Official Free Agent Thread: What to do with our cap space

[TheBledShow]

I said it all off season, PJ was great for this team two years ago, but there are so many 3 point shooting sfs who shoot and space the floor better than him and are also more athletic.

Suns let players walk and didnt replace them, Suns had a solid model built with players who knew there role. Suns could of gone after a Ariza, Deng, or someone else, in order to keep Frye on a short deal. HIs spacing and mis matches creations did more for us than we know.....

[TheBledShow]

In order for Knight and Bledsoe to be succesful, Suns gotta get a stretch 4 and go back to the bull **** run around and screaming!

[jcsunsfan]

We'll have an expensive bench if its:

Goodwin 2
Tucker 5
Morris 5
Morris 8
Wright 5

Plus 5m for the 11-15 on our roster. If we spend 65m, that means 30m on the bench and 35m on starters.

With the salary cap changes coming, thats cheap. I know the cap isn't going to go up for another year, but I guarantee, GM's are starting to spend it now.

[Years90Suns]

Our guard rotation is pretty solid, we also need to have some room when Bogdan comes over. Our SF position is covered with T.J. and P.J, really hopeful that T.J. is gonna rise to the occasion. We need to strengthen our frontlive, would love to get a solid young big via draft or trade, I believe Markieff is better suited for a 6th man role who provides instant scoring.

I do not agree completely, but of course I believe getting a starter PF should be our top priority. markieff would be better off the bench, if so. We need a starting caliber player to play there together with Len. One that can score, rebound and can rely on Len doing the dirty work. The problem with that is what to do with Wright. he is not a starter in either position, but can be a good back up fpr both. We would need either to trade Markieff or not sign Wright. Or we would need to get a bench C who can offer different things than Wright. Especially if Len continues to get injured.

Then our perimeter players are ok. I would just try to retain Green. Green and Goodwin complemente each other and can play 17-20 minutes a piece. Then Knight would play some off-guard, some guard (like 27-30 min).

I like Tucker with us. Good defender, improved shooter, good rebounder, team player, experienced, some years already with us and a leader. Every team needs persons like him. Warren can be the starting SF and he should improve a lot with confidence and minutes.

So we need to put our money and efforts in getting a legitimate starter at PF.
Aldridge
Monroe
Millsap

[jcsunsfan]

Our guard rotation is pretty solid, we also need to have some room when Bogdan comes over. Our SF position is covered with T.J. and P.J, really hopeful that T.J. is gonna rise to the occasion. We need to strengthen our frontlive, would love to get a solid young big via draft or trade, I believe Markieff is better suited for a 6th man role who provides instant scoring.

I do not agree completely, but of course I believe getting a starter PF should be our top priority. markieff would be better off the bench, if so. We need a starting caliber player to play there together with Len. One that can score, rebound and can rely on Len doing the dirty work. The problem with that is what to do with Wright. he is not a starter in either position, but can be a good back up fpr both. We would need either to trade Markieff or not sign Wright. Or we would need to get a bench C who can offer different things than Wright. Especially if Len continues to get injured.

Then our perimeter players are ok. I would just try to retain Green. Green and Goodwin complemente each other and can play 17-20 minutes a piece. Then Knight would play some off-guard, some guard (like 27-30 min).

I like Tucker with us. Good defender, improved shooter, good rebounder, team player, experienced, some years already with us and a leader. Every team needs persons like him. Warren can be the starting SF and he should improve a lot with confidence and minutes.

So we need to put our money and efforts in getting a legitimate starter at PF.
Aldridge
Monroe
Millsap

I generally agree with this. The starting pf needs to be able to space the floor with Len. Ideally this player should be a legit three point threat, a decent position rebounder, and be able to set picks on the perimeter. Solid defense would be a plus, but playing between Len and Tucker would allow for a little less of a defender.

We need Bill Laimbeer.

[sunskerr]

With our 7 ft shooting guard we will be unstoppable:

[RunDogGun]

I generally agree with this. The starting pf needs to be able to space the floor with Len. Ideally this player should be a legit three point threat, a decent position rebounder, and be able to set picks on the perimeter. Solid defense would be a plus, but playing between Len and Tucker would allow for a little less of a defender.

We need Bill Laimbeer.

Funny, but I suggested Bill as a head coach with Hornacek as lead assistant about three or so years ago.

[RunDogGun]

With our 7 ft shooting guard we will be unstoppable:

And Marcus morphed into his brother?

[RaisingArizona]

With our 7 ft shooting guard we will be unstoppable:

No more posts for you, bro.

[letsgosuns]

I do not care that much about a power forward who can stretch the floor as much as I do about a power forward being able to play defense. I would rather have a strong, bruising power forward that plays inside and rebounds instead of a guy that stands around the three point line most of the time. Robert Horry was the best at being able to stretch the floor and also play defense. But he played with Olajuwon, O'Neal, and Duncan. Those are arguably three of the top five big men in NBA history. He perfectly complemented them. So without a big man like that, you do not have to have a power forward that stretches the floor.

Gasol and Bynum did not stretch the floor. Garnett and Perkins did not stretch the floor. Jordan's Bulls team's with Horace Grant, Scott Williams, Bill Cartwright, Bill Wennington, and Dennis Rodman did not stretch the floor. All of those players could play inside. Sure a couple of them could knock down mid-range shots but not one of them was ever camped at three point line during a game just waiting to take a three.

I am not against the Suns getting a player who has the ability to stretch the floor but I am absolutely against the Suns getting a player who cannot play defense and rebound and play inside too. The Suns are so soft. SO SOFT. Only Alex Len has some muscle inside. They have no physicality at the power forward spot at all. The Morris brothers? Please. Those guys are soft as a feather when it comes to inside play. I always see the ball get ripped out of their hands. Half the time they are not even inside to get a rebound. Markieff can stretch the floor but he plays no defense and cannot rebound. Exactly what I mean. Unless the power forward who stretches the floor can also play defense and rebound and score inside, you are never going to win a championship with him.

[Jdiddy701]

Bledsoe posted a picture online wearing a throwback KJ jersey.. Man I hope we wear throwbacks next year. TheSuns will be selling Steve Nash jerseys next year.


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[Mulhollanddrive]

Phoenix FO likes doing things their way. Get an idea and stick with it. We've been looking for stretch 4s for 10 years and 2 PGs for 3 years. I have no idea why those ideas are so important to win a championship. Maybe we think we need to beat other teams by strategy, because we don't land superstars, I don't know.

It's why I think Sarver would never hire Thibadeau.

[Cutter]

With the tilt towards stretch 4's and 2 PG or 3 PG lines ups, you are witnessing the era of NBA analytics. Analytics says that these line ups give a team the best chance to win a max number of games over an 82 game season. McD didn't just pull the Dragic-Bledsoe-IT idea out of his ass. Analytics told him that with the players he currently has, that line up would help win the most games. Analytics is the current, and future of the NBA.

Now, I'm more of a traditionalist when it comes to the Suns. I am like many who want a traditional pass first PG, a large, good shooting SG, and want my PF to play defense and rebound. I am probably also behind the times and not in-tune with the latest trends in the NBA.

[letsgosuns]

The best teams in the league are the ones who are not undersized. The only team I have ever seen win the championship with a non-traditional lineup was the Heat with James, Wade, and Bosh. However, that is 3/5 of the starting lineup for Team USA and all of those guys were in their primes. And that team was dominant defensively. Actually they were only undersized at the center position. Every other position they were not undersized. It would be like the equivalent of having a team in the early 1990's of Jordan, Drexler, and Malone with a bunch of sharp shooting defensive role players around them. When you have players that good, you do not need to have a dominant center. Especially when all three guys in James, Wade, and Bosh can post up and score inside as well as anyone in the league.

The Suns decision to go with three point guards who were 5'9", 6'1", and 6'3" might be the dumbest idea I have ever seen in basketball. It destroyed the season. Not only was it horrible defensively, all three guys hated it. They all wanted it to go away. It created so much dissension on the team that this became a lost season. People will look back one day and say what were the Suns thinking playing three point guards together at the same time.

When Steve Nash was on the Suns, they never even had a real backup point guard. Dragic was the best one they ever had. Could you imagine having Nash in his prime and then D'antoni comes to him and says Steve, we are getting a couple more starting point guards to play with you. We think it is a great idea to have three guys that need the ball in their hands to be successful play at the same time. That would be a disaster. Nash would have wanted off the team just like the guys this year did. Maybe one day the Suns will wake up and realize that an undersized team built around a small dual point guard lineup does not win championships. Who am I kidding. This is the Suns organization we are talking about. They do not care about playing defense. They only care about running up and down the court. I guess I can dream that one day that will change.

[bwgood77]

I do not care that much about a power forward who can stretch the floor as much as I do about a power forward being able to play defense. I would rather have a strong, bruising power forward that plays inside and rebounds instead of a guy that stands around the three point line most of the time. Robert Horry was the best at being able to stretch the floor and also play defense. But he played with Olajuwon, O'Neal, and Duncan. Those are arguably three of the top five big men in NBA history. He perfectly complemented them. So without a big man like that, you do not have to have a power forward that stretches the floor.

Gasol and Bynum did not stretch the floor. Garnett and Perkins did not stretch the floor. Jordan's Bulls team's with Horace Grant, Scott Williams, Bill Cartwright, Bill Wennington, and Dennis Rodman did not stretch the floor. All of those players could play inside. Sure a couple of them could knock down mid-range shots but not one of them was ever camped at three point line during a game just waiting to take a three.

I am not against the Suns getting a player who has the ability to stretch the floor but I am absolutely against the Suns getting a player who cannot play defense and rebound and play inside too. The Suns are so soft. SO SOFT. Only Alex Len has some muscle inside. They have no physicality at the power forward spot at all. The Morris brothers? Please. Those guys are soft as a feather when it comes to inside play. I always see the ball get ripped out of their hands. Half the time they are not even inside to get a rebound. Markieff can stretch the floor but he plays no defense and cannot rebound. Exactly what I mean. Unless the power forward who stretches the floor can also play defense and rebound and score inside, you are never going to win a championship with him.

I somewhat agree with what you say but also disagree. The teams and players you mention played in a different era where advanced stats were not used and spreading the floor big time was not used as much. If we don't have two guards who are elite from range or even better, two guards and a SF spreading the floor, it won't work well. I do agree in the fact I want a guy who plays defense and rebounds but I also want him to have the capability to stretch, particularly with our current guys at 1-3. Memphis plays the style you talk about, and I pull for them, but it will be interesting to see how they do against the Warriors. Generally, if you go old school traditional, you have to have two guys inside who are near all stars, like the Clips and Grizzlies have. But both of those teams either have premier players or defenders at the guards or both, so you need to be stacked to get away with it.

[bwgood77]

Bledsoe posted a picture online wearing a throwback KJ jersey.. Man I hope we wear throwbacks next year. TheSuns will be selling Steve Nash jerseys next year.Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

If Bledsoe can become 75% of the player KJ was, I will be very happy. I haven't witnessed a Sun that had a bigger will to win and stepped up huge in big games. He could score 45 and would still get 12 assists.

[Mr-Al]

Bledsoe posted a picture online wearing a throwback KJ jersey.. Man I hope we wear throwbacks next year. TheSuns will be selling Steve Nash jerseys next year.Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

If Bledsoe can become 75% of the player KJ was, I will be very happy. I haven't witnessed a Sun that had a bigger will to win and stepped up huge in big games. He could score 45 and would still get 12 assists.

He's just trying to suck up to the fans/FO so he doesn't get traded on draft night lol

[Mr-Al]

With our 7 ft shooting guard we will be unstoppable:

And Marcus morphed into his brother?

I would like the Morri much better if Kieff somehow just absorbed Marcus.

Rather just have Kieff with some of Mook's three point shooting

It's also easier to hate one player

Having two of them is just too much

[bwgood77]

With the tilt towards stretch 4's and 2 PG or 3 PG lines ups, you are witnessing the era of NBA analytics. Analytics says that these line ups give a team the best chance to win a max number of games over an 82 game season. McD didn't just pull the Dragic-Bledsoe-IT idea out of his ass. Analytics told him that with the players he currently has, that line up would help win the most games. Analytics is the current, and future of the NBA.

Now, I'm more of a traditionalist when it comes to the Suns. I am like many who want a traditional pass first PG, a large, good shooting SG, and want my PF to play defense and rebound. I am probably also behind the times and not in-tune with the latest trends in the NBA.

I agree. Me too. I think one thing that made Hornacek try to work Dragic and Bledsoe they way he did (other than the very obvious fact that it was the roster he had to make work) is that he thought of himself and KJ (6'1 and 6'3 pgs) and they traditionally did VERY well, but in hindsight, they were both premier players....but they beat huge Lakers team...beat them bad in one series...we are talking Magic, Scott, Worthy, etc...the Suns frontcourt wasn't even all that impressive...Chambers was solid, and Mark West was decent, but they nearly beat another huge Blazers team in the WCF and I think would have had a very good chance against the Pistons in the finals...would have matched up very well.

I think McD probably planned on trading Dragic like he did Gortat and Dudley earlier, but when the team took off, that didn't seem like an option that would make fans happy, and he realized that system worked. Why he added two more pgs if they were committed to keeping Dragic and Bledsoe at that point didn't make a ton of sense...I think it was settling for not getting who they wanted in FA and trying to get good value but it backfired big time.

At this point I really thought McD would revert back to plan and not go with two pg lineup but he must have liked what he had seen, and he obviously likes point guards, so he did what he did and we have to live with it. As I've said many times, I like Brandon Knight and what I know about him, so I will give this a chance.

But I think with a two pg lineup you NEED a stretch four, but like everyone else, I totally agree that I'd want this guy to be a great post player and play good D as well. I'm not talking a soft guy.

Ideally we have a big sharpshooting SG who plays a lot, and we always have one of Knight or Bledsoe on the floor, so their combined minutes is only maybe 16 minutes, and you play them alone with the sharpshooting big SG the other 32 minutes. That leaves you without a weak bench guard unit. Unfortunately, personally I don't think Goodwin is this guy unless he suddenly turns into a shooter.

Now if we don't get that shooter at SG, we need a 3 and 4, or at a minimum, one of them, who can stretch and open up the lane for these guys to drive. As much as people want an interior PF, if we have two PGs, one of them being a weak outside shooter, we cannot have a clogged middle or it will be a disaster.

[bwgood77]

Bledsoe posted a picture online wearing a throwback KJ jersey.. Man I hope we wear throwbacks next year. TheSuns will be selling Steve Nash jerseys next year.Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

If Bledsoe can become 75% of the player KJ was, I will be very happy. I haven't witnessed a Sun that had a bigger will to win and stepped up huge in big games. He could score 45 and would still get 12 assists.

He's just trying to suck up to the fans/FO so he doesn't get traded on draft night lol

I don't care if he is traded, if it is for proper value, but I don't think you get proper value for PGs these days given the depth in the league. I think Markieff is by far our best trade asset right now, but that leaves us empty at PF. But personally I'm ok keeping him because he is extremely valuable on his contract, but if we do, we need to deal his bro unless they can become model citizens and work hard without thinking the league is against them, but I don't think this is likely to keep them both and expect them to change their habits. Negative energy feeds and is contagious, and that is not good.