Bright Side Of The Sun - Phoenix Suns Draft Day RumorsDedicated to Phoenix Suns Basketball since 2006https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47819/bs-fv.png2016-06-18T15:22:41-07:00http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/rss/stream/56098212016-06-18T15:22:41-07:002016-06-18T15:22:41-07:00Dunn sends message to Suns, Bledsoe on the move?
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<p>Now we're rumoring at an elite level.</p> <p>Friday was a busy day for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Phoenix Suns</a> <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-draft">NBA Draft</a> rumors. In the morning Providence Friars guard Kris Dunn, speaking with Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith on <a href="http://espn.go.com/espnradio/podcast/archive?id=6247496" target="_blank">ESPN's First Take</a>, declined to name which team he would like to be drafted by. Then he essentially said he would prefer to not be drafted by the Suns.</p>
<p>"I don't want to go to a team that has a lot of guards."</p>
<p>Well that's a pretty clear message.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p-iNrh6aDm4" height="315" width="560"></iframe>
To view the Dunn interview, jump to the 43 minute mark.</p>
<p>But the Suns rumor train rolled on! That afternoon came the report that Rich Paul, agent to <span>LeBron James</span> among others, may seek to have Suns guard <span>Eric Bledsoe</span> moved in the offseason.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Another PHX rumor: Rich Paul will push to have Eric Bledsoe moved this offseason putting Kris Dunn in play at 4 as well.</p>
— NBADraft.net (@nbadraftnet) <a href="https://twitter.com/nbadraftnet/status/743940978399023107">June 17, 2016</a>
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<p>The only thing we know is that we know nothing at all. 5 days until we draft!</p>
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2016/6/18/11970650/rumor-kris-dunn-doesnt-want-to-be-nba-draft-by-a-team-like-the-phoenix-suns-would-eric-bledsoeKeith M. Scheessele2016-06-16T07:00:07-07:002016-06-16T07:00:07-07:00Drafting Kris Dunn gives Suns most options
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<p>He's a popular kid these days.</p> <p>The buzz continues to grow regarding <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-draft" class="sbn-auto-link">NBA Draft</a> prospect Kris Dunn. Most recently, the <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Lakers</a> are said to be interested in the point guard out of Providence. Six of the top eight teams drafting in next week's draft are said to have interest in Dunn. The <a href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Suns</a> are not among that group of teams. That's why the Suns need to draft him. From <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/chadfordinsider">ESPN's Chad Ford</a>:</p>
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<p><i>"He's refusing to do 1-on-none workouts with teams. Will only workout for teams if it's against Ben Simmons, Brandon Ingram or Jamal Murray source says. Dunn is currently projected in the 3 to 8 range. Sixers, Lakers, <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Celtics</a>, Wolves, <a href="https://www.thebirdwrites.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pelicans</a> and <a href="https://www.sactownroyalty.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Kings</a> have all shown interest in Dunn."</i></p>
<p>Phoenix wouldn't even be drafting Kris Dunn. They would be drafting the idea of Kris Dunn. The player that is going to transform the Suns from a team laboring through the worst stretch in franchise history to a team with sights on the playoffs by the All-Star break is not Kris Dunn. That player will not be available by the time Phoenix selects fourth.</p>
<p>Even if as expected Ben Simmons from LSU and Brandon Ingram from Duke are the top two players selected, and Lakers are simply <a target="_blank" href="http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2016/6/15/11950452/la-lakers-draft-rumors-kris-dunn">doing their due diligence</a> in working out a player like Dunn, the interest from other teams is too significant to ignore. The Suns are a team that needs options and a lot of them. Now.</p>
<p>Draft Dunn. Teams drafting before the Suns want him. Teams drafting after the Suns want him. There should be no team more active on draft night than Phoenix. Drafting Dunn will open up a world of possibilities for the Suns. If it doesn't work out, hey, your consolation prize is Kris Dunn. The Lakers may be bluffing. Five other teams are not.</p>
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2016/6/16/11951770/nba-draft-rumors-phoenix-suns-philadelphia-76ers-sixers-los-angeles-lakers-kris-dunnKeith M. Scheessele2016-06-15T09:16:21-07:002016-06-15T09:16:21-07:00Suns and Sixers draft day trade?
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<figcaption>Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Philadelphia loves Dunn.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/">Philadelphia 76ers</a> are going to take LSU forward Ben Simmons with the 1st overall pick in the 2016 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-draft">NBA Draft</a>. You already knew that. Two weeks ago came news that Philly still had Kentucky shooting guard Jamal Murray <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2016/6/3/11852726/phoenix-suns-draft-rumors-philadelphia-76ers-lakers-boston-celtics-ben-simmons-jamal-murray?_ga=1.10234165.108956323.1444760537">"in the mix"</a> for the top overall draft pick.</p>
<p>Now with the draft a little more than a week away, the word is that Philadelphia is smitten with Providence point guard Kris Dunn.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sixers?src=hash">#Sixers</a> "love" Providence PG Kris Dunn, will look to trade for him during draft, per report.....Dunn is <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/clutch?src=hash">#clutch</a>. <a href="https://t.co/5eFBcwJZQI">https://t.co/5eFBcwJZQI</a></p>
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) <a href="https://twitter.com/EliotShorrParks/status/743077046591619073">June 15, 2016</a>
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<p>Dunn is almost certainly a top 10 pick. With the draft rapidly approaching, could the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Suns</a> select him at number four with the intention of a draft day trade? Eight days left of draft day rumors. You're going to miss them when they're gone.</p>
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2016/6/15/11945264/phoenix-suns-nba-draft-rumors-more-evidence-that-the-philadelphia-76ers-ben-simmons-kris-dunnKeith M. Scheessele2016-06-10T13:54:24-07:002016-06-10T13:54:24-07:00Questions about what the Lakers will do at #2
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<figcaption>James Snook-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Brown says when he's in the NBA he's going to get up and workout at 5:30am like Kobe Bryant.</p> <p>Friday future lottery pick Jaylen Brown had the opportunity to work out for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a> on Friday. Many have speculated that the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/">Philadelphia 76ers</a> will select Ben Simmons from LSU with the first pick in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-draft">NBA Draft</a>, followed by the Lakers choosing Duke's Brandon Ingram with the second pick. Brown's name is a popular one to fall to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Suns</a> in the four spot. Friday's workout of course sparked chatter to the contrary.</p>
<p>After his workout, Brown addressed the media.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">NBA Draft prospect Jaylen Brown discussed his workout with the Lakers and modeling his mentality after <span>Kobe Bryant</span>: <a href="https://t.co/PkkbgQ1cDP">https://t.co/PkkbgQ1cDP</a></p>
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/741340209569112065">June 10, 2016</a>
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When talking to the media, Brown indicated that Friday's workout with the Lakers would be his last. He called criticism of his inconsistent play "fair," and stated that he is getting a clearer picture of which team may draft him on June 23rd.</p>
<p>Friday's workout helped fuel speculation that the Lakers have not settled on selecting Ingram with the second pick. Brown or Washington Huskies power forward Marquese Chriss could find themselves in a Lakers uniform.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Doubtful... but this time last year Okafor slipping past Lakers seemed crazy. They do things their own way <a href="https://t.co/sdNclPLY6F">https://t.co/sdNclPLY6F</a></p>
— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/status/741275213069979648">June 10, 2016</a>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This could just be the Lakers doing their due diligence. Or, it could suggest that trading back is an option. <a href="https://t.co/RRQs5kyec7">https://t.co/RRQs5kyec7</a></p>
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/status/741293289178042368">June 10, 2016</a>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">NBA GM: Lakers should draft Marquese Chriss at No. 2 <a href="https://t.co/Evmff05xLM">https://t.co/Evmff05xLM</a></p>
— Kurt Helin (@basketballtalk) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketballtalk/status/741334902428180480">June 10, 2016</a>
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<p>Could the Lakers be looking to trade back, or is this all a smoke screen?</p>
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2016/6/10/11906408/cal-jaylen-brown-los-angeles-lakers-brandon-ingram-duke-phoenix-suns-marquese-chriss-nba-draft-tradeKeith M. Scheessele2016-06-10T08:49:49-07:002016-06-10T08:49:49-07:00Spurs looking to move towards Suns in draft
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<figcaption>Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>That direction is up.</p> <p>Oh boy. The rumor is that the <a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Antonio Spurs</a> are looking to move up in the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-draft" class="sbn-auto-link">NBA Draft</a> for the first time in five years.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The San Antonio Spurs have explored moving up in the first round of the draft, per sources. They currently have the No. 29 pick.</p>
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/status/741004506461278208">June 9, 2016</a>
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<p>The last time San Antonio made such a move, head coach <span>Gregg Popovich</span> shipped <span>George Hill</span> to the <a href="https://www.indycornrows.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Indiana Pacers</a> in exchange for the 15th overall pick. That pick was Kawhi Leonard. The Spurs won that one.</p>
<p>While they may have seemed like unlikely trade partners before this news, with three first round picks ahead of San Antonio could Phoenix have what the Spurs are looking for? Who has caught Popvich's eye and what would it take to acquire a <a href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Suns</a> pick?</p>
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2016/6/10/11903072/phoenix-suns-draft-rumors-san-antonio-spurs-looking-in-suns-direction-for-a-draft-predraft-tradeKeith M. Scheessele2016-06-09T13:05:04-07:002016-06-09T13:05:04-07:00Jamal Murray declares himself best player in draft
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<figcaption>Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>And according to John Calipari.</p> <p>Jamal Murray is shooting up draft boards, and he knows it.</p>
<p>Following a workout with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Boston Celtics</a>, Murray was very honest with his evaluation of the 2016 draft class. He's the best.</p>
<p>"That's not a knock on anybody, I'm just looking back on the work I've put in, how far I've come, how quickly I learn, how quickly I adapt to my surroundings and how easy I fit into a team. I believe I'm the best player in the draft, but every team needs what they need."</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Love Jamal Murray’s confidence in Boston: I’m the best player in the draft; can score on anybody <a href="https://t.co/STjAeVQDDd">https://t.co/STjAeVQDDd</a></p>
— Chris O'Leary (@olearychris) <a href="https://twitter.com/olearychris/status/740942934082650112">June 9, 2016</a>
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Of course that level of confidence only comes from eating wings competitively as a youth.</p>
<p>"As a child, I was competitive in whatever it was -- first one to eat your wings, first one to run to the door. In everything we were competitive."</p>
<p>Murray's coach with the Kentucky Wildcats, John Calipari, is in agreement with his draft assessment.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">John Calipari Believes Sixers Should Draft Jamal Murray First Overall <a href="https://t.co/kmIUky0kGR">https://t.co/kmIUky0kGR</a></p>
— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Liberty_Ballers/status/740679613563711488">June 8, 2016</a>
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<p>The Sixers hold the draft's top pick, and for what it's worth, they have high praise for Murray.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Does Philadelphia want to make a deal to obtain the #4 pick from Phoenix? <a href="https://t.co/V1quOktd8H">https://t.co/V1quOktd8H</a> <a href="https://t.co/R4CzZtiSoE">pic.twitter.com/R4CzZtiSoE</a></p>
— Keith Scheessele (@BSUKeith) <a href="https://twitter.com/BSUKeith/status/738777265023135744">June 3, 2016</a>
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Yeah, I linked to my own tweet.</p>
<p>Murray has said he's working out for just four teams, and your <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Suns</a> are in that group. With his Boston visit complete, Phoenix, Minnesota, and New Orleans will follow. If Murray is still around at the number four pick, what will the Suns do?</p>
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2016/6/9/11896114/jamal-murray-best-nba-draft-philadelphia-76ers-angeles-lakers-boston-celtics-phoenix-suns-kentuckyKeith M. Scheessele2016-06-03T09:59:58-07:002016-06-03T09:59:58-07:00Do the Sixers want the Suns' #4 pick?
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<figcaption>Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Does Philly want a pair of top 5 picks?</p> <p>Presently it would be nothing short of a shocker if the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/">Philadelphia 76ers</a> spent the number one pick in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-draft">NBA Draft</a> on any players other than Ben Simmons from LSU or Brandon Ingram from Duke.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Someone in the 76ers front office said Jamal Murray's still in the mix at No. 1: <a href="https://t.co/mQ920IlBCg">https://t.co/mQ920IlBCg</a></p>
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) <a href="https://twitter.com/ByJayKing/status/738735729757425665">June 3, 2016</a>
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<p>Perhaps they're just kind words, but Philadelphia's vice president of player personnel Marc Eversley spoke fondly Thursday morning of shooting guard Jamal Murray from the Kentucky Wildcats. As <a target="_blank" href="http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sports/sixers/With-the-No-1-pick-the-76ers-select--Jamal-Murray.html">told to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer:</a></p>
<p>"Jamal Murray, we certainly got a chance to see him a couple of weeks ago," Eversley said. "He's certainly going to be one of those kids who's going to be in contention for the No. 1 pick. We like him a lot. He's going to bring a lot to wherever he goes in the NBA, certainly a talent."</p>
<p>If Philadelphia is set on Simmons or Ingram in the top spot, is there any reason for the Sixers to suggest another player could be the top overall draft pick? Murray is shooting up many mock drafts and is becoming a popular name as a top five pick. Is this an indicator that Philly could be interested in dealing with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Boston Celtics</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Phoenix Suns</a>, or <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canishoopus.com/">Minnesota Timberwolves</a> to obtain a pair of top five selections? Most importantly, are you sick of mock drafts and trade speculation yet? NOT ME!</p>
<p>19 days until the draft!</p>
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2016/6/3/11852726/phoenix-suns-draft-rumors-philadelphia-76ers-lakers-boston-celtics-ben-simmons-jamal-murrayKeith M. Scheessele2016-06-02T17:02:35-07:002016-06-02T17:02:35-07:00Does PHX need to jump into the Noel trade convo?
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<p>If the Suns want to work with Philadelphia, the time is now.</p> <p>Pre-draft trade talk. Get used to it. We're still three weeks away.</p>
<p>The latest chatter involves the possibility of a trade that would send <span>Nerlens Noel</span> from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/">Philadelphia 76ers</a> to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> in exchange for <span>Jeff Teague</span>.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Atlanta and Philadelphia are discussing a deal centered on a Jeff Teague and Nerlens Noel package, league sources tell The Vertical.</p>
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/738488558701318144">June 2, 2016</a>
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<p>Reports are that such a deal would only get done with a "package" from Philadelphia that includes Noel as the centerpiece. It's no secret that the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.libertyballers.com/2016/5/27/11797438/very-high-likelihood-sixers-trade-nerlens-noel-jahlil-okafor">76ers are actively pursuing moving Noel</a> and/or <span>Jahlil Okafor</span> this offseason. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Suns</a> are often mentioned as potential trade partners with Philadelphia. So what now? Does Phoenix need to make a move?</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Suns should 100% be calling the Sixers & offering <span>Brandon Knight</span></p>
— Bryan Gibberman (@Gibberman10) <a href="https://twitter.com/Gibberman10/status/738492673649201153">June 2, 2016</a>
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<p>That's an idea. What do you think? Do the Suns need to pick up the phone? Check out <a target="_blank" href="http://www.libertyballers.com/">Liberty Ballers</a> for fantastic coverage of the Sixers. But first come here. Always come here first.</p>
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2016/6/2/11847692/phoenix-suns-draft-rumors-possible-nerlens-noel-jeff-teague-trade-76ers-sixers-atlanta-hawksKeith M. Scheessele