The Draft Lottery is about 3 hours away. Phoenix gets Atlanta's pick if the Hawks don't get one of the top 3 slots. The Suns have a 62% chance of landing the pick (which would be between 4th and 7th). I ran ESPN's lotto program 50 times and the Hawks only got in the top three 15 times (30%) meaning the Suns would've received the pick 35 times (70%). If you were wondering the #1 pick went to: Grizzlies (13), Celtics (12), Bucks (12), Sonics (6), Blazers (3), Hawks, T-Wolves, Pacers, and Clippers. I've heard the Suns have at least some interest in Yi Jianlian, ESPN's lotto machine seems to think the Suns would pick Corey Brewer if he's available. Outside of Oden and Durant, I like Brandan Wright, he's got good size and a lot of potential. Brewer would probably be my next choice, though for the Suns I'm not sure he would fit as they already have Bell and Barbosa, maybe he could play the 3 (Marion's future with the team is in doubt) though he'd need to gain some weight. Then I'd go for Mike Conley Jr. the best PG in the draft, Phoenix could use a good backup until he's ready to take over. I haven't seen much of Yi Jianlian, but I'd be way too afraid of the bust factor with him, if I'm picking top 5, I'm picking somebody who I know is going to be a starter for many years. Picking Al Horford would be like getting a shorter Amare, though with less offensive skills. Then depending what Phoenix does with its roster, Julian Wright and Joakim Noah are possibilities (though a reach if the Suns have the 4th or 5th pick), Wright is a lot like Diaw, and Noah would play the Marion role with less range. All of this could be moot if Atlanta gets a top 3 pick, so let's hope percentages win out and Phoenix gets a top 5 pick!
I think Julian Wright would be a real good fit for you guys. I've also seen you guys taking Yi Jianlian which wouldn't be a bad pick
Somebody close this thread before I cry. The Hawks got the third pick meaning it won't go to the Suns. Their highest pick is now the 24th pick acquired in some other trade followed by their own 29th. Given the Suns draft history and their salary cap issues, I don't think they'll keep them. They'll probably still try to use both of them combined as trade filler before the draft.
<div class="quote_poster">Downtown Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Yes, it's unprotected next season so they get it no matter what pick it is.</div> You guys should accept OJ Mayo with open hands
RIGGED! Stern %@#*ed us again!! Ok just kidding I don't think there is any draft conspiracy. But why didn't Stern suspend the Hawks pick for standing and moving up a spot? Atlanta will add #3 and #11 to a pretty talented roster, so I don't know how high next year's pick will be... I'd love for Atlanta to struggle and the Suns finally get a break and get Mayo, why not have the next best PG learn from the current best PG. But that's probably just a dream, I really think the Hawks may be a Playoff team next year with the right picks and if they stay healthy -- keep in mind they are in the East. At 3 they could take Mike Conley Jr, giving them the PG they need so badly and at 11 they may grab Spencer Hawes, the Center they have also been lacking. A lot of people are high on Hawes, I even heard somebody today say they thought he was the best Center in the draft (I think they forgot about Oden though). Atlanta could finally complete their roster through this draft, so I'm not predicting a very high pick next year. I hope the Suns keep these picks, we should be looking into developing some young guys who may be able to break the 8-man rotation some day. I've liked Marco Belinelli (SG/PG) for a while now since I first read his scouting report, he plays both guard spots, is great at getting open without the ball, is deadly from 3, has a quick release, some compare him to Ray Allen; plus he's Italian, D'Antoni can't pass him up! I've read a bit on Petteri Koponen (PG), he makes great decisions with the ball, hits the 3, and runs the pick & roll very well -- which is exactly what Nash does. I don't know if either will ever be more than a good role-player, but at 24 and 29 you can't expect to do much better. Also I'm not sure how far Tiago Splitter will fall, but if he's as good as the hype over the last few years (a few years ago he was rated in the top 5-10, but he keeps pulling out of drafts), I wouldn't mind taking a chance on him. I'd avoid the Centers late in the draft, we can pick up some rookie FA to give us 6 fouls, no need to waste a 1st rounder on Gray, Gasol, Visser, etc. Marco Belinelli http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbY6klh0edQ
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting scorbutic:</div><div class="quote_post">Atlanta could finally complete their roster through this draft, so I'm not predicting a very high pick next year.</div> Exactly why I want to cry. This year's draft is much deeper than this year's free agent pool, and with the changes that are obviously needed to get past the San Antonio hump (since Kurt Thomas wasn't enough) I can't really decide what's next for the Suns. I doubt they'd get a sleeper at 24 or 27 in the draft, but you never know.
I don't think we should worry about other teams, let's focus on how to make this team better; like I said above, in the draft I really like Belinelli, I think he can be the next Dan Majerle. He's not going to help against Duncan, but who knows what's going to happen next year, what if Phoenix has the best record, Dallas beats the Spurs in round 2 and Phoenix faces Dallas, then we'd have wasted money and picks on guys to stop Duncan. What if Portland gets in the Playoffs and beats the Spurs in Round 1? Nobody knows what's going to happen, so the Suns can't think about the Spurs, they need to keep getting better and faster... Barbosa is great, but he was off in the Spurs series, that's the benefit of depth, and Belinelli would fit right into the Suns system. Crittenton, Pruitt, or Koponen could be Nash's backup next year, Banks obviously wasn't the answer and even with Barbosa or Diaw running the show the Suns end up losing leads when Nash goes out, a Nash-like PG could at least keep the lead until Nash can make it back in. Little things like that could be the answer to the Suns getting over the hump finally... I don't think we need any major change, just a few bodies who can come off the bench and keep the scoring up (why D'Antoni signs old vets to sit on the bench and never play is beyond me, some of those could be young guys learning and ready to step in when somebody goes down or gets suspended unfairly).
i feel for you guys i myself am not a suns fan although they are one of the most enjoyable teams in the nba to watch. that said i am a blazers fan and things are finally looking up for us but you guys got raped. stern is an idiot he took that series away from you guys. i am officially done with the nba for this year if the spurs would have legitimately beat you guys...fine. but the didnt cheap shot bob got rewarded for his dirty play. the nba is rediculous sometimes. and on top of that you didnt get atlantas pick sorry for you guys' misfortune and down with david!
Yeah I'm a laker fan and I hate the suns with a passion but I honestly have turned off the playoffs because what the NBA did to the suns is an insult to the game of basektball.
I started with a lot of percentages and stuff, so I'll throw out another one. After the Blazers won the first pick (5.3%) and the Sonics won the second (9.2%), the Hawks only had a 13.8% chance of getting the 3rd pick (seeing as the teams with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd most chances were still in the mix) meaning the Suns had a 86.2% chance of getting the pick (which in all likelihood would've been 6th -- if the Grizz, Cs, or Bucks would've received the 3rd pick). Here I thought it was bad when the Suns lost the 50% chance of landing Lew Alcindor, this time they lost out on a 86.2% chance! In '87 the Suns received the 2nd pick in the equal-weight lottery, missing out on the top pick by one spot, #1 that year was David Robinson, #2 was Armon Gilliam. So the Suns haven't been very lucky when it comes to draft order, they've just done really well with their picks (Majerle 14th, Ceballos 48th, Dumas* 46th, Person 23rd, Finley 21st, Nash 15th, Marion 9th, Amare 9th, Barbosa 28th) * Drugs ruined Dumas' future, but he was very athletic and fun to watch
<div class="quote_poster">scorbutic Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">RIGGED! Stern %@#*ed us again!! Ok just kidding I don't think there is any draft conspiracy. But why didn't Stern suspend the Hawks pick for standing and moving up a spot? Atlanta will add #3 and #11 to a pretty talented roster, so I don't know how high next year's pick will be... I'd love for Atlanta to struggle and the Suns finally get a break and get Mayo, why not have the next best PG learn from the current best PG. But that's probably just a dream, I really think the Hawks may be a Playoff team next year with the right picks and if they stay healthy -- keep in mind they are in the East. </div> Why get Mayo? I'd get Rose or Gordon, they're both complete studs and are better in the running game....
I just mentioned Mayo because Brian had alluded to him, plus he's been a household name for a while. I kind of forgot about Rose, either way I don't know much about either yet, just the hype, I haven't even seen good tape on either of them... as long as the Suns have a replacement for Nash when he retires I'll be happy.
