Bark if you want Earl Clark

by hookedonphoenix on May 24, 2009 8:45 AM MDT

The way I see it, any of the PG's we pick up at 14 have about the same value; enough. And they would work as backups, but Nash wants out, as it seems. You need somebody who can start now. My Nash-to-Dallas trade:

PHX sends S. Nash, J. Richardson to Dallas

DAL sends the 22nd pick, J. Terry, J. Howard and J. Stackhouse to Phoenix

has Jason Terry and Jeff Teague on that assigment. There are plenty of ways to do it. If you're not a big fan of Jeff Teague, then there's no reason to pick James Johnson, as my Nash-to-Dallas trade indicates. And DeJuan Blair, despite the fact that he has seriously stepped up the weight game as I've been hearing, is still too short for the 4 and too big for the 3. I think there are going to be teams who want to take a chance on Blair, but we shouldn't be one of them. I like Earl Clark's game from a defensive standpoint, from an offensive standpoint, and from an upside standpoint. I just think that with the 14th pick, the Phoenix Suns should select Clark. So sue me.

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You want Clark...

Kerr will give you Budinger.

by kilowatt on May 24, 2009 2:11 PM MDT reply actions

hope not

Budinger is trash.

by Aluminum Foyle on May 25, 2009 6:58 PM MDT up reply actions

No Way Dallas does that

by BrewDude on May 25, 2009 10:08 AM MDT reply actions

DeJuan Blair

You can’t really talk about a player’s size problems until you know what his standing reach is. That is the stat that really matters, b/c how long your neck is or how tall your head is doesn’t make any difference from a basketball perspective. It’s really about how high are your arms when you reach up.

For example look at some Orlando Pre-draft camp numbers:

Al Horford:
Height w/o shoes: 6’8.75";
wingspan: 7’0.75"
Standing reach: 8’11"

Jason Maxiell
Height w/o shoes: 6’5"
Wingspan: 7’3.25"
Standing reach: 8’11"

Joakim Noah
Height w/o shoes: 6’10.5"
Wingspan: 7’1.25"
Standing reach: 8’10.5"

Luol Deng
Height w/o shoes: 6’7"
Wingspan: 7’.05"
Standing reach: 9’1" (!!!!!!!)

So even though guys like Horford or especially Noah are considered to have good size, they aren’t actually any functionally different from Maxiell (who stands a mere 6’5" w/o shoes) or Deng unless you think Noah’s exceptionally long neck somehow makes him a better shot blocker. People have all kinds of different builds and height isn’t really the best way to find out how high someone can get. I mean, Dwight Howard is only 6’9" w/o shoes but has a 9’3.5" standing reach, meaning he’s an inch and half shorter than Noah but can reach 5 inches higher than him.

So when you consider Blair’s size, keep in mind that he is reportedly 6’7" w/o shoes (I doubt that, but that’s what they’re saying) and has a 7’2" wingspan. Trevor Ariza has very similar numbers and had an 8’11.5" reach. If that’s what Blair has than size will not be an issue for him esp. considering his strength. Perhaps, his lack of jumping ability will but size won’t. Of course, if those turn out to not be his numbers then that’s something different. But if they hold up, then he’s plenty large enough to play PF.

Purchasing my Dragic jersey

by rosewood on May 25, 2009 2:12 PM MDT reply actions

A final note

I don’t think anyone can be “too big for the 3.” Perhaps, he doesn’t have the skill level/game for a 3, but I would find it hard to believe that someone could be too large to play any position. I mean, Magic Johnson was a 6’9" PG.

Purchasing my Dragic jersey

by rosewood on May 25, 2009 2:19 PM MDT up reply actions

Love the numbers

great point….I’m not sure agree about being too big to play the 3. At his weight it is highly unlikely that he would have the foot speed to stay in front of quicker 3’s on the perimeter. That would be the concern. This guy is about the same size as Big Baby. I don’t see him playing the 3 in this league. Ever.

Blogging Suns Basketball

by Seth Pollack on May 25, 2009 3:07 PM MDT up reply actions

I think

I was probably being too literal. I know Blair is too slow to play the wing, but my thing was he isn’t too big. Because if a guy was that big but not slow/unathletic, there’s nothing about the size of him that would keep him from playing the 3. Whereas a guy can actually be too small to play the three regardless of his other attributes.

But yeah, I would say it’s almost always true that a guy Blair’s size is going to be too slow, so you’re probably right that it amounts to the same thing.

I just can’t help it. I make distinctions for a living.

Purchasing my Dragic jersey

by rosewood on May 25, 2009 6:41 PM MDT up reply actions

Also

Clark is fascinating as prospect, but his horrible shooting percentages and turnovers make him a little worrying. But I would definitely prefer him over any of the PG prospects that will be there at 14. I might prefer Terrence Williams to Clark though b/c I have a thing for rebounding, defensive minded wing players.

Purchasing my Dragic jersey

by rosewood on May 25, 2009 2:17 PM MDT reply actions

I perfer

Henderson, will play “D”, great to the hole, and is improving his shot. Blair reminds me of Big Baby Davis, so-so. I think there is two players in this draft that will provide instant help, Thabeet and Blake Griffen.

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

by Grockcubs on May 26, 2009 5:24 PM MDT reply actions

Explain to me how.....

we’re supposed to procure either of those guys?

by hookedonphoenix on Jun 9, 2009 8:52 PM MDT up reply actions

What if I told you...

I meant “big” from side to side?

by hookedonphoenix on Jun 9, 2009 8:52 PM MDT reply actions

What if I told you....

DeJuan Blair would be gone at 11?

by hookedonphoenix on Jun 9, 2009 9:02 PM MDT reply actions

What about Patty Mills?

As a backup PG to Nash,

http://dimemag.com/2009/06/nba-draft-09-stock-watch-patrick-mills/

He torched several internationals including CP3 and Williams in the Olympics, and with him and Barbosa coming off the bench, we can go back to 7Sol pretty fast.

The Hornets are seriously considering him as a backup to Chris Paul, so there must be some truth to his skills

by Chucko667 on Jun 17, 2009 1:24 AM MDT reply actions