The Official 2024 Offseason Thread

[Ghost of Kleine]

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[Mulhollanddrive]

If only Dragen Bender had played for our g league team, we all live with a dark heart over regrets

[Ghost of Kleine]

https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2024/6/9/24174925/lakers-mock-draft-roundup-2024-nba-tristan-da-silva-jared-mccain-kelel-ware

Mock draft roundup: Lakers looking for size, win-now prospects
The Lakers will not be giving their pick to the Pelicans and, based on mock drafts, will be targeting size and players that can help them win now.

By Jacob Rude@JacobRude Jun 9, 2024, 2:28 pm PDT

I know that it's sacrilegious to deal with the flakers! But would you guys consider this 3 team trade?

Flakers
- Nurkic/ 25th pick (NY).

New York
- Hachimura/22nd pick/ PHX 2031 1st (Top 5 protected).

Phoenix
Robinson/ Wood/ 17th pick/ 24th pick/ * MIL 25' 1st (1-4 protected).
*** We are now in range of better prospects with the 17th pick, and could still take Kolek at 24. OR We could also choose to use the 17th pick to trade back in a follow-up trade with the Jazz for Kessler Walker/ 29th and 32nd picks. Dunn at 32. That trade would be Little/ 17th pick for Walker Kessler/ Micah Potter (6'10 3 point shooting 4/5)/ 29th and 32nd picks. Utah would do this to package their 10th and 17th picks to move up higher in the lottery if they like?? Now we'd end up with the 24th, 29th, and 32nd picks for this draft:
24- Kolek.
29- Tyson.
32- Ryan Dunn.

Post draft
Beal/ Booker/ KD / Wood / Robinson.
Lowry/ Allen/ O'neale/ Potter/ Kessler.
Kolek /J Tyson/ Dunn / Bol / Bidatze.

G League- (3- Two ways)
1- Zyon Pullin. A 6'4 rugged, cerebral, physical, savvy guard in the mold of a Tyus Jones/ Andrew Nembhard. https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/zyon-pullin-1.html (shot 44% from three).

2- Blake Hinson. A rugged 6'8 hybrid of Buddy Hield and Saddiq Bey 3-point specialist (shot over 42% 3PT on 11 attempts per game.).
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/blake-hinson-1.html

3- Nae'qwan Tomlin. 6'10 lanky face up modern forward with some guard skills. A mix of Jaden Mcdaniels and Naz Reid. (Shot 39% from 3).
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/naeqwan-tomlin-1.html

*** Micah Potter is a more athletic, rugged 6'10 version of Saric/ Budget Maxi Kleber who (shot 42% from 3).
*** Move Eubanks, Gordon, D Lee, and Okogie in trade (IF they opt-in) for 2nds or future 2nds to make further moves around the deadline?? With these trades, we've now addressed every single issue/need even before heading into free agency!!

1- A point guard that has floor general capability and can play 20 minutes a game: We have 2 in Kolek AND Pullin.
2- Backup center option that's mobile, athletic, switchable, and can protect the rim: We have 2 now in Robinson AND Kessler.
3- A young, athletic high motor,, high energy wing: We now have 3 actually. Ryan Dunn who is a 6'8 jumbo elite lockdown defensive wing with a relentless motor AND high defensive IQ and elite game-changing defensive ability. We also now have Jaylon Tyson who is a very talented athletic physical, strong jumbo guard who can do a bit of everything and score in a variety of ways too. third, we have a 6'8 rugged, athletic 3PT assassin in Hinson with limitless range from anywhere on the floor. Lastly, we also have Tomlin (modern 4/5) who is a very talented/ skilled lanky 6'10 fluid jumbo wing forward / small ball 5 that can play/guard multiple positions and who has some guard skills too.

We've addressed our size, physicality, defense, 3 Pt shooting, rim protection, playmaking, and young athletic talent infusion.

[Ghost of Kleine]

https://www.tankathon.com/players/compare?players=cam-spencer--grayson-allen

Also, when you look at this comparison between Cam Spencer and Grayson Allen, adding Spencer should give more insulatory insurance to the premise of trading Allen for another key piece if we choose to. So he should definitely be an undrafted to late 2nd target for us IF we are at all considering moving Allen as a premium trade asset!

[Puff]

What do you really need this off season?

In watching the best team in the league play I watched as their so-called point guards, Holiday and White rarely led the offense as you would expect a point guard to do.

Career stats for them White 4.1 assists per game Holliday 6.4 only 4.8 with Boston. The Celtics handed out 29 assists last night because the ball moved and it was not an ISO led offense. If Bud in grains that type of offense I think we would be foolish to we should not select Kolek in this draft if there is a legit big still available. We also might be wise to select SF/PF Ryan Dunn out of Virginia as our Wing Stopper. Unfortunately, it appears that he cannot shoot or pass. This going to be the hardest position to fill.

Booker and Beal will be just fine with a different offense that does not include ISO as the main ingredient.

I really think we will be able to get a passable Back-up PG for the minimum. This player does not have to be an all-star. Cam Pyne works for me and Westbrook could be really good with this group. I know he is not perfect but he plays his butt off. We need that kind of effort in a big way. Hell, if I were Westbrook, when is Kawhi going to play, will Paul George going to stay, do I really want to play with James Harden. It might be fun to team up with KD again.

By July 4th we should have a really good idea as to what direction we will take. Hopefully we do not trade our draft pick.

[Revived]

Dan Hurley would’ve been a nice hire for the Suns. Ishbia can certainly afford him. And he’s a culture setter that could rebuild after this current core fails and Ishbia finally realizes he needs to blow it up.

[bwgood77]

Dan Hurley would’ve been a nice hire for the Suns. Ishbia can certainly afford him. And he’s a culture setter that could rebuild after this current core fails and Ishbia finally realizes he needs to blow it up.

I don't know. It will be interesting to see how he does. I feel like college guys are good for very young teams, but maybe not for ones with NBA vets who may not respect a coach who has not coached in the NBA before as much as one who has, and has had success in the NBA.

[Puff]

Dan Hurley would’ve been a nice hire for the Suns. Ishbia can certainly afford him. And he’s a culture setter that could rebuild after this current core fails and Ishbia finally realizes he needs to blow it up.

I don't know. It will be interesting to see how he does. I feel like college guys are good for very young teams, but maybe not for ones with NBA vets who may not respect a coach who has not coached in the NBA before as much as one who has, and has had success in the NBA.

I wanted Hurley prior to the firing of Vogel. I wrote throw the bag at him. He indicated at the time that he had interest in coaching in the NBA in a recent article about his future. I said, why not us.

Well Hurley is staying at UCONN. It appears that he just used the Lakers as leverage to get a better deal at UCONN. Maybe he realized also that he is at the top of the mountain in his current job and if he took the Laker job it is filled land mines and a lot of miserable nights, with a very uncertain future.

I still would have thrown Hurley the bag if I were the Suns. However, I like the hire of Bud and hope he does not disappoint.

[Ghost of Kleine]

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[Ghost of Kleine]

https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2024/6/10/24175305/phoenix-suns-nba-draft-yves-missi-baylor

What to do at Pick 22: Draft Baylor big Yves Missi
This big-man prospect has an affinity for finishing and defensive versatility.

By John Voita
@DarthVoita Jun 10, 2024, 12:00pm MST

The Phoenix Suns are on the clock. In two short weeks, the NBA Draft will be upon us, and with the 22nd overall pick in the first round, the speculation is setting in on what the Suns will do in that slot. Whether they use it, attach it to an asset trade, or trade back, we want to make sure we’re covered on what options exist.

Over the next couple of weeks, we will be exploring what Phoenix might do at 22. I’ll start with who I personally would like them to pursue. I’ve said it before: I don’t believe drafting a point guard is the right move. I’d much rather see Phoenix swing for an upside pick while simultaneously meeting a roster need that adds length and athleticism.

What would I like Phoenix to do at 22? Draft Yves Missi from Baylor University.

Yves Missi
Height: 6’11”
Weight: 235 pounds
Age: 20 years old
Experience: One year at Baylor
Statistics: 10.7 points (51.4 FG%, 0.0 3PT%, 61.6 FT%), 5.6 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 0.4 assists
Missi, who made the Big 12 All-Defense and All-Freshman teams, is a project. That’s what you’d expect for someone who is ranked 23rd on ESPN’s big board, 22nd on CBS, 24th on The Ringer, and 21st on NBADraft.net. He’s a project with upside, however, and he has a skill set that the Suns need.

The first thing that pops off the screen when you watch his highlights is how athletic and long he is. He isn’t a broad-shouldered brut inside, but he isn’t skinny either. For being just 20 — he turns 21 in May — he has a build that will grow stronger as time progresses. He has a 37” vertical, another display of his athletic abilities. He finishes well through contact, not afraid to attack the cylinder from the interior. That’s where he cooks. He takes nearly all of his shots at the rim — he doesn’t have much of a jumper — which is okay in my book. Not every big guy needs to be a stretch five. We just need him to finish around the rim. And that he does.

He is a quality screen-and-roller with rim-running abilities who makes quick decisions. He’s not looking around assessing. He’s looking to attack the moment he gets the ball in his hands.

Defensively Missi possesses a high motor. He couples his 7’2” wingspan with his explosive leaping ability, and he averaged 1.5 blocks in just 22.9 minutes played. He is a Marion-eqsue springboard rebounder. That quick first step is great to see.

He is light on his feet, and while he should do well in drop coverage at the pro level, he’ll be able to hold his own on the perimeter as well. He is an imposing force whose versatility will be a welcomed addition to the team that drafts him. And I hope that is the Phoenix Suns.

https://youtu.be/k7beHPUefN4

Drew Eubanks is replaceable, and Phoenix is looking to replace him. Why not do it via the draft, obtaining someone with a similar interior skill set — and lack of shooting outside of 15 feet — who can also defend? Eubanks’s defensive IQ hurt Phoenix this season. The backup big needs to defend.

Missi would be a great addition off of the bench. His one-dimensional scoring might limit his ceiling, but his overall skillset limits his floor as well. He will be a productive NBA player who should have a nice career, even if it is in a journeyman role.

The possibility does exist that he is more than that; that he is a player who can impact winning. And that is what Phoenix needs right now.

Yves Missi (IF he falls to us at 22 is the perfect low usage long, quick very explosive rim running shot-blocking center option that also happens to have elite defensive potential! He should unequivocally be our #1 choice on our big board with Ware at #2 and Edy #3 for backup center options. Best of all is his non-stop motor and relentless physicality and athleticism/recovery that'd allow our wing defenders to confidently extend further out to the 3-point line and play aggressively knowing full well that Missi would be backing them up at the rim as a legitimate very long, explosive, switchable defensive anchor at/around the rim.

[Revived]

How does Yves Missi compare to a guy like Derrick Lively back when he was a prospect?

[lilfishi22]

What does "h/t Evan Sidery" mean?

Am I getting old

Hat tip (tip your hat to as a form of recognition or respect.

h/t to you for explaining that. I didn't know what they meant either.

Guess they *can* teach an old dog new tricks

[garrick]

What do you really need this off season?

In watching the best team in the league play I watched as their so-called point guards, Holiday and White rarely led the offense as you would expect a point guard to do.

Career stats for them White 4.1 assists per game Holliday 6.4 only 4.8 with Boston. The Celtics handed out 29 assists last night because the ball moved and it was not an ISO led offense. If Bud in grains that type of offense I think we would be foolish to we should not select Kolek in this draft if there is a legit big still available. We also might be wise to select SF/PF Ryan Dunn out of Virginia as our Wing Stopper. Unfortunately, it appears that he cannot shoot or pass. This going to be the hardest position to fill.

Booker and Beal will be just fine with a different offense that does not include ISO as the main ingredient.

I really think we will be able to get a passable Back-up PG for the minimum. This player does not have to be an all-star. Cam Pyne works for me and Westbrook could be really good with this group. I know he is not perfect but he plays his butt off. We need that kind of effort in a big way. Hell, if I were Westbrook, when is Kawhi going to play, will Paul George going to stay, do I really want to play with James Harden. It might be fun to team up with KD again.

By July 4th we should have a really good idea as to what direction we will take. Hopefully we do not trade our draft pick.

White and Holiday while not pure point guards are elite defensively and the Celtics have so many options on offense that their system just works well for the most part because if they choose to double team Tatum or Brown there's always some kind of outlet.

We have a completely opposite system where our big 3 take turns doing iso ball so it relies more on a traditional point guard because defenses would love nothing more than to put the ball in KD or Booker's hands so they can trap and force turnovers or bad shots.

[garrick]

https://hoopshype.com/2024/06/10/warriors-moving-on-from-kevon-looney/

Looks like Looney might be waived, does he have anything left in the tank? Him getting released might mean he really be cooked since he was so key in GSW's finals run.

I would still take him over the corpse of Eubanks though.

[lilfishi22]

What do you really need this off season?

In watching the best team in the league play I watched as their so-called point guards, Holiday and White rarely led the offense as you would expect a point guard to do.

Career stats for them White 4.1 assists per game Holliday 6.4 only 4.8 with Boston. The Celtics handed out 29 assists last night because the ball moved and it was not an ISO led offense. If Bud in grains that type of offense I think we would be foolish to we should not select Kolek in this draft if there is a legit big still available. We also might be wise to select SF/PF Ryan Dunn out of Virginia as our Wing Stopper. Unfortunately, it appears that he cannot shoot or pass. This going to be the hardest position to fill.

Booker and Beal will be just fine with a different offense that does not include ISO as the main ingredient.

I really think we will be able to get a passable Back-up PG for the minimum. This player does not have to be an all-star. Cam Pyne works for me and Westbrook could be really good with this group. I know he is not perfect but he plays his butt off. We need that kind of effort in a big way. Hell, if I were Westbrook, when is Kawhi going to play, will Paul George going to stay, do I really want to play with James Harden. It might be fun to team up with KD again.

By July 4th we should have a really good idea as to what direction we will take. Hopefully we do not trade our draft pick.

White and Holiday while not pure point guards are elite defensively and the Celtics have so many options on offense that their system just works well for the most part because if they choose to double team Tatum or Brown there's always some kind of outlet.

We have a completely opposite system where our big 3 take turns doing iso ball so it relies more on a traditional point guard because defenses would love nothing more than to put the ball in KD or Booker's hands so they can trap and force turnovers or bad shots.

That's how we played last season but I think there's room to change how we play. Tatum and Brown aren't some elite passers either. Tatum career high in APG is this season at 4.9apg with an AST% of around 21%. Tatum was also the league leader in iso possessions this season. Likewise, Brown has a career high in APG this season as well so they are improving as passers, improving at playing in a system predicated on great offensive flow and passing but historically they were seen as primarily iso guys.

KD has a career average of 4.4APG and just came off a season averaging 5APG. Book is coming off a 7APG season which is a career high while owning a 5APG career average. Likewise, since Beal became an all-star in 2018, he's averaged over 5APG. These dudes aren't drastically different and have more in the bag than just iso possessions. These guys are willing passers but the system we ran made little sense and created virtually no offensive flow. I mean, it's probably not totally unexpected giving the reigns to a guy who is primarily a defensive coach and even in the best of times in the past, was unimaginative offensively. I just think when the system we ran this past season looked at janky and ugly as it did, I don't completely blame the guys for falling into iso mode when flow is neither there nor consistent scoring.

I'm not saying we WILL be like 2017 Warriors having the ball whizz around the court like it's its own entity but there is room to improve and I do think we have the right coach for that in Bud

[Ghost of Kleine]

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https://youtu.be/kyg0ivu12uU?t=1985
(Phoenix Suns discussion at 33:05). **Only a minute and a half discussion on our situation!

[Fo-Real]

https://hoopshype.com/2024/06/10/warriors-moving-on-from-kevon-looney/

Looks like Looney might be waived, does he have anything left in the tank? Him getting released might mean he really be cooked since he was so key in GSW's finals run.

I would still take him over the corpse of Eubanks though.

I'm usually one to not pass judgement, leaning on probable system and or role change. But, HE IS COOKED!!