2022-23 Season Discussion and Speculation 3 - Trade season begins

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Speaking of the new ownership group. I don't know if any of you guys listen to Barstool Sports, but they had Ryan russillo on today and he said that all of his sources within the Suns and other teams have said that we're calling and asking about every available player.

That's either good or very bad depending on how desperate we've become. Monty/JJ trying to save their jobs combined with a new owner-who traditionally are inpatient and eager to win immediately.

Hope they don't do a Gobert like trade.

I would hope that new ownership is actively discussing potential trades. That does not mean we are going to pull the trigger. Second the Gobert trade was Ainge fleecing the Wolves and the entire league knew that when it went down.

That trade seems to have set off hyperinflation in the NBA trade market.. Poeltl asking price is 2 firsts?! sheesh.

Don't teams know that centers have no value in the NBA? You can replace any of them for guys on minimum conracts! Or better yet, any 6'8" guy who can shoot! So why would anyone want Poeltl's Bird rights? Dude's worth the mle at most, so they'd be sending 2 FRPs for the right to overpay him??

Doncic was interviewed not too long ago on JJ Redick's podcast. When asked about his process on offense, he said the first two things he looks for are (1) whether there's a rim protector at the rim or (2) near the rim. Bottom line: rim/paint protectors have value in this league. Just like the always have.

That's why an Ayton trade is just so difficult to consider. Almost all the guys you might replace him with either can't protect the rim or isn't as good or versatile on one or both ends of the floor. It's a terrific comfort - especially give this team's history of pain resulting from the lack of a true center - to have him on the team, especially knowing what he can do in the playoffs. And you wonder if, like Sabonis and Turner this year, all it would take is a change of circumstances for him to access that next level - still below Embiid and Jokic, but as good or better than anyone else.

What makes an Ayton trade tempting is watching him during these stretches where his motor's stalled. Good-ness! You could make a case that at least 20 centers have been better than him this season. Take away his supporting cast and the guy goes from world beater to tank commander. What a rollercoaster, this guy is.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

With CP keep in mind that him and Booker are represented by CCA. CCA is an incredibly powerful agency. If CP wants to stay and Booker wants him to stay he's not going anywhere.

Yeah, I've indulged in a bit of daydreaming myself, but we wont move any of our starters this season, and we won't tank. Only possible excpetion is Ayton if he's truly at odds with the team and won't buy in, and I don't think that's the case.

Yeah, I more or less agree that we're highly unlikely to tank. Even though I think that's the smarter path towards long term sustainability and asset reclamation given our current roster construction and depth/ asset value concerns. But especially not having it approved by Jones whilst still in acquisition, as he'll be concerned about how it'd reflect upon his future with new incoming ownership. With that being said though,

IF you had to venture a guess, wherein do you think we'll likely finish? And more importantly, what projected range would you expect is to end up in with regards to the draft according to end of season record??

Prior to the injuries, I had us finishing around 48- 34. But Now with consideration to all of the injuries and issues/ instabilities, I have us (optimistically) finishing around 42- 40 aproximately! That should theoretically also put us in the 12th- 15th range of the draft!

I was probably the most pessimistic of anyone in the preseason prediction thread, so I'm not exactly surprised that we're where we are in the standings. I think we'll finish between #6 and #9 in the standings, with a draft pick in the teens and maybe two or three lottery balls in the hopper (so to speak).

If JJ manages to add a starter-quality player at the deadline, and everyone's healthy, we might still have a puncher's shot at the title. Theoretically, we could end up with a Championship and the #1 pick. Hahaha!

Let's pray.

[Frank Lee]

Listening to Jones with Burns and Gambo - no real
Timetable on Paul, just say to day. Could be five days, could be ten.

He is only due 15.8m next year - suns need to find a player to trade for that would buy him out so he can go to the Lakers.

Maybe it’s not Rozier
Maybe it’s a three way with Minnesota to get Russell and third team sends the Twolves the talent

But that contract plus the Saric and crowder need to be maximized by Feb 9

Quin S is a good name. Not so sure about Izzo. Now Jay Wright…..

I don't understand the animosity towards CP3, it's getting ridiculous.

The guy has been AMAZING in his first two years on the Suns and then he has an slow start and a couple of small injuries and some fans are on a hurry to trade him or waive him...come on, he deserves much more respect than that.

He was playing pretty well since December and he played a terrific game just before his latest hip injury.

He is an all-time great for a reason. I expect him to perform at a high level for the rest of the RS and playoffs. We will see who is right about him.

Truly more about

1) what is his health? is he truly day to day or really out the rest of the year
2) how do they view him next year - if he is not in the plans -

Sure - if healthy, he probably will be fine in the playoffs. And the best option - but if not, Suns have to think about next year

Fine in the playoffs? Not so fast my friend. I give us less 50/50 to make it, and in this what have you done for us lately world, CP’s has been falling way short of what is needed.

This isnt about respect, its about production. Dude got manhandled Dont give a hoot about ‘all time great’ status. No opposing player does.*




*but yall know my antiPaul bias. Never wanted the King of Flop here in the first place.

[Qwigglez]

That trade seems to have set off hyperinflation in the NBA trade market.. Poeltl asking price is 2 firsts?! sheesh.

Meanwhile we should lower our expectations of what to expect back from a possible Ayton trade. Ayton and a 1st for Poeltl, McDermott, and Collins?

[bwgood77]

I think we, as fans are in limbo till we see what direction MattyIsh takes the Front Office. Seems like if he was going to keep Junkyard and Moronty, he would have announced it. I think they are both gone, the Ish Bro becomes Prez of Ops and a new GM waltzes in.….. then…. I might be Crazy, but id like to see D’Ant run this bunch….but QSnider is still out there… and the sleeper of sleepies… Izzo

But CP needs to go, regardless. Likely he’ll just get waived then ink up with buddy Bron.

Important to turn our expiring Chowder and Dario into contracted players though.

Listening to Jones with Burns and Gambo - no real
Timetable on Paul, just say to day. Could be five days, could be ten.

He is only due 15.8m next year - suns need to find a player to trade for that would buy him out so he can go to the Lakers.

Maybe it’s not Rozier
Maybe it’s a three way with Minnesota to get Russell and third team sends the Twolves the talent

But that contract plus the Saric and crowder need to be maximized by Feb 9

Quin S is a good name. Not so sure about Izzo. Now Jay Wright…..

I don't understand the animosity towards CP3, it's getting ridiculous.

The guy has been AMAZING in his first two years on the Suns and then he has an slow start and a couple of small injuries and some fans are on a hurry to trade him or waive him...come on, he deserves much more respect than that.

He was playing pretty well since December and he played a terrific game just before his latest hip injury.

He is an all-time great for a reason. I expect him to perform at a high level for the rest of the RS and playoffs. We will see who is right about him.

I love what CP3 brought and he was our best player last year and in top 5 in MVP until he got injured, but then he has only played in 33 out of 69 games since then. It was one injury last year but it was a fairly lengthy one early this year and a lot of missed games in different small stretches this year.

His body is breaking down. He also seems very tentative with his midrange game. Mostly completely abandoned it in the last 5 playoff games and since then. Used it a little in one of his more recent games.

He still does some good things and brings leadership, but we need to move on for next year for sure. No used hanging onto someone who makes a ton of money who is only going to decline, likely fairly rapidly.

[bwgood77]

With CP keep in mind that him and Booker are represented by CCA. CCA is an incredibly powerful agency. If CP wants to stay and Booker wants him to stay he's not going anywhere.

Sent from my SM-G986U using RealGM mobile app

You think we will keep him through his whole contract? I can't imagine Book would really demand he stay next year. If he did it would be very short sighted, but on top of that, that short sight would probably be worse than even just starting Payne.

[BobbieL]

With CP keep in mind that him and Booker are represented by CCA. CCA is an incredibly powerful agency. If CP wants to stay and Booker wants him to stay he's not going anywhere.

Sent from my SM-G986U using RealGM mobile app

You think we will keep him through his whole contract? I can't imagine Book would really demand he stay next year. If he did it would be very short sighted, but on top of that, that short sight would probably be worse than even just starting Payne.

I don't see paying him $30.8m next year based on what we saw this year. Maybe he doesn't get hurt, maybe he doesn't decline further. But if you don't pick up the option, its not like you get the cap space

So with that - if there a player that can be traded for that makes more sense - the Suns might have to do it. Paul would get bought out and he would be on the lakers or clippers in 2 minutes. Especially if the healthy is not there. His option needs to be picked up by 6/28/2023. So thats draft time. And I have no idea how that would workl - would you trade 28m knowing the team cuts him

[bwgood77]

I would hope that new ownership is actively discussing potential trades. That does not mean we are going to pull the trigger. Second the Gobert trade was Ainge fleecing the Wolves and the entire league knew that when it went down.

That trade seems to have set off hyperinflation in the NBA trade market.. Poeltl asking price is 2 firsts?! sheesh.

Don't teams know that centers have no value in the NBA? You can replace any of them for guys on minimum conracts! Or better yet, any 6'8" guy who can shoot! So why would anyone want Poeltl's Bird rights? Dude's worth the mle at most, so they'd be sending 2 FRPs for the right to overpay him??

Doncic was interviewed not too long ago on JJ Redick's podcast. When asked about his process on offense, he said the first two things he looks for are (1) whether there's a rim protector at the rim or (2) near the rim. Bottom line: rim/paint protectors have value in this league. Just like the always have.

That's why an Ayton trade is just so difficult to consider. Almost all the guys you might replace him with either can't protect the rim or isn't as good or versatile on one or both ends of the floor. It's a terrific comfort - especially give this team's history of pain resulting from the lack of a true center - to have him on the team, especially knowing what he can do in the playoffs. And you wonder if, like Sabonis and Turner this year, all it would take is a change of circumstances for him to access that next level - still below Embiid and Jokic, but as good or better than anyone else.

What makes an Ayton trade tempting is watching him during these stretches where his motor's stalled. Good-ness! You could make a case that at least 20 centers have been better than him this season. Take away his supporting cast and the guy goes from world beater to tank commander. What a rollercoaster, this guy is.

Bridges largely the same, or any role player or guy used as a role player or used to being used as a 3rd option, thrusting those guys into the spotlight.

Not that you want Ayton and Bridges as your 1/2, but they would still certainly look better if they were surrounded by Booker, even if just spotting up, Cam, and Paul or Payne, instead of Saric, Craig and Shamet or whoever.

Booker would not look nearly as good either playing with Saric, Craig, Shamet. When people mentioning how bad we are without Book, it's true, but it's also exasperated since he has been out the exact same time Payne and Paul have been out, leaving us with no primary ball handlers, which is probably the most important thing to have.

We could make do without CP3 and Cam since we had Book, Bridges, Ayton, and then Payne was playing better than Paul and Craig is a solid fill in, especially when you have 3-4 other solid starters.

[Puff]

I agree with this take on CP3. If we had a legit replacement, I can see moving him or if we just plan on tanking I would move him. I had high hopes that Cam Payne would be his replacement. That ship has sailed. I think the addition of someone like FVV or Rozier would be great. However, I would not move Ayton to acquire either of them without a big coming back someway somehow. I like Poeltl, but I expect it would require draft picks to get him. Our draft picks should be off the table on any move.

I read somewhere that the new ownership group probably will not take over until late February. That is depressing if true. I can just see us sit on our hands or settle for the Crowder to Miami move for Dedmon and Martin. I really do not see that helping at all.

Speaking of the new ownership group. I don't know if any of you guys listen to Barstool Sports, but they had Ryan russillo on today and he said that all of his sources within the Suns and other teams have said that we're calling and asking about every available player.

That's either good or very bad depending on how desperate we've become. Monty/JJ trying to save their jobs combined with a new owner-who traditionally are inpatient and eager to win immediately.

Hope they don't do a Gobert like trade.

Wait, so you spend months complaining that JJ sits on his hands, then when you find out they are actually active you spin it negatively, I'm shocked.

All this guy does is complain about JJ and Monty with no legit solutions. We are not going to get Presti, just stop it. He has fixation on a coach that could not win anything in Utah. What a joke.

I expect that no one wants either Crowder or Ayton. Hell, we don't want them. Who else do you trade that will return anything you would want?

Phil Jackson would struggle coaching this group with Shamet being his starting point guard while having lazy ass Ayton as his center and over hyped Mikal Bridges as your key player. My bet is that neither Monty nor JJ are going anywhere after the new ownership takes over. They are not the problem. It is like the Perfect Storm has hit this franchise. Unfortunately, it probably will not be until next year at the earliest when we become relevant again.