The 2020 NBA Draft

[bwgood77]

I wish they'd do a realignment in the league and move MEM into the East. I want to like that team lol.

Yeah, I always thought they should add two expansion teams in the West while moving Memphis to the east (or Minnesota), but Memphis would work better now.

But add Seattle and Las Vegas and move one.

Minnesota always made the most sense to me before, but I also thought of Memphis...

In the NFL, Minnesota's rivalries are Green Bay (which all Bucks fans pull for...look at the Packers forum...only NFL team forum busy..Bucks is top 3 for NBA teams too), Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions.

All these teams are east in the NFL...and in MLB the Minnesota Twins are with the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians.

They never go against western teams in the other major sports.

It only makes sense they should compete in a division with Chicago, Detroit and Milwaukee..Minnesota is right next to all of these cities...or a heck of a lot closer than the Western ones.

[BVPN]

Why is this guy seen as a mediocre prospect? Looking at the scouting reports it seems like he has a chance to be a good defender, he’s long, he has a good shot. He could be Ibaka or something similar and that seems...like a really good outcome in this draft? Post game seems poor but we don’t really need him to do that. Otherwise if he puts on some strength to guard in the post I think he could be a really good player. I feel like I’d rather take a chance on him becoming good with his 3 pt shot than someone like Bamba, and he was taken top 6 in a highly regarded draft class.

[Revived]

So what's a good comp for Smith? A better rebounding Serge Ibaka?

Oh yeah I actually like this comparison quite a bit. Some people here say that Smith can't play PF because he can't dribble but neither can Ibaka. Not all PFs are like Daivs or Griffin.

Smith isn't as mobile as Ibaka was in his prime though because Ibaka was a freak back then.

[bwgood77]

Why is this guy seen as a mediocre prospect? Looking at the scouting reports it seems like he has a chance to be a good defender, he’s long, he has a good shot. He could be Ibaka or something similar and that seems...like a really good outcome in this draft? Post game seems poor but we don’t really need him to do that. Otherwise if he puts on some strength to guard in the post I think he could be a really good player. I feel like I’d rather take a chance on him becoming good with his 3 pt shot than someone like Bamba, and he was taken top 6 in a highly regarded draft class.

He was never mentioned among a lot of Suns fans...we talked about him a lot...I don't know if you saw the quote I posted from ImNotMcDISwear but we talked about him WAY back as a potential Suns pick... viewtopic.php?f=27&t=1872327&p=84240525#p84240525

He used to be projected around 12 or 13, ahead of some of the guys that moved up, like Patrick Williams, or Kira Lewis.

He was still 13 on nbadraft.net.. https://www.nbadraft.net/nba-mock-drafts/

15 on tankathon http://www.tankathon.com/big_board

and 17 on the Ringer https://nbadraft.theringer.com/ (click on "Big Board" across the top..compares him to Serge Ibaka)

So it's not like Cam who was projected in the 20s

I think the biggest thing is that Haliburton was there, and he was a very highly ranked prospect and probably the safest pick in the draft...great defensively, passing, shooting...I think he will be the best guard in the draft...some may have higher upsides, but he is very very solid.

And then Vassell.

If those guys were not available, and if most of the novice Suns twitter or the novice podcast guys had researched all the prospects, they would have known Jalen Smith and likely had him in the teens (though I noticed one guy Alessandro Cozzi, who usually is pretty good, said he him ranked 37th which is absurd.

I think we should have definitely taken Haliburtion over him and probably Vassell. But I don't care about anyone else...I wouldn't have minded Bey.

So I had him 13 or 14.

I think we would have taken Avdija if he fell one more spot and everyone would probably be ecstatic.

He's a fun player and very high character.

The Kings are interesting....they lack bigs but seem pretty loaded at the guard spot with Fox, Hield, Haliburton, Joseph and Hill.

[bwgood77]

So what's a good comp for Smith? A better rebounding Serge Ibaka?

Oh yeah I actually like this comparison quite a bit. Some people here say that Smith can't play PF because he can't dribble but neither can Ibaka. Not all PFs are like Davis or Griffin.

Smith isn't as mobile as Ibaka was in his prime though because Ibaka was a freak back then.

People seem obsessed with bigs that can dribble...sure it is nice to be able to go to the rim, but realistically, with solid passers elsewhere they should just finish, and if they can shoot 3s, they just have to catch and shoot.

Sure, dribbling and having a post up game, or just taking it to the rim and getting the foul and to the line is nice, but I don't see it as important as being able to stretch the floor in this day and age...maybe in the 90s.

Plus, that is something that can be developed.

[Ghost of Kleine]

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?s=09

How many of those guys do you like? And how many have already signed or agreed to a camp invite with teams that you know of?

These are the undrafted prospects that I feel have the value/ upside potential:
1- Nate Hinton.
2- Tyshon Alexander.
3- Trevelin Queen.
4- Lamar Stevens.
5- Mamadi Diakite.
6- Josh Hall.
7- Naji Marshall.
8- Ashton Hagans.
9- Yoeli Childs.
10- Kaleb Wesson.
11- Borisa Simanic.
12- Kristian Dolittle.
** Killian Tillie ( didn't expect him to be available anyways).
And as far as I know currently, these are the players already signed:
Killian Tillie/ Devon Dotson/ Mason Jones/ Myles Powell/ Nate Darling.

But of all.of those listed, I'd only have specific interest in these prospects:
1- Nate Hinton.
2- Trevelin Queen.
3- Tyshon Alexander.
4- Naji Marshall.
5- Mamadi Diakite.

[Revived]

10. Phoenix Suns: C Jalen Smith, Maryland

It's a surprise on every level. I don't understand it. I thought I liked Jalen Smith more than most, but I had him in the late-teens. But not in the top 10, and not on a team that already has DeAndre Ayton. He's more of a stretch five than a stretch four, and that's simply not a position of need or a great value. But Phoenix does have a history of doing things that don't make a lot of sense. Grade: D-

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2020-nba-draft-grades-pick-by-pick-results-tracker-and-analysis-for-completed-rounds-1-and-2/

Damn I figured this pick wouldn't be too popular but CBS gave us the worst grade of the entire draft selections.

[bwgood77]

10. Phoenix Suns: C Jalen Smith, Maryland

It's a surprise on every level. I don't understand it. I thought I liked Jalen Smith more than most, but I had him in the late-teens. But not in the top 10, and not on a team that already has DeAndre Ayton. He's more of a stretch five than a stretch four, and that's simply not a position of need or a great value. But Phoenix does have a history of doing things that don't make a lot of sense. Grade: D-

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2020-nba-draft-grades-pick-by-pick-results-tracker-and-analysis-for-completed-rounds-1-and-2/

Damn I figured this pick wouldn't be too popular but CBS gave us the worst grade of the entire draft selections.

Funny 11-14 are all guys discussed by a lot of Suns fans and 11 got an A- and 12-14 all got A+'s

[Ghost of Kleine]

Read on Twitter

?s=09

[Revived]

Pick: 10| Team: Suns | Player: Jalen Smith | 6-10 forward/center | 225 | 20, sophomore | Maryland

Vecenie’s scouting report: Smith is the first player drafted that I had a second-round grade on. He’s a good shooter with terrific shot-blocking instincts. He is a pogo stick leaper who made All-Big Ten. Unfortunately, he’s also just very stiff and struggles to move laterally. The Suns will need to do some significant work with his flexibility in order for him to defend in space, which is a worry for a pick used in the top-10 on a big man.

Ranking: No. 32

Hollinger’s team fit: Any time you can use a lottery pick to get a backup-caliber player at the league’s least valuable position, you have to go ahead and do it. Smith can shoot and has some shot-blocking capability, but I had him 31st on my board. This is a head-scratching pick with so much perimeter talent available.

I would have picked…
Vecenie: Devin Vassell | Hollinger: Devin Vassell

https://theathletic.com/2192601/2020/11/19/live-2020-nba-draft-tracker-results-picks-grades-trades-team-fits/

The Athletic and John Hollinger are piling on as well...yeah I'm done looking up draft grades lol.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Read on Twitter

?s=09

Here's the links to a few good undrafted prospect profiles for some of the guys in my list above. Check them.out if you like to see why I value them highly.

[phx#7]

10. Phoenix Suns: C Jalen Smith, Maryland

It's a surprise on every level. I don't understand it. I thought I liked Jalen Smith more than most, but I had him in the late-teens. But not in the top 10, and not on a team that already has DeAndre Ayton. He's more of a stretch five than a stretch four, and that's simply not a position of need or a great value. But Phoenix does have a history of doing things that don't make a lot of sense. Grade: D-

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2020-nba-draft-grades-pick-by-pick-results-tracker-and-analysis-for-completed-rounds-1-and-2/

Damn I figured this pick wouldn't be too popular but CBS gave us the worst grade of the entire draft selections.

Funny 11-14 are all guys discussed by a lot of Suns fans and 11 got an A- and 12-14 all got A+'s

What's funnier is CBS ranking of Suns picks.

2015 - Booker: B
2016 - Bender: A
2016 - Chriss: B
2017 - Jackson: A-
2018 - Ayton: B+
2018 - Bridges: C-
2019 - Johnson: D
2019 - Jerome: A

So yeah, take that ranking with a pound of salt.

[Book1Nation]

Ghost, looks like Nate Hinton signed with Dallas :/

[Slim Charless]

I wish they'd do a realignment in the league and move MEM into the East. I want to like that team lol.

Yeah, I always thought they should add two expansion teams in the West while moving Memphis to the east (or Minnesota), but Memphis would work better now.

But add Seattle and Las Vegas and move one.

Minnesota always made the most sense to me before, but I also thought of Memphis...

In the NFL, Minnesota's rivalries are Green Bay (which all Bucks fans pull for...look at the Packers forum...only NFL team forum busy..Bucks is top 3 for NBA teams too), Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions.

All these teams are east in the NFL...and in MLB the Minnesota Twins are with the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians.

They never go against western teams in the other major sports.

It only makes sense they should compete in a division with Chicago, Detroit and Milwaukee..Minnesota is right next to all of these cities...or a heck of a lot closer than the Western ones.

Yup. I think that those are the most likely teams to be added. Who knows how long it'll take with covid delaying everything. That scenario that you presented makes the most sense. Seattle getting a team and Vegas getting the other seems right. I imagine the Vegas Whatevers could share the raiders stadium but who knows. In Seattle's case they'll be happy to get their sonics back so they'll build an arena no problem.

Probably a few years down the road either way. It'd be great if they could get them in the year that's gonna have the high school kids in it. Help get expansion teams off to a good start. Unlikely.

[suns12345]

90% of people on here are the same as the ridiculous media, criticising draft picks and saying teams had great drafts based on prospects who have never played a minute in the league.

Just relax and see how it plays out.

I get the asset management argument most years, and I think that is important, but Jalen Smith was not really a reach when (as BW's post said) he was projected only a few picks after us in plenty of mocks.

PS. Imagine if we drafted Desmond Bane (who plenty wanted), even though we could've traded back to 29 and got him. Hindsight makes this so easy.

[bwgood77]

Damn I figured this pick wouldn't be too popular but CBS gave us the worst grade of the entire draft selections.

Funny 11-14 are all guys discussed by a lot of Suns fans and 11 got an A- and 12-14 all got A+'s

What's funnier is CBS ranking of Suns picks.

2015 - Booker: B
2016 - Bender: A
2016 - Chriss: B
2017 - Jackson: A-
2018 - Ayton: B+
2018 - Bridges: C-
2019 - Johnson: D
2019 - Jerome: A

So yeah, take that ranking with a pound of salt.

Bender, Jackson and Jerome as A's...they each lasted 2 years with us, except for Jerome, 1..Jackson already an UFA..I imagine someone will take a gamble there...maybe OKC or Houston...Bender probably out of league...Jerome probably going nowhere. Bridges and Cam C- and D. OK. I like Jalen's chances if those are our two worst grades.

[Revived]

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[bwgood77]

It's funny, days ago, people were hoping we get Gallinari, Bertans, Millsap, Ibaka, but we draft a guy who has better defense than the first two. He does have his struggles but can protect the rim which we need. He doesn't move well laterally either, similar to Toppin but can block shots and hit 3s..and is a great finisher who will probably be very efficient. Thos other guys were not going to be in the NBA much longer, if they could stay healthy, except maybe Bertans who was my least favorite...and none of those guys could guard smaller guys well, but some played on teams next to bigs...Gallinari next to Adams, Bertans next to Bryant, Millsap next to Jokic and Serge sometimes next to Gasol. Now in each case guys could stretch the floor on offense but both of our bigs can...all 3 as a matter of fact and 2 are on a rookie contract and Saric probably won't be that expensive.

[RedIndian]

Wow, the Locked On podcast guys were really really downcast with this pick. Some very valid points they made:

- Smith isn't great defending in space. Foot speed is average, and will struggle playing the 4.
- Best role for him is as a 3&D center, but there's not much value in drafting a backup center with the #10 when your starting center is Ayton
- He's too weak presently to effectively defend in the post. Better value in simply retaining Baynes if you simply wanted a 3 point shooting center.
- Ayton and Smith might be able to play together, but only for very limited durations. On defense, you've spent 2 years moulding Ayton into someone who can anchor the defense in the middle with 4 scrappy switchable defenders around him. Monty's entire premise on defense has been ball-pressure, switching and creating turnovers. Inserting Smith into that line-up as a second big just creates a whole new set of things for Ayton to learn and cover.
- On offense, Smith's main value is in the pick and pop situations. Shooting can and should translate, but he might be too weak at the moment (225 pounds and poor lower body strength) to really set picks effectively.
- Very limited ball-handler and averaged more turnovers than assists. Seems thus to be completely contrary to Jones' emphasis on adding playmaking .
- Dismissed the Cam Johnson comparison. While Cam was a reach, he at least fit what the Suns needed in a sharpshooting wing. Was easily the best shooter in the class.
- Smith doesn't feel a crying need on the roster. Backup center is the easiest position to fill in the NBA today with the likes of Noel and McGree reduced to playing for the vet minimum for a while. You could get a guy like Mike Muscala for the vet min and he'd add more value in 15 mins of playing time than a rookie big.

[AtheJ415]

Well sh*t!

Spoiler:

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Buy a pick Sarver!

Sent from my SM-G965U using RealGM mobile app

Its not worth it.

like $3M to buy the pick and then whatever the contact is. That $3M can be spent on an already experienced player, not an extreme gamble. We will wait to grab someone undrafted.

Buying the pick doesn't count against the cap right? So why would we care about Sarver's pockets?