The Luka Doncic is Great, Woe is Us thread

[Superbone]

I of course badly wanted us to draft Luka, but as last season went on, I became content with Ayton over Luka. Ayton was extremely efficient, often shooting 7-9 or 11-14 or other gaudy numbers. Luka scored more and had more highlights, but he seemed out of control and inefficient. And Luka wasn't passing as much as I had thought he would, instead often opting to score himself. I figured that having Luka here would disrupt our offense and might take the ball out of Booker's hands. So Ayton, plus the offseason addition of my bae Rubio, seemed like a better roster construction to me than having Luka here crowding out our star Booker.

But it has been really hard seeing the huge leap Luka has taken this season. Now he's clearly the better player and may even be destined to be an all-time great. Ayton, it's quite unlikely that one will be able to say the same. That stings a lot. We had the #1 pick and could have taken him. We had his Euro coach for Pete's sake. And we pass him up to take a "pretty good" big from the local university. Talk about letting location crowd your thinking. Would any other GM in the league have done that?

Well, at least 2 other GMs/teams passed on him.

[Indy]

Coincidentally, I don't think Book would be here if we had drafted Luka. We might have ended up with Luka and Porzingis.

What makes you think we would have traded Booker?

[LazarusLong]

Coincidentally, I don't think Book would be here if we had drafted Luka. We might have ended up with Luka and Porzingis.

What makes you think we would have traded Booker?

Actually, not a bad take.
Booker has been the ball-dominant player for the Suns.
Doncic would have inherited the title and Booker might become miffed to be knocked out of the spotlight.
In this particular scenario, Book might have stayed a season or so, but would have been eventually dealt.
Pure speculation, of course...

[Indy]

Coincidentally, I don't think Book would be here if we had drafted Luka. We might have ended up with Luka and Porzingis.

What makes you think we would have traded Booker?

Actually, not a bad take.
Booker has been the ball-dominant player for the Suns.
Doncic would have inherited the title and Booker might become miffed to be knocked out of the spotlight.
In this particular scenario, Book might have stayed a season or so, but would have been eventually dealt.
Pure speculation, of course...

I see where you are going, but think we would have had them both at least for last year. I would think there would be no way the FO would have dealt Booker just because they selected Luka, unless Booker told them he wanted to leave.

[LazarusLong]

An interesting discussion. Even if Book and Doncic could co-exist, roster would have to be reconfigured to include some defensive aces.

[Nodack]

People would have complained just as much if we drafted Doncic instead of Ayton. Dodncic would be hurt by now if he was a Sun and Ayton wouldn’t have been caught or suspended most likely and putting up double doubles every night.

[ShelC]

Coincidentally, I don't think Book would be here if we had drafted Luka. We might have ended up with Luka and Porzingis.

What makes you think we would have traded Booker?

Actually, not a bad take.
Booker has been the ball-dominant player for the Suns.
Doncic would have inherited the title and Booker might become miffed to be knocked out of the spotlight.
In this particular scenario, Book might have stayed a season or so, but would have been eventually dealt.
Pure speculation, of course...

Exactly where I think it would've headed. Not to say they couldn't work together on the court, but it would've been obvious that Luka is the ball-dominant gamechanger and the guy you probably build around and that Devin, as great as he is, probably isn't the 2nd guy you want/need with Luka. We allegedly had discussions with the Knicks (or they had discussions with us) about a Booker-Porzingis swap during the 2017 draft and I think those convos might've led to a deal last winter when Porzingis fell out with the Knicks.

Had that happened, would Igor and McD still be here? We might have Luka and Porzingis, but might also still have Canaan at PG, Josh Jackson and TJ Warren on the roster.

[Shabazz]

I think Luka and Booker would have thrived together.

[Superbone]

I think Luka and Booker would have thrived together.

Yup, they can't double team both of them!

[Flagrant Fowl]

Coincidentally, I don't think Book would be here if we had drafted Luka. We might have ended up with Luka and Porzingis.

What makes you think we would have traded Booker?

Actually, not a bad take.
Booker has been the ball-dominant player for the Suns.
Doncic would have inherited the title and Booker might become miffed to be knocked out of the spotlight.
In this particular scenario, Book might have stayed a season or so, but would have been eventually dealt.
Pure speculation, of course...

IIRC, Booker reportedly told the FO that his preference was to draft Ayton.

[virtual9mm]

Let's see how Ayton responds. His first game was an eye opener.

[virtual9mm]

IIRC my own take was to throw every asset the Suns had except for the #1 and Booker to get another high pick. Imagine Booker, Ayton, and Doncic.

[SDC]

if suns drafted luka, booker will end up feeling like dsj.

[In2ition]

IIRC my own take was to throw every asset the Suns had except for the #1 and Booker to get another high pick. Imagine Booker, Ayton, and Doncic.

It might have worked if the Suns actually made a good pick the year before.

[In2ition]

if suns drafted luka, booker will end up feeling like dsj.

I don't think so, but he may be a little jealous over the attention that Luka got.

[virtual9mm]

IIRC my own take was to throw every asset the Suns had except for the #1 and Booker to get another high pick. Imagine Booker, Ayton, and Doncic.

It might have worked if the Suns actually made a good pick the year before.

Josh Jackson had SO much value when drafted, amazing how quickly he destroyed it. He still had some value before the marijuana incident.

[gosuns]

We could have had Luca, Bogdan and Booker, that would have been awesome to watch. Ayton just needs to get his head straight and he will be great. Everything is there in tearms of talent.

[Superbone]

Doncic with only 5 assists tonight. He couldn’t even get on the court in the fourth quarter.

[Ring_Wanted]

The Don is brutal and actually a part of me feels it's right that he is on the Mavs, of all franchises. I suspect that if he was here, he wouldn't get to be the best he can be.

[Charlie Smithy!]

Let's see how Ayton responds. His first game was an eye opener.

More like an Ay(e)...ton opener.


...yeah!