2024-25 Season Discussion and Speculation Part IV

[Ghost of Kleine]

Every trade scenario that seems feasible just seems like we become even more obviously a lotto team. That's probably the best indicator we need to blow it up.

I'm not gonna bother watching Booker, a few role players and a bunch of scrubs if I havent been watching this current team. No way in hell any of these post-KD teams Kleine is proposing are remotely viable in terms of playoffs aspirations.

But you already know that Kleine and of course you know I agree that we gotta start ripping the band-aid off somewhere. Would just prefer we do it quickly and get our picks back and if that means Booker is gone so be it.

Although I'd think the Denver package might actually have a chance in the 6-8 range ( IF we also offload Allen and O'neale in trades to create more cap flexibility) because Porter Jr. Would at least replace some of the scoring lost from trading KD, and moving Allen and O'neale in addition to declining Milicic and Martin should give us even more cap room for free agents.

Then maybe we sign a starting level center in Adam's or Capela? And moving Richards to backup, I think that we could have enough competitive depth, versatility and youthful energy/ hunger to make the 7th or 8th seed? Maybe slightly better. But still not getting back any picks in a KD trade ( depending on the Team would be very unpalatable!

I would also think that the Milwaukee trade that I've proposed would make us moderately better too and getting back Kuzma to play in KDs scoring role along with Bobby Portis and pat Comnaughton would actually give us better depth and make us a slightly better team possibly in the 6-8 range. And if course we'd get young pieces in Kevin Porter Jr/ Andre Jackson and Tyler Smith to add to our core. And MIL 31' 1st which would be a premium lotto asset for sure!

But as you've said, Ultimately, the big picture is that if only trading KD and not Booker too, we'd still at best be a very mediocre fringe playoff/ playin team still giving up lottery assets/ value and not really being legitimately competitive/ relevant enough for Booker's remaining years spent here to matter.

We'd essentially just be wasting his best remaining years and also his value as it annually depreciates to nothing. And for what exactly?? To say year after year we almost made the play in while getting bullied and "mollywhopped" all season by better teams.

[garrick]

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Unrestricted free agent for backup point guard this summer? Would he even want to come back?

With what money?

Yes and besides I think his defense would be exploited here similar to Tyus so he should play on a good defensive team.

Shame we didn't keep Ty though and have him be the successor to CP3...

[Ghost of Kleine]

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Unrestricted free agent for backup point guard this summer? Would he even want to come back?

With what money?

Apologies man. I should have prefaced this as a post KD trade premise, but also after we decline Milicic and Martin ( if we do decline Martin)?? As depending upon the specific KD trade, we should have some flexibility under the 2nd apron right? And possibly even the 1st apron depending on how aggressive our offseason moves might become this summer.

But if we can generate some money to sign him, he'd be great. And then we could tap the Virginia connection shared between he and Dunn perhaps too in negotiations?

[Ghost of Kleine]

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Unrestricted free agent for backup point guard this summer? Would he even want to come back?

With what money?

Yes and besides I think his defense would be exploited here similar to Tyus so he should play on a good defensive team.

Shame we didn't keep Ty though and have him be the successor to CP3...

Well he does have better size at 6'5 compared to Tyus. And he did go to college at Virginia which was/ is known for its defensive systems. But yeah, he'd still probably need to add more weight and strength.

Also, we might become a much better defensive team if we can manage to make a few key moves creatively this summer based around a KD trade and possibly also moving Allen and O'neale? Trading KD to the right team in the right deal would return some pretty solid defensive options for us. The top two teams that come to mind for this ( to me at least)

Would be San Antonio and Detroit! Because San Antonio could return Vassell and Sochan. Vassell is a very good wing defender/ off ball disruptor. And Sochan is actually a very underrated multipositional defender at 6'8 somewhere in between Vanderbilt and Rodman.

And with Detroit, we could get back something like Stewart for defensive physicality, intensity and rim protection/ rebounding, etc and maybe Holland or Thompson ( IF we're willing to sacrifice on pick value in return)?? Maybe only taking back 1 first ( lotto protected).

Then you look to trade Allen for Bidatze and O'neale to Toronto for Agbaji and Portland's 25' 2nd ( 39)? To take Myles Byrd or Yaxel lendeborg?

[lilfishi22]

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Unrestricted free agent for backup point guard this summer? Would he even want to come back?

With what money?

Apologies man. I should have prefaced this as a post KD trade premise, but also after we decline Milicic and Martin ( if we do decline Martin)?? As depending upon the specific KD trade, we should have some flexibility under the 2nd apron right? And possibly even the 1st apron depending on how aggressive our offseason moves might become this summer.

But if we can generate some money to sign him, he'd be great. And then we could tap the Virginia connection shared between he and Dunn perhaps too in negotiations?

I looked at the salaries before and it's unlikely we'll be operating below the 2nd apron. Unless there's a team that can either completely absorb Grayson or can take on a big chunk of KD's salary to get comfortably under the 2nd apron, both of which is probably highly unlikely. Even then, we would only have the tax payer mid level to offer which is like $5m or something.

[Ghost of Kleine]

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[SunsRback4Good]

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And the rich get richer.

[Ghost of Kleine]

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Would really suck for Reid to go to either team, but especially if he went to the freaking Cavs of all places.

However, if he did go to San Antonio, then maybe he could be included in a KD trade if done around the trade deadline next season? But then again, in a KD trade, I much rather do it prior to draft night to make sure that we'd get back one of their lottery picks in this draft ( ATL 25' 1st - 11th pick) and Vassell/ Barnes/ Sochan for the player package. And one of their 2030' DAL or MIN' 1sts with minimal protection.

So if he goes to San Antonio, they can just keep him I suppose.

[lilfishi22]

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Unrestricted free agent for backup point guard this summer? Would he even want to come back?

With what money?

Yes and besides I think his defense would be exploited here similar to Tyus so he should play on a good defensive team.

Shame we didn't keep Ty though and have him be the successor to CP3...

I'm not hung up on Ty. I'm really glad he's found a role in the NBA because he seemed like a good kid but if I looked at his first few seasons in the NBA, he wasn't that impressive.

[bigfoot]

Between KD, Booker, Grayson, and O'Neal, I have to wonder how many 1st round picks the Suns will get and also how many young prospects. I'd expect any decent veterans acquired for salary matching purposes in the KD and Book trades will be moved for future draft capital come next all-star break. The way I see it is Beal leads a bunch of young guys for the 25/26 and 26/27 seasons.

[Ghost of Kleine]

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Miami is set to be fairly desperate for KD just like Minnesota! Especially after getting cheated out of their plans to pursue Doncic in 26' free agency. But I'm not taking back Wiggins 3 yrs worth of Salary UNLESS Miami is including EITHER Ware or Jovic/ Jacquez and their GS 25' 1st/ another MIA 1st (2 1sts). If they send back Ware, then they put Wiggins/ Robinson in the package and add only 1 first (future).

But any KD deal has to include Ware or 2 firsts and Jovic/Jacquz, with one of those 1sts being the GS 25' 1st- 14th pick for (lottery value) to replace Ware's value absent from the deal. The other 1st can be their 28' or 29' 1st maybe throw in Keshad Johnson or Larseen if necessary. But without those conditions being met, They don't get KD!!

[Ghost of Kleine]

Between KD, Booker, Grayson, and O'Neal, I have to wonder how many 1st round picks the Suns will get and also how many young prospects. I'd expect any decent veterans acquired for salary matching purposes in the KD and Book trades will be moved for future draft capital come next all-star break. The way I see it is Beal leads a bunch of young guys for the 25/26 and 26/27 seasons.

KD should return at least two decent picks and maybe 1-2 decent players/ filler. Booker should return 1-2 very good/promising young talents, a couple of vet contracts, and around 3 high-quality 1sts. It really depends upon what strategy our front office will have going forward because Booker will likely have no less than 5-6 possibly more interested teams. Personally, I'd use KD to bring back younger vet talents and maybe a 1st or two for cost-controlled young talent via the draft. And then look to move Booker for 2-3 young high-end talents and around 3 1sts.

[Frank Lee]

Yall getting way ahead of yourselves

More likely Azzhat inc will deal themselves under the second apron so they can monkey around some more. We’ll keep the Co-stars and give it another go.

They might move on from KD, but any picks gleaned will likely go right back on the table. This dude Wishbia doesn’t have the patience enough to rebuild. He’ll stroke his ego with a proclaimed retool just to save face.

[Ghost of Kleine]

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[Ghost of Kleine]

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Has everyone seen these tweets before KD deleted them? Could there be some tension or possibly even a rift brewing between Book and KD?

[Ghost of Kleine]

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James Jones on the mindset of our team, etc. Answers a bunch of questions about the team, rumors, the trade deadline, the KD situation, and their lack of competitive intensity.

[They_Them_Hatin]

Suns lucky the Kings are equal trash. If they let us pass them they keep their pick this year.

[lilfishi22]

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Has everyone seen these tweets before KD deleted them? Could there be some tension or possibly even a rift brewing between Book and KD?

He's clearly calling out Bickley's comments

[KdoubleDees23]

Suns Trade next year

KD to Cleveland for
Allen, Hunter, Wade, and 1st

Somehow trade Beal to the Bulls for a sign & trade Giddey, and Patrick Williams (not sure you can do that but that would be awesome)

I would rather watch a fun young team

If the bulls trade is possible have Giddey as a Point Forward

Giddey
Booker
Hunter
Patrick Williams
Allen

bench

Allen, Oso, Dunn, Wade, and 2025 1st we get from Cleveland

[Ghost of Kleine]

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For everyone that was arguing that Sarver didn't choose who he specifically wanted in the McDonough era. To the Ayton or Doncic choice argument, this is yet another clear example of an arrogant owner making decisions himself and taking any final decision out of the GMs' hands. Sarver loved control and calling the shots.

Clearly the same most likely applies with Doncic as it did here with SGA on draft day.