Suns News: 2019 Off-Season

[Split T]

How would you feel if we drafted Culver at #6?

I'll wait for Informer's analysis, but I'm starting to be a believer after seeing these two analyses:

https://www.theringer.com/nba-draft/201 ... -nba-draft
https://www.thestepien.com/2019/02/06/d ... tt-culver/

If he grows two more inches, a Kevin Love or a Draymond. If he can shoot a bit better, a Steve Smith or a Joe Johnson. If he projects lower, an Evan Turner or a Jalen Rose.

If we needed a home run (i.e. a potential superstar), he's likely to disappoint unless he grows into being the 6'10" PF. But if we want a player with a great feel for the game that would be a great complement to Booker and Ayton? Absolutely.

Come to think about it -- Joe Johnson would make a fantastic PF in today's game.

Just an FYI, those articles were written before the combine. Culver was officially measured at 6’6.75 with a 6’9.5 wingspan.
He was listed at 6’5, so it’s possible he’s still growing and will add another inch or two, but he’s not 6’8 or 6’9 like some people were thinking a few months back. And at 20 years old, I don’t think it’s likely he’s still growing. He’s got decent size for a wing, but I don’t expect he’ll ever be playing PF.

[Drewsprocket]

To me the case for keeping Jackson is twofold:

- He's (sort of) an asset, and we won't get much value for that asset right now. Perhaps we can wait and throw him into a trade or wait until some team wants to give us something for him later.

- He might still be playable in a different role. Maybe he could be a backup ballhandler who would run our offense when our starting PG is out, rather than as an SF. Or maybe this summer he hits the gym really hard and works on his game and comes into next season with some improved skills that make him better.

I do agree that we don't have a huge role for him right now, and that at SF I'd rather see Oubre and Bridges as our two SFs in the rotation.

If anybody could turn Jackson around, it would be Williams and his staff. I'm looking at it from a personal level. I get the impression Jackson hasn't had much of a father figure in his life. He needs some hard and fast rules on and off the court. He's got skills but they're all over the place and out of control. If we move on from him, so be it, wasted #4 and a huge miss not drafting Fox. However, there might be something salvageable here.

I wonder if there are stats on young NBA players with success post police arrest.

[Superbone]

Wow, Dinwiddie really wants to play here! "He likes us, he really likes us!"

[iLLmatic]

Could we draft Culver and say bye to Oubre if he demands too much?

[iLLmatic]

How would you feel if we drafted Culver at #6?

I'll wait for Informer's analysis, but I'm starting to be a believer after seeing these two analyses:

https://www.theringer.com/nba-draft/201 ... -nba-draft
https://www.thestepien.com/2019/02/06/d ... tt-culver/

If he grows two more inches, a Kevin Love or a Draymond. If he can shoot a bit better, a Steve Smith or a Joe Johnson. If he projects lower, an Evan Turner or a Jalen Rose.

If we needed a home run (i.e. a potential superstar), he's likely to disappoint unless he grows into being the 6'10" PF. But if we want a player with a great feel for the game that would be a great complement to Booker and Ayton? Absolutely.

Come to think about it -- Joe Johnson would make a fantastic PF in today's game.

Just an FYI, those articles were written before the combine. Culver was officially measured at 6’6.75 with a 6’9.5 wingspan.
He was listed at 6’5, so it’s possible he’s still growing and will add another inch or two, but he’s not 6’8 or 6’9 like some people were thinking a few months back. And at 20 years old, I don’t think it’s likely he’s still growing. He’s got decent size for a wing, but I don’t expect he’ll ever be playing PF.

I heard that was Pippens size

[Indy]

You haven't taken into account the possible affect Williams and his staff could have on Jackson's game.

Always the optimist. Keep drinking the Kool Aid my man

I like grape.

I have to ask if this was a joke or not. Do you really like grape flavored kool aid?

It was a joke but I do in fact like grape kool-aid. I haven't had it in like forever though. Why do you ask?

I was asking because I assumed nobody liked grape-flavored things because they never taste like grape--more of what grapes might taste like if they were made from off-the-shelf chemicals.

But there are a lot of fake grape flavored stuff out there, so I guess plenty of people like it.

[Indy]

Wow, Dinwiddie really wants to play here! "He likes us, he really likes us!"

It is so crazy to see him keep tweeting about it. I would go nuts if we traded for him. If we can do that and keep Booker, Ayton and Bridges, please make it happen.

[In2ition]

Always the optimist. Keep drinking the Kool Aid my man

I like grape.

I have to ask if this was a joke or not. Do you really like grape flavored kool aid?

It was a joke but I do in fact like grape kool-aid. I haven't had it in like forever though. Why do you ask?

I was asking because I assumed nobody liked grape-flavored things because they never taste like grape--more of what grapes might taste like if they were made from off-the-shelf chemicals.

But there are a lot of fake grape flavored stuff out there, so I guess plenty of people like it.

I always wondered the same thing about grapes, and then I finally had some grapes that tasted like the grape flavoring. I like grape flavoring tbh.

[In2ition]

Wow, Dinwiddie really wants to play here! "He likes us, he really likes us!"

It is so crazy to see him keep tweeting about it. I would go nuts if we traded for him. If we can do that and keep Booker, Ayton and Bridges, please make it happen.

It might only take Warren and the Mil pick depending on how things play out in FA. They have nearly matching contracts. Idk what's going to happen since the possibilities are endless this year, it seems.

[INFORMER]

How would you feel if we drafted Culver at #6?

I would be on the verge of vomiting if we added Culver while still having Warren, JJ, Bridges, and the intention of retaining Oubre. We can't keep spending resources bringing in wing players that all primarily will need to play the 3.

Culver is probably best player available when the Suns pick, if they stay at 6. I think he has All-Star potential. He can score off the bounce, has good athleticism, rebounds, and passes. His shot needs to become more consistent, but he definitely has range.

If the Suns drafted him, I would feel good about the Suns getting a good player, but I would still hate the roster and would feel that ultimately we hadn't made the team better.

[INFORMER]

If he grows two more inches, a Kevin Love or a Draymond. If he can shoot a bit better, a Steve Smith or a Joe Johnson. If he projects lower, an Evan Turner or a Jalen Rose.

I don't think any of those comps fit. I think Culver is more of a poor man's Clyde Drexler. He is better off the bounce than Smith was and more athletic than Joe Johnson. Smith was smarter, steadier.

I don't think you draft him thinking he will eventually play the 4. Split has correctly put into context those articles you cited. Culver is strictly a wing player.

[INFORMER]

Wow, Dinwiddie really wants to play here! "He likes us, he really likes us!"

This is crazy. There has to be something going here.

[INFORMER]

I would go nuts if we traded for him.

Me too. He is a stud.

[Superbone]

Always the optimist. Keep drinking the Kool Aid my man

I like grape.

I have to ask if this was a joke or not. Do you really like grape flavored kool aid?

It was a joke but I do in fact like grape kool-aid. I haven't had it in like forever though. Why do you ask?

I was asking because I assumed nobody liked grape-flavored things because they never taste like grape--more of what grapes might taste like if they were made from off-the-shelf chemicals.

But there are a lot of fake grape flavored stuff out there, so I guess plenty of people like it.

The really funny thing is that I've never equated grape kool-aid with the actual fruit, grapes. I really don't equate it to anything other than what it tastes like and I like it! I also like grape soda but I don't liken it to smashed grapes. But, you couldn't be more wrong. There are lots of us out there that like the flavor known as grape but not necessarily because it tastes like grapes.

[Split T]

Wow, Dinwiddie really wants to play here! "He likes us, he really likes us!"

This is crazy. There has to be something going here.

Not saying there isn’t something going on, but King and Dinwiddie both played at Colorado, I imagine at the same time. Still crazy that he’s been responding to so many suns related people on Twitter.

[Superbone]

How would you feel if we drafted Culver at #6?

I would be on the verge of vomiting if we added Culver while still having Warren, JJ, Bridges, and the intention of retaining Oubre. We can't keep spending resources bringing in wing players that all primarily will need to play the 3.

Culver is probably best player available when the Suns pick, if they stay at 9. I think he has All-Star potential. He can score off the bounce, has good athleticism, rebounds, and passes. His shot needs to become more consistent, but he definitely has range.

If the Suns drafted him, I would feel good about the Suns getting a good player, but I would still hate the roster and would feel that ultimately we hadn't made the team better.

What's it called when you see numbers upside down? Also, you don't follow BPA when it comes to the draft? I see your point especially in this draft where the disparity in available players isn't that great and more wings are the last thing we need.

[INFORMER]

Not saying there isn’t something going on, but King and Dinwiddie both played at Colorado, I imagine at the same time. Still crazy that he’s been responding to so many suns related people on Twitter.

Yeah, I just realized that. Sigh. He is just the guy the Suns need, and right now he is the only "option" that is worth the #6 pick.

[INFORMER]

What's it called when you see numbers upside down? Also, you don't follow BPA when it comes to the draft? I see your point especially in this draft where the disparity in available players isn't that great and more wings are the last thing we need.

Maybe I was dreaming of Marion and Amare.

And yes, usually I do lean more towards BPA, but between the minimal disparity between prospects, and how poorly this roster is constructed and the resources mismanaged, I think we do have to be flexible with the whole BPA approach.

[Superbone]

What's it called when you see numbers upside down? Also, you don't follow BPA when it comes to the draft? I see your point especially in this draft where the disparity in available players isn't that great and more wings are the last thing we need.

Maybe I was dreaming of Marion and Amare.

And yes, usually I do lean more towards BPA, but between the minimal disparity between prospects, and how poorly this roster is constructed and the resources mismanaged, I think we do have to be flexible with the whole BPA approach.

Makes perfect sense.

[In2ition]

Here's a decent case to make a run at Maxi Kleber.