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Around SBN: Post-UNC Thoughts

Farewell DJ

With the Suns making official the end of DJ's time with Phoenix, I thought I would share a few reasons why I was so down on the kid after seeing him in Vegas a few weeks ago.

A lot of Suns fans were taken by his great attitude and enthusiasm along with some freakish athletic skills. DJ was known in Phoenix as a hard working hustle player who could play defense and just needed more minutes. He did well in Albuquerque during his D-league stints and there were reasons to hope he could develop into a solid role player. There was a time I agreed with that.

But as the last season wore down and DJ got some minutes he struck me as a guy that really didn't seem to instinctively understand the game at this level. He took ill advised shots and at times just seemed lost. That's to be expected though for a rookie that saw so little burn in D'Antoni's "rotation".

It also made his time in the Vegas Summer League this July so much more important.

It was DJ's opportunity to shine as a sophomore. He was expected to both lead the team and play well if not feast on the lesser competition.

Unfortunately, that's not what happened. DJ didn't look great in the first two games against the Spurs and Knicks where he showed great speed and the ability to put defenders back on their heals but he was also unable to use his size and hops to finish in traffic. Time and again he blew by his man only to either draw the foul or miss at the rim. He also seemed to have given up on his in-your-face defensive pressure that earned him so much love in Phoenix.

His points totals were padded by free throws when what you wanted to see from DJ was either a drive and kick or him finish after taking a bit of contact. He did neither. And of course his outside shot hadn't improved.

I think this all could have been acceptable to a Suns team looking for hustle, energy and defense from its rotation players. Then the end came.

DJ took a beating on both ends of the floor and showed a startling lack of mental toughness in his 4th game against Portland. That lead me to write this sitting court side just a few minutes after the game ended: Jarryd Bayless Ends DJ Strawberry's Career

What I saw and clearly so did the Suns, was a player that lacked the poise to play through difficulties and for whatever reason had lost his ability to play lock down D. Giving up 17 points to Bayless in fourth, combined with two key end of the game turnovers hurt. What I think sealed his fate was how he handled the situation. He got down on himself and crumbled. One poor play lead to another and his head sank lower and lower.

I hope for the best for DJ and perhaps in a few years his confidence will grow and he will find a way to make it in the NBA but I think it's going to be an uphill battle. He plays the not overly valuable combo guard position without the height to guard three positions like a Bruce Bowen or Tayshaun Prince and without the mental toughness and grit of a Raja Bell.

There's too many talented players fighting for too few roster spots and DJ is going to really have to kick it up a notch to make it.

 

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This is going to sound strange to people who were reading this site back when I had time to contribute on it, but I’m happy this move was made. Regardless of what happened at Summer League, it was clear DJ no longer had a place on the team the moment the Suns landed Goran Dragic. From reading Paul Coro’s latest, it’s also clear DJ (or at least his agent) wanted the move to happen as well (and disturbingly, that Shawn Marion might have had a tad of bad influence on the kid!). Nice that this was able to happen quietly in a way that seems to have worked best for all involved. Good luck to DJ, and a warm, Texas-sized welcome to Sean Singletary, who from reading Coro’s article, sounds like he could be a really nice pickup on the less offensive-minded Suns.

by TexSUN on Aug 26, 2008 8:38 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

Good move

I too thought DJ had a shot in the league. However he is very limited at the offensive end. I think also what made this trade was that Tucker has made good strides.
 Living on the East coast, got to see Singletary play often in the ACC, solid player. Suns did well to get him. Now, where he fits in is another story since Dragic is now a Sun.

"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"

by Grockcubs on Aug 26, 2008 9:20 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

Just remember

that Singletary isn’t signed yet. All the Suns have is the right to sign him. I believe they have until the season starts to make a decision.

So, they get to bring him into camp and check him out. I am guessing they will bring a few other fringe players and for my money if they are going to keep LB then they should use the final roster spot on a big center.

But at least Sean can get a chance to show his stuff in Tucson.

by Phoenix Stan on Aug 26, 2008 10:17 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

I've got five dollars

that says he never plays a minute.

Purchasing my Dragic jersey

by rosewood on Aug 26, 2008 1:08 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'll take that bet.

I think he’ll play ~two minutes…total :)

by rsavaj on Aug 27, 2008 11:16 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

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