2015 NBA Draft

[Dan H]

I see TJ as a garbage guy, which isn't really all that bad a thing. You don't necessarily have to run plays for him and he'll get 12-14 points and some boards just out of natural ability. Marion started out the same way, TJ just needs playing time.

[JCSunsfan]

OE32, I'm going to have disagree with your takes on the draft. I think mistakes will be made, but it's looking like a pretty good draft. Especially for bigs.

Dekker is a nice player. 6'9" sf, with athleticism, range, some ball handling and willing to pass and play defense. Yeah, no one likes those kind of players. He must suck, because he's white.

I like Hollis-Jefferson better than Dekker, myself. Since Dekker's a pure SF, I worry about drafting him because of fit with our squad. We going to sit him behind TJ forever? I also don't think he's a high-potential type. I don't think I have these thoughts because he's white, but who knows. I think Stanley Johnson is way overrated, if that means anything.

There seem to be a lot of bigs, but none of them are really catching my eye. Maybe Christian Wood, but he's thin as a rail. I'd inquire into Upshaw, but he seems crazy. Harrell might be good. Right now, my guy is Looney, because he's got long arms, a wide base, gets blocks and steals, and hits from downtown. Maybe he can be a better rebounder than Kieff, with the ability to stretch the floor.

I think last year's draft was loaded relative to this one. But then, there seem to be a lot of 1's going in the first round, and frankly, I don't have time to evaluate 1's. I think scouting 1's is tougher because you have to get a feel for their decision making and leadership.

Other than your... endorsement... of Dekker, who do you like in our range?

This does bring up that old, draft for need or BPA argument. I don't think you can go all the way either way. If it is at all close, draft for need. If a player is clearly the BPA, take him.

Just my 2 cents.

[OE32]

OE32, I'm going to have disagree with your takes on the draft. I think mistakes will be made, but it's looking like a pretty good draft. Especially for bigs.

Dekker is a nice player. 6'9" sf, with athleticism, range, some ball handling and willing to pass and play defense. Yeah, no one likes those kind of players. He must suck, because he's white.

I like Hollis-Jefferson better than Dekker, myself. Since Dekker's a pure SF, I worry about drafting him because of fit with our squad. We going to sit him behind TJ forever? I also don't think he's a high-potential type. I don't think I have these thoughts because he's white, but who knows. I think Stanley Johnson is way overrated, if that means anything.

There seem to be a lot of bigs, but none of them are really catching my eye. Maybe Christian Wood, but he's thin as a rail. I'd inquire into Upshaw, but he seems crazy. Harrell might be good. Right now, my guy is Looney, because he's got long arms, a wide base, gets blocks and steals, and hits from downtown. Maybe he can be a better rebounder than Kieff, with the ability to stretch the floor.

I think last year's draft was loaded relative to this one. But then, there seem to be a lot of 1's going in the first round, and frankly, I don't have time to evaluate 1's. I think scouting 1's is tougher because you have to get a feel for their decision making and leadership.

Other than your... endorsement... of Dekker, who do you like in our range?

This does bring up that old, draft for need or BPA argument. I don't think you can go all the way either way. If it is at all close, draft for need. If a player is clearly the BPA, take him.

Just my 2 cents.

I mean, I agree, it's just that I'm so underwhelmed that I can't say anyone's BPA. McD's stated philosophy is that we take the guy we think will have the best NBA career. I expect he'll follow through on that.

There are plenty of reasons to think Dekker's mediocre that have nothing to do with the color of his skin. He's a junior. He's rising up draft boards because of his performance in the tournament - a trend which has a pretty negative history. He doesn't sport an awesome 3FG%. He's a solid, but not spectacular rebounder. Not a shot creator (1 apg). Doesn't get steals or blocks. I don't get it.

Hollis-Jefferson, meanwhile, was a projected lotto pick not too long ago. He's a sophomore with similar stats - only better in every category but 3FG% and turnovers. He's acknowledged as a lockdown defender. I'm confused as to why his stock has fallen so far.

I like Poeltl. He's white. Dekker's rising up the boards currently, based on his tournament performance... I don't get why... I just... oh whatever.

[DrSublime]

TJ reminds me alot of Ceballos.

[Cap]

Take a drink every time someone compares TJ to Ceballos. Two drinks for Marion.

[LazarusLong]

Take a drink every time someone compares TJ to Ceballos. Two drinks for Marion.

Suns version of "Hi, Bob!"

[Charlie Smithy!]

TJ = Michael Jordan...

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[In2ition]

Dekker is a good player and he's been on the radar for much longer than just this tournament. He was on the radar in the regular season of last year, when he was 6'7" and has since grown 2 inches. He's a long, athletic, skilled player. The Suns sure need some shooting.

[Mori Chu]

I think Stanley Johnson is way overrated, if that means anything.

Yup. This. He's a decent player but he mostly disappeared in the tournament to my casual eyes. And I haven't caught a lot of performances by him that got me very excited.

[Dan H]

I don't really understand the hype about how players play in the tournament. If a guy has had a great college career and he has a few bad games come March, so what? It happens. Conversely, if a guy is mediocre and then plays lights-out it seems to artificially pump up their stock. Looking at you, Ed Pinckney.

[OE32]

Dekker is a good player and he's been on the radar for much longer than just this tournament. He was on the radar in the regular season of last year, when he was 6'7" and has since grown 2 inches. He's a long, athletic, skilled player. The Suns sure need some shooting.

Plenty of players in last year's draft had better bona fides as shooters than Dekker. Dude isn't shooting 40% from college 3, and he's a junior. I don't think he's the shooter people think he is. Maybe you just think he can shoot because he's white.

[In2ition]

Dekker is a good player and he's been on the radar for much longer than just this tournament. He was on the radar in the regular season of last year, when he was 6'7" and has since grown 2 inches. He's a long, athletic, skilled player. The Suns sure need some shooting.

Plenty of players in last year's draft had better bona fides as shooters than Dekker. Dude isn't shooting 40% from college 3, and he's a junior. I don't think he's the shooter people think he is. Maybe you just think he can shoot because he's white.

Ha ha

[Superbone]

TJ = Michael Jordan...

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18 drinks.

[The Bobster]

Warren really doesn't remind me much of Ceballos - Ced was a great garbage man when he came into the league, but he really didn't even have a good mid-range game. Warren was a big-time scorer in college, and can generate his own shot a lot better than Ced could.

Same with Marion. Marion and Ceballos were live bodies you scored quite a few of their points on the offensive boards and in the open court. Warren also does that to some extent, but is a better half court offensive player than either of them were when they were young.

The big plus with Marion was his defensive rebounding and defense were so much better than Ced or T.J.

[MightyMoog]

Warren reminds me more of a Grant Hill, Paul Pierce, Ricky Pierce type. As a rookie he has pros feel around the basket until about 12-14 feet out. He could stand to eventually add a 3 pt shot and some defense and rebounding. But of all our guys he's the only one with true starting all-star potential. Don't know if it'll happen, but I'm more sure that the others, Len, Bledsoe, Knight and Morris will probably only make an all star roster once or twice in their career.

[Superbone]

The summer league comparison for TJ was Bernard King. Big shoes, I know.

[carey]

I see TJ as a garbage guy, which isn't really all that bad a thing. You don't necessarily have to run plays for him and he'll get 12-14 points and some boards just out of natural ability. Marion started out the same way, TJ just needs playing time.

[youtube][/youtube]

I'm not sure they resemble each other that much. Maybe a little.

[The Bobster]

That video is six years into Ceballos' career - he had expanded his game somewhat by then. But if you watch it, it reminds you how just how good he was around the basket for his size. He always managed to find the ball, and he always managed to get a shot up.

The Bernard King/Warren comparison is an interesting one - he has a quick mid-range game like King, he's just nowhere near as good as King was in his prime - but then again, King might have been one of the greatest mid-range scorers of all-time.

[carey]

That video is six years into Ceballos' career - he had expanded his game somewhat by then. But if you watch it, it reminds you how just how good he was around the basket for his size. He always managed to find the ball, and he always managed to get a shot up.

There's not a lot of Ceballos highlight videos floating around that aren't the dunk contest. Most are of his Lakers days. Ced was a player that knew what his game was and didn't try to play outside of it and in that respect Warren and Ced are a bit alike. Going over his career numbers I was surprised to see a couple of seasons of 21ppg scoring in there. I don't remember why but he only played 10 seasons and retired at 31. Was it injuries? He never played 82 games and there are a lot of 50 or 40 game seasons. Was he just a magnet for little maladies that would keep him out?

[JCSunsfan]

I don't really understand the hype about how players play in the tournament. If a guy has had a great college career and he has a few bad games come March, so what? It happens. Conversely, if a guy is mediocre and then plays lights-out it seems to artificially pump up their stock. Looking at you, Ed Pinckney.

Its easy to grasp. That the only time most people (including sports media types) watch those players.

You have to love Warren. He has already improved his game since he was drafted. His production is more efficient with the Suns than he was in college. I would so much love to find a starting pf this summer, move TJ to the starting position at SF. Move PJ to the starting 2. Then bring Knight, Wright, and the Morrii off the bench.

Simply adding a high level, starting pf would do wonders for this team. If Bledsoe can't hack it as the starging pg, bring Knight in as the starter and bring Eric off the bench.