Grade the Suns draft

[rsavaj]

I'll also repost these videos of Alex Len vs. Nerlens Noel when they played because they got buried in the onslaught of the draft thread.

Stats from the game
Len - 24 pts, 12 rbs, 4 blks
Noel - 4 pts, 9 rbs, 4 blks

Long version
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Wp2aA2QE-Q[/youtube]


Highlights
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IknKniuYCic[/youtube]

Those are nice highlights, but let's remember a few things:
1) That was Noel's first game. He looked much better as the season went on.
2) Len is a soph vs Noel who is a freshman. If one of the things being cited in Len's favor is his improvement from his first year to his second, then we must factor that potential improvement into Noel's projection as well. Would a sophomore Noel be better than sophomore Len was? I really think so.
3) I think it's worth noting that Noel's team fell apart without him, while Len seemingly didn't really have much of an impact on his squad.

I think they're both very much projects. My personal opinion is that Noel will be the better player in the future, but I hope that I'm wrong. If Len becomes a great centerpiece for us, I will be ecstatic.

[nevetsov]

Without knowing too much about Len, would you say his ceiling is Brook Lopez, and his floor is.. I don't know, Spencer Hawes?

[Qwigglez]

I'm excited we got Alex Len. He looks far better offensively than Nerlen Noels does, but I'm a little worried about his focus. If he aspires to be a great player, then I think he can be there. I'm hoping he turns into a Pau Gasol type player without the bi***made.
Archie Goodwin looks like a player that has a lot of potential and I'm hoping the Suns can bring him into the rotation early and often. He seems like the type of player that will develop quickly given the minutes.

[phx#7]

I would have taken McLemore, but I'd much rather have Len than Noel. I also really like the Goodwin pick. The Suns really need someone able to attack the basket and draw fouls and no one in the draft is better at that than Goodwin. If he can ever develop a jumpshot he has the ability to be a perennial all-star.

[JMac1]

Suns report they are willing to keep Gortat..............if we are willing to keep Gortat. Would it be possible to play Gortat and Len together?

AZCentral:

Len’s selection spurred speculation that the Suns could be trading center Marcin Gortat, but Suns coach Jeff Hornacek squashed that by talking about Gortat as a mentor and the possibility of playing them together.

Why not try it? Gortat could definitely play the 4. Len needs time to grow, but in 2-3 years Gortat would still be a young 31-32 years of age, a solid vet. He is pretty healthy. It wouldn't be a bad idea to keep him and play him at the 4.

How about this for a long athletic lineup?.....just too watch for a few.. Imagine Beasley playing like he did against the Lakers.


Goodwin 6'5 6'10 wingspan 36 inch max vert
Wes 6'7 7'1 wingspan 37 inch MV
Beasley 6'8 7'0 wingspan 35 inch MV
Gortat 7'0 7'4 wingspan 38 inch MV
Len 7'1 7'4 wingspan

Goodwin penetrating....Wes shooting....Beasley scoring...Gortat 15ft'r and Len down low

Edit: Even with Goran at the PG....Size and athletically they could match up with anyone as a whole.....

[PHX Maniak]

I gave the team an F so that whatever happens will be better than what I expected.

[Superhuman]

I gave the draft a C. I do like the Len pick but I'm just like, meh. Idk if he can make an immediate impact. If he could polish his offensive game he'd become a beast.

I gave it a C but I graded on draft day not knowing much on Goodwin. But I'd probably change it to a B- after doing research. That pick saved our draft. Not to mention picking up Lee for guard depth.

[phrazbit]

I gave it an F. I hope I am wrong but I think Len is Timofey Mozgov... with less hustle and bad ankles. I dont see how a guy who was mediocre by ACC standards can be a top 5 pick. Nothing about his game stands out and him being out with a stress fracture is a terrifying sign.

I like the Goodwin pick, but seeing as a 29th pick is about 1/10th as valuable as a top 5 pick its not enough to bump up the F.

We need elite athletes and some shooters on this team in the worst way, we had the best of both worlds in this draft fall into our lap and we passed it over for a guy who struggles against the Mason Plumlees of the world.

[nevetsov]

Updated depth chart, after the Haddadi waive (current positions and pecking order):

PG: Dragic, Marshall, Garrett (QO)

SG: Tucker, Brown, Goodwin

SF: Dudley, Marcus

PF: Markieff, Scola, Beasley, Oriakhi

C: Gortat, Len, Frye (IR)



Roster currently stands at 15.