The 2016 Offseason Thread

[King4Day]

Thon Maker: 17+17+2
Simmons: 18
Ingram: 12+8+2
Dunn: 18
Hield: 21
Diallo: 12

Let's hope our rookies get their feet wet in the next game. I am beginning to think we made some mistakes. Let's hope it is not like that, but every single thing I heard about Dunn was that he had no shooting ability at all. Then I see his video and I get really surprised. I see Thon Maker and he seems a man among children in SL. Then Diallo mans his defenders at will with his strengh. Tehn Hield is a hell of a scorer (we already had Booker).
Please Bender and Chriss develop into something good... please, please, please...

Simmons and Ingram I wouldn't even put out there since we never had a chance to draft them.
Hield had a horrific first SL game. He also wasn't a position of need.

IMO, Dunn will be the only question mark. We didn't need him due to Knight and Bledsoe but I also look at it as, Boston passed on him and Philly/Chicago both didn't offer enough to get him. So we're not the only ones who missed.

Guys like Diallo, you take chances on later in the draft. Many teams passed on him too. Same with Maker who people expected a mid-late first rounder. Ended up going in the lottery.

2 games into Summer League shouldn't cause anyone any concern. Let's check back in a few years. Things change when you play actual NBA talent instead of guys trying to make it.

[King4Day]

The Suns avoided a difficult decision on guard John Jenkins' status by delaying his contract guarantee date until October.

Jenkins' $1.05 million 2016-17 salary was going to become guaranteed Monday if he was not waived but the Suns now plan to bring Jenkins, 25, to training camp in Flagstaff. Jenkins has sat courtside for each of the Suns' NBA Summer League games in Las Vegas.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2016/07/11/dragan-benders-pro-experience-helps-summer-league/86931436/

Seems a bit unfair to him. He might have a chance elsewhere if we let him go now. I assume he won't be back. Especially if we re-sign Price.

[Saberestar]

The Suns avoided a difficult decision on guard John Jenkins' status by delaying his contract guarantee date until October.

Jenkins' $1.05 million 2016-17 salary was going to become guaranteed Monday if he was not waived but the Suns now plan to bring Jenkins, 25, to training camp in Flagstaff. Jenkins has sat courtside for each of the Suns' NBA Summer League games in Las Vegas.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2016/07/11/dragan-benders-pro-experience-helps-summer-league/86931436/

Seems a bit unfair to him. He might have a chance elsewhere if we let him go now. I assume he won't be back. Especially if we re-sign Price.

It seems that he doesn't have any NBA offer anyway.

[BobbieL]

The Suns avoided a difficult decision on guard John Jenkins' status by delaying his contract guarantee date until October.

Jenkins' $1.05 million 2016-17 salary was going to become guaranteed Monday if he was not waived but the Suns now plan to bring Jenkins, 25, to training camp in Flagstaff. Jenkins has sat courtside for each of the Suns' NBA Summer League games in Las Vegas.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2016/07/11/dragan-benders-pro-experience-helps-summer-league/86931436/

Seems a bit unfair to him. He might have a chance elsewhere if we let him go now. I assume he won't be back. Especially if we re-sign Price.

Maybe just giving Ryan more time to move Archie. Meaning - there are talks going on with a trade that wouldn't be completed today

[sunsbum]

Supposedly we are one of four-five teams that have offered a trade for Westbrook.
The Thunder could fear losing him next summer for nothing and they could consider trading him.
We could be offering Bledsoe, Bender and a 2017 pick.

Now when you say that teams have offered, does that mean Westbrook is actually available or just that we want to see if they will bite on a deal if they think it's good enough?

I believe that the what some commentators think is that the Thunder should be rumbling the decission, as they recently lost KD and got nothing in return.
In 11 months and a half, they will face a very similar situation with Westbrook.
it has been said that we have offered Bledsoe, Bender and our 2017 first pick for Westbrook, but obviously we should get a commitment on his side to resign here.
Knight could be included instead of Bledsoe shoudl the Thunder believe Bledsoe has a high injury risk.
There are news in the azcentral and arizonasports, then in yibada. Also there are suppositions made in valleyofthesuns. Many users posting comments on both paper sites.

What do you all think of this? Would you do the trade?
I believe Bender could either create an era here, or be a burst.
Russell is still 27 and supposedly he should have his best years ahead still, as he is phisically at his prime and mentally he is becoming more of a slow paced player.
Russell would be a star here, can share the court perfectly with Booker and we would have still a nice roster. Even we could add a player to sweeten the transaction.

Westbrook
Booker
Tucker
Chriss
Chandler
---------------
Knight
Goodwin
Barbosa
Warren
Dudley
Len

Man, that is an incredible roster right there just a couple of years away of something big.

Sounds like you just kinda made that rumor up. RW doesnt resign here. Case closed.

[Qwigglez]

^I think we're trading Archie and Tucker. I don't expect Dudley to play much of the four, and I certainly don't expect him to start there. I'm not sure when we'll trade those guys, but I expect them to not be on the team in March.

[Qwigglez]

If the Heat can suck enough to get a top pick in 2018, the following season they'll have 63mil tied up to Bosh/Dragic/Johnson. Nets really did us a solid by giving that guy a poison pill contract.

[carey]

^I think we're trading Archie and Tucker. I don't expect Dudley to play much of the four, and I certainly don't expect him to start there. I'm not sure when we'll trade those guys, but I expect them to not be on the team in March.

I mean...o.k. McDonough did say in the telecast last night that Dudley would be our starting PF opening night though.

[Qwigglez]

^I think we're trading Archie and Tucker. I don't expect Dudley to play much of the four, and I certainly don't expect him to start there. I'm not sure when we'll trade those guys, but I expect them to not be on the team in March.

I mean...o.k. McDonough did say in the telecast last night that Dudley would be our starting PF opening night though.

The guy is always lying...
I don't think he'll be starting there by the end of the season at the very least.

[NTB]

Dudley will be our starting PF guys get used to it.

[NavLDO]

Serious question..there was a guy here who was posting and in the midst of it mentioned that they really dont watch the games much. Was that you?

Naw, that was probably me. I'm typically limited to watching highlights...but I did get to see that 1st SL game yesterday, and will do my best to watch more, if able, this season.

Wait so you're freaking the **** out on people every day here and you dont even watch??

Ummm...yeah, I don't watch as often as I'd like to be able to, but I pay close attention to what's going on around the league, etc. And the only time I'm "freaking the **** out on people" is when they unnecessarily bash our own players. So, I'm glad you have time in the evenings to watch games, and have NBAPass, or however they call it, but I've got a family that I've been separated from for a goodly amount of time throughout my 23 year career, and while I'm on a shore tour, I prefer not to go to work, come home, and ignore them, and watch basketball every night.

And you'll also notice most of my "freaking the **** out on people" has to do with the bashing of the business moves made by McD; just because I haven't been able to watch much over the last couple of years, doesn't mean I haven't watched plenty throughout my 46 years here on this planet; I just haven't watched a lot, again, from the past couple of seasons.

So before you start ""freaking the **** out on me," why don't you actually read my posts and see what I have to say, and what I 'dispute' and what I don't, because I also don't make a ton of spur of the moment, irrational posts during game threads.

So tell you what, why don't you just put me on 'ignore', if that's option, or just not bother responding to any of my posts, as obviously, you feel I don't have the requisite knowledge level that you feel is appropriate to post here...sound good, buddy?

[carey]

So tell you what, why don't you just put me on 'ignore', if that's option, or just not bother responding to any of my posts, as obviously, you feel I don't have the requisite knowledge level that you feel is appropriate to post here...sound good, buddy?

I think what he is saying is highlights, the transaction list, and statistics are only a small part of having an informed opinion about the team. You have to watch the team play to form the rest. No one is telling you to shut up or that you can't have an opinion but if you don't watch the team play it does cast your opinions in a different light.

FWIW, family time > basketball imho.

[carey]

Sounds like you just kinda made that rumor up. RW doesn't resign here. Case closed.

Woj has already said Westbrook has taken on the challenge of remaining in OKC and being the lead guy they build around. He likes Adams and signed off on Oladipo. Westbrook believes in those guys, his guys. He'll sign a $200M contract extension next off-season. I believe all rosterbation involving Westbrook is just that, and a waste of time.

[NavLDO]

Serious question..there was a guy here who was posting and in the midst of it mentioned that they really dont watch the games much. Was that you?

Naw, that was probably me. I'm typically limited to watching highlights...but I did get to see that 1st SL game yesterday, and will do my best to watch more, if able, this season.

Do you watch many Steelers games?

As many as I can. Unfortunately, I'm currently stationed on the "left" coast area, so they don't show a lot of Steeler games unless they are playing the Niners/Seahawks/Raiders/Chargers, etc. or I'll look for some 'streaming' online when available. But yeah, I'd say I watch more Steeler games than Suns' games, unfortunately, but apparently, considering dremill's response to me, I'm unworthy to post here. But at least I'm honest about what I am willing and unwilling to spend my evenings doing, and never, not once, tried to come across here or act like I know more than I do based upon time spent watching games.

So, I'll say it again, so everyone is clear on my recent NBA watching experience--over the past couple of years, I have not watched very many Suns' games, but have watched enough NBA through the years when deployed and not on a shore tour with my family, so please everyone, take that into consideration when I post here. Again, watch a fair amount in the past, especially late 80s/early 90s, and again, when deployed and had time to watch, but I have NOT watched a lot of full Suns' games over the past couple of years

[bwgood77]

Sounds like you just kinda made that rumor up. RW doesn't resign here. Case closed.

Woj has already said Westbrook has taken on the challenge of remaining in OKC and being the lead guy they build around. He likes Adams and signed off on Oladipo. Westbrook believes in those guys, his guys. He'll sign a $200M contract extension next off-season. I believe all rosterbation involving Westbrook is just that, and a waste of time.

I agree. I hadn't even read that but OKC fans were saying after Durant left that they think Westbrook will take it on as a personal challenge to make OKC HIS team and to be the unquestioned leader.

Then I read something else from Royce Young I that said something like "some believe Durant leaving will make Westbrook even more resolute to stay".

[carey]

I did not want to sound like I am against their elections, but simply a little bit worried that their competence are playing well and, through statistics, I see they did not play well in the first game, and Bender also did not play well in the second too.

Can we just relax a little bit? Booker started Summer League last year roughly 1-15 from the floor. Dunn is 4 years older than Bender. Maker is more likely than not 5 full years older than Bender if you believe the heaps of evidence that suggest he went through High School twice. Bender is an 18 year old kid who looked gassed out there last night after 6 practices in 3 days and a game the day before. Just temper your expectations and enjoy watching them develop instead of pining for guys that aren't on our team two whole days into Summer League.

[bwgood77]

Naw, that was probably me. I'm typically limited to watching highlights...but I did get to see that 1st SL game yesterday, and will do my best to watch more, if able, this season.

Do you watch many Steelers games?

As many as I can. Unfortunately, I'm currently stationed on the "left" coast area, so they don't show a lot of Steeler games unless they are playing the Niners/Seahawks/Raiders/Chargers, etc. or I'll look for some 'streaming' online when available. But yeah, I'd say I watch more Steeler games than Suns' games, unfortunately, but apparently, considering dremill's response to me, I'm unworthy to post here. But at least I'm honest about what I am willing and unwilling to spend my evenings doing, and never, not once, tried to come across here or act like I know more than I do based upon time spent watching games.

So, I'll say it again, so everyone is clear on my recent NBA watching experience--over the past couple of years, I have not watched very many Suns' games, but have watched enough NBA through the years when deployed and not o a shore tour with my family, so please everyone, take that into consideration when I post here. Again, watch a fair amount in the past, especially late 80s/early 90s, and again, when deployed and had time to watch, but I have NOT watched a lot of full Suns' games over the past couple of years

Have you watched any summer league?

Wow, that's saying something that you don't watch many Steelers games (and there are 16, so it sounds like you may watch a handful a year) but you watch even FEWER Suns games.

It doesn't matter if you watch the games to make good posts, however the eye test can tell you quite a bit as well. RunDogGun, a ex poster used to post quite a bit and do a lot of talking and arguing about Suns opinions and he never watched the games either.

And I'm sure there were many fans who stopped watching games a couple months into last year, because it got REALLY ugly.

[JMac1]

I did not want to sound like I am against their elections, but simply a little bit worried that their competence are playing well and, through statistics, I see they did not play well in the first game, and Bender also did not play well in the second too.

Can we just relax a little bit? Booker started Summer League last year roughly 1-15 from the floor. Dunn is 4 years older than Bender. Maker is more likely than not 5 full years older than Bender if you believe the heaps of evidence that suggest he went through High School twice. Bender is an 18 year old kid who looked gassed out there last night after 6 practices in 3 days and a game the day before. Just temper your expectations and enjoy watching them develop instead of pining for guys that aren't on our team two whole days into Summer League.

That is like asking drivers to use their turn signals, ain't gonna happen. During SL people change their opinion daily, instead of looking for a skill set and not numbers in the box score.

[NTB]

You can teach some basic fundamentals but you can't teach skills or talent. Our rooks have talent and skills, just be patient until they learn from their mistakes and from our coaching staff / veterans.

[NavLDO]

So tell you what, why don't you just put me on 'ignore', if that's option, or just not bother responding to any of my posts, as obviously, you feel I don't have the requisite knowledge level that you feel is appropriate to post here...sound good, buddy?

I think what he is saying is highlights, the transaction list, and statistics are only a small part of having an informed opinion about the team. You have to watch the team play to form the rest. No one is telling you to shut up or that you can't have an opinion but if you don't watch the team play it does cast your opinions in a different light.

FWIW, family time > basketball imho.

I get that, but I've never come across like I'm all in the know, and again, most of my 'disputes' are in how the team is being managed, not about how well one player plays against another. And I've been honest from the get-go, and said as much in my very first post here, then mentioned it again a few months back. Do I need to put that info in my Sig Block, or something??

So yeah, I've said plenty of times...take my opinions with a grain of salt...and again, just because I haven't watched recently DOESN'T mean I haven't watched at all--I've got hundreds...thousands...of hours watching NBA games, just not recently...