IF NO DURANT!!! What is everyone's best Plan B??

[Fo-Real]

Lean on and expect a lot from Ayton and Cam Jo!

Somebody in the main thread - maybe Bwoolf posted that the first two months of the season should be about getting Ayton touches. And I agree. Even if the Suns lose a few games in the process - figure out how to get Ayton to something like 22 points per game

Also need to tap into Cams alpha side. Make him be ultra aggressive!!

[sunskerr]

Would like to see more ppg from Ayton especially if Paul is slowing down. And it would be nice to see a nice fat 3.0+ 3PG from Cam Johnson although with our passing focus that might not be in play. But I think its at least in the realm of possibility for Johnson. And 2.0+3PG from Mikal would be massive, too.

[Biff]

I'd prefer a plan B of possibly running it back too now that Ayton is resigned. Albeit with a few roster adjustments to address issues that have been troublesome for us continually. Maybe move our expirings with some ( not majority of) our picks to be able to actually upgrade our depth from last year's.

1- Phoenix/ Utah
Saric/ Craig/ Payne/ ( lotto protected) 1st for Clarkson and Vanderbilt.

2- Phoenix/ Philly
Shamet/ ( lotto protected) 1st/ 2nd for Melton and Niang.

( ***IF bought out)
We sign:

- Kemba Walker.
- Daulton Hommes.
- Aaron Baynes.

Paul/ Booker/ Bridges/ Crowder/ Ayton.
Walker/ Melton/ Vandy/ Johnson/ Biyombo.
Lee/ Hommes/ Okogie/ Niang/ Baynes.

We would trade for Clarkson and not give him any minutes?

[Ghost of Kleine]

I'd prefer a plan B of possibly running it back too now that Ayton is resigned. Albeit with a few roster adjustments to address issues that have been troublesome for us continually. Maybe move our expirings with some ( not majority of) our picks to be able to actually upgrade our depth from last year's.

1- Phoenix/ Utah
Saric/ Craig/ Payne/ ( lotto protected) 1st for Clarkson and Vanderbilt.

2- Phoenix/ Philly
Shamet/ ( lotto protected) 1st/ 2nd for Melton and Niang.

( ***IF bought out)
We sign:

- Kemba Walker.
- Daulton Hommes.
- Aaron Baynes.
**Waive Landale at training camp.

Paul/ Booker/ Bridges/ Crowder/ Ayton.
Walker/ Melton/ Vandy/ Johnson/ Biyombo.
Lee/ Hommes/ Okogie/ Niang/ Baynes.

We would trade for Clarkson and not give him any minutes?

Not sure what happened there!!! .....LOL
** (Kemba not getting bought out)! But instead getting traded back to Charlotte per rumors. So remove him from this situation.
It should instead look something like this:

Paul/ Booker/ Bridges/ Crowder/ Ayton.
Melton/ Clarkson/ Vandy/ Johnson/ Biyombo.
Lee/ Hommes/ Okogie/ Niang/Baynes.

[bwgood77]

Any chance we could make an offer the Cavs wouldn’t match for Sexton? Suns desperately need a shot creator/scorer that isn’t CP3 or Book. He’d be killer in the second unit.

Bojan would also be an excellent addition and won’t shoot you out of games like Crowder. Way more versatile offensively as well. I’d offer up a protected first for a far greater shot at a title with him on board. These would be my two targets.

I read his market is only around the MLE but since we only have the tax MLE we'd probably have to do some sort of 3 way S&T using Crowder. I don't think the Cavs would want Crowder. Actually I don't know if we are over the apron and a S&T would hard cap us or not.

I don't know that he would be more important than Crowder though. Maybe if a team wanted Saric, or if Sexton wants a long term deal while another team just wants an expiring.

Bojan makes near $20 million so we'd have to trade 2 players. He's expiring so if we send back worse players it would likely require a first.

[Frank Lee]

Everything we could do requires our draft pick

[Bogyo]

Everything we could do requires our draft pick

Jones ain't using them anyways. So it depends on the return.
If we get Schroder or Kemba with the TPMLE and we get somebody better than Crowder for the pick(s)+ any combination of Crowder, Saric, Payne, Shamet, Craig then I'm all for it, and consider this team better balanced than last years. That's a win in my book.
The combination of 1-3 picks (we have seconds as well, so I don't necessarily mean only firsts) and these 5 players above can give you a fairly good package imho. Expining good culture guy vets, short team friendly contracts for OK to good bench players (for the regular season anyways), with a possible salary in the 12-25 million range. If you get creative you could possibly find something.

[nevetsov]

Bulls have 5 PGs and limited wing depth behind Lavine/ Derozan/ Williams. I'd definitely kick the tyres on a Caruso or Coby White for Shamet deal (all make around the same), just to balance our third string depth.

Paul, Payne, Caruso
Booker, Okogie, Lee
Bridges, Craig, Wainwright
Johnson, Crowder
Ayton, Biyombo, Saric, Landale

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Here's our depth chart:
Paul-Payne
Booker-Shamet-Okogie/Lee
Bridges-Johnson-Okogie/Lee
Crowder-Craig
Ayton-Saric-Landale-Biyombo

I think we're set at the 2 and 5. I think Saric will back up Ayton to start the year, with Biyombo pinned to the bench to be used as needed. If Saric and Landale or Biyombo can play together, we might be okay at the 4 as well. We're probably okay at the 3, too, but the lack of options at the forward spots in general makes me want to add another quality forward.

As for depth at PG, it's hard to bring in a guy like Kemba Walker without committing Payne to purgatory, and I think the team wants to give him another shot with Saric back at the 5. I'm guessing the current plan is to have Booker as our third-string PG, pairing with Okogie or Lee. Payton's still a free agent, but for good reason, as he was useless last year: couldn't shoot or protect the ball.

All that said, problems with the roster are less about depth than quality. As others have said, Crowder's not great off the bench. Johnson can be used as a 3 or 4, but he can struggle with bigger 4s and faster 3s (you know - the kind that tend to be starters). Neither of them can rebound or protect the paint when Ayton leaves it. It sure would be nice to have a forward who could - just as it would be nice to have any sort of shot creation at the 3 and 4 spots in general.

Notably, KD gives you both. Obviously, we should pursue him, and if that happens, you can throw away your whole analysis. But as it stands, from what I see, what this roster could really use is Kevin Durant. Alternatively, we could use an all-star like Giannis, LeBron, Siakam, Collins, Ingram, or Simmons, or another impossible/hard-to-obtain player such as Jaren Jackson, Brandon Clarke, Ziaire Williams, Herb Jones, or OG Anunoby.

Then there's Kyle Kuzma. I wonder what the Wizards would want for him. If Durant falls through - and we're not getting Simmons instead - I'm calling the Wizards.

I like Caruso or Clarkson as Shamet upgrades, though I see our biggest weakness to be at the 4. What other obtainable players do you think could really improve this team?

I agree with Frank, a pick or two has to go out in any deal, so we need the Durant thing to be over with before we can do anything. Hope it resolves soon.

[bwgood77]

Here's our depth chart:
Paul-Payne
Booker-Shamet-Okogie/Lee
Bridges-Johnson-Okogie/Lee
Crowder-Craig
Ayton-Saric-Landale-Biyombo

I think we're set at the 2 and 5. I think Saric will back up Ayton to start the year, with Biyombo pinned to the bench to be used as needed. If Saric and Landale or Biyombo can play together, we might be okay at the 4 as well. We're probably okay at the 3, too, but the lack of options at the forward spots in general makes me want to add another quality forward.

As for depth at PG, it's hard to bring in a guy like Kemba Walker without committing Payne to purgatory, and I think the team wants to give him another shot with Saric back at the 5. I'm guessing the current plan is to have Booker as our third-string PG, pairing with Okogie or Lee. Payton's still a free agent, but for good reason, as he was useless last year: couldn't shoot or protect the ball.

All that said, problems with the roster are less about depth than quality. As others have said, Crowder's not great off the bench. Johnson can be used as a 3 or 4, but he can struggle with bigger 4s and faster 3s (you know - the kind that tend to be starters). Neither of them can rebound or protect the paint when Ayton leaves it. It sure would be nice to have a forward who could - just as it would be nice to have any sort of shot creation at the 3 and 4 spots in general.

Notably, KD gives you both. Obviously, we should pursue him, and if that happens, you can throw away your whole analysis. But as it stands, from what I see, what this roster could really use is Kevin Durant. Alternatively, we could use an all-star like Giannis, LeBron, Siakam, Collins, Ingram, or Simmons, or another impossible/hard-to-obtain player such as Jaren Jackson, Brandon Clarke, Ziaire Williams, Herb Jones, or OG Anunoby.

Then there's Kyle Kuzma. I wonder what the Wizards would want for him. If Durant falls through - and we're not getting Simmons instead - I'm calling the Wizards.

I like Caruso or Clarkson as Shamet upgrades, though I see our biggest weakness to be at the 4. What other obtainable players do you think could really improve this team?

I agree with Frank, a pick or two has to go out in any deal, so we need the Durant thing to be over with before we can do anything. Hope it resolves soon.

If you are mentioning players like Kuzma or Caruso, we would have to make their trade worthwhile, which would impact our depth in other ways.

I mentioned Lou Williams (not that I think he's great) but more as a guy who would probably gladly take the minimum and play behind Payne if needed. Non guaranteed maybe.

Or, you leave the 15th spot open again and see who gets cut around training camp or is available like Craig was for $100K. Maybe a guard heavy team cuts someone they still have to pay so they have no problem taking the minimum from us.

[Bogyo]

Spoiler:

Here's our depth chart:
Paul-Payne
Booker-Shamet-Okogie/Lee
Bridges-Johnson-Okogie/Lee
Crowder-Craig
Ayton-Saric-Landale-Biyombo

I think we're set at the 2 and 5. I think Saric will back up Ayton to start the year, with Biyombo pinned to the bench to be used as needed. If Saric and Landale or Biyombo can play together, we might be okay at the 4 as well. We're probably okay at the 3, too, but the lack of options at the forward spots in general makes me want to add another quality forward.

As for depth at PG, it's hard to bring in a guy like Kemba Walker without committing Payne to purgatory, and I think the team wants to give him another shot with Saric back at the 5. I'm guessing the current plan is to have Booker as our third-string PG, pairing with Okogie or Lee. Payton's still a free agent, but for good reason, as he was useless last year: couldn't shoot or protect the ball.

All that said, problems with the roster are less about depth than quality. As others have said, Crowder's not great off the bench. Johnson can be used as a 3 or 4, but he can struggle with bigger 4s and faster 3s (you know - the kind that tend to be starters). Neither of them can rebound or protect the paint when Ayton leaves it. It sure would be nice to have a forward who could - just as it would be nice to have any sort of shot creation at the 3 and 4 spots in general.

Notably, KD gives you both. Obviously, we should pursue him, and if that happens, you can throw away your whole analysis. But as it stands, from what I see, what this roster could really use is Kevin Durant. Alternatively, we could use an all-star like Giannis, LeBron, Siakam, Collins, Ingram, or Simmons, or another impossible/hard-to-obtain player such as Jaren Jackson, Brandon Clarke, Ziaire Williams, Herb Jones, or OG Anunoby.

Then there's Kyle Kuzma. I wonder what the Wizards would want for him. If Durant falls through - and we're not getting Simmons instead - I'm calling the Wizards.

I like Caruso or Clarkson as Shamet upgrades, though I see our biggest weakness to be at the 4. What other obtainable players do you think could really improve this team?

I agree with Frank, a pick or two has to go out in any deal, so we need the Durant thing to be over with before we can do anything. Hope it resolves soon.

If you are mentioning players like Kuzma or Caruso, we would have to make their trade worthwhile, which would impact our depth in other ways.

I mentioned Lou Williams (not that I think he's great) but more as a guy who would probably gladly take the minimum and play behind Payne if needed. Non guaranteed maybe.

Or, you leave the 15th spot open again and see who gets cut around training camp or is available like Craig was for $100K. Maybe a guard heavy team cuts someone they still have to pay so they have no problem taking the minimum from us.

The problem with our depth is quality, not necessarily quantity. And yes, we'd have to make the other team a worthwile trade - here come the draft picks that Jones doesn't use anyways. If we can pick up a good (starting?) PF for either Saric or Crowder plus Craig plus Payne plus a pick or 2 then we should do so. This would solve the quality problem. Then we can get one of the point guards I mentioned above for the tax payer MLE, and sign whoever is cut from training camp like you mentioned. That fills out the quantity of the backups.
Problem is - while it looks good on paper, I'm not sure who would be available for such a trade, and if JJ would be capable of pulling it off (or is even thinking about doing something similar, or he is just sitting on his hands daydreaming about KD, being generally happy with the position he is in - which he had little to do with to arrive to).

[PHXDraft0358]

I wouldn’t mind Coby White for one of expirings?? or Bogdan Bogdanovic, Caris LeVert, or Eric Gordon like players to fulfill 3rd/4th creator to play alongside Payne! Don’t believe we strictly need bench PG but another creator w/ size to add to team instead of ditching Payne for upgrade when majority of minutes go to Paul at the 1 anyways. White could play 1/2 guard positions

[bwgood77]

Spoiler:

Here's our depth chart:
Paul-Payne
Booker-Shamet-Okogie/Lee
Bridges-Johnson-Okogie/Lee
Crowder-Craig
Ayton-Saric-Landale-Biyombo

I think we're set at the 2 and 5. I think Saric will back up Ayton to start the year, with Biyombo pinned to the bench to be used as needed. If Saric and Landale or Biyombo can play together, we might be okay at the 4 as well. We're probably okay at the 3, too, but the lack of options at the forward spots in general makes me want to add another quality forward.

As for depth at PG, it's hard to bring in a guy like Kemba Walker without committing Payne to purgatory, and I think the team wants to give him another shot with Saric back at the 5. I'm guessing the current plan is to have Booker as our third-string PG, pairing with Okogie or Lee. Payton's still a free agent, but for good reason, as he was useless last year: couldn't shoot or protect the ball.

All that said, problems with the roster are less about depth than quality. As others have said, Crowder's not great off the bench. Johnson can be used as a 3 or 4, but he can struggle with bigger 4s and faster 3s (you know - the kind that tend to be starters). Neither of them can rebound or protect the paint when Ayton leaves it. It sure would be nice to have a forward who could - just as it would be nice to have any sort of shot creation at the 3 and 4 spots in general.

Notably, KD gives you both. Obviously, we should pursue him, and if that happens, you can throw away your whole analysis. But as it stands, from what I see, what this roster could really use is Kevin Durant. Alternatively, we could use an all-star like Giannis, LeBron, Siakam, Collins, Ingram, or Simmons, or another impossible/hard-to-obtain player such as Jaren Jackson, Brandon Clarke, Ziaire Williams, Herb Jones, or OG Anunoby.

Then there's Kyle Kuzma. I wonder what the Wizards would want for him. If Durant falls through - and we're not getting Simmons instead - I'm calling the Wizards.

I like Caruso or Clarkson as Shamet upgrades, though I see our biggest weakness to be at the 4. What other obtainable players do you think could really improve this team?

I agree with Frank, a pick or two has to go out in any deal, so we need the Durant thing to be over with before we can do anything. Hope it resolves soon.

If you are mentioning players like Kuzma or Caruso, we would have to make their trade worthwhile, which would impact our depth in other ways.

I mentioned Lou Williams (not that I think he's great) but more as a guy who would probably gladly take the minimum and play behind Payne if needed. Non guaranteed maybe.

Or, you leave the 15th spot open again and see who gets cut around training camp or is available like Craig was for $100K. Maybe a guard heavy team cuts someone they still have to pay so they have no problem taking the minimum from us.

The problem with our depth is quality, not necessarily quantity. And yes, we'd have to make the other team a worthwile trade - here come the draft picks that Jones doesn't use anyways. If we can pick up a good (starting?) PF for either Saric or Crowder plus Craig plus Payne plus a pick or 2 then we should do so. This would solve the quality problem. Then we can get one of the point guards I mentioned above for the tax payer MLE, and sign whoever is cut from training camp like you mentioned. That fills out the quantity of the backups.
Problem is - while it looks good on paper, I'm not sure who would be available for such a trade, and if JJ would be capable of pulling it off (or is even thinking about doing something similar, or he is just sitting on his hands daydreaming about KD, being generally happy with the position he is in - which he had little to do with to arrive to).

I mentioned Barnes....it would probably have to be Crowder, Saric and a pick for Barnes. He is an upgrade on offense at the PF spot definitely but I don't know if we necessarily need that as much as defense and perhaps stretch C depth plus keeping our pick.

I don't really want to trade Payne.

Crowder is probably underrated on the board. I just don't know what PF you can expect to get by trading somebody and a pick, and we can't take on long term salary so options would be limited.

[bwgood77]

I wouldn’t mind Coby White for one of expirings?? or Bogdan Bogdanovic, Caris LeVert, or Eric Gordon like players to fulfill 3rd/4th creator to play alongside Payne! Don’t believe we strictly need bench PG but another creator w/ size to add to team instead of ditching Payne for upgrade when majority of minutes go to Paul at the 1 anyways. White could play 1/2 guard positions

I've mentioned him too...the issue with him might be how much money he wants. He is due an extension too, and probably wants at least mid to high teens.

[Bogyo]

Spoiler:

If you are mentioning players like Kuzma or Caruso, we would have to make their trade worthwhile, which would impact our depth in other ways.

I mentioned Lou Williams (not that I think he's great) but more as a guy who would probably gladly take the minimum and play behind Payne if needed. Non guaranteed maybe.

Or, you leave the 15th spot open again and see who gets cut around training camp or is available like Craig was for $100K. Maybe a guard heavy team cuts someone they still have to pay so they have no problem taking the minimum from us.

The problem with our depth is quality, not necessarily quantity. And yes, we'd have to make the other team a worthwile trade - here come the draft picks that Jones doesn't use anyways. If we can pick up a good (starting?) PF for either Saric or Crowder plus Craig plus Payne plus a pick or 2 then we should do so. This would solve the quality problem. Then we can get one of the point guards I mentioned above for the tax payer MLE, and sign whoever is cut from training camp like you mentioned. That fills out the quantity of the backups.
Problem is - while it looks good on paper, I'm not sure who would be available for such a trade, and if JJ would be capable of pulling it off (or is even thinking about doing something similar, or he is just sitting on his hands daydreaming about KD, being generally happy with the position he is in - which he had little to do with to arrive to).

I mentioned Barnes....it would probably have to be Crowder, Saric and a pick for Barnes. He is an upgrade on offense at the PF spot definitely but I don't know if we necessarily need that as much as defense and perhaps stretch C depth plus keeping our pick.

I don't really want to trade Payne.

Crowder is probably underrated on the board. I just don't know what PF you can expect to get by trading somebody and a pick, and we can't take on long term salary so options would be limited.

Yeah, I like Barnes too - I'm just not sure the Kings would give him up to a division team, as they are trying to make the playoffs for a while now... With a full season of Sabonis, they could have a punchers chance of getting in, and giving away Barnes for lesser players would go against that I think. So while the value seems "right", I don't think the Kings would do this. Well, they are the Kings, so it might be worth a try

[jsierra1985]

no plan b.

If we try to run it back with the current team. We will not win a championship

Its KD or bust....

i know most hate to admit it but thats just the brutal truth