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JimmerFredette.jpg
BYU guard Jimmer Fredette (32) reacts during the second half against Wofford in a Southeast regional second round NCAA tournament college basketball game, Thursday, March 17, 2011, in Denver. Fredette scored 32 points, leading BYU to a 74-66 win.

Did you see the crazy story of the Oregon woman who went into dental surgery with a regular old Oregonian accent and woke up with one that is part South African and part Irish? She has some kind of a rare condition that trigged her changed speech. One day you're an accountant from Oregon. The next day….well….you're still an accountant in Oregon but you sound like Angelina Jolie in some inane international spy flick.

Strangely, I can relate.

I was having a conversation with co-workers on Wednesday and in listening to the words coming out of my mouth I almost didn't recognize them. They sounded foreign.

I trust the Arizona Cardinals more than the Phoenix Suns.

Yeah, I know. They look as strange as they sounded. These are words ten years ago I never would have thought, let alone typed. Yet there they are and I stand by them.

A couple of months before the NFL Draft, Auburn quarterback Cam Newton held a private workout. At this workout, the coach of the Cardinals stirred the imagination when he started to coach Newton up. Afterwards he shook Newton's hand. That got us talking.

Keep in mind; this was before Newton moved to the top of everybody's draft board. He was still thought to be obtainable by the Cardinals at number five and the party line among the draft gurus was that the Cardinals might just do it. Mercifully, his draft stock rose to the point where the Cardinals never had a shot at him and the fan base (at least the ones I spoke to) breathed easy.

I was never worried. I trusted the Cardinals to know that Newton was far too large of an undertaking; had too much to learn, too many things that needed to be coached out of him and would need too much time to convert that talent into something useable. It was never a concern for me.

I wish I could say the same thing about the Suns. They'll pick 13th in the NBA Draft and I find myself hoping beyond hope that they pass on Jimmer Fredette out of BYU. Or that he's not even there to tempt them.

If he is available, plain and simple, I don't trust the Suns to not take him.

I don't see his game translating to the NBA. He's so one-dimensional it's insulting to a second dimension to imply that Jimmer has one. I'm not buying the comparisons to Steve Nash at this stage in his life and even if I did, it would be a stretch to presume he follows a similar arc.

But that's not why I don't trust the Suns. I fear they'll look at Jimmer and see buzz. Ticket sales. Jerseys in the team shop and butts in the seats. They'll see a guy who can sell it even if he can't be it. He's not the best player in this draft, but he is the most recognizable and that is beyond dispute. I don't trust the Suns to take a pass on that.

He's the NBA's version of Tim Tebow and I fear the Suns will jump at the chance to get their Tebow if he's available at number 13.

And that's why I hope somebody else picking ahead of the Suns sees him the same way and takes the decision out of the their hands.

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    coloradoson wrote...
    Unfounded fears
    Honestly, I think anyone who thinks Jimmer can't get it done in the NBA needs a psych evaluation. The biggest thing to know about him is that he has crazy work ethic. He improved every year he played in college, and there isn't reason to believe he can't do it now. Is he a work in progress? Certainly. But really what rookie isn't? He is better than people give him credit for. Besides, if there is ever one thing you need more of in the NBA it's scoring, and Jimmer can do that no matter what.
    “People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
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    HPB wrote...
    Fears are on Point
    It isn't that I don't think Jimmer will pan out in the NBA, it is that he is not a good fit for the Suns as the team is constrcted right now! The Suns' problem is not scoring, it is that they can't seem to get a rebound or defend anyone on a consistent basis. If we would work on those areas the team wouldn't have to drop 100 plus a game to win. Defense is the key to getting back to the playoffs! Look at how the Suns did in the major defensive categories this year....not good!
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    Ron F. wrote...
    Why all the hate toward Jimmer?
    To be honest, I didn't watch him much, but from what I saw, the kid can flat out score the basketball. He has NBA 3-point range already, and I can only see him getting better. At 13, what are you going to get in this draft, anyway. Remember Robin Lopez? He was taken pretty close to this time, and he hasn't turned out so well. So, picking 13 has no guarantees. At least you have 1 guarantee with Jimmer.... he can shoot!
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    SamoanSunDevil wrote...
    Nothing like Tebow
    I'be watched Jimmer play in person. The kid can play. I agree with previous comments. He's coachable, and has improved his game every year. You all need to watch Dan Patrick's response to all the Jimmer haters.
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    Sensei wrote...
    So what?
    After the first few picks this draft has no starter quality player. What do we expect from the 13th pick? Clippers, Kings and Golden state have better young talents than Suns. I don't know what we get in this draft but it will not be enough to compete with any of those teams and did I mention Lakers are in our division too. Too bad. Great job Mr. Sarver.Great foresight.
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