With the FIRST pick in the 2018 NBA draft, the Phoenix Suns select...

[In2ition]

Or take Doncic and trade for DeAndre Jordan, who wants out of LA and seems close with Booker?

You may not have to trade for Jordan if he opts out of his player option, but to keep flexibility it's not a bad idea.

[ShelC]

Unless we take Ayton and somehow made a trade for a guy like Schroder, we desperately need a PG to put it all together.

[wpmiller42]

Unless we take Ayton and somehow made a trade for a guy like Schroder, we desperately need a PG to put it all together.

I honestly don't think it would take much to get him from Atlanta. I think they would easily flip him for Chriss, or even a future late first rounder.

[O_Gardino]

Is Trae Young a good facilitator? He seems like a shoot first, pass 2nd type of guard. Not sure why so many are high on him as our PG and facilitator.

He's an amazing passer with extraordinary vision, probably a better passer than a shooter.

I'm not even really a fan of Young, but that kid can pass and loves to pass.

[O_Gardino]

Oden failed because his body broke down, not because of a lack of ability.

Even when healthy, he wasn't anything special. He could block a shot or two, rebound pretty well, but didn't offer much on the offensive end. He wasn't going to be a star.

It was a really stupid pick by Portland. They were far too enamored with his size and ignored the better, more skilled player in Durant. This situation almost mirrors our situation which has me nervous.

This has happened so many times in history.

[O_Gardino]

The Best Doncic scouting video I've seen:

[youtube][/youtube]

[The Bobster]

Oden failed because his body broke down, not because of a lack of ability.

Even when healthy, he wasn't anything special. He could block a shot or two, rebound pretty well, but didn't offer much on the offensive end. He wasn't going to be a star.

It was a really stupid pick by Portland. They were far too enamored with his size and ignored the better, more skilled player in Durant. This situation almost mirrors our situation which has me nervous.

This has happened so many times in history.

Here is an article from THE OREGONIAN in 2007 describing Oden's potential -

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazer ... ature.html

This was the prevailing opinion at the time. Oden was a terrific prospect until he ended up having 5 knee surgeries (which included three microfractures).

Obviously if you go back and redraft that year you pick Durant because hindsight is 20/20, but hardly anyone criticized the Blazers for picking him until he started getting hurt.

[O_Gardino]

Oden failed because his body broke down, not because of a lack of ability.

Even when healthy, he wasn't anything special. He could block a shot or two, rebound pretty well, but didn't offer much on the offensive end. He wasn't going to be a star.

It was a really stupid pick by Portland. They were far too enamored with his size and ignored the better, more skilled player in Durant. This situation almost mirrors our situation which has me nervous.

This has happened so many times in history.

Here is an article from THE OREGONIAN in 2007 describing Oden's potential -

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazer ... ature.html

This was the prevailing opinion at the time. Oden was a terrific prospect until he ended up having 5 knee surgeries (which included three microfractures).

Obviously if you go back and redraft that year you pick Durant because hindsight is 20/20, but hardly anyone criticized the Blazers for picking him until he started getting hurt.

Of course it was prevailing opinion at the time. But the opinion is based on the physical measurements and not the bball ability. That article you posted doesn't mention hoops even once - it just praises his physical measurable. (The funniest irony of the article is them smashing Durant for his bench press when Oden did not even attempt the bench press for fear of re-injuring his wrist.)

That's what has some of us worried about Ayton. We keep hearing how big he is and how he can't fail because of how little body fat he has. I hope Ayton proves me wrong.

[The Bobster]

Scouts were enamored with Oden's physical skills and his basketball ability (he had just been a consensus All-American and led Ohio State to the title game). Same with Ayton - they need those physical skills because the NBA is a more athletic, quicker game which requires a lot more physically. Ayton has experience going out and guarding smaller players on the perimeter, but also has the size and strength to mach up with the centers of the league. Of course people evaluating him are going to mention that. But he's also shown that he's a terrific mid-range shooter, is a good rebounder and has a high skill set for his size. If people are expecting the same sort of highlight reel that we see for Doncic, they're going to be disappointed, but if they're looking for someone who can match up both offensively and defensively it's a clear choice to me.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

Crazy question:

IF Lebron were to choose Philly, and we take Ayton, how would a balanced Simmons-Booker trade should be? What pieces and in what direction?

Philly avoids having issues in playmaking balance and put a supreme shooter next to Embiid and Lebron, while we get our Engine to pair with Ayton and the rest of the core. Call it the reverse of the Doncic/DAJ pairing if you like.

[TOO]

Crazy question:

IF Lebron were to choose Philly, and we take Ayton, how would a balanced Simmons-Booker trade should be? What pieces and in what direction?

Philly avoids having issues in playmaking balance and put a supreme shooter next to Embiid and Lebron, while we get our Engine to pair with Ayton and the rest of the core. Call it the reverse of the Doncic/DAJ pairing if you like.

Personally, I'm not trading Booker for anyone not named Giannis. That's it.

[The Bobster]

Crazy question:

IF Lebron were to choose Philly, and we take Ayton, how would a balanced Simmons-Booker trade should be? What pieces and in what direction?

Philly avoids having issues in playmaking balance and put a supreme shooter next to Embiid and Lebron, while we get our Engine to pair with Ayton and the rest of the core. Call it the reverse of the Doncic/DAJ pairing if you like.

It would probably take Booker and at lease another asset.

Booker moves the needle a little, Simmons moves the needle a lot.

[UglyTruth]

https://mobile.twitter.com/DXContent/status/1004406218708963328 How does this make people feel knowing that Ayton compares physically to two of the most injury prone bigs drafted in the top 5 of the last 12 years?

[The Bobster]

Is it an orthopedic surgeon making the comparison?

[TOO]

https://mobile.twitter.com/DXContent/status/1004406218708963328 How does this make people feel knowing that Ayton compares physically to two of the most injury prone bigs drafted in the top 5 of the last 12 years?

He could've just as easily been compared to Steven Adams but wasn't because ya know, he's black.

[ShelC]

Crazy question:

IF Lebron were to choose Philly, and we take Ayton, how would a balanced Simmons-Booker trade should be? What pieces and in what direction?

Philly avoids having issues in playmaking balance and put a supreme shooter next to Embiid and Lebron, while we get our Engine to pair with Ayton and the rest of the core. Call it the reverse of the Doncic/DAJ pairing if you like.

It would probably take Booker and at lease another asset.

Booker moves the needle a little, Simmons moves the needle a lot.

LeBron goes to Philly because a guy like Simmons plays point and takes the load off in terms of handling and distributing the ball, which means less usage and minutes for LeBron. Booker can can help with that, but it would still be LeBron having to play point and dominate on the ball to get others involved.

[Superbone]

How does this make people feel knowing that Ayton compares physically to two of the most injury prone bigs drafted in the top 5 of the last 12 years?

He could've just as easily been compared to Steven Adams but wasn't because ya know, he's black.

Every human being is different. I currently have no reason to be worried about injuries with Ayton. He looks to have a superior and symmetrical human body in the David Robinson or Dwight Howard mold.

[TOO]

How does this make people feel knowing that Ayton compares physically to two of the most injury prone bigs drafted in the top 5 of the last 12 years?

He could've just as easily been compared to Steven Adams but wasn't because ya know, he's black.

Every human being is different. I currently have no reason to be worried about injuries with Ayton. He looks to have a superior and symmetrical human body in the David Robinson or Dwight Howard mold.

Mhmm.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

Crazy question:

IF Lebron were to choose Philly, and we take Ayton, how would a balanced Simmons-Booker trade should be? What pieces and in what direction?

Philly avoids having issues in playmaking balance and put a supreme shooter next to Embiid and Lebron, while we get our Engine to pair with Ayton and the rest of the core. Call it the reverse of the Doncic/DAJ pairing if you like.

It would probably take Booker and at lease another asset.

Booker moves the needle a little, Simmons moves the needle a lot.

LeBron goes to Philly because a guy like Simmons plays point and takes the load off in terms of handling and distributing the ball, which means less usage and minutes for LeBron. Booker can can help with that, but it would still be LeBron having to play point and dominate on the ball to get others involved.

Maybe he KNOWS it’s the right thing to do, but maybe he eventually will grow FEELINGS about it.
He nutered Kevin Love in Cleveland and run Kirye out, only Wade was capable to make him share the spotlight.

[JCSunsfan]

https://mobile.twitter.com/DXContent/status/1004406218708963328 How does this make people feel knowing that Ayton compares physically to two of the most injury prone bigs drafted in the top 5 of the last 12 years?

He could've just as easily been compared to Steven Adams but wasn't because ya know, he's black.

7-0, 255, 7-4.5