Pick Watch 2018

[pokerface]

I have seen this multiple times that the Grizzlies prefer Doncic. As Pokerface says, I have seen this about the Magic as well.

I did read about the Magic too somewhere. As far as the Knicks that was just speculation on my part.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I did read about the Magic too somewhere. As far as the Knicks that was just speculation on my part.

There’s a reason those are some of the worst franchises in the league.

And hey, I hope you’re right! That just increases odds Ayton falls to us in case we don’t get number 1. I’m just super dubious.

 

[SirStefan32]

I consider myself to be a Doncic fan. I don't think he is the next superstar, but I think he will be a very good player. That said, there is no chance in hell anyone passes on Ayton and his potential to draft Doncic. I think he may end up being a better player in five years, but guys who are built like Ayton don't grow on trees. Having a corpse of Marc Gasol on my roster is not going to make me change my mind.

 

[Hoop Head]

I consider myself to be a Doncic fan. I don't think he is the next superstar, but I think he will be a very good player. That said, there is no chance in hell anyone passes on Ayton and his potential to draft Doncic. I think he may end up being a better player in five years, but guys who are built like Ayton don't grow on trees. Having a corpse of Marc Gasol on my roster is not going to make me change my mind.

I agree with that but the Grizzlies owner is close with Gasol, which makes the situation a little harder to predict. If he was willing to eat Fizdale's contract on Gasol's request then there is a possibility he listens to Gasol in regards to who they select with their pick. If they get #1 overall do they take Ayton and try to make it work with Gasol? Do they try to move Gasol while he still has value? Or do they take the next best player so Gasol stays and is happy? I think the stays and is happy option is the most likely to happen if they get the #1 pick. I don't agree with it and I'm sure Memphis fans wouldn't either but that doesn't matter, the owner will do whatever they want. We've seen that happen here too often.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I agree with that but the Grizzlies owner is close with Gasol, which makes the situation a little harder to predict. If he was willing to eat Fizdale's contract on Gasol's request then there is a possibility he listens to Gasol in regards to who they select with their pick. If they get #1 overall do they take Ayton and try to make it work with Gasol? Do they try to move Gasol while he still has value? Or do they take the next best player so Gasol stays and is happy? I think the stays and is happy option is the most likely to happen if they get the #1 pick. I don't agree with it and I'm sure Memphis fans wouldn't either but that doesn't matter, the owner will do whatever they want. We've seen that happen here too often.

but never with a possible generation C at the top of that draft. The NBA just DOEN'T pass those up. Ever.

 

[Hoop Head]

but never with a possible generation C at the top of that draft. The NBA just DOEN'T pass those up. Ever.

Doncic is viewed as a generational talent by a lot of people outside of this board. I'm not saying I agree with doing that but it wouldn't shock me if it were to happen. I'd be happy if it did because that would give the Suns a shot at Ayton. Some here have even said if we sign Igor as our coach that means we'll take Doncic, regardless of whether we pick #1 or #2, and while I don't like that option it's possible. You're down on Doncic and because of that you refuse to believe that some teams view him ahead of Ayton but that doesn't make it false. Look at some mock drafts out there, you'll see Doncic going ahead of Ayton in a few them now. It depends on who gets the #1 pick.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Doncic is viewed as a generational talent by a lot of people outside of this board. I'm not saying I agree with doing that but it wouldn't shock me if it were to happen. I'd be happy if it did because that would give the Suns a shot at Ayton. Some here have even said if we sign Igor as our coach that means we'll take Doncic, regardless of whether we pick #1 or #2, and while I don't like that option it's possible. You're down on Doncic and because of that you refuse to believe that some teams view him ahead of Ayton but that doesn't make it false. Look at some mock drafts out there, you'll see Doncic going ahead of Ayton in a few them now. It depends on who gets the #1 pick.

I saw some of the same stuff being said about freaking Darko. It's click bait and nothing more.

Want to make a sig bet? I guarantee Ayton is the first pick no matter who gets it. If he's not, you can make my sig say anything. Hell, I'll even guarantee that whoever gets the first pick doesn't even trade out.

There's no way Ayton goes second in this draft.

 

[pokerface]

but never with a possible generation C at the top of that draft. The NBA just DOEN'T pass those up. Ever.

You keep saying "generational" cheese...yeah potentially he is. But others act like he has holes and don't act as high on him. He's not #1 in every mock draft I've seen.

 

[pokerface]

Doncic is viewed as a generational talent by a lot of people outside of this board. I'm not saying I agree with doing that but it wouldn't shock me if it were to happen. I'd be happy if it did because that would give the Suns a shot at Ayton. Some here have even said if we sign Igor as our coach that means we'll take Doncic, regardless of whether we pick #1 or #2, and while I don't like that option it's possible. You're down on Doncic and because of that you refuse to believe that some teams view him ahead of Ayton but that doesn't make it false. Look at some mock drafts out there, you'll see Doncic going ahead of Ayton in a few them now. It depends on who gets the #1 pick.

Absolutely poop, I was trying to think of a percentage but I think a solid 20% of the polls I've seen have Doncic ahead of Ayton.

Also like you said "generational" has been said or heavily implied throughout the media...and fan forums regarding Doncic

 

[Cheesebeef]

You keep saying "generational" cheese...yeah potentially he is. But others act like he has holes and don't act as high on him. He's not #1 in every mock draft I've seen.

I acknowledge he has holes. I also acknoweldge the reality of the NBA and the draft and that reality is a potentially generational C ALWAYS goes above a potentially generational swing-man... or even PG, especially one from Europe.

That's not to say it's right or wrong. It just is what it is.

And again, those mocks saying otherwise are the same click-bait crap that had people saying Darko could be better than LeBron.

 

[pokerface]

I acknowledge he has holes. I also acknoweldge the reality of the NBA and the draft and that reality is a potentially generational C ALWAYS goes above a potentially generational swing-man... or even PG, especially one from Europe.

That's not to say it's right or wrong. It just is what it is.

And again, those mocks saying otherwise are the same click-bait crap that had people saying Darko could be better than LeBron.

Hopefully we don't need to test any theories and just draft #1. Makes things real simple.

 

[Hoop Head]

I saw some of the same stuff being said about freaking Darko. It's click bait and nothing more.

Want to make a sig bet? I guarantee Ayton is the first pick no matter who gets it. If he's not, you can make my sig say anything. Hell, I'll even guarantee that whoever gets the first pick doesn't even trade out.

There's no way Ayton goes second in this draft.

What sort of bet is that? I think Ayton will go first. There is a small chance he won't though and you refusing to accept that is nothing more than stubborness. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I believe Ayton should go #1 but it's not guaranteed that he will. I'd say it's like a 95-5 chance at this time.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Absolutely poop, I was trying to think of a percentage but I think a solid 20% of the polls I've seen have Doncic ahead of Ayton.

Also like you said "generational" has been said or heavily implied throughout the media...and fan forums regarding Doncic

Cmon though really? 7-1 with a 7-5 wingspan. Body built like a Greek god. Moves like a guard. Has all the post moves. Shoots well and has range out to the three. Rebounds excellently. Guards players out to the three point line. Score and rebounds so well he seems almost bored with the college game. AND NO INJURY HISTORY AT ALL! And someone is going to pass on that that for a slow footed 6-7 Euro who shoots 32% from three, plays marginal defense and still has his baby fat? He can pass, I will grant that.

 

[Cheesebeef]

What sort of bet is that? I think Ayton will go first. There is a small chance he won't though and you refusing to accept that is nothing more than stubborness. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I believe Ayton should go #1 but it's not guaranteed that he will. I'd say it's like a 95-5 chance at this time.

it's really not stubbornness. It's reality. Like Darnold going number 1 on Thursday. So much ridiculous chit chat so that people can either stake a claim if by some miracle they're right or to generate click, but the reality is things like that are set in stone, IMO.

 

[pokerface]

Cmon though really? 7-1 with a 7-5 wingspan. Body built like a Greek god. Moves like a guard. Has all the post moves. Shoots well and has range out to the three. Rebounds excellently. Guards players out to the three point line. Score and rebounds so well he seems almost bored with the college game. AND NO INJURY HISTORY AT ALL! And someone is going to pass on that that for a slow footed 6-7 Euro who shoots 32% from three, plays marginal defense and still has his baby fat? He can pass, I will grant that.

There 'might' be one or two teams in the lottery that would pass on Ayton for Doncic. Doncic is multipositional and more tested than Ayton and offers a different type of game. I think of Doncic more as a "glue" piece that makes a team play more cohesively.

You guys need to remember too that a team might have other plans for center. They might be scoping Cousins or some other big and want Doncic to round the team out. Or already have bigs they are somewhat content with. Example..NY has Porzingis and he has a lot of respect for Doncic. He played against him in euro games. Now Kristaps had some recent health issues and NY may feel they wouldnt get an adequete return in trade right now. Plus Porzingis has been disgruntled at times. I think drafting Doncic could make Kristaps a happier camper in NY. Drafting Ayton might rock the boat.

 

[Hoop Head]

There 'might' be one or two teams in the lottery that would pass on Ayton for Doncic. Doncic is multipositional and more tested than Ayton and offers a different type of game. I think of Doncic more as a "glue" piece that makes a team play more cohesively.

You guys need to remember too that a team might have other plans for center. They might be scoping Cousins or some other big and want Doncic to round the team out. Or already have bigs they are somewhat content with. Example..NY has Porzingis and he has a lot of respect for Doncic. He played against him in euro games. Now Kristaps had some recent health issues and NY may feel they wouldnt get an adequete return in trade right now. Plus Porzingis has been disgruntled at times. I think drafting Doncic could make Kristaps a happier camper in NY. Drafting Ayton might rock the boat.

There are a number of reasons a team may take Doncic ahead of Ayton but it doesn't really matter because the Suns should be looking at Ayton as their top choice, whether they draft at #1 or #2. Maybe McD can get Ayton to skip workouts for the team at #1 if the Suns land at 2 so he falls to them? He managed to work a deal with Jackson last year. I think it's less likely that happens with Ayton because players want to go #1 overall for a few reasons, ego probably means more than the difference in money. The Suns should aim for Ayton though and if he's not there then they can plan on taking Doncic or Bagley at #2. I can't wait until the lottery takes place so we know where we'll be selecting. I think if draft order was set the coaching search might have ended already. Potential coaches would like to know where the Suns will draft this year because the difference between getting Ayton at #1 and say Bamba at #4 is huge. Ayton should help improve the Suns by 8 wins or so, while Bamba might only account for 1 or 2 extra wins next year.