College basketball and 2017 draft - One more poll after last game

[Christine-In-AZ]

Here's a wacky idea to get Josh Jackson and our PG of the future without having to make a trade: draft Josh Jackson and groom him to play point! There are probably reasons this is a stupid idea, but the fact that Giannis, Ben Simmons, and even Stanley Johnson have all been tried or talked about as PGs makes me wonder if Jackson and his court vision and ability to guard multiple positions could similarly break the mold. To those of you who know much more than I do, is that just totally wrong-headed?

Not wack

e.g.- Andre Iguodala

[Christine-In-AZ]

Mentality leads to style, if you don't want to be the guy willing to be the reason (for good / bad / otherwise), you'll play a certain way that minimises personal risk, which is alot like how Ball plays.

To me if you put Booker in a finals game 7, he will want to be ultimately responsible for what decided it and live with the consequences the rest of his life, I don't get that impression from Ball in his interviews or his tournament play.

I don't know about his interviews as I haven't seen/heard them. I can't disagree with the impression you get from the tone of his play on the court. He just a kid, so maybe Ball will get ballsy (beyond launching long 3s) and more challenging or confrontational with age. Steve Nash briefly alluded to this not so swell Ball quality in the Bill Simmons podcast yesterday.

[sunsbum]

Not everyone is born with that killer instinct, and not everyone with the killer instinct can back it up. Booker is special so I would be careful to hold anyone to a Steve Nash/DB demeanor. As BGwood said yesterday, people like Dragon Bender and Ball realize that they are probably more of a piece in the grand scheme of things rather than THE piece, that self awareness seems to be getting harder to find these days *coughBKcough*. This is exactly what drove Westbrook and Durant apart, neither could concede to the other because their egos were too big. It seems we are on our way to copying the GS blueprint with Booker taking on the Steph Curry role while all of these great players fall in line behind his leadership. This is exactly why I wouldn't want a guy like Butler coming in and throwing things of kilter. We have a very organic and understanding team right now . Let's keep it that way.

[MathiasPW]

Great conversation with you as always, for a self appointed positive person you seem to be very closed minded and rude.

Would you say Steve Nash passed because he's canadian and wanted to please everyone? I don't think so.

Where is your analysis of Markell Fultz - a born in Maryland - going across the country to play for Washington? Does he have personal issues for wanting to leave his hometown?

Where is your analysis of Jonathan Isaac staying in Florida? Is he a mama's boy who can't leave the nest?

Devin Booker went to a loaded Kentucky team where he wouldn't have to start, does that mean he's afraid of carrying a team by himself?

Open my mind, man. Give me your knowledge.

C'mon Miyagi, he is posting his opinions...you don't need to badger him for it. Yes, I know badger hits a soft spot.

Lets all be cool with one another and be respectful, please?

I particularly found this conversation quite entertaining. Although I'm not really vested in, so I understand there might have been someone who felt aggravated.

Sorry Mulholland, but totally agree with Miyagi here. You are overanalyzing way too much POSSIBLE (not even probable) mental feats of Ball while neglecting most of the facts (like results on court) he has on his CV, while clearly not doing this for other prospects.

It's actually normal, though. Our brain tends to manufacture ideas that support whatever impression we had on someone so we feel right in liking/disliking someone (this is serious. Nobel Prize of Economics serious). And apparently your impression of Ball is negative.

Enviado de meu SM-G935F usando Tapatalk

[kennydorglas]

Not everyone is born with that killer instinct, and not everyone with the killer instinct can back it up. Booker is special so I would be careful to hold anyone to a Steve Nash/DB demeanor. As BGwood said yesterday, people like Dragon Bender and Ball realize that they are probably more of a piece in the grand scheme of things rather than THE piece, that self awareness seems to be getting harder to find these days *coughBKcough*. This is exactly what drove Westbrook and Durant apart, neither could concede to the other because their egos were too big. It seems we are on our way to copying the GS blueprint with Booker taking on the Steph Curry role while all of these great players fall in line behind his leadership. This is exactly why I wouldn't want a guy like Butler coming in and throwing things of kilter. We have a very organic and understanding team right now . Let's keep it that way.

This is a very important pont. I think McD will build around Booker and this means we're going the Ball/Josh Jackson/Isaac route.

[Zelaznyrules]

Not everyone is born with that killer instinct, and not everyone with the killer instinct can back it up. Booker is special so I would be careful to hold anyone to a Steve Nash/DB demeanor. As BGwood said yesterday, people like Dragon Bender and Ball realize that they are probably more of a piece in the grand scheme of things rather than THE piece, that self awareness seems to be getting harder to find these days *coughBKcough*. This is exactly what drove Westbrook and Durant apart, neither could concede to the other because their egos were too big. It seems we are on our way to copying the GS blueprint with Booker taking on the Steph Curry role while all of these great players fall in line behind his leadership. This is exactly why I wouldn't want a guy like Butler coming in and throwing things of kilter. We have a very organic and understanding team right now . Let's keep it that way.

This is a very important pont. I think McD will build around Booker and this means we're going the Ball/Josh Jackson/Isaac route.

I agree but I'll say this - I've had an opinion about what McD will do every year come draft day and I haven't been right yet.

[kennydorglas]

Not everyone is born with that killer instinct, and not everyone with the killer instinct can back it up. Booker is special so I would be careful to hold anyone to a Steve Nash/DB demeanor. As BGwood said yesterday, people like Dragon Bender and Ball realize that they are probably more of a piece in the grand scheme of things rather than THE piece, that self awareness seems to be getting harder to find these days *coughBKcough*. This is exactly what drove Westbrook and Durant apart, neither could concede to the other because their egos were too big. It seems we are on our way to copying the GS blueprint with Booker taking on the Steph Curry role while all of these great players fall in line behind his leadership. This is exactly why I wouldn't want a guy like Butler coming in and throwing things of kilter. We have a very organic and understanding team right now . Let's keep it that way.

This is a very important pont. I think McD will build around Booker and this means we're going the Ball/Josh Jackson/Isaac route.

I agree but I'll say this - I've had an opinion about what McD will do every year come draft day and I haven't been right yet.

Yeah, I guess the only one that I got it right was Dragan... he has some unconventional draft boards too, like his former boss Ainge.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

This is a very important pont. I think McD will build around Booker and this means we're going the Ball/Josh Jackson/Isaac route.

I agree but I'll say this - I've had an opinion about what McD will do every year come draft day and I haven't been right yet.

Yeah, I guess the only one that I got it right was Dragan... he has some unconventional draft boards too, like his former boss Ainge.

I wanted TJ in '14 and Booker in '15. Didn't know what I wanted last year. I really liked Anthony Bennett in '13, though, so... yeah.

I think McD would pass on Jackson to take Fultz or Ball, and I suspect he prefers Lonzo to Fultz. McD likes cerebral points guards, he believes in his other selections, and probably thinks Lonzo can transform the Suns into a future contender. That's my best guess.

I think he'll try to extend TJ this summer to a deal in the $14-18 million range, which may be possible, given the undisclosed nature of TJ's injuries and his limitations. I think Len signs elsewhere this summer, and Williams is resigned to a deal in the $4-5 mil range.

If we draft Ball, Bledsoe gets dealt. Tyson gets dealt. But... maybe BK stays. One can't help but think Knight might work well next to Lonzo. The problems there have more to do with putting Ulis next to Knight and with Knight being a good fit with what this team is trying to do going forward. Seeing as how the east has so few quality guards, it wouldn't surprise me if we were able to get solid deals for both Eric and Brandon this summer... and by solid, for BK, I mean, two future seconds and no (or insignificant) return salary.

[kennydorglas]

I agree but I'll say this - I've had an opinion about what McD will do every year come draft day and I haven't been right yet.

Yeah, I guess the only one that I got it right was Dragan... he has some unconventional draft boards too, like his former boss Ainge.

I wanted TJ in '14 and Booker in '15. Didn't know what I wanted last year. I really liked Anthony Bennett in '13, though, so... yeah.

I think McD would pass on Jackson to take Fultz or Ball, and I suspect he prefers Lonzo to Fultz. McD likes cerebral points guards, he believes in his other selections, and probably thinks Lonzo can transform the Suns into a future contender. That's my best guess.

I think he'll try to extend TJ this summer to a deal in the $14-18 million range, which may be possible, given the undisclosed nature of TJ's injuries and his limitations. I think Len signs elsewhere this summer, and Williams is resigned to a deal in the $4-5 mil range.

If we draft Ball, Bledsoe gets dealt. Tyson gets dealt. But... maybe BK stays. One can't help but think Knight might work well next to Lonzo. The problems there have more to do with putting Ulis next to Knight and with Knight being a good fit with what this team is trying to do going forward. Seeing as how the east has so few quality guards, it wouldn't surprise me if we were able to get solid deals for both Eric and Brandon this summer... and by solid, for BK, I mean, two future seconds and no (or insignificant) return salary.

I dont think we'll have a chance to draft Fultz, but would be a very interesting pairing with Booker too.
I guess McD will love Lonzo because he can produce BIG TIME with a really low usage% (perfect pairing with Book btw)

Ntilikina is probably the dark horse in this convo (McD loves to draft 18yo prospects)

[jcsunsfan]

I do not think Ball plays to minimize risk. He is a pure point guard. He is a floor leader. That is ultimate leadership. He set people up to succeed around him, and to a certain extent decides who and who will not succeed. He is a team player, which does not mean he is not a leader. Magic Johnson was a leader, John Stockton was a leader, Steve Nash was a leader, same with CP3. They have/had no problem taking the shot themselves or delivering the ball to the person who would. But they were the ones who decided.

Ball is that kind of player. I think Fultz might be too.

[NTB]

The problem is, if we compare Booker to Kobe, then we need to make him the leader of our team. Kobe never played with a floor leader, it is against his style. This is one of the reasons I want Suns to draft JJ.

[MrMiyagi]

The problem is, if we compare Booker to Kobe, then we need to make him the leader of our team. Kobe never played with a floor leader, it is against his style. This is one of the reasons I want Suns to draft JJ.

Honestly, that's why I think Ball is perfect (if we're looking at the guards). He pushes in transition, makes great passes and cuts incredibly well off-ball. Ball isn't a ball-dominate guy - he was 8th on UCLA in Usage % (18.6%). Comparatively, Josh Jackson had a Usage % of (27.2%).

However, I think Jackson doesn't have to be ball-dominant either, and is a much better defender, and I'm leaning hard toward him as well because Booker isn't a very good defender and he needs some cover.

[jcsunsfan]

The problem is, if we compare Booker to Kobe, then we need to make him the leader of our team. Kobe never played with a floor leader, it is against his style. This is one of the reasons I want Suns to draft JJ.

Kobe played in the triangle, that doesn't make much of the pg after the ball is in the half court. I would think running the triangle offense would have to go with this scenario, and I do not think the Suns will ever run it.

Derek Fisher was a floor leader in his day.

I would be happy with JJ. He is a Scottie Pippen like of player that will be able to do things on offense and defense, and he does pass the ball. I think Ball would be good too. He has enough of a shot to keep defenses honest and the fast break would rally go with Lonzo on the floor. Bledsoe does not run as much as I would like.

Fultz is another matter. He could end up being really, really great, but I am nervous about him. He developed late, was on nobody's radar, quickly appeared, played dominant ball on a losing team, then sat 6 of the last 8 games of his freshman year. Is he just a flash in the pan? I think that would be a concern.

[bwgood77]

The problem is, if we compare Booker to Kobe, then we need to make him the leader of our team. Kobe never played with a floor leader, it is against his style. This is one of the reasons I want Suns to draft JJ.

I know I posted something showing their similar numbers, but Booker typically seems much more like a team player than Kobe did. I'd love to see a lot of games like last night where the pg got 13 assists, while Booker goes for 33 and 9.

Kobe's championships all came in the time of the low post offensive guy to be important as well, and that is different. He could never come close to winning it without Shaq or Gasol/Odom/Bynum.

I'd love to be built more like the Warriors. JJ would be a great pick, and maybe he could be somewhat like the Draymond Green who also gets lots of assists.

But regardless, I think Booker's game will flow a lot better if we have good mall movement at the pg position and not a pg like Bledsoe where the ball sticks as much as it does.

[Frank Lee]

Would you say Steve Nash passed because he's canadian and wanted to please everyone? I don't think so.

Where is your analysis of Markell Fultz - a born in Maryland - going across the country to play for Washington? Does he have personal issues for wanting to leave his hometown?

Where is your analysis of Jonathan Isaac staying in Florida? Is he a mama's boy who can't leave the nest?

Devin Booker went to a loaded Kentucky team where he wouldn't have to start, does that mean he's afraid of carrying a team by himself?

Open my mind, man. Give me your knowledge.

C'mon Miyagi, he is posting his opinions...you don't need to badger him for it. Yes, I know badger hits a soft spot.

Lets all be cool with one another and be respectful, please?

dammitt.... where was I?

Don't discount the pycho-nallissis..... Head Shrink Watson seems to be vested heavy in it. I see the road Mulholland was driving down. Cant teach the killa instinct. Ball doesn't seem to have that rough edge. He's SoCal Cool. You dont see him kicking any car doors in. His pop's ever guiding hand and mind prepping certainly has some impact. He wasn't groomed to be the best college player or to win the NCAAs.... his table has been set for the NBA draft all along. Trouble is, its a table for two.

[DirtyDez]

The problem is, if we compare Booker to Kobe, then we need to make him the leader of our team. Kobe never played with a floor leader, it is against his style. This is one of the reasons I want Suns to draft JJ.

I know I posted something showing their similar numbers, but Booker typically seems much more like a team player than Kobe did. I'd love to see a lot of games like last night where the pg got 13 assists, while Booker goes for 33 and 9.

Kobe's championships all came in the time of the low post offensive guy to be important as well, and that is different. He could never come close to winning it without Shaq or Gasol/Odom/Bynum.

I'd love to be built more like the Warriors. JJ would be a great pick, and maybe he could be somewhat like the Draymond Green who also gets lots of assists.

But regardless, I think Booker's game will flow a lot better if we have good mall movement at the pg position and not a pg like Bledsoe where the ball sticks as much as it does.

[Saberestar]

The problem is, if we compare Booker to Kobe, then we need to make him the leader of our team. Kobe never played with a floor leader, it is against his style. This is one of the reasons I want Suns to draft JJ.

I know I posted something showing their similar numbers, but Booker typically seems much more like a team player than Kobe did. I'd love to see a lot of games like last night where the pg got 13 assists, while Booker goes for 33 and 9.

Kobe's championships all came in the time of the low post offensive guy to be important as well, and that is different. He could never come close to winning it without Shaq or Gasol/Odom/Bynum.

I'd love to be built more like the Warriors. JJ would be a great pick, and maybe he could be somewhat like the Draymond Green who also gets lots of assists.

But regardless, I think Booker's game will flow a lot better if we have good mall movement at the pg position and not a pg like Bledsoe where the ball sticks as much as it does.

I agree with this post, but I want to say that we are comparing Booker with Kobe too much lately and I think that is gonna frustrate some people down the road.

Kobe was amazing, I have suffered so many times that I am afraid of him even retired.

There are big differences in their games but the biggest two IMO are that Kobe was a tremendous defensive player and rebounder for his position during a ton of years in his career (Booker projects to be average at best) and that Kobe was a way way better athlete (Booker is a good athlete but Kobe was a freak athlete).

I love Booker and I think that he is gonna be a multiple All Star, but that is to put the bar too high and too early. I am fine comparing him to Brandon Roy in his prime for now.

[jcsunsfan]

Booker is much more athletic than people think. He just moves differently. He has a smooth gait and controlled motions. He does not waste motion. But he can leap and is very very quick up the floor. There is no reason why Booker could not be a very good, not great, but very good defender.

[jcsunsfan]

http://www.nbadraft.net/players/devin-booker

Interesting to read this in review.

[Saberestar]

If we draft a PG in the draft I would like to draft a 3 and D SF too. I see DJJ more like a third string yet so I want another SF to backup Warren.

IMO there are two great prospects in this draft that can play that role for us. We need to use our #33 and some other pick/player to trade up and get a pick in the late teens or early twenties.

▪Justin Jackson from UNC. Probably he is gonna be available at #20. He can play since day one, not a raw prospect. 6'8 and great 3p shooter.

▪OG Anunoby from Indiana. He suffered a knee injury, that is why he can probably is gonna be available on a #16-#20 range. A little bit raw but his potential as a 3 and D guy is huge.

He is more of a risky pick than Justin Jackson because his shooting is not good enough yet, but his wingspan and strength is outstanding.


We want a PG because this year is the year of the great PGs....and we want an SF who can defend consistently multiple positions like Josh Jackson. With this option we can have all that we want/need in the draft.