The Suns have the tenth pick in the upcoming 2020 NBA draft, prompting Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic to wonder if Iowa State combo guard Tyrese Haliburton might drop to Phoenix. Haliburton, who touts his own passing ability as second to none among this year’s prospects, was also a high-level shooter in college.
“I’m coming in as a guy who can make shots,” said Haliburton. “And someone who can facilitate at a high level and I think I’m a really good off-ball defender. My IQ is very high. I know where to be at the right time.”
Rankin sees the 6’5″ guard as being able to eventually supplant Ricky Rubio as All-Star Devin Booker‘s eventual backcourt partner.
There’s more out of the Grand Canyon State:
- Suns head coach Monty Williams recently discussed the intense team practices that helped spark the team’s 8-0 run during the NBA’s Orlando restart, according to Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic in a separate piece. Booker and forward Dario Šarić, specifically, took the competitive practices to another level. “I’ll never forget Dario was kicking all of the [bigs’] butts playing one-on-one against the bigs and Book was on the other end whipping up on the guards,” Williams said.
- Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic weighed in on a recent hypothetical Bleacher Report trade idea, a one-for-one swap of Booker for All-Star Sixers guard/forward Ben Simmons. Rankin postulated that Booker’s terrific all-around offensive ability, which appeared to take a leap during the NBA’s summer Disney World restart, is ultimately more valuable than Simmons’ more limited two-way game.
- We recently passed along word that Sixers assistant coach Kevin Young has joined Williams’ staff as an assistant coach with the Suns.
Well-rounded and skinny guy Haliburton will drop to 10 only if Knicks get Ball.
Who says no?
Trade suggestion from Bleacher Report. The deal is that the Sixers send Simmons to the Phoenix Suns for star guard Devin Booker in a straight-up deal.
Suns
IMO
Ben Simmons has more value. I am higher on Ben Simmons.
IMO
Simmons is LeBron type of player and Booker is Kobe type of player.
No way the Suns should take that deal. They are just starting to gel as a team. Breaking up the core by moving Booker now would be idiocy.
At this point I’m doubting Ben Simmons will ever add a jumpshot and would stick with Booker. Think he’s the better player and less injury history
That analogy is completely backwards. Simmons is a 2-way player, just like Kobe was, although he’ll never come close to being Kobe.
Only Sixers fans should think that Simmons has more value than Booker.
The same Booker that spent years being a ball hog and defensive liability, except for a few months this year?
I don’t disagree that the Suns will pass on a Booker Simmons trade. I just don’t think it’s that crazy an idea.
Let me think about it. No. Lol. Booker is the face of the Suns. Suns have other assets like Oubre, 10th and pieces to add talent, not subtract. Jones is building this team to be a winner and has the perfect coach in Monty. 2021 will finally be the year the Suns are back in the playoffs.
Suns already have Ayton on the inside…adding Simmons creates a similar problem that 76ers have so I think the Suns would reject it.
Simmons for Booker? Laughable. Had Simmons not played on the bias coast everyone would of had forgotten him already.
Halliburton is not getting past Knicks or Wiz. Only way Knicks pass on him is if players drop. He is a 2way player who runs the point. Not plays PG. Thibs is not passing on him. Plus getting him helps to move players for other needs. Knicks will upgrade this yr. Randle, Knox, Nttilikina, Smith all could be gone.
Suns will never trade Booker. Stop reading nonsense. Why even respond to this. Rubio has played well with Booker and Ayton. This team looked gd closing out season. They will give it a yr to seethe real Suns. Suns are good young team. They just need time to mesh. They gave a good pick this yr.
Haliburton is falling outside the top 5. End of story but I like that the suns are looking at skilled players and what they need.
I think they should take Cole Anthony, him and Booker in the backcourt would be similar to Dame and CJ. Cole Anthony, Going into his college season he was expected to be a top 3 pick but has fallen down but he still managed to put up 18.5 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. 0.6 points less than Anthony Edwards (expected top 3) but with more rebounds and more assists.
The two knocks on Cole was his 38% FG and his score first mentality. With his shooting he shot 35% from 3 and 75% at the line and with time will prove to be more efficient from the field, he just had a down year. In reference to being a score first PG isn’t that most of the leagues top guards. Curry, Irving, Dame, Trae Young all these guys are score first guys like Cole. He still managed 4 assists per game and in the NBA I think will average 5-6 maybe 7 per game which is fine.
I think him and Devin Booker would be crazy good together. Both great scorers inside and out. Both can pass the ball well and most importantly both have the want to win mentality. The Suns could have two roughly 25-5-5 guards, leading the team to multiple playoffs. Considering they have Ayton at centre and Oubre on the wing they don’t really have a huge need for youth outside of point guard and aside from Haliburton I think Cole is a clear and obvious number 2.
Halliburton has never been in top 5. Only Bulls might pull the trigger. But I doubt they pass on Deni or BLA. I think Deni is on their radar. Cavs not taking Halliburton. So he will go 6-8. Hawks are a team who could trade up. Pistons n Knicks can use a PG. Pistons could go for Hayes. Who many think has bigger upside. Knicks need a floor leader now. Halliburton plays both ways. Something Thibs loves. He adds more weight and muscle. Which he should. He is a solid pick for us. At a position of need.
Cole is the one who has dropped. Do you know he was a triple double guy in HS. Well he really didn’t show that in NC. He took bad shots and bad decisions. Some say it’s because he had to score on a bad offensive team. IMO he needs time to develop. Backing Rubio for a yr is not a bad thing. And playing with scorers on Suns. Could bring out the playmaker in him. At one time he was considered a top 5 lock. So I would think there is talent there. He will go in lottery.
My prediction
1. TWolves – Anthony Edwards
(Trade) 2. Atlanta- LaMelo Ball
3. Hornets – James Wiseman
4. Bulls – Deni Avdija
5. Cavs – Obbi Toppin
(Trade) 6. GSW – Killian Hayes
7. Pistons – Tyrese Haliburton
8. Knicks – Precious Achiwura
9. Wizards – Onyeka Okungwu
10. Suns – Cole Anthony
11. Spurs – Devin Vassell
12. Kings – Issac Okoro
The GSW/ATL trade
Kevin Hueter, Dwayne Dedmon and the 6th pick for the 2nd pick and a future second.
Wolves make obvious pick, Hawks get Ball to pair with Trae and Collins in a future big 3. Hornets grab Wiseman, Bulls get a wing, Cavs get a great pick with Tobbin. Hayes fits GSW perfectly, Pistons get their point, Knicks make a reach in the draft, Wizards get a steal, Suns get a surprise with how good Cole is. Vassell falls to the Spurs, Kings get a defender.
I’m surprised, but you actually make a lot of sense with your analysis here. I disagree with a couple of your picks, but you make a good case. I don’t think Hayes is as good a fit for the Warriors as you. If the 6 and 9 picks were flipped and probably the 8 & 12, I think I would agree here.
The big disagreement would be how LaMelo would fit on a team with Trae Young. They both seem to need the ball too much to be good together. I think Wiseman is a much better fit for them on paper, especially with Dedmon being dealt in this scenario. They also have two lottery picks from last year at the wing in Hunter and Reddish. I just think big man is much more needed for them.
On the end of that deal, I think Ball would be good for the Hornets as well. They need a marquee name and Ball is the closest thing to a marquee name in this draft. I don’t think Ball will end up as a great NBA player, but he could make the Hornets a less forgettable team, especially for television.
Firstly I think Hayes is a great fit as he’s experienced overseas but young. He’s also able to play both guard positions, has a high IQ, can do everything well but doesn’t excel at 1 particular thing. In that GSW system he would develop nicely.
Which lead to you saying swap 6 and 9. Don’t think GSW need a centre if they get Dedmon and already have Looney and Chriss on the roster.
As for picks 8 and 12 I’m kinda with you. I just expect the Knicks to make a bad decision and take either Achiwura or Okoro.
Then secondly, I kinda agree with respect to Ball and Young in the backcourt. In think Atlanta make the trade knowing they get either Edwards or Ball. With Ball there is definitely a potential for clash in styles and stuff but I think the potential that they fit perfectly is also worth it. If they get Edwards I think he’s a even better fit.
Wiseman wouldn’t fit with Capela and probably Alex Len returning as back up. So big man wouldn’t be a need especially with Collins also able to cover the 5.
Hawks I’d suggest make the trade, draft Ball then in free agency bring back Teague, go get Alex Len, Kris Dunn, Dario Saric and a back up SF.
1. Young. Teague
2. Ball. Dunn
3. Hunter. Reddish.
4. Collins. Saric
5. Capela. Len. Fernando
Cole Anthony will not be a Sun. I really think the Suns will draft Aaron Nesmith. The best shooter in the draft. They seem to like those guys. Booker and Johnson were the best shooters in there drafts. I do believe they will be packaging the 10th pick tho to acquire a vet tho.
From the link, PHX HC Jay Williams:
“From Day 1, they accepted a style of play… Our identity is built around five cultured pieces:
Respecting time, Competing every day, Defending, Sharing the ball, Having gratitude.”
” We got in good shape. Our guys were in the gym over a month before we started and they were getting after it.”
Once in the bubble, the Suns religiously followed the four Bs.
“It was the bedroom, the ballroom, the bus and the basketball gym… That is what we did every day and It was just us and we built a camaraderie, a tightness on our team.”
——-
Reminder to GM Horst/Bucks: Get Saric quickly while PHX goes for bigger prey. Do the MLE 4/$40; he is RFA; valued but not highly and is only at ~$3.5m now; drop Illyasova to afford it. Give him minutes from Lopez & Giannis and cut him loose like Giannis.
Knicks are not trading up for Ball. They need to take Halliburton or Hayes