Season Speculation, Trade Ideas and Discussion

[bwgood77]

Oh boy
Several DNP-CP and now the coach talks about how u can be a better team after trading their #4 pick?
lol

What a terrible timing to say anything close to this. Damn.

And he said it was November when Memphis did it but it was March as if he wants public to believe that so he has some sort of evidence it works. Even though Memphis didn't immediately take off after that. I think they made the 8th seed a couple times. But I guess that's his goal here.

[NavLDO]

Nope! Didn't know that either. Thx! And BTW, that NBAHD link about shutdown my entire computer...a bunch of windows opened up at once, with several wanting a username and password, etc....and my Antivirus didn't like the site very much...got a different one, maybe, or a way to avoid the pop-ups?? I even have a pop-up blocker and it got past that...IDK, that site seems ...suspicious...

I just went back to it, clicked on Suns at the top, and every game was listed with extremely clear picture quality. I don't think it's full games (it might be) but different key stretches of games probably.

http://nbahd.net/?s=suns

ACK!! Tried it again. My Avast security software warned of a threat that was blocked, but I think something else got through because my whole system froze; had to manually hard-cycle my laptop, which took 10 minutes to come up...no thanks....not worth it. I'm surprise no one else has that issue. All I did was go to the Wizards game, clicked on it, then the next page, clicked the 'download' link, and all went to hell in a handbasket!

[bwgood77]

If that poor choice for a coach even remotely thinks about trading our 4th pick in the draft. McD needs to step in and fire Watson immediately just like Karl was fired. Please let me know when we can get an actual coach on this team that isn't Hornacek 2.0.

I've said time and time again and we have seen proof that a proper coach can change everything. No one here is asking for Phil Jackson however our coach needs to play our youth. Not just play them. Encourage them and help them grow. Bring rookies into the fold and don't give me this excuse about how Bender/Chriss/Ulis are not ready.

Just listened to that interview by Doug & Wolf:

1. Watson made his player focus on defense for 70 minutes during practice (I guess we only play defense during practice)
2. Watson says Len is "progressing" (now you know why Len keeps getting playing time)
3. Team wants to keep "spark" going for Knight (I can only assume McD wants to move Knight ASAP)
4. Watson said "big men take time" in reference to Len (I guess taking time on Bender is not worth the effort)
5. Watson clearly says we aren't moving forward with the current roster (apparently our roster will change soon)
6. Watson wants players that have good work ethic and want to win (the most obvious statement ever)
7. Watson keeps saying losing is unacceptable (we will keep losing with this current roster)

Hopefully it's two separate issues. This team will not be the same going forward - playing for yourself after getting paid -> Knight (hopefully)

You won't get playing time until you put in the effort or whatever (hopefully separate issue than going forward) -> Bender

The 4th pick mention is scary but that would be ridiculous to say on the radio if you were thinking of trading Bender. You just don't announce he is available publicly on the radio.

I wonder if Bender just doesn't fit in as much...I do remember Booker once said something like "how can Ulis a great player in college DPOY in SEC...I think Player of Year last to second round when foreign guys that haven't played go high?"

Chriss could have a little animosity as well...they wanted both, but just took Bender first because they didn't think he'd last to 8th. So this leads to Bender making, what like $2 million more a year (a little less I think) than Chriss, and like $7 million total over rookie contract? Or maybe it's closer to 5 but still, that's A LOT of money.

Most of the guys seem like good guys that would get along though.

[bwgood77]

Nope! Didn't know that either. Thx! And BTW, that NBAHD link about shutdown my entire computer...a bunch of windows opened up at once, with several wanting a username and password, etc....and my Antivirus didn't like the site very much...got a different one, maybe, or a way to avoid the pop-ups?? I even have a pop-up blocker and it got past that...IDK, that site seems ...suspicious...

I just went back to it, clicked on Suns at the top, and every game was listed with extremely clear picture quality. I don't think it's full games (it might be) but different key stretches of games probably.

http://nbahd.net/?s=suns

ACK!! Tried it again. My Avast security software warned of a threat that was blocked, but I think something else got through because my whole system froze; had to manually hard-cycle my laptop, which took 10 minutes to come up...no thanks....not worth it. I'm surprise no one else has that issue. All I did was go to the Wizards game, clicked on it, then the next page, clicked the 'download' link, and all went to hell in a handbasket!

I use avast too. Do you use google chrome or not? If I don't use that and adblock I have a ton more problems. Though I still have issues if I try some sites like the tv show streaming ones sometimes or firstrowsports.

[NBA Fiend]

In regards the Watsons comment, he maybe preparing the fans for a trade. Perhaps the Kngs demanded Bender

[Zelaznyrules]

Everyone is assuming it's Bender. Maybe it is, I don't know. I do know I'm not going to crucify Watson before it actually happens though. If/when it does happen, I'm going to seriously question the direction of this franchise but honestly, I just can't see Watson taking this kind of stand on any player without good reason. And in my gut, I just don't think it's Bender despite the "4th pick" comment. Hell, I wouldn't be shocked to see that he's soured on Eric and wants him gone. Regardless, I think we all want to see some roster turnover, we're all just hoping it's one of our punching bags not one of our unicorns.

[TeamTragic]

In regards the Watsons comment, he maybe preparing the fans for a trade. Perhaps the Kngs demanded Bender

We just gave them Bogdanovic. They don't want Bender unless Vlade is cool with a Serbian and Croatian playing on the same team. There are major politics behind Divac and his position about the former Yugoslavia.

[carey]

So what's up with Warren's head injury? Out indefinitely?

Phoenix Suns forward T.J. Warren did not play in the team’s past two games and will be out indefinitely due to a minor head injury. He is expected to resume basketball activities in the near future and updates will be provided as appropriate.

T.J. Warren is currently averaging 17.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1 assist per game.

[thamadkant]

Regarding Watson's comments.

1. He hasnt proven he is a good coach to dictate roster direction. McD still makes that call.

2. Regarding trading a player... It could be Chriss.
Playing him minutes to showcase him.
Bender has shown he is a good player already as a teenager no way McD trades him unless for a great offer.

The stupid thing is... Chriss is so so young and in his rookie year. So him having poor defense sometimes and looking lost is expected.

[AtheJ415]

If that idiot gets Bender traded I'm going to lose my ****.

Yup. High effort guy who can defend 4 positions, shoot 3s, and always makes the right pass. At 19. That said, I listened to that interview and I'm not certain he was talking about Bender. Actually thought it might be Knight.

[bwgood77]

If that idiot gets Bender traded I'm going to lose my ****.

Yup. High effort guy who can defend 4 positions, shoot 3s, and always makes the right pass. At 19. That said, I listened to that interview and I'm not certain he was talking about Bender. Actually thought it might be Knight.

I thought most of it sounded like Knight, except the "earn your minutes" part. If he was talking about Knight he could have thrown the 4th pick thing in there as a misdirection but that probably doesn't make a ton of sense either. He sounds like he has a good head on his shoulder until you learn stuff like Memphis didn't trade Gooden for Miller until March.

[Mr Puddles]

At this point I think I would trade the top 8 protected Heat pick to get rid of Knight and Tucker. Yea the pick could be a late lotto pick but getting rid of Knight/Tucker is too important.

I don't know if anyone else has noticed but Booker is starting to pick up on a lot of Knight's habits. Bad shots, turn down open teammates, inefficient etc.

Every day their on the team is a day that they ruin the kids mindset.

Sorry but this trade idea doesn't get the well coveted Mr.Puddles stamp of approval. The Heat are looking really bad right now, I mean SUNS bad, and have a few guys clogging up cap space. Also, top free agents will likely we weary of joining them after the way Riley low-balled Wade.

That 2019 unprotected pick could very well become VERY valuable.

Move Knight + Tucker when there is a good deal for them in place. We got amazing return for Markieff Morris because we found a team willing to bet on him in a desperate attempt to reach the playoffs.

If the Magic end up battling for the 8th spot, I could see them be willing to do the same around the trade deadline. I'd rather wait and sell from a position of strength rather than a position of weakness, especially considering that this is a lost season to begin with.

[LukasBMW]

I listened to the interview and got a much different vibe.

I don't think he was calling out anyone in particular. He simply identified some traits many of our players have that plague the NBA.

1. Selfish play - "Putting your own stats before the team"
2. Being comfortable - "Not putting in 100% effort because you now are getting nice paychecks and living the NBA life"
3. Earning your minutes (Could be directed at rookies OR vets that have egos and are playing like garbage
4. Roster changing in the future/Unexpected trade to help chemistry (Could be aimed at rookies or vets ESPECIALLY vets that seem unlikely to be moved).

[OnceUponADime]

Bender has done very well every time he's had an opportunity. He's done than Chris's who gets starts while Bender gets DNPs.

So yea I think there is some kind of rift between Bender and Watson. Kinda stupid because didn't McD check with Watson before drafting Bender?

He really talked him up after the draft, like they could play together, he could play the 3, they could do all sorts of pick n rolls, etc, whatever.

He also says it was amazing McD got both. Maybe it was Watson who was REALLY high on Chriss in the draft. Maybe he has something against foreigners who didn't go to college here. Who knows?

The jury is still out about Watson as a coach but he's held in pretty high regard as a person, this thread notwithstanding. He's supposed to be a high character, honorable and team oriented person that has done nothing but overachieve at every level. Now, with zero real knowledge of the situation, we have fans writing him off as arrogant and suggesting he's running a game against some poor young man. Incredible.

High character and being team oriented and such doesn't do much as a HC if you don't have proper basketball knowledge and don't adapt to the game.

Byron Scott is seen as a man of high honor and many, many people including Magic Johnson defended him early and often but that doesn't change the fact that he's an awful HC and that he treated the Lakers rookies last season like crap (pulling them out of the games the minute they made a mistake, etc).

I see a lot of Byron Scott in Earl Watson and unfortunately, despite both Scott and Watson's stellar "reputations", it's not a good thing.

[AtheJ415]

If that idiot gets Bender traded I'm going to lose my ****.

Yup. High effort guy who can defend 4 positions, shoot 3s, and always makes the right pass. At 19. That said, I listened to that interview and I'm not certain he was talking about Bender. Actually thought it might be Knight.

I thought most of it sounded like Knight, except the "earn your minutes" part. If he was talking about Knight he could have thrown the 4th pick thing in there as a misdirection but that probably doesn't make a ton of sense either. He sounds like he has a good head on his shoulder until you learn stuff like Memphis didn't trade Gooden for Miller until March.

Maybe he was talking about Len? Len didn't get a ton of PT until the Chandler injury.

I don't know. I just feel like Watson wouldn't be calling out a guy like Bender. Firstly because Bender is used to not playing much as he's been a role player on a professional level for years, compared to the US guys who were key pieces on their college teams and are used to playing a TON. I would just be shocked if Bender was complaining or not understanding of how minutes are earned given his obvious maturity for his age and how he's from an environment where vets play the majority of minutes all the time.

Secondly because I just don't see Watson being super critical of a 19 year old. Drew Gooden was as close to Knight's age coming out as he is Bender. But maybe it's Len, who has pressure to perform given his contract situation. The thing that has me thinking Knight is that Watson said "once a guy reaches a certain status" referring to salary or something like that. Knight is the 2nd highest paid player on the team and doesn't start. That can't sit well with him.

Regardless, if Bender, Chriss, or even Ulis are traded for a vet of Mike Miller's caliber I will turn on McDonough like no other. It would be a monumental mistake. We don't need Mike Miller. We need somebody the caliber of Kawhi Leonard, Cousins, Paul George, etc., and we need them at a reasonable cost that we would be unlikely to get this year aside from maybe Cousins.

[bwgood77]

Yup. High effort guy who can defend 4 positions, shoot 3s, and always makes the right pass. At 19. That said, I listened to that interview and I'm not certain he was talking about Bender. Actually thought it might be Knight.

I thought most of it sounded like Knight, except the "earn your minutes" part. If he was talking about Knight he could have thrown the 4th pick thing in there as a misdirection but that probably doesn't make a ton of sense either. He sounds like he has a good head on his shoulder until you learn stuff like Memphis didn't trade Gooden for Miller until March.

Maybe he was talking about Len? Len didn't get a ton of PT until the Chandler injury.

I don't know. I just feel like Watson wouldn't be calling out a guy like Bender. Firstly because Bender is used to not playing much as he's been a role player on a professional level for years, compared to the US guys who were key pieces on their college teams and are used to playing a TON. I would just be shocked if Bender was complaining or not understanding of how minutes are earned given his obvious maturity for his age and how he's from an environment where vets play the majority of minutes all the time.

Secondly because I just don't see Watson being super critical of a 19 year old. Drew Gooden was as close to Knight's age coming out as he is Bender. But maybe it's Len, who has pressure to perform given his contract situation. The thing that has me thinking Knight is that Watson said "once a guy reaches a certain status" referring to salary or something like that. Knight is the 2nd highest paid player on the team and doesn't start. That can't sit well with him.

Regardless, if Bender, Chriss, or even Ulis are traded for a vet of Mike Miller's caliber I will turn on McDonough like no other. It would be a monumental mistake. We don't need Mike Miller. We need somebody the caliber of Kawhi Leonard, Cousins, Paul George, etc., and we need them at a reasonable cost that we would be unlikely to get this year aside from maybe Cousins.

Did you listen to the interview? The first half of it he said that Len was about ready to break out like Andrew Bynum did. He was talking about Knight, Bender or Chriss, and a good chance of 2 of the 3. Not that this is his decison or that McD would even make a decision to trade them even if he was considering it until he got a great offer.

[gaspar]

Holy ****, some of you guys are becoming seriously paranoid about Watson.

[Villalobos]

The Len situation is tricky. You want him to do well and keep playing like this, but if he keeps playing like this then the Nets are gonna throw the max at him. Off the top of my head I can't think of other decent RFAs this year. They'll want to spend that money somewhere.

[alphagorilla]

Call up kings and offer them Knight and Bender. Trade chandler for a pick.

more then fair for cousins who could walk 2018.

I'm willing to gamble on him. Booker and Cousins could make some noise together.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Look - Len's recent improvement should let us all breathe a deep sigh of relief. Booker's going through a rough sophomore slump, and TJ has... something. Bender has shown a lot of promise, and if Chriss can learn to play defense and play offense inside, we've got a ton of young talent.

Bled, Knight, Tucker and Chandler are unnecessary; otherwise, let's just keep moving forward, shall we?