Podcasts about Dragan Bender

(00:00) Fred, Rich, and Wallach think that the Bruins will have to sell low on some of their top players. (13:47) Fred isn't very good at texting women. (29:02) The guys discuss some forgotten draft prospects.   CONNECT WITH TOUCHER & RICH: Twitter: @Toucherandrich | @FredToucher | @KenGriffeyrules  Instagram: @toucherandrichofficial | @fredtoucher Facebook: Toucher & Rich Twitch: TheSportsHub Visit the Toucher & Rich page on 985thesportshub.com. Follow Boston's home for sports on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!

Ya tocaba hablar de baloncesto de verdad, con un invitado que sabe de baloncesto de verdad y con debates de baloncesto de verdad. ¿Quién es el Real Madrid de la NBA? ¿Y por qué los Lakers? Dudas existenciales que teníamos que resolver con Ricardo González, redactor de la sección de baloncesto de Diario AS, especialista absoluto del baloncesto europeo. La NBA y Europa comparten lazos y estrategias poco compensadas que potencian una competición y merman las del viejo continente. Para que brillen los Ginóbili, Doncic y Jokic, hay centenares de Dragan Bender y Leandro Bolmaro que rompen su desarrollo y posible liderazgo en el baloncesto FIBA completando las plantillas sin ser figuras clave en sus equipos, encadenando contratos two-way y temporadas en ligas de desarrollo sin aportar nada a la NBA.  

Brendon Kleen (@BrendonKleen14) is joined by Suns Twitter King Sreekar Jasthi (@sreekyshooter) to discuss Sreekar's feelings after the Suns' loss in the NBA Finals, how he feels about the offseason, and why he has already forgotten Landry Shamet is on the Suns. Plus, we answer your questions on Dragan Bender, Mikal Bridges, and more!Subscribe to Locked On Suns on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3AtuiAX Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!SweatBlockGet it today for 20% off at SweatBlock.com with promo code LockedOn, or at Amazon and CVS.Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15” and you'll get 15% off your next order.BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wes Goldberg breaks down Dragan Bender's debut in the Warriors' loss to the Pelicans Sunday. Plus, why fans shouldn't be worried about Andrew Wiggins' inefficient shooting night and if Juan Toscano-Anderson has a chance to make the team next season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wes Goldberg is joined by San Francisco Chronicle writer Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) to discuss why the Warriors will sign Dragan Bender to a 10-day contract and his potential future with the team. Then they talk about if Jordan Poole's future is playing point guard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The latest edition of the Monday Mailbag answering listener submitted questions about Gary Trent Jr.'s recent breakout, CJ McCollum's shooting slump and Dragan Bender. Dragan, baby! If you want to get your question answered on next week's show just a send a question to @mikegrich on Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Bucks tied a season-high for turnovers and had a horror night at the free-throw line but ultimately still won by double-digits against Chicago.Giannis went to work in the post and Kane catches up with Dragan Bender postgame. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Bucks are now 38-6 after a win in Brooklyn.Once again the starters were not required to play more than 30 minutes and Giannis and Middleton continue their huge season.What to make of the officials and Giannis, All-Star chatter and a nice Dragan Bender cameo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Frank and Eric fail to see an end in sight for the mailbag, but keep moving forward. Who is the Bucks' best passer? What's the deal with Dragan Bender's question? Doe this year have to be THE year for the Bucks? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Frank and Eric take a quick detour to discuss the Bucks addition of Dragan Bender before digging deeper into their massive mailbag full of questions. What kind of contribution could Bender actually make? Can his career actually be saved in Milwaukee? What will happen to all the young guys on the roster? How can Eric Bledsoe take a step forward? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode live from Talking Stick Resort Arena, we recap the craziness from the Suns' home finale with a thrilling overtime victory over the Pelicans.Josh Jackson, Dragan Bender and Ray Spalding all had career-best games simultaneously, while Jamal Crawford also gave us a throwback performance. Who would've thought that's how Phoenix would close their season in front of the home crowd?We also looked ahead to how these three could fit into the Suns' plans next season.What a crazy, weird game all tied together, right? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode of Locked On Suns live from Talking Stick Resort Arena, we recapped the Phoenix Suns' 124-121 loss to the Washington Wizards. Even though Devin Booker has scored 109 points over his last two games, it unfortunately hasn't ended with the Suns as winners.That doesn't take away from the best stretch of Booker's career, though. Are we seeing peak Booker, and what does this mean for next season?Outside of Booker's scorching hot scoring binge, Dragan Bender, Deandre Ayton and Troy Daniels also chipped in solid outings to give Phoenix a chance at the end to send it to overtime.Let's also not forget that a legitimate media company actually asked the question in 2019 whether Booker is actually good at this sport or not. What a way to prove that notion wrong by dropping 50 once more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, we highlight the three most intriguing players who stood out for one reason or another in the Suns' second consecutive blowout loss, 108-86 in Portland.Benched with an “illness,” Deandre Ayton came off the bench for the first time in his career but failed to make an impact despite checking in three minutes into each half and playing mostly with the starters. He struggled against Portland center Jusuf Nurkic.We also saw extended run for Dragan Bender, whose energy was welcome in another game marked by unsightly slogging.Finally, we break down De'Anthony Melton's second night of real NBA action. The shot didn't fall, but Melton still made his mark. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, we quickly update everyone on the latest Suns' transaction news, from Tyson Chandler's buyout to Dragan Bender's declined option to a few updates with regard to a point guard trade.Chandler gave back the $2.1 million he will make with the Lakers. What will Richaun Holmes do in his place?Bender just wasn't worth his contract anymore, but could he be back in 2019 regardless?Finally, the latest in the never-ending Terry Rozier and John Wall saga. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, we discuss why Jamal Crawford doesn't make a lot of sense as the stopgap guard the Suns have been looking for, then predict how the signing affects the Suns' rotation early in the season.Crawford hasn't been a team's full-time point guard at really any point in his career, and he's 38. Defense has never been a strength for him. Where does he fit in Phoenix?Plus, why T.J. Warren's transition to power forward clears things up in the rotation, and whether Dragan Bender has any role at all after a frustrating summer of basketball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, Evan and Brendon recorded live from Talking Stick Resort Arena after the Suns' loss to the Kings in their preseason opener. There were plenty of things to go over from Monday's action.Not only did Deandre Ayton flash great moments on both ends, even being fed down the stretch cutting Sacramento's lead, but Josh Jackson's budding playmaking ability might have found the perfect match with head coach Igor Kokoskov. We posed the question of whether Phoenix should start Devin Booker and Jackson in their backcourt instead.Also, what's going wrong with Dragan Bender? After another disastrous performance, just how crucial is this month-long stretch for his career? The Suns have to pick up or decline his fourth-year team option soon, so what do we think they will do? Hint: If Bender keeps this up, Evan doesn't think he will be around for long. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, we brought back the Twitter mailbag for our loyal listeners as we are now only a few days away until the Phoenix Suns are facing a different team on the basketball court. Exciting times indeed, so we answered all of your questions.What should we expect out of Dragan Bender and Josh Jackson this season under new head coach Igor Kokoskov? Are we buying what the Suns are selling with Deandre Ayton's improvements already defensively? What are the best lineups at the Suns' disposal?We answered all of these, and much more, so tune in and make sure to give us a review on iTunes! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, we quickly recap what became an eventful Thursday night for the Phoenix Suns, as the team traded third-year big Marquese Chriss and presumed starting point guard Brandon Knight to the Rockets in a surprise deal.Chriss' departure effectively seals Dragan Bender's fate in Phoenix as the chosen son of the 2016 draft, while Knight moves on to Houston and leaves a Devin Booker-sized hole at the point guard spot.We hit the deal from every angle — does Booker really start at the one? Is Melton the best player in the deal? What types of lineups are now possible with all of this young wing talent?You won't want to miss our giddy initial thoughts to this wild deal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, we bring on Max McCauley of the Seven Seconds or Less podcast to talk about what the Suns' roster should look like around Devin Booker and how Max would approach the 2018-19 NBA season.We talk about:Is Booker better-suited to play on or off the ball moving forward? What kind of player is an ideal backcourt partner?Decision time on Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss.How the wing rotation shakes out, who starts at small forward, and whether Josh Jackson or Mikal Bridges is the priority long-term.The Suns' focus on the draft versus improvement in 2019.And finally, Max puts on the general manager hat and maneuvers through the next full calendar year for the Suns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, we break down the Suns' frontcourt depth chart, from Deandre Ayton down to Tyson Chandler.With fourth-year option decisions looming, the competition between Marquese Chriss and Dragan Bender for a future with the Suns is the primary storyline for this group.Aside from that, newcomer Richaun Holmes represents an interesting developmental project for the Suns. Could playing under Igor Kokoskov help him?Finally, Tyson Chandler looks like one of the surest buyout candidates in the league heading into what could be his final NBA season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today' episode, Andrew Bernucca of FanSided joins to break down to dissect the European basketball as it relates to the Suns. After falling to No. 31 on draft night, Elie Okobo impressed during the first two Summer League contests. How does he fit with Devin Booker long term?Are we underselling the impact Igor Kokoskov could have on Dragan Bender, and vice versa?Bernucca gives his outsider's insight as FanSided's chief Eurohoops writer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, special guest Jonathan Tjarks wiggles his way through the Suns' present and future.We briefly discussed the Kawhi Leonard trade to Toronto before diving in on the Suns.Topics discussed include:Deandre Ayton's ceiling relative to other top picksSummer League takeawaysJosh Jackson and Mikal Bridges as building blocks on the wing alongside Devin BookerHow the Suns stack up with the rest of the league now and in the futureDecision time on Dragan Bender and Marquese ChrissThis was a fun one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, we dive into Twitter one final time for the summer to take listener questions in a mailbag reviewing the offseason.Questions based on topics such as:Expectations for Deandre AytonWhat we know about Brandon Knight and his outlook for 2018-19Decision time for Dragan Bender and Marquese ChrissPossibilities at point guard and forward in the summer of 2019How the Suns can create financial flexibility next yearWe'll be back with guest episodes the rest of the week, so stay tuned. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, Brendon is joined by Bright Side of the Sun's Dave King to discuss all the latest news surrounding the Summer Suns up in Las Vegas.From Deandre Ayton, Josh Jackson, Mikal Bridges, Elie Okobo, Dragan Bender, and even Jack Cooley, we have you covered as they dish out their first impressions from the opening weekend.After a dominant 2-0 start, are the Suns about to cruise through the playoff portion with their loaded roster? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, we wrap up our free agency preview with a few final mailbag questions and a mock Suns offseason.Our audience questions lead us to a discussion about the trade market for Marquese Chriss and Dragan Bender as well as a debate about the Suns' targets for big man depth come July 1.Then we try and address those decisions head-on through Evan's mock offseason, with Brendon acting as facilitator/opposing general manager. Who do the Suns go out and get in our imagination? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, Brendon brings in the European Woj, David Pick, to discuss Luka Doncic's performance at the EuroLeague Final Fourin a wide-ranging conversation that stretches beyond just Doncic.Pick has been as close a source as any to Doncic throughout his journey since age 13 up to this point, now considered a contender to be the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft. He talks about Doncic's development, the historic nature of his EuroLeague performance, and why the level of competition against which Doncic played is legit.We also discuss how European scouting has become less mysterious over time for NBA teams, and how much more the league knows about Doncic than even Dragan Bender, whom the Suns took at No. 4 just two summers ago.Finally, we drop in on Dzanan Musa, another player performing well overseas who could be in play for the Suns at No. 16, if they target wing offense at that spot. Pick discusses why players competing in lesser leagues and tournaments are still valued so highly in the draft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh and Matt Smith look back on the 2017-18 Phoenix Suns, touching on what they achieved and what could transpire in the coming years. They talk about Devin Booker, Josh Jackson, Dragan Bender and the rest of the Suns' roster. The Locked On Fantasy Basketball Podcast is brought to you by Basketball Monster.Support me and the show here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, we dive into two guys from the second tier of big men in this year's lottery, Mohamed Bamba and Wendell Carter Jr.At Texas, Bamba went from one of the most exciting young prospects in the draft from a physical standpoint and as a prototypical versatile Suns piece, to being talked about in the back half of the lottery. He didn't exert his advantages nearly often enough in college, but has gotten right to work this summer developing his jump shot with Joel Embiid and Embiid's trainer.Carter is a high-floor guy who has garnered Al Horford comparisons as an all-around big man, but will probably need to be in a perfect system to be maximized. He balances out Dragan Bender in interesting ways, but may never be a valuable enough offensive player to be a great starter in the NBA.Who makes more sense for the Suns based on what we know about their needs and priorities? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, we broke down the performances of the final three members of the #TheTimeline left standing over an injury-riddled last 16 games of the season. Josh Jackson, Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss were given plenty of opportunity as the season wound down without Devin Booker or T.J. Warren in the lineup. Jackson upped his usage big time, while Chriss regained his early-season form and Bender shouldered the heaviest minutes total on the team.How did each player grade out?Finally, a quick look at some of the supporting cast who got extra playing time over the final month and a half. Shaquille Harrison, Danuel House Jr., and Alec Peters each showed they deserve a chance at a roster spot this September. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, we quickly broke down some of the bigger takeaways from the Suns' loss to Golden State on Sunday evening, 117-107. In a game where the Warriors coasted through the first half before breathing fire onto the Suns' young roster for 12 third-quarter minutes, the visiting team showed signs of progress we've desperately wanted to see over the last two months. Aside from Danuel House Jr.'s massive unassisted alley-oop over Nick Young, we also saw strong performances out of Shaquille Harrison, Marquese Chriss, and Dragan Bender.Finally, an update on Josh Jackson's performance as a primary creator, especially his ability to avoid turnovers and make positive plays. Do his signs of progress over the past two weeks help the Suns feel more comfortable taking a big man at the top of this year's draft? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, we had our first competitive game in a while to break down. The Suns' 104-103 loss to Houston came down to the final minute, in which James Harden, Josh Jackson, and Gerald Green traded buckets before Green ultimately won the game for the Rockets.What a beautiful, perfect tanking loss.Jackson and Tyler Ulis both continued to play well without Devin Booker and T.J. Warren, while Dragan Bender was benched in the first half and struggled with aggressiveness on offense once again.Off the bench, young guys like Danuel House Jr. and Alec Peters got their first real shot in a while, with each playing over 20 minutes and providing a spark. It looks like Alan Williams has infused that unit with energy since returning on Monday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, we looked at the Suns' 102-94 loss to the Celtics through the prism of the summer of 2018 and beyond for this rebuilding team.The game was another glaring microcosm of the differences between Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss, as well as Elfrid Payton's worst game in Phoenix. It appears change is coming in the frontcourt and backcourt for one or more of those three.In addition, for a game in which Alan Williams was making his return from injury, it was Tyler Ulis who suddenly looked spry and had his best game of the season, saying after the game that it is his own health that has made the biggest difference lately. We end the podcast by looking at who might be on the roster next season, especially with a top-3 pick nearly locked up after another Grizzlies victory last night. T.J. Warren might not be as much of a lock as it seems based on his price tag and scoring production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, we recapped the Suns' two most recent games, both losses, to the Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers. For about half the episode, we dove back into a debate we thought had passed: Whether the Suns should prioritize Dragan Bender or Marquese Chriss this offseason. If one were to move, who would we rather see go?We also looked at how Josh Jackson has looked as the team's primary initiator with T.J. Warren and Devin Booker out during this back-to-back. How has he looked compared with Elfrid Payton?Finally, another look at the coaching search after an interesting Elite Eight battle between Jay Wright and Chris Beard earlier today. Does Beard make sense as a second-tier candidate for the Suns' job? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode of Locked On Suns, Evan and Brendon recap the Suns' 20th loss in their last 22 as they fell this time to Charlotte, 122-115.We discussed our main takeaways from Saturday's defeat, which saw Phoenix shorthanded as Devin Booker, Josh Jackson, and T.J. Warren were all held out with injuries.Not only did Shaquille Harrison continue to break down the door of opportunity with a career-best outing, but Davon Reed and Tyler Ulis (a double-double after DNP's for a month) also shined on this afternoon.From a negative standpoint, Elfrid Payton had his third consecutive subpar outing. In his 10 starts with Phoenix, he has a total plus-minus of -152. The second-worst Sun after Payton is Jackson at -96. That is a -52 difference! What does this say about Payton and his future in Phoenix as he continues to slump this past week?Also, the co-hosts chatted about Dragan Bender, who came alive in the second half from beyond the arc. However, we ask the question about how unique of a situation this is with a top-five pick. Bender is slow developing, specifically as a driver to the rim, but is this going too slow?Finally, we talked about one main prospect this week: Collin Sexton of Alabama.As he continues to shine in March, Sexton's name will likely be one that rises in the general public's eye up until the draft. We weighed on his overall ceiling plus his fit alongside Booker in Phoenix.Is he a possible trade-up candidate? How does he compare to other point guards like Shai Gilegous-Alexander and De'Anthony Melton? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, we dove deep on the key players in #TheTimeline, stock report style, as we have throughout the season. The last quarter encompasses 24 games, in which the Suns went 3-21. However, many of the young players made legitimate progress despite not winning many games at all. Devin Booker has turned into one of the more consistent and efficient scorers in the NBA during his age-21 season.Elfrid Payton has changed the rhythm of this team completely since joining at the trade deadline. Since his arrival, the Suns' pace is nearly three possessions higher per game. Josh Jackson slowed way down in January and February, and he has become an effective two-way player thanks to a ton of in-season improvement.T.J. Warren returned to his inconsistent ways, thanks in some part to injury and a change of role. How do we feel about his extension going forward?Dragan Bender is on his way to becoming an elite two-way role player. Is that a ceiling we can accept for the former No. 4 overall pick?Finally, we looked at the coaching situation heading into the offseason. With March Madness coming up and Luka Doncic lingering at the top of the draft, where should the Suns' coach come from? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode of Locked On Suns, Evan and Brendon recap the Suns' 125-103 loss in Miami. After coming up short in Atlanta on Sunday afternoon, this result was to be expected against a stronger opponent. We examined our main takeaways from this outcome.Devin Booker once again put together another 30+ point outing, which is his 21st such occurrence in 51 total games. He's the only player in the league right now who scores 30 greater than 40% of the time he steps foot on the court.This game was a prime example of Booker showing up yet his teammates failing to produce alongside him, which has been the case in many Suns blowout losses.Not only did the co-hosts discuss Booker, but also the performances of T.J. Warren, Dragan Bender, Marquese Chriss, and many more.After recapping Phoenix's 18th loss in their last 20 games, we quickly looked at the reverse standings. If the Suns ended up with Deandre Ayton, does his severe lack of rim protection instincts deter them at all near the top? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, we discuss the Suns' 110-102 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, in which Devin Booker posted his third straight 30-point performance and Josh Jackson notched his career-high with 29 of his own.What has made Jackson so much more effective lately? Is there more truth than we think about the idea of a player learning and adjusting to the NBA game during his rookie season? Then, a quick run through some of the other players who helped lead the team to its first February victory last night: Dragan Bender's defense on Marc Gasol, and Shaquille Harrison's energetic 18 minutes.Finally, what does the team's success without T.J. Warren and Tyler Ulis mean going forward? Is it time to move Warren to the bench? Will Ulis stay in Phoenix next season if a G-League player on a 10-day contract can steal his minutes so quickly? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What a game Monday, right? Two former Kentucky Wildcats — Devin Booker and Anthony Davis — put on a show in New Orleans as the Pelicans handed the Suns their 10th straight loss 125-116.Booker nearly posted his first career triple-double in historic fashion as he tallied 40 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists while shooting 50% from the field. However, Davis trumped him with an even more dominant performance. The Brow collected a stat line of 53 points, 17 rebounds, and 5 blocks.Maybe the most impressive thing Davis did last night was foul out three Suns players in the process. Dragan Bender, Marquese Chriss, and Alex Len all played 25 minutes or less due to Davis' dominance.Outside of the Booker-Davis duel, I also touched on how the rest of the roster looked but more specifically Elfrid Payton, T.J. Warren, Josh Jackson, and Bender.With Brendon not available, I actually ran this episode solo so he threw in his two cents throughout.I had to ask the question about Davis, though. How would he look next to Booker in Phoenix? Would you trade the No. 1 pick for him if Davis ever asked out this summer? As I mentioned in today's episode, I totally would. I have a hard time seeing how that duo fails if they are together for 7-10 years.In the end, I quickly discussed a sleeper prospect to watch out for with the Miami pick and that's Creighton guard Khyri Thomas. On my big board, which will be updated and released later this week, sits right outside the lottery at No. 15.Make sure to subscribe on iTunes, and leave a review to let us know your thoughts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We saw the debut of most of the traded players across the last few days, plus the Undertaker, Dewayne Dedmon, came back to life. We broke down all of that, spotlighted Dragan Bender, and previewed Monday's DFS action. The Locked On Fantasy Basketball Podcast is brought to you by Basketball Monster.DFS starts at 43:40Support me and the show here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode of Locked On Suns, Evan and Brendon recap the Phoenix Suns' 123-113 loss to the Nuggets on Saturday night.Not only did we witness the debut of Elfrid Payton, but it led to T.J. Warren, Dragan Bender, and Josh Jackson having great performances. Warren led the Suns with 31 points, but the Suns' top two picks in 2016 and 2017 continue towards likely breakouts here soon.Jackson ended his night with 20 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 4 blocks while Bender tallied a career-high 23 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, and 3 three-pointers made.We went more in-depth on Phoenix's loss, especially the play out of Payton, Warren, Jackson, and Bender. What were our main takeaways as they head towards a trip to Golden State on Monday? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Over the weekend, the Suns lost two games in disappointing fashion, dropping their record to 18-41 with the trade deadline looming this Thursday.Altogether, the losses were by a combined 47 points, marking one of the worse two-game stretches by the team all year. There were two main positives:Josh Jackson's streak of 20 point games increased to four, marking the best week of his young career by far.Dragan Bender took advantage of heavy minutes in each game to flash a lot of the offensive tools that made him such an intriguing prospect two summers ago.On the negative side, it mostly came down to defense and Devin Booker. Booker appears to be struggling mightily with two abdominal injuries, and the hosts discussed whether it makes sense to shut him down for the five remaining games heading into the All-Star break. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, Brendon and Evan were joined by Kris and Max, two Suns fans they know from Twitter, about several different topics. First, they touched oh-so-briefly on tonight's blowout at the hands of the Indiana Pacers, a loss not worth discussing much at all. Indiana did exactly what they did in Phoenix two weeks ago, dissecting the Suns' perimeter defense on their way to a huge win. Next, Brendon and Evan traded off questions about the team's future, allowing Kris and Max to step into GM Ryan McDonough's shoes for a few decisions about the team's future. Who is the best building block for the team moving forward -- Dragan Bender? Marquese Chriss? Josh Jackson?Is Devin Booker's real co-pilot available in the 2018 draft, and if so who is it? All four weighed in. Note: I want to point audio was a little shaky at some points, especially with Max, due to poor WiFi connection on Google Hangouts. Apologies for the cut-outs for mere seconds at points a few times in advance, but it settled down after first few minutes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode of Locked On Suns, Evan and Brendon discuss ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski's report of Kemba Walker being officially placed on the trade block. With the Hornets looking to shed cap space while pressing the full-scale rebuild button, Walker plans to be their main piece in whoever helps reshuffle their roster.For the first 25 minutes, we brought up a lot of angles from a Phoenix perspective. Outside of the Knicks, Pacers, and Clippers, we believe Phoenix is definitely in the running for Walker if they so desire.First, what would the Suns have to give up? We discussed what value we believe Walker has league-wide, as well as what could intrigue Charlotte. Also, we brought up the inevitable question: Marquese Chriss or Dragan Bender? Who would you rather keep if one has to be shipped away sometime soon?General manager Ryan McDonough will have a tough decision to make. Keep with the plan of possibly acquiring another top-five pick or trade for Walker and bring Booker some immediate help? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode of Locked On Suns, Evan and Brendon recap the Suns' 17-point loss to Houston on Friday. For the second consecutive time, the Suns have been blown out by the Rockets on national television.We discussed the point guard situation for the Suns. With Isaiah Canaan returning Sunday, how should Jay Triano divvy out the minutes? Will Point Book be expanded upon with less Tyler Ulis? There are some ideas we thought of.Also, we looked at the overall construction of Houston. The Suns not only are one step away, but multiple, including developmental jumps from Marquese Chriss, Dragan Bender, and Josh Jackson as Brendon pointed out.Finally, we looked at the monstrous performances from Trae Young, Marvin Bagley III, and Deandre Ayton on Saturday. (Hint: This draft class is turning out to be rather important for the Suns' future.) In the end, we played a hypothetical scenario, too. If Luka Doncic and Ayton are the first two off the board and Phoenix lands at No. 3, who do they select? Young? Bagley? Bamba? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of Locked On Suns, Evan and Brendon recap the last 20 games in our second of four stock reports.We analyzed all of the following players, including Jay Triano: Devin Booker, T.J. Warren, Josh Jackson, Dragan Bender, and Marquese Chriss. On all of them, we took in-depth analytical dives while looking at their latest trends over certain portions of this stretch. Booker was only apart of 10/19 games with an adductor injury.So, how did the grades end up? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode of Locked On Suns, Evan and Brendon recap the Suns' best win of the season, 114-100, over Oklahoma City. In the process, we saw #TheTimeline blossom with career-best performances from Josh Jackson and Dragan Bender.We dived into both of their performances, alongside Devin Booker, TJ Warren, Tyler Ulis, and the short time Marquese Chriss was out there as well.Speaking of Bender and Jackson, could these two as plus-passers for their positions really open it up for Booker in the season's second half if it continues to gel? Seemingly Jackson, Chriss, and Bender are all putting it together simultaneously, which is a great sign for the future.We also debated how important the summer of 2018 is for Phoenix. If the Suns finish with 30-33 wins, do they become more attractive to the top tier of the free agent class? Both of us agreed, though, that trading up in the draft could be in the cards with how general manager Ryan McDonough has laid out his assets moving forward.How does the Locked On Suns crew see the season's second half going for the Suns now after this past week? Will it sustain?What do you think, listeners? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dragan Bender breathed fire on the Thunder, we got troubling news on Kawhi Leonard and Damian Lillard and covered Week 13 in the NBA. The Locked On Fantasy Basketball Podcast is brought to you by Basketball Monster.DFS starts at 43:16Support me and the show hereI recapped all of the action from Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and previewed Monday's games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode of Locked On Suns, Evan and Brendon recap the Suns' 103-89 loss in San Antonio. Without T.J. Warren (illness), Phoenix relied upon Devin Booker to carry even more of a heavier workload, which included backup point guard duties with Isaiah Canaan also out.From the Spurs matchup, we touched on Josh Jackson, Marquese Chriss, Dragan Bender, Tyler Ulis and Booker's performances.Also, we discussed Kevin O'Connor's great article on Booker over at The Ringer. Diving deeper into his points, is building the roster around the 21-year-old much like Houston did with James Harden the way to go?One interesting stat to follow, Booker now is third (fourth if you still somehow consider Harden an SG) in games where he dishes out 5 or more assists. He has done so 16 times in 31 contests, which puts him on a playmaking-type trajectory many never expected this early. Only DeMar DeRozan (21) and Jimmy Butler (19) have done it more, albeit in more opportunities.This is a must-listen if you want our last thoughts on #TheTimeline before our halfway stock reports, which take place this weekend.What's your grades for the young Suns core parts at the halfway mark, and would you go the Harden path with Booker if you are general manager Ryan McDonough? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode of Locked On Suns, Evan and Brendon dive into everything surrounding Devin Booker's return to the Suns' lineup. He picked up right where he left off before missing nine games with a left adductor strain, scoring 32 points and leading the Suns to a two-point home victory. How did he fit into the rotation that Triano crafted in his absence?We revisited Alex Len's hot streak and wondered where Len ranks on this team. How has he been so consistent, and how has he improved? Is he perhaps more valuable to the team than T.J. Warren?Finally, we considered the addition of Isaiah Canaan and the impact it has had on the rest of the lineup, especially the second unit. His play has been a key factor in Dragan Bender's recent emergence, which continued last night against Memphis with a game-winning assist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Merry Christmas, everybody!On today's special episode, we are going to go back toward right before training camp for a special interview.Before Evan took over as the new host of Locked On Suns, he had a chance to speak with ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowksi about all things Suns on his own platform, BrightSidery.For our nearly 40-minute discussion, we did a complete State of the Suns, looking at their current crop of young players (Devin Booker, Dragan Bender, Marquese Chriss, etc.) and then-head coach Earl Watson.Woj is a big believer in Josh Jackson, so his recent struggles should leave you feeling a little better after hearing him discuss the former Kansas Jayhawk.A quick reminder if you never heard it the first time around, Woj does not have a Skype account. This means, at points, his audio could be a little murky because I had to record off of the TapeACall app, but for most of the time, it was completely fine to me.Happy Holidays, Suns fans, and enjoy this flashback one-on-one discussion with Woj and me!Note: Brendon and I will bring you our thoughts on the last two games, including the recent Mike James / Isaiah Canaan news in our next episode tomorrow, so stay tuned! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices