Draft Discussion Part 3

[thamadkant]

Lakers will fleece Pacers... hence why Bird resigned, doesnt want to deal with this.

If I was Pacers I'd ask for Clarkson and a future pick, he's starter PG material or ideal 6th man atleast.

[AtheJ415]

One interesting fact: George's agent is also Russells and Randles agent.

Woj said in one of his podcasts that George and his agent doesnt want this to turn into a Melo to NY deal where the Lakers are giving up everything for him, and you can bet that Russell and Randle are being positioned to stay.

I wouldn't assume that with Russell. If LA does want Ball, I don't think Russell would necessarily want to stay. Also, he's very close with Booker. If he had the opportunity to go to a team he likes and still get to be the 1, he might prefer that to moving off the ball for LA.

[thamadkant]

If we get Ball and Isaac! Holy snikes. I will be beyond happy.

How will this situation take place? thats 2 top 5 picks.

[BobbieL]

Yeah, I think that we can facilitate George to the Lakers eating a big contract from the Lakers.

It seems that we are interested in bring a veteran player that can defend and play the right way on offense. We have been linked to Iguodala and Joe Ingles....so Luol Deng makes sense to me.

Yeah, I think he is done as an important player , but at the same time he is one of the most respected players around the league and he is good enough to play some minutes coming from the bench. He can play some minutes at SF and PF, and with him here don't need to sign any other guy (veteran or not veteran).

We need to unload Knight on another trade, because I don't want to have more than one "really bad" contract on our roster.

What can we receive from the Lakers? A future lottery protected first round pick or even this year's #28 pick.

It has to be something good, as you dont take on $53M of guaranteed money over the next 3 years for a player who isnt going to contribute ****. The #28 isnt going to cut it. I dont think i would even do it for a lotto protected future 1st either.

And what about #28 AND a lotto protected future 1st?

That would be a great trade for us. We don't need the money, and we probably are gonna trade Chandler and his $13M per year next season.

No way in hell would I take Deng for the 28 and a future draft pick. Maybe Mozgov as there might be value at the Center position instead of paying Len. You trade Chandler, let Len go and trade for Mozgov. But again, it has to be better than just picks. Like Randle would be the guy to get.

I just don't see a fit with taking on either of those two contracts - they are worse than Knights.

[darealjuice]

Do you guys project Issac as a 3 in your lineup? I like Chriss a lot as your 4 man going into the future. Don't think he'll ever be a 5 though and I dunno about Bender long term.

Probably, otherwise I don't see a point in drafting him after we took Chriss and Bender last year. It's too early to draw conclusions on what Bender will be though, he's the same age as or younger than the majority of this freshman class and we had him on the perimeter a lot this season, but I see him being more of a 4/5 as he fills out.

[bwgood77]

Really interesting. Shelburne is reliable. That promise can seriously be from us, Gambo said that could be Lakers (favourite) Philly or the Suns.

I don't know. If that's the promise that was talked about days ago, I have doubts it's Suns. I doubt they promised something to a guy the hadn't seen or talked to at that point. Has McD ever made a promise in draft? if I remember correctly, there was some talk about Warren, but maybe i'm wrong.

While he didn't come to Phoenix, don't forget:

"According to John Gambadoro of 98.7 FM, Arizona’s Sports Station, the Suns traveled to Sacramento on Wednesday to watch Kansas wing Josh Jackson go through a workout.

That means Phoenix has gotten a look at all of the wings who could potentially be available with the No. 4 pick"

http://arizonasports.com/story/1148846/nba-draft-suns-saw-kansas-wing-josh-jackson-work-sacramento/

I wouldn't be surprised if at that point (before the talk of the Philly/Boston trade started) Ainge and McD talked and Ainge told him to start looking at Jackson as something is brewing. While I don't doubt the Kings told him they would take him if he's there, there's no reason for it not to be the Suns. There has been little to know talk of us being that interested in Jackson. This could be by design so teams ahead of us don't mess around and try to get us to trade to snag him (so we don't feel like Jackson could go before we pick).

I really think if Jackson isn't there, we take Tatum.

Why do you think Isaac wouldn't work out for teams drafting lower than 4th? No one mentions this but it's the only thing we know for sure. Everything else is speculation.

[BobbieL]

If we get Ball and Isaac! Holy snikes. I will be beyond happy.

How will this situation take place? thats 2 top 5 picks.

I am guessing as part of a three team trade involving the Lakers and Pacers - the Suns would take on a contract like Mozgov or Deng to get the number 2 pick in the draft. That's the only way.

And straight up - for the number 2 - I would eat Mozgovs deal. As there is probably a taker for Chandler and you can renounce Len I would think. That Deng deal is horrible though.

I think the Suns can help facilitate with the George trade by getting other bad contracts as have stated.

But if they said Deng straight up for the second pick - would have to think about it. Well they can have the 54

[thamadkant]

Well since Iguadala is likely to re-sign with Warriors and Suns was rumored to be looking for a veteran SF, Deng can be that veteran... but damn I'll definitely won't package anymore future picks than Pick 4 for Laker's Pick 2 and Deng.....

Ideally, I would actually ask Lakers if they are interested on Bledsoe, since George does not want to join a gutted Lakers team.

Maybe, Russell, Pick 2, Deng for Bledsoe, Pick 4

I'd do that.... Lakers get a team that will appeal to stars in the next 2 seasons... Suns build for 2020 team.

[bwgood77]

Read on Twitter

Bledsoe could be instrumental with those Miami picks. Also Bledsoe Booker George......is a nice trio!

We are the THIRD team.

[bwgood77]

Bledsoe could be instrumental with those Miami picks. Also Bledsoe Booker George......is a nice trio!

George is LA bound. He is insinuating we would be the 3rd team in a Lakers/Pacers deal.

Heres an idea:

Lakers get PG13
Pacers get Bledsoe/Ingram/Deng
Suns get Russell/Stephenson/Jefferson.

Lakers end up giving up Ingram who plays SF just like George instead of giving up their pick (Ball). They also are able to Dump Deng.

Pacers upgrade and solidify their PG spot by nabbing Bledsoe and not having to dish out a big money deal to FA Teague. They also get last years #2 overall pick in Ingram. They take on Deng, but get to dump a bad contract of their own (Jefferson).

Suns turn Bledsoe into Bookers buddy Russell. Jefferson gives us offense off the bench at C for the next few years (and saves us from matching whatever horrible contract is offered to Len) and we...uh...we also score Lance baby!

Maybe some picks are thrown in there as well (No idea from whom to whom).

Lakers are not giving up Ingram and Russell to get PG when he has said he intends to sign there as an FA..

yeah it would have to be Boston who needs to clear salary and would give us a pick to do so. Their posters seems to think the FO would roll the dice on convincing him to resign if he got to play in the ECF or Finals rather than go to a rebuilding team.

[ray ray]

if a trade happened between the Lakers, Pacers and Suns, it would look something like this...

Incoming:
Lakers:
Paul George

Pacers :
Brandon Knight
TJ Warren

Suns:
Loul Deng
Lakers 2nd overall pick

The Suns are NOT taking on a contract without getting some value out of it. The Suns would now have the 2nd and 4th overall pick..


I'm not saying this is being discussed between the teams. I'm just wanted to make clarify the parameters a deal if it did happen.

[MrMiyagi]

if a trade happened between the Lakers, Pacers and Suns, it would look something like this...

Incoming:
Lakers:
Paul George

Pacers :
Brandon Knight
TJ Warren

Suns:
Loul Deng
Lakers 2nd overall pick

The Suns are NOT taking a contract without getting some value out of it. The Suns would now have the 2nd and 4th overall pick..

I love TJ. But Ball/Jackson would an insane haul. I'm torn.

[Kerrsed]

I wonder if we can nab Dallas's pick.

They are interested in trading for Rubio for a few more years of playoff runs with Dirk. I would offer them Bledsoe/Chandler for a re-signed Noel (@$12M-$14M) and their #9.

Bledsoe/Matthews/Barnes/Dirk/Chandler

Id rather give Noel that money than Len, but sending Tyson packing would allow us to re-sign both Len and Have Noel and compete for the starting C spot (Which i imagine Noel would win).

#9 could net us DSJ. I believe DX's current mock is pretty spot on, and i dont see the Wolves or Knicks grabbing DSJ and him slipping to at least #9.

So if we could walk away from draft day with Jackson/DSJ/Noel for Bledsoe/Chandler, i would be ecstatic, and im not even that big of a DSJ fan!

DSJ/Ulis
Booker/Knight
Jackson/Warren
Chriss/Bender
Noel/Len/BigSauce

[TOO]

No chance in hell the Suns get 2 for Warren, Knight and eating a contract. Zero. Bledsoe would most certainly be involved in place of Knight, and we'd still have to give up more. All LA has to do is wait a year, and keep 2.

[Son of Ra]

if a trade happened between the Lakers, Pacers and Suns, it would look something like this...

Incoming:
Lakers:
Paul George

Pacers :
Brandon Knight
TJ Warren

Suns:
Loul Deng
Lakers 2nd overall pick

The Suns are NOT taking on a contract without getting some value out of it. The Suns would now have the 2nd and 4th overall pick..


I'm not saying this is being discussed between the teams. I'm just wanted to make clarify the parameters a deal if it did happen.

The Pacers would get totally hosed No way they do this. They'd just take Deng (equals Knight) and #2 (>Warren - I love Warren but the pick is worth more) themselves. No need for the Suns go facilitate.

[ray ray]

No chance in hell the Suns get 2 for Warren, Knight and eating a contract. Zero. Bledsoe would most certainly be involved in place of Knight, and we'd still have to give up more. All LA has to do is wait a year, and keep 2.

Agree! But I wanted to clarify that we're not just taking on salaries just to do so.. I put Knight but it could easily be Bledsoe as well.

[Kerrsed]

if a trade happened between the Lakers, Pacers and Suns, it would look something like this...

Incoming:
Lakers:
Paul George

Pacers :
Brandon Knight
TJ Warren

Suns:
Loul Deng
Lakers 2nd overall pick

The Suns are NOT taking a contract without getting some value out of it. The Suns would now have the 2nd and 4th overall pick..

I love TJ. But Ball/Jackson would an insane haul. I'm torn.

Im not a Ball fanBoy, but id do it.

I just dont see how Indiana trades the best player in the trade and only ends up with Warren and Knights bad contract. Only way is if they dont want to re-sign Teague (who will cost more than Knight to keep), and think Knight can actually have a resurgence as a Pacer.

[JMac1]

I know Ainge and Mc'D have spoken......they are getting their guy and we are getting out guy. Ball is LA bound and we all know it!

Ainge probably wants Tatum. Makes so much sense.

What if they like the same guy? McD would be an idiot to call up Ainge and tell him who he wanted.

What if they like the same guy? Too bad for us.

I damn sure would hope that if my buddy liked a different guy then I, he wouldn't decide to draft the guy I liked just because I liked him.....if he did, then that's not my buddy.

Mc'D knows Ainge interest comes first, however, if we needed something that would not hurt him, why couldnt we ask? The purpose of having people in the know is having access to in-the know info.

[AtheJ415]

No chance in hell the Suns get 2 for Warren, Knight and eating a contract. Zero. Bledsoe would most certainly be involved in place of Knight, and we'd still have to give up more. All LA has to do is wait a year, and keep 2.

Not if they want to actually contend. LA has to have the cap space to get another guy along with George. Getting him this year (Bird Rights), while we take a horrendous contract, allows them to do that. If their end game is to just add George and nothing else then sure all they have to do is wait a year. That end game is a low playoff seed and getting dominated thoroughly by the Western elite teams. If they actually want to contend, they have to do a lot more than just wait a year.

[darealjuice]

The Lakers aren't giving up any major asset (Ingram, DLo, 2nd Pick) for someone that has said that's where he wants to be when he's an FA. Our only inclusion in a PG trade is going to be eating a bad contract (i.e. Deng, Mozgov), giving up more valuable player(s) with similar price points (i.e. Bledsoe, Knight, Dudley, Chandler), and probably getting a protected draft pick in return (potentially 18 or 28 this year too).