Poll: Who should the Suns take at #4?

[ShelC]

PJ needs to go. TJ you can bring as a scorer off the bench. I'm not overly concerned with either.

[Shabazz]

I think a Booker/Butler 2/3 combo is completely viable and reasonable.

[JustWinBaby]

Trade Knight and #4 for Butler.

Draft Dejounte Murray at 13 and somehow get Brice Johnson later in first round or the best rebounder defender available. If we could trade Tucker to get a pick to get Johnson, I would be happy. I would also try to keep Mirza, within reason. I have no idea what that might be due to the new salary cap.

I really do not want to watch another season of Ronnie Price and PJ Tucker getting major minutes. Whatever moves cure that issue, count me in.

[Indy]

I think a Booker/Butler 2/3 combo is completely viable and reasonable.

And much, much preferable to the inevitable Knight/Booker 2/3 combo we will see this year.

[JustWinBaby]

I think a Booker/Butler 2/3 combo is completely viable and reasonable.

I agree and would love it.

[Split T]

Butler can play the 3 easily and I wouldn't hesitate to move Knight and #4 for him. Trading the 4th pick is probably my first option if guys like Butler and D'angelo Russell are really available.

[JCSunsfan]

Butler can play the 3 easily and I wouldn't hesitate to move Knight and #4 for him. Trading the 4th pick is probably my first option if guys like Butler and D'angelo Russell are really available.

Knight and #4 for Butler is reasonable. But we would have to find a way to move PJ. How about PJ, Archie, and #4?

[JustWinBaby]

Butler can play the 3 easily and I wouldn't hesitate to move Knight and #4 for him. Trading the 4th pick is probably my first option if guys like Butler and D'angelo Russell are really available.

I agree and am worried that if we draft either Bender or Chriss we are going to have another Alex Len on our hands. An uninspiring big that we keep hoping gets it for the next 5 years.

If we in fact use the pick I would pick Sabonis, Murray or Hield.

I really think we should focus on bigs that rebound and defend not bigs that can shoot the three. Looking at how important Tristan Thompson was for the Cav's, the loss of Bogut was for the Warriors (That was a huge loss that has gone unnoticed by many) and Steven Adams for OKC. We need someone to provide intensity and toughness every night on the front line. If we go back in history I expect every successful team has had at least one of those guys.

It drive me nuts when it is suggested that Alex Len could become a good outside shooter maybe out to the three point line. He needs to become Mr nasty while playing defense and rebounding better than his opponent every night, not just once in a while.

[Split T]

Butler can play the 3 easily and I wouldn't hesitate to move Knight and #4 for him. Trading the 4th pick is probably my first option if guys like Butler and D'angelo Russell are really available.

Knight and #4 for Butler is reasonable. But we would have to find a way to move PJ. How about PJ, Archie, and #4?

I don't think the bulls would have any interest in pj. They may not have any interest in knight either though. I know a lot of people on here love TJ, but I wouldn't hesitate to send him with the #4 for Butler either.

[JustWinBaby]

Butler can play the 3 easily and I wouldn't hesitate to move Knight and #4 for him. Trading the 4th pick is probably my first option if guys like Butler and D'angelo Russell are really available.

Knight and #4 for Butler is reasonable. But we would have to find a way to move PJ. How about PJ, Archie, and #4?

I don't think the bulls would have any interest in pj. They may not have any interest in knight either though. I know a lot of people on here love TJ, but I wouldn't hesitate to send him with the #4 for Butler either.

I would send Warren as well. I would go as far as to offer Knight, Warren and #4. I want Knight gone.

[Cap]

I really think we should focus on bigs that rebound and defend not bigs that can shoot the three.

The Bosnia native played a large chunk of his teenage years in Croatia as a guard and those skills have remained after his growth spurt. If he's not much of a post defender now, it's because he doesn't have a lot of experience there, and because he's still only 225 lbs. He's a skilled defender on the perimeter and shows good shot blocking instincts. When his maturing body adds mass and strength, and he learns post defense skills, there is every reason to believe he will be at least adequate at post defense, and maybe much better than adequate.

[Indy]

Butler can play the 3 easily and I wouldn't hesitate to move Knight and #4 for him. Trading the 4th pick is probably my first option if guys like Butler and D'angelo Russell are really available.

Knight and #4 for Butler is reasonable. But we would have to find a way to move PJ. How about PJ, Archie, and #4?

I am a little confused as to why you think it is more important to move PJ instead of Knight. PJ is an expiring vet. Knight is our biggest cap hit and only stands in the way of Booker. I would rather have two PJ Tuckers on this team than deal with one more month of Knight.

[Indy]

I really think we should focus on bigs that rebound and defend not bigs that can shoot the three.

The Bosnia native played a large chunk of his teenage years in Croatia as a guard and those skills have remained after his growth spurt. If he's not much of a post defender now, it's because he doesn't have a lot of experience there, and because he's still only 225 lbs. He's a skilled defender on the perimeter and shows good shot blocking instincts. When his maturing body adds mass and strength, and he learns post defense skills, there is every reason to believe he will be at least adequate at post defense, and maybe much better than adequate.

So he isn't used to batting underneath for boards? That is something we need.

[Cap]

I really think we should focus on bigs that rebound and defend not bigs that can shoot the three.

The Bosnia native played a large chunk of his teenage years in Croatia as a guard and those skills have remained after his growth spurt. If he's not much of a post defender now, it's because he doesn't have a lot of experience there, and because he's still only 225 lbs. He's a skilled defender on the perimeter and shows good shot blocking instincts. When his maturing body adds mass and strength, and he learns post defense skills, there is every reason to believe he will be at least adequate at post defense, and maybe much better than adequate.

So he isn't used to batting underneath for boards? That is something we need.

He's a project. He probably won't have much of an impact in his first year or two, especially in the paint.

If the main objective is to make the playoffs this season, there are probably other options available with #4 who can help more with that objective than Bender. Bender would be a pick made with an eye to the long term.

[Indy]

I really think we should focus on bigs that rebound and defend not bigs that can shoot the three.

The Bosnia native played a large chunk of his teenage years in Croatia as a guard and those skills have remained after his growth spurt. If he's not much of a post defender now, it's because he doesn't have a lot of experience there, and because he's still only 225 lbs. He's a skilled defender on the perimeter and shows good shot blocking instincts. When his maturing body adds mass and strength, and he learns post defense skills, there is every reason to believe he will be at least adequate at post defense, and maybe much better than adequate.

So he isn't used to batting underneath for boards? That is something we need.

He's a project. He probably won't have much of an impact in his first year or two, especially in the paint.

If the main objective is to make the playoffs this season, there are probably other options available with #4 who can help more with that objective than Bender. Bender would be a pick made with an eye to the long term.

Fair point. I just feel a project is more about refining skills and bodies, not teaching/turning a guard that got too big into a F/C. And I am generalizing a lot here, since I have never seen him play. That is just my philosophy on player development (and people for that matter). Focus on what you are naturally good and, and get to be great at it. Don't take something you are naturally bad at and try and get great at it. Especially in the NBA, you have to be great at it if you expect to compete with the top 0.000005% of people in the world that can play in the league.

[Indy]

Oh, and the object is not to make the playoffs. It is to build a team that can compete with home-grown talent as our stars. Buying stars usually leads to mediocre performance.

[In2ition]

Chad Ford said this morning that Bender is more ready to contribute now than Chriss is. I think his length, feel for the game, motor and lateral quickness for a big are huge enticements. I don't necessarily need a 7'1" PF to have a 36" vertical. I would rather he have freaky lateral quickness.

[Cap]

I really think we should focus on bigs that rebound and defend not bigs that can shoot the three.

The Bosnia native played a large chunk of his teenage years in Croatia as a guard and those skills have remained after his growth spurt. If he's not much of a post defender now, it's because he doesn't have a lot of experience there, and because he's still only 225 lbs. He's a skilled defender on the perimeter and shows good shot blocking instincts. When his maturing body adds mass and strength, and he learns post defense skills, there is every reason to believe he will be at least adequate at post defense, and maybe much better than adequate.

So he isn't used to batting underneath for boards? That is something we need.

He's a project. He probably won't have much of an impact in his first year or two, especially in the paint.

If the main objective is to make the playoffs this season, there are probably other options available with #4 who can help more with that objective than Bender. Bender would be a pick made with an eye to the long term.

Fair point. I just feel a project is more about refining skills and bodies, not teaching/turning a guard that got too big into a F/C. And I am generalizing a lot here, since I have never seen him play. That is just my philosophy on player development (and people for that matter). Focus on what you are naturally good and, and get to be great at it. Don't take something you are naturally bad at and try and get great at it. Especially in the NBA, you have to be great at it if you expect to compete with the top 0.000005% of people in the world that can play in the league.

Anthony Davis played guard for at least his first two years in HS. It didn't take him long to learn to be an effective big man, and the fact that he still has his guard skill is a big part of what makes him such a dominant player. Granted, he was a lot further along in his development when he entered the league than Bender is, but it shows that the concept is viable.

[Indy]

I am not opposed to having a guy that played guard now play PF/C. I do like the idea of taking those skills with you. But nobody is saying Bender is anywhere at that level.

And for the record, I am not opposed to drafting him. I am too ignorant to be opposed to it right now.

[Cap]

Chad Ford said this morning that Bender is more ready to contribute now than Chriss is. I think his length, feel for the game, motor and lateral quickness for a big are huge enticements. I don't necessarily need a 7'1" PF to have a 36" vertical. I would rather he have freaky lateral quickness.

That freaky lateral quickness and his current skill set may mean he's more ready to contribute as a SF than as a PF.

In the best case scenario, that he adds mass and strength without losing that lateral quickness, he could be an awesomely versatile combo forward, capable of playing either forward spot, as well as center in some match ups.