2018/19 Draft and Offseason

[Barkley]

The draft order was decided last week with my hopeless Suns finally winning the lottery. With what looks to be a pretty healthy draft class there should be a few winners on June 21st.

There is really only two names being thrown around for the 1st pick, DeAndre Ayton from Arizona and Luka Doncic from Slovenia.
I think the Suns will draft Ayton no. 1 but there is something quite intriguing about this 19yo Slovenian kid who just won the Euro League plus every Euro award to go with it.

First Round
1. Phoenix
2. Sacramento
3. Atlanta
4. Memphis
5. Dallas
6. Orlando
7. Chicago
8. Cleveland (from Brooklyn via Boston)
9. New York
10. Philadelphia (from Los Angeles Lakers via Phoenix)
11.Charlotte
12. LA Clippers (from Detroit)
13. LA Clippers
14. Denver
15. Washington
16. Phoenix (from Miami)
17. Milwaukee
18. San Antonio
19. Atlanta (from Minnesota)
20. Minnesota (from Oklahoma City via Utah)
21. Utah
22. Chicago (from New Orleans)
23. Indiana
24. Portland
25. Los Angeles Lakers (from Cleveland)
26. Philadelphia
27. Boston
28. Golden State
29. Brooklyn (from Toronto)
30. Atlanta (from Houston via LA Clippers)

Second Round
31. Phoenix
32. Memphis
33. Dallas
34. Atlanta
35. Orlando
36. New York (from Chicago via Oklahoma City)
37. Sacramento
38. Philadelphia (from Brooklyn)
39. Philadelphia (from New York)
40. Brooklyn (from Los Angeles Lakers via Toronto and Orlando)
41. Orlando (from Charlotte via Phoenix and Memphis)
42. Detroit
43. Denver (from LA Clippers via New York and Philadelphia)
44. Washington
45. Brooklyn (from Milwaukee)
46. Houston (from Miami via Memphis)
47. Los Angeles Lakers (from Denver via Chicago and Utah)
48. Minnesota
49. San Antonio
50. Indiana
51. New Orleans
52. Utah
53. Oklahoma City
54. Dallas (from Portland via Denver)
55. Charlotte (from Cleveland via Brooklyn and Philadelphia)
56. Philadelphia
57. Oklahoma City (from Boston)
58. Denver (from Golden State)
59. Phoenix (from Toronto)
60. Philadelphia (from Houston)

 

[BuderusIsaBeast]

Ayton and Doncic both look like terrific prospects. But for mine Doncic should be number 1. What he has done in the euroleague is incredible plus what he has done in international competition. I don’t think most pundits in the USA understand how good he is.
Mo Bamba also looks a terrific prospect and if he can get that 3 point shot to fall constinetly he could be the best player in the draft

 

[Barkley]

I'm torn between Ayton and Doncic and so are most Suns fans. Historically someone like Ayton would go no.1 all day everyday but it's not a big man league anymore. The closest thing to a dominant big man in either conference final is Capela or Horford. In saying that drafting the next potential KAT or Embiid isnt a bad thing.

Doncic at 6'8 can play 1,2or3 and is more suited to the modern game. My main concern is that great Euro players don't always transition into great NBA players. The Suns got burnt by drafting Croatian Dragan Bender at 4 in 2016

Bamba had a great combine, he should get picked up in the top 5.

 

[BuderusIsaBeast]

I'm torn between Ayton and Doncic and so are most Suns fans. Historically someone like Ayton would go no.1 all day everyday but it's not a big man league anymore. The closest thing to a dominant big man in either conference final is Capela or Horford. In saying that drafting the next potential KAT or Embiid isnt a bad thing.

Doncic at 6'8 can play 1,2or3 and is more suited to the modern game. My main concern is that great Euro players don't always transition into great NBA players. The Suns got burnt by drafting Croatian Dragan Bender at 4 in 2016

Bamba had a great combine, he should get picked up in the top 5.

Congratualtions aswell for winning the lottery, well deserved after being pushed back to 4th so man years. It's such a tough choice you would almost be happy to be the Kings and take which ever isnt choosen at 1. I really don;t think you guys can go wrong though. Both should be great players and I can see both fitting in really well in Phoenix.

Who would you like in FA? rumors of a max deal offered for Capela

 

[shiznit]

I seriously can’t figure out why Doncic isn’t by far the #1.

 

[AusKnightRKO]

I seriously can’t figure out why Doncic isn’t by far the #1.

If he had played college, he would be far the number one, He was the best player in Euro league and at his age even more impressive, Kings praying he falls to Two.

 

[Barkley]

So happy with this draft so far, Ayton at No.1 and trading for Mikal Bridges at 10.

I’d like to know what Orlando is going to do after drafting Mo Bamba. I am assuming they will trade Biyombo.

 

[Rod]

I don't know if we'll be able to get rid of that Biyombo contract. Will probably just have to grin and bear unless we package it with a good asset.

Vucevic still has trade value, and I imagine that's the way we'll go. Get a point guard/scorer, and let Bamba, Isaac and Gordon have all the frontcourt minutes with Biyombo as backup.

 

[shiznit]

If anyone wants a good laugh I recommend going into a Lakers fan forum... and read a Paul George thread...

It’s comedy gold...

They start off completely confident almost at the point of arrogance at the thought anyone would even consider OKC over the Lakers... PG was a definite to go to the Lakers and they needed to make sure they could get Lebron...

Then someone posted some rumour from Westbrook’s barber who said PG13 was going to resign with OKC at 12:01 and not even take a meeting with the Lakers...

Then they all turned on him... he became a bum... the guy they never needed anyway... and he should enjoy 1st round exits while Lebron and Kawhi win rings... yes... apparently they have already signed Lebron and Kawhi...

Then it changes to... Paul George didn’t turn down meeting with the Lakers... It was Magic who turned down meeting him so he had no choice to sign with OKC...

All over a stupid rumour from basically a fan..

I think LA are still strong favourites to sign him...

 

[shiznit]

With all the Lebron, PG13 & Kawhi news dominating the news cycle...

One move that’s gone under the radar which could have a bigger effect than any of those others... Deandre Jordan has opted out of his Clips deal and would be interested in signing a mid-level deal with the Warriors.

Talk about filling the only hole that team has... I don’t care what the Lakers do... if the Warriors sign a true centre like Jordan it’s over...

 

[shiznit]

 

[shiznit]

 

[edabomb]

Okc are hilarious. Opening up the cheque book six years too late.

 

[shiznit]

Okc are hilarious. Opening up the cheque book six years too late.

Yeah I don’t get that criticism... it’s not just you... I’ve heard it a few times...

It’s called learning from your mistakes...

They obviously f**ked up bigtime by trading Harden instead of paying the extra needed.

I get that..

But they actually do pay the money this time and they still get criticised for it.

 

[edabomb]

Yeah I don’t get that criticism... it’s not just you... I’ve heard it a few times...

It’s called learning from your mistakes...

They obviously f**ked up bigtime by trading Harden instead of paying the extra needed.

I get that..

But they actually do pay the money this time and they still get criticised for it.

Also they'd have a lot more financial security this far into the life of the franchise.

I just think they are paying a crazy amount for a team that at the absolute best will make the Conference Finals. I can't see any version of Westbrook and George that is efficient enough to challenge Houston or GSW. Injuries can always happen though.

 

[shiznit]

Also they'd have a lot more financial security this far into the life of the franchise.

I just think they are paying a crazy amount for a team that at the absolute best will make the Conference Finals. I can't see any version of Westbrook and George that is efficient enough to challenge Houston or GSW. Injuries can always happen though.

But what would you have them do??

Unless someone has created a time machine I’m not aware of they can’t go back and change the Harden trade.

They managed to make thE WCF a couple of times with KD... KD leaves to join the best team in basketball so they make due with what they have...

Presti then turns a declining Serge Ibaka into Vic Oladipo... they then pay Oladipo a big contract but he doesn’t really go well with Russ... so they flip Oladipo for Paul George... in a deal when it was made was unanimously hailed as a steal for OKC... as everyone said PG is a 1yr rental.. because he’s going to the Lakers... he’s now signed a 3+1.

Russ was supposedly going to leave for the Lakers also... he’s signed long term.

They turned Kanter’s terrible contract into Melo... admittedly on an even worse contract.. but at the time it was a risk worth taking.

There’s no excuse for Clay Bennett not allowing Presti to pay Harden the max... and I don’t think anything can change that...

But I’m not sure what Presti could have done with the cards dealt to him...

In fact considering what happened with KD leaving the way he did he did about as good a job as you can to re-tool and go back...

They certainly didn’t turn into the Cavs when Lebron left...

 

[edabomb]

Absolutely can't criticise what Presti has done to keep them relevant. Just seems OKC have gone from drafting those 3 MVP candidates to being a middling 50-55 win team, the worst place to be in the NBA.

I'm a jilted Sonics fan FYI.

 

[Barkley]

With all the Lebron, PG13 & Kawhi news dominating the news cycle...

One move that’s gone under the radar which could have a bigger effect than any of those others... Deandre Jordan has opted out of his Clips deal and would be interested in signing a mid-level deal with the Warriors.

Talk about filling the only hole that team has... I don’t care what the Lakers do... if the Warriors sign a true centre like Jordan it’s over...

DeAndre looks to be heading to Dallas....again. 1yr/24m

I’m so glad he didn’t go to the Warriors, there would be no point playing next season if he did.

 

[shiznit]

Absolutely can't criticise what Presti has done to keep them relevant. Just seems OKC have gone from drafting those 3 MVP candidates to being a middling 50-55 win team, the worst place to be in the NBA.

I'm a jilted Sonics fan FYI.

100% you’re right on the money....

And I wasn’t actually having a go at you... I’ve seen that comment all year.

The Thunder f**ked up on a monumental level considering who they drafted... they could well have had the greatest team ever.

They will have to live with that shit...

But other than blowing it all up and stinking for the next 5 seasons... I don’t know what else they could have done.

 

[Barkley]

Ariza to the Suns on a one year deal.

Chris Paul resigns for 4yrs/160m

D-Rose back to the Twolves for a year.