2018 Draft Grade

[Qwigglez]

Hey guys, so first thing, I didn't want to have this bunch up in the draft thread already going on. This way we can look back at our draft grades in the future.

Ayton - Surprise, surprise, the worst kept secret! I think most knew the Suns were going to take Ayton after the draft lottery. I'm really happy we didn't try and get cute by trading down or something ridiculous. I think Ayton has the highest ceiling in the draft and can very well be a dominant center in the league from day one. I would not be surprised to see him averaging 18 and 10 in 2018-19 and win rookie of the year. A+

Bridges - This is one of the few guys I watched highlights of outside of the top 4 (Ayton, Bamba, JJJ, and Doncic). If the Suns had landed at No 7-9 I would have been calling for this guys name. Really though, I think we are building something amazing here. We got Ayton in the center, and we are trying to surround him with 3 & D players. Bridges is the ideal 2/3 and to me, can hopefully become an elite role player. I like his fit at the 3 more than Jackson, but only because he has such a sweet 3-ball. Anyway, I give the trade, and this pick a solid A grade.

I'm not going to grade our 2nd rounders because we haven't done well with them in the McD era. I was high on Reed last year, but that really just sets up our 2nd round players for failure in my eyes. If Okobo and King can become rotation players, that's cool.


What's your draft grade for the Suns?

[NTB]

A poll would be good for this thread. I give A as a grade and it would be A+ if we could somehow give a lesser asset than Miami pick.

So hyped about the new roster. Mikal Bridges is probably my favorite player in the Suns roster right now.

[m1chal]

A solid B from me. This Bridges trade... while I understand McD's reasoning, trading an unprotected pick to move up 6 positions in a draft is a huge gamble. I just hope it pays off. I'm ok with picking Ayton and like picking Okobo, this guy can be a steal.

[Bogyo]

Can't make my mind up between B+ or A-, this trade of an unprotected pick to move up (only?) 6 places is not sexy.
While I believe (i d like to believe) that McD did all he could, if you trade that pick to move up add something else valuable (mil pick, second rounders, one of our picks later on, TJ, Chriss, Bender, etc... so many possibilities/variables), and move up to get Luka or Trae. I feel this is a bit half-assing the all in.

On the other hand I really like all our rookies, and their potential and fit with us, besides the logjam situation at the moment.

[lilfishi22]

Ayton - most know Doncic was my guy because I think he can impact the game in a more meaningful way in a fast paced system involving high IQ ball movement and scoring opportunities. But I'm happy with Ayton. I've resided in the fact that the Suns would take Ayton for weeks but I still argued for Doncic because I think it's worth discussing the other side of the coin. I think because of his fit and his athletic potential, he's a solid #1 pick and given his skills and physical profile, he projects to be a force offensively. A-

Bridges - I love Mikal, I love what he brings to the table, I love his experience, I love that he's a winner and I love that he has a mature game. He plays within himself (similar to TJ) and doesn't try to do more than what he's able to which helps him maximize his current skillset. I also love that he has great size, perfect wingspan and DEFENSIVE fundamentals. I think TJ has reached his potential unless he can find a 3PT shot or play great D so I think Bridges is the perfect replacement for TJ if there ever was one. I won't go into what we gave up for him because I still think it's significant (time will tell) so I'll just grade on the fact that he's a Suns. A+

Okobo - Admittedly, I didn't do much research on him as I normally don't care about the later round picks because they generally don't amount to anything. After doing more research, reading reports and watching some film, I think he's steal. Being able to shoot from Day 1 is going to help him *immensely*. Even if his PG game isn't there yet, just being a guy who can shoot and use his 6-8 wingspan and quick feet to hopefully make things difficult to contain guards is exactly what we need on this team. Great value pick at #31. A


Overall grade: A

Edit: having looked at about a dozen or more team grades from different writer/websites, we ranged between an A- to an A+ so about an A on average. Good to see writers liked this haul of young guys.

[Spin Move]

The Ayton pick gets an A but the trade for Bridges gets a C-with all the other assets we had 2 2nds in this draft our own future firsts guys on the team who have trade value we gave up the Miami pick without adding protection. That was a panic move by a GM afraid he wont be around in 2021 to use that pick. Were were talking about moving up from 16 to 10 not 10 to 4 it was a big overpay for a guy who does not fill a positional need. He is a good 3 and d guy and ready to win now. However I dont like the trade, I would rather have traded 16 for and the 2nds for s decent point gaurd if we needed to win now. Overall grade B-

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[lilfishi22]

The Ayton pick gets an A but the trade for Bridges gets a C-with all the other assets we had 2 2nds in this draft our own future firsts guys on the team who have trade value we gave up the Miami pick without adding protection. That was a panic move by a GM afraid he wont be around in 2021 to use that pick. Were were talking about moving up from 16 to 10 not 10 to 4 it was a big overpay for a guy who does not fill a positional need. He is a good 3 and d guy and ready to win now. However I dont like the trade, I would rather have traded 16 for and the 2nds for s decent point gaurd if we needed to win now. Overall grade B-

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

Are you a Suns fan or C's fan?

Anyway, that's probably besides the point. I've read both sides of the argument about having given up that Miami pick with no added protection to move up to #10 and while my initial reactions has been quite far on the outrage scale, I've slowly warmed up to it. I still think it's a mistake not to add further protection to that pick but thinking about it after a few days, I've got to the point where I think I'm where McD's mindset is at. While the Heat doesn't appear to be getting better with their current roster, they have historically been a very strong team with a great winning culture, is an excellent FA destination and even during down years, they seem to still be competitive. In their 30yrs of existence, the Heat have won less than 30 games in only 5 seasons and less than 20 games in only 3 of those seasons. Playing in a weak Eastern Conference has helped them make playoffs with the number of wins even in the low 40's. They aren't a tanking team and especially when they don't have their own pick, they will definitely do what they can to get wins. This is a front office that's capable of putting on a competitive product even when they should probably be tanking.

I would've preferred we kept that pick but in 2021, I'd imagine we would be using that pick for trade purposes anyway rather than adding to the youth. I'm not a giant proponent of the trade but I'm happy with the guy we got. I feel significantly better about this trade than the trade that got us Chriss even though that trade cost notably less. I know it's a low bar for comparison with that trade in a poor draft but I think we got the right guy out of the trade which is what we ultimately want so based on that, I can't be too unhappy.

Now it's up to the the Suns and Bridges to prove the trade was the right decision.

[Spin Move]

The Ayton pick gets an A but the trade for Bridges gets a C-with all the other assets we had 2 2nds in this draft our own future firsts guys on the team who have trade value we gave up the Miami pick without adding protection. That was a panic move by a GM afraid he wont be around in 2021 to use that pick. Were were talking about moving up from 16 to 10 not 10 to 4 it was a big overpay for a guy who does not fill a positional need. He is a good 3 and d guy and ready to win now. However I dont like the trade, I would rather have traded 16 for and the 2nds for s decent point gaurd if we needed to win now. Overall grade B-

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

Are you a Suns fan or C's fan?

Anyway, that's probably besides the point. I've read both sides of the argument about having given up that Miami pick with no added protection to move up to #10 and while my initial reactions has been quite far on the outrage scale, I've slowly warmed up to it. I still think it's a mistake not to add further protection to that pick but thinking about it after a few days, I've got to the point where I think I'm where McD's mindset is at. While the Heat doesn't appear to be getting better with their current roster, they have historically been a very strong team with a great winning culture, is an excellent FA destination and even during down years, they seem to still be competitive. In their 30yrs of existence, the Heat have won less than 30 games in only 5 seasons and less than 20 games in only 3 of those seasons. Playing in a weak Eastern Conference has helped them make playoffs with the number of wins even in the low 40's. They aren't a tanking team and especially when they don't have their own pick, they will definitely do what they can to get wins. This is a front office that's capable of putting on a competitive product even when they should probably be tanking.

I would've preferred we kept that pick but in 2021, I'd imagine we would be using that pick for trade purposes anyway rather than adding to the youth. I'm not a giant proponent of the trade but I'm happy with the guy we got. I feel significantly better about this trade than the trade that got us Chriss even though that trade cost notably less. I know it's a low bar for comparison with that trade in a poor draft but I think we got the right guy out of the trade which is what we ultimately want so based on that, I can't be too unhappy.

Now it's up to the the Suns and Bridges to prove the trade was the right decision.

I'm both, I live in Scottsdsle and have for over a decade, been in AZ almost 18 years. I am a fan of both teams, former celtics forum mod.

I think we have too big a whole at point gaurd to be spending assets on another wing. If you think Brigdes will be an all star it's a good trade I see him as a decent starter not an all star. We had much greater holes to fill...if your packaging 16 and the Mia pick we could have done better.

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

[lilfishi22]

The Ayton pick gets an A but the trade for Bridges gets a C-with all the other assets we had 2 2nds in this draft our own future firsts guys on the team who have trade value we gave up the Miami pick without adding protection. That was a panic move by a GM afraid he wont be around in 2021 to use that pick. Were were talking about moving up from 16 to 10 not 10 to 4 it was a big overpay for a guy who does not fill a positional need. He is a good 3 and d guy and ready to win now. However I dont like the trade, I would rather have traded 16 for and the 2nds for s decent point gaurd if we needed to win now. Overall grade B-

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

Are you a Suns fan or C's fan?

Anyway, that's probably besides the point. I've read both sides of the argument about having given up that Miami pick with no added protection to move up to #10 and while my initial reactions has been quite far on the outrage scale, I've slowly warmed up to it. I still think it's a mistake not to add further protection to that pick but thinking about it after a few days, I've got to the point where I think I'm where McD's mindset is at. While the Heat doesn't appear to be getting better with their current roster, they have historically been a very strong team with a great winning culture, is an excellent FA destination and even during down years, they seem to still be competitive. In their 30yrs of existence, the Heat have won less than 30 games in only 5 seasons and less than 20 games in only 3 of those seasons. Playing in a weak Eastern Conference has helped them make playoffs with the number of wins even in the low 40's. They aren't a tanking team and especially when they don't have their own pick, they will definitely do what they can to get wins. This is a front office that's capable of putting on a competitive product even when they should probably be tanking.

I would've preferred we kept that pick but in 2021, I'd imagine we would be using that pick for trade purposes anyway rather than adding to the youth. I'm not a giant proponent of the trade but I'm happy with the guy we got. I feel significantly better about this trade than the trade that got us Chriss even though that trade cost notably less. I know it's a low bar for comparison with that trade in a poor draft but I think we got the right guy out of the trade which is what we ultimately want so based on that, I can't be too unhappy.

Now it's up to the the Suns and Bridges to prove the trade was the right decision.

I'm both, I live in Scottsdsle and have for over a decade, been in AZ almost 18 years. I am a fan of both teams, former celtics forum mod.

I think we have too big a whole at point gaurd to be spending assets on another wing. If you think Brigdes will be an all star it's a good trade I see him as a decent starter not an all star. We had much greater holes to fill...if your packaging 16 and the Mia pick we could have done better.

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

I don't disagree with you about our glut of wings but when there's no PG talent in the draft at the level of Bridges I think it's better to trade for a guy who will impact the team going forward than to just settle with whatever was there at #16. It's a high price to pay but it's the price you have to pay for talent in a deep draft. I agree that it would've been good to package that #16 and Miami pick for a talented PG and I'm sure we tried to make things happen on that end but it didn't appear to paid off so it is what it is.

I'd rather get the guy we want even if it cost us rather than settle for a guy you're just OK with.

[sunskerr]

Ayton - most know Doncic was my guy because I think he can impact the game in a more meaningful way in a fast paced system involving high IQ ball movement and scoring opportunities. But I'm happy with Ayton. I've resided in the fact that the Suns would take Ayton for weeks but I still argued for Doncic because I think it's worth discussing the other side of the coin. I think because of his fit and his athletic potential, he's a solid #1 pick and given his skills and physical profile, he projects to be a force offensively. A-

Bridges - I love Mikal, I love what he brings to the table, I love his experience, I love that he's a winner and I love that he has a mature game. He plays within himself (similar to TJ) and doesn't try to do more than what he's able to which helps him maximize his current skillset. I also love that he has great size, perfect wingspan and DEFENSIVE fundamentals. I think TJ has reached his potential unless he can find a 3PT shot or play great D so I think Bridges is the perfect replacement for TJ if there ever was one. I won't go into what we gave up for him because I still think it's significant (time will tell) so I'll just grade on the fact that he's a Suns. A+

Okobo - Admittedly, I didn't do much research on him as I normally don't care about the later round picks because they generally don't amount to anything. After doing more research, reading reports and watching some film, I think he's steal. Being able to shoot from Day 1 is going to help him *immensely*. Even if his PG game isn't there yet, just being a guy who can shoot and use his 6-8 wingspan and quick feet to hopefully make things difficult to contain guards is exactly what we need on this team. Great value pick at #31. A


Overall grade: A

Edit: having looked at about a dozen or more team grades from different writer/websites, we ranged between an A- to an A+ so about an A on average. Good to see writers liked this haul of young guys.

I pretty much agree with everything here. Though I like Ayton, I preferred Doncic for the same reasons. I love Bridges and don't know very much about Okobo, but if the rest of the league is saying he was a steal, then I like that too.