The Steve Kerr and Chase Budinger connection...

[MaryvalesFinest]

Ok if you didn't know already Chase Budinger is basically like Steve Kerr's godson. Kerr and Sarver are U of A alumni with Chase's dad. Now some of these articles are from a year ago but they still mean the same thing. Like I mentioned about 6 months ago I would be shocked if Steve Kerr passes on Budinger because he's like family, not only with Kerr but with Sarver. This is similar to the Knicks situation where D'Anthony picked that one Italian guy because he lived with his father. Now it looks like Kerr is going to do the same thing by drafting Chase Budinger with the #14 pick. So just letting everyone know not to be surprised when they announce Chase Budinger as the newest player of the Phoenix Suns...

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/sports/294737.php

Suns GM Steve Kerr and senior VP David Griffin have not been available for comment since Budinger's workout

They have followed him since his days as a world-class volleyball prospect at La Costa Canyon High School north of San Diego, despite Budinger's improvement in basketball during his three years with the Wildcats.

Could this mean Kerr and Griffin already made a promise to draft Chase? The article above is from the 2009 workout by the way, also mentions how both Kerr and Griffin followed Budinger since highschool.

http://www.nba.com/suns/news/qa_budinger_080612.html

Question: You were talking to Suns President of Basketball Operations and GM Steve Kerr after the workout… another U of A guy.

Budinger: I knew Steve pretty well when I was in high school. He came to a lot of my high school games. His son was able to work out with me a couple of times during the summer. We were able to create a little relationship and U of A also happened so the relationship grew from there.

The above article is from the 2008 workout, Chase mentions his connections with Steve Kerr.

http://www.carlsbadmagazine.com/Stories/chase.html

Budinger, an Encinitas native, really started watching Arizona on television when he was in middle school. The night before he left for college he had dinner with a few Wildcats basketball alums, including Steve Kerr and Jud Buechler, at Kerr’s house.

Article said Budinger went to Kerr's house and chose to attend Arizona because of him...

http://media.wildcat.arizona.edu/media/ ... 0142.shtml

W: How responsible was your dad for recruiting another volleyball and basketball player (Chase Budinger)?

B: My dad here in San Diego, he goes to a lot of games, he's super on top of the high school sports here for every sport, for volleyball, basketball, football. That's one of his passions, is knowing what's going here in San Diego. I think my dad saw Chase play his freshman year and started telling me about him. And funny story, after one of his sophomore games, my dad actually called Arizona and talked to one of the coaches there and was like, "There's a kid here in San Diego," and they were like, "Chase Budinger? We already know all about him." So they already knew about him, but Stevie Kerr and I went to a lot of Chase's high school games. Chase is a local kid, lives about 15 minutes away from Steve and I. … We were really happy to see him decide to go Arizona.

The article above is from Jud Buchler (a former NBA player) talking about the Kerr/Budinger connections...

Thinking about it I wouldn't be upset with Chase Budinger...He would be a better pick than Tyler Hansbrough at least...

Anyway this should be enough information for everyone to think about their own conspiracy theories...

[RaisingArizona]

If we draft Budinger I will seriously lose all optimism I have this off season of making the suns a contender. He is soft and is the opposite of what we need.

[dantian]

I believe we could use our 2nd rounder to draft him.

[b-ball forever]

Kerr and Budinger, talk bout a matchup made in heaven (more like hell actually).

If Kerr drafts Chase with the 14th pick, it gets to the point were Zeke is officially > Steve Kerr as a GM.

[Frank Lee]

Kerr is not that much of an idiot....

what he likely will do is trade down in the draft , glean another pick.

If the run of PGs goes quick... look for us to draft a PG, then deal him later on to someone else who selects Buttringer for us. .

To select him over the SFs who will be available at 14 will cause a disruption in my household that will require physical action. Never trust a Mildcat.

PS...example.... SAC picks 4.... Rubio is gone... they select Hill or Thabeet or ???... We select Jrue Holliday.... Buttringer falls to #23...they trade us #23 + #31 for Holliday.
(and a collective WTF is heard round the globe)

[eastsidecrossover]

hahahahahahaha - Zeke is officially > Steve Kerr as a GM.

[rsavaj]

facepalm

I like Chase...hung out with him a few times, played ball with him a few times on campus(and by "played" I mean sat out after 5 mins because I was winded and getting DESTROYED, which is the status quo whenever I play), but lotto pick? Come on...

[ihateginobili]

I would think that the person against drafting Chase has something to do with him going to UA? I actually think he is a decent player. Especially after that fool stomped on his face; he developed a mean streak. Maybe, Shaq can stomp on him...

[TASTIC]

I think he's a early-mid second rounder...Don't want to put guaranteed money on this guy. As good as he is athletically, Jacobsen was as good at shooting, and look how we wasted that 1st rounder...

[MaryvalesFinest]

Yeah it's hard to imagine him being drafted at #14 but I can see Sarver and Kerr possibly buying a pick (ironic I know) because he's basically like family to them. If they do this will probally be the only time they ever do it so they can pick up Budinger...

[scootfu602]

I believe we could use our 2nd rounder to draft him.

I wouldn't mind having Budinger in the 2nd round, but if this kid gets drafted by the Suns with the 14th pick I am going to stroke out.

[NashtyNas]

There is no way we will use the 14th on Budinger. We might get the 30th from Cle if we make a deal for Shaq or JRich, which I would be fine being used on Bud for sure. I think he's a quality player and deserves to go in the 27-35 area in this weak draft.

[Gorilla Warfare]

If he is still available at 14 i can definitely see Kerr picking him. Because he is all offense and athleticism and no defense. Perfect fit for this team.