2016 Draft

[sunsbg]

Ingram's stock looks to fall. On another message board I see opinions that Murray is the better option, expecially for Phili. Maybe Ingram falls to Suns even if the pick is not top 2.

Still in case Murray is the better player maybe it's not a bad idea to select him despite the logjam. I remember watching a high school all stars game last year to see Simmons and Murray was very impressive in that game.

[No-Man]

Hard to see 5 players better than Murray right now.

If he's the best player at our pick, I'd still pick him.

I don't think we'd be complaining if we had (for example) Brandon Roy and Eric Gordon at their best.

those comparisons are just lazy and fundamentally wrong.
I wont touch Murray in the top10, and I believe that there at least clearly 12 guys better than him as prospects.

[bhawk]

Bender's my guy. I'd take him #2 over Ingram right now.

I agree. Definitely warming up to Bender. There is a reason that he is the highest ranked 7 footer in this draft and you don't need me to validate that NBA teams really do consider him a top 5 talent this year. Many teams would be ecstatic to have the guy. After reviewing the nbadraft.net and draftexpress videos, I agree that the guy has great potential. 4 things that impressed me:

1) He is quick and a quick leaper with great size. He will DUNK when he gets a good look.
2) Passing. Good and willing passer from the 3pt Arc and down low in traffic.
3) Shooting. He can hit the face up J at a very young age.
4) Above average handles.

Bender + Booker = All Star potential and, dare I say, championship potential in let's say 5 years.

Negatives: Yes, he is skinny and young. The dude will get beat up by NBA big men on the block. His 1st / 2nd / 3rd year rebounding won't be great in the NBA. But as a point forward with quickness and shooting, his upside is amazing.

Another skinny Suns BUST comes to mind. Anyone remember Zarko? I couldn't find any Zarko scounting video but I wonder what made Zarko bust vs. the potential of Dragan Bender? Did Zarko have the quickness of Dragan? How about the Magic Lamp?

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHO/2004.html
http://www.nba.com/draft2003/profiles/CabarkapaZarko.html

Keep the TANK alive!

[Ghost of Kleine]

Great analysis, I do see shades of a young pau gasol in bender, perhaps with a little vlade' divac thrown in for those who are familiar with him.

If we land outside the top 2 of the draft, I'd also consider packaging bledsoe and the washington pick, and one of the miami picks to boston for their top 5 pick in this draft, Brooklyns' top 5 in next years draft. I'd draft jaylen brown or bender at # 3 Then draft dunn or jamal murray at # 4. And with our late first, deyonte davis or jonathon jeanne.

[MrMiyagi]

My only question to all the Bender lovers is, are y'all going to turn on Bender if he doesn't have a ROY caliber season?

[bwgood77]

My only question to all the Bender lovers is, are y'all going to turn on Bender if he doesn't have a ROY caliber season?

I wouldn't call myself a Bender lover, but given the subpar talent available below him on the board there, I'd take him despite the risk. But I wouldn't be disappointed in a bad ROY because I don't expect him to contribute much for 2-3 years.

[bwgood77]

If our pick fall out of the Top 2 might as well deal it for an unprotected one in the stacked 2017 class. Delayed gratification, but it would be worth it and we will likely have a more NBA ready prospect in shorter time than waiting 2-3 years at the least for Bender to even arrive stateside

Yes if Minn wants to trade up from 5-6. Looking ahead to 2017 it's looking promising. Jackson, Tatum & Giles would go top-6 right now.

Yea, until they play college basketball and get flaws get exploited and then we can hear how this is the weakest draft in a long time, again, and again, and again, like every other draft every year.

No, the 2016 draft was proclaimed weak before the 2015 draft even occurred. The class coming in is big time. If anything, the 2016 draft hype has gone up due to college play, and despite struggles by Simmons, Ingram and especially a guy like Brown, it hasn't impacted their draft stock.

[bwgood77]

Skal with 2 quick fouls again. That kid might have all the talent of the world, but he is 2 years away from being 2 years away as they say... Dunno if we wanna take that gamble with the Wash pick. The Cle pick? Sure, but he wont be there.
Murray looking good again at the start.
Oh, and I wouldn't really mind Ulis with the 2nd round pick, if he is there and Knight or Bled are traded...

Yeah, if he can only play 4 minutes last game and 8 today in these important games and can't yet contribute at the college level, I can't imagine how long it will take at the pro level, if ever.

[blee732]

Valentine with another impressive game. On the verge of a triple double.

[Bogyo]

Yep, he might be a valuable 6th man in the do-it-all-swing-guy mold. Dunno where that is draft value wise... Late teens in this draft?

[bwgood77]

Yep, he might be a valuable 6th man in the do-it-all-swing-guy mold. Dunno where that is draft value wise... Late teens in this draft?

DraftExpress 19th, nbadraft.net 16th and espn 15th to Utah...

15. Utah Jazz


Denzel Valentine
Michigan State
Senior
Forward/guard


Valentine was considered a second-round pick by most scouts after his junior season, but his strong play as a senior has now put him on the cusp of the lottery.

He looks like a terrific fit in Utah for a team that needs to continue to add shooting and passing on the wing. The Jazz would value Valentine's basketball IQ and versatility too. The fact that he's ready to come in and contribute right now is a bonus.

[JMac1]

Yes if Minn wants to trade up from 5-6. Looking ahead to 2017 it's looking promising. Jackson, Tatum & Giles would go top-6 right now.

Yea, until they play college basketball and get flaws get exploited and then we can hear how this is the weakest draft in a long time, again, and again, and again, like every other draft every year.

No, the 2016 draft was proclaimed weak before the 2015 draft even occurred. The class coming in is big time. If anything, the 2016 draft hype has gone up due to college play, and despite struggles by Simmons, Ingram and especially a guy like Brown, it hasn't impacted their draft stock.

Point is, they always say that and no one knows; so, don't stave off of today for 2017. Booker to Len PnR was the best it ever has looked last night. If we get lucky in the draft, we might have to do nothing.

Bledsoe/Goodwin
Booker/Knight
Ingram/Warren/PJ
PJ/Telly/Leuer
Len/Tyson

That does not include Bogdan nor the picks!! People talk about us like trash, but it don't make it so. Bledsoe and Knight's injuries were blessings

[ATTL]

If we take bender he would have time to develop off the bench as potentially the first big off the bench behind Len/Chandler.

[AtheJ415]

If we take bender he would have time to develop off the bench as potentially the first big off the bench behind Len/Chandler.

I'd actually prefer we sit Chandler. He's a backup. He plays like one. Make Chandler the backup 5. Sign a different 4 or 5, and start that signee alongside Len.

[AtheJ415]

Ingram's stock looks to fall. On another message board I see opinions that Murray is the better option, expecially for Phili. Maybe Ingram falls to Suns even if the pick is not top 2.

Still in case Murray is the better player maybe it's not a bad idea to select him despite the logjam. I remember watching a high school all stars game last year to see Simmons and Murray was very impressive in that game.

I like Murray but we just can't take him with Booker here, particularly over Ingram, unless we believe 1 of them will be a 1 going forward.

Phili taking Murray would be amazing for us. It allows us to take an elite talent who fits in much better with our positional needs.

BPA is generally the right way to go, but you don't want to duplicate a star's position. It would be like the Colts taking a QB round 1 after Manning's rookie year.

[MathiasPW]

I wouldn't call myself a Bender lover,

That might become my signature from now on

[JMac1]

Ingram's stock looks to fall. On another message board I see opinions that Murray is the better option, expecially for Phili. Maybe Ingram falls to Suns even if the pick is not top 2.

Still in case Murray is the better player maybe it's not a bad idea to select him despite the logjam. I remember watching a high school all stars game last year to see Simmons and Murray was very impressive in that game.

I like Murray but we just can't take him with Booker here, particularly over Ingram, unless we believe 1 of them will be a 1 going forward.

Phili taking Murray would be amazing for us. It allows us to take an elite talent who fits in much better with our positional needs.

BPA is generally the right way to go, but you don't want to duplicate a star's position. It would be like the Colts taking a QB round 1 after Manning's rookie year.

Football is totally different, a number one QB only plays qb, but NBA players can play all positions. An O lineman can't play wideout or DB etc. A SG can play PG....or SF or PF if he is Durant, the center position. So yes, you can duplicate a star's position in basketball.

[Damkac]

Yep, he might be a valuable 6th man in the do-it-all-swing-guy mold. Dunno where that is draft value wise... Late teens in this draft?

DraftExpress 19th, nbadraft.net 16th and espn 15th to Utah...

15. Utah Jazz


Denzel Valentine
Michigan State
Senior
Forward/guard


Valentine was considered a second-round pick by most scouts after his junior season, but his strong play as a senior has now put him on the cusp of the lottery.

He looks like a terrific fit in Utah for a team that needs to continue to add shooting and passing on the wing. The Jazz would value Valentine's basketball IQ and versatility too. The fact that he's ready to come in and contribute right now is a bonus.

Intriguing. How he looks on D?

[Mulhollanddrive]

Offensive Rating for our 1st pick contenders (plus Bender):

Hield 124
Murray 122
Simmons 117
Ingram 114
------------
Ellenson 106
Dunn 105
Brown 100

I would struggle to pick a player with our first pick with lower than average NBA Offensive Rating against college players.

For comparison (College Offensive Rating) - Booker 123, Len 116, Warren 116, Goodwin 100.

[bwgood77]

Offensive Rating for our 1st pick contenders (plus Bender):

Hield 124
Murray 122
Simmons 117
Ingram 114
------------
Ellenson 106
Dunn 105
Brown 100

I would struggle to pick a player with our first pick with lower than average NBA Offensive Rating against college players.

For comparison (College Offensive Rating) - Booker 123, Len 116, Warren 116, Goodwin 100.

Can you put defensive rating too? You'd think Dunn would be better offensively than that. Outside of those top 4, the Ortg is a concern but obviously Ellenson is the guy who plays the most needed position, and he is an elite rebounder, especially for a freshman. But his D is probably a concern, not that too many guys in college our great at D.