[cuseflynn10Participant]

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/eye-on-basketball/19358877/dion-waiters-lottery-promise-is-suns-at-13

This isn’t a 100% guarantee, but people closer to the situation than me are saying it’s probably Phoenix who made the promise. I knew all along it wasn’t Toronto, but I felt it could be Houston or Philly. Phoenix makes sense as well, and I think he’d be a good fit there.

[surveParticipant]

 I still think its the Raptors…because the thing that doesnt make much sense to me is that there were ramblings during the year that Waiters was the best SG prospect in college.

If scouts truly felt that way about him….why would he take a promise to be the 13th pick when he could go several spots higher?  Beal is likely the first SG off the board, after that Waiters could be that 2nd guy.  Phoenix couldve told Waiters if he is there at 13 they will pick him, but I dont think that justifies pulling out of workouts and combine.  Likewise with Rivers….I dont think it means as much to get a promise from a late-lottery to mid 1st round team when you have been projected as a lottery pick to begin with.

We all think about Reggie Jackson, but he wasnt a guaranteed 1st rounder….for a team to promise to pick him in the middle of the 1st round (not the end) is something entirely different.

[Andrew1984Participant]

I’ve had Rivers 8 to Toronto and Waiters 13 to Phoenix in my mock all week!

[JoeWolf1]

 I think Lillard slips to #8 and Waiters and Rivers are picked up by Portland and Pheonix.

[cuseflynn10Participant]

While I understand where your coming from surve, I’d have to disagree with your belief that Waiters got a promise from Toronoto. If you have the #8 pick in a deep draft like this do you give a player like Waiters a promise three weeks before the draft? Maybe, but it’s highly unlikely.

We know almost for certain that Davis, Drummond, Barnes, Beal, MKG, and Robinson will be off the board after 6 picks, but there are still a ton of prospects that are worthy of going #7 and #8. Waiters would have to have a sensational workout to convince the Raptors three weeks in advance that he’s their guy.
I know if I were Toronto I’d give at least a look at Waiters, Lamb, Ross, Rivers, Lillard, Henson, Leonard, Marshall, Sullinger and a few others before I go committing that early.

Phoenix on the other hand has pick #13 so not as many of the previously listed players will be on the board. I could see Phoenix falling in love with a player and telling them three weeks in advance because they don’t have as many options to choose from.

[HaleParticipant]

I’d be cool with it.

[benny15Participant]

it has been reported that agents are angling for their clients to be going to certain teams rather than draft position. if that is the case here, then taking a promise to go to phoenix could go a long way for him. they currently dont have any shooting guards next season. he can enter a situation that is very favorable to him. he’ll be able to play right away since he’s NBA ready, will have the oppurtunity to have more shots than your average rookie, the system they run suits him well and he’ll fit well weather the Suns are able to bring back Steve Nash or not, albeit as a 6th man on a veteran team like Barbosa was, or as part of a rebuilding unit they are looking towards going to.

it makes a lot of sense for Waiters to be in Phoenix, for both parties involved.

[JustaFanParticipant]

I think it’s a good pick rebuilding going forward. He was the best player at the CUSE and what scorer wouldn’t want to play with Nash? Backcourt insurance if Nash bails, and if so they’re going to need backcourt help like yesterday, so for all those people who like to say his game is "DWade’ish", Phoenix fans are going to need him to play like Flash for the Suns to even be relevant out west without Nash …Because Shannon and Sebastian are suitable rotation players but they aren’t going to get it done.

[220Participant]

I live near Philly and it would be pretty disheartening to draft another guy in one of the teams strongest positions. When so many big men should be available it would be crazy to me to bring in another small player…granted that did work out for the Heat when they drafted DWade when they already had Eddie Jones, Caron Butler, Rasual Butler, and not much else, but I don’t think Waiters is DWade’s level.

I hope the Sixers pick a big guy and actually play him. They played Vucevic a while then he fell out of the rotation and it ended it being the suprising Lavoy Allen at 6’9" who played most minutes at center.

 

[surveParticipant]

 it comes down to more than the numbers game….it gets to the personal level and how much a GM falls in love with a guy.  Jerry West was absolutely in love with Kobe while like 12 other teams obviously werent.  Ainge was absolutely in love with Rondo.

Its that something you see…you know, its like if me and you are checking out chicks one babe you may feel lukewarm about I may absolute be intrigued by because its something about her…and its not something you can always put your finger on.  Now later you may come to the conclusion that she is not what you thought she was…but thats the risk.

Toronto is my personal feeling which I could be totally wrong about, but just letting you know….beauty is in the eye of the beholder and right now.  Give you another girlie example….you have 5 guys and 5 girls that meet up in a bar for instance.  As a guy who may not be more handsome as the first 2 guys (N.O. and Charlotte, lo) but not as lowly as the last two…lol….I know I cant get the hottest babe (Anthony Davis) but I dont want to play the safe route and bag one of the two least sexiest babes…I immediately go for the middle babe (Waiters).  This assures me that I come away with something that although I didnt get the tops I feel comfortable with.  Sorry for writing this story but it cracked me up while writing it so I thought you guys may like how I made the analogies.

Right now, I believe Waiters is the sexiest pick for Toronto at #8.

disclaimer:  no homo on any of these references…lol

[cabbycabParticipant]

Sorry for the digression, but Waiters looks like he is one lockout away from going Hot Plate Williams on us. 

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