Season Speculation, Trade Ideas & Discussion Pt. 6

[King4Day]

Say we land the #1 pick this year, doesn't that become a very attractive piece for the Pels to part with AD?

#1, Chriss, Chandler and the Bucks pick for AD. I don't think there'll be many better offers than that.

Have to say this is the year is the year we could out bid the Celtics on a trade offer. Looks like they will miss out on the Lakers pick this year and get the Kings pick next year. A top three pick in this draft is an amazing trade piece.

But of the Suns end up with the fist overall would you even trade that for AD or Kawahi?

To me, there would be zero hesitation that you trade the pick for Leonard or Davis. Those are guys you can have on the team to build a championship contender with for the next 5-8 years.

[bwgood77]

Why is Payton for a 2nd rounder a great deal when most people didn't want him for free in FA?

Ummm...when exactly was Payton ever an UFA???

Or are you talking about fans, because that's completely irrelevant, since no one here makes any decisions for any teams, and as seen over and over, rarely correctly evaluate a player's value/worth correctly via trades or during FA signings, with the exception of knowing that LeBron, Curry, Durant, Westbrook, Harden, etc., are worth the Max.

So, on one hand, you are somewhat right, because of what I just said. We think it's a great deal based upon our perception of his Value, a former Top 10 pick had for the 40th Overall pick. Seems like a great deal.

But on the other hand, I think you are way off base, because he's never been on the open market for UFA, so how do you know that 'most people didn't want him for free'...that's never been an option.

He's saying no one mentioned going after him the summer in RFA. At least, I'm guessing. Someone may have though. This is different though, because we get a try out period this way to see how he fits with the team before maybe giving him (or matching) an offer.

[jredsaz]

Say we land the #1 pick this year, doesn't that become a very attractive piece for the Pels to part with AD?

#1, Chriss, Chandler and the Bucks pick for AD. I don't think there'll be many better offers than that.

Have to say this is the year is the year we could out bid the Celtics on a trade offer. Looks like they will miss out on the Lakers pick this year and get the Kings pick next year. A top three pick in this draft is an amazing trade piece.

But of the Suns end up with the fist overall would you even trade that for AD or Kawahi?

To me, there would be zero hesitation that you trade the pick for Leonard or Davis. Those are guys you can have on the team to build a championship contender with for the next 5-8 years.

Got to have some hesitation. There is a reason top three picks are rarely traded. Add to that the extra assets the Suns would have to throw in and i would have some hesitation.

[bwgood77]

Have to say this is the year is the year we could out bid the Celtics on a trade offer. Looks like they will miss out on the Lakers pick this year and get the Kings pick next year. A top three pick in this draft is an amazing trade piece.

But of the Suns end up with the fist overall would you even trade that for AD or Kawahi?

To me, there would be zero hesitation that you trade the pick for Leonard or Davis. Those are guys you can have on the team to build a championship contender with for the next 5-8 years.

Got to have some hesitation. There is a reason top three picks are rarely traded. Add to that the extra assets the Suns would have to throw in and i would have some hesitation.

You'd have to be get confirmation they would resign here and also be likely be willing to part with Booker.

[King4Day]

To me, there would be zero hesitation that you trade the pick for Leonard or Davis. Those are guys you can have on the team to build a championship contender with for the next 5-8 years.

Got to have some hesitation. There is a reason top three picks are rarely traded. Add to that the extra assets the Suns would have to throw in and i would have some hesitation.

You'd have to be get confirmation they would resign here and also be likely be willing to part with Booker.

The purpose would be to pair them together. Otherwise I'd agree it makes no sense to make a deal. But having Booker/Leonard or Davis/Jackson core is excellent. Players would look at Phoenix as a destination to win.
Also have to be careful because LA having this cap space means they can try to sign both of those guys in a couple years outright. Assuming there's a good idea these guys will extend, I would pull the trigger quickly.

No way I deal for Wall though. If he can't win with Beal, in the East, what should we expect with adding him to Booker and Jackson? A slightly better version of last years team. Not worth it unless we can somehow eventually get Davis.

[jcsunsfan]

To me, there would be zero hesitation that you trade the pick for Leonard or Davis. Those are guys you can have on the team to build a championship contender with for the next 5-8 years.

Got to have some hesitation. There is a reason top three picks are rarely traded. Add to that the extra assets the Suns would have to throw in and i would have some hesitation.

You'd have to be get confirmation they would resign here and also be likely be willing to part with Booker.

A top 3 pick in this draft is HUGELY valuable. You would not have to part with Booker AND the pick to get one of those guys IF their teams were inclined to trade them. Maybe a lesser player.

[bwgood77]

Got to have some hesitation. There is a reason top three picks are rarely traded. Add to that the extra assets the Suns would have to throw in and i would have some hesitation.

You'd have to be get confirmation they would resign here and also be likely be willing to part with Booker.

The purpose would be to pair them together. Otherwise I'd agree it makes no sense to make a deal. But having Booker/Leonard or Davis/Jackson core is excellent. Players would look at Phoenix as a destination to win.
Also have to be careful because LA having this cap space means they can try to sign both of those guys in a couple years outright. Assuming there's a good idea these guys will extend, I would pull the trigger quickly.

No way I deal for Wall though. If he can't win with Beal, in the East, what should we expect with adding him to Booker and Jackson? A slightly better version of last years team. Not worth it unless we can somehow eventually get Davis.

We'll see if Leonard signs a max extension in 2018. He can. Though if he doesn't I will wonder if the Spurs are hesitant to give him one with this weird injury.

Is Davis/Jackson core better than Davis/Cousins core?

[bwgood77]

Got to have some hesitation. There is a reason top three picks are rarely traded. Add to that the extra assets the Suns would have to throw in and i would have some hesitation.

You'd have to be get confirmation they would resign here and also be likely be willing to part with Booker.

A top 3 pick in this draft is HUGELY valuable. You would not have to part with Booker AND the pick to get one of those guys IF their teams were inclined to trade them. Maybe a lesser player.

I don't know who you think has that much value. MAYBE for Kawhi they'd take JJ and the #1. I don't think it's enough for AD though. Wiggins who was thought of as much as a premier prospect as anyone in this draft was traded for Love, who wasn't/isn't nearly the caliber of player that AD is. And they still have him for 3 years.

Not sure why people bring up AD as if he might be available though. He's in the 2nd year of a 5 year deal and happy by all indications and they've put vets around him. Overpaid some of them.

[Puff]

Rockets are signing Wright and Joe Johnson in the buyout market

Not sure where Belinelli or Tony Allen are going but if I am OKC - I would like a somewhat healthy Allen to replace Roberson

But the Rockets - that team added Tucker and Luc Mbah Moute over the offseason - solid tough veterans - smart, know the role and can defend

Gordon could always be your scorer of the bench now they added Joe Johnson

Wright and Nene are good depth at C off the bench

Houston can score and now they have enough wing defenders: Arizona, Luc, Tucker to go against GSW. Better bench scoring Its too early to say they are better than GSW but the gap has closed considerably.

I expect MDA is loving life in Houston. He has depth that he has never had at any stop in his career as an NBA head coach.

If only he would have had an owner and GM like he has in Houston while he was coaching your Phoenix Suns.

If Harden and Paul are healthy come the playoffs the Warriors will have their hands full.

[King4Day]

Rockets are signing Wright and Joe Johnson in the buyout market

Not sure where Belinelli or Tony Allen are going but if I am OKC - I would like a somewhat healthy Allen to replace Roberson

But the Rockets - that team added Tucker and Luc Mbah Moute over the offseason - solid tough veterans - smart, know the role and can defend

Gordon could always be your scorer of the bench now they added Joe Johnson

Wright and Nene are good depth at C off the bench

Houston can score and now they have enough wing defenders: Arizona, Luc, Tucker to go against GSW. Better bench scoring Its too early to say they are better than GSW but the gap has closed considerably.

I expect MDA is loving life in Houston. He has depth that he has never had at any stop in his career as an NBA head coach.

If only he would have had an owner and GM like he has in Houston while he was coaching your Phoenix Suns.

If Harden and Paul are healthy come the playoffs the Warriors will have their hands full.

Crazy that 3 MORE former Suns could win a ring in Coach D, Johnson, and Tucker.

[BobbieL]

Why is Payton for a 2nd rounder a great deal when most people didn't want him for free in FA?

Ummm...when exactly was Payton ever an UFA???

Or are you talking about fans, because that's completely irrelevant, since no one here makes any decisions for any teams, and as seen over and over, rarely correctly evaluate a player's value/worth correctly via trades or during FA signings, with the exception of knowing that LeBron, Curry, Durant, Westbrook, Harden, etc., are worth the Max.

So, on one hand, you are somewhat right, because of what I just said. We think it's a great deal based upon our perception of his Value, a former Top 10 pick had for the 40th Overall pick. Seems like a great deal.

But on the other hand, I think you are way off base, because he's never been on the open market for UFA, so how do you know that 'most people didn't want him for free'...that's never been an option.

He's saying no one mentioned going after him the summer in RFA. At least, I'm guessing. Someone may have though. This is different though, because we get a try out period this way to see how he fits with the team before maybe giving him (or matching) an offer.

It is good the Suns get a two month trial with Payton. But my guess, his market will not be that hot with the tighter salary cap. I hope he shows enough that he can be a rotational player next year - and if he does - maybe something like Lou Williams - short years, 7 to 8m per year would work out nicely. The QO is 4.5m -.

I still think - depending on ping pong balls, and his cost - there is still value of Payton on this roster if he shows enough these last 26 games.

[Frank Lee]

Spoiler:

Got to have some hesitation. There is a reason top three picks are rarely traded. Add to that the extra assets the Suns would have to throw in and i would have some hesitation.

You'd have to be get confirmation they would resign here and also be likely be willing to part with Booker.

The purpose would be to pair them together. Otherwise I'd agree it makes no sense to make a deal. But having Booker/Leonard or Davis/Jackson core is excellent. Players would look at Phoenix as a destination to win.
Also have to be careful because LA having this cap space means they can try to sign both of those guys in a couple years outright. Assuming there's a good idea these guys will extend, I would pull the trigger quickly.

No way I deal for Wall though. If he can't win with Beal, in the East, what should we expect with adding him to Booker and Jackson? A slightly better version of last years team. Not worth it unless we can somehow eventually get Davis.

But the big plan would be trade for Wall, sign Boogie.

[RunDogGun]

Rockets are signing Wright and Joe Johnson in the buyout market

Not sure where Belinelli or Tony Allen are going but if I am OKC - I would like a somewhat healthy Allen to replace Roberson

But the Rockets - that team added Tucker and Luc Mbah Moute over the offseason - solid tough veterans - smart, know the role and can defend

Gordon could always be your scorer of the bench now they added Joe Johnson

Wright and Nene are good depth at C off the bench

Houston can score and now they have enough wing defenders: Arizona, Luc, Tucker to go against GSW. Better bench scoring Its too early to say they are better than GSW but the gap has closed considerably.

I expect MDA is loving life in Houston. He has depth that he has never had at any stop in his career as an NBA head coach.

If only he would have had an owner and GM like he has in Houston while he was coaching your Phoenix Suns.

If Harden and Paul are healthy come the playoffs the Warriors will have their hands full.

Sarver spent a lot of money while Mike was coach here. Mike was a terrible gm while here, over paying for Banks, and then almost never played him. Rushed to get Piat, when no one else wanted him, and so on. It seems it’s too easy to blame Sarver for things that wasn’t his fault. Mike could have one a chip here, but his stubbornness got in the way often. He always seemed a game behind in adjustments.

[Waylay13]

Say we land the #1 pick this year, doesn't that become a very attractive piece for the Pels to part with AD?

#1, Chriss, Chandler and the Bucks pick for AD. I don't think there'll be many better offers than that.

Have to say this is the year is the year we could out bid the Celtics on a trade offer. Looks like they will miss out on the Lakers pick this year and get the Kings pick next year. A top three pick in this draft is an amazing trade piece.

But of the Suns end up with the fist overall would you even trade that for AD or Kawahi?

To me, there would be zero hesitation that you trade the pick for Leonard or Davis. Those are guys you can have on the team to build a championship contender with for the next 5-8 years.

50 years ago the Suns lose on the coin flip to get the #1 pick in the draft that would have seen us get a championship to him. If after 50 year we were finally given the chance to end the curse and get the #1 pick; I would absolutely take the pick and draft the best pick over trading it to another team. It is time that we finally end the curse and win a championship.

[hollywood6964]

Rockets are signing Wright and Joe Johnson in the buyout market

Not sure where Belinelli or Tony Allen are going but if I am OKC - I would like a somewhat healthy Allen to replace Roberson

But the Rockets - that team added Tucker and Luc Mbah Moute over the offseason - solid tough veterans - smart, know the role and can defend

Gordon could always be your scorer of the bench now they added Joe Johnson

Wright and Nene are good depth at C off the bench

Houston can score and now they have enough wing defenders: Arizona, Luc, Tucker to go against GSW. Better bench scoring Its too early to say they are better than GSW but the gap has closed considerably.

I expect MDA is loving life in Houston. He has depth that he has never had at any stop in his career as an NBA head coach.

If only he would have had an owner and GM like he has in Houston while he was coaching your Phoenix Suns.

If Harden and Paul are healthy come the playoffs the Warriors will have their hands full.

Sarver spent a lot of money while Mike was coach here. Mike was a terrible gm while here, over paying for Banks, and then almost never played him. Rushed to get Piat, when no one else wanted him, and so on. It seems it’s too easy to blame Sarver for things that wasn’t his fault. Mike could have one a chip here, but his stubbornness got in the way often. He always seemed a game behind in adjustments.

Yeah, n Nash dribbled air out of the ball with 2 minutes left in every game against the Spurs we had a lead in....n you know what happened after that......Everyone played a hand to a degree. 50 years is a long time to not stumble into 1 title, n I wouldn't be surprised if we had quite a long spell to wait after.

[Big NBA Fan]

Mike D is a great guy and a great coach, but as others have mentioned, he does deserve some blame for the Suns not winning the whole thing.

He was a bad GM, he refused to hire Thibs in 2007 when he was available (!) only to now have a great defensive coordinator is Bzdelik.

He also pushed for the highly-unpopular and controversial Shaq trade, only to quit just two months later after he was horribly out-coached by Pop in 2008 playoffs; then, he let Kerr take, and continue to take, all the blame for it even though Kerr was actually reluctant.

Only thing Kerr ever wanted out of MDA- and the players wanted this as well - was some more emphasis on defense; MDA was too arrogant and too stubborn to agree to that and he quit instead of agreeing to it.

Now, I know many blame JJ's injury for the 2005 4-1 defeat, but I don't buy it. They had him for the last 3 games and lost 2 of them, including the Game 5 elimination game. The Spurs were just better coached, better defensively, deeper, and had the Big 3 all in their prime. It didn't help that Matrix no-showed in that series.

To me, however, 2008 was easily the worst. Mike D was the biggest reason the Suns lost those winnable Games 1 and 5 in San Antonio; first, he should have fouled on the costly Duncan 3 pointer possession (Which cost the Suns Game 1), and then, he inexplicably changed the line-up in the 4th quarter of Game 5 when the line-up on the floor made a huge run in the second half to take a come-from-behind lead.

He made no adjustments against Tony Parker until it was too late. As other have said, he always seemed one step behind Pop.

There's no shame in getting out-coached by arguably the greatest coach ever in Popovich, but Mike D and the Suns should have won more than 1 game in 2005 and 2008 against the Spurs.

[asudevil]

Spoiler:

You'd have to be get confirmation they would resign here and also be likely be willing to part with Booker.

The purpose would be to pair them together. Otherwise I'd agree it makes no sense to make a deal. But having Booker/Leonard or Davis/Jackson core is excellent. Players would look at Phoenix as a destination to win.
Also have to be careful because LA having this cap space means they can try to sign both of those guys in a couple years outright. Assuming there's a good idea these guys will extend, I would pull the trigger quickly.

No way I deal for Wall though. If he can't win with Beal, in the East, what should we expect with adding him to Booker and Jackson? A slightly better version of last years team. Not worth it unless we can somehow eventually get Davis.

But the big plan would be trade for Wall, sign Boogie.

That would be a disaster imo.

Sent from my Moto E (4) using RealGM mobile app

[bigfoot]

I don't see us getting any of the big names in free agency this summer ... Paul, Lebron, George, Durant.

-- Durant stays with GSW
-- Paul stays with Rockets (especially if they win it all)
-- Lebron and George may or may not move but if they do I imagine it would be to the Lakers/Sixers before us.

I think the decent restricted free agents sign with their home team

-- Gordon is a shoe-in to stay in Orlando
-- Capella will likely be matched by the Rockets ... Even at $25M and Paul's resigning would put the Rockets around $140M which is close to what the Cavs/Dubs paid this year. When Capella, Harden, and Paul play they are hard to beat.

So that leaves guys like Cousins, Jordan, Thomas, and Melo.

-- Melo ... we don't want him / I don't see him exercising his early termination option with a $27M payday coming
-- Cousins is hurt and Pelis probably sign him to keep Davis happy.
-- Thomas probably isn't getting paid by any team for a long term contract. Maybe Cuban takes a chance?

Still that leaves Jordan and Thomas as potential free agent targets. Both of those are positions of need depending on how we draft.

So let's say the Suns draft a point guard (Young or Doncic). Do we go after Jordan long term? I really don't think we want to invest Max money when it seems his numbers are declining. He shoots a crappy FT percentage and most of his buckets are assisted. To me Golden State has shown that you invest your money in the other four players and get what you can at center. So really our best option might be to offer Brook Lopez a one year $25M contract. Lopez, Dudley, and Chandler would all come off the books in 2019.

What happens if we draft a center (Bamba or Ayton).

We could roll with Elfrid/Knight as our PG rotation. If Elfrid doesn't work out over these next 26 games we could sign Thomas to a one-year $25M contract. Otherwise I'm not sure where we put our money this summer. Whatever we do it should probably be a Reddick/KCP-like signing ... a big dollar payday for one year.

[Frank Lee]

Im getting the impression these big money short term deals will become more popular with FOs. Chunking out a guaranteed $100-125 million over 4-5 years is mighty risky.

[Saberestar]

Brook Lopez and Isaiah Thomas (especially Thomas) are having a down year, they are not getting $25M. They are gonna be happy if they get $15M even for just a one year contract.

Thomas is 29 and has health concerns, not sure if he can be same Isaiah from a year ago. Brook Lopez will be 30 in March and he is really slow. I just don't see them as a big adquisitions anymore.

Lopez averages 11.9 points and 3.9 rebounds.
Isaiah averages 14.7 points and 4.5 assists.