Coach Gentry Talks About Suns Picks Lawal and Collins
by Seth Pollack on Jun 24, 2010 10:55 PM MDT
in Phoenix Suns News
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Typically after a draft, the team sends out its General Manager. The Suns sent Alvin Gentry out to talk to the media about the Suns' picks. We've beat the Kerr departure thing to death, so let's get right to it.
In Lawal and Collins, the Suns essentially drafted the same guy. Both right around the same height and both are physical, long defensive players with raw offensive skills. You'd think the Suns are worried about losing Lou Amundson to free agency while facing the potential of losing Amare, as well.
Neither of these guys will come close to replacing Amare's offense, but at least they are big bodies who will be hungry to play in the NBA.
"One of the things we have to continue to do is get better defensively here and I think the way that you do that is get good defensive players. It's pretty simple," Gentry said about the picks.
We'll get a good look at them in Summer League. Or at least at Lawal. Collins had his knee scoped on June 18th to fix a slight meniscus tear, which may prevent him from fully participating in the Vegas workouts.
The Suns likely won't decide until after training camp whether either player will make the roster for next season.
"I think both of those guys have an opportunity to maybe do something. I just think they're very competitive, they play really hard, they'll be great guys to have in practice," Gentry said about their chances before adding, "We expect for them to come in and participate in Summer League and we'll see what happens from there. But we're excited about these two guys. I don't think you can ever have too much size in this league."
Video from draft night via Suns.com
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You guys did good
You will like Lawal, Collins is a roll of the dice though. Lawal will play right away
When I get older, I will be stronger.
They’ll call me freedom, just like a Waving Flag
agreed
I really like Lawal
Twitter: @dahking
Too late to change the stupid twitter name. Did it as a joke to my teenager, but now I'm hooked on the news-feed aspect of twitter.
Hope Udoh works out for the Warriors.
Timon: Hakuna Matata! What a wonderful phrase
Pumbaa: Hakuna Matata! Ain't no passing craze
Timon: It means no worries for the rest of your days
Timon: It's our problem-free philosophy
Both: Hakuna Matata!
The Lion King (1994)
Who cares!!!!!!!!!!!!
we’re talking about the Suns picks… Go over to the Warriors blog if you want to discuss their picks.
lol chill out man
Steve Nash, the league's MVP, is a longhaired Canadian who spoke out against the war in Iraq and reads The Communist Manifesto. Quentin Richardson declared after a game-winning shot that it "was like Hamlet. It was a suspense thriller, and I killed them at the end." Amare Stoudemire, when asked to comment on a 22-point third quarter against the Kings, said, "I've got a tendency to jump over some guys' heads and throw it down."
oh, sorry
chill out man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Steve Nash, the league's MVP, is a longhaired Canadian who spoke out against the war in Iraq and reads The Communist Manifesto. Quentin Richardson declared after a game-winning shot that it "was like Hamlet. It was a suspense thriller, and I killed them at the end." Amare Stoudemire, when asked to comment on a 22-point third quarter against the Kings, said, "I've got a tendency to jump over some guys' heads and throw it down."
true true
too hot right now
Steve Nash, the league's MVP, is a longhaired Canadian who spoke out against the war in Iraq and reads The Communist Manifesto. Quentin Richardson declared after a game-winning shot that it "was like Hamlet. It was a suspense thriller, and I killed them at the end." Amare Stoudemire, when asked to comment on a 22-point third quarter against the Kings, said, "I've got a tendency to jump over some guys' heads and throw it down."
I just returned the courtesy he showed....................jackass.
Timon: Hakuna Matata! What a wonderful phrase
Pumbaa: Hakuna Matata! Ain't no passing craze
Timon: It means no worries for the rest of your days
Timon: It's our problem-free philosophy
Both: Hakuna Matata!
The Lion King (1994)
So you’re saying the problem with Amundson, the reason the SUns drafted two bruisers, is not that the Suns will let him go but that he will choose to leave?
I guess I hadn’t considered that likely. Amundson would have to be more mercenary than I thought.
This is what happens with good bench players..
some other team makes them an offer they can’t refuse, or their current team refuses to match. That’s what happened to Steven Hunter, when he was here. He went from making $700K his last year here to $2.8M with the Sixers.
"True glory consists of doing what deserves to be written, and writing what deserves to be read".
by Pliny the Elder on Jun 25, 2010 2:39 AM MDT up reply actions
Was that the point?
RIP Seasons of Discontent
by Scott Howard on Jun 25, 2010 11:21 AM MDT up reply actions
The point is...
sometimes players have to leave a good playing situation in order to chase a major increase in compensation.
Hunter went from someone making what the rest of us would call decent money, to making f**k-you, I never have to work again money, overnight.
It would have been irresponsible of him not to follow that kind of moola, especially with the lack of endorsement dollars generally available nowadays.
"True glory consists of doing what deserves to be written, and writing what deserves to be read".
by Pliny the Elder on Jun 25, 2010 11:42 AM MDT up reply actions
No no. I got your point
I was wondering why species relied “and has done what”
RIP Seasons of Discontent
by Scott Howard on Jun 25, 2010 12:18 PM MDT up reply actions
That’s because you both are probably not using strictly a fan’s pespective and willfully ignoring the business factor, as I am. I have no interest in or respect for wealth, and would never have left a team believed to be a contender (the Suns after 2005) for a non-contender. (I think he went to the Denver Nougats first.) Anyone who thinks he can’t live very well on $700,000 a year is spoiled. So you would say “**** you, I never have to work again” on $2.8M a year, Pliny? Great, but really, I’d say that at $700,000. In fact I’d say it at $500,000. If I invested well and lived modestly as I would (no McMansion, no Rolls Royce), I could probably work for free just to assure myself I wasn’t an idle-rich slacker. (Oh, and I wouldn’t say “**** you.”)
By saying “And has done what?”, I was observing something else—does Steven Hunter really deserve $2.8M a year?
by 8472species on Jun 25, 2010 12:36 PM MDT up reply actions
What about the opportunity to get more playing time/be a starter?
That’s a strong non-monetary reason to leave.
RIP Seasons of Discontent
by Scott Howard on Jun 25, 2010 12:48 PM MDT up reply actions
ok... this is real simple
It’s all to easy to sneer at wealth, but a player has to think about his life after his playing days are over, and at Hunter’s level, it’s not so much about the Rolls or some measure of respect, as it is about achieving some measure of financial security for life. As a secondary player, his only avenue is to get a good contract.
Remember, his window of opportunity for earning the big bucks is only a few years long, so he’d be irresponsible, imho, to reject any opportunity to be set financially, even if it means giving up a slim chance for a title. It’s unlikely that there’s a opportunity for him to make the same kind of money when he leaves the NBA.
After that, he either retires, having made enough cash to do so with varying degrees of comfort (and maybe send a couple of kids to college), or finds himself on the job market with no discernible skills other than the ability to play basketball, which in most corporations is much less useful than you’d think.
And remember, the Suns never even came close to matching the 76ers offer, so what’s he supposed to do? As I recall, he wanted to stay here, and if we’d shown some loyalty and came close to matching, he most probably would have done.
As for did he deserve the money? Well, he’d shown here that under the right circumstances, he could be a productive player, and the 76ers (among others) were willing to pay him for that skill, so in that respect I’d say yes, regardless of how he performed after signing his contract, seeing that no-one’s arm was twisted in giving him that particular contract.
As a secondary player, Hunter must rely on other players to make his game effective (just like Amare, btw.). So, if the teams he plays for, fail to use him correctly, or fail to come up with game plans and strategies that help him be the best player he can be, then they must clearly share some or most of the blame for his lack of production.
We all saw first hand what Terry Porter did to destroy Steve Nash’s game.. a situation that for some time was entirely out of Steve’s control. That kind of incompetence happens a whole lot more often than we’d care to admit.
"True glory consists of doing what deserves to be written, and writing what deserves to be read".
by Pliny the Elder on Jun 25, 2010 1:58 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
Pretty awesome!
Although we didn’t have a first round pick, we still ended up with a first-round talent in Gani Lawal!
For those of you who aren’t familiar with him, this guy was picked to go as high as the mid first round in some mock drafts. He is a very smart, athletic, yet still very raw talent.
Lawal is awesome at offensive rebounds, and provides another low post presence that this team so desperately needs.
I’m a little surprised about Collins at #60…but he’s another very athletic and powerful player who could certainly compete for a roster spot.
Drafting 2 PF’s definitely tells me we are looking to fill someone’s shoes, most likely Amundson’s. Lawal will definitely stick, but Collins has a pretty good chance as well, possibly replacing either Griffin, Jarron, or Dwayne Jones.
I think they both make the team
Of course what happens to Channing and Lou will help sort this out.
When the Suns rebounded the ball, they won. These two should help that.
Yep, I believe both will make the team.
Its really time to develop our young core starting with Dudley, Lopez, Dragic and continuing with Clark, Lawal and Collins. Besides Clark, they all are bruisers and will give the Suns much needed toughness for years to come. Along with Gentry’s 12 sec or less offense and improved defense we have a lot to look forward to.
Slumdog Millionaire without the million.
Courtesy of my roommate
“Dwayne Jones + Jarron Collins + Dwayne Collins = YES!”
Steve Nash, the league's MVP, is a longhaired Canadian who spoke out against the war in Iraq and reads The Communist Manifesto. Quentin Richardson declared after a game-winning shot that it "was like Hamlet. It was a suspense thriller, and I killed them at the end." Amare Stoudemire, when asked to comment on a 22-point third quarter against the Kings, said, "I've got a tendency to jump over some guys' heads and throw it down."
She sells sea shells on the sea shore.
Now say Dwayne Jones,Jarron Collins, Dwayne Collins fast.
Slumdog Millionaire without the million.
better like this: Dwayne Jones, Dwayne Collins, Jarron Collins
"True glory consists of doing what deserves to be written, and writing what deserves to be read".
by Pliny the Elder on Jun 25, 2010 11:44 AM MDT up reply actions
target of this draft had to be bigs seeing as we only definitely have lopez on our roster next year
at least we accomplished that goal.
It is still a mystery to me why Taylor Griffin was drafted in the first place. Some BSOS members offer an absurd theory that he was drafted for being Blake Griffin’s brother, but that posits that Robert Sarver didn’t mind wasting money. The team must have seen something in him.
They saw his last name
Steve Nash, the league's MVP, is a longhaired Canadian who spoke out against the war in Iraq and reads The Communist Manifesto. Quentin Richardson declared after a game-winning shot that it "was like Hamlet. It was a suspense thriller, and I killed them at the end." Amare Stoudemire, when asked to comment on a 22-point third quarter against the Kings, said, "I've got a tendency to jump over some guys' heads and throw it down."
or maybe they were blinded by his receding hairline...?
"The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can and slap the crap out of him before he figures out you are there...."
- me into a mental stupor after forgetting the rest of Ulysses S. Grant's speech....
In other words, you don’t really know either?
by 8472species on Jun 25, 2010 12:40 PM MDT up reply actions
One of the great mysteries of life...
"The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can and slap the crap out of him before he figures out you are there...."
- me into a mental stupor after forgetting the rest of Ulysses S. Grant's speech....
When Steve Kerr, Bob Sarver and David Griffin write a book...
…about their trials and tribulations then they should have a chapter dedicated to that. I believe it will be a best seller.
Slumdog Millionaire without the million.
FWIW
and I’ve said this about 30 times this year….they kept Taylor b/c a) they needed someone to fill that spot and he was as cheap as they come and
b) they love his work ethic and attitude. He’s a guy who works his ass off in practice and doesn’t expect to actually play in a game. He was good rookie partner for Earl.
If you figure that there was very little chance that anyone they had in the 13th roster spot was going to contribute, why not go that route.
Raising Arizona Sports at SB Nation Arizona twitter: @sethpo
by Seth Pollack on Jun 25, 2010 2:11 PM MDT up reply actions
he's contributing, just not in games..
Nash has made this point a few times, particularly wrt Pat Burke, about the need for decent, hard working practice players who can keep a locker room loose.
"True glory consists of doing what deserves to be written, and writing what deserves to be read".
by Pliny the Elder on Jun 25, 2010 2:15 PM MDT up reply actions
I'm with most everyone else here
I’m pleased with the Lawal pick at 46. There’s a lot of chatter out there that many scouts believed he could have been a college star had he not been stuck playing the same position as Derrick Favors at Georgia Tech.
With Collins at 60 … well, he probably won’t make the team, but what else is a team gonna do with the last pick in the draft?
Bloggin' 'bout AZ sports ... SB Nation Arizona
by Justin Burning on Jun 25, 2010 11:46 AM MDT reply actions
The good thing I feel about Collins is he wont just give up being the last pick,
as long as he and even Lawal show Clark that if a 60th pick works as hard to make the team, then Clark needs to get his head into the game. He is not a rookie anymore, he is a 14th pick that got drafted for his unique playmaking abilities so use them and show us all what you got instead of being a blackhole both offensively and defensively.
Slumdog Millionaire without the million.
by atkammoh on Jun 25, 2010 12:01 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs
Did you notice when Gentry said
that these two will learn from people on the team, that he first said Grant….then went “uh uh uh” and Steve and Amare. Was that a slip up or what? Ha!
Reading is good...
I wonder though...
the way Gentry talks about bringing the team back. I really believe that this Suns team would have done better against the Lakers if we had two guys with size like Lawal and Collins playing for us for the whole season instead of, say, LB and Amundson. I mean, imagine a 2nd string that is Lawal, Frye, Dragic, Dudley? That has waay more size and ability that with Amundson in there. Add in a decend Collins at the 3, maybe, and this team runs folks off of the floor. If we had Lopez, Stat, Lawal, and Collins, plus Clark and Frye….wow that is a pretty damn big, long team. I think its a great idea to pick up two big guys. We have a tone of depth at the guard position, we need to load up on size and hope that one of these guys works out.
Reading is good...
I want our team to come back
Continuity would be amazing
Steve Nash, the league's MVP, is a longhaired Canadian who spoke out against the war in Iraq and reads The Communist Manifesto. Quentin Richardson declared after a game-winning shot that it "was like Hamlet. It was a suspense thriller, and I killed them at the end." Amare Stoudemire, when asked to comment on a 22-point third quarter against the Kings, said, "I've got a tendency to jump over some guys' heads and throw it down."
Aren't Lawal & Amunson like the same size...?
"The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can and slap the crap out of him before he figures out you are there...."
- me into a mental stupor after forgetting the rest of Ulysses S. Grant's speech....
Seth didn't say anything about Lawal's hands...just Collins' beaters...
"The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can and slap the crap out of him before he figures out you are there...."
- me into a mental stupor after forgetting the rest of Ulysses S. Grant's speech....
that bar is pretty low
….or small I should say
Raising Arizona Sports at SB Nation Arizona twitter: @sethpo
by Seth Pollack on Jun 25, 2010 2:13 PM MDT up reply actions
That might have to wait until the trading deadline...
When teams get desperate for bench scoring…
"The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can and slap the crap out of him before he figures out you are there...."
- me into a mental stupor after forgetting the rest of Ulysses S. Grant's speech....
We HAVE to trade LB.
There is nothing else to it. The guy has to go. He isn’t putting out and he has hit a wall here in Phx.
Reading is good...
Yeah, but we have to have a trading partner...
I don’t see that hapopening until the trade deadline when a few teams realize they don’t have enough offensive firepower. to make it to the playffs and/or be a contender…
"The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can and slap the crap out of him before he figures out you are there...."
- me into a mental stupor after forgetting the rest of Ulysses S. Grant's speech....
i'll love us to have length
but, Lawal and Collins are both 6’9", which is smaller than Clark (6’10"), and they bothcan’t play away from the basket. I think Lawal will do well as a PF though. I don’t know jack about Collins
People love the Dunk, but i'll rather see a skillful athletic shot, a super 3-pointer from another area code or seeing players get Dragic-ed
bye, Jarron Collins
If either of these two make the team, I don’t suppose Jarron Collins would be kept.
Yep Jarron Collins is a goner, if they need to accomodate Lawal along with Dwyane Jones.
I believe its a tie between Griffin and Collins right now but whoever shows progress during the summer league will make it. I am rooting for Collins personally.
Slumdog Millionaire without the million.
There would be absolutely no reason to keep him...We know it's not for talent...
If he is that great of a leadership element, hire him as an assistant bench coach and save a lot on salary…
"The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can and slap the crap out of him before he figures out you are there...."
- me into a mental stupor after forgetting the rest of Ulysses S. Grant's speech....
Draft night video was depressing
Gentry sounded sad and/or ticked about Kerr leaving. He was downright morose :/.
Steve Nash, the league's MVP, is a longhaired Canadian who spoke out against the war in Iraq and reads The Communist Manifesto. Quentin Richardson declared after a game-winning shot that it "was like Hamlet. It was a suspense thriller, and I killed them at the end." Amare Stoudemire, when asked to comment on a 22-point third quarter against the Kings, said, "I've got a tendency to jump over some guys' heads and throw it down."
Far cry from the vid when we got Goran and FroLo in 08
Steve Nash, the league's MVP, is a longhaired Canadian who spoke out against the war in Iraq and reads The Communist Manifesto. Quentin Richardson declared after a game-winning shot that it "was like Hamlet. It was a suspense thriller, and I killed them at the end." Amare Stoudemire, when asked to comment on a 22-point third quarter against the Kings, said, "I've got a tendency to jump over some guys' heads and throw it down."
At 4:52 Gentry calls Sarver Robin or was that just me....
thats hilarious if it is.
Slumdog Millionaire without the million.
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