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NBA Loud - by Arnold

Player News Phoenix Suns - NBA Loud

The 2008 NBA Draft

July 1st 2008 03:49

I’d like to post about the previously finished NBA Draft. A lot of trades were completed/proposed making this years draft exciting and noteworthy. In this first post I will be going through the top five picks and thereafter with updates and all you need to know up to the minute stats and transactions.

Let’s get this post draft analysis going with the first overall pick for the Chicago Bulls DERRICK ROSE. Rose out of Memphis has a solid NBA body and can take the punishment as a player in the paint. He will mold himself into whatever type of player his team needs him to be as evident by the video below. He is one of the most ready-type players to enter the league. A truly solid addition to any team, kind of makes me think of the miss of Jay Williams. In which whom the Bulls took as the savior type PG years ago before he had his motorcycle accident stifling his promising career. With this pick Chicago puts themselves back into contention for a playoff spot in the East.

This video shows how Rose can affect the game as he will become a solid NBA-PG.

# 2

Undoubtedly the Miami Heat selected MICHAEL BEASLEY out of Kansas State. This PF needs no introduction to basketball fans as his huge wingspan makes up for any negativity about his height at the four spot. One of the perfect teams for Beasley to go to, I think his character issues would only become apparent if he were to have to battle with a solid proven veteran for his starting spot. He will be going in battling Udonis Haslem who has seen his stock drop as he needs to create more of his own offence. The heat I am sure are not finished in tweaking their team for the 08/09 season. Marion though will alleviate any concerns of the rookie being overmatched down-low as he is almost like an extra PF out there sometimes with his rebounding efforts and hustle in trying to make the right plays.

# 3

Minnesota at the third spot went with OJ MAYO, who I have seen and been hearing about for a good number of years. Mayo will be a solid two as at 6’4” 200lbs he is limited in selected positions, but this guy is just a born scorer and if he ends up in Grizz-town, look for him to team up with Rudy Gay as Mike Miller was moved with Memphis making the choice to let him go after he admittedly carried the Grizzlies last season at times. In return Minnesota looks to get #5 Kevin Love. I am in love with this deal as the T-Wolves send Antoine Walker also to MEM. Minnesota gets the scoring they desperately need and character guys, to build around. I know what fans may be thinking and no this isn’t the second coming of Wally World, Mike Miller is a gamer playing all three spots from 1-3 for the Grizz and did whatever was asked, as he became a versatile and proven scorer, unlike streaky Szczerbiak.

# 4

Russell Westbrook a surprise at number four as the top three had virtually been decided weeks beforehand. Westbrook though an unexpected pick is an explosive guard that will do well in this league especially when Seattle gets all the parts and can continuously run up and down with Durant and Green. The Sonics clearly want a guard that can break down the D and get up and down the court at breakneck speeds. They have found that guy with Westbrook. People want to compare him to NBA champion Rajon Rondo and maybe Monta Ellis, he is long and skinny and extremely athletic, time will tell if he can make the right passes for a long career with Durant by his side.

# 5

Care of NBADraft.net

Memphis picks Kevin Love at the number five spot and in turn will be sending him to Minnesota in the deal outlined in the third pick paragraph. Love is solid, not an athlete like the Grizz love at the four spot, but the T-Wolves just need ballers in which Kevin is for sure. Down-low he will be helped by Al Jefferson for sure on defense. Also he will have a great passer in Mike Miller to get the ball to him in good spots. I like Kevin Love on a solid team a rebuilding team he may flourish or sink as he’ll need to create his own offence and may struggle with the speed of the NBA at first.

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Shawn Marion Demands to be Traded.

September 27th 2007 22:37

The entertaining Phoenix Suns are on the brink of a championship, and with the addition Grant Hill, a full compliment of even hungrier players, dreaming of a title isn’t too far of a stretch. There is one caveat though – Shawn Marion wants to be traded.

Steve Nash is the undisputed heart and soul of the team, because without him the Suns are a bottom playoff team in the competitive West. Hell, they’ll probably be lucky to see any postseason action without Stevie Wonder.

So, if the formerly-floppy-haired-Canadi an is the most important component of the Suns, who is the second most indispensable player? Amare Stoudemire? Wrong! It would be Shawn Marion aka the Matrix.

What??!?!?! The Matrix!

Yes, Marion is the second most important Phoenix player and the most unappreciated one.

Is the Matrix asking for the red pill to end his dream run with the Suns? (Image from espn.com)

Athletic, fast, rebounds, defends and doesn’t need offensive plays to be called for him to be happy. Shawn is the type of player that teams dream about because he is like a Swiss army knife – he could do it all.

Defend a guard on the perimeter, you got it, lock down the big forward down the hole, no worries, grab important rebounds, whilst showing mad athleticism, can do. Making a tired point, the Matrix is the Morpheus to Nash’s Neo.

Why on earth would Marion want to be traded? He is in a fantastic situation and in the perfect team! According to Shawn, his motivation in asking to be shipped off is due to the fact that he is tired of hearing his name as trade bait, and of course the old chestnut of the lack of ‘respect’ shown by the Suns when a possible Kevin Garnett trade was on the books.

“Regardless of everything that went on with the extension, I'm tired of hearing my name in trade rumours…It's time for me to move on. I felt like they tried to force my hand to Boston with the [Kevin] Garnett stuff. I haven't done anything wrong…I leave it on the floor night in and night out. Sometimes, it's just time, and it's time to go. It's been like a nightmare.” (ESPN.com, 2007)

Again, this boggles the mind because the Matrix is playing with the dream point guard who can slot passes to anyone on the floor. Only Jason Kidd brings the same type of selfless consistency to the table, and he still can’t even get Vince Carter or Richard Jefferson to win on a higher scale.

Yes, we do hear you, Shawn that you don’t get enough love. But isn’t the chance of achieving something special worth you staying? The Matrix reportedly desires a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers and he could be rest assured that they won’t be anywhere near championship contention for the next, um, five years or so.

Marion is the highest paid Suns player and could be a chemistry killer if he continues to sulk.

Stevie Wonder deserves to play in at least one Finals series and at the age of 33 is on borrowed time. A season that was supposed to bring potential championship glory looks to be floundering even before a dunk has been jammed in anger.

Today’s video is of the Matrix strutting his stuff. We love you here at NBALOUD, Shawn.

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Posted By: Stanley - Category: Player News, Phoenix Suns

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Grant Hill Set to Join the Phoenix Suns.

July 6th 2007 06:18

There are a few players in the NBA that are deserving of a title because they have been such loyal servants to the game and public, we can count Grant Hill as one of the good guys who deserves championship glory.

According to Hill’s agent he is set to sign a contract with the Phoenix Suns for two years that is roughly worth about $4 million. Grant would have undoubtedly got more cabbage if he went elsewhere but he is hungry for a title says his agent Lon Babby: “There's no question he could've gotten considerably more money elsewhere, but that was not the principle," Babby said. "I think the most important factor for him was the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to a team competing for the championship.” (Reed, AP, 2007)

Mr. Nice Guy has had one of the more star-crossed careers in the NBA, being wildly popular at the peak of his powers, but ultimately succumbing to numerous devastating injuries curbing his impact. After signing a seven year contract to much fanfare with the Orlando Magic for $93 million, he was expected to help the team out in overcoming the championship hurdle. Unfortunately, for Hill it wasn’t meant to be.

Let’s give plaudits to Grant though for not giving up the fight for an NBA championship and

Let's hope that Grant Hill's body can keep up with the high octane Suns. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

after contemplating retirement once his contract ran out this year he is back for one last shot.

It is surprising to note that after all the All-Star game appearances, awards and college championships that Hill has never gotten past the first round of the playoffs as a pro. We can assume that a team like the Suns who are on the cusp of a championship will help him surmount that dubious record.

The signs look good for Hill and the Suns, because for the first time since the millennium Grant has made it through a whole season relatively unscathed, while for the man, he joins a squad brimming with quality players where his basketball savvy will prove an invaluable commodity.

We can only wish success for both Grant and the Suns.

Moving onto news involving the continuing Kobe Bryant saga, we hear that the Bean has apologised to Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak who he has been lambasting to everyone around him and beyond. Hell, he probably hired a plane and dropped fliers from the sky informing everyone of his dissatisfaction.

During a press conference publicising his camp for youngsters, Bryant stated that: “I just felt like as a man, it was important for me to tell him, `I'm sorry it came out that way…I was frustrated, I was venting…” (Nadel, AP, 2007)

When pressed if he still wanted a trade away from Hollywood, Bryant replied: “I haven't thought about that in a long, long time. I've kind of stepped away from that. I've concentrated on Team USA. What I say is what I say. We'll just have to see where it goes.” (Nadel, AP, 2007)

Got to hand it to Kobe, he really does know how to draw attention to himself – good or bad, but mainly bad.

Continuing with our theme of videos with the recent draftees here is another one of Greg Oden receiving words of wisdom from some all time greats.

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Posted By: Stanley - Category: Player News, Phoenix Suns, Kobe Bryant

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