Devin Booker, Welcome to Phoenix!

[Bruiser]

I dont want to be TOO negative...just being realistic. This is what EVERY fan base does with every player they draft.

But he's just a boy. He was pre-pubescent the last time the Suns made the playoffs. Hes not old enough to drink a beer and wont be for at least two years. He wont be Klay Thompson's age for another seven years. By that time both he and Bledsoe will probably be long gone.

This "one and done" rule is really hurting the NBA.

The kid can shoot--like crazy. Archie could not stay on the court because he could not shoot. This kid is going to get significant PT because Green will be gone. He will be the third option at guard--yes--at 18 years old. We cannot dink around developing these players.

Sink or swim baby. Same with Len, same with Warren.

I was going to point out that you can't have it both ways. We murder Hornacek for not developing rookies & 2nd year guys. Then we come out and say the guys are too young. They aren't ready and it's killing the league. Well which is it?

Great point! I would argue it's much more of the first. Although it obviously depends a little bit on the player too.

[Rambo]

Great pick at 13.
Next step: sign Jimmy Butler & Aldridge. Then trade Bledsoe to NY for future first round picks.
We gotta spend fellas to be contenders again.

[carey]

Great pick at 13.
Next step: sign Jimmy Butler & Aldridge. Then trade Bledsoe to NY for future first round picks.
We gotta spend fellas to be contenders again.

We don't have the cap space to offer either player a max deal yet. Let alone both. We need to move at least Tucker or Marcus in order to have the money to make one an offer.

[Rambo]

Great pick at 13.
Next step: sign Jimmy Butler & Aldridge. Then trade Bledsoe to NY for future first round picks.
We gotta spend fellas to be contenders again.

We don't have the cap space to offer either player a max deal yet. Let alone both. We need to move at least Tucker or Marcus in order to have the money to make one an offer.

Agreed.

[Mori Chu]

I think Aldridge has better options than to come here. He's probably bound for San Antonio or Dallas or LA or someplace like that. And I'd guess that Butler would rather stay on his current team, which is having plenty of success out East, than come to a Western team that is far from making the playoffs.

[Rambo]

It's definitely going to be a challenge for the management to lure hot names to play for the Suns. It is just sad how the Suns equity has become compared to its prime years. I just believe that with signings of such names will bring those years back. Cheers.

[Mori Chu]

I miss the good old days when helpful vets like Grant Hill would come to Phoenix and even take less money because they wanted so much to play on such a fun winning team and play with Steve Nash.

[Superbone]

I miss the good old days when helpful vets like Grant Hill would come to Phoenix and even take less money because they wanted so much to play on such a fun winning team and play with Steve Nash.

It's a game of dominoes. We've just got to find a way to get that first superstar like we did with Nash. Plus, he wasn't a superstar when we got him. We've got to find that guy that's ready to take it to the next level.

[carey]

I miss the good old days when helpful vets like Grant Hill would come to Phoenix and even take less money because they wanted so much to play on such a fun winning team and play with Steve Nash.

It's a game of dominoes. We've just got to find a way to get that first superstar like we did with Nash. Plus, he wasn't a superstar when we got him. We've got to find that guy that's ready to take it to the next level.

Yeah, but it wasn't hard to sell Nash on Amare & Marion. We don't have Amare & Marion.

[JCSunsfan]

I dont want to be TOO negative...just being realistic. This is what EVERY fan base does with every player they draft.

But he's just a boy. He was pre-pubescent the last time the Suns made the playoffs. Hes not old enough to drink a beer and wont be for at least two years. He wont be Klay Thompson's age for another seven years. By that time both he and Bledsoe will probably be long gone.

This "one and done" rule is really hurting the NBA.

The kid can shoot--like crazy. Archie could not stay on the court because he could not shoot. This kid is going to get significant PT because Green will be gone. He will be the third option at guard--yes--at 18 years old. We cannot dink around developing these players.

Sink or swim baby. Same with Len, same with Warren.

I was going to point out that you can't have it both ways. We murder Hornacek for not developing rookies & 2nd year guys. Then we come out and say the guys are too young. They aren't ready and it's killing the league. Well which is it?

Great point! I would argue it's much more of the first. Although it obviously depends a little bit on the player too.

What's good for a team, at a given point in time, isn't necessarily good for the league as a whole. Tanking might make sense for a team, but it is bad for the league. Playing young players on a rebuilding team is good for the team at that point in time. But having more mature players coming out of college would be good for the league. Within the set of rules that the Suns presently have to work with, playing the rookies is the way to go.

So, yes, you can have it both ways.

[JCSunsfan]

I think Aldridge has better options than to come here. He's probably bound for San Antonio or Dallas or LA or someplace like that. And I'd guess that Butler would rather stay on his current team, which is having plenty of success out East, than come to a Western team that is far from making the playoffs.

Gambo said a present NBA player (I am sure it is Jared Dudley) told him that Alderidge has children in San Antonio and Dallas and he wants to live close to them.

There are so many factors that we don't know about that go into free agency.

Alderidge is going to Texas.
Love is going to LA
Monroe is going to NY
Gasol is going to ???? (I think probably staying in Memphis)
Butler is staying in Chicago

Millsap? Good veteran presence that other players will respect? Connection to Horny from Jazz days?

I don't want more than one free agent.

[JCSunsfan]

I miss the good old days when helpful vets like Grant Hill would come to Phoenix and even take less money because they wanted so much to play on such a fun winning team and play with Steve Nash.

They wanted to come to Phoenix because Jerry Colangelo was so highly respected around the league and everyone knew he took care of his players and treated them with great respect.

[da_suns_fan]

I dont want to be TOO negative...just being realistic. This is what EVERY fan base does with every player they draft.

But he's just a boy. He was pre-pubescent the last time the Suns made the playoffs. Hes not old enough to drink a beer and wont be for at least two years. He wont be Klay Thompson's age for another seven years. By that time both he and Bledsoe will probably be long gone.

This "one and done" rule is really hurting the NBA.

The kid can shoot--like crazy. Archie could not stay on the court because he could not shoot. This kid is going to get significant PT because Green will be gone. He will be the third option at guard--yes--at 18 years old. We cannot dink around developing these players.

Sink or swim baby. Same with Len, same with Warren.

I was going to point out that you can't have it both ways. We murder Hornacek for not developing rookies & 2nd year guys. Then we come out and say the guys are too young. They aren't ready and it's killing the league. Well which is it?

I have no problem "developing" players, Im just trying to add some context.

Klay Thompson averaged 21 points a game as a junior in college, then 12 as a rookie in the NBA.

Steph Curry averaged 28 points a junior, 17 as a rookie.

So if Devin Booker averaged 10 points as a freshman, how much do you expect him to contribute next year?

5?

What bout the year after? 7? 10?

Hes got a nice shooting stroke but has a LOOOOOOOOOOOONG way to go before he can really be effective in the NBA.

[Split T]

And Russell Westbrook averaged 12 per game as a sophomore than 16 as a rookie.

He's more of the exception, but there are other factors. Opportunity is huge and skill set is as well. Booker has a skill that is easily translatable. He may not do much else, but he can spot up shoot better than anyone else on our team already.

[JCSunsfan]

Its almost all a factor of playing time. College players, especially freshmen, on exceptionally deep college teams (and there is none deeper than Kentucky), are not going to have the high stats a player like Steph Curry as an upper classman at Davidson.

In this particular case, Booker will likely get plenty of burn, unless we resign Green. He also adds a skill that can get him pt quickly in his shooting. I don't think it is out of the realm for him to have a rookie season similar to Curry's. He may not. There are alot of factors.

Let's watch the summer league first and see.

There are some things that I am encouraged about. He is already a good shooter. Most young players, you hope that they develop their shot. He is likely still growing. He could end up 6-7. He will add lots of strengths. Typically 18 year olds can pack on muscle so fast it makes your head spin. This kid can add lots of strength and will as he matures, even without workouts. With workouts he could add alot. Gerald Green increased his vertical jump by a significant amount after he was drafted.

He is mature and plays and efficient team game. So you do not hurt yourself much (maybe defensively) by giving him minutes.

[carey]

I dont want to be TOO negative...just being realistic. This is what EVERY fan base does with every player they draft.

But he's just a boy. He was pre-pubescent the last time the Suns made the playoffs. Hes not old enough to drink a beer and wont be for at least two years. He wont be Klay Thompson's age for another seven years. By that time both he and Bledsoe will probably be long gone.

This "one and done" rule is really hurting the NBA.

The kid can shoot--like crazy. Archie could not stay on the court because he could not shoot. This kid is going to get significant PT because Green will be gone. He will be the third option at guard--yes--at 18 years old. We cannot dink around developing these players.

Sink or swim baby. Same with Len, same with Warren.

I was going to point out that you can't have it both ways. We murder Hornacek for not developing rookies & 2nd year guys. Then we come out and say the guys are too young. They aren't ready and it's killing the league. Well which is it?

I have no problem "developing" players, Im just trying to add some context.

Klay Thompson averaged 21 points a game as a junior in college, then 12 as a rookie in the NBA.

Steph Curry averaged 28 points a junior, 17 as a rookie.

So if Devin Booker averaged 10 points as a freshman, how much do you expect him to contribute next year?

5?

What bout the year after? 7? 10?

Hes got a nice shooting stroke but has a LOOOOOOOOOOOONG way to go before he can really be effective in the NBA.

I think he's going to surprise a little. I think Booker will average about 7 a game next year. I don't think anything he averages next year will be a reflection of how much he scored in college though. Just like I didn't care what Len put up at Maryland. I kind of stopped caring about that after watching Beasley destroy college to the tune of 26 & 13 a game then totally flop as an NBA player. Or seeing Marcus Banks drop 40/game in the D-League. Each level is its own thing & your skill set, attitude, work ethic & fit on a team is much more important. Your college production is a piece but only a small piece. This of course is my humble & meaningless opinion.

[Superbone]

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/n ... /29376221/

Boivin: The decision that shaped future of Suns' top pick Devin Booker

Seminal moments rarely reveal themselves right away. At the time, Devin Booker merely thought of it as a plane ride to Mississippi.

For a year, his father had tried to coax him from Michigan. Melvin Booker saw how gifted his son had become on the basketball court and believed several years of his tutelage could help take Devin to the next level.

The decision to let him go broke his mother's heart.

"It was hard. So hard," Veronica Gutierrez said, minutes after Devin, the Suns' first-round draft pick, was introduced to the media Friday at US Airways Center.

Read more...

[SDC]

He averaged 41 percent from three at Kentucky. Yes, please.

I wouldn't mind seeing a Knight/Booker backcourt.

he shot only 82% of his FT, and the 3pt distance in college is shorter. but yeah, has the potential to be good.

[Split T]

I don't think 82% warrants an only. 82% is good

[Superbone]

I don't think 82% warrants an only. 82% is good

Right, since 90% is about as good as it gets.