2018 Suns Pre-draft Workouts

[n4th4n]

You have to have a set of brass balls to move down off of Ayton. Ainge would do it but then again he has massive job security. McDonough? Doubt it seriously.

Thats only if you think Ayton is a transformational talent. If you do, absolutely do not move down, but if hes not Shaq with a J, then why not? I do think Ainge takes someone to school if he were 1st overall, but I agree with you, I think McD lives or dies with Ayton.

I think Ayton ends up being the 3-4th best player in this draft. That isn't to say I think he is going to be bad or anything though.

[INFORMER]

That's basically how I feel. I would be very surprised if Ayton turned out to be a bust. He should be a good player. I just don't think he is the best of what this draft has to offer.

[TOO]

Its weird, because Ayton could also end up the best player as well. It's just a good draft to high a pick in, excited.

[jonh]

That's basically how I feel. I would be very surprised if Ayton turned out to be a bust. He should be a good player. I just don't think he is the best of what this draft has to offer.

Im sure thats factoring into McD's thinking. He swung for the fences on potential with Goodwin, Bender, Chriss, and Len. Time to bang out a single/double.

[INFORMER]

He swung for the fences on potential with Goodwin, Bender, Chriss, and Len.

Those were swing for the fences picks?! Ugh.

[ShelC]

He swung for the fences with Bender and Chriss....more like hedging his bets IMO thinking at least one would work out and trying to give the Almighty Watson a say in things. Len was at one point considered the #1 prospect and I think the way we developed him really hurt him. Goodwin...I get the thinking there - low risk/high reward but I'm pretty sure if I would've sat down and talked to him for even 10 minutes, I would've been able to see he wasn't really for NBA life.

[INFORMER]

The term "best" could also be interpreted in different ways. Guys like Bamba and Jackson may never be 20 point per game scorers in the NBA, but their switching, rim protection and timely 3s could impact winning more than Ayton's 25-and-15 games with sub-par defense and contested midrange jumpers.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/2376 ... -1-overall

This is essentially where I am.

[INFORMER]

It's just a good draft to high a pick in, excited.

On the contrary, this is the one draft where having the first pick is doing the Suns a disservice.

[In2ition]

He swung for the fences on potential with Goodwin, Bender, Chriss, and Len.

Those were swing for the fences picks?! Ugh.

Haha, if wanted to swing for the fences he should have traded down with Min and gotten Giannis and Gobert.

[TOO]

It's just a good draft to high a pick in, excited.

On the contrary, this is the one draft where having the first pick is doing the Suns a disservice.

Disagree. There is no guarantee with these players, having your choice of the lot is always better than picking from the whats left. I know you don't value Ayton as highly as say JJJ but that doesn't make the pick less valuable.

[Cap]

It's just a good draft to high a pick in, excited.

On the contrary, this is the one draft where having the first pick is doing the Suns a disservice.

Disagree. There is no guarantee with these players, having your choice of the lot is always better than picking from the whats left.

But we don’t have INF’s choice of the lot. We have Sarver & McD’s choice of the lot.

[INFORMER]

It's just a good draft to high a pick in, excited.

On the contrary, this is the one draft where having the first pick is doing the Suns a disservice.

Disagree. There is no guarantee with these players, having your choice of the lot is always better than picking from the whats left. I know you don't value Ayton as highly as say JJJ but that doesn't make the pick less valuable.

It doesn't feel like a choice.

[Superbone]

It's just a good draft to high a pick in, excited.

On the contrary, this is the one draft where having the first pick is doing the Suns a disservice.

Disagree. There is no guarantee with these players, having your choice of the lot is always better than picking from the whats left. I know you don't value Ayton as highly as say JJJ but that doesn't make the pick less valuable.

It doesn't feel like a choice.

What are you talking about? Of course it's a choice. It's the first choice. Of all players available in this draft, we get the first choice.

[TOO]

It's just a good draft to high a pick in, excited.

On the contrary, this is the one draft where having the first pick is doing the Suns a disservice.

Disagree. There is no guarantee with these players, having your choice of the lot is always better than picking from the whats left. I know you don't value Ayton as highly as say JJJ but that doesn't make the pick less valuable.

It doesn't feel like a choice.

It's hard to argue against the most physically impressive big to come our way ever. You can very easily make the case for Ayton being the best prospect in the draft, easier than you can for probably anyone else, Doncic included. I mean if you have the no brainer selection, does picking what many seem to think is the 2nd or ever lesser prospect a better choice just because it's a choice?

[INFORMER]

I think the no-brainer narrative surrounding Ayton contradicts what the analysts have to stay with about some of the other prospects. Take the mock draft special on ESPN. Mike Schmitz essentially says you have to take Ayton, but then you hear him talk about some of the other top prospects and I can't help but think, "wait, if what you're saying is true about these prospects, how on earth can Ayton be a no-brainer?"

And let's be clear: after Steph Curry wowed in the Warriors 60 gazillion win season, there was a strong contingent, and I mean STRONG, saying that you needed to draft D'Angelo Russell first over Karl-Anthony Towns, because small guards are the difference-maker now. I wasn't on that boat.

So I am not just coming from the angle of "big men don't matter" blah, blah, blah; I am just talking about what matters most to winning basketball: Doncic's skillset meets that criteria better than Ayton. I see Ayton like the Nash-less Suns, circa 2003-04: talented, but ultimately just guys getting numbers and not winning at a high level. I think Doncic can an effect on this team the way Nash did in 2004.

[TOO]

I really like Doncic, but I do not think he's a PG, thus I do not think he can have the same sort of effect Nash had. I think he's a wing with an amazing basketball IQ, more Ginobili than Nash. Bamba is probably my favorite prospect in the draft, doesn't mean I'd take him over Ayton or Doncic because they both offer more in the long run offensively. I'm fine with any one of Ayton, Doncic, Bamba 1st overall myself.

[INFORMER]

I think he is just as much of a PG as Ben Simmons.

[In2ition]

I think he is just as much of a PG as Ben Simmons.

I agree with this and for the most part your previous post. I felt that Lonzo last year would improve everyone. I think Luka is a bigger better shooting Lonzo, but not looking to advance the ball quickly like Lonzo. Certainly better in the half court though, but still tries to push the pace. If you could figure out a way to get both, they would enhance each other's skills, along with Booker and Jackson.

[Superbone]

I think he is just as much of a PG as Ben Simmons.

Neither of them are point guards. They're both point forwards.

[Democritus]

I think the no-brainer narrative surrounding Ayton contradicts what the analysts have to stay with about some of the other prospects. Take the mock draft special on ESPN. Mike Schmitz essentially says you have to take Ayton, but then you hear him talk about some of the other top prospects and I can't help but think, "wait, if what you're saying is true about these prospects, how on earth can Ayton be a no-brainer?"

And let's be clear: after Steph Curry wowed in the Warriors 60 gazillion win season, there was a strong contingent, and I mean STRONG, saying that you needed to draft D'Angelo Russell first over Karl-Anthony Towns, because small guards are the difference-maker now. I wasn't on that boat.

So I am not just coming from the angle of "big men don't matter" blah, blah, blah; I am just talking about what matters most to winning basketball: Doncic's skillset meets that criteria better than Ayton. I see Ayton like the Nash-less Suns, circa 2003-04: talented, but ultimately just guys getting numbers and not winning at a high level. I think Doncic can an effect on this team the way Nash did in 2004.

THIS!
Thank you, INF. This sums up my thoughts. Could not explain myself better with my limited English. These 8-9 days will be very hard to focus on anything besides the draft. Damn, wish could teleport straight into the draft night.