Lopez continues to search for explosiveness

[RaisingArizona]

Not sure where he went. He's not the same player this year at all.

[bigfoot]

If he has some problem with his leg stemming form the injury last year. that would explain a lot - I mean, really - you don't just forget how to play in the space of 6-8 months

I've been baffled by his pl;ay - one minute he looks like the guy we were excited about, then he's, frankly, hopeless. My big concern about keeping him is that after being drafted as the 'centre of the future', how will he adapt emotionally to being a backup? That could be a problem for him, and us

if RoLo can get us the PF we need or picks to do same, great

I also think trading nash is a mistake - he's comparatively cheap and you're not going to get much for him

I agree trading Nash would be a mistake. There is no "magic-bullet" point guard available next year. He is still a top 4 point guard in league (by PER) and only costs $11-12M. We resign Brooks and Dowdell and the PG position is set.

I don't agree we chase a PF. Frye has stepped in rebounding and defense. If Frye could be a 16pt-10rb PF and Gortat 18pt-11rb C that makes a great front line. I also agree you give Robin a chance to heal. Lopez looks soft. If he commits to a serious weight training program he could regain his explosiveness. Both he and Dudley still need to work on that chiseled look that Gortat, Nash, Hill, and Stat have. A Lopez resurgence would mean a stellar Suns front line. Of course a backup PF would be something to pursue unless Warrick or Lawal really step up next year.

I think Pietrus opts out of his contract and finds another team. That leaves Hill and Dudley to man the SF position. The Suns will resign Hill so long as Nash is not traded.

The FO must go after a top notch shooting guard. Maybe Childress can regain confidence like he had at Atlanta. But neither Dudley or Childress are true SG and are better suited at SF. Either makes an acceptable backup SG. The question is who can we get as a FA that would be a difference maker.

The last and most important thing. The FO needs to stop this revolving door ****. They need to let a group of players bond and learn how to play the game together. This Suns team was playing at the .650 level shortly after the trade. That's a 54 win season. Given more time to gel, they will learn to play better team offense and defense.

[YFZblu]

I hate hearing that Lopez is valuable because he's a "7 footer". If he doesn't play like a seven footer (he doesn't), quit referring to his size as a benefit...I do agree though, he's clearly still hurting. But a full year later, and he's still not healed--will he ever heal?? If the Suns are planning on trading him, they must not think he'll ever be the same.

[YFZblu]

Noah (9th pick) was a 22 year old rookie, had a PER of 15.5 and his team won 33 games
Lopez last season was 21, in his 2nd yr, had a 17.6 PER and the team won 54 games

Lopez has time to grow. Giving up on him now would be a mistake. What's the rush to move him? I mean, he's cheap...it's not like he's weighing down our payroll.

And if he sucks as much as you guys say he does, who will take him anyways? So...again I ask, why move him?

(Rookie numbers)

Joakim Noah defensive rebounding percentage: 18.4
Robin Lopez defensive rebounding percentage: 12.1

Joakim Noah offensive rebounding percentage: 12.4
Robin Lopez offensive rebounding percentage: 10.3

Joakim Noah also recorded 84 assists to 89 turnovers during his rookie campaign, showing a talent for taking care of the ball. Robin Lopez recorded 8 assists to 28 turnovers during his rookie year...Maybe Lopez was taking ball-handling tips from Amar'e...

I think a perfectly healthy Robin Lopez is awkward but strangely effective, however Joakim Noah is significantly more talented in pretty much every way...

[DRK]

I also think trading nash is a mistake - he's comparatively cheap and you're not going to get much for him

I think as respect for what he's done for this franchise alone, we shouldn't trade him.

I would rather have one of the best Phoenix Suns ever to play the game retire as a Sun, rather than retire as a Timberwolve or whatever.

I don't really care about the youth we would get in return for Nash. This guy deserves to end his career here in Phoenix if that is what he wants. The last thing I want to happen to Nash is for him to be tossed in the bin like mouldy cheese that has been in the fridge way too long.

Started his career as a Sun... Deserves to end his career as a Sun.

[impulsenine]

[insert what rsavaj said ... here]

Lopez is young, and is an okay sub Center.

Why panic? We have a Center rotation! Don't you people remember what it was like to have Pat Burke as a backup C????

[JohnVancouver]

I also think trading nash is a mistake - he's comparatively cheap and you're not going to get much for him

I think as respect for what he's done for this franchise alone, we shouldn't trade him.

I would rather have one of the best Phoenix Suns ever to play the game retire as a Sun, rather than retire as a Timberwolve or whatever.

I don't really care about the youth we would get in return for Nash. This guy deserves to end his career here in Phoenix if that is what he wants. The last thing I want to happen to Nash is for him to be tossed in the bin like mouldy cheese that has been in the fridge way too long.

Started his career as a Sun... Deserves to end his career as a Sun.

yeah but - Walt Frazier got traded at the end of his career. Majerele was traded away - Ewing was traded
I think these guys kind of expect it, and that after they retire they'll come back to their 'real' team in some capacity

that said, I hope we keep him a while longer. We do need to bring someone up behind him, and as for teh 4 position - yes. I'm a big cheerleader for Frye but we need a banger, too

[DRK]

[insert what rsavaj said ... here]

Lopez is young, and is an okay sub Center.

Why panic? We have a Center rotation! Don't you people remember what it was like to have Pat Burke as a backup C????

Yes.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk68E9FP4IA[/youtube]