Lopez looks damn good

[Suns_fan_2007]

I was extremely impressed with how well Lopez played last night, given how long he has been out.

Even the TNT commentators were like "what a 2 year rookie!"

Knowing how well Robin turned out, how much higher do you think Lopez should have gone in his NBA draft? Did the Suns get another steal?

[MrMiyagi]

I think he is a steal, but he shouldn't have gone higher if that makes sense. There were other guys with bigger upside then Lopez, but people figured he'd be a consistent player. I'd take consistency with flashes of brilliance over huge potential but questions on if they'll reach it. Overall a great pick and what you look for in the late lottery.

[lilfishi22]

He was the most developed big man defenders in the draft outside of maybe Brook. But I don't think he should've gone any higher.

MrMiyagi - "Overall a great pick and what you look for in the late lottery."
Pretty much.

[Miklo]

I think he is a steal, but he shouldn't have gone higher if that makes sense. There were other guys with bigger upside then Lopez, but people figured he'd be a consistent player. I'd take consistency with flashes of brilliance over huge potential but questions on if they'll reach it. Overall a great pick and what you look for in the late lottery.

I agree, I think it more shows he was a great value pick mid-round. You don't take someone like him in really the top 10 but I'm glad we took a chance on him at 15 (I was bummed by the pick at the time, now I'm thrilled that we may have found our Center of the future)

[eastsidecrossover]

I liked the pick at the time, thought it was a solid pick. Not flashy, but I knew he would be a solid player for us. I did not think he could be this good this soon really. I thought he would be better at rebounding, but his offense is solid.

Looking at the past drafts and the 08 draft, I think he would have gone higher, but only a few picks higher.

You have to give kudos to Kerr. I still cant stand him and dont fully trust him, but we have done well in the draft. I think Clark is the next guy that will show flashes next year too.

He has to control the paint in game 4.

[BobbieL]

I liked the pick at the time, thought it was a solid pick. Not flashy, but I knew he would be a solid player for us. I did not think he could be this good this soon really. I thought he would be better at rebounding, but his offense is solid.

Looking at the past drafts and the 08 draft, I think he would have gone higher, but only a few picks higher.

You have to give kudos to Kerr. I still cant stand him and dont fully trust him, but we have done well in the draft. I think Clark is the next guy that will show flashes next year too.

He has to control the paint in game 4.

I think Earl Clark makes Channing Frye expendable. Especially if it comes down to Frye or Louis - thats a no brainer - keep Louis. Granted, when LB gets traded - if there is ANY market for him now - maybe that helps Frye/ Louis out

I was hoping for the Lopez pick because I thought a year playing behind Shaq, allowing him time to learn and grow would be good for him. Granted, Porter never played the kid - but he is doing very well. Totally different team with him at the center position.

[DBrimstone]

I'm looking at his draft year and I would take him over the following players that were drafted ahead of him in a heartbeat

Michael Beasley
Joe Alexander (I've never even heard of him before looking a the draft order)
Brandon Rush
DJ Augustin

I might take him before, depending on how they turn out within the next 2 to 3 years

Danilo Gallinari
Jason Thompson
Anthony Randolph

So theoretically he should have gone, in my opinion, 8th overall. Mainly based on the fact that it's almost impossible to find a legit 7 footer who defends, moves his feet, can score, and takes the other teams best rebounder out of the game. The only other 7 footers I can think of like that are Gasol and Bynum (which is why LA is so good with a healthy front court), Greg Oden when his knees are exchanged for goods not made of glass, Andrew Bogut, Brook Lopez, and sort of Dwight Howard even though he's not technically 7 feet tall... Robin is just the perfect compliment to Amare. Amare would have to be an idiot to leave at this point, especially after reaching the WCF

[JMac1]

Lopez 7'0
Amare 6'10
Clark 6'10

The best front court in the NBA 2010....Hill is off the bench in his last year with us. He has done well, but the defense and athleticism Clark brings will be phenomenal!!

[DBrimstone]

I think Earl Clark makes Channing Frye expendable. Especially if it comes down to Frye or Louis - thats a no brainer - keep Louis. Granted, when LB gets traded - if there is ANY market for him now - maybe that helps Frye/ Louis out
Hopefully Clark pulls a every other rookie who's gotten playing time .
I was hoping for the Lopez pick because I thought a year playing behind Shaq, allowing him time to learn and grow would be good for him. Granted, Porter never played the kid - but he is doing very well. Totally different team with him at the center position.

If Clark pulls a every other young player we've got and improves to the point of streaky offensive player but solid overall, Frye is easily expendable. If he can fix his shot over the summer (see also Dragic, Frye, and Dudley) then he'll be far more useful than Frye. All Frye does is shoot. Clark's at least athletic, defends, and can rebound when he decides to jump to the ceiling. Lou's a much better investment for 15 minutes a night. You know what you'll get from him night in and night out. Frye, not so much. He's saved us in some games, but shot us out of other games entirely. Clark's technically a small forward though, which is the only real problem there. I agree with trading LB for a sandwich though. No point in keeping him. Give his time to Dragic and Dudley, and give Dudley's SF time and Frye's time to Clark.

[JMac1]

I think Earl Clark makes Channing Frye expendable. Especially if it comes down to Frye or Louis - thats a no brainer - keep Louis. Granted, when LB gets traded - if there is ANY market for him now - maybe that helps Frye/ Louis out
Hopefully Clark pulls a every other rookie who's gotten playing time .
I was hoping for the Lopez pick because I thought a year playing behind Shaq, allowing him time to learn and grow would be good for him. Granted, Porter never played the kid - but he is doing very well. Totally different team with him at the center position.

If Clark pulls a every other young player we've got and improves to the point of streaky offensive player but solid overall, Frye is easily expendable. If he can fix his shot over the summer (see also Dragic, Frye, and Dudley) then he'll be far more useful than Frye. All Frye does is shoot. Clark's at least athletic, defends, and can rebound when he decides to jump to the ceiling. Lou's a much better investment for 15 minutes a night. You know what you'll get from him night in and night out. Frye, not so much. He's saved us in some games, but shot us out of other games entirely. Clark's technically a small forward though, which is the only real problem there. I agree with trading LB for a sandwich though. No point in keeping him. Give his time to Dragic and Dudley, and give Dudley's SF time and Frye's time to Clark.

Keep Duds at the back up 2 and 3. Clark needs to play the 3. Why make him an undersized 4?? He has the ability to play the three and cover the Kobes, Melo's, James and Durant's. I remember Clark played James well on two straight posessions in Cleveland.

[Miklo]

I'm looking at his draft year and I would take him over the following players that were drafted ahead of him in a heartbeat

Michael Beasley disagree
Joe Alexander (I've never even heard of him before looking a the draft order) agree - he's the white dude that's pretty good at dunking but sucks overall - the one who was speaking Mandarin on draft night that year
Brandon Rush agree
DJ Augustin agree
I might take him before, depending on how they turn out within the next 2 to 3 years

Danilo Gallinari disagree
Jason Thompson disagree
Anthony Randolph disagree

So theoretically he should have gone, in my opinion, 8th overall. Mainly based on the fact that it's almost impossible to find a legit 7 footer who defends, moves his feet, can score, and takes the other teams best rebounder out of the game. The only other 7 footers I can think of like that are Gasol and Bynum (which is why LA is so good with a healthy front court), Greg Oden when his knees are exchanged for goods not made of glass, Andrew Bogut, Brook Lopez, and sort of Dwight Howard even though he's not technically 7 feet tall... Robin is just the perfect compliment to Amare. Amare would have to be an idiot to leave at this point, especially after reaching the WCF

[LV-Suns]

I hated the pick so much at the time. I wanted Brandon Rush or Speights in the draft, thought Lopez was going to be too limited in the NBA. Glad I have been wrong so far.

[impulsenine]

Keep Duds at the back up 2 and 3. Clark needs to play the 3.

That's a mind-bendingly tall lineup. Dudley is smart and pretty quick, but is he fast enough to guard fast 2'? And is Clark fast enough to guard quick 3's?

Still:
Lopez 7'0
Amare 6'10
Clark 6'10
Dudley 6'7
Dragic/Nash both 6'3

[RaisingArizona]

Yeah, but he'd look better with proper maiming.

[MaryvalesFinest]

Still would have rather seen them take one of the guys I hoped for back than over Lopez but yeah he definately surprised me. Not sure if he's starting center material for the next 10 + years because of his poor rebounding but he's proven he can play in this league and he's not a bust.

[JMac1]

Keep Duds at the back up 2 and 3. Clark needs to play the 3.

That's a mind-bendingly tall lineup. Dudley is smart and pretty quick, but is he fast enough to guard fast 2'? And is Clark fast enough to guard quick 3's?

Still:
Lopez 7'0
Amare 6'10
Clark 6'10
Dudley 6'7
Dragic/Nash both 6'3

Of course.

[garyb916]

Pretty awesome seeing him get some more minutes.

Netting 20 points is much more than anyone expected from him.

[Qwigglez]

Lopez 7'0
Amare 6'10
Clark 6'10

The best front court in the NBA 2010....Hill is off the bench in his last year with us. He has done well, but the defense and athleticism Clark brings will be phenomenal!!

Seriously I can't wait for this. I have high hopes for Clark. Suns will be a scary defensive team because of the length of these three guys. Imagine running a zone with these three guys anchored in the core, no easy buckets, opponents should be intimidated. I really hope Amare signs a contract extension because I don't want to see Clark at the PF slot. He needs to work on his jump shot, and the rest should come easy.

[harshey1388]

Lopez 7'0
Amare 6'10
Clark 6'10

The best front court in the NBA 2010....Hill is off the bench in his last year with us. He has done well, but the defense and athleticism Clark brings will be phenomenal!!

Seriously I can't wait for this. I have high hopes for Clark. Suns will be a scary defensive team because of the length of these three guys. Imagine running a zone with these three guys anchored in the core, no easy buckets, opponents should be intimidated. I really hope Amare signs a contract extension because I don't want to see Clark at the PF slot. He needs to work on his jump shot, and the rest should come easy.

i hope amare stays to but i just have this gut feeling that he wont.. other than that if amare picks up his defense a little bit more.. then that front court is amazing. I hope clark can show up what we want to see out of him!

[Qwigglez]

If Amare leaves I am hoping for Dirk. If Amare or Dirk aren't here, then we are in trouble.