UNCATEGORIZED

I love Payne

Jun 19, 2014, 12:22 AM | Updated: Jul 26, 2024, 11:07 am

There seems to be one certainty for the 2014 Suns draft: Four players from this draft will not be on the Suns’ training camp roster.

The Suns have four draft picks next Thursday night. No one wants to draft a player that’s not good enough to make the team. If all four players make the team, Jeff Hornacek would have a nightmare trying to develop four players when he already has a young team.

Due to this, Ryan McDonough has plenty of options. The correct choice on which direction to go will determine the Suns’ fate for the next three years.

Option No. 1: KEVIN LOVE

The Celtics have the most to offer Minnesota. Boston also seems to be more to Love’s liking. The issue is not who will trade for Love, but who can sign him to an extension. Love’s contract ends following 2014-15.

For a one-year rental, he’s worth a late first-round pick for a team that needs one more piece. To a team like the Suns, he’s still worth a first-round pick (IND’s pick from the Scola trade) but Minnesota also needs to take a bad contract off of the Suns’ hands.

If you’re getting Love to agree to an extension before the trade, the price skyrockets. It might be a pick and a player or two of the first-round picks. He’s worth it but he’s never hinted he wants to come to Phoenix.

Option No. 2: PAYNE AND FUTURE PICKS

Adreian Payne is my Kawhi Leonard of this draft. Leonard is the player I wanted the Suns to draft and they didn’t listen. I think we all wish they would have. Payne does everything. Once he’s in the fold at number 14, now you can listen to some other teams. Keep in mind, this year’s draft is stacked. If the Suns are willing to move any of the other three picks, it must be for a pick higher in next year’s draft.

Obviously, Phoenix can’t predict next year’s outcome. They can put conditions on a draft pick they do take from their trading partner. Take Detroit for an example. They’re a weak team with no first-round picks. They might want to move into the first round. The Suns could make a deal where Phoenix has the option of claiming Detroit’s first-round pick at any point in the next few years. If Detroit succeeds, you simply pass on their pick. If they go in the tank, you take it.

Option No. 3: PICK AND PARK

I don’t like scenarios that have the Suns passing on Payne, but (from what I’ve heard and not seen) Dario Saric is all that and a beer (why do we say “…a bag of chips” when everyone would rather have a beer than chips?).

If Saric is available at 14, I believe Suns fans are smart enough to accept a player as the first pick when he doesn’t play this year. Keep Saric in Europe. Let him get another year under his belt and fill out his body more to prepare for the physicality of the NBA. Use the other two first-round picks to get a player that helps immediately and a developmental player with the late pick from Indiana.

Option No. 4: THE DREAM

Now I’m lost in a world that doesn’t exist, but why not raise the bar and seek a little Love and Payne? If Minnesota would accept #18, #27 & #50 for Kevin Love and Love accepts the contract extension, Phoenix could use #14 on Adreian Payne. As we all know, you can’t have true Love without a little Payne.

Uncategorized

Tyler Reddick, center, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Ho...

Associated Press

NASCAR Championship Weekend rolls into Phoenix with no clear favorite

There is no clear favorite among NASCAR's four championship contenders as they had to Phoenix Raceway for Sunday's winner-take-all finale.

3 months ago

Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Davonte' Neal #19 runs upfield during the first half of the Pac-12 c...

Arizona Sports

Former Arizona Wildcats football player DaVonte’ Neal pleads guilty to murder

Former Arizona Wildcats football player Davonte' Neal has pleaded guilty to the 2017 murder of 25-year-old Bryan Burns.

5 months ago

2024 MLB Draft...

Ryan Pasiecznik

ESPN’s McDaniel: D-backs SS JD Dix a sleeper from 2024 MLB Draft

Of the Arizona Diamondbacks' 22 draft picks, shortstop JD Dix (No. 35) could be a sleeper prospect with his offensive potential.

7 months ago

Promotions

D-backs Autographed Prize Pack

Register below to win a Ketel Marte, Jake McCarthy, Torey Lovullo & Gerardlo Perdomo Autographed pack

8 months ago

Diana Taurasi #3 of the Phoenix Mercury walks on the court during a break in the first quarter of a...

Associated Press

Copper and Taurasi score 20 each, Phoenix tops Washington

Kahleah Copper and Diana Taurasi scored 20 points each and the Phoenix Mercury beat the Washington Mystics on Thursday night.

9 months ago

Elijah Jones looks on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals sign rookie CB Elijah Jones to 4-year contract

The Arizona Cardinals signed third-round pick and cornerback Elijah Jones to a four-year contract on Wednesday.

9 months ago

I love Payne