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

[MathiasPW]

I really like Danny Green but I have said before I would pass on him because he is about to turn 28. However I have changed my stance. I would go after after him even though he does not fit the core of this team's age. The Suns are in desperate need of an experienced player who has won titles. Not to mention but he is an incredible shooter. The team sorely lacks that. Although, I would not go after him to be a bench a guy. I would go after him to be the starter. That means that either Bledsoe will be traded or Knight will be let go or signed and traded. So the starting backcourt is either Bledsoe/Green or Knight/Green.

I think we need some older guys. Having young guys only works if your coach is a vocal leader.

Hornacek isn't. He himself said he doesn't have the balls to stand up to these immature players and that he wants more older players.

I think bringing in guys like Green and hopefully Millsap (after trading Morris twins) would do wonders for this toxic locker room.

Yes the Suns definitely need more veterans. If I was going to remake the Suns team, this is an idea of what I would do:

Players going out through trades or being let go: the Morris brothers, Tucker, Green, either Bledsoe or Knight

Players coming in through free agency, trades, or the draft: Greg Monroe, Danny Green, Jared Dudley, Amare Stoudemire and/or a re-signed Brandon Wright, maybe a re-signed Danny Granger, a rookie power forward, a rookie point guard

The Suns new lineup would be:

Bledsoe/rookie pg OR Knight/rookie pg
D. Green/Goodwin
Warren/Dudley/Granger
Monroe/Stoudemire/rookie pf
Len/Wright

That starting lineup is huge. Should be a dominant rebounding team and also have the potential to dominate defensively. Also far better shooting with Green and Warren on the wings instead of Tucker and Marcus Morris like the Suns had when Knight was injured. The bench is filled out with veterans and young players. Internally there is the potential for having all stars with all the young guys.

That is a much more balanced team. Obviously this is just an idea and there are some interchangeable pieces when it comes to the final product but you get the gist. I would love to see a team like that.

That line up lacks any play making skills. Bledsoe is a slasher, Knight may be a shooter, but both don't seem to have the brains needed for a PG that has to orquestrate an offense.

[Revived]

I really like Danny Green but I have said before I would pass on him because he is about to turn 28. However I have changed my stance. I would go after after him even though he does not fit the core of this team's age. The Suns are in desperate need of an experienced player who has won titles. Not to mention but he is an incredible shooter. The team sorely lacks that. Although, I would not go after him to be a bench a guy. I would go after him to be the starter. That means that either Bledsoe will be traded or Knight will be let go or signed and traded. So the starting backcourt is either Bledsoe/Green or Knight/Green.

I think we need some older guys. Having young guys only works if your coach is a vocal leader.

Hornacek isn't. He himself said he doesn't have the balls to stand up to these immature players and that he wants more older players.

I think bringing in guys like Green and hopefully Millsap (after trading Morris twins) would do wonders for this toxic locker room.

Yes the Suns definitely need more veterans. If I was going to remake the Suns team, this is an idea of what I would do:

Players going out through trades or being let go: the Morris brothers, Tucker, Green, either Bledsoe or Knight

Players coming in through free agency, trades, or the draft: Greg Monroe, Danny Green, Jared Dudley, Amare Stoudemire and/or a re-signed Brandon Wright, maybe a re-signed Danny Granger, a rookie power forward, a rookie point guard

The Suns new lineup would be:

Bledsoe/rookie pg OR Knight/rookie pg
D. Green/Goodwin
Warren/Dudley/Granger
Monroe/Stoudemire/rookie pf
Len/Wright

That starting lineup is huge. Should be a dominant rebounding team and also have the potential to dominate defensively. Also far better shooting with Green and Warren on the wings instead of Tucker and Marcus Morris like the Suns had when Knight was injured. The bench is filled out with veterans and young players. Internally there is the potential for having all stars with all the young guys.

That is a much more balanced team. Obviously this is just an idea and there are some interchangeable pieces when it comes to the final product but you get the gist. I would love to see a team like that.

That starting lineup is horrible for spacing. I think we need SFs and PG that can shoot.

I like your idea of signing Dudley though. He would be a great addition.

[bwgood77]

The Steve Nash teams are still fresh in everyone's minds and I think the organization is trying to recapture that and it is impossible. Steve Nash was the system. You cannot do that with any other point guard. People said Ricky Rubio was the next Nash and he is not even in the same universe as Nash. Chris Paul is probably the closest thing and is still nothing like Nash. Nobody is. Nash is arguably the best pick and roll point guard ever and he had Amare who is the best finisher on the pick and roll I have ever seen. Yet that team still lost every year. No matter what the reason, whether it was injuries, horrible officiating, or simply losing to a bigger and/or better team, there is no championship banner hanging at U.S. Airways Center.

So if the Suns cannot acquire a time machine and bring back a 30 year old Nash, why do they keep trying to play the way he did? Not to mention, If Nash could not win one championship with several elite teams, why don't the Suns just try something else for once. Why don't they just say to hell with an undersized fast team. Let's get the absolute biggest players we can get and have a height advantage against other teams. Instead they are planning on having a small dual point guard backcourt again. That instantaneously puts them at a disadvantage defensively against virtually every team in basketball. Not the way I would choose to do it but hey, what do I know? I am just some fan.

I don't understand you comparing this team to Nash. Nash didn't play in a dual pg lineup during the SSOL years.

[bwgood77]

and BS on Diaw hanging out at the three line.... he might start there, but unless he is wide open, he drives or moves the ball. If he has a mismatch, he's backing his boy down. Diaw is not a stretch four.

A stretch four stands out at the three pt line to draw a defender there (so yes, he starts there), and shoots it when he is wide open. If not, of course he moves or drives but the whole purpose of a stretch four is to draw out your defender. If they don't guard you or respect your shot out there, then it leaves you wide open to make them pay.

It's funny you described a stretch four and then said he isn't one.

[thamadkant]

Frank is saying Diaw is NOT just a stretch 4... he is really that versatile.
He has good post moves, he can back down players like Griffin, especially when the Spurs want whom ever is guarding him to risk getting fouls.

A fit, more athletic, focused Diaw would of been an All-Star.

[drewsprocket]

I don't get why people wouldn't want to try and steal Draymond Green this summer? He's the perfect defender for any team. On our squad he could offset any issues in the front court switching off any 3 or 4 or 2. And he spreads the floor. I think a frontcourt lineup of Len, Kieff, Green, makes **** real scary for other teams. I don't think letting Knight walk is a bad thing either, we'll find a 2 guard, this whole dual pg thing is easy to come by in this league because Jimmy Butlers don't grow on trees. Be patient and grab the right players. I'm not mad at trying for Danny Green either to start at the 2 slot.

[jredsaz]

Trade Bledsoe for a pick.


Draft D'Angelo Russell

Profit.

I think they should trade Bledsoe and continue the rebuild with a hight l pick. I like the SAC deal better but the DEN deal you proposed is good too. But McD is convinced a two PG system will work and has forced himself into a corner with the Brandon Knight acquisition. Knight will get paid like and be counted on to play like the kind of guy Im not sure he can be. He will be given the chance to play along side Bledsoe for next season.

[drewsprocket]

Trade Bledsoe for a pick.


Draft D'Angelo Russell

Profit.

I think they should trade Bledsoe and continue the rebuild with a hight l pick. I like the SAC deal better but the DEN deal you proposed is good too. But McD is convinced a two PG system will work and has forced himself into a corner with the Brandon Knight acquisition. Knight will get paid like and be counted on to play like the kind of guy Im not sure he can be. He will be given the chance to play along side Bledsoe for next season.

Bled gives some crappy offense this year. But hold up he's still figuring it out. Re-watch that OKC game. He's baller and did some **** that Knight never will. We can stomach another year of youth development and adding a boss player alongside Bledsoe.

When Tony parker came up in the league he was throwing up 2-3 3pointers per game before dialing **** back and coming out and just scorching around the paint and midrange.

I think Bled realizes that **** is on him this year without any ambiguity of a Dragic or Thomas...he knows his midrange isn't working yet and his outside shot is ridiculous. I think he responds by coming back with a better midrange game and more efficiency.
I know McD wants Knight to spell Dragic but I don't see it at all.

[thamadkant]

Parker is a much more cerebral player though... and he had the perfect coach to hone him in when he strays.
Bledsoe isnt Parker... Dragic was closer to Parker in terms of IQ... but Bledsoe is very athletic and hard working.

But the Suns need a hard-as coach... Hornacek needs a savvy veteran who listens then enforces his team mates to follow... because Hornacek wont confront his players like a Popovic would... Popovic has been seen yanking players by their jerseys and yelling at them when they dont follow sequences etc. But the players dont lose respect for Popovic because he lets them know upon joining the team regarding expectations.

Suns dont have that... just go on the court and do your thing.

[bwgood77]

I don't get why people wouldn't want to try and steal Draymond Green this summer? He's the perfect defender for any team. On our squad he could offset any issues in the front court switching off any 3 or 4 or 2. And he spreads the floor. I think a frontcourt lineup of Len, Kieff, Green, makes **** real scary for other teams. I don't think letting Knight walk is a bad thing either, we'll find a 2 guard, this whole dual pg thing is easy to come by in this league because Jimmy Butlers don't grow on trees. Be patient and grab the right players. I'm not mad at trying for Danny Green either to start at the 2 slot.

I don't think many would be opposed to stealing Draymond Green or Danny Green for that matter, but those contracts will be matched and why would those guys want to leave?

We all may not like the dual pg lineup, but McD is not letting Knight walk. Not after the trade....he obviously likes him. You need to keep your assets rather than let them walk for trade purposes. Cap space can be worthless. It would have probably been better last year if we didn't have any.

[bwgood77]

Trade Bledsoe for a pick.


Draft D'Angelo Russell

Profit.

I think they should trade Bledsoe and continue the rebuild with a hight l pick. I like the SAC deal better but the DEN deal you proposed is good too. But McD is convinced a two PG system will work and has forced himself into a corner with the Brandon Knight acquisition. Knight will get paid like and be counted on to play like the kind of guy Im not sure he can be. He will be given the chance to play along side Bledsoe for next season.

Bled gives some crappy offense this year. But hold up he's still figuring it out. Re-watch that OKC game. He's baller and did some **** that Knight never will. We can stomach another year of youth development and adding a boss player alongside Bledsoe.

When Tony parker came up in the league he was throwing up 2-3 3pointers per game before dialing **** back and coming out and just scorching around the paint and midrange.

I think Bled realizes that **** is on him this year without any ambiguity of a Dragic or Thomas...he knows his midrange isn't working yet and his outside shot is ridiculous. I think he responds by coming back with a better midrange game and more efficiency.
I know McD wants Knight to spell Dragic but I don't see it at all.

Knight may not be Dragic, but he is better than Dragic was in his 4th year. They have a plan. Complaining about them implementing it doesn't help much. I think ultimately, like other teams who have traded for stars, McD is about building the best group of assets he can. If you want to include a PG in a big trade for a star, it's good to have another one who can start. We don't know the exact plan. Bledsoe and Knight could probably develop into a fun backcourt. The problem is that the west is brutal, and we don't have the stars the other teams do, and people make the coach or system the scapegoat. No coach or system is going to turn this current roster into a contender.

[Damkac]

Draymond or Danny Green won't make the Suns contender. Why add role players (even elite role players) when you don't have a leader?

Trade Bledsoe for a pick.


Draft D'Angelo Russell

Profit.

I think they should trade Bledsoe and continue the rebuild with a hight l pick. I like the SAC deal better but the DEN deal you proposed is good too. But McD is convinced a two PG system will work and has forced himself into a corner with the Brandon Knight acquisition. Knight will get paid like and be counted on to play like the kind of guy Im not sure he can be. He will be given the chance to play along side Bledsoe for next season.

I like two pg system with Knight and Russell.

[sunskerr]

After watching the Spurs for past 3 seasons, and of course seeing them during our main rivalry years, I just really wish we had a team like theirs. Maybe every fan wants that and its easier said than done of course but we've either gotta ditch the 'me' players (Morris twins) for 'we' players or make them change their attitude. I guarantee there will be an improvement.

Watching the Clippers and Spurs fight as real teams made me sour a bit on our own situation. They are no-nonsense, just basketball kind of teams. Even Matt Barnes looks like a saint compared to Marcus Morris. He never does any of that silly isolation mid range fadeaway stuff. He just plays hard and plays within his role.

Brandon Knight is a likeable guy but I hope we iron out the ball stopping and shot selection. I also hope we're able to either fix the twins' games and attitude or get rid of them. If we can do those things then we'll be on the right path. If not, it's going to be a really, really long 2016 season.

[Mr-Al]

Draymond or Danny Green won't make the Suns contender. Why add role players (even elite role players) when you don't have a leader?

Trade Bledsoe for a pick.


Draft D'Angelo Russell

Profit.

I think they should trade Bledsoe and continue the rebuild with a hight l pick. I like the SAC deal better but the DEN deal you proposed is good too. But McD is convinced a two PG system will work and has forced himself into a corner with the Brandon Knight acquisition. Knight will get paid like and be counted on to play like the kind of guy Im not sure he can be. He will be given the chance to play along side Bledsoe for next season.

I like two pg system with Knight and Russell.

As do I, they complement each other pretty well

It's a defensive downgrade, but you can live with that considering the million other benefits that Russell brings to the table

I'm liking Porzingis more and more as well.

[Mr-Al]

Spoiler:

I agree with NoKnee.... why the love affair with the 'stretch four' .... San Ant doesn't have one, Clips don't, Memphis doesn't, I wouldn't consider LMA a stretcher.... it isn't an end all to success.

I just fear that Sarver believes the hype of the run and gun will sell tickets and has surrounded himself with a likeminded chucker loving staff. Sh*tcan this multi PG line up and go traditional with some real two way players. And quit being hypocrites uttering the 'suns character' lines while doing everything they can/could to rugsweep the problems they had with this team.

Well to mention again what I posted last night, you can go traditional inside IF you have all stars or near all stars at those positions (Gasol/ZBo, Griffin/Jordan) AND have a great defense....the Spurs traditionally stretch the floor...Diaw hangs out at the 3 pt line all the time, as do others. On occasion they play Splitter and Duncan, but not often unless they are playing teams with two bigs like in this series or vs Memphis.

But for OUR team, if you have two driving PGs, then you can't clog the lane, or you have no offense, especially if they can't shoot from outside very well. I don't understand why people think driving point guards will do fine with two bigs and two defenders hanging around the paint. If you have elite shooters at guards who don't need to drive like GS you have more options.

Isn't Knight more shooter than driving pg?

Spoiler:

Upon reflection, I sure wish we could've gotten john henson back in the Milwaukee deal for knight. Also, the way our team played without much thought or reasoning, I kinda miss having a player like Jared Dudley on the team.

But I guess it is what is for now.... I wonder, If we were perhaps willing to take back Roy Hibbert from the pacers, could we get him in line and possibly move len to the 4 spot, also perhaps securing their lotto pick in a trade for bledsoe? I believe they would be around the 11th pick. Now of course this is no major move in the draft, But could possibly put us in a better position to package the 11th and 13th, and perhaps move into the top 6 for possibly winslow or hezonja , or even mudiay?

But most importantly, would be if we can get hibbert into reasonable form, and if len would be versatile enough for the 4 spot. Then get our shooters to help space the floor with knight at the point etc. Finally, just ship off the morri to some desperate, poorly managed east coast teams for picks, or whatever we can get for them.

I understand not liking small ball but having frontcourt of 7-1 and 7-2 centers isn't a good idea imo. Why so many people wants Len to play out of position? He is not consistent shooter yet and I doubt he is quick enought to defend much smaller pf's. I would rather trade for West at least for his relation with TJ.

Noah Vonleh looks like a guy who McD should love. Young, long, reportedly he's hard worker. He would also fit the team needs perfectly. Charlotte barely plays him so mayby they don't value him too much? I wonder what would it take to get him. 13th may be not enought.

I wanted to send the Morri to Charlotte in a Vonleh deal as well, but it's probably out of the question now with the court case

the Hornets are a good trade parter because they're desperate to make the playoffs after being in the lottery year after year

you can include Sactown/Detroit in there as well

I could see Charlotte trading their pick too

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

If we trade the Morris twins, I expect players back, not picks.

That's the thing about draft picks: almost none of these guys will contribute for 2 years. We have a mix of needs, and right now, I think we're prioritizing players who can help us compete in the short-to-medium term. I just can't identify whom the FO is targeting (but then, I never do).

[MathiasPW]

I don't get why people wouldn't want to try and steal Draymond Green this summer? He's the perfect defender for any team. On our squad he could offset any issues in the front court switching off any 3 or 4 or 2. And he spreads the floor. I think a frontcourt lineup of Len, Kieff, Green, makes **** real scary for other teams. I don't think letting Knight walk is a bad thing either, we'll find a 2 guard, this whole dual pg thing is easy to come by in this league because Jimmy Butlers don't grow on trees. Be patient and grab the right players. I'm not mad at trying for Danny Green either to start at the 2 slot.

As I see it people either don't think we'll be able to steal him or aren't willing to pay him what he will be asking for (max). Other than that, it is clear he fills exactly what we need.

[bwgood77]

If we trade the Morris twins, I expect players back, not picks.

That's the thing about draft picks: almost none of these guys will contribute for 2 years. We have a mix of needs, and right now, I think we're prioritizing players who can help us compete in the short-to-medium term. I just can't identify whom the FO is targeting (but then, I never do).

Same with Vonleh, who I really liked in the draft. I wouldn't mind trading for him, but I doubt we would be close to playoff caliber next year with him as the starting PF.

If we could somehow trade for him and sign Millsap, it would be the best case scenario.

[Ghost of Kleine]

I hear you mr. -Al, that is a concern to be sure. But I do believe that len could develop even better at the power forward spot as he is still fluid and mobile. Also, Hibbert (if reconditioned) could be the prime defensive stopper that we need. But the idea mainly lies around the concept of being able to package the picks together in order to move higher in the draft. Or perhaps even build a package for a bigger impact veteran player.

Another question to ask, would be saying we initiated that trade with the pacers, what teams might be interested in hibbert being flipped to them in the trade? Lakers(for their pick? Providing they keep theirs and don't get okafor or towns?)charlotte, ( for vonleh or biyombo)?

I mean teams can be unpredictable in their interests and plans, so is anything really inconceivable. I think it's really just a matter of finding the right fit in a trade partner basically. If we are going to facilitate trades anyways, might as well be creative, even a bit unconventional possibly.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Having said all that, I do still believe that having two 7 footers in the paint could be much more of a benefit, than a hinderance. At the very least, it could more than help our lousy defense, as well as our rebounding. The key would be if we can get hibbert back into form. I mean he was pretty darn good when he was in shape, etc. Now my preference too would be for porzingas or montiejunas. But if we can't make that happen, then we could do far worse by picking up a playoff tested veteran defensive center like hibbert. Our inside out game would become a lot stronger theoretically as well. And remember, in this trade, we acquire the pacers pick ranging between 9-11. Add that to our 13th pick, and package the pick to move up. Perhaps a team in the top 6 doesn't get their desired player, and feels two decent lotto picks are fair trade to fill out their roster? Possabilities, maybe we need to swing for the fences a little bit.