2013 Draft Thread Part 4

[RunDogGun]

Sorry Frank, I thought Len had a stress fracture in his foot,not his ankle. I see what you were saying.

[bwgood77]

So figures Myck Kabongo goes undrafted and where does he sign as undrafted free agent? The Heat.

Can they sign FA yet?

Let me correct myself.....agrees to join the Miami Heat Summer League team....so obviously if he plays well, they will likely sign him.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/SamAmicoFSO/status/350686098332205056[/tweet]

[Revived]

I have high hopes for Len, and am still pretty bummed about not getting McLemore. I just really wish where McLemore was on our big board and why he was so low. If I had a good answer, I'd at least be somewhat satisfied. Especially since Jude LaCava said before the draft he knows one thing, that we WON'T be drafting McLemore, and Gambo says we would have taken Trey Burke if Len was gone.

Reading stuff like this makes me cringe a little bit:

And according to a Sacramento Bee reporter, this is what Kings owner Vivek Ranadive said to his fan base immediately after:

“He was our Number 1 choice. And we were frantically in the war room trying to trade up to the Number 2, 3, 4 slot. We were willing to pay a lot of money to get Ben and we got him at 7.”

“As I said before, seven is my lucky number. When I was with the Warriors, we got (Stephen) Curry and (Harrison) Barnes at 7. My birthday is on the 7th, the mayor (Kevin Johnson) was picked seventh, he wore Number 7 and we got the best player in the (draft) at 7.”

Meanwhile, Rex Chapman said McLemore was the second-best steal of the draft, behind the selection of Michigan’s Trey Burke at No. 9.

And then this worries me about Len, the fact that not only does he have an ankle injury now, but that he battled one all season as a freshman also:

Most freshmen at least get the easier non-conference portion of their team's schedule to get their feet wet, but Len was thrown directly into the fire of arguably the toughest conference in college basketball, matching up with future NBA players virtually every single time he stepped on the floor. A pesky ankle injury he suffered mid-way through the season likely didn't help matters either.

From DraftExpress.com http://www.draftexpress.com#ixzz2XXeMebwn
http://www.draftexpress.com

The only answer I can think of as to why the Suns didn't want McLemore is that he would have made us too good too soon. Len, Burke etc would help us suck a lot for these next few years while they develop cause they likely won't make a big impact anytime soon. Getting McLemore would mean that he makes an impact right away and the Suns lose out on top 5 picks in the next few drafts cause McLemore wouldn't help us suck as much as Len and Burke would.


Their thinking long term only.

[bwgood77]

Drafting Burke over McLemore and Noek would have been WORSE than taking Len. At least Len will immediately come to his position whee there's only one starter there.

Burke would be coming to a situation where we already have Dragic and last year's lottery pick Marshall. And Burke unlike McCollum is too small to share the back court with Dragic.

I wanna know why the Suns hated McLemore so much.

Me too. I honestly like Len more than Noel. Watching his video, he looks like he will be a great finisher along the rim if someone can feed him the ball. I think he will be a much more imposing presence defensively in the long run than Noel too, just because his size is so much better. Three inches taller, big wingspan, way more weight. While I thing Noel will block a lot of shots, I don't know if he would be able to stand ground in the future against really big guys like Cousins or Drummond (or Howard), whereas I think Len could give them some trouble.

[BurningHeart]

Picking Burke doesn't necessarily mean a Dragic deal was lined up.

It IS possible---even welcomed----to have two talented guards on the roster.

[Revived]

Drafting Burke over McLemore and Noek would have been WORSE than taking Len. At least Len will immediately come to his position whee there's only one starter there.

Burke would be coming to a situation where we already have Dragic and last year's lottery pick Marshall. And Burke unlike McCollum is too small to share the back court with Dragic.

I wanna know why the Suns hated McLemore so much.

Me too. I honestly like Len more than Noel. Watching his video, he looks like he will be a great finisher along the rim if someone can feed him the ball. I think he will be a much more imposing presence defensively in the long run than Noel too, just because his size is so much better. Three inches taller, big wingspan, way more weight. While I thing Noel will block a lot of shots, I don't know if he would be able to stand ground in the future against really big guys like Cousins or Drummond (or Howard), whereas I think Len could give them some trouble.

I like Len more than Noel too. I'm not mad at all that we passed on him but I feel differently about McLemore. I think passing up on a guy as talented as Ben McClemore is the type of thing that gets you fired eventually.

[bwgood77]

Picking Burke doesn't necessarily mean a Dragic deal was lined up.

It IS possible---even welcomed----to have two talented guards on the roster.

I agree, but one of our biggest problems as a team, is outside shooting. If you can't spread the floor, it makes it tough to execute as much these days.

I don't think they are thinking of trading Dragic in the next year or so, but maybe long term. It's just odd, when next year's draft is mostly small forwards and some power forwards at the top, and even if you were to look at a pg, Marcus Smart could be there, and we have Dragic, it just seems weird to not get a sg now when there were some good ones.

We could get one in free agency, but that doesn't make a ton of sense if we are building through the draft and need young guys....any real young guys are locked into rookie contracts.

Makes me wonder if we will eventually try to trade for a young sg like Lamb by offering someone who is probably more useful on a contender (like Dudley). If Martin is gone, the Thunder need a reliable guard off the bench.

I'm not sure what to think of Lamb any more though. Will he ever even be as good as Dudley?

[bwgood77]

I like Len more than Noel too. I'm not mad at all that we passed on him but I feel differently about McLemore. I think passing up on a guy as talented as Ben McClemore is the type of thing that gets you fired eventually.

I agree completely about McLemore. I can't imagine the reason for not picking anyone is that they would make you too good too quickly.

I'm hoping Len turns into a combination of the best of the Gasol brothers, Yao Ming, and Arvydas Sabonis.

[BurningHeart]

That would be a best case, incredible scenario for Len. Hope it happens. Honestly, I'm excited about him.

[ShawnBronald]

That would be a best case, incredible scenario for Len. Hope it happens. Honestly, I'm excited about him.

What is it with Phoenix and white centers?

Neil Walk
Dennis Awtrey (the original Robin Lopez)
Alvin Adams
Joe Kleine
Luc Longley
Jake Tsakalidis
Jake Voskul
Maciej Lampe
Pat Burke
Robin Lopez
Alex Len

[grumpysaddle]

There's supposed to be a press conference right now on Suns.com. Anyone know where that is? I don't see it.

Edit: Nevermind. I forgot that Arizona doesn't do daylight savings, so it's the same time here in CA as it is there now.

[ShawnBronald]

There's supposed to be a press conference right now on Suns.com. Anyone know where that is? I don't see it.

It's at 2:30.

[Sreister]

That would be a best case, incredible scenario for Len. Hope it happens. Honestly, I'm excited about him.

What is it with Phoenix and white centers?

Neil Walk
Dennis Awtrey (the original Robin Lopez)
Alvin Adams
Joe Kleine
Luc Longley
Jake Tsakalidis
Jake Voskul
Maciej Lampe
Pat Burke
Robin Lopez
Alex Len

Um..pretty sure Rolo wasn't white..

[grumpysaddle]

There's supposed to be a press conference right now on Suns.com. Anyone know where that is? I don't see it.

It's at 2:30.

Yeah, realized that. Forgot Arizona doesn't adjust it's time for daylight savings, so it's the same time here as in AZ, when during the season it's usually an hour ahead there.

[carey]

That would be a best case, incredible scenario for Len. Hope it happens. Honestly, I'm excited about him.

What is it with Phoenix and white centers?

Neil Walk
Dennis Awtrey (the original Robin Lopez)
Alvin Adams
Joe Kleine
Luc Longley
Jake Tsakalidis
Jake Voskul
Maciej Lampe
Pat Burke
Robin Lopez
Alex Len

Ooh ooh, now do the black ones!

[Revived]

That would be a best case, incredible scenario for Len. Hope it happens. Honestly, I'm excited about him.

What is it with Phoenix and white centers?

Neil Walk
Dennis Awtrey (the original Robin Lopez)
Alvin Adams
Joe Kleine
Luc Longley
Jake Tsakalidis
Jake Voskul
Maciej Lampe
Pat Burke
Robin Lopez
Alex Len

You forgot THE THORTAT!

And Lopez isn't white, c'mon man just look at that last name and then look at his hair, he's far from it.

[ShawnBronald]

That would be a best case, incredible scenario for Len. Hope it happens. Honestly, I'm excited about him.

What is it with Phoenix and white centers?

Neil Walk
Dennis Awtrey (the original Robin Lopez)
Alvin Adams
Joe Kleine
Luc Longley
Jake Tsakalidis
Jake Voskul
Maciej Lampe
Pat Burke
Robin Lopez
Alex Len

You forgot THE THORTAT!

And Lopez isn't white, c'mon man just look at that last name and then look at his hair, he's far from it.

Neither was Lampe or Tsakalidis (or, for that matter, Len) technically. Come on, everyone knows what I meant....

Also, here's the link to the press conference, if anyone is interested:
http://www.nba.com/suns/draftlive

Update: Lon was just holding some jerseys. I couldn't tell if they looked new or not. Hhm... we'll find out shortly.

[Son of Ra]

The only answer I can think of as to why the Suns didn't want McLemore is that he would have made us too good too soon. Len, Burke etc would help us suck a lot for these next few years while they develop cause they likely won't make a big impact anytime soon. Getting McLemore would mean that he makes an impact right away and the Suns lose out on top 5 picks in the next few drafts cause McLemore wouldn't help us suck as much as Len and Burke would.


Their thinking long term only.

Whilst I am very much for looking at the big picture and planning long-term, this would be insane. If there is a good guy available you take him. I also think that especially in out situation it should be a BPA choice. I have no doubt that our FO thought Len was better than McLemore, but I am also very curious as to what their reasoning was.

And I am curious why so many think that drafting another PG is a bad thing or means that Dragic is on the block. A couple of teams have shown that running two PGs works very well, so having 3 makes a lot of sense. As long as the two on the floor can play off the ball I think it is ideal. You can move the ball from one side to the other quickly and have a player that can make a good play or a superb pass on either side. Ideally they should be able to nail the three too, then you stretch the floor more than a stretch four would whilst still being present on the inside and ready for the rebound/pass. Ok, I guess I love the idea of having two PGs on the court.

[MathiasPW]

Picking Burke doesn't necessarily mean a Dragic deal was lined up.

It IS possible---even welcomed----to have two talented guards on the roster.

McD's words on Gambo just a few moments ago (when asked about iminent Gortat trade to avoid havign 2 Centers):

"last time I checked, Gortat never played 48 minutes".

[Son of Ra]

@Press conference:
So if they have been watching him three years ago in Lithuania and knew they had something there, why didn't McDonough lock him in with a Boston second round pick a while back?