2016-17 Rookie Watch thread

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Is Marquese Chriss a better prospect than Skal Labissiere? The Suns traded Skal (pick 28), Georgios Papagiannis (pick 13), the rights to Bogdan Bogdanovic and Detroit's 2020 second-round pick for him. I guess time will tell.

I don't think so. Skal is the better prospect IMO. He's been the better prospect all along. Just not for like... 20+ GMs in the league.

[RIPskaterdude]

Is Marquese Chriss a better prospect than Skal Labissiere? The Suns traded Skal (pick 28), Georgios Papagiannis (pick 13), the rights to Bogdan Bogdanovic and Detroit's 2020 second-round pick for him. I guess time will tell.

Gotta give props to Vlade, he fleeced PHX on that trade

[bwgood77]

Is Marquese Chriss a better prospect than Skal Labissiere? The Suns traded Skal (pick 28), Georgios Papagiannis (pick 13), the rights to Bogdan Bogdanovic and Detroit's 2020 second-round pick for him. I guess time will tell.

I don't think so. Skal is the better prospect IMO. He's been the better prospect all along. Just not for like... 20+ GMs in the league.

Yeah, Skal looked like the better prospect tonight, though Chriss didn't look too shabby either with 17, 7, 5 blocks, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 3's.

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Is Marquese Chriss a better prospect than Skal Labissiere? The Suns traded Skal (pick 28), Georgios Papagiannis (pick 13), the rights to Bogdan Bogdanovic and Detroit's 2020 second-round pick for him. I guess time will tell.

I don't think so. Skal is the better prospect IMO. He's been the better prospect all along. Just not for like... 20+ GMs in the league.

Yeah, Skal looked like the better prospect tonight, though Chriss didn't look too shabby either with 17, 7, 5 blocks, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 3's.

I'm not talking about a single game's stats though. I'm talking about long-term projection. Skal has the better tools(size) and better skill. Chriss has better athleticism but that's just 'cause he's a freak. It's not like Skal is not athletic. He's plenty athletic.

[Dan Z]

Is Marquese Chriss a better prospect than Skal Labissiere? The Suns traded Skal (pick 28), Georgios Papagiannis (pick 13), the rights to Bogdan Bogdanovic and Detroit's 2020 second-round pick for him. I guess time will tell.

I don't think so. Skal is the better prospect IMO. He's been the better prospect all along. Just not for like... 20+ GMs in the league.

Yeah, Skal looked like the better prospect tonight, though Chriss didn't look too shabby either with 17, 7, 5 blocks, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 3's.

At the draft I felt like they had about the same level of potential, which is one reason why I thought the trade was good for the Kings. Also, being a Bulls fan, it reminded me of the trade our team made to get Doug McDermott (we traded two picks to get him...picks that ended up being Gary Harris and Jusuf Nurkic).

But like like I said earlier, only time will tell. Chriss is good and if he continues to develop the trade might not look bad. And, as you point out, Skal looked good tonight. It's possible that he might just be on a hot streak.

[bwgood77]

I don't think so. Skal is the better prospect IMO. He's been the better prospect all along. Just not for like... 20+ GMs in the league.

Yeah, Skal looked like the better prospect tonight, though Chriss didn't look too shabby either with 17, 7, 5 blocks, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 3's.

I'm not talking about a single game's stats though. I'm talking about long-term projection. Skal has the better tools(size) and better skill. Chriss has better athleticism but that's just 'cause he's a freak. It's not like Skal is not athletic. He's plenty athletic.

I'm not arguing Chriss is the better prospect. I loved Skal in the draft. But the Suns took Bender who they probably expect to have a similar skill set. I don't think he will ever score like that, or be as good of rebounder, but he has shown some skills defensively, passing, and blocking shots. He was working on his 3 ball but was still adjusting to the new floor and all.

[Mr Puddles]

I don't think so. Skal is the better prospect IMO. He's been the better prospect all along. Just not for like... 20+ GMs in the league.

Yeah, Skal looked like the better prospect tonight, though Chriss didn't look too shabby either with 17, 7, 5 blocks, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 3's.

At the draft I felt like they had about the same level of potential, which is one reason why I thought the trade was good for the Kings. Also, being a Bulls fan, it reminded me of the trade our team made to get Doug McDermott (we traded two picks to get him...picks that ended up being Gary Harris and Jusuf Nurkic).

But like like I said earlier, only time will tell. Chriss is good and if he continues to develop the trade might not look bad. And, as you point out, Skal looked good tonight. It's possible that he might just be on a hot streak.

I felt the trade was good for the Kings as well, and in the Suns' GM defense they didn't know that Skal would fall that far in the draft when they made it.

Skal has played very well, since getting consistent minutes. Chriss has improved tremendously since the start of the season - and had a nice overall performance last night as well.

Skal and Chriss being 20 & 19 respectively, time will tell how this will turn out for both teams.

[Mr Puddles]

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Watch on YouTube

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Overshadowed by Skal's amazing performance was Ulis' 13 assist - 1 turnover double/double game - in his first ever start. Guy takes tremendous care of the ball and has looked like a steal in the second round

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Yeah, Skal looked like the better prospect tonight, though Chriss didn't look too shabby either with 17, 7, 5 blocks, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 3's.

I'm not talking about a single game's stats though. I'm talking about long-term projection. Skal has the better tools(size) and better skill. Chriss has better athleticism but that's just 'cause he's a freak. It's not like Skal is not athletic. He's plenty athletic.

I'm not arguing Chriss is the better prospect. I loved Skal in the draft. But the Suns took Bender who they probably expect to have a similar skill set. I don't think he will ever score like that, or be as good of rebounder, but he has shown some skills defensively, passing, and blocking shots. He was working on his 3 ball but was still adjusting to the new floor and all.

Oh I see... yeah. I liked Bender a lot pre-draft. He's had some flashes already and he's really young(wasn't he the youngest player in the draft?), he has a ton of room for improvement. I think he has better feel and bball IQ than both Skal and Chriss.

[bwgood77]

I'm not talking about a single game's stats though. I'm talking about long-term projection. Skal has the better tools(size) and better skill. Chriss has better athleticism but that's just 'cause he's a freak. It's not like Skal is not athletic. He's plenty athletic.

I'm not arguing Chriss is the better prospect. I loved Skal in the draft. But the Suns took Bender who they probably expect to have a similar skill set. I don't think he will ever score like that, or be as good of rebounder, but he has shown some skills defensively, passing, and blocking shots. He was working on his 3 ball but was still adjusting to the new floor and all.

Oh I see... yeah. I liked Bender a lot pre-draft. He's had some flashes already and he's really young(wasn't he the youngest player in the draft?), he has a ton of room for improvement.

Yes, at one point they said he was the youngest player in the league. It sucks he's injured now that the Suns are trying to get a look at their rookie contract guys.

[Foliohattu]

I think it was a good trade for both teams, Suns traded bunch of assets for a better single asset.
Then Vlade went full (Please Use More Appropriate Word) with that Papagiannis pick (don´t think Georgios is a bad prospect per se, but that reach was insane) , but seems like he got a great value for that 28th pick with Skal. Weird that no one took a flyer on him in the early 20´s.

[Durango32]

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Watch on YouTube

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Overshadowed by Skal's amazing performance was Ulis' 13 assist - 1 turnover double/double game - in his first ever start. Guy takes tremendous care of the ball and has looked like a steal in the second round

I loved Ulis coming out of college and was praying that the Bulls would find a way to snag him. Hope he keeps playing well for the Suns!

[LALifer49]

Ingram 6th straight game in double figures, good shooting in all of them, looking more comfortable out there and showcasing his athleticism more. Maybe he's starting to put it together. If he can finish out the season like this that will be very promising.

[Knicks_Fan2]

Lmao to my questioning Saric's ability early in this thread. Looks great.

Much respect for this. To be fair, this Saric was nowhere to be found before January.

He looks like he is getting better every game. What rookie wall?

(and if anything, his heavy international/Olympic schedule this past summer would sure give him that excuse)

He seemed to be so slow and reactionary early in the season but that can clearly just be chalked up to acclimating himself to the game and getting used to the style.

[GimmeDat]

I don't think it's fair to criticize Phoenix for that Chriss deal - Chriss was a great target and has lived up to expectations this season. Whose to say Phoenix would've taken Skal or even known that Skal would've been available at the end of the 1st if they were indeed high on him anyway. Not to mention, 1 breakout game (though he looks excellent and I'm excited to see more).

I think it's a win-win - Phoenix traded up and got a great, coveted pick, and the Kings win as well because of the Skal steal. It's hard to criticize a team for passing on Skal when every team in the league did the same thing. It's like lamenting you didn't pick Draymond Green.

[RIPskaterdude]

I don't think it's fair to criticize Phoenix for that Chriss deal - Chriss was a great target and has lived up to expectations this season. Whose to say Phoenix would've taken Skal or even known that Skal would've been available at the end of the 1st if they were indeed high on him anyway. Not to mention, 1 breakout game (though he looks excellent and I'm excited to see more).

I think it's a win-win - Phoenix traded up and got a great, coveted pick, and the Kings win as well because of the Skal steal. It's hard to criticize a team for passing on Skal when every team in the league did the same thing. It's like lamenting you didn't pick Draymond Green.

Let's not forgot that the Kings got this player in the trade too

Watch on YouTube

[GimmeDat]

I don't think it's fair to criticize Phoenix for that Chriss deal - Chriss was a great target and has lived up to expectations this season. Whose to say Phoenix would've taken Skal or even known that Skal would've been available at the end of the 1st if they were indeed high on him anyway. Not to mention, 1 breakout game (though he looks excellent and I'm excited to see more).

I think it's a win-win - Phoenix traded up and got a great, coveted pick, and the Kings win as well because of the Skal steal. It's hard to criticize a team for passing on Skal when every team in the league did the same thing. It's like lamenting you didn't pick Draymond Green.

Let's not forgot that the Kings got this player in the trade too

Watch on YouTube

Bogdan is far from a deal breaker, but good point. The Kings made out really well.

Still love the trade for Phoenix as well, though.

[cl2117]

I don't think it's fair to criticize Phoenix for that Chriss deal - Chriss was a great target and has lived up to expectations this season. Whose to say Phoenix would've taken Skal or even known that Skal would've been available at the end of the 1st if they were indeed high on him anyway. Not to mention, 1 breakout game (though he looks excellent and I'm excited to see more).

I think it's a win-win - Phoenix traded up and got a great, coveted pick, and the Kings win as well because of the Skal steal. It's hard to criticize a team for passing on Skal when every team in the league did the same thing. It's like lamenting you didn't pick Draymond Green.

Let's not forgot that the Kings got this player in the trade too

Watch on YouTube

Kid looks good, but "White Mamba" is taken:

[RIPskaterdude]

European white mamba then?

[cl2117]

European white mamba then?

Still too close. Euro Mamba? Serbian Snake?

Scal earned that name with his epic bench warming. You will never meet a Celtic player during the Scalabrine years who will tell you that bitch was anything other than nice and toasty. Scal had that on lock.