The Official Draft Thread

[carey]

Also, the idea that we're going to give up Dudley to move up 5 spots in a draft where the #13 pick gets you the same skill level as the #8 pick or the number #18 pick is... well, it's dumb. I'm sorry.

NO. You're the dumb one!


LOL.

I think Suns fans over value our assets a bit. Also, if we want to get Waiters, and even Rivers, it looks like we have to move up into the top ten. Just saying.

Maybe I am, but we only have 2 players on our team outperforming their contract. Gortat and Dudley. Dudley make's less than the MLE and puts up very good #s. 12.7 ppg on 49% shooting and 38% from 3 and you think he's only worth jumping 5 spots in the lottery? Maybe if it was going to get us into the top 4, but not from #13 to #8. I could be overrating him a tad, but you're substantially underrating him. The kid stands toe to toe in every statistical category with OJ Mayo and people have been clamoring for him for years.

[carey]

What do you think the market is going to be for these point guards with the new CBA? What is a contract going to look like for a young, above average point guard?
Dragic, Lin, Felton, Brooks.

Felton and Brooks aren't above average. If Brooks gets an offer sheet for more than $4M per we need to say adios. Dragic and Lin are both looking at MLE or slightly higher. You'd have to be dumb as rocks in this climate to give Dragic $7 to $8M per. I hope our FO isn't stupid enough to do that.

[jredsaz]

Also, the idea that we're going to give up Dudley to move up 5 spots in a draft where the #13 pick gets you the same skill level as the #8 pick or the number #18 pick is... well, it's dumb. I'm sorry.

NO. You're the dumb one!


LOL.

I think Suns fans over value our assets a bit. Also, if we want to get Waiters, and even Rivers, it looks like we have to move up into the top ten. Just saying.

Maybe I am, but we only have 2 players on our team outperforming their contract. Gortat and Dudley. Dudley make's less than the MLE and puts up very good #s. 12.7 ppg on 49% shooting and 38% from 3 and you think he's only worth jumping 5 spots in the lottery? Maybe if it was going to get us into the top 4, but not from #13 to #8. I could be overrating him a tad, but you're substantially underrating him. The kid stands toe to toe in every statistical category with OJ Mayo and people have been clamoring for him for years.

I was just joking about the dumb thing. I agree Dudley is a good, valuable player. But I would consider moving him if it got us a guy we thought we could build around for the future. Obviously, the team would have to believe Waiters was of significant more value than Lamb, Ross, or someone else we could draft at #13. Thats the point.

[jlove_26]

Lins contract is only limited next season. He can only make the MLE next season. The issue with the Knicks is thatthey are trying to get Lins Bird Rights restored since he was waived. That issue will be decided upon by 1 July. All they have to spend this summer is their MLE so if they get Lins Bird Rights, then they can resign him and still have their MLE to sign other players.

I would give Lin a 4-5 yr deal starting at the $5 mil 1st year, then ecalate for a 4-5 yr deal of roughly $25-32 mil. I'm not sure how many teams would try to sign Lin since the Knicks, Suns, and Golden State are pretty much the only teams that run the offense that he ran so efficiently in New York. Now take into account that he was with Golden State and they waived him, I highly doubt they take a run at him. There are numerous teams that will have the money to go after him, just not sure many will. He would be a great addition to the Suns wether Nash is here or not

[bwgood77]

Also, the idea that we're going to give up Dudley to move up 5 spots in a draft where the #13 pick gets you the same skill level as the #8 pick or the number #18 pick is... well, it's dumb. I'm sorry.

NO. You're the dumb one!


LOL.

I think Suns fans over value our assets a bit. Also, if we want to get Waiters, and even Rivers, it looks like we have to move up into the top ten. Just saying.

Reminds me of Hollinger's chat today..

Lon Babby (Phoenix)

Do you think I can/will trade some of my assets (Dudley, Morris, Frye, and #13) for a proven young vet? Perhaps Al Horford or Rudy Gay? And then go after Deron Williams?
John Hollinger (12:41 PM)

Your description of the Suns' "assets" amuses me. You're not getting All-Star caliber frontcourt players for that pu pu platter, sorry.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/ ... -hollinger

[bwgood77]

Is anyone opposed to us letting Nash walk, giving an offer to Jeremy Lin, drafting waiters (to offset any defensive deficiencies that Lin has), keeping gortat (good p&r player) and moving from there? Jeremy Lin would be great for the market and has superstar potential that would make Sarver salivate. We can still play a fast pace too.

I dont mind Lin, but i think there are better options.

With Lin, in order to get him away from the Knicks, we would have to back load his contract immensely. Since he can only get paid around a couple mill at the most the first 2 years, the last 2 years would have to be around $10M a season to make up for the 1st 2 years. Now i like Lin, but do not trust his 24 games with the Knicks enough to shell out that kind of money, let alone after the knee injury.

Yeah I completely agree...it's risky to back load his contract to tear him away from new York....but it's a risk I'd be willing to gamble. Kerrsed, what other options do you would bode well for our team?

NY will match even a backloaded contract. Dolan has tons of cash. He has never minded being in luxury territory. They likely make far more from him than they (will) pay him anyway, just from a marketing standpoint.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have him, but Dolan is not going to be deterred for financial reasons.

[Kerrsed]

Is anyone opposed to us letting Nash walk, giving an offer to Jeremy Lin, drafting waiters (to offset any defensive deficiencies that Lin has), keeping gortat (good p&r player) and moving from there? Jeremy Lin would be great for the market and has superstar potential that would make Sarver salivate. We can still play a fast pace too.

I dont mind Lin, but i think there are better options.

With Lin, in order to get him away from the Knicks, we would have to back load his contract immensely. Since he can only get paid around a couple mill at the most the first 2 years, the last 2 years would have to be around $10M a season to make up for the 1st 2 years. Now i like Lin, but do not trust his 24 games with the Knicks enough to shell out that kind of money, let alone after the knee injury.

Yeah I completely agree...it's risky to back load his contract to tear him away from new York....but it's a risk I'd be willing to gamble. Kerrsed, what other options do you would bode well for our team?

Well, im not head over heels in love with the idea, but i think Chalmers would be a good pick up for us. From what i am hearing, Nash really wants to go to Miami. Yeah, i never thought that would be the case, but from what i am hearing, it is. Now we know that the FO has mentioned that if Nash does leave, we would be looking to S&T him. Miami really only has a few players that they could offer, and the main one is Chalmers.

When you watch the Finals tonight, keep an eye on him. He has been playing some excellent defense for Miami, and has been tasked with guarding Harden alot. He has 2 primary ball-handlers ahead of him, yet as a PG, still finds a way to have a positive impact on the game. He can hit the 3, and dribble penetrate. Awesome at playing the passing lanes and picking up a few steals.

Now if we are to get Rivers, i think even at SG his rookie season, he will end up being the primary ball-handler. So Chalmers would be playing a similar role to what he does now next to Wade. Actually, i think a better example is a few years back, when all Miami had was Wade.

So i think that Chalmers could end up being pretty good for us. Why spend a bunch of money on a FA PG, when you can pick one up for free in a Nash trade. If we grab a PG somewhere else, then what does Miami really have to offer us for Nash? Nothing.

As for FA PG's, i would also like to look at Flynn. 6th pick in the 2009 draft, played great ball for the Wolves his rookie season, but from there has been lost in the rotation. He was traded to Houston and stuck behind Lowry/Brooks, then Lowry/Dragic, traded to Portland and was used sparingly. The only game where he got 30 minutes, was the last game of the season against Utah who was fighting for their playoff lives. He ended up with 18 points, 11 assists, and 5 rebounds. Pretty good numbers.

He can play ball and be had for really cheap, which is exactly what we are looking for. We are rebuilding, so wasting mucho deniro on a PG doesnt make much sense. But taking a chance on Flynn does. If he doesnt workout, oh well, he was a very cheap pick up, and there will be plenty of young stud PG's in the 2013 draft for us to go after.

So my list (which im sure others will hate), looks like this:

1. Chalmers
2. Flynn
3. Bayless (try to pry away from Toronto)
4. D.J. Augustin
5. Selby (awesome HS player, decent College player, played with Morris in Kansas)
6. Agent Zero

Lets the hating begin!

[bwgood77]

I guess the question becomes, if Mario Chalmers was a free agent, would you want to sign him outright? Or would you rather use that cap space elsewhere?

Otherwise, a sign and trade just to get Chalmers doesn't make much sense...it just eats our cap space for a few years unless we view him as a pg of the future.

The most Nash could sign for in a S&T transaction for Chalmers is $5.1M per year.

It doesn't seem terribly likely to me that Nash would take a deal for that little AND the Suns would be eager to take back Chalmers.

I like Chalmers ok, but I don't know that I'd be targeting him this summer unless it was some sort of last resort.

Here's Hollinger's thoughts on Nash to Miami (not that he necessarily knows what Nash is thinking)

Andrew (Tallahassee)

Which is more likely to happen in the offseason for Miami (regardless of finals result): Steve Nash or Ray Allen to the Heat? Also, people are talking like it's a sure thing Ray Allen is gone, if not Miami, where might he like to finish his career where he can get a ring or two more?
John Hollinger (12:26 PM)

Nash to Miami isn't happening. Allen to Miami is more possible, but I think Allen will have better financial offers from other cities, so it's just a question of whether he's willing to take less (Miami can only offer the taxpayer MLE). Another wrinkle -- Heat may prefer to use taxpayer MLE on a big.

Here was what he said about Nash in a question:

Steve Nash (FA)

Why no one talks about me going to Indy? Perfect match for both sides. They need playmaker badly. They can offer 8m/per for 2-3 years. They need leadership. They become instant East contenders with him. And its not like he will be afterthought ring-chaser on that particular team. So why not?
John Hollinger (1:07 PM)

Um, how to put this gently ... the fact he'd have to live in Indiana? Fine place and all, but not exactly a magnet city for NBA players. I think Nash's main choices will end up being Phoenix, Dallas and Toronto.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/ ... -hollinger

[Kerrsed]

I guess the question becomes, if Mario Chalmers was a free agent, would you want to sign him outright? Or would you rather use that cap space elsewhere?

Otherwise, a sign and trade just to get Chalmers doesn't make much sense...it just eats our cap space for a few years unless we view him as a pg of the future.

I would look at signing him as a FA, but it depends on for how much. He's currently slated to make $4M next year, and then $4M the following year with a Team Option.

[Sun Scorched]

Nash isn't going to Miami.

[jredsaz]

I actually like Flynn. He is young, super athletic. He is worth a risk but should be viewed as a back up initially.

[Kerrsed]

David from Portland
This years draft is going to be pretty important to the Blazers, which 2 players do you think they should draft with their two picks assuming they fall to them? Beal, Drummond, Meyers, Lillard, Barnes, Sullinger, Zeller, or any other players you think would be a good pick.

Steve Kyler
My latest Mock has them taking Drummond and Waiters… Drummond is too talented to pass and Waiters has a promise from someone, hearing its not Phoenix or Toronto, so either there is a trade in play for him or its the Blazers

[bwgood77]

Yeah, I've been thinking Portland made that promise to Waiters for a while. Neil Olshey switches teams and suddenly Waiters has a promise. Ford, who had quoted a gm saying Waiters is the second star of this draft (while Olshey was with the Clips) seems to shy away from mentioning it might be Portland.

I think the main teams that might take Rivers in front of us are NO and Toronto (where he is working out today).)

[carey]

Flynn is fine for the minimum. There are a lot of PGs that can shoot 40% from the field and average 5 assists. We have one in Telfair already and will prob have a second one if we resign Brooks. Whether we go with Brooks, Bassy, or Flynn it makes no difference. Neither are the heir apparent to Two-Time and will be nothing more than a stopgap to the whoever winds up being the real replacement. We'll likely draft or sign that player in the next two years. I will say that the Brooks team may be slightly more watchable than the other two.

[ceBALLos]

what's plan D when Rivers,Waiters and Ross are gone?

[carey]

what's plan D when Rivers,Waiters and Ross are gone?

They won't be unless someone "better" falls (and every year there's usually one). I have read that they really like Nicholson so take that for what it's worth.

[DirtyDez]

Yeah one of the big 3 SG's will be there. Not including Lamb because his stock seems to be fading. Damn we need one of Boston's picks. I really like this draft in the late teens/early 20's. Teague, Taylor, Miller, Harkless, White, Melo all have solid upside for going so late in the draft. I'm sure things will start heating up when the Finals end. Stern doesn't want the focus on anything else right now.

[bwgood77]

what's plan D when Rivers,Waiters and Ross are gone?

Lamb would likely be there then. You'd also have to take a serious look at Kendall Marshall if he was there.

Or, I might think about trading down with Boston or something for their picks if they wanted to and get two players (Royce White, Andrew Nicholson, Marquis Teague, Doron Lamb). I know that might be high for a couple of those guys, but I think all those guys could be quality players.

[jredsaz]

what's plan D when Rivers,Waiters and Ross are gone?

Lamb would likely be there then. You'd also have to take a serious look at Kendall Marshall if he was there.

Or, I might think about trading down with Boston or something for their picks if they wanted to and get two players (Royce White, Andrew Nicholson, Marquis Teague, Doron Lamb). I know that might be high for a couple of those guys, but I think all those guys could be quality players.

I think the Celtics stay at 21/22 unless Rivers is available to go get. I think those two picks hold more value for that team than any pick 12-20.

[lilfishi22]

I really hope we don't draft Marshall. Fantastic passer and floor general but he's average to below average is almost everything else. I thought we went with a very safe pick last season with Morris so I would like a player who brings some excitement to the ranks.