Season Speculation, Free Agency & Trade Ideas: Our Johnson is finally working

[Revived]

What do you guys think, can Oubre be our starting pf? Can he defend other true 4s and pull in enough rebounds? I would love to get Bridges back in the starting lineup.

If so, crazy to think that we are only a pg away from completing the future core with a high draft pick coming up.

Read on Twitter

?s=21

No Oubre can’t be our starting PF. He can be our starting SF but we need someone with size and better rebounding at the 4. Preferably with weak side shot blocking skills too.

[Blonde]

What do you guys think, can Oubre be our starting pf? Can he defend other true 4s and pull in enough rebounds? I would love to get Bridges back in the starting lineup.

If so, crazy to think that we are only a pg away from completing the future core with a high draft pick coming up.

Read on Twitter

?s=21

I still think the team needs a real starting 4 but that doesn't mean at crunch time - Igor (and I think will be the coach next year) - can't play the best five players the last 4 to 6 minutes of the game. But the Suns need a 4.

My opinion on this is that Bridges-Oubre should play all of the SF minutes, with Oubre playing some backup PF minutes as well. It's becoming pretty clear to me that those are the two wings to keep. I know a lot of people like Warren in the 6th man role, but I think Oubre actually fills that role a lot better because he can come in and completely change the tone of a game with his energy, and is a lot more versatile to fit into different lineup combinations. Bringing in a starting PF should still be a high priority.

[sunskerr]

We can use Warren, Bridges, and Oubre as our wings and they can definitely play some PF. This idea that we need to get rid of Warren for a full time starting power forward banger is a little bit silly. I think a better move is to find a PF who can take Dragan’s minutes and then some, and hit the 3 and play some D. That player’s minutes will fluctuate with the matchup.

Then we use most of the cap space on a guard acquisition who can take pressure of Booker.

[lilfishi22]

What would your thoughts be on the following scenario playing out?

We get the 3rd pick, Zion and Ja are gone, and there are not any trade options available with the pick to get us a truly legit PG or PF. Dallas does not luck out to jump top 4 (though they are certainly working there way into good odds with about a 35% chance of being in top 4 right now...not too much worse than us)...

So lets say we have the 3rd pick, Atlanta gets the 5th or 6th pick and Dallas gets like the 8th pick (which would then convey to Atlanta).

I doubt they would do it, but would you trade the 3rd pick (Barrett) for the 5th or 6th and 8th picks and take Garland and Clarke if possible?

Tough tough decision.

I still think RJ is In the same tier as Morant but adding RJ would make our logjam at the wings issue worse even if we got rid of JJ. That said, I don't think I'd do it. Your trade would potentially add depth at two of our position of need but I don't really buy into their projections (starting level 1 and 4) right now.

I'm still in the take BPA lane. I think with JJ questionable as a core guy, TJ potentially being a good trade chip and Oubre playing some spot 4, I think you can add a guy like RJ to this team.

Well I think Barrett is considered the BPA at 2 anyway and we'd be going with Ja due primarily to need, and as you mention about projections being starting level 1 and 4 (didn't see that) I suppose you are saying Ja is also a projected immediate starter? Haven't seen that either. I wasn't thinking a player like him would be ready to start on day one. I think if we want to be really competitive to come out of the gates we wouldn't want to start him on day 1.

I don't think so necessarily. I think Johnson still has a lot of value as the veteran steady hand on this team and Morant would have to beat him out of the starting position. That's what I think with all rookies, I don't think they should be an immediate starter unless they are like overwhelmingly good very early on (summer league, training camp, preseason)

Also with regards to your deal, in general I don't think it's a good idea to move assets to take two stabs in the dark in a weak draft. I'd rather one stab at the top of the draft than two outside the top 5. I think we have a lesson to learn from 2016

[bwgood77]

Tough tough decision.

I still think RJ is In the same tier as Morant but adding RJ would make our logjam at the wings issue worse even if we got rid of JJ. That said, I don't think I'd do it. Your trade would potentially add depth at two of our position of need but I don't really buy into their projections (starting level 1 and 4) right now.

I'm still in the take BPA lane. I think with JJ questionable as a core guy, TJ potentially being a good trade chip and Oubre playing some spot 4, I think you can add a guy like RJ to this team.

Well I think Barrett is considered the BPA at 2 anyway and we'd be going with Ja due primarily to need, and as you mention about projections being starting level 1 and 4 (didn't see that) I suppose you are saying Ja is also a projected immediate starter? Haven't seen that either. I wasn't thinking a player like him would be ready to start on day one. I think if we want to be really competitive to come out of the gates we wouldn't want to start him on day 1.

I don't think so necessarily. I think Johnson still has a lot of value as the veteran steady hand on this team and Morant would have to beat him out of the starting position. That's what I think with all rookies, I don't think they should be an immediate starter unless they are like overwhelmingly good very early on (summer league, training camp, preseason)

Also with regards to your deal, in general I don't think it's a good idea to move assets to take two stabs in the dark in a weak draft. I'd rather one stab at the top of the draft than two outside the top 5. I think we have a lesson to learn from 2016

Yeah, I guess it depends on how high you are on Barrett really. I was thinking a team would have a hard time trading picks like 5 and 7 or 8 for 3. That seems like a very hefty price to move up a couple spots. I guess in the end, if Dallas doesn't move up, it will have been their price to move up a couple spots though.

[bwgood77]

Aminu is my favorite realistic target. Isn't awesome at anything but does most things pretty well.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using RealGM mobile app

Personally, I'd prefer to stick with Bender. Dragan's improving and developing; he's got great tools; he's still super young. Loved watching him get those blocks on Giannis a few nights ago. I get that Aminu is solid but Dragan could be more, and I don't think an unreasonable amount of development is necessary for Dragan to reach and surpass Aminu's level of play.

Even with him starting now I find it unlikely he'll come back. Declining that option probably left a bad taste in his mouth for the organization so if he has an opportunity to leave I think he'll jump at it. I also still believe he could go back to Europe for a couple years on a nice deal.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using RealGM mobile app

I don't think we will bring him back unless we don't have other options on the room exception. Mainly because we just don't have that much cap space with all of our holds and our pick. But I'd be real surprised if he goes back to Europe.

[lilfishi22]

I think Tyler Johnson is the reason for the suns recent success. Somehow some way I think he’s gotten every one to buy into the coach and team ball. I think him and oubre have everyone giving it their all on defense. I don’t think Tyler should be traded with the number 2 pick even for Beal. Unless we’re getting a proven leader at the point Tyler shouldn’t be moved. There are plenty of other pieces on this team that can be included with the 2 pick to get someone like tj Warren or even Josh Jackson now. I would hate to trade josh along with the 2nd pick but if it’s for an all star caliber player I would do it. I just think Tyler is more valuable to this teams psyche than any other player.
It looks like Tyler has even gotten Igor to wake up. He’s getting techs now and actually showing some fire for his guys. Tyler is the glue guy. You don’t trade the glue guy

He's not Steve Nash that is tied to the hip with the head coach but he's probably the closest thing to that kind of floor general/coach relationship we've had on this team in a while. If a guy of Johnson's caliber can take the ball out of Booker's hands, actually gets the team to run the coach's play and gets the team to play hard, a legit floor general would turn this team around.

[lilfishi22]

Personally, I'd prefer to stick with Bender. Dragan's improving and developing; he's got great tools; he's still super young. Loved watching him get those blocks on Giannis a few nights ago. I get that Aminu is solid but Dragan could be more, and I don't think an unreasonable amount of development is necessary for Dragan to reach and surpass Aminu's level of play.

Even with him starting now I find it unlikely he'll come back. Declining that option probably left a bad taste in his mouth for the organization so if he has an opportunity to leave I think he'll jump at it. I also still believe he could go back to Europe for a couple years on a nice deal.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using RealGM mobile app

I don't think we will bring him back unless we don't have other options on the room exception. Mainly because we just don't have that much cap space with all of our holds and our pick. But I'd be real surprised if he goes back to Europe.

I don't see the point of bringing him back. We're barely playing him right now as is. At the end of the season, he would've likely played as many games and as many minutes as his rookie season. I just don't see why he would want to come back unless he doesn't want to go back to Europe yet and no on else is looking to give him anything decent. Just from a player development standpoint, I would want a change of scenery if I were him.

[Qwigglez]

So I just read that the Suns starting lineup with Bender is a minus 13 in our last 7 games however if you replace Bender with Bridges that lineup is a plus 49 in 40 minutes played.

Also didn’t realize the Mavs have lost 10 of their last 11 games. Which is probably why I haven’t been hearing a lot about the golden boy lately.

Yeah, Bender is not playing well but we need him some minutes on the court because Warren is out and to be able to play Jackson less minutes per game.

And well, the Mavs traded all their veterans to try to lose games and have their pick next season. Doncic is playing amazing basketball leading the team...they are just waiting for next season.

Wasn’t trying to knock Bender at all as I think his defense is above average. The arc on his three is flat this year, which is unfortunate because if he was shooting his 36% from 3, he’d be a huge asset for this team right now.
Anyway I just was highlighting how well that unit of TJ/Book/Oubre/Bridges/Ayton have been playing. Good defense all around minus Booker.

[bwgood77]

How about that we get what we really need a point guard to create for others like Rubio. i.e. lets stop trying to shove another score first shooting guard that was the disaster of Knight and Bledsoe.

That's BS. Player like Rubio (or Lonzo), who can't score from anywhere on the court is the last thing the Suns need. We would be 10 times better with Beal than Rubio.

no we wouldn't. If we had Rubio on this team. I see us easily winning 30 + Games. Rubio plays defense, and can create shots for our players as the main facilitator.

Beal would take away from Ayton, and Booker.

I would take a pass first pg who can only put 10 points a game up rather than a score first guard who will score 20 on 20 shots.

Beal is more efficient than Booker, a far better defender and has a better ast/to ratio. That being said, the Wizards are extremely unlikely to trade him, so it's moot.

[bwgood77]

What do you guys think, can Oubre be our starting pf? Can he defend other true 4s and pull in enough rebounds? I would love to get Bridges back in the starting lineup.

If so, crazy to think that we are only a pg away from completing the future core with a high draft pick coming up.

Read on Twitter

?s=21

That's actually been the lineup I've been thinking they should start next year (or the rest of this year), especially if TJ is back (for the bench spark and scoring) and we don't sign a solid PF. Oubre is the best guy to play PF for rebounding and with his wingspan.