The Official Draft Thread 2: Judgement Day

[Sun Scorched]

No trades involving future picks! NONE!!!!!!! ARGHHHHH!!!!!!

But seriously, I would rather have a high pick next year if we do end up tanking. I think some of the picks in the upper end of next years' draft will be much better.

[DRK]

Tweet from Coro.

As the #Suns look seriously at PF Arnett Moultrie, GM Lance Blanks said position duplication is OK. Also: Nash talk. http://bit.ly/MQ28lM

I would be absolutely baffled if we end up picking up Moultrie, hence hindering Morris' development.
Both Moultrie and Morris are extremely similar, good rebounders in college, and have shooting range extending to the three point line. Big men, especially power forward, is not one of our main concerns now. We were supposed to address that last year by picking Morris. We better be picking a wing this year.

If we pick Moultrie, it must be of Gentry's influence to build a whole team of Channing Frye's.

[NotTraxxe]

Should be posting here... my bad.

I do not see drafting this year at 13 and not acquiring another first or some second round picks as a failure.

Keeping the 13th and adding a 1rst I would love to see:

Waiters/Marshall - Waiters gives us an excellent sixth man style player to infuse energy into our team off the bench. In this scenario I would prefer to keep Nash 3/33 and pay Crash. We would be back in the playoffs, Marshall would replace Nash in two years, trade Nash to a Contender for a first when he is an expiring. Use the next two drafts to acquire better role-players.

Nash/Marshall
Dudley/Waiters/Redd
Wallace/Hill
Frye/Morris
Gortat/Lopez

If Waiters/Lilliard/Rivers is gone by #13...

Lamb/Marshall - Lamb gives us a scoring threat. In this scenario we let Nash go and ink Brooks to a reasonable four year deal. Then we get Shabazz in 2013. Again, sign Crash. That is a nice younger team with assets to build on. If Lamb works out you can then move Dudley for a 2013 first/2014 first. IIf Marshall can start then you trade Brooks for a tough rebounding PF. Then you would have 4 more prospects to fill out the team after getting Shabazz in 2013 (2013 2nd, Dudley traded 1rst, 2014 1rst, 2014 2nd)

Brooks/Marshall/(2013 2nd)
Shabazz/Lamb
Wallace/(Dudley traded 1rst)
Frye/Morris/(2014 first)
Gortat/Lopez/(2013 2nd)

[rsavaj]

Wages of Wins models ranking their players: http://wagesofwins.com/2012/06/25/2012- ... -rankings/

Basically..everyone in our range is overrated as hell, according to the model

Last season the Suns got superb value in the draft, according to Arturo Galletti’s draft ranking system based on projected Wins Produced, as Markieff Morris ranked as the sixth overall prospect behind studs like Kyrie Irving, Derrick Williams and Leonard as well as rookie surprise Kenneth Faried (of course Keef bombed in the Hollinger Draft Rater).

Arturo released his rankings for this draft, and none of the presumed candidates for the Suns’ 13th pick rank too well on his list.

As is the case with every rating system for this particular draft, Anthony Davis tops the list by a wide margin (his average predicted WP48 of 0.192 laps the field) and presumed top-10 picks Bradley Beal and Damian Lillard rank as elite as well.

Jae Crowder amazingly ranks second, Jared Sullinger ninth and Scott Machado (a potential point guard pick if the Suns trade into the second round) 15th.

As for the players the Suns have been linked to, Dion Waiters sits 22nd with a projected average WP48 of 0.059, Jeremy Lamb ranks 25th with a WP48 of 0.053, Terrence Ross 30th with a 0.049 and Kendall Marshall 32nd with a 0.041.

As we learned last week, the Wages of Wins guys really do not like Austin Rivers or Perry Jones, and that showed up in these results as well. Rivers ranks 62nd with a projected 0.013 WP48, and not to be out done Jones is 65th with a 0.010. Harrison Barnes and Meyers Leonard rank even lower.

http://valleyofthesuns.com/2012/06/27/l ... scenarios/

[DRK]

My Lotto mock:

http://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/ ... iew/32693/

Where GSW doesnt have a pick, the Draft Sim screwed up. It's supposed to be MKG.

"GSW fans will be ecstatic with thsi pick. Without a need for scoring, MKG gives the Warriors much needed defence from the wing, as well as rebounding and hustle. The ultimate jack-of-all trades player, MKG fits perfectly in GSW's situation." -DRK

[rsavaj]

Too much good stuff to paste. Here is a summation of what we know about the Suns' draft plans so far:

http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2012/ ... t-know-and

Read it!

[sunskerr]

Drafting Lamb and acquiring a second 1st round pick to draft Marshall or a big like Jones would be pretty neat.

[JMac1]

Too much good stuff to paste. Here is a summation of what we know about the Suns' draft plans so far:

http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2012/ ... t-know-and

Read it!

I read it please don't shoot

What I could deduce is, the Suns will draft Lamb 1st or Jones 2nd (if Lamb is gone), Why? because Marshall stock is dropping, the non-visitors are elminated and we need another big like we need a hole in our head. So that leaves Lamb at SG and Jones at SF.


Go Lamb

[JMac1]

Drafting Lamb and acquiring a second 1st round pick to draft Marshall or a big like Jones would be pretty neat.

You got the same thing I did. You are a smart dude

[Sun Scorched]

I have faith in the FO - for once - as I'm happy with everything I'm hearing (and also with what I'm not hearing).

[GrantHill]

SG Terrence Ross, whose stock is still somewhere between 10-19, also refused to visit the Suns. No idea why he would do anything to limit his income opportunities, but it is what it is.

I hate these kind of players.

[YFZblu]

I would be absolutely baffled if we end up picking up Moultrie, hence hindering Morris' development. Both Moultrie and Morris are extremely similar...

It wouldn't hinder Morris' development. If anything some healthy competition at the position might be a good thing. I personally think the Suns won't be drafting based on need - I think they'll be drafting to acquire an asset regardless of position or skill set.

I think Phoenix's only goal over the next year is to dump salary if possible and only bring salary on if a legitimate asset is tied to it. It's called rebuilding folks, strap in

[ATTL]

If we dont get a wing this year we're probably planning on sucking enough for shabazz and wiggins the next couple years.

[jredsaz]

I would be absolutely baffled if we end up picking up Moultrie, hence hindering Morris' development. Both Moultrie and Morris are extremely similar...

It wouldn't hinder Morris' development. If anything some healthy competition at the position might be a good thing. I personally think the Suns won't be drafting based on need - I think they'll be drafting to acquire an asset regardless of position or skill set.

I think Phoenix's only goal over the next year is to dump salary if possible and only bring salary on if a legitimate asset is tied to it. It's called rebuilding folks, strap in

Agreed 100%

[GrantHill]

Jonathan Givony ‏@DraftExpress

Got some great stuff from Dion Waiters about his "promise" from Phoenix and why he's decided not to work out for anyone. Full video coming.

[bwgood77]

Simmons/Ford article/mock...where they alternate picks....pretty fun read...

SIMMONS: We're on a run of Terrences! I was hoping everyone would keep picking backup centers and push one of the Terrences to Boston, but that's obviously not happening. I'm a Jones believer — played in a bunch of big games, has a definite position, has the right pedigree, and he might even have a little chip on his shoulder that Kidd-Gilchrist went so much higher than him. Good fake pick for Milwaukee.

Did you notice we totally screwed over Phoenix with the 13th pick? They wanted a perimeter scorer — suddenly, only Jeremy Lamb is on the board, someone described by my dad yesterday as "Jeremy Lamb … is that the Lamb who always disappeared in big moments for UConn, or is that the other Lamb?" Sounds perfect for the Suns — they're not going to have any big moments for years to come. I'm picking Jeremy Lamb.

FORD: Lamb has limitless talent. Long, athletic and can really shoot it. He looks sleepy and he plays sleepy sometimes. But I just think he was miscast in the leading role at UConn; I liked him much better when he played off Kemba Walker as a freshman. As long as you draft him knowing that, he's a good pick. And remember, we said virtually all the same things about Joe Johnson when he came out.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/810 ... a-more-you

[bwgood77]

SG Terrence Ross, whose stock is still somewhere between 10-19, also refused to visit the Suns. No idea why he would do anything to limit his income opportunities, but it is what it is.

I hate these kind of players.

I don't understand why he didn't work out for the Suns, especially when he worked out for the Sixers. Wish we had some insight into that, since he's probably the best fit for the team, especially if Nash returns.

[rsavaj]

If Lamb comes close to JJ I'll be happy. He's the one dude who I'll be really excited if we draft. I think PJ3 will bust hard. I think Moultrie will be good but with limited upside. Same with Marshall.

Lamb has the right combo upside+productivity off the bat, IMO.

[harshey1388]

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA

Houston has traded Sam Dalembert as part of a package to Milwaukee, league sources tell Y!

[Stix]

i'll be happy with either Rivers, Lamb, or Marshall.

I really hope all this Moultrie non-sense is a smoke screen. Don't get me wrong I like his game but not at #13.