Jared Dudley: “Phoenix is a better situation for me”
You’re spending most of the summer in Vegas, right?
Jared Dudley: I’m staying in L.A. and spending time in Vegas too, getting ready for the season.
Do you work out with any other players there in Vegas?
JD: Yeah, I’m working out with NBA players there. It’s guys like Chauncey Billups, Al Harrington… Who else was there? Jermaine O’Neal. A lot of people there!
How’s working out with NBA stars like that? Are you enjoying it?
JD: Yes, I’m enjoying it. It’s always good to face these NBA players. At the end of the day, it’s NBA competition and you learn their games. Overall, it’s good to get together to work on your game against guys like that.
Is it hard to focus on the basketball part with all the distractions you can have in Vegas?
JD: It’s not that hard because you go to Vegas with the mindset of training, not partying. You have the whole summer to party or gamble. When you get there, you’re thinking about getting ready for September, working on your body and fine-tuning parts of your game.
What parts of your game are you working on the most this summer?
JD: Most of all, I’m working on my range. Getting better to shoot the three, because you know in Phoenix we shoot a lot of threes. Also I’m working a lot on my conditioning because we’re a team that gets up and down the court. I’m going to get a lot of opportunities to shoot the three and a lot of opportunities to play.
What position comes more naturally to you: small forward or power forward?
JD: I’m a small forward. I think I can guard certain power forwards – guys like Rashard Lewis or Josh Howard. I find it harder to guard the Kevin Garnetts, the tall post-up power forwards. I’m more into guarding the guys that play outside.
Do you feel Phoenix is a better situation for you than Charlotte was?
JD: Oh, definitely. For one, the style of play is a better fit. Offensively, it’s unlimited. Phoenix is a place where you can run, shoot the three… For me it’s definitely a better situation as far as playing. Also, you have a point guard that will find you in Steve Nash. There are not too many point guards out there better than him.
You were productive on a bench role for the Suns last season. If you had more minutes on the court, what kind of numbers do you think you could be putting up?
JD: I think I would first have to be able to earn the playing time, which I did towards the end of the year. And I think this season backing up Grant Hill or possibly starting, I don’t think it’s out of the question that I could get 10-12 points per game and 5-6 rebounds. I think that would be big for Phoenix and big for my career.
How do you feel about the Suns’ offseason, especially the Shaq trade?
JD: As a teammate, I loved to have Shaq around. He’s one of the funniest guys I’ve ever been around and a great teammate. Court-wise, I think we’re going in the right direction, trying to go back to the old Suns’ style of run-and-gun. So I think making the transition to that will make us a better team on the court.
You’re one of the most active Twitter users among NBA players. How did you get into it?
JD: It was Shaq. He told us to get into it. Jason Richardson got into it. And one day, I said, “Let me try this thing out.” You know, now all my friends are out there hanging out. I talk to Mark Cuban every day on it… It’s just a cool website for fans to get involved in players’ lives. What I try to do is give the fans insight on what they really can’t see. Once the season starts, I’m gonna give them insight on training camp, what’s going on in the locker room, the team bus, hotels and everything.
You’ve even broken news about players like Steve Nash or Matt Barnes. Has the team told you anything about it, that maybe you shouldn’t be talking about stuff like that?
JD: I haven’t had a problem. Everything I’ve said is the truth. I have not put anything out there that’s false or make stuff up. Everything I’ve said, I’ve talked about it with the source. I have credibility. As long as you’re not talking about anything negative… But talking about Steve Nash getting an extension isn’t really bad, so I’m going to continue doing it. For example, next week in Vegas I’m going to talk about the workouts. I’m going to say who’s playing well, how the games are going… Just trying to get more a little more insight for the fans.
Some guys have already gotten in trouble because of their Twitter use. Do you think some players are going to be scared of it?
JD: I think you can get in trouble if you’re using Twiterr on a negative way. If you use it on a positive way to enlighten fans, have fun and interact, I don’t think you’re going to get in trouble. You just have to be careful. For example, I wouldn’t give out my exact location because you never know about getting robbed or something. I think this works well for fans and getting people to know what’s going on in your life.
Sean D from RB Said,
July 31, 2009 @ 10:49 pm
Damn, this fool doesn’t even know Josh Howard is small forward, that’s sad. Why is Jared Dudley being interviewed anyway, seems like Hoopshype has gone slummin
Michael Said,
July 31, 2009 @ 11:01 pm
So Jared, do you think you could play some SG? J-Rich has got to go, he doesn’t have any basketball sense!
Larry Said,
July 31, 2009 @ 11:54 pm
JD is a very inteligent guy. I just wished he had Marion’s warped speed up and down the court. That’s what made the run and gun work besides Nash’s ability to find the open guy at such a fast pace. Marion could guard a variety of players in the open court and beat anyone down the floor creatinfg 4 on 3s and 3 on 2s all day. If Nash couldn’t get him the ball going to the hoop he would circle back and be open for that ugly looking shot that went in enough. Marion was available for PHX to try and get back, but it didn’t appear PHX was willing to go after him for 8-9 million a year in some kind of Sign and trade with Toronto. Both sides should have buried the hatchet. The Suns are still the best fit for Marion, and Marion for the Suns. He will do well working with Kidd in Dallas who he played with in his early days in PHX.
Jared is a good guy and works hard but he wont get Marion’s 18 and 10 and the steals and blocks. Not often you get a SF who gives you 10rpg. The mistake of the Marion for Shaq deal will haunt this franchise for a long time. Bryan Colangelo knew he was a complainer and let it go in one ear and out the other. Kerr’s lack of experience dealing with NBA star players cost the Suns dearly. Best of luck to Jared, a solid player and quality person
Steve Kerr Said,
August 1, 2009 @ 1:38 am
yeh Dudders, best sf in the league
Amare tweets, the fans respond| Valley of the Suns Said,
August 1, 2009 @ 1:56 am
[...] follow @JaredDudley619 if you aren’t already, and check out this Q and A with Dudley from [...]
Larry Said,
August 1, 2009 @ 1:26 pm
Sean D,
Howard will play some SG this year with Marion there. The Mavs are already planning to try that. Not all interviews can and are done with star players.
Michael Said,
August 1, 2009 @ 2:16 pm
“Damn, this fool doesn’t even know Josh Howard is small forward, that’s sad. Why is Jared Dudley being interviewed anyway, seems like Hoopshype has gone slummin”
So is Marion a PF or SF? Who was the SF in Orlando, Turkgolu or Lewis?
You seem to forget that when Nowitzki has played center, Howard has shifted over and played PF.
Dudley is a SF who has played PF. Barnes is a SF who has played PF.
A lot of teams who are running get away with SFs playing PF.
So if Howard is playing the 4 and Dudley guarding him, doesn’t that make his statement correct that he can cover perimeter playing 4s?
So is D’Antoni a fool because he played Boris Diaw, who was drafted as a PG and played PG in Europe at center and PF? Remember he was a Most Improved Player
Is D’Antoni a fool because he played SF Marion at the 4? He became an All-star several times
Is D’Antoni a fool because he played PF Amare at center? He became a All-NBA 1st team selection.
Who exactly is the fool?
Huwbert Said,
August 1, 2009 @ 5:34 pm
I think the suns got ripped off in the shaq deal!!! i personally would like to see tyson chandler on that team. I think the suns are headed in the right direction, but they are still missing alot of pieces to the championship puzzle. and all suns fans must agree that the suns also got ripped off in the jason richardson deal!! I mean come on!!
Sean D from RB Said,
August 1, 2009 @ 6:07 pm
Well I’m glad Jared Dudley has some fans defending him on this one. Every player can play multiple positions, but they are usually only effective at one or two. You obviously have a trend of playing small lineups because the center position is the weakest its been since the 50’s, but that doesn’t mean people don’t have natural or primary positions. Josh Howard is not a big small forward, he is 6′7” and 210. if you put him at the 4. you will be lacking heavily on D and on the boards. Now you might point out that he does an excellent job of rebounding for someone his height (career averages of 6.2 rebounds per game), but that doesn’t help your team, it only fills a massive void with someone who is talented, but not at that position.
The Lewis/ Turkgolu situation is that complicated. They are both natural small forwards, but Lewis plays the 4, Turk the 3, while also running the point mostly. Amare playing center is not that big of a jump, he’s 6′10” 245 so he has the body for it, just not the heart and he plays poor D. Dudley would play 4 only because he is too slow to play 3 in their run and gun and because he has a wide body not because he has an aptitude for the position. Barnes can play any position and so can Diaw, but they are better at certain positions, that’s all there is.
As far as my opening remarks, I was only being incediary, Dudley and Craig Smith were very fun to watch at Boston College, but I thought they both would be better NBA players
JohnVancouver Said,
August 1, 2009 @ 6:29 pm
Michael Said: “Who exactly is the fool?”
I think you pointed it out quite clearly … nice response to the orig. poster.
Irwin Said,
August 1, 2009 @ 8:20 pm
I think we were screwed on the first shaq trade. It was plain stupid to get rid of Marion. Richardson fits our system but we traded away some major defense there. We added something that fit while opening up more holes. We better make some kinda major trade here before November.
On a side note we have to quit trading away our future picks.
illastrate Said,
August 1, 2009 @ 9:44 pm
Check out our recent interview with Jared Dudley. We talk about his BC days as well as video games, etc. Very articulate guy:
http://mvn.com/thenolookpass/2009/07/int-wjared-dudley.html
Michael Said,
August 1, 2009 @ 10:37 pm
Sean D from RB Said,
Thank-you for keeping the conversation civil. I know Dudley will be nothing more than a role player but he is popular among fans in Phoenix.
While Phoenix got screwed in the Diaw/Bell for J-Rich/Dudley trade, fans have embraced Dudley because of his effort, something Diaw ceased to have after signing his contract. I never realized J-Rich had ZERO basketball IQ. The guy is just awful.
Diaw and Bell openly feuded with coach Porter. I just wished Kerr had fired Porter before the trade.
As far as the Marion trade, Marion had to go because he didn’t want to be in Phoenix anymore. But instead of Shaq, they should have gotten picks and young players in return.
As far as bringing him back, Earl Clark will be the new Marion, only longer and with much, much better ballhandling, and mechanics on his shot. Besides, with their high payroll, they wouldn’t have signed Marion because he would have cost twice as much. Sarver doesn’t want to pay the luxury tax.
Larry Said,
August 2, 2009 @ 1:07 am
Marion didn’t ask to be traded until Kerr insulted his abilities when he asked for a max deal. He is a cut below because he can’t create his owen shot, but it is doubtful Clark will come close to being a 4 time all-star and hasn’t played a minute in the NBA yet. To assume he will be close to the player Marion has been is reaching. He was the 14th pick in what was considered a weak draft, except for PGs. Marion was the 9th pick. Kerr’s inexperience and inability to work with players to solve problems led to both bad deals. If he experiences problem he looks to erradicate them by sending them some where else. Talent wins games in the NBA and every deal starting with Joe Johnson brought the Suns less talent. Marion didn’t deserve a max deal but a nice one. Kerr should have explained they will talk extension in the summer and when time came he should have explained to Shawn his failure to create his own shot makes him less than a max player. Only Larry Bird has averaged more rpg than Marion playing SF. He had been the Suns leader in blocks and rebounds for several seasons too while averaging 18ppg. Marion may be called a PF sometimes but at 6′7, 225 lbs. he is a SF. He still guards the top scoring 2 or 3 whatever team he plays for, and he will with Dallas.
Jerry and Bryan Colangelo would have worked all the problems with players and coaches out behind closed doors. Kerr had no clue what to do. His personal ties rather than proper analysis led to Porter’s hiring with D’Antoni’s talent still there. That was a bad chemistry mix. You don’t hire a GM who was a TV analyst. There’s far more that that in being a GM. Kerr is still an amateur learning on the job and making mistakes. No need to even discuss selling your picks (the future) or not protecting future number one picks that are traded. Those are inexperiece errors. Throw Rondo, Deng or Iguadala, Gortat, and Rudi Fernandez on the team. It sure injects youth and talent. Like the economy this will be a long recovery period, if more mistakes aren’t made.
Michael Said,
August 2, 2009 @ 2:36 am
Kerr didn’t insult his abilities, he simply told Marion he was not max deal player. Marion responded if you don’t think so then trade me. Kerr couldn’t put it off because Marion was pushing for an extension and Marion is a very moody player who would let off the court issues affect him in the locker room. Nash for one was tiring of dealing with Marion whose ego constantly clashed with Amare’s.
Marion played PF for 4 of his ten years and those 4 were his highest rebounding years. It doesn’t matter what your “natural” position is, you are the position that you play. Magic Johnson’s “natural position” is SF because he played @ 6′-9″ and about #220. But nobody calls him a SF now do they? Marion did not only guard 2s or 3s. He covered all position but covered mostly PFs and even centers during D’Antoni’s SSOL era.
Marion will NOT be guarding 2s while in Dallas. They are working on moving Howard to SG & playing Marion @ SF with Nowitzki @ PF. Howard can handle SG just fine as Kidd will still do his best with PG.
How are you going to say Earl Clark won’t match Marion’s production without him playing a single minute? Comparing where they were drafted?
You are joking right? That has ZERO relevance to how a player fares in the NBA.
That is like saying that Jarred Jeffries and Melvin Ely will have better careers than Carlos Boozer because they were drafted #11 & #12 in 2002 while Boozer didn’t get drafted until #36.
Or that PG Leon Wood who was drafted #10 in ‘84 would have a better career then John Stockton who was drafted @ #16. Leon Wood was considered the best PG in the nation while in college and Stockton was a little known PG out of Gonzaga. Wood turned out to be a big-time bust, only throwing 867 assists while Stockton is the leader in the history of the NBA with 15,806.
While I personally didn’t approve of Kerr’s hiring, David Griffin, Sr. Vice President of Basketball and assistant General Manager and a 16 year veteran of the Suns front office was the de facto GM during D’Antoni’s run and when Kerr was hired. It isn’t like they threw Kerr to the wolves without support. Kerr isn’t responsible for the majority of the stuff you posted.
Dumping Kurt Thomas & two 1st rd picks and not putting lottery protections on the 2010 pick is on him. Hiring Porter is also on him. Kerr did not want Shaq, that was initiated by the owner Sarver to sell tickets and supported by D’Antoni and Nash.
Getting rid of all those picks is on D’Antoni and Sarver.
Sean D from RB Said,
August 2, 2009 @ 6:43 pm
Back to the position crap…
First, Magic Johnson’s natural position is not SF. Your natural position is not dependent on how tall or heavy you are, its the position you are most EFFECTIVE AT. Magic was a distributor primarily which is what a POINT GUARD does. He did this in college and the NBA. Just because he could score game winning shots and rebound like a muhugger doesn’t mean he wasn’t a NATURAL at one position. Marion is a natural 3, but because of the style of game he played, he actually became a statistically more productive player at the 4. But he is still better at the 3 where he can guard on the wing and run the lane for put backs and rebounds, instead of being on the block where he isn’t that great of a post defender. He is a perimeter defender.
Moving players to different positions can often insight some sort of statistical and winning explosion, but that is not that common. When Amare was moved to the 5, it became clear that they were not a championship team because of how deficient they were inside. Their are a lot of players who play out of position in the NBA today, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t effective at one spot more than another. AI’s natural disposition is to score, but because he is 6” (really 5′10”) he was put at pg to start in the league. After these failed endeavors, he was finally moved to his natural position at the 2, and had the best era of his career (1998-2003)
As far as Kerr’s culpability in the Suns’ meltdown, he is largely responsible for every disaster move that has happened since June 2007. You can definitly blame him for the Shaq trade. I certainly don’t buy Nash wanting to get Shaq, and if that is true, then Nash clearly overestimated his effectiveness as a pg. He is not a half-court point guard with slow pick and rolls. He is a full court pg with pick and rolls through Amare who can get to the basket (when he tries) extremely quickly.
I’m glad someone brought Stockton up….. he gets very little love, maybe that’s because he refused to sign autographs for fans…?…. who knows. Still is the greatest PG ever to play the game.
Brian Boitono Said,
August 2, 2009 @ 7:23 pm
Michael,
did you say Earl Clark is longer than marion??? id like to see where you read/heard/saw that. If he has half the career marion did he will be lucky
Michael Said,
August 2, 2009 @ 11:16 pm
“First, Magic Johnson’s natural position is not SF. Your natural position is not dependent on how tall or heavy you are, its the position you are most EFFECTIVE AT.”
I agree completely, I was only making a point using Larry’s definition of “natural” position.
As far as blaming Kerr for everything since 2007 I don’t totally agree. Assistant G.M. David Griffin was supposedly showing him the ropes and is a big-time player in the Suns front office decisions. Rumor has it that Kerr will step down soon and let Griffin take the official title. Just like Robert Sarver stepped down and gave Rick Welts the title of CEO.
To Brian:
According to pre draft camp measurements, Earl Clark is 6′-8.5″ without shoes and has a 7′-2.5″ wingspan.
Marion stood 6′-6.5″ without shoes and his wingspan wasn’t available from his camp measurements, from previous research for comment threads on the Azcentral where I’ve been a regular for years, it has been reported at 6′-10″ and might be as long as 7′-0″.
So I didn’t mean to imply that Clark was a lot longer, only that he was indeed longer or had more length.
Clark showed the ability to defend different positions during the Vegas summer league where I watched him personally. There isn’t any doubt he will be a much better offensive player than Marion. Clark might struggle to match his rebounding only due to lack of concentration and effort, not athleticism.
To Larry:
I’ve changed my opinion on Marion covering Howard’s man. If Howard’s man is the best player, Marion will probably take him because they won’t want to wear Howard out on both ends of the court, since he is their 2nd option.
Once again thank-you for the civility, it has been a great discussion so far.
Rusty Said,
August 4, 2009 @ 10:27 am
Does anyone think that maybe Dudley meant Josh Smith instead of Josh Howard? Josh Smith is the type of permiter PF that Dudley can guard (or so he thinks). I think he just misspoke.
sean d from root beer Said,
August 5, 2009 @ 10:44 pm
Rusty, I think you might be right, but as the article stands, I think it was foolish. f Kerr steps down at this point than PHX just ruined its franchise for nothing. They should at least see what his ultimate vision was/is…
Larry Said,
August 6, 2009 @ 12:41 pm
He can’t guard Josh Howard. He’s a flyer and strong inside. Way too physical for Dudley. He probabably did mean Josh Howard. No one has seen the real Josh Howard for almost two years but the end of a bong. Anyone can guard a guy who’s always hurt and is a wacko. I do think since Dallas has an option for the follwing year on Howard he will play hard and have a good year. The Mavs now that they have Marion and couldn’t get Gortat, may try and work a trade sending Howard somewhere for a center. I think Cuban knows he can’t win with Dampier in the middle and they would love to move Dampier if they could get a solid big. Dampier has a team termination at season’s end also. Not sure Cuban is finished dealing yet.