Do the Suns double down for the last time or blow it up? What would you do?

[HadAnEffectHere]

The horrendous fit of Jones, Booker, and Beal all together combined with Jusuf Nurkic falling off a cliff has the Suns at 14-13 with a negative point differential. They are currently 11th in the West. They are 26th overall in defense because Nurkic is finished and their guys 1-4 aren't great at defense. They are deep deep deep into the 2nd apron and have two trade assets (their 2031 pick and Grayson Allen). Meanwhile, the Rockets want to try to make the WCF this year and will probably give up some of the Suns picks for Booker or Durant... What should and will the Suns do?

They can probably get Time Lord and maybe another center and hope that fixes their team... But I don't know, they need to blow this up.

[mademan]

Should they get timelord? Are they really gonna send their last 1st rounder available and overpay for another oft injured player?

Im guessing they just run it out this year, maybe make a small trade of a swap for Nick RIchards and save the shakeup for the summer. Wouldnt be surprised to see KD ask out, and, honestly, i think that would be good for the Suns. The other route is them trading the 31 1st and 32 swap this summer as they keep investing in a core that isnt good enough

[HadAnEffectHere]

Should they get timelord? Are they really gonna send their last 1st rounder available and overpay for another oft injured player?

Im guessing they just run it out this year, maybe make a small trade of a swap for Nick RIchards and save the shakeup for the summer. Wouldnt be surprised to see KD ask out.

They are so underwhelming right now that they might miss the play-in without a big center upgrade.

[DirtyDez]

Ishbia will soon pull a Ballmer and eventually get sick of paying huge salary for a non contending team. I think they trade KD and get under the apron within a year then Beal gets easier to move as the years come off.

[Texas Chuck]

You have to keep trying to win as long as KD is there.

[Magic_Johnny12]

Unfortunately, the Suns can’t simply “blow it up”. The 2nd apron severely limits what they can do.

They made their bed and for better or worse will need to lay in it.

Washington/Orlando/Houston are all keeping a close eye on this development.

[LarsV8]

Doesn't look promising.

For starters, not Jimmy Butler.

1.) Stay the course, compete for playoffs until it just falls apart.
2.) Complete tear down. Sell off Booker, Jones and Durant and try to rehab Beals value. Flip him when he is expiring.
3.) Sell off Durant or Booker for picks, route those picks and load up on the role players from the tanking teams... timelord, Grant, Brogdon, Kuzma, Collison, Sexton, etc. Pick and choose the players that fit around the two stars left.

None of these are great options, but I would argue a complete tear down is the only one that sets you up to be in a good spot for future title runs.

[K_chile22]

Can't see them blowing it up mid season, stay the course, try to upgrade but don't do anything crazy like a lightly protected 28 pick for a guy who can't stay on the floor

[Astaluego]

I would trade Booker, he is the one with the most value.
I think Houston and the Suns would be very good business partners. 3 team trade.

SUNS
In:Brooks/Claxton/DFS/SUNS 25/27/29
Out:Booker

Claxton/Nurkic
KD/Dunn
Brooks/Royce
Beal/Allen
Tyus/Monte

they lose talent but adjust better, get a couple of DPOY candidates and get their picks back

HOUSTON
In:Booker/Sharpe
Out:Brooks/Shepard/Adams/Tate

Sengun/Sharpe/Landale
Smith/Whitmore
Eason/Amen
Booker/Green
FVV/Holiday

get the superstar they need... use Green as a 6 man and in the offseason trade him for depth


NETS
In:Adams(Exp)/Shepard
Out:Claxton/Sharpe

They continue selling, clear money on Claxton futures and get a top 3 prospect

[Ell Curry]

Beal's no trade clause is a killer. He'd block something like this:

Portland - Beal, Ryan Dunn, Ighodaro, 2031 Phoenix unprotected
Suns - Jerami Grant, Robert Williams, Thybulle

Portland gets off Grant's contract a year early (he's picking up that option) and gets Phoenix's 2 best young players and an unprotected first for eating Beal's final 2 years. It's possible Portland doesn't get a better off for Grant + Timelord than 50M in bad money, 2 cheap as hell rookies who don't seem to suck and an unprotected 1st from a team whose future looks depressing as hell.

I could talk myself into:

Timelord-Nurkic
Grant-KD
KD-O'Neale
Booker-Allen
Jones-Morris

as a frisky playoff team if Timelord can give them 25 minutes for one playoff run before falling apart.

[Ell Curry]

I would trade Booker, he is the one with the most value.
I think Houston and the Suns would be very good business partners. 3 team trade.

SUNS
In:Brooks/Claxton/DFS/SUNS 25/27/29
Out:Booker

Claxton/Nurkic
KD/Dunn
Brooks/Royce
Beal/Allen
Tyus/Monte

they lose talent but adjust better, get a couple of DPOY candidates and get their picks back

HOUSTON
In:Booker/Sharpe
Out:Brooks/Shepard/Adams/Tate

Sengun/Sharpe/Landale
Smith/Whitmore
Eason/Amen
Booker/Green
FVV/Holiday

get the superstar they need... use Green as a 6 man and in the offseason trade him for depth


NETS
In:Adams(Exp)/Shepard
Out:Claxton/Sharpe

They continue selling, clear money on Claxton futures and get a top 3 prospect

I think Houston would want Jalen Green in the deal instead of Brooks, but I agree Booker to Houston to get picks back is the obvious first step here. Then Phoenix either plods along or trades KD too to start the rebuild. Houston having assets in the form of current roster playesr and picks means lots of 3 team combos are possible.

[JRoy]

Beal's no trade clause is a killer. He'd block something like this:

Portland - Beal, Ryan Dunn, Ighodaro, 2031 Phoenix unprotected
Suns - Jerami Grant, Robert Williams, Thybulle

Portland gets off Grant's contract a year early (he's picking up that option) and gets Phoenix's 2 best young players and an unprotected first for eating Beal's final 2 years. It's possible Portland doesn't get a better off for Grant + Timelord than 50M in bad money, 2 cheap as hell rookies who don't seem to suck and an unprotected 1st from a team whose future looks depressing as hell.

I could talk myself into:

Timelord-Nurkic
Grant-KD
KD-O'Neale
Booker-Allen
Jones-Morris

as a frisky playoff team if Timelord can give them 25 minutes for one playoff run before falling apart.

Hard no from POR, regardless of Beals NTC.

[Ell Curry]

Beal's no trade clause is a killer. He'd block something like this:

Portland - Beal, Ryan Dunn, Ighodaro, 2031 Phoenix unprotected
Suns - Jerami Grant, Robert Williams, Thybulle

Portland gets off Grant's contract a year early (he's picking up that option) and gets Phoenix's 2 best young players and an unprotected first for eating Beal's final 2 years. It's possible Portland doesn't get a better off for Grant + Timelord than 50M in bad money, 2 cheap as hell rookies who don't seem to suck and an unprotected 1st from a team whose future looks depressing as hell.

I could talk myself into:

Timelord-Nurkic
Grant-KD
KD-O'Neale
Booker-Allen
Jones-Morris

as a frisky playoff team if Timelord can give them 25 minutes for one playoff run before falling apart.

Hard no from POR, regardless of Beals NTC.

I think the 2nd year probably makes it untenable for Portland. Swallowing one year of bad money instead of whatever Grant and Timelord give you to get a juicy unprotected 1st and some rookies who've done alright makes a ton of sense, but 2 is depressing. In any case, Beal would veto it. Would have to be a 3 team deal with Beal going to some team and bad money to Portland, but maybe like 20M expiring in 2026 and 20M expiring in 2027. There's a real shortage of bad money deals floating out there. I think it's gonna be tough for tanking teams to get even close to what we normally think of as fair value for the vets they want to move, and lots of guys just don't get dealt and expire and leave for nothing.

[JRoy]

Beal's no trade clause is a killer. He'd block something like this:

Portland - Beal, Ryan Dunn, Ighodaro, 2031 Phoenix unprotected
Suns - Jerami Grant, Robert Williams, Thybulle

Portland gets off Grant's contract a year early (he's picking up that option) and gets Phoenix's 2 best young players and an unprotected first for eating Beal's final 2 years. It's possible Portland doesn't get a better off for Grant + Timelord than 50M in bad money, 2 cheap as hell rookies who don't seem to suck and an unprotected 1st from a team whose future looks depressing as hell.

I could talk myself into:

Timelord-Nurkic
Grant-KD
KD-O'Neale
Booker-Allen
Jones-Morris

as a frisky playoff team if Timelord can give them 25 minutes for one playoff run before falling apart.

Hard no from POR, regardless of Beals NTC.

I think the 2nd year probably makes it untenable for Portland. Swallowing one year of bad money instead of whatever Grant and Timelord give you to get a juicy unprotected 1st and some rookies who've done alright makes a ton of sense, but 2 is depressing. In any case, Beal would veto it. Would have to be a 3 team deal with Beal going to some team and bad money to Portland, but maybe like 20M expiring in 2026 and 20M expiring in 2027. There's a real shortage of bad money deals floating out there. I think it's gonna be tough for tanking teams to get even close to what we normally think of as fair value for the vets they want to move, and lots of guys just don't get dealt and expire and leave for nothing.

I think the reasoning is sound but I think POR would be better off not eating Beals deal for this.

Not that BB would waive his NTC in any case.

He will cry to go to LA or MIA if at all.

[axeman23]

I would trade Booker, he is the one with the most value.
I think Houston and the Suns would be very good business partners. 3 team trade.

SUNS
In:Brooks/Claxton/DFS/SUNS 25/27/29
Out:Booker

Claxton/Nurkic
KD/Dunn
Brooks/Royce
Beal/Allen
Tyus/Monte

they lose talent but adjust better, get a couple of DPOY candidates and get their picks back

HOUSTON
In:Booker/Sharpe
Out:Brooks/Shepard/Adams/Tate

Sengun/Sharpe/Landale
Smith/Whitmore
Eason/Amen
Booker/Green
FVV/Holiday

get the superstar they need... use Green as a 6 man and in the offseason trade him for depth


NETS
In:Adams(Exp)/Shepard
Out:Claxton/Sharpe

They continue selling, clear money on Claxton futures and get a top 3 prospect

This seems like Brooklyn paying for Booker without getting him. I not in the Nets outgoing, you only have Claxton & Sharpe. But in the Phx incoming, you have DFS and the Suns 3 picks back. Which seems like SHOCKING value for Sheppard and an expiring Adams. Also leaves Nets with no recognizable big men aside from Adams.

Edit: Who has MORE control over the PHX picks? Houston, or Brooklyn? it all seems a bit convoluted, and I have a hangover...

[babyjax13]

I'd look for the best startingish center they can get for Allen. His production amd archetype ate the most easily replaceable, use Nurkic and the first to get some depth. Maybe something like:

Allen for Gafford or for Richards + ??? Or Sharpe + ??? Or in a 3-team deal for Rwill + ?

Nurkic, 2031 1st for Beasley and Fontecchio or DFS and Sharpe + 2nds or a late first of the Nets have a bunch sitting around, etc.

I think there are moves out there to balance the roster.

[shrink]

I don’t like the idea of trading Booker, but if he goes to HOU to get their picks back, it will likely show Durant and Beal that the writing is on the wall, and the team is rebuilding. Then Beal’s No Trade Clause won’t be an issue, because he’ll want to get out.

[DirtyDez]

I'd look for the best startingish center they can get for Allen. His production amd archetype ate the most easily replaceable, use Nurkic and the first to get some depth. Maybe something like:

Allen for Gafford or for Richards + ??? Or Sharpe + ??? Or in a 3-team deal for Rwill + ?

Nurkic, 2031 1st for Beasley and Fontecchio or DFS and Sharpe + 2nds or a late first of the Nets have a bunch sitting around, etc.

I think there are moves out there to balance the roster.

If I’m dealing with Detroit I’m trying to get Isaiah Stewart. He’s their backup currently but would bring a different energy than Nurkic. Not sure how Detroit views him long term though.

[daoneandonly]

I want to see KD and Ant force their current teams to ship them to a team out East that will pair them together. The East needs more talent

[shrink]

I want to see KD and Ant force their current teams to ship them to a team out East that will pair them together. The East needs more talent

Minnesota is likely headed to the eastern conference as soon as expansion happens. They travel the most miles and have natural rivalries with nearby cities, six of which are closer than their closest current division rival.