2017 Suns NBA Draft (4th, 32nd, 54th)

[Mori Chu]

Dear Lakers,

If you pass on Ball, please PLEASE announce that LaVar was the reason. I don't care whether it's true or not, just say it.

I agree. It would be great to have him served a slice of humble pie.

[Cap]

Dear Lakers,

If you pass on Ball, please PLEASE announce that LaVar was the reason. I don't care whether it's true or not, just say it.

yes, please!

but, either LA wants Ball so bad that they are playing needless mind games so he doesn't go #1
or
they really have strong doubts and this is pressure for Ball to step up and for his father to step down

This isn't coming from the Lakers. If it were, Jordan Schultz wouldn't be the one "breaking" it.

[JCSunsfan]

If the Lakers pass on Ball, I doubt Philly will take him. You know what that means?

McD will not pass on Ball if he is there (unless Jackson is also there, and maybe not even then).

[Flagrant Fowl]

If the Lakers pass on Ball, I doubt Philly will take him.

You're a big fan of TJ McConnell, Jerryd Bayless and Sergio Rodriguez?

[TOO]

If the Lakers pass on Ball, I doubt Philly will take him.

You're a big fan of TJ McConnell, Jerryd Bayless and Sergio Rodriguez?

They've been pretty upfront about having Simmons run the offense this year.

[In2ition]

If the Lakers pass on Ball, I doubt Philly will take him.

You're a big fan of TJ McConnell, Jerryd Bayless and Sergio Rodriguez?

They've been pretty upfront about having Simmons run the offense this year.

Yeah, I think they envision him as a Magic type pg. Defense against pgs is what they would need. So they will most likely target Jackson first and foremost and try to improve his shooting.

[Split T]

I think Philly would jump at the chance to draft ball. Just imagine the potential of Simmons and Ball running the fast break together, they'd be lethal. It would also allow ball to play off the ball in the half court more which I think would be beneficial to his development.

[In2ition]

I think Philly would jump at the chance to draft ball. Just imagine the potential of Simmons and Ball running the fast break together, they'd be lethal. It would also allow ball to play off the ball in the half court more which I think would be beneficial to his development.

Taking the ball out of Ball's hands in the halfcourt would help is development? How does that work?

[Split T]

He's not a great half court pg right now. He's got almost zero experience in the pick n roll and can't really create his own shot unless it's a step back 3. Letting him be a secondary ball handler would take pressure off him and allow him to develop those skills without forcing the issue. I expect he'll be a pretty dangerous spot up shooter as well.

[Flagrant Fowl]

If the Lakers pass on Ball, I doubt Philly will take him.

You're a big fan of TJ McConnell, Jerryd Bayless and Sergio Rodriguez?

They've been pretty upfront about having Simmons run the offense this year.

I'll be skeptical until I see him do it. A lot of people seem to forget that he couldn't shoot the last time he played.

I still maintain that drafting Ball would be their best move simply because it's a massive upgrade at the position, regardless of what they say they want to do with Simmons in the offense.

[Bruiser]

Yea that Shultz is a clown. BUT, if the lakers do take Fox (who I think is rising fast) and the Sixers take Jackson....we could have a shot at Ball. I think you have to take him there.

Ok, so I wasn't completely sure about that to be honest but yeah, I guess you are right, we would probably have no choice but to take him if he falls to us @4.

If this actually happens (which seems to be highly unlikely, listening to everybody here) it might actually be somewhat better for us than getting him @2 because it would put Lavar at least a little bit into place and it would put another chip on his shoulder to work even harder ...

[ShelC]

At the very least we'd have a trade chip.

[O_Gardino]

He's not a great half court pg right now. He's got almost zero experience in the pick n roll and can't really create his own shot unless it's a step back 3. Letting him be a secondary ball handler would take pressure off him and allow him to develop those skills without forcing the issue. I expect he'll be a pretty dangerous spot up shooter as well.

One of the reasons I think he would be successful here.

[O_Gardino]

If the Lakers pass on Ball, I doubt Philly will take him.

You're a big fan of TJ McConnell, Jerryd Bayless and Sergio Rodriguez?

They've been pretty upfront about having Simmons run the offense this year.

I'll be skeptical until I see him do it. A lot of people seem to forget that he couldn't shoot the last time he played.

I still maintain that drafting Ball would be their best move simply because it's a massive upgrade at the position, regardless of what they say they want to do with Simmons in the offense.

And that he only dribbles with his left hand and only shoots with his right hand. I hope he's good, because he would be a fun addition the the league. But I'll stay skeptical until I see him play.

[ShelC]

I don't think I've seen this comparison thrown out there but Ball does kind of remind me of Shaun Livingston. He's a good halfcourt passer with designed sets and finding cutters, but had very little exposure/experience in the PnR. If he can play with a lead guard in a PnR offense and just stand in the corner and shoot, he can be effective. I don't see him running PnR and turning the corner or stepping into a jumper if the big lays back.

[O_Gardino]

I don't think I've seen this comparison thrown out there but Ball does kind of remind me of Shaun Livingston. He's a good halfcourt passer with designed sets and finding cutters, but had very little exposure/experience in the PnR. If he can play with a lead guard in a PnR offense and just stand in the corner and shoot, he can be effective. I don't see him running PnR and turning the corner or stepping into a jumper if the big lays back.

Yep. And I think he will pair well with a score-first PG similar to how well Livingston and Barbosa played together in GS.

[Split T]

Would you start bled, booker, and ball? Bledsoe is another guy that fits very well alongside ball. Again, defense would be the big worry.

[In2ition]

If the Lakers pass on Ball, I doubt Philly will take him.

You're a big fan of TJ McConnell, Jerryd Bayless and Sergio Rodriguez?

They've been pretty upfront about having Simmons run the offense this year.

I'll be skeptical until I see him do it. A lot of people seem to forget that he couldn't shoot the last time he played.

I still maintain that drafting Ball would be their best move simply because it's a massive upgrade at the position, regardless of what they say they want to do with Simmons in the offense.

And that he only dribbles with his left hand and only shoots with his right hand. I hope he's good, because he would be a fun addition the the league. But I'll stay skeptical until I see him play.

I'm not sure if you are being sarcastic or not. He only dribbles with his left hand? And only shoots with his right hand? If we're talking long distance shots, that's normal to only shoot with one hand. If you are around the basket, he uses both. And, he also dribbles with either hand pretty well. You made these assertions, then say he would be a fun addition to the league, but you haven't seen him play? I'm all kinds of confused on this, sorry.

[O_Gardino]

I would bring the rookie off the bench, and figure out the rotation as the season goes on. I think you can get Ball 28ish minutes pretty easily coming off the bench. It makes it tough to get Ulis minutes, though.

Ideally (and I know I'm out on a limb for this one) if Ball falls to 4, I try to move Bled and pick up Monk. I think Booker / Ball / Monk / Ulis would make some awesome matchup problems for other teams as long as you don't play Ulis and Monk together for very long. I think Ball and Monk both have very high BBall IQ and both play very well at speed.

[O_Gardino]

You're a big fan of TJ McConnell, Jerryd Bayless and Sergio Rodriguez?

They've been pretty upfront about having Simmons run the offense this year.

I'll be skeptical until I see him do it. A lot of people seem to forget that he couldn't shoot the last time he played.

I still maintain that drafting Ball would be their best move simply because it's a massive upgrade at the position, regardless of what they say they want to do with Simmons in the offense.

And that he only dribbles with his left hand and only shoots with his right hand. I hope he's good, because he would be a fun addition the the league. But I'll stay skeptical until I see him play.

I'm not sure if you are being sarcastic or not. He only dribbles with his left hand? And only shoots with his right hand? If we're talking long distance shots, that's normal to only shoot with one hand. If you are around the basket, he uses both. And, he also dribbles with either hand pretty well. You made these assertions, then say he would be a fun addition to the league, but you haven't seen him play? I'm all kinds of confused on this, sorry.

Yeah, I wasn't very clear. But there's no sarcasm above.

I've seen him play in college, I'm just not convinced that he will be a star in the NBA. I'm not skeptical that he can play, I'm skeptical that he will be a star.

People talk about how he is ambidextrous, but when you watch is highlights, 90% of his scoring highlights come from driving to the basket with his left hand, then switching the ball to his right hand for a stiff dunk over the defender. He dribbles a bit with his right and scores with his left when he's open or there's no pressure. But when a defender is on him, it's dribble left dunk right. That worked great in college, where he was both faster and bigger than most defenders. In the NBA, guys are going to be ready for that move, and he will need other options if he is going to truly run an offense.