2014 Draft Thread

[jredsaz]

Here is a question: would you rather be 9th, 10th, or 11th (lottery) in the west or finish 7th or 8th in the playoffs?

It will be very hard for the Suns to get any of those picks; the East is just too bad. If the Suns miss the playoffs, they're likely look at landing a pick in the 12-14 range.

If Bledsoe is healthy, I would take the playoff appearance. If he isn't, I would take the lotto pick.

I was talking about 9th 10th 11th in the Western Conference not the draft.

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[INFORMER-93]

Sorry about that, my mistake; I misread your post.

[bwgood77]

While Stern defended the NBA's draft lottery and dismissed speculation that teams may tank games to earn a better chance at a top pick, he conceded that the system may need some adjustments.

"We made it a bit more slanted to the worst teams, and I think it's maybe time to look at the lottery and maybe tinker a little more," he said. "But we'll see what Commissioner Silver wants to do on that."

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/10306 ... future-nba

I would like to see the lottery opened up to 22 teams: the 14 non-playoff teams and the 8 teams that get eliminated in the first round. And instead of the lottery being for the top 3 picks, I would expand it to the top 5 picks. The 14 non-playoffs teams would all have a 5% chance at winning the first pick and the 8 first round losers would have a 3% chance.

I fully support this. I've recommended similar possible scenarios in the past. I might prefer a little more of a sliding scale for odds, like maybe 10%, 9.5%, 9%, 8.5%, 8%, 7.5%, 7%, 6.5%, 6%, 5.5%, 5%, 4.5%, 4%, 2% and then the 8 eliminated teams at 1%.

This way there would never be much of an advantage of really tanking. Would you really want to move down 8 whole spots in the rankings for a 4% better chance at winning the lottery? It would be massively counterproductive. But if one team was absolutely awful and how catastrophic injuries or something and was just terrible by no real fault of their own, they would get that better chance.

But currently the scale slides FAR too much too quickly so the tanking incentive is very real.

[bwgood77]

I really don't think it's a given the Suns will miss the playoffs.

I dont think its a given either. But it got a lot more likely after the Bledsoe injury. Twolves finishing in the 14th or 15th spot is not a given either. Something fun to look at is all I am saying. lots of talent there.

Here is a question: would you rather be 9th, 10th, or 11th (lottery) in the west or finish 7th or 8th in the playoffs?

Sent from my SPH-L900 using RealGM Forums mobile app

I'd rather make the playoffs. Now if it came down to Minnesota making it instead of us, there at least would be some silver lining because we would get their pick, and basically an extra lottery pick.

So if we make it, and Minnesota doesn't and isn't the lottery team with the best record we end up with a pick in the late teens (Washington), around 20 (ours), and then around 30 (Indy's)

If Minnesota makes it and we miss, we likely get the three I just mention (except the pick around 20 would be Minny's pick) plus our own that would be around 13 or 14 (with a small chance at a top 3 pick).

But you should always rather make the playoffs than barely miss, because you want to see your team compete, as opposed to getting Kieff or Marshall in the late lottery.

So I'd rather make it, but there is a good chance we lose that Minny 1st round pick for good if they don't make the playoffs.

[BurningHeart]

You can't win if you're not in. I watch basketball to watch the Suns win.

Playoffs no matter what.

[LV-Suns]

About to sound real homerish, but there are couple local guys from UNLV that I would love to see the Suns pick up with some second rounders or late 1st round picks.

First one is Khem Birch, IMO has been the best player on the team for the past few years (better than Bennett). Ultra athletic center that runs the floor like very few does. He blocks everything in his sight, he won MWC defensive player of the year last year playing only half the season. This year he is averaging 3.5 blocks a game under 30 minutes, 5th in the nation. He also has a very nice mid range game, knocking down 78% from the line.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Khem-Birch-5793/

Another guy is Roscoe Smith, leading the nation in rebounding with 12.5 boards a game. He is a slight tweener on the offensive end, doesn't have much range past 18 feet. He started at the 3 for UConn's championship team and usually guarded the best perimeter guys. He reminds me quite a lot of Marion with the way he lives of hustle plays, an ultimate garbage man. lol

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Roscoe-Smith-5741/

[thamadkant]

About to sound real homerish, but there are couple local guys from UNLV that I would love to see the Suns pick up with some second rounders or late 1st round picks.

First one is Khem Birch, IMO has been the best player on the team for the past few years (better than Bennett). Ultra athletic center that runs the floor like very few does. He blocks everything in his sight, he won MWC defensive player of the year last year playing only half the season. This year he is averaging 3.5 blocks a game under 30 minutes, 5th in the nation. He also has a very nice mid range game, knocking down 78% from the line.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Khem-Birch-5793/

Another guy is Roscoe Smith, leading the nation in rebounding with 12.5 boards a game. He is a slight tweener on the offensive end, doesn't have much range past 18 feet. He started at the 3 for UConn's championship team and usually guarded the best perimeter guys. He reminds me quite a lot of Marion with the way he lives of hustle plays, an ultimate garbage man. lol

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Roscoe-Smith-5741/

I like Birch's potential.
Basically a mobile, athletic PF/C who has a midrange, can finish, active on the offensive glass, shot blocker.
I'm seeing Terence Jones producing rebounds and blocks as a PF and I don't see why Birch can't do the same... A rebounding shot blocking PF with mid range.


The suns have to move the Morris brothers though to be able to justify giving productive minutes to any PFs coming in either by FA or draft.

I hope McD has some trades lined up to do so... Need some toughness and grit at the PF spot.



I also hope James Young drops to late lottery...
Mario Hezonja, Vonleh and Saric are also potential draftees. That 2 more PFs I rather move forward with...


Morris brother could be useful for teams looking for backup PF/SF players... Suns are looking for potential corner stones so hence why I'm keen on looking to trade the brothers.

[INFORMER-93]

Roscoe Smith has been a monster on the boards, but he seems to disappear against better competition.

I've liked Birch for awhile; he impressed the last two years as I watched UNLV for Mike Moser and Anthony Bennett.

[INFORMER-93]

Morris brother could be useful for teams looking for backup PF/SF players... Suns are looking for potential corner stones so hence why I'm keen on looking to trade the brothers.

As am I.

[bwgood77]

Strange to look at this Kentucky box score to see that a team with Randle, Cauley-Stein and Dakari Johnson can get outrebounded that badly. They have some good free throw shooters though.

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=400506366

[SunZel]

Kyle Anderson today

28, 7 and 7 with 5 three pointers

My pick for us

[TOO]

I've seen Andrew Wiggins play like 9 times now, and I really dont get the hubub surrounding him. Fantastic athlete, but he's got a long long ways to go.

[DirtyDez]

I've seen Andrew Wiggins play like 9 times now, and I really dont get the hubub surrounding him. Fantastic athlete, but he's got a long long ways to go.

He reminds me of Paul George at Fresno St. Like George I think it will take him a few years to learn how to dominate with his elite athleticism but the finished product will be beautiful.

Unfortunately every amazing high-school player gets the Lebron-label so he's expected to be great right away.

[jcsunsfan]

I've seen Andrew Wiggins play like 9 times now, and I really dont get the hubub surrounding him. Fantastic athlete, but he's got a long long ways to go.

He reminds me of Paul George at Fresno St. Like George I think it will take him a few years to learn how to dominate with his elite athleticism but the finished product will be beautiful.

Unfortunately every amazing high-school player gets the Lebron-label so he's expected to be great right away.

Does he have the brain to do that? Gerald Green might be as good an athlete as Wiggins, but he just never had the brain/mentality to be the dominant player that everyone thinks Wiggins will be.

To me Andrew Wiggins ceiling is Vince Carter, his floor is Gerald Green.

[OrangeMan]

In all this discussion over drafting a PF for the suns, how is nobody bringing up Aaron Gordon??? He actually fits Hornacek's system better than anybody being brought up. Think of the potential fastbreak and transition game with a line up consisting of..

PG:Bledsoe
SG:Dragic
SF:Green
PF:Gordon
C: Plumlee

That's a damn sexy lineup. Gordon right now is polarizing due to his conflicting draft spot. Nbadraft.net has him going at 20 while Draftexpress has him at 7. IMO it means there's greater chance of being able to successfully trade up to get him.

[RunDogGun]

In all this discussion over drafting a PF for the suns, how is nobody bringing up Aaron Gordon??? He actually fits Hornacek's system better than anybody being brought up. Think of the potential fastbreak and transition game with a line up consisting of..

PG:Bledsoe
SG:Dragic
SF:Green
PF:Gordon
C: Plumlee

That's a damn sexy lineup. Gordon right now is polarizing due to his conflicting draft spot. Nbadraft.net has him going at 20 while Draftexpress has him at 7. IMO it means there's greater chance of being able to successfully trade up to get him.

Bwgood has brought him up a number of times, but the thought seems to be that he will go before any of our picks.

[Kyler Murray]

In all this discussion over drafting a PF for the suns, how is nobody bringing up Aaron Gordon??? He actually fits Hornacek's system better than anybody being brought up. Think of the potential fastbreak and transition game with a line up consisting of..

PG:Bledsoe
SG:Dragic
SF:Green
PF:Gordon
C: Plumlee

That's a damn sexy lineup. Gordon right now is polarizing due to his conflicting draft spot. Nbadraft.net has him going at 20 while Draftexpress has him at 7. IMO it means there's greater chance of being able to successfully trade up to get him.

Was wondering this myself many times. I love his potential. (although this tweener forward thing is a bit alarming if you consider what happened with Bennett, Derrick, Beasley, Th. Robinson and so on)

[bwgood77]

In all this discussion over drafting a PF for the suns, how is nobody bringing up Aaron Gordon??? He actually fits Hornacek's system better than anybody being brought up. Think of the potential fastbreak and transition game with a line up consisting of..

PG:Bledsoe
SG:Dragic
SF:Green
PF:Gordon
C: Plumlee

That's a damn sexy lineup. Gordon right now is polarizing due to his conflicting draft spot. Nbadraft.net has him going at 20 while Draftexpress has him at 7. IMO it means there's greater chance of being able to successfully trade up to get him.

Funny you mention his conflicting draft spot. Check out the very first post in this entire thread. I'm still not sure why nbadraft.net has him ranked so low, since everywhere else has him in the top 7 or 8.

[carey]

Don't really care who we draft w/ any of our picks as long as Doug McDermott is one of them.

[jlove_26]

Some of you concerned where Gordon will be drafted since he's all over the board on so many mocks, but some also talk of Vonleh. I would absolutely LOVE Vonleh, however, he is almost guaranteed to be a Top 6-8 pick. Some draftniks, including myself, actually like him quite a bit better than Randle. Unless the Suns move up in the draft, since their pick will NOT be in the Lottery, Vonleh will be long gone by the time they pick (unfortunately)