eye test on Doncic is so much better than the one on Ayton.

I 100% disagree!!!!!!

I am at my cousins graduation and not only was he a D1 basketball player who played against Ayton .... he has also worked out for GS, SAC, ATL, BKL during pre draft workouts (I obv won’t say his name but he’s a west coast Player) ......

I say who would you take at #1 !???.....
Ayton 100%

He said that Although the Spanish league is good, it’s not like it used to be !!! And his old teammate plays with Luka at real (or used to) and that as an 18 year old he’s got some extremely bad habits (poor diet, partying, kind of an **** at times) ...... says that the NCAA tournament is the same intensity as a regular season game in Spain ..... at #1 you don’t take risks .....

Not to be disrespectful.... but take it for what it’s worth! My cousin knows more **** than most people watching film tape.

I am not saying you are wrong but, it is one of those "he said, she said" stories

Who do we trust more? Your cousin or Igor Kokoskov? Or even teammate and a friend of Luka who plays with him on national team. He said that he took the offer from Real Madrid to replace Luka while turning down better offers. Because he wants to play in a strong league, on one of the best clubs in the world.

Euro clubs are getting better each year in all competitions. More and more talent is pouring in into europe even from the US, a lot of them don't make it but still... So this notion that any competition is not as strong as it was, is simply not true. You can also check how many NBA clubs lose to european clubs aswell. And if you argue that NBA clubs don't play at full speed, well checking box score can show you that neither do european clubs in those friendly matches.

But again i am not arguing against your cousin, all i am saying is that there are also other people who say the opposite of what your cousin said including your own Suns coach. All in all we know Luka has good 2-3 years of learning and hard gym traning to do. I said he will struggle in his rookie year while Ayton may not. Just because he is physically more ready. Will be interesting to see what they both can do when they reach their peak.