What is your draft big board? Any updates?

[Qwigglez]

Here's mine as of now.
1.) Ayton. I think he fits our group of players. The Suns have never had a dominant center before so I'd like for this guy to be him.
2.) Porter Jr. He doesn't have the resume right now, but watching his videos on Youtube, he really intrigues me. If he can play the 4, and Bender at the 5, then we may have one very versatile offensive team. Defensively we may get crushed, but as long as we outscore our opponents, I'm good.
3.) Doncic. I gotta admit, I'm not very excited about getting another Euro player, even though Bender has been showing tremendous potential lately. I think he looks very slow to play with NBA PG's, but I'll get onboard the hype train.

I'm not too thrilled about the other guys and I kind of rank them all the same. Bagley, Young, JJJ, Bamba.

[Sunzgunz]

1: Luka Doncic
2: De'Andre Ayton
3: Trae Young
4: Marvin Bagley
5: Mohamed Bamba
6: Michael Porter
7: Jaren Jackson Jr
8: Wendell Carter
9: Kevin Knox
10: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Yes, i feel that Sexton will fall out of the top 10.

I agree. My guess is 11-13 and thats assuming Shai doesnt jump in front of him...doesnt seem to have the same fire in his belly...but that size, length and athleticism make him unique...lower floor/higher ceiling type prospect.

Ayton/sexton is my dream scenario, but if sexton is gone, id take Shai in a heartbeat. I dont think its a better short term combo, but it could be better long term.

I love Doncics game, theres just such a decline in bigs with the heats pick...if carter fell, maybe williams? Otherwise were gambling with Robinson or McCoy.

[Blonde]

The top 11 guys are who I feel most confident ranking, and I feel like there is a pretty big drop off after 11. There are guys I like in ranked lower than that but I have no idea how to rank them compared to each other.

Tier 1:
1. Doncic: Safest pick in the draft in my opinion. Also has tremendous upside as a primary ball handler or secodary handler. Love the positional versatility. Not at all worried about his competitiveness or strength. He's the most proven guy and also one of the youngest.

Tier 2:
2. Porter: Any discussion of Porter assumes health is not an issue. I just see no way this guy fails as a 6-10 shooter who can handle the ball fluidly and has great length. I've been claiming Porter as my favorite "fit" on the team for months, and with Chriss fizzling out and Bender looking good at C, that fit is looking even better. I don't think we should be too worried about him not "proving it" at the college level. He proved it in high school and talent like that rarely fizzles out. Another thing is that he and Young played on the same AAU team and there was no doubt that Porter was the best player on that team.

3. Ayton: I'm scared of falling for the hype of a 7 footer in this era. Someone in the top 5 will bust, and history says that player is usually a center. We've seen skilled super centers like Valencuinas, Vucevic, Monroe, Okafor, Whiteside, and Kanter essentially become unplayable in crunchtime due to their deficiencies. But he's so alluring and moves so well that I think it's worth the risk to take him top 3.

4. Young: For a team that didn't have Booker at SG, Young would be higher on the board. But with those two in the backcourt, the defense would so bad I don't know that we would ever be a contender. I am confident the offense would translate however, and the offensive fit would be incredible. I think the shooting is so good that the ball handling and passing gets looked over. Don't get me wrong, I would still be pumped to draft Young, just a little worried about becoming the next Portland.

Tier 3
5. Bagley: I've moved him up lately with the emergence of Bender at C. He's a monster rebounder and we need that. I see him as Chriss with a ceiling and floor twice as high. Love the motor, love the fluidity, scared of the defense, scared of the jumper.

Tier 4
6. Miles Bridges: Very smart, powerful player with a nice finese game as well. Proven to be a good shooter from 3 and the FT line. Michigan St. players are always well coached too. Good rebounder, scorer, and defender. Very high two way potential in my opinion. Would be able to play 4 right away in a Tatum role on offense.

7. Jackson Jr.: Ideal small ball center. Not crazy about the fit. He looks like the Jonathan Isaac of this draft meaning all the advanced stats guys love his projection. He has extremely limited offensive creation skills, which to me makes him a waste of a pick for out current situation. We need a clear cut #2 option.

8. Carter: Best big man shooter in the draft at 46.9%, extremely efficient and intelligent on offense, great rebounder (pulls down 9.4 per game while sharing the court with Bagley), great shot blocker and passer. He hasn't proved to be a great defensive player yet, but I think he has to IQ to be a high impact defensive center in the NBA. I like his floor the most out of any of the bigs in this draft, and could see him as a nice fit for this team moving forward either as a starting or backup C.

9. Bamba: Scared to death of him but his measurables are so good that at some point it becomes worth the risk. When I see him play I just don't see any energy, and that's scary.

10. Sexton: He's fallen off recently, mostly due to his 3pt percentage dropping lower and lower. He hasn't been a good passer yet either. So there is a real fear that Sexton will be a one dimensional scoring guard which we have no place for. But he is the highest motor guy in the draft and has the type of personality that makes you think he can become channel that into becoming an impact player. I compared him to Fox earlier but he isn't as athletic as Fox or quite as quick, but he is a better shooter for sure. I would be cautiously optimistic if we landed him.

11. Mikal Bridges: High floor immediate rotation wing player. I don't see a super high ceiling with Mikal, but maybe he could be a Danny Green type of contributor. If we gave up on Reed I'd consider him a good fit, as a backup 2/3, but we already have JJ there and JJ has a way higher ceiling.

With our later picks some of my favorite players include:
Shake Milton: great 3pt shooter and great size and strength. Smart player who would be an ideal pick if we got a big or wing player with our first pick. Can easily play off the ball next to Booker in a Brogdon role. Plus he has the best name in the draft.

Shai: I've fallen a little lower on him lately because I'm concerned about his shooting ability. He never shoots the ball, just looks to drive it. I don't know if he has the burst to drive by NBA defenders. Since we've added Payton I don't really see his skill set being needed much in Phx.

Mitchell Robinson: Huge defensive upside

Landry Shamat: Another great shooter at the PG position. 66.6% true shooting. Nice height at 6'4". Would be a nice look with out second rounder.

[bigfoot]

It's time to draft some shooters

1. Dondic
2. Porter Jr
3. Jackson Jr
4. Ayton
5. Carter Jr
6. Young

[lilfishi22]

1. Doncic
2. Porter Jr
3. Ayton
4. Bagley
5.Young
6. JJJr
7. Bamba

[kennydorglas]

Doncic
trae
ayton
bamba/jjj
bagley
porter
mikal/miles bridges
carter jr

[Frank Lee]

Spoiler:

I can't say I'm a drafting expert here, but from what I've seen from players and what I know about the Suns, I have a pretty strong opinion about who I want to take with what may be our most important pick in decades.


Tier 1: Transcendant Superstars.

De'Andre Ayton
One look at Ayton and you can tell he is going to have a good career in the NBA. He has a built frame and the strength of an ox, but he is lean enough to be extremely mobile. His physical tools are going to ensure that he will be a 70+ percent scorer by the basket and a beast on the boards. The near identical conference/non-conference play is good evidence for this.
While Ayton's physical tools are overwhelming, what really sets him apart is his skill and touch. Ayton shoots 74% from the line already, which is important because he is 8th in the Pac-10 in FTA. He has a jumper that is growing and while not a sharpshooter, can hit those face-up and turnaround jumpers that will separate him from other guys his size. He has the foundation for a versatile offensive arsenal.
I don't think he will be a game-changing defender, but what excites me is his ability to defend without fouling. Ayton averages 2.5 PFs a game (3.0 per 40), and we know from Marquese's profoundly disappointing play just how important staying out of foul trouble is to maintaining a nice long career in the NBA. A slight issue I found offensively is that he rarely drives to the basket on face-up opportunities, preferring to shoot most of the time. It's something to keep an eye on, but I think he will have easier time with better spacing and coaching at the next level. Also, he got off to a very hot start, but his most recent play has been slightly more human, and tons of draft evaluators seem very easily swayed by first impressions, so I take the continual placement of Ayton at number 1 on most draft boards with a huge grain of salt.

Luka Doncic
The Slovenian Supernova that is Luka Doncic averages 23 PTS, 6.6 AST, and 8 REBs per 36 in the second most competitive league in the world at 18 years of age. His ball handling is transcendent for his size, allowing him to break down most wings and shoot over most guards. He is only shooting 33% from 3, but at a high and consistent volume of 5 attempts per game. From inside the arc he shoots an impressive 59%, with picky and crafty shot selection and ability to finish with both hands (possibly the most underrated offensive skill as of late). What has everybody talking, however, is Luka's incredible passing. He has the vision and IQ to make the right reads in very short intervals of time, often being able to bail himself out driving full speed to the basket or in mid-air. This will be incredibly useful handling the ball in pnr scenarios, where he really does remind me of an inverse LeBron, creating from outside-in instead of inside-out. I can see him becoming a tremendous playmaker.
His major weaknesses as of now are his average leaping ability and lateral quickness. He will not be able to finish at the rim at an elite level on high volume like Lebron, so his game will have to come from elite outside shooting, which he may struggle with early on as he's proven to be a bit streaky. His shooting must be good enough to make teams pay when they put shorter guards on him, because he's going to really have to work hard on offense when being defended by Paul George/Jimmy Butler/Josh Jackson types if he isn't quick enough to get by them. Defensively, he suffers from a problem that most oversized PGs share, which is that he isn't quick enough to contain the Dennis Smith/Kyrie/Westbrook types of uber explosive guards, so his team must have another guard or wing to switch onto the PG. Lonzo doesn't have this privilege, but the Suns might w/ JJ. Luka has his weaknesses but the sheer talent he displays is unprecedented for his age. He seems like he could be a perfect fit here, and I would personally take him with the number one pick as of today (although it really is close).

Tier 2: Potential All-Star Talent

Michael Porter Jr.
If this young post scorer was healthy this year, he may have moved into tier 1. As of now, his lack of play at the collegiate level replaces a near-guaranteed conference topping statline with a bunch of question marks. I say near-guaranteed because MPJr has one of the purest scoring games I have seen in years. He gets a lot of his offense from the high post, and scores with his beautiful turnaround jumpshot and infinitely deep supply of crafty fakes and subversions. At 6-10 with a 7-1 wingspan and a high release point, he has enough size to shoot over most non-centers, and he has the speed to easily take frontcourt players off the dribble. His footwork is crisp for his age, and he doesn't seem to be afraid of shooting through contact and in tough game situations. He is also athletic and big enough to fill lanes and finish in spectacular fashion in the open floor. At his best I see him as a more athletically gifted Jayson Tatum, which should drop the pants of everyone who is watching that young man light it up on the Celtics. Defensively he has all the tools, but I haven't seen enough to really judge either way.
I've seen people compare MPJr to Kevin Durant and Garnett, and I absolutely see the mix of size, speed and skill that would put him in the same tier as those players, but I really want to see what role coaches put him in before jumping on that bandwagon. I don't think he is quite as fast as Durant is, or quite as strong as Garnett is. Injury history is really the biggest concern - anything to do with the spine really scares me. That is why the news that he may come back this season is so game changing. We may just get the taste we need to inspire confidence taking him top 3. He might just become the best player of the draft, but we need to see more first.

Mohammed Bamba
I knew the Muslim population of France is growing exorbitantly, but I didn't think you would convert Rudy!
In all seriousness, Mo Bamba is the spitting image of the stifle tower and will likely become a similarly efficient player. He is averaging 14 PTS and !!!!!!!!5 BLOCKS!!!!!!!!! per 40 for the Longhorns, and his borderline-human physical tools will allow him to continue his tradition of paint tyranny. He is shooting an okay and improving 67% from the line and is even taking threes, albeit at a very low volume and even lower efficiency. I see him with the same offensive limitations as Gobert as well, and will likely just become an inside presence, but the development of that corner three could put another weapon in his incredibly long arms. He must fill out as well, but it seems those Texas steaks are doing him some good already. He is much surer thing than the likes of Bagley and JJJ in my mind, as his role is already carved out and his means of filling that rebounding, rim-protecting, oop-finishing role seems to already be there. While he may never make an all star game, he can be an all-star level game changer in his less flashy but equally important role. As a Suns fan I really think we need another creator, but his fit as a defensive anchor and rim protector is undeniably a need for us.

Jaren Jackson Jr
I was a bit iffy about Jonathan Isaac last year, and JJJ is a very comparable player. Their statlines are nearly indistinguishable, with one key difference. JJJ is a better rim protector, averaging a Bamba-challenging 3.8 blocks per game in conference play (an unbelievable 6.7 per 40), and although he logged less steals per game, I believe he has the same versatility as Isaac. JJJ may end up being the best defender in the draft, and that says a lot considering the subject of the paragraph above is there too. JJJ has 1-on-1 defensive chops, can fill passing lanes, protect the rim at an elite level, and even rotate on the perimeter for brief stretches. Another key difference between the two is 3pt shooting, where Jaren has consistently improved each month, culminating in a ridiculous 53% January (3 attempts per game). That is extremely promising for reaching a versatile, Draymond Green type of role.
The weaknesses I find are firstly his limited offensive weapons beyond finishing. JJJ has athleticism and a fantastic motor, but his inability to create on the block will hold him back. He's gonna get a lot of his offense off of outlet passes and cuts into the paint, and his physical tools aren't quite as overpowering as Ayton/Bamba's. The biggest weakness as of now is his propensity for fouling. JJJ averages 5.9 fouls per 40 in conference play, which is nearly double the fouls tallied by Bamba and Ayton and triple the rate of Bagley. Like I mentioned earlier, Chriss serves as an example of what happens to foul prone bigs early in their careers. Chriss averaged about 1 more foul per 40, but JJJ's rate is still high enough to be a big red flag.
Finally, JJJ is the youngest player towards the top of the draft, turning 19 in September. He is half a year younger than both Bagley and Doncic, and will likely be the youngest player in the NBA come season's start.

These next two are in the same tier, but to me are more boom and more bust than the previous two. Call it Tier Alt-2..?

Marvin Bagley III
Although just a few months ago MB3 was heralded as a clear top 3 pick, his draft stock has recently felt a bit of turbulence as weaknesses began to show themselves in his game. Marvin is a clear example of one of those guys who would be totally unstoppable if he developed a jumpshot. He is already averaging 21 PPG over a blistering 121 ORTG, and that is with leaving points at the line (only 62% FT) and on the perimeter (31% on mostly wide open looks). Everything else is there. He is budding with his back towards the basket, with a nice dropstep and a beautiful left-handed (his strong hand) hook. His touch around the rim is feathery, and it is complimented by an athletic package that is more than enough to hold his own at the next level. He has speed and enough handles in the open floor to be a freight train in transition. Although streaky he can get a mid-range jumper going and it opens up the rest of his game, and he knows how to get to the line (7 FTAs per), I'm extremely impressed with his rebounding as well, averaging 4.4 offensive boards in conference play. He is certainly in contention for best athlete of the bunch. He is young, only turning 19 in March (half a month younger than Luka), and has plenty of time to put that jumper together. If he does that and adds a better right hand he could become one of the best offensive bigs in the game.
Defensively he has been slightly disappointing thus far. Although he stays out of foul trouble that is just as indicative of his less than stellar defensive motor as it is his incredible physical tools. He hasn't shown the same shot-blocking prowess of other bigs on this list, but his 1.4 steals per game is nice. Although not a defensive anchor, Bagley can be a versatile defender and is able to switch on both forward spots very comfortably as of now. Time will tell if he gains enough weight to guard NBA centers.
Overall, while MB3s play has been dipping as the season goes on, he is an incredibly young, incredibly athletic and talented player who is first in the conference in PER and must absolutely be considered as soon as Doncic and Ayton are off the board. The Suns need more shooting, but it would be tough to pass up on a power forward as gifted as this - especially a home grown one - and especially with the cashmere softness shown by the pair of top 10 picks we gambled on 2 years ago.

Trae Young
Finally, the player most of the board has been drooling over. Trae Young is obviously making history right now, and although my overhype detectors went off last year with the last freshman PG sensation, Trae Young might actually be worth a top 5 pick in the draft.
Trae's biggest strength is not his shooting, as most people think; it is actually his ability to get to the line. Trae is crafty, commands limitless space, and has impressive handles. He uses fakes nearly constantly, and is always weaving left and right when going towards the basket, as opposed to Josh Jackson-like straight line drives. He has a James Harden-like quality to him, and by the way uses the same cheesy shooting through the defender's arm move. In conference play, Trae takes 11.7 FTs a game, at free throw rate that sits snuggly between Curry and Harden's. Getting to the line is indicative of high scoring and high efficiency scoring, and breeds consistency. He also makes them when he gets there (83%). This puts him in stark contrast to that last guy from UCLA, who averaged 2.7 FTs a game.
That of course isn't to say his shooting isn't phenomenal. For all the threes he takes (11 attempts a game!!!!) and the level of difficulty he's taking them at it is incredible he can maintain 36% in conference. His form is textbook, his release is lightning quick, and he can take shots either from a standstill, moving left and right, and even stepping back. His shot selection has been wild as of late, but I'm sure he will reign it in when he's on a team with talent on it. The transition 3 will be a consistent weapon for him, and a lineup with him on it will be much better pushing the pace because of the defensive attention he commands. I'm excited to see him coming off of screens and curls. He is quick enough to get free, and I'm sure he will be relieved getting open shots for once.
Trae's passing has been very up and down. He shows great vision, and has a good touch on his passes, but gets very ambitious and looks to make THE pass instead of the RIGHT pass. While it is impressive that he reads through plays and understands where the ball needs to be to score, he must learn more restraint. While he can be a very good passer at the next level, Nash comparisons seem extremely premature. Averaging 9 assists is great if it doesn't come with 7 turnovers, but those turnovers are also a product of the insane amount of possessions Trae must handle the ball in.
Driving to the basket shows a bit of an area of concern for Trae and that is finishing inside. He is small and light at the college level, and he cannot play above the rim like a Donovan Mitchel or Dennis Smith can, which puts him at a huge disadvantage. I've seen him make brilliant moves to the basket, only to get his shot obliterated by a rim protector. The more he learns to make pocket passes to cutting teammates the more efficient he will be in those scenarios, bc as of now it seems like he will struggle in the NBA.
This recent game against Iowa was also a bit concerning. He got outplayed by Lindell Wigginton and locked up by a bad defensive team, and if that continues against more PG rivals it will become a deal-breaker for me. This is something Trae may have in common with that bust out in LA, if you remember how hard he got embarrassed against De'Aaron Fox. (sorry for all the unmitigated Zo hate, but I **** CALLED IT)
The biggest weakness for Trae is his defense. He is certainly quick, but he doesn't have the strength or athleticism to stay with bigger guards. One thing that must be noted is that Trae attacks on offense for the majority of games, and will inevitably take a few plays off out of exhaustion. That will improve with a smaller role in the league. Even so, with below average size and length, he doesn't project to be a particularly good defender in the league.
As primary ball handlers become bigger and bigger, Trae may not the most future-proof kind of player. Big backcourts have become a winning strategy, and I think the 6-7" Luka is a better option on both ends for us. NBA lineups are trending towards five 6-7" guys, and the Suns can get very close to that with Luka instead of Trae.

As it stands I am of the mind that we should take the BPA, so my board for the Suns looks like this:

1: Luka Doncic
2: De'Andre Ayton
3: Michael Porter
4: Trae Young
5: Mohamed Bamba
6: Marvin Bagley
7: Jaren Jackson Jr

Oh, also: this is the longest post you are ever gonna get from me bc it took like 3 hours to write. Enjoy it while I ice my hands.

Well I'm glad you took those three hours because that was a fantastic post.

Thanks man! Really appreciate the positive feedback!

"Cashmere softness"

nicely done.
Ping Pong day is such an important one for us. Such a difference between 1-2-3 and 5-6-7, though I think Bamba is a nice consolation prize.

[Bjorpa]

I can't say I'm a drafting expert here, but from what I've seen from players and what I know about the Suns, I have a pretty strong opinion about who I want to take with what may be our most important pick in decades.


Tier 1: Transcendant Superstars.

De'Andre Ayton
One look at Ayton and you can tell he is going to have a good career in the NBA. He has a built frame and the strength of an ox, but he is lean enough to be extremely mobile. His physical tools are going to ensure that he will be a 70+ percent scorer by the basket and a beast on the boards. The near identical conference/non-conference play is good evidence for this.
While Ayton's physical tools are overwhelming, what really sets him apart is his skill and touch. Ayton shoots 74% from the line already, which is important because he is 8th in the Pac-10 in FTA. He has a jumper that is growing and while not a sharpshooter, can hit those face-up and turnaround jumpers that will separate him from other guys his size. He has the foundation for a versatile offensive arsenal.
I don't think he will be a game-changing defender, but what excites me is his ability to defend without fouling. Ayton averages 2.5 PFs a game (3.0 per 40), and we know from Marquese's profoundly disappointing play just how important staying out of foul trouble is to maintaining a nice long career in the NBA. A slight issue I found offensively is that he rarely drives to the basket on face-up opportunities, preferring to shoot most of the time. It's something to keep an eye on, but I think he will have easier time with better spacing and coaching at the next level. Also, he got off to a very hot start, but his most recent play has been slightly more human, and tons of draft evaluators seem very easily swayed by first impressions, so I take the continual placement of Ayton at number 1 on most draft boards with a huge grain of salt.

Luka Doncic
The Slovenian Supernova that is Luka Doncic averages 23 PTS, 6.6 AST, and 8 REBs per 36 in the second most competitive league in the world at 18 years of age. His ball handling is transcendent for his size, allowing him to break down most wings and shoot over most guards. He is only shooting 33% from 3, but at a high and consistent volume of 5 attempts per game. From inside the arc he shoots an impressive 59%, with picky and crafty shot selection and ability to finish with both hands (possibly the most underrated offensive skill as of late). What has everybody talking, however, is Luka's incredible passing. He has the vision and IQ to make the right reads in very short intervals of time, often being able to bail himself out driving full speed to the basket or in mid-air. This will be incredibly useful handling the ball in pnr scenarios, where he really does remind me of an inverse LeBron, creating from outside-in instead of inside-out. I can see him becoming a tremendous playmaker.
His major weaknesses as of now are his average leaping ability and lateral quickness. He will not be able to finish at the rim at an elite level on high volume like Lebron, so his game will have to come from elite outside shooting, which he may struggle with early on as he's proven to be a bit streaky. His shooting must be good enough to make teams pay when they put shorter guards on him, because he's going to really have to work hard on offense when being defended by Paul George/Jimmy Butler/Josh Jackson types if he isn't quick enough to get by them. Defensively, he suffers from a problem that most oversized PGs share, which is that he isn't quick enough to contain the Dennis Smith/Kyrie/Westbrook types of uber explosive guards, so his team must have another guard or wing to switch onto the PG. Lonzo doesn't have this privilege, but the Suns might w/ JJ. Luka has his weaknesses but the sheer talent he displays is unprecedented for his age. He seems like he could be a perfect fit here, and I would personally take him with the number one pick as of today (although it really is close).

Tier 2: Potential All-Star Talent

Michael Porter Jr.
If this young post scorer was healthy this year, he may have moved into tier 1. As of now, his lack of play at the collegiate level replaces a near-guaranteed conference topping statline with a bunch of question marks. I say near-guaranteed because MPJr has one of the purest scoring games I have seen in years. He gets a lot of his offense from the high post, and scores with his beautiful turnaround jumpshot and infinitely deep supply of crafty fakes and subversions. At 6-10 with a 7-1 wingspan and a high release point, he has enough size to shoot over most non-centers, and he has the speed to easily take frontcourt players off the dribble. His footwork is crisp for his age, and he doesn't seem to be afraid of shooting through contact and in tough game situations. He is also athletic and big enough to fill lanes and finish in spectacular fashion in the open floor. At his best I see him as a more athletically gifted Jayson Tatum, which should drop the pants of everyone who is watching that young man light it up on the Celtics. Defensively he has all the tools, but I haven't seen enough to really judge either way.
I've seen people compare MPJr to Kevin Durant and Garnett, and I absolutely see the mix of size, speed and skill that would put him in the same tier as those players, but I really want to see what role coaches put him in before jumping on that bandwagon. I don't think he is quite as fast as Durant is, or quite as strong as Garnett is. Injury history is really the biggest concern - anything to do with the spine really scares me. That is why the news that he may come back this season is so game changing. We may just get the taste we need to inspire confidence taking him top 3. He might just become the best player of the draft, but we need to see more first.

Mohammed Bamba
I knew the Muslim population of France is growing exorbitantly, but I didn't think you would convert Rudy!
In all seriousness, Mo Bamba is the spitting image of the stifle tower and will likely become a similarly efficient player. He is averaging 14 PTS and !!!!!!!!5 BLOCKS!!!!!!!!! per 40 for the Longhorns, and his borderline-human physical tools will allow him to continue his tradition of paint tyranny. He is shooting an okay and improving 67% from the line and is even taking threes, albeit at a very low volume and even lower efficiency. I see him with the same offensive limitations as Gobert as well, and will likely just become an inside presence, but the development of that corner three could put another weapon in his incredibly long arms. He must fill out as well, but it seems those Texas steaks are doing him some good already. He is much surer thing than the likes of Bagley and JJJ in my mind, as his role is already carved out and his means of filling that rebounding, rim-protecting, oop-finishing role seems to already be there. While he may never make an all star game, he can be an all-star level game changer in his less flashy but equally important role. As a Suns fan I really think we need another creator, but his fit as a defensive anchor and rim protector is undeniably a need for us.

Jaren Jackson Jr
I was a bit iffy about Jonathan Isaac last year, and JJJ is a very comparable player. Their statlines are nearly indistinguishable, with one key difference. JJJ is a better rim protector, averaging a Bamba-challenging 3.8 blocks per game in conference play (an unbelievable 6.7 per 40), and although he logged less steals per game, I believe he has the same versatility as Isaac. JJJ may end up being the best defender in the draft, and that says a lot considering the subject of the paragraph above is there too. JJJ has 1-on-1 defensive chops, can fill passing lanes, protect the rim at an elite level, and even rotate on the perimeter for brief stretches. Another key difference between the two is 3pt shooting, where Jaren has consistently improved each month, culminating in a ridiculous 53% January (3 attempts per game). That is extremely promising for reaching a versatile, Draymond Green type of role.
The weaknesses I find are firstly his limited offensive weapons beyond finishing. JJJ has athleticism and a fantastic motor, but his inability to create on the block will hold him back. He's gonna get a lot of his offense off of outlet passes and cuts into the paint, and his physical tools aren't quite as overpowering as Ayton/Bamba's. The biggest weakness as of now is his propensity for fouling. JJJ averages 5.9 fouls per 40 in conference play, which is nearly double the fouls tallied by Bamba and Ayton and triple the rate of Bagley. Like I mentioned earlier, Chriss serves as an example of what happens to foul prone bigs early in their careers. Chriss averaged about 1 more foul per 40, but JJJ's rate is still high enough to be a big red flag.
Finally, JJJ is the youngest player towards the top of the draft, turning 19 in September. He is half a year younger than both Bagley and Doncic, and will likely be the youngest player in the NBA come season's start.

These next two are in the same tier, but to me are more boom and more bust than the previous two. Call it Tier Alt-2..?

Marvin Bagley III
Although just a few months ago MB3 was heralded as a clear top 3 pick, his draft stock has recently felt a bit of turbulence as weaknesses began to show themselves in his game. Marvin is a clear example of one of those guys who would be totally unstoppable if he developed a jumpshot. He is already averaging 21 PPG over a blistering 121 ORTG, and that is with leaving points at the line (only 62% FT) and on the perimeter (31% on mostly wide open looks). Everything else is there. He is budding with his back towards the basket, with a nice dropstep and a beautiful left-handed (his strong hand) hook. His touch around the rim is feathery, and it is complimented by an athletic package that is more than enough to hold his own at the next level. He has speed and enough handles in the open floor to be a freight train in transition. Although streaky he can get a mid-range jumper going and it opens up the rest of his game, and he knows how to get to the line (7 FTAs per), I'm extremely impressed with his rebounding as well, averaging 4.4 offensive boards in conference play. He is certainly in contention for best athlete of the bunch. He is young, only turning 19 in March (half a month younger than Luka), and has plenty of time to put that jumper together. If he does that and adds a better right hand he could become one of the best offensive bigs in the game.
Defensively he has been slightly disappointing thus far. Although he stays out of foul trouble that is just as indicative of his less than stellar defensive motor as it is his incredible physical tools. He hasn't shown the same shot-blocking prowess of other bigs on this list, but his 1.4 steals per game is nice. Although not a defensive anchor, Bagley can be a versatile defender and is able to switch on both forward spots very comfortably as of now. Time will tell if he gains enough weight to guard NBA centers.
Overall, while MB3s play has been dipping as the season goes on, he is an incredibly young, incredibly athletic and talented player who is first in the conference in PER and must absolutely be considered as soon as Doncic and Ayton are off the board. The Suns need more shooting, but it would be tough to pass up on a power forward as gifted as this - especially a home grown one - and especially with the cashmere softness shown by the pair of top 10 picks we gambled on 2 years ago.

Trae Young
Finally, the player most of the board has been drooling over. Trae Young is obviously making history right now, and although my overhype detectors went off last year with the last freshman PG sensation, Trae Young might actually be worth a top 5 pick in the draft.
Trae's biggest strength is not his shooting, as most people think; it is actually his ability to get to the line. Trae is crafty, commands limitless space, and has impressive handles. He uses fakes nearly constantly, and is always weaving left and right when going towards the basket, as opposed to Josh Jackson-like straight line drives. He has a James Harden-like quality to him, and by the way uses the same cheesy shooting through the defender's arm move. In conference play, Trae takes 11.7 FTs a game, at free throw rate that sits snuggly between Curry and Harden's. Getting to the line is indicative of high scoring and high efficiency scoring, and breeds consistency. He also makes them when he gets there (83%). This puts him in stark contrast to that last guy from UCLA, who averaged 2.7 FTs a game.
That of course isn't to say his shooting isn't phenomenal. For all the threes he takes (11 attempts a game!!!!) and the level of difficulty he's taking them at it is incredible he can maintain 36% in conference. His form is textbook, his release is lightning quick, and he can take shots either from a standstill, moving left and right, and even stepping back. His shot selection has been wild as of late, but I'm sure he will reign it in when he's on a team with talent on it. The transition 3 will be a consistent weapon for him, and a lineup with him on it will be much better pushing the pace because of the defensive attention he commands. I'm excited to see him coming off of screens and curls. He is quick enough to get free, and I'm sure he will be relieved getting open shots for once.
Trae's passing has been very up and down. He shows great vision, and has a good touch on his passes, but gets very ambitious and looks to make THE pass instead of the RIGHT pass. While it is impressive that he reads through plays and understands where the ball needs to be to score, he must learn more restraint. While he can be a very good passer at the next level, Nash comparisons seem extremely premature. Averaging 9 assists is great if it doesn't come with 7 turnovers, but those turnovers are also a product of the insane amount of possessions Trae must handle the ball in.
Driving to the basket shows a bit of an area of concern for Trae and that is finishing inside. He is small and light at the college level, and he cannot play above the rim like a Donovan Mitchel or Dennis Smith can, which puts him at a huge disadvantage. I've seen him make brilliant moves to the basket, only to get his shot obliterated by a rim protector. The more he learns to make pocket passes to cutting teammates the more efficient he will be in those scenarios, bc as of now it seems like he will struggle in the NBA.
This recent game against Iowa was also a bit concerning. He got outplayed by Lindell Wigginton and locked up by a bad defensive team, and if that continues against more PG rivals it will become a deal-breaker for me. This is something Trae may have in common with that bust out in LA, if you remember how hard he got embarrassed against De'Aaron Fox. (sorry for all the unmitigated Zo hate, but I **** CALLED IT)
The biggest weakness for Trae is his defense. He is certainly quick, but he doesn't have the strength or athleticism to stay with bigger guards. One thing that must be noted is that Trae attacks on offense for the majority of games, and will inevitably take a few plays off out of exhaustion. That will improve with a smaller role in the league. Even so, with below average size and length, he doesn't project to be a particularly good defender in the league.
As primary ball handlers become bigger and bigger, Trae may not the most future-proof kind of player. Big backcourts have become a winning strategy, and I think the 6-7" Luka is a better option on both ends for us. NBA lineups are trending towards five 6-7" guys, and the Suns can get very close to that with Luka instead of Trae.

As it stands I am of the mind that we should take the BPA, so my board for the Suns looks like this:

1: Luka Doncic
2: De'Andre Ayton
3: Michael Porter
4: Trae Young
5: Mohamed Bamba
6: Marvin Bagley
7: Jaren Jackson Jr

Oh, also: this is the longest post you are ever gonna get from me bc it took like 3 hours to write. Enjoy it while I ice my hands.

Great post!

Great breakdown of the players, and I agree with Your top 4. Would have JJJ as my #5, as I'm sceptical of Bamba's build, but can absolutely se why you have him there.

[m1chal]

I like Payton's play so far and if he plays well with Book I'd say we're set at PG and therefore should look at bigs. I leave it to people more familiar with college ball to determine whom we should target but I'd love to get someone who's NBA ready and not other "2 years from being 2 years away" prospect. I'm tired of 25-win seasons.

[thamadkant]

1. Ayton
2. Jackson Jr
3. Young
4a. Bagley
4b. Doncic
6. Porter
7. Bamba

[oddity]

Spoiler:

I can't say I'm a drafting expert here, but from what I've seen from players and what I know about the Suns, I have a pretty strong opinion about who I want to take with what may be our most important pick in decades.


Tier 1: Transcendant Superstars.

De'Andre Ayton
One look at Ayton and you can tell he is going to have a good career in the NBA. He has a built frame and the strength of an ox, but he is lean enough to be extremely mobile. His physical tools are going to ensure that he will be a 70+ percent scorer by the basket and a beast on the boards. The near identical conference/non-conference play is good evidence for this.
While Ayton's physical tools are overwhelming, what really sets him apart is his skill and touch. Ayton shoots 74% from the line already, which is important because he is 8th in the Pac-10 in FTA. He has a jumper that is growing and while not a sharpshooter, can hit those face-up and turnaround jumpers that will separate him from other guys his size. He has the foundation for a versatile offensive arsenal.
I don't think he will be a game-changing defender, but what excites me is his ability to defend without fouling. Ayton averages 2.5 PFs a game (3.0 per 40), and we know from Marquese's profoundly disappointing play just how important staying out of foul trouble is to maintaining a nice long career in the NBA. A slight issue I found offensively is that he rarely drives to the basket on face-up opportunities, preferring to shoot most of the time. It's something to keep an eye on, but I think he will have easier time with better spacing and coaching at the next level. Also, he got off to a very hot start, but his most recent play has been slightly more human, and tons of draft evaluators seem very easily swayed by first impressions, so I take the continual placement of Ayton at number 1 on most draft boards with a huge grain of salt.

Luka Doncic
The Slovenian Supernova that is Luka Doncic averages 23 PTS, 6.6 AST, and 8 REBs per 36 in the second most competitive league in the world at 18 years of age. His ball handling is transcendent for his size, allowing him to break down most wings and shoot over most guards. He is only shooting 33% from 3, but at a high and consistent volume of 5 attempts per game. From inside the arc he shoots an impressive 59%, with picky and crafty shot selection and ability to finish with both hands (possibly the most underrated offensive skill as of late). What has everybody talking, however, is Luka's incredible passing. He has the vision and IQ to make the right reads in very short intervals of time, often being able to bail himself out driving full speed to the basket or in mid-air. This will be incredibly useful handling the ball in pnr scenarios, where he really does remind me of an inverse LeBron, creating from outside-in instead of inside-out. I can see him becoming a tremendous playmaker.
His major weaknesses as of now are his average leaping ability and lateral quickness. He will not be able to finish at the rim at an elite level on high volume like Lebron, so his game will have to come from elite outside shooting, which he may struggle with early on as he's proven to be a bit streaky. His shooting must be good enough to make teams pay when they put shorter guards on him, because he's going to really have to work hard on offense when being defended by Paul George/Jimmy Butler/Josh Jackson types if he isn't quick enough to get by them. Defensively, he suffers from a problem that most oversized PGs share, which is that he isn't quick enough to contain the Dennis Smith/Kyrie/Westbrook types of uber explosive guards, so his team must have another guard or wing to switch onto the PG. Lonzo doesn't have this privilege, but the Suns might w/ JJ. Luka has his weaknesses but the sheer talent he displays is unprecedented for his age. He seems like he could be a perfect fit here, and I would personally take him with the number one pick as of today (although it really is close).

Tier 2: Potential All-Star Talent

Michael Porter Jr.
If this young post scorer was healthy this year, he may have moved into tier 1. As of now, his lack of play at the collegiate level replaces a near-guaranteed conference topping statline with a bunch of question marks. I say near-guaranteed because MPJr has one of the purest scoring games I have seen in years. He gets a lot of his offense from the high post, and scores with his beautiful turnaround jumpshot and infinitely deep supply of crafty fakes and subversions. At 6-10 with a 7-1 wingspan and a high release point, he has enough size to shoot over most non-centers, and he has the speed to easily take frontcourt players off the dribble. His footwork is crisp for his age, and he doesn't seem to be afraid of shooting through contact and in tough game situations. He is also athletic and big enough to fill lanes and finish in spectacular fashion in the open floor. At his best I see him as a more athletically gifted Jayson Tatum, which should drop the pants of everyone who is watching that young man light it up on the Celtics. Defensively he has all the tools, but I haven't seen enough to really judge either way.
I've seen people compare MPJr to Kevin Durant and Garnett, and I absolutely see the mix of size, speed and skill that would put him in the same tier as those players, but I really want to see what role coaches put him in before jumping on that bandwagon. I don't think he is quite as fast as Durant is, or quite as strong as Garnett is. Injury history is really the biggest concern - anything to do with the spine really scares me. That is why the news that he may come back this season is so game changing. We may just get the taste we need to inspire confidence taking him top 3. He might just become the best player of the draft, but we need to see more first.

Mohammed Bamba
I knew the Muslim population of France is growing exorbitantly, but I didn't think you would convert Rudy!
In all seriousness, Mo Bamba is the spitting image of the stifle tower and will likely become a similarly efficient player. He is averaging 14 PTS and !!!!!!!!5 BLOCKS!!!!!!!!! per 40 for the Longhorns, and his borderline-human physical tools will allow him to continue his tradition of paint tyranny. He is shooting an okay and improving 67% from the line and is even taking threes, albeit at a very low volume and even lower efficiency. I see him with the same offensive limitations as Gobert as well, and will likely just become an inside presence, but the development of that corner three could put another weapon in his incredibly long arms. He must fill out as well, but it seems those Texas steaks are doing him some good already. He is much surer thing than the likes of Bagley and JJJ in my mind, as his role is already carved out and his means of filling that rebounding, rim-protecting, oop-finishing role seems to already be there. While he may never make an all star game, he can be an all-star level game changer in his less flashy but equally important role. As a Suns fan I really think we need another creator, but his fit as a defensive anchor and rim protector is undeniably a need for us.

Jaren Jackson Jr
I was a bit iffy about Jonathan Isaac last year, and JJJ is a very comparable player. Their statlines are nearly indistinguishable, with one key difference. JJJ is a better rim protector, averaging a Bamba-challenging 3.8 blocks per game in conference play (an unbelievable 6.7 per 40), and although he logged less steals per game, I believe he has the same versatility as Isaac. JJJ may end up being the best defender in the draft, and that says a lot considering the subject of the paragraph above is there too. JJJ has 1-on-1 defensive chops, can fill passing lanes, protect the rim at an elite level, and even rotate on the perimeter for brief stretches. Another key difference between the two is 3pt shooting, where Jaren has consistently improved each month, culminating in a ridiculous 53% January (3 attempts per game). That is extremely promising for reaching a versatile, Draymond Green type of role.
The weaknesses I find are firstly his limited offensive weapons beyond finishing. JJJ has athleticism and a fantastic motor, but his inability to create on the block will hold him back. He's gonna get a lot of his offense off of outlet passes and cuts into the paint, and his physical tools aren't quite as overpowering as Ayton/Bamba's. The biggest weakness as of now is his propensity for fouling. JJJ averages 5.9 fouls per 40 in conference play, which is nearly double the fouls tallied by Bamba and Ayton and triple the rate of Bagley. Like I mentioned earlier, Chriss serves as an example of what happens to foul prone bigs early in their careers. Chriss averaged about 1 more foul per 40, but JJJ's rate is still high enough to be a big red flag.
Finally, JJJ is the youngest player towards the top of the draft, turning 19 in September. He is half a year younger than both Bagley and Doncic, and will likely be the youngest player in the NBA come season's start.

These next two are in the same tier, but to me are more boom and more bust than the previous two. Call it Tier Alt-2..?

Marvin Bagley III
Although just a few months ago MB3 was heralded as a clear top 3 pick, his draft stock has recently felt a bit of turbulence as weaknesses began to show themselves in his game. Marvin is a clear example of one of those guys who would be totally unstoppable if he developed a jumpshot. He is already averaging 21 PPG over a blistering 121 ORTG, and that is with leaving points at the line (only 62% FT) and on the perimeter (31% on mostly wide open looks). Everything else is there. He is budding with his back towards the basket, with a nice dropstep and a beautiful left-handed (his strong hand) hook. His touch around the rim is feathery, and it is complimented by an athletic package that is more than enough to hold his own at the next level. He has speed and enough handles in the open floor to be a freight train in transition. Although streaky he can get a mid-range jumper going and it opens up the rest of his game, and he knows how to get to the line (7 FTAs per), I'm extremely impressed with his rebounding as well, averaging 4.4 offensive boards in conference play. He is certainly in contention for best athlete of the bunch. He is young, only turning 19 in March (half a month younger than Luka), and has plenty of time to put that jumper together. If he does that and adds a better right hand he could become one of the best offensive bigs in the game.
Defensively he has been slightly disappointing thus far. Although he stays out of foul trouble that is just as indicative of his less than stellar defensive motor as it is his incredible physical tools. He hasn't shown the same shot-blocking prowess of other bigs on this list, but his 1.4 steals per game is nice. Although not a defensive anchor, Bagley can be a versatile defender and is able to switch on both forward spots very comfortably as of now. Time will tell if he gains enough weight to guard NBA centers.
Overall, while MB3s play has been dipping as the season goes on, he is an incredibly young, incredibly athletic and talented player who is first in the conference in PER and must absolutely be considered as soon as Doncic and Ayton are off the board. The Suns need more shooting, but it would be tough to pass up on a power forward as gifted as this - especially a home grown one - and especially with the cashmere softness shown by the pair of top 10 picks we gambled on 2 years ago.

Trae Young
Finally, the player most of the board has been drooling over. Trae Young is obviously making history right now, and although my overhype detectors went off last year with the last freshman PG sensation, Trae Young might actually be worth a top 5 pick in the draft.
Trae's biggest strength is not his shooting, as most people think; it is actually his ability to get to the line. Trae is crafty, commands limitless space, and has impressive handles. He uses fakes nearly constantly, and is always weaving left and right when going towards the basket, as opposed to Josh Jackson-like straight line drives. He has a James Harden-like quality to him, and by the way uses the same cheesy shooting through the defender's arm move. In conference play, Trae takes 11.7 FTs a game, at free throw rate that sits snuggly between Curry and Harden's. Getting to the line is indicative of high scoring and high efficiency scoring, and breeds consistency. He also makes them when he gets there (83%). This puts him in stark contrast to that last guy from UCLA, who averaged 2.7 FTs a game.
That of course isn't to say his shooting isn't phenomenal. For all the threes he takes (11 attempts a game!!!!) and the level of difficulty he's taking them at it is incredible he can maintain 36% in conference. His form is textbook, his release is lightning quick, and he can take shots either from a standstill, moving left and right, and even stepping back. His shot selection has been wild as of late, but I'm sure he will reign it in when he's on a team with talent on it. The transition 3 will be a consistent weapon for him, and a lineup with him on it will be much better pushing the pace because of the defensive attention he commands. I'm excited to see him coming off of screens and curls. He is quick enough to get free, and I'm sure he will be relieved getting open shots for once.
Trae's passing has been very up and down. He shows great vision, and has a good touch on his passes, but gets very ambitious and looks to make THE pass instead of the RIGHT pass. While it is impressive that he reads through plays and understands where the ball needs to be to score, he must learn more restraint. While he can be a very good passer at the next level, Nash comparisons seem extremely premature. Averaging 9 assists is great if it doesn't come with 7 turnovers, but those turnovers are also a product of the insane amount of possessions Trae must handle the ball in.
Driving to the basket shows a bit of an area of concern for Trae and that is finishing inside. He is small and light at the college level, and he cannot play above the rim like a Donovan Mitchel or Dennis Smith can, which puts him at a huge disadvantage. I've seen him make brilliant moves to the basket, only to get his shot obliterated by a rim protector. The more he learns to make pocket passes to cutting teammates the more efficient he will be in those scenarios, bc as of now it seems like he will struggle in the NBA.
This recent game against Iowa was also a bit concerning. He got outplayed by Lindell Wigginton and locked up by a bad defensive team, and if that continues against more PG rivals it will become a deal-breaker for me. This is something Trae may have in common with that bust out in LA, if you remember how hard he got embarrassed against De'Aaron Fox. (sorry for all the unmitigated Zo hate, but I **** CALLED IT)
The biggest weakness for Trae is his defense. He is certainly quick, but he doesn't have the strength or athleticism to stay with bigger guards. One thing that must be noted is that Trae attacks on offense for the majority of games, and will inevitably take a few plays off out of exhaustion. That will improve with a smaller role in the league. Even so, with below average size and length, he doesn't project to be a particularly good defender in the league.
As primary ball handlers become bigger and bigger, Trae may not the most future-proof kind of player. Big backcourts have become a winning strategy, and I think the 6-7" Luka is a better option on both ends for us. NBA lineups are trending towards five 6-7" guys, and the Suns can get very close to that with Luka instead of Trae.

As it stands I am of the mind that we should take the BPA, so my board for the Suns looks like this:

1: Luka Doncic
2: De'Andre Ayton
3: Michael Porter
4: Trae Young
5: Mohamed Bamba
6: Marvin Bagley
7: Jaren Jackson Jr

Oh, also: this is the longest post you are ever gonna get from me bc it took like 3 hours to write. Enjoy it while I ice my hands.

Great post!

Great breakdown of the players, and I agree with Your top 4. Would have JJJ as my #5, as I'm sceptical of Bamba's build, but can absolutely se why you have him there.

Yeah, Bamba's build is still my primary concern with him, but players are also getting lighter. The league today is different from the one that punished Manute Bol's pencil thinness. Also that recent game vs TCU really gave him that push from 7 to 5 (still very close between those three bigs to me)

[oddity]

Spoiler:

Well I'm glad you took those three hours because that was a fantastic post.

Thanks man! Really appreciate the positive feedback!

"Cashmere softness"

nicely done.
Ping Pong day is such an important one for us. Such a difference between 1-2-3 and 5-6-7, though I think Bamba is a nice consolation prize.

Bamba has absurd potential.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

1. Ayton
2. Bagley
3. Doncic
4. Jackson
5. Young
6. Porter
7. Bamba*
8. Robinson

*Much depends on whether we think he is motivated to excel in the NBA. I could see us taking him above Porter, depending on what we learn during the draft process.

[Mjee]

1. Ayton
2. Bagley
3. Porter Jr
4. Doncic
5. Bamba
6. Young
7. JJJ

[NTB]

1. Doncic
2. Ayton
3. Young
4. Porter
5. JJJ
6. Bamba
7. Bagley (yea i don't want him)

My big board changes constantly. Nowadays it is:

1- Doncic
2- Ayton
3- JJJ/Bamba
4- Porter
5- Young
6- Bagley

I think Payton is the reason of these changes. Really liked him in his 3 games with the Suns. Also even Bagley is the last place again, I like him more than last week after watching some videos. In this draft I am happy with being top 7. I won't regret for anyone in top 7.

[proedros1908]

1. Porter
2. Ayton
3. Doncic
4. Young
5. JJJ
6. Bamba
7. Bagley

[jcsunsfan]

1. Ayton.
2. Trae.
3. Doncic.
4. Porter (depending on back)
5. Bagley. Tough between him and 3J. Take the player who is most ready to contribute now.
6. 3J
7. Bamba. I have these last three very close.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

Revised.

1. Ayton
2. Trae
3. Doncic
4. Porter depending on back
5. Bamba
6. Bagley
7. 3j

[Sunzgunz]

QQ, can u trade the same pick continuesly?

I get that the following scenario may be impossible, so please, no strawman links on how absurd the trades may be, but is the process itself hypothetically possible?

I.e., lets say we are sold on JJJ and get the number one pick..draft is as follows:

1. Suns
2. Clippers
3. Bulls
4. Hawks

Could Phx trade the #1 to the Clippers for their #2 and #15.

Could Phx then trade their now #2 pick for the Bulls #3 and #16.

Could Phx then trade their #3 pick for Atlantas #4, #24 and #30

Not saying they would all do it, or that i want 10 draft picks, just curious on if we can maximize our situation to gain enough assets to package our way back in that top 10.

[bwgood77]

QQ, can u trade the same pick continuesly?

I get that the following scenario may be impossible, so please, no strawman links on how absurd the trades may be, but is the process itself hypothetically possible?

I.e., lets say we are sold on JJJ and get the number one pick..draft is as follows:

1. Suns
2. Clippers
3. Bulls
4. Hawks

Could Phx trade the #1 to the Clippers for their #2 and #15.

Could Phx then trade their #2 for the Bulls #3 and #16.

Could Phx then trade their #3 for Atlantas #4, #24 and #30

Not saying they would all do it, or that i want 10 draft picks, just curious on if we can maximize our situation to gain enough assets to package our way back in that top 10.

I think it's hypothetically possible, though improbable. Firstly, picks are not usually officially swapped until after the picks are made, to make sure everyone accomplished their goal. Each team below us would then have to only be targeting one specific player and be convinced that if they didn't give us an asset to trade up, we'd take that one specific player. But if we really wanted that player, why would we be making calls, particularly to the team below us. It's more likely we might take calls for the pick if we have a huge first tier. If we really liked a particular player and were sold on him it's really risky to start trading down with the assumption you will get him later.

If your scenario did go down, it probably wouldn't be consummated and announced until after like the 24th pick, when like 10 players would switch teams because of all of the trades that went down.

[Sunzgunz]

QQ, can u trade the same pick continuesly?

I get that the following scenario may be impossible, so please, no strawman links on how absurd the trades may be, but is the process itself hypothetically possible?

I.e., lets say we are sold on JJJ and get the number one pick..draft is as follows:

1. Suns
2. Clippers
3. Bulls
4. Hawks

Could Phx trade the #1 to the Clippers for their #2 and #15.

Could Phx then trade their #2 for the Bulls #3 and #16.

Could Phx then trade their #3 for Atlantas #4, #24 and #30

Not saying they would all do it, or that i want 10 draft picks, just curious on if we can maximize our situation to gain enough assets to package our way back in that top 10.

I think it's hypothetically possible, though improbable. Firstly, picks are not usually officially swapped until after the picks are made, to make sure everyone accomplished their goal. Each team below us would then have to only be targeting one specific player and be convinced that if they didn't give us an asset to trade up, we'd take that one specific player. But if we really wanted that player, why would we be making calls, particularly to the team below us. It's more likely we might take calls for the pick if we have a huge first tier. If we really liked a particular player and were sold on him it's really risky to start trading down with the assumption you will get him later.

If your scenario did go down, it probably wouldn't be consummated and announced until after like the 24th pick, when like 10 players would switch teams because of all of the trades that went down.

Got you, thanks! Realistically, maybe optimistically is a better word, perhaps one more is all we need? Still feel Heat is odd man out with the way the 76ers and Pistons are balling...theyll be 12 or 13. I think the Bucks end up in that 16 to 18 spot. Hopefully the draft Gods finally smile on us. If we get and convert the #1 to a #2 spot and acquire an asset, is 3 teen picks enough (like 12, 15 and 17) to grab that 7 or 8 spot?

Or, if we feel this deep 7 (possibly 8 considering theres a few mocks that now have carter in that 7 spot with Young, Bamba or JJJ in the 8th spot) have interchangeable potential, and we get the #1 pick, so we follow that above scenario with an infinite regression of moving back one while acquiring assets to get like the 4th and 7th pick?

Essentially do we go Ayton and Sexton, or do we grab 2 of the following: JJK, bamba, young, bagley or porter?

I think i still like like ayton and sexton.