SUNS DRAFT KOA PEAT

[pickle]

I get the UA trauma, but give the guy a chance.

[Split T]

At least he wasn’t Michigan St

[virtual9mm]

I am not sure what all the hate is about, either. Looking at the analytics and scouting reports, he looks pike he could develop into an Aaron Gordon. And he is remarkably strong for a 19 year old kid. Give him some time with pliometrics and he'll get stronger with a bit more burst.

That being said, his limited agility is troubling. He could be like an Obi Toppin with limited lateral mobility. Still useful but limited to some extent on offense and defense.

[virtual9mm]

Best case: poor man's Zion. Worst case: Millsap. Not bad for a #30 pick.

[ShelC]

[O_Gardino]

Best case: poor man's Zion. Worst case: Millsap. Not bad for a #30 pick.

This is the wildest take on this site. Leaving Peat out of it - Millsap was a much better player than Zion has been. I'd take Paul Millsap every single time.

[O_Gardino]

Speaking of wild takes - I think I've settled on Dario Saric as my Peat comp. They are both good passers and slow but smart dribblers who set their own pace to back down defenders and get to the basket. Peat is a better finisher, but Saric is a better shooter.

I'm hoping Peat can grow into that type of glue-guy role for us. If he can be that connector who keeps the ball moving and punishes mismatches inside, then he can really help us out.

[Furlanfufi]

In the worst case scenario we got a better version of Ish Wainwright? And in the best case a future Aaron Gordon? That's fine with me.

[TOO]

Time for copium.

[Kryptonic]

I get the UA trauma, but give the guy a chance.

100%…. Like I’ve said before, he’s tougher than nails and don’t think he’s anything like “he-who-shall-not-be-named”.

[Mori Chu]

I like a lot of the things Peat does well. We don't have a player quite like that on the roster right now. In a previous NBA era there would be a lot of valuable PFs with games like Peat's. In 2026-27 the NBA seems to have kind of figured out how to handle players like this. You sag off them and collapse the defense, you take advantage of their poor shooting, and if necessary, you foul them and watch them miss the FT. The number of guys at the NBA PF/C any more who can't shoot at least decently from distance has really dwindled. You have your occasional Giannis who can bull his way to stardom despite not being a great outside shooter. But NBA PFs now are more like KD, or Lauri Markkanen, or Randle, or Aaron Gordon. Most of these guys are plus shooters and decent at defense and/or rebounding. Basically at every position the league seems to prioritize 3-and-D players and any other skills are a bonus. And there are questions about Peat's 3, and his D. Nevertheless I think it's a low-risk move and he seems like a player with a lot of talent and upside.

[Shabazz]

This is from David Aldridge’s pre-draft column where he surveys scouts and college coaches on the prospects.

Koa Peat | 6-7 forward | 19 years old | Arizona

College basketball assistant coach No. 2 (his team played Arizona): I’ll be honest; I thought he should have gone back. He was, if they had five starters, he was the last one we talked about. Physical, great frame. But what does he do? He’s not productive. We were fine if they threw it to him in the short roll; we were fine if he shot 3s. We told (our players), just go at him. Works hard, does all the good stuff. I don’t know what his NBA skill is.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/736805 ... tsa-wings/

[carey]

Yeah, that touches on everything we're worried about. Here's hoping he proves us all wrong.

[AmareIsGod]

A lot of worries about the 30th pick. Not a lot of suggestions on the much better choice we could have made. Just a lot of complaining to complain.

[Shabazz]

I don’t think anyone’s complaining. People don’t have to love a prospect just because the Suns drafted him.

[TOO]

This is from David Aldridge’s pre-draft column where he surveys scouts and college coaches on the prospects.

Koa Peat | 6-7 forward | 19 years old | Arizona

College basketball assistant coach No. 2 (his team played Arizona): I’ll be honest; I thought he should have gone back. He was, if they had five starters, he was the last one we talked about. Physical, great frame. But what does he do? He’s not productive. We were fine if they threw it to him in the short roll; we were fine if he shot 3s. We told (our players), just go at him. Works hard, does all the good stuff. I don’t know what his NBA skill is.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/736805 ... tsa-wings/

Haha this is what I said. I don't know what his NBA ability is.

[AmareIsGod]

I don’t think anyone’s complaining. People don’t have to love a prospect just because the Suns drafted him.

But no viable alternative pick either that we should have made instead. "Not a very good pick. Peat has a lot of flaws. Wouldn't have picked him. Should have picked.. ummm.. hmm.. well somebody else instead!"

[Aztec Sunsfan]

I don’t think anyone’s complaining. People don’t have to love a prospect just because the Suns drafted him.

But no viable alternative pick either that we should have made instead. "Not a very good pick. Peat has a lot of flaws. Wouldn't have picked him. Should have picked.. ummm.. hmm.. well somebody else instead!"

What about staying at their spot and save those picks for something more?

Granted, on this discussions, second rounders’ value are tilted on the direction of every argument’s sake. But that was also an option nonetheless.

[AmareIsGod]

I don’t think anyone’s complaining. People don’t have to love a prospect just because the Suns drafted him.

But no viable alternative pick either that we should have made instead. "Not a very good pick. Peat has a lot of flaws. Wouldn't have picked him. Should have picked.. ummm.. hmm.. well somebody else instead!"

What about staying at their spot and save those picks for something more?

Granted, on this discussions, second rounders’ value are tilted on the direction of every argument’s sake. But that was also an option nonetheless.

So then you end up landing an even further stretch. At least Peat has real potential to amount to a player that will contribute vs the second rounder crap shoot we really would have wound up with had we stayed put at their spot. I just have a little bit of issue with the uproar considering this was the 30th pick, not a lottery selection.

[Split T]

There’s so much controversy over Peat…is this a UofA thing? I don’t care at all about college basketball, but it’s a little weird people either hate the pick or love it…at least that’s what it feels like(not just meaning on here). Just seems like strong feelings for what was basically a 2nd round pick.