Season Speculation, Trade Ideas & Discussion Pt. 6

[thamadkant]

If Knight comes back and embrace the 6th man PG role next to Warren as the 6th man SF role...suns would have a potent scoring duo off the bench assuming both are willing to cooperate.


But that's the coach's job... Hence a strong tactical coach is needed to make players accept their roles IMO... Suns have had way nice coaches... Heck Hornacek is only becoming "tough" now... Cannot believe he shoved Noah lol... Could have used that when Suns had the Morris twins.

These aren't robots to manipulate, the coach can only do so much. Some players just won't be happy coming off the bench. And some outright refuse. We'll see what happens when bk is coming off the back again. Probably play like ****. Warren, idk. We'll see.

Jamal Crawford and Ginobili 2 excellent players came off the bench.


They must believe that them coming off the bench is best for the team and themselves too.

[LukasBMW]

There is talk of Philly going after Lebron. My god. All that young talent with Lebron would be deadly.

And it was possible all because they tanked the right way and didn't sign anyone to stupid deals.

We're a year behind them.

-One more tank
-Add two good draft picks
-Resign Payton cheap. Let Len walk.
-Wait on extending Booker
-Make a playoff run next year
-Become appealing to the 2019 free agent class when Dudley and Tyson come off the books.

Philly trusted the process. We will trust the timeline.

[Waylay13]

There is talk of Philly going after Lebron. My god. All that young talent with Lebron would be deadly.

And it was possible all because they tanked the right way and didn't sign anyone to stupid deals.

We're a year behind them.

-One more tank
-Add two good draft picks
-Resign Payton cheap. Let Len walk.
-Wait on extending Booker
-Make a playoff run next year
-Become appealing to the 2019 free agent class when Dudley and Tyson come off the books.

Philly trusted the process. We will trust the timeline.

I agree that we should hold the course. dont blow our load this summer and next year we might get a lot a lot more of a players.

[DirtyDez]

That could work if they trade Simmons for Kawhi.

[thamadkant]

Is Celtics willing to trade both Brown and Tatum and their pick to get Davis or Leonard?
Because I feel like they won't.... They can't sacrifice the entire future to make a run against super strong competition out west anyways.

Maybe a combination of two assets... But geez... Still a high price.


Suns.... Shame Chriss has stunk it up... Would have been an enticing piece to combine with Suns pick and maybe Warren... But I'm really curious how the league views Warren... He can't shoot 3s but very good scorer nonetheless

[Christine-In-AZ]

There is talk of Philly going after Lebron. My god. All that young talent with Lebron would be deadly.

And it was possible all because they tanked the right way and didn't sign anyone to stupid deals.

We're a year behind them.

.

I don't believe Lebron is going anywhere for at least one more season.

1. Staying put is the highest Q rating marketing narrative. Lebron is really just starting his marketing empire.

2. Moving to another (arguably somewhat better equipped) Eastern Conference team won't counter the negatives of leaving "the Land"...AGAIN! eg Sixers

3. Lakers? Crazy stretch in terms of winning a ring in '19 ...and exiting to La La Land carries Q negatives juxtaposed to leaving your home town team again...f'ing AGAIN!

4. Houston? Alright maybe, but still...it's the Warriors before you even can get to the Finals.

...I think he's staying in Cleveland one more year.

Being a New York Knick, and trying to bring NYC an NBA title after soooo very long will be the final NBA mountain he tries to climb, if he leaves Cleveland.

[bwgood77]

What they should do instead is replace the lottery with a single-elimination tournament for the top 3 draft picks. That would eliminate tanking and non-playoff teams would be buyers during trading season as they try to build a team for the draft tournament...

Yea nothing like having the worst teams get worst due to the fact that they cant get good players in the draft. I remember watching the Spurs tank a whole season just to get Tim Duncan yet no one wanted to change the lottery due to them sitting David Robinson for the season.

Yeah, I could see the Pelicans falling out of the playoff race because of the Boogie injury, but AD leading them to win the #1 pick and then Boogie comes back while they add Doncic with the #1 pick.

Holiday/Doncic/Boogie/Davis

[bwgood77]

There is talk of Philly going after Lebron. My god. All that young talent with Lebron would be deadly.

And it was possible all because they tanked the right way and didn't sign anyone to stupid deals.

We're a year behind them.

.

I don't believe Lebron is going anywhere for at least one more season.

1. Staying put is the highest Q rating marketing narrative. Lebron is really just starting his marketing empire.

2. Moving to another (arguably somewhat better equipped) Eastern Conference team won't counter the negatives of leaving "the Land"...AGAIN! eg Sixers

3. Lakers? Crazy stretch in terms of winning a ring in '19 ...and exiting to La La Land carries Q negatives juxtaposed to leaving your home town team again...f'ing AGAIN!

4. Houston? Alright maybe, but still...it's the Warriors before you even can get to the Finals.

...I think he's staying in Cleveland one more year.

Being a New York Knick, and trying to bring NYC an NBA title after soooo very long will be the final NBA mountain he tries to climb, if he leaves Cleveland.

Yeah, it doesn't seem like he's all that interested in staying, but I can't see where he would want to go. I used to think the Knicks would be perfect for him with him and Porzingis. If KP comes back and they add another piece in this draft...like Mikal Bridges or something and Frank starts hitting the 3, playing great D, they could have set up well for him. But that Noah contract is a killer...and then Porzingis gets his extension the same time Booker does. I don't think they could realistically sign him until maybe 2020.

I would have thought the Clips and Jerry West, after trading Blake might be setting things up for him, but they don't really control their cap space either...a bunch of player options.

Philly makes no sense because he doesn't fit with Simmons....or rather Simmons doesn't fit with him. If you have LeBron being primary ball handler what does Simmons do? He can't shoot. You can't have LeBron off ball.

[DirtyDez]

I was listening to Eddie House on FS1 talking about Kawhi signing a deal this summer even if he's not Super Max eligible because he's paranoid about his injury. If he doesn't feel comfortable with the Spurs medical staff you have to think that relationship is over. What would his max be on a new team if traded?

[bwgood77]

I was listening to Eddie House on FS1 talking about Kawhi signing a deal this summer even if he's not Super Max eligible because he's paranoid about his injury. If he doesn't feel comfortable with the Spurs medical staff you have to think that relationship is over. What would his max be on a new team if traded?

30% of the cap...so over $30 million to start. If he gets traded his bird rights should transfer. I think he will and should sign a max deal if it's offered, especially if he's concerned about the injury.

And if SA wants to trade him, that would leave me a bit concerned that it was because they didn't feel comfortable about his injury getting better (though he was medically cleared). I wonder if he is kind of a head case and is so paranoid he will get injured again that he just wants to sign his next deal before playing.

[DirtyDez]

I was listening to Eddie House on FS1 talking about Kawhi signing a deal this summer even if he's not Super Max eligible because he's paranoid about his injury. If he doesn't feel comfortable with the Spurs medical staff you have to think that relationship is over. What would his max be on a new team if traded?

30% of the cap...so over $30 million to start. If he gets traded his bird rights should transfer. I think he will and should sign a max deal if it's offered, especially if he's concerned about the injury.

And if SA wants to trade him, that would leave me a bit concerned that it was because they didn't feel comfortable about his injury getting better (though he was medically cleared). I wonder if he is kind of a head case and is so paranoid he will get injured again that he just wants to sign his next deal before playing.

That's the risk. Anytime you're trading for a disgruntled player you don't know what he's thinking or who's in his ear. As for the numbers you mentioned a 4 year extension should be around 130 mil. Plus the money he's already earned would put him at 200 mil for his career. Can I guy having just missed an entire season turn that down?

[sunskerr]

Could we sell Kawhi long term here on our med staff? The staff has successfully rehabbed and helped the longevity of some really big names.

[thamadkant]

Kawhi's injury sounds like a tendon related injury and it takes a long time to heal from. Even if the doctors clear him, after a playing on those legs, the tendon swells up, it could be a time related heal thing...

I would trade the farm for him... except the Suns have to keep Booker and one of the Suns 2018 pick or Jackson, then throw in future picks as many as possible lol

[Qwigglez]

Isn't Kawhi eligible for the super max (Designated Player Exception) this summer? I would find it hard for the Spurs to give him that kind of extension with him missing the entire year, but I could see Kawhi feeling disrespected if they don't offer it. I do remember hearing him say he isn't going to take any discounts when it comes to his next contract. The super max IMO, really kills teams ability to improve their roster with the financial burden it brings. I think maybe, the NBA should allow teams to offer the super max however, only 20-25% of their salary is counted towards the cap, instead of the 30-35%.

[thamadkant]

If Kawhi wants the super max and still allow the team to be competitive... he would demand a trade now, so the other team who trades for him can go over the cap to sign him.


Suns.... start clearing space.


Booker would be a very good player to play with... shooter, carries the offensive load easily.... can play point if required.
Payton... defensive point guard when motivated... solid offensively and rather pass and play make.

The possibilities are...
If Jackson isnt part of the trade for Kawhi... Jackson and Kawhi would be a terror defensive duo... both read lanes well, excellent pick pockets, great defensive IQs, know where to slide and drop to.... good rebounders.



Then Suns can hopefully keep Bender, but I doubt it... he would be a Spurs type player... so they would ask for him if the Suns do make an offer.



I feel that Doncic, Bender, Warren and a couple more first rounders would be a pretty good haul for a disgruntled Kawhi anyways.... Irving fetched way less. Spurs have their future as well as competing for the next few years.

[Revived]

Triano is not just OK. He has been excellent.

At what? Tanking? Both Chriss and Bender have regressed. The Suns margin of defeat under Triano is higher than any other coach in Suns history (and probably nba history too but haven’t looked that one up yet).

Triano would be the cheap choice so I’m sure Sarver is on board.