2016 Draft

[Damkac]

I suspect people don't want to believe Hield (or Murray) would be the BPA at our pick, because we already have Booker.

Passing on the BPA with an elite pick is a disaster waiting to happen.

But drafting a backup for Booker with elite pick isn't a good think either. Suns could play Hield/Murray at 2 and Booker at 3 but I don't think it's a good idea.
However Hield/Booker/Valentine lineup is interesting. If Hield can defend against smaller player this could work imo. Second best shooting backcourt in the league But I don't see this happening.

[Saberestar]

Good call about Anunoby...interesting prospect.

[bwgood77]

I wonder if we have any scouts at the Washington/SDSU NIT game tonight to check out Marquese Chriss. SDSU is probably the better team and has a big lineup so it could be a pretty tough test for him. It's on ESPN2.

Washington at San Diego State

San Diego State's defense will give Washington problems.

Unfortunately, one of Monday's games looks to have the most obvious outcome of any in the bracket so far.

Anything can happen, and that's why they play the game and so on and so forth, but Washington upending San Diego State just doesn't seem in the cards.

The tale of the tape says it all. RPI? San Diego State finished 42nd, Washington 83rd. Respective strengths? Washington sits 69th in adjusted defensive efficiency, San Diego State second. First-round results? San Diego State blew away IPFW, 79-55, while Washington struggled to a 107-102 victory against Long Beach State.

The Huskies aren't going for 100 points against one of the best defenses in the nation. Andrew Andrews, he of 21.1 points per game, is an incredible player, but he's not overcoming a team that probably should have gone to the Big Dance on his own.

Washington coach Lorenzo Romar spoke openly about what makes the Aztecs such a formidable opponent, via Percy Allen of the Seattle Times : "You have to box out, because those guys are relentless on the boards. Their starting lineup right now, the smallest guy is 6'4", then they’re 6'6", 6'8", 6'9". They’re very long, athletic and ferocious on those offensive boards."

Size and athleticism differential is one of the many reasons most picked San Diego State as a major snub. Now it's the main reason a Washington team used to imposing its will from a tempo standpoint will run into something akin to a brick wall.

Look for the Aztecs to control this one from the tip, suffocating the Washington offense.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2626191-nit-tournament-2016-bracket-schedule-and-monday-predictions

[saintEscaton]

Good call about Anunoby...interesting prospect.

He might stay in school for another year, if we fail to make it past the Sweet 16 again, but should be a first rounder in this weak class. He he wasn't a highly regarded recruit coming out but has ungodlly measurables ( 7-6 wingspan), shut down Murray.

[Saberestar]

Good call about Anunoby...interesting prospect.

He might stay in school for another year, if we fail to make it past the Sweet 16 again, but should be a first rounder in this weak class. He he wasn't a highly regarded recruit coming out but has ungodlly measurables ( 7-6 wingspan), shut down Murray.

7-6 wingspan??!

OMG, he is around 6'8 tall...that wingspan is ridiculous.

[Krush32]

I think the way the nba game is nowadays its not really about having a typical pg to run an offense. Its just having the guys able to execute the pick n roll and distribute. Booker is really good in the pick n roll and Heild looks like he's perfected the art of using picks but doesnt force up awkward layups like BKnight does in the lane.

Imagine having Bledsoe penetrating the lane with Booker, and Heild on the wings ready to pull the trigger.

[thamadkant]

Good call about Anunoby...interesting prospect.

He might stay in school for another year, if we fail to make it past the Sweet 16 again, but should be a first rounder in this weak class. He he wasn't a highly regarded recruit coming out but has ungodlly measurables ( 7-6 wingspan), shut down Murray.

7-6 wingspan??!

OMG, he is around 6'8 tall...that wingspan is ridiculous.

Yup. Thats amazing.

Scottie Pippen is 6'6.5 without shoes and has 7'3 wingspan.

7'6 wingspan from a SF is salivating in regards to defense and rebounding.

[nevetsov]

Haven't seen Simmons, but I hear he's a combo forward that doesn't have a reliable 3.

Given the history of bust positionless forwards taken in the early lottery (Anthony Bennett, Derrick Williams, even Beasley), what makes Simmons a surer thing than these guys? Better rebounder/defender? Better athlete?

[bwgood77]

Haven't seen Simmons, but I hear he's a combo forward that doesn't have a reliable 3.

Given the history of bust positionless forwards taken in the early lottery (Anthony Bennett, Derrick Williams, even Beasley), what makes Simmons a surer thing than these guys? Better rebounder/defender? Better athlete?

Well, he has a lot of hype. Going into college. So that has mostly continued but cooled somewhat. Though Pelton does some sort of translation projection and he rated VERY high, and in that same projection, the 2nd best prospect, Brandon Ingram, ranked high, but not elite, and he said wouldn't have gone in top two of any of the last nine drafts.

Simmons is more in the Magic/LeBron mold but the lacks shooting, which is something that you can't lack today. He is a very good assists/rebound guy for a forward.

He couldn't lead his team to the tourney though, but some that watched him closely blame the coach for not utilizing him properly, and he says the rest of the team didn't like that all the attention was on him and sometimes they got him barely involved in things. I can't speak to all these things, but despite all of that, if it is true, his college stats still measured out to fairly elite translation per Pelton despite the lack of shooting.

If we did get him at #1 or 2, then I think we need to REALLY load up on pure shooters elsewhere, particularly because we already would have plenty of playmakers and between Len and him they could probably handle most of the rebounding.

IMO the guy who fits our team best IF he lives up to the lofty expectations, is Bender, but there are obviously those ifs with him. Ingram probably next because he could easily slide to 4 in today's nba and that really loads us up with shooters. I''ll be pretty happy if we get one of the top 3. After that, I don't know. I like Dunn, but am not a huge fan of Brown and Murray for OUR team, even though I think they might be good in right situation.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

I think Simmons is the best fit, with Bender 2nd. Bender won't be a superstar, but an elite defender, playmaker, shooter. Simmons has the physical attributes to be dominant. And - we already have elite shooters and scorers to put around him. Booker and Warren (recall, Warren was at 40% 3FG this year). What this team needs most is athleticism and passing, and those are the two attributes Simmons has in spades. He's very clearly the best fit for us. We should do everything in our power to add him to our current core of Booker/Len/Warren. And we do have some shiny pennies in our back pocket. Our three picks this year, the Miami picks, two young starting point guards on good contracts. Still, I don't think the team that gets a #1 pick in a year with a clear #1 will give it up, not even if you're willing to break the bank.

[Sunsss]

If Simmons is really living in Phoenix, can we secretly invite him to practices/work him out?

[bwgood77]

I think Simmons is the best fit, with Bender 2nd. Bender won't be a superstar, but an elite defender, playmaker, shooter. Simmons has the physical attributes to be dominant. And - we already have elite shooters and scorers to put around him. Booker and Warren (recall, Warren was at 40% 3FG this year). What this team needs most is athleticism and passing, and those are the two attributes Simmons has in spades. He's very clearly the best fit for us. We should do everything in our power to add him to our current core of Booker/Len/Warren. And we do have some shiny pennies in our back pocket. Our three picks this year, the Miami picks, two young starting point guards on good contracts. Still, I don't think the team that gets a #1 pick in a year with a clear #1 will give it up, not even if you're willing to break the bank.

I think he could be the best fit IF Knight (if we keep him but hope not), Booker, and Warren become mostly pure spot up shooters first, and then play pick n roll game too....Bledsoe more of a shooter than guy leading team too. Simmons will be best as the point, regardless of what you want to call him, but he would need to be a primary distributor...the problem currently is that we have too many guys thinking/wanting that to be their role. And despite Warren being a good 3 pt shooter, his strength is more in mid range...but that is also a plus.

I will add...I think people have been forgetting about how good Warren might be and become with all this Booker hype. Obviously I love Booker, but people shouldn't start thinking Warren is expendable by any means.

[nevetsov]

If Simmons is really living in Phoenix, can we secretly invite him to practices/work him out?

I think I read that his sister lives and works in Scottsdale, HR management or something.

[bwgood77]

If Simmons is really living in Phoenix, can we secretly invite him to practices/work him out?

I think I read that his sister lives and works in Scottsdale, HR management or something.

Yes, obviously that means nothing that he is in Phx other than that his sister lives here. It all depends on the lottery.

Of course it might be nice if he said he won't sign with anyone but Phx, but that's not gonna happen.

[bwgood77]

Chriss off with a bad start shooting and fouling early, but does have a block and rebounds....if you want to follow his box score..also on espn2

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore?gameId=400871675

[bwgood77]

Wow, Washington was down big early and Chriss wasn't playing well, but after starting 1-7 he is now 6-14 with a couple of blocks and steals.

[ATTL]

Chriss is really interesting, I'd be willing to draft him if he comes out this year. Dude is crazy athletic.

[Mulhollanddrive]

Potential Duke v Oklahoma matchup if they both win - Ingram v Hield, absolutely mouth watering!

They're my pick 2 and 3, order still up for grabs.

[Sunsss]

Watched the second half of Chriss' game. Had a nasty dunk in transition. A nice face-up game that resulted in an and-1. With 4 fouls got a steal on a drive and a chase down block. I think he's played C for his team, but doesn't play like one at all. Was pretty impressive.

[DirtyDez]

Potential Duke v Oklahoma matchup if they both win - Ingram v Hield, absolutely mouth watering!

They're my pick 2 and 3, order still up for grabs.

It would be Hield vs Allen if Duke gets by Oregon. I'm definitely more intrigued by Hield with the way he's played down the stretch (minus the WVU game). He and Booker have better handles than expected but Booker is taller and longer at a younger age.