The Draft (Postseason Edition): 1/16/31/59 (NEW POLL)

[jcsunsfan]

According to Spanish media, Sarver was in Madrid today watching Doncic.

Oh crud. That's all we need--the owner scouting players.

[TheLogician]

You know Sarver had the foam finger and was trying to make eye contact.

[TheLogician]

And texting McDonough like "this guy good."

[WeekapaugGroove]

According to Spanish media, Sarver was in Madrid today watching Doncic.

Oh crud. That's all we need--the owner scouting players.

Obviously the GM should make the decision but its naive to think any owner isn't going to want to see and have input on a selection as important as this top 4 pick.

[Kerrsed]

According to Spanish media, Sarver was in Madrid today watching Doncic.

Oh crud. That's all we need--the owner scouting players.

Obviously the GM should make the decision but its naive to think any owner isn't going to want to see and have input on a selection as important as this top 4 pick.

Im sure McD has already scouted everyone out pretty well, and sent Sarver to Spain to check the kid out personally. I think that Shows that McD see's more into Doncic than Gambo's dumb ass will like.

I also like the idea that Sarver was shipped out to Spain, while McD is here in Phoenix interviewing coaches. Smart McD, VERY SMART!

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

I think you are probably right in some respect but I still think the final result was more likely an error than giving them a tiny window to where they keep both picks. I think there was probably various talk on the protections and maybe they made one final change late and didn't think to do the other one. I don't know though, for me it would be hard to miss something like that because I noticed it right when I saw the details and it was surprising that no one really pointed it out until a national writer on twitter did a couple of days later....or someone did...and THAT person said that it looks like an error was made.

Obviously not an error. I'm always shocked when people think that those who know more about a subject and who are professionals are worse at their jobs than novices and critics would be. I'm especially shocked when smart people like you make this - what I perceive to be stupid - sort of mistake.

Perhaps notable that the Bucks picked 17 last year. Something like - if we (Bucks) improve, you get a future 1st and a 2nd. If we're worse, you just get this year's 1st. But if we're no better, you can delay the pick, but we can at least keep our second.

Wouldn't be an unreasonable thing for a GM to ask. McD failing to give in would be similar to admitting that the asset he was giving up wasn't worth ****.

That sounds a little ridiculous. I prefer to think of it as a possible error (people make mistakes) more than an intentional bad hedge, but I guess considering some of the other trades that have been made, anything is possible.

I guess even two reasonable, honest and intelligent people can be incredulous at each other on occasion. TIL.

[JDJ26]

Can Doncic play PG?

[Kerrsed]

Can Doncic play PG?

Yes.

[AtheJ415]

According to Spanish media, Sarver was in Madrid today watching Doncic.

Oh crud. That's all we need--the owner scouting players.

It's a good thing. Look, Sarver is a UA alum and has likely seen Ayton a ton. In order for McDonough to have the freedom to pick the guy he thinks is best, Sarver has to at least be familiar with Doncic to understand that a GM might prefer him. Owners write the checks at the end of the day. I personally go back and forth between both for this team daily, and the last thing I would want is for McDonough to want to take Doncic if he does feel he is best given the coaching hire and current team, but for Sarver to step in and force Ayton.

Point being, I think this helps our GM take the BPA if he wants just because our owner is likely beyond familiar with Ayton and likely has little to no familiarity with Doncic.

[AtheJ415]

The appeal of Doncic with Booker is that both are really the size of SGs but can playmake. Jackson can a little as well. It allows for a lot of positional versatility. The downside is that if you really believe Ayton is an Embiid type of big who can be a superstar and hit 3s while being athletically good enough to stay on the court against small lineups, then those guys are going to be harder for us to find in the next couple of years. It's true that generally servicable wings are the toughest to find, but true star centers are probably rarer today, and there will be some wings available in the next couple offseasons. The only star bigs who fit Ayton's mold are under contract for a number of years or coming off a major injury. Also, Ayton's athletic advantage may give him higher upside, but he is obviously less safe (Doncic is the safest of the draft). It really depends on if you believe Ayton can be a plus defender. If he can he is the guy imo.

So it is a real dilemma. I will be thrilled with either.

[sunsbum]

According to Spanish media, Sarver was in Madrid today watching Doncic.

Oh crud. That's all we need--the owner scouting players.

Obviously the GM should make the decision but its naive to think any owner isn't going to want to see and have input on a selection as important as this top 4 pick.

I have to say this every 3 or 4 months now but I see no reason why Sarver still gets **** on all the time by suns fans. If anything, Im happy he's actually interested in traveling across the world scouting out players for some input.

[Bob8]

According to Spanish media, Sarver was in Madrid today watching Doncic.

Oh crud. That's all we need--the owner scouting players.

and he has seen that today,

Watch on YouTube

[Bob8]

Can Doncic play PG?

Doncic is playing Pg most of the time in Europe. In Eurobasket he played 2 or 3, when Dragic was in court and 1 when Dragic was resting.

[JDJ26]

Can Doncic play PG?

Yes.

How is his shot? Also is he a liability on defense?

[AtheJ415]

Can Doncic play PG?

Yes.

How is his shot? Also is he a liability on defense?

Great shooter. Both open and off the dribble with NBA level moves. Defense is okay but there are concerns about his offense and defense against NBA athletes, but I think at least offensively that is horribly misguided. He wrecked the US national team on that end against guys like Evan Turner who are good NBA defenders. I think his defensive ability is a real question mark, as is Ayton's, but both are better on that end than given credit for. The advantage of Doncic though is he is for sure a playmaker at the NBA level and that is super valuable even if he never develops on defense, and we need a playmaker at any position. Ayton should be an offensive dynamo at C in the NBA, but may not be one to set up others unless doubled. He does have the athleticism to be an elite defender and is really good one on one against smaller guys in a stance and stopping drives for his size, but his off ball and instincts are weak, though he has the length and athleticism to end up dominant on that end. Ben Simmons was said to have a lazy motor and has looked real good this year. So both are super skilled. Both have defensive weaknesses. But Doncic is more of a proven playmaker and a proven 3 point threat (though you would expect that from a SG/PG v. a C/PF). Imo, the decision comes down to what other moves you know you have available to you (for instance, do you have a trade lined up with Kemba Walker, have you put feelers out to 2019 FAs through back channels, and if so, what position do the guys you feel good about play?). At the end I think Doncic is the safer player, but Ayton has more upside. But this team, with it's current makeup, has to have a defensive anchor at the 5. So for me it entirely depends on whether you think Ayton can be that anchor, or whether he can be a threat from 3, or both. He has the athleticism and touch to do both and clearly works hard given how polished he is. I think the new coach will need to have some input as well.

It's a good problem though. If we end up top 2 deciding between them we are in great shape.

[AtheJ415]

Oh crud. That's all we need--the owner scouting players.

Obviously the GM should make the decision but its naive to think any owner isn't going to want to see and have input on a selection as important as this top 4 pick.

I have to say this every 3 or 4 months now but I see no reason why Sarver still gets **** on all the time by suns fans. If anything, Im happy he's actually interested in traveling across the world scouting out players for some input.

He **** up massively at one point in time and I get that fans hold that against him, but I don't understand why people bring that up when he makes moves that make sense for this team. This was always going to be a long rebuild and he seems to have been mostly patient through it. I just hate that people assume we won't spend to be good when the time comes because that was never the issue. The issue was we spent the money we had on the Warrick's of the world instead of spending it on people who are worth it. I won't be upset if he sells the team, but he isn't still holding us back imo. I wish people would look back at that roster from 5 years ago and compare it to today when they complain about our lack of winning, because we went from a horrendous and aging roster that had nobody to a team with Booker, Jackson, a top 4 pick in a loaded draft, some guys with upside in Bender and Chriss, and like 8 first round picks in the next 3 years and the flexibility to add a max guy if we play our cards right. It has been a long time, but due to trying to compete in Nash's last years that was always inevitable. Teams like Dallas, Atlanta, etc. are about to just start their rebuild. We are way ahead of those teams. It just sucks that we had the random good year to throw a 2 year wrench in this, thus not being on the 76ers schedule.

[Bob8]

Can Doncic play PG?

Yes.

How is his shot? Also is he a liability on defense?

Watch on YouTube

[phx#7]

According to Spanish media, Sarver was in Madrid today watching Doncic.

Oh crud. That's all we need--the owner scouting players.

Obviously the GM should make the decision but its naive to think any owner isn't going to want to see and have input on a selection as important as this top 4 pick.

In addition to everything else Sarver had a good relationship with Dragic who I'm sure is in Luka's ear, probably not a bad idea having his presence there.

[In2ition]

The ultimate plan is to pair both Luka and DeAndre with Devin and Josh, while Kawhi is maneuvering to get to Phx, muuuhahaaaa

[MathiasPW]

According to Spanish media, Sarver was in Madrid today watching Doncic.

Oh crud. That's all we need--the owner scouting players.

and he has seen that today,

Watch on YouTube

At 0:30 he crosses the court from end to end in 3.5s. Totally not athletic....