The Official 2008 Draft Thread 2.0

[rsavaj]

Well, now that it's official, here's our roster:

Nash/DJ
Bell/LB
Hill/Tucker
Amare/Diaw
Shaq/Lopez

Meh.

Ultimate meh.

[BurningHeart]

Let's trade Lopez down to about 19 or 20 and grab Chalmers!

[flanpaw42]

people around here have been saying we need to get a defensive minded big for the past 4 years. now we got one. i for one am happy with this pick. he doesnt suck on offensive and he is a very good defender, oh and he is over 6'8. its about time....


also many seem to forget that we can't really trade barbosa or diaw until july due do byc. so i am not sure we are done dealing.... at least i hope we arent done... .anyway you slice it we actually used our pick and it is at a position that everyone cries that we need defensive help. he can also come in right away which is something that the other picks couldnt really do.

[mckane]

Horrible. I watched Lopez play several times this year. He should be a second round pick, if that.
Steve Kerr is ruining this team more and more each day. I'm convinced he's still working for the Spurs.
Horrible horrible waste of a good draft pick. Much better talent available at this slot. And Lopez will get pwnd at the NBA level.
I was an avid suns fan for so many years. Kerr is ruining everything good about this team.

[JustMoe]

You know what... I am not a huge fan of Robin.... but I am FREAKING HAPPY that we kept the pick and used it!!!!!

It's either Lopez or a stack of Cash in Sarver's wallet. Here's hoping we actualy use the pick.

Pf, relax mate, there are still several trade exceptions out there we might be going for

[rasheed44]

OMG with Arthur available you can't pick this specimen

[mckane]

The Suns front office gets an epic fail for what they've done/not done over the last year.
Total disappointment. So much better talent available. Can't wait to hear Kerr try and spin this... going to throw up in my mouth..

[nba_addict]

False hopes ladies and gentleman. This is so disappointing.

Tinsley + 17th pick for Barbosa please. Urgs...

[garrick]

You know what... I am not a huge fan of Robin.... but I am FREAKING HAPPY that we kept the pick and used it!!!!!

It's either Lopez or a stack of Cash in Sarver's wallet. Here's hoping we actualy use the pick.

Pf, relax mate, there are still several trade exceptions out there we might be going for

Wouldn't Hibbert be better than Lopez?

[rsavaj]

DX: "Jarrett Jack, Josh McRoberts and the #13 pick (Rush) for #11 (Jerryd Bayless)"

Bayless
Roy
Fernandez
Aldridge
Oden

I give up.

[TASTIC]

Robin Lopez

Strengths
-hustle
-defence
-shotblocking
-rebounding
-passion
-foot speed for a 7 footer

Weaknesses
-no offensive skills per se
-no range
-not particularly agile
-free throw shooting
-not very fluid

Where he fits
I think it's safe to say this spells the end for Brian Skinner on the Suns. We now have a cheaper, younger scrapper type PF/C who will spell Amare and Shaq. Not surprisingly he's comparable to Anderson Varejao, Andres Biedrins, and Jeff Foster.
Good size for a 19year old, and a nice nasty streak which should earn him some minutes.

Potential
I think this guy will top out at a Ben Wallace-lite type player, maybe 8-10pts (off garbage points/putbacks) and anywhere from 9-11 rebounds, with 2-2.5blks - if he can stay out of foul trouble. He might top out as a Tyson Chandler type guy, but I don't think he has that level of athleticism, though he's no slouch and is (I think) a better athlete than his brother.

Best Choice?
I think with Rush off the board, and #15 being a little high for guys like Chalmers and CDR, this is a safe pick, and clearly not spectacular. Many of us booed it and said there were better options out there (Arthur, Jordan, Speights to name a few), but he is what he is - a safe, BIG rookie who will work his tail off.

Where to now?
You have to think we aren't done dealing, with another rumoured deal of Barbosa to CLE for Pavlovic and #19 (Chalmers?)...I would do this deal, as Pavlovic is a nice enough player off the bench, with decent athleticism and good ball handling.

[TASTIC]

DX: "Jarrett Jack, Josh McRoberts and the #13 pick (Rush) for #11 (Jerryd Bayless)"

Jack
Roy
Fernandez
Aldridge
Oden

I give up.

How is Jack there still chief?
I think they overpaid for Bayless...

[amitg]

what a crappy trade by indy.
trade the #11 for the #13 and jack?

i can't believe we couldn't provide a better offer....

well, now we know that barbosa won't be heading to portland or indiana.
and the raps don't have that #17 anymore.

[TASTIC]

Wait, so IND has acquired Jack and Ford AND they have Tinsley still there?

Bird's clearly not done yet

[Sarlonus]

Stop being so doom and gloom, guys. We need defense. We got a defender. It isn't a pretty selection but it is not a bad selection.