2017 Draft Discussion Part 4: 3 Day Countdown!

[LukasBMW]

Wow. Action all over the place!

- Glad we didn't get DAR.
- Shocked how cheap the Lakers sold him. Guess they really had to dump the Moz contract.

- We better be taking a strong swing at KP

- With all the movement, it's like a big party. We probably can't take place in the party, but we can probably participate as looters. Smash and grab while the Lakers, Celtics, and Cavs get drunk.

[MathiasPW]

Lakers taking a very risky route. When all your bets reside on signing LeBron, you are doomed, Lakers or not.

Lots of pre-draft action. Fun started early

[JMac1]

Butler news is good for us. Maybe he stays in Chi and Boston keeps the pick and choose Tatum.

[LukasBMW]

Dwight Howard to the Hornets for a bag of chips and a bottle of ketchup.

[Kerrsed]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[Blonde]

What were the hawks thinking?

[Kerrsed]

What were the hawks thinking?

That they played better ball when Dwight was on the bench, and wanted to clear his salary a bit.

[Blonde]

What were the hawks thinking?

That they played better ball when Dwight was on the bench, and wanted to clear his salary a bit.

So they drop down 10 draft spots and take on terrible salary in Plumlee? It's an awful move. Thats like us moving down a few spots to trade knight while still taking on a bad contract.

[sunsbum]

Dwight is a cancer. You gotta cut your losses with dudes like him.

[Cutter]

First post in a long time ( I have been lurking though ).

New GM Magic Johnson could be the easy mark in this years draft frenzy. He just traded last years #2 Lakers pick DLO and Timofey Mozgov for Brooke Lopez in a move designed to clear cap space in anticipation of adding LeBron and others in free agency next year.

Another big cap space hogg for the Lakers is Luol Deng's remaining 3 year contract at $18 million per year. Lakers need to move Deng's contract to have cap space for 2 max cats, and that's where the Suns come in. It is assumed Lakers will use this years #2 on Lonzo Ball, but I don't think a rookie point guard is going to excite LeBron or PG to sign with the Lakers. In the right scenario I can see Magic using the #2 to move Deng and have max salary available for next year.

Step 1 for Magic and the Lakers: clear Mozgov by using last years #2 pick DLO and trade for a 1 year rental of Robin Lopez. Clears space off the books.

Step 2 for Magic and the Lakers:
Suns trade: Eric Bledsoe (LeBron's little buddy), plus a future protected pick or MIA pick
Lakers Trade: Luol Deng, #2 pick this year.
Lonzo Ball is going to be a non-factor to any major free agent looking to sign in LA next year. As a matter of fact, having a rookie point guard will deter FA's from signing. LeBron will want an experienced hand in that position and that is where Bledsoe comes in.

Suns draft:
#2 Lonzo Ball
#4 Josh Jackson
or
#2 Josh Jackson
#4 Jonathon Issac

Win-win for both teams......if Magic is desperate enough to chase LeBron

[LukasBMW]

First post in a long time ( I have been lurking though ).

New GM Magic Johnson could be the easy mark in this years draft frenzy. He just traded last years #2 Lakers pick DLO and Timofey Mozgov for Brooke Lopez in a move designed to clear cap space in anticipation of adding LeBron and others in free agency next year.

Another big cap space hogg for the Lakers is Luol Deng's remaining 3 year contract at $18 million per year. Lakers need to move Deng's contract to have cap space for 2 max cats, and that's where the Suns come in. It is assumed Lakers will use this years #2 on Lonzo Ball, but I don't think a rookie point guard is going to excite LeBron or PG to sign with the Lakers. In the right scenario I can see Magic using the #2 to move Deng and have max salary available for next year.

Step 1 for Magic and the Lakers: clear Mozgov by using last years #2 pick DLO and trade for a 1 year rental of Robin Lopez. Clears space off the books.

Step 2 for Magic and the Lakers:
Suns trade: Eric Bledsoe (LeBron's little buddy), plus a future protected pick or MIA pick
Lakers Trade: Luol Deng, #2 pick this year.
Lonzo Ball is going to be a non-factor to any major free agent looking to sign in LA next year. As a matter of fact, having a rookie point guard will deter FA's from signing. LeBron will want an experienced hand in that position and that is where Bledsoe comes in.

Suns draft:
#2 Lonzo Ball
#4 Josh Jackson
or
#2 Josh Jackson
#4 Jonathon Issac

Win-win for both teams......if Magic is desperate enough to chase LeBron

Super interesting idea and I'd be on board. #2 + the contract of Deng for Bledsoe is a good haul.

[DirtyDez]

On the Jayson Tatum bandwagon. I don't want to hear about a low ceiling b/c he's the youngest college prospect after Fultz and his advanced offensively for his age. He gave effort on D at times; ten games with multiple block and steals plus ten games with 3+ assists. Duke played a lot of ISO ball because they didn't have a PG. Sounds like a first class kid too.

Of course Boston will take him now.

[sunsbum]

That actually sounds like a pretty fair trade IMO.

[AtheJ415]

First post in a long time ( I have been lurking though ).

New GM Magic Johnson could be the easy mark in this years draft frenzy. He just traded last years #2 Lakers pick DLO and Timofey Mozgov for Brooke Lopez in a move designed to clear cap space in anticipation of adding LeBron and others in free agency next year.

Another big cap space hogg for the Lakers is Luol Deng's remaining 3 year contract at $18 million per year. Lakers need to move Deng's contract to have cap space for 2 max cats, and that's where the Suns come in. It is assumed Lakers will use this years #2 on Lonzo Ball, but I don't think a rookie point guard is going to excite LeBron or PG to sign with the Lakers. In the right scenario I can see Magic using the #2 to move Deng and have max salary available for next year.

Step 1 for Magic and the Lakers: clear Mozgov by using last years #2 pick DLO and trade for a 1 year rental of Robin Lopez. Clears space off the books.

Step 2 for Magic and the Lakers:
Suns trade: Eric Bledsoe (LeBron's little buddy), plus a future protected pick or MIA pick
Lakers Trade: Luol Deng, #2 pick this year.
Lonzo Ball is going to be a non-factor to any major free agent looking to sign in LA next year. As a matter of fact, having a rookie point guard will deter FA's from signing. LeBron will want an experienced hand in that position and that is where Bledsoe comes in.

Suns draft:
#2 Lonzo Ball
#4 Josh Jackson
or
#2 Josh Jackson
#4 Jonathon Issac

Win-win for both teams......if Magic is desperate enough to chase LeBron

Super interesting idea and I'd be on board. #2 + the contract of Deng for Bledsoe is a good haul.

I just don't think Magic would be willing to do that. #2 for George isn't something he is willing to do. Bledsoe in, even with Deng out, I think prevents them from offering a 2nd max (though they could come close). That said, it is our best hope at the moment to take advantage of LA. I wouldn't be interested in any of their other youngsters aside from maybe Zubac.

If that happened though, I would consider packaging #2 and #4 for Porzingis.

Ulis
Booker
Warren
Chriss
Zingis

with Bender as the 6th man. You can use the Miami picks and our own next year (that team still sucks due to youth) to fill in the holes and upgrade the 1 spot.

[bwoolf2]

First post in a long time ( I have been lurking though ).

New GM Magic Johnson could be the easy mark in this years draft frenzy. He just traded last years #2 Lakers pick DLO and Timofey Mozgov for Brooke Lopez in a move designed to clear cap space in anticipation of adding LeBron and others in free agency next year.

Another big cap space hogg for the Lakers is Luol Deng's remaining 3 year contract at $18 million per year. Lakers need to move Deng's contract to have cap space for 2 max cats, and that's where the Suns come in. It is assumed Lakers will use this years #2 on Lonzo Ball, but I don't think a rookie point guard is going to excite LeBron or PG to sign with the Lakers. In the right scenario I can see Magic using the #2 to move Deng and have max salary available for next year.

Step 1 for Magic and the Lakers: clear Mozgov by using last years #2 pick DLO and trade for a 1 year rental of Robin Lopez. Clears space off the books.

Step 2 for Magic and the Lakers:
Suns trade: Eric Bledsoe (LeBron's little buddy), plus a future protected pick or MIA pick
Lakers Trade: Luol Deng, #2 pick this year.
Lonzo Ball is going to be a non-factor to any major free agent looking to sign in LA next year. As a matter of fact, having a rookie point guard will deter FA's from signing. LeBron will want an experienced hand in that position and that is where Bledsoe comes in.

Suns draft:
#2 Lonzo Ball
#4 Josh Jackson
or
#2 Josh Jackson
#4 Jonathon Issac

Win-win for both teams......if Magic is desperate enough to chase LeBron

I like that trade think the Suns would have to offer more which I am fine with we can only have so many young guys, i think they would need to include both Miami picks or the Miami pick and one of their own top 5 protected something along those lines. But if LA is all in on PG and LBJ they need veterans to put around then so Bledsoe, while still acquiring picks make sense, plus they will need to swing one of the 2 1st rounders to Indy for PG, just find out what pick they like more Miamis or Phx top 5 protected to make sure its in the deal.

[Mr-Al]

Haven't posted in like two years but this is getting interesting.

I need Porzingis. No way should New York even entertain trading him, but whatever, it guess it's more possible than it's ever been.

Booker and Porzingis would be a very interesting pairing, it alienates one of Chriss (who I'm high on) or Bender (who has a very high ceiling), but it's a trade you have to make.

Both Zingis and Booker are Alpha's that every team needs.

Theoretically you would have to trade Alex Len as well (I'm not sure if he can even be traded as a restricted free agent currently)

If there would be a way to move up to the 2nd pick to get Ball (whatever why not) and still swing a trade for Porzingis that would be amazing, nice to think about.

Bled + (whatever) to NY for Porzingis

4th + whatever to LA for the 2nd pick

It could go the other way around too.

If the Lakers really think they can get Lebron then having Bledsoe (Lebron's buddy) could help very much in that regard.

Bled + whatever to the Lakers for the 2nd pick

4th + whatever (Warren?) to NY for Porzingis

Minuscule chance but nice to think about.

Cue McD becoming revered as a god

[kennydorglas]

Pre draft stuff being more entertaining than the whole playoffs.

[Zelaznyrules]

On the Jayson Tatum bandwagon. I don't want to hear about a low ceiling b/c he's the youngest college prospect after Fultz and his advanced offensively for his age. He gave effort on D at times; ten games with multiple block and steals plus ten games with 3+ assists. Duke played a lot of ISO ball because they didn't have a PG. Sounds like a first class kid too.

Of course Boston will take him now.

I was worried about his foot speed but I think that was more the result of him coming back from injury than a true weakness. And I'm also leery of ever drafting a Dukie but I'm convinced on Jayson. If he's there, we need to take him. And if he's gone, Jackson is a nice consolation prize.

[Cutter]

With 2 days left before the draft, NBAdraft has Tatum going to Orlando at 6. Jackson going to Celtics at 3, Suns taking Issac at 4.

With all of the rumors surrounding the Celtics tiff with Josh Jackson's agent, it seems NBAdraft needs to update their board.

[thamadkant]

I have a feeling Bledsoe is going to be shipped before draft night. For a pick... I'm looking at Mavs and Knicks.