2014 Official Suns Free Agent/Trade/Transaction Thread

[Ring_Wanted]

And About how Pau would fit. I have no worries. Even if it doesn't totally works out, you are not losing much for this gamble, and if works, it could make the Suns a really dangerous team in the postseason, instead of somewhat a one trick pony.

Especifically on this subject, I think Hornacek would love to have a big man with high bball IQ and with an inside outside game who can still pass to the open man.

I'm sure you do realize we usually start the games by dumping the ball to Miles in the post and see if he gets going, right? Pau could be used exactly the same way anytime we wanted/needed it, but while being clearly better on O.

He'd also add the benefit of having a midrange shot too, which would help matters inmensely half court. This is a factor that can't be overlooked.

Countless of times we have seen the offense collapsing because Miles gets the ball, is dared to shoot but of course doesn't, with three regular scenarios for the rest of the players: first, either standing there watching (doesn't happen too much, I'd guess thanks to the coach's instructions); second, players needs to work their ass off just to get open for a pass that usually doesn't happen; third, the PG having to basically take the ball off his hands and start a play over, which is what usually happens.

This is a huge hole on our half court offense and one the reasons as to why it gets stagnant often, and if we make the playoffs, it will get exploited for sure unless the opposite coach is blind.

Of course, Miles can work on a shot and refining his hooks next summer, but right now he is just a rim protector who scores off moving around and getting open when possible, with a little of pick and roll and those hooks. Maybe he can learn a thing or two from Pau too, but that's beyond the point.

[INFORMER-93]

I love Noah but he's so expensive. Elite rebounder, great passer and an underrated athlete.

I'd try to work something out with Okafor and the twins including a 3rd team adding a wing athlete.

Hear that McD, easy as 123...

Noah's price tag doesn't bother as much as proneness for injury. If Noah were available, and I don't think he is, the Suns could work a three way with Chicago and Philly, with Evan Turner going to Chicago.

Or the Suns could just deal solely with Chicago, sending Okafor, the Morris Twins, and a pick (maybe even Goodwin) for Noah, Gibson, and Dunleavy.

[NaturalBuns]

I think trading for Pau woud be great long term as well, because he could possibly help lure free agents this off-season. Luring Lebron to Phoenix with Bledsoe/Dragic is good, but luring Lebron with Bledsoe/Dragic and Pau would be hard for Lebron to turn down. Especially with our role players, who are far better supporting cast than the Heat IMO.
IDK just a thought.

no

[Ring_Wanted]

I love Noah but he's so expensive. Elite rebounder, great passer and an underrated athlete.

I'd try to work something out with Okafor and the twins including a 3rd team adding a wing athlete.

Hear that McD, easy as 123...

Noah's price tag doesn't bother as much as proneness for injury. If Noah were available, and I don't think he is, the Suns could work a three way with Chicago and Philly, with Evan Turner going to Chicago.

Or the Suns could just deal solely with Chicago, sending Okafor, the Morris Twins, and a pick (maybe even Goodwin) for Noah, Gibson, and Dunleavy.

I think Chicago would have listen to that before they got under the tax. Now I believe they don't even consider it if it's just one 1stR, maybe even LAL's.

Dunleavy is actually productive and Noah and Gibson is a monster combo on D (which is not our biggest hole, even if it can be improved), under reasonable money, with additional skills to boot.

As you say, health is the main concern, but if you are Chicago I believe you are better off just keeping Jo and Taj and looking to move Dunleavy if desired, or Gibson. I'm sure they'll have some suitors.

By the way, the chance to pair Mirotic with Noah would make me salivate if I were a Bulls fan. Even to the point I'd made Gibson available if I could get younger while not losing much defense. The Morrii could fit with the first but not with the later.

I think a third team could indeed balance things out, just not the 76rs. They are in the mode of adding assets like picks or youngsters, so if the Bulls are the ones giving up the talent, we'd need to be the ones providing said chips for both them and Philly, unless they just took Archie in your scenario and the Bulls were happy with the Morrii, Turner and one draft asset.

But since we are talking about Noah and Gibson, said draft pick would need to be really enticing, and while not philosophically opposed to using our draft ammo, I am not inclined to use it in this particular scenario (precissely, health is a big reason as to why).

[DirtyDez]

Apparently Gibson is like a son to Thibbs and he was furious with the Deng trade. Coach and FO appear to be at odds over direction... If Noah is outgoing I think they'd want Len with no quality center (or center prospect) on their roster. Thibbs and Okafor seem like a good match if he's healthy next season and could him on an incentive-laden deal.

As for that athletic/playmaking wing I'd still go after Hayward (trade) or Stephenson (offseason) cause both are unselfish and versatile. Lance being the better defender of course...

I dunno we should probably hang tight but adding a tough, smart playoff experienced big like Noah legitimizes us as WCF contenders (with Bledsoe back as well).

[thamadkant]

I think stay pat and go all out next season...

Pau Gasol for Okafor is fine... But adding an asset is crazy.


Stick to the current team, keep giving Len minutes, ride Frye and Plumlee with Len and hope for the best.

Suns don't need to compromise the future for a sidestep move.... Gasol is a center these days and rather have Plumlee's athleticism and give Len time.

[Ring_Wanted]

Nobody is advocating compromising the future tho, and said future doesn't depend on Indiana's pick anyway.

I though this Gasol scenario was dead, but turns out it's even made it's way to the trades board. Go there at your own peril, as you can see stuff like Gasol for Okafor and Was+LAL picks.

[Kerrsed]

I dont like the idea of Gasol in a Suns uni. I hate it. With that being said, here are some ways i would look into using Okafors contract:

1. Okafor/Morris/Morris to Philly for Young/Turner/Moulture.

Sure Keiff shows potential every 5th game or so, but i would rather have Youngs consistency and athleticism. Turner has also been playing some great ball for the past few months and even had a 34 point game recently. He is going to be a FA, so if things dont work out, we can let him expire.

Bledsoe/Dragic/Turner/Young/Plumlee

2. Okafor to LA, Gasol to Memphis, and ZBO to us.

The original 20/10 machine in a Suns uni might not be what you expected, but his rebounding and defense would go along way for us. Starting Frye at the C spot and moving Plumlee to back-up C would help open up the paint for ZBO to do what he does best. Im sure Memphis would love it, as they are probably the only team in the league that wouldnt look at Gasol as a half-a-year rental. They re-unite the Gasol boys!

Bledsoe/Dragic/Green/ZBO/Frye

3. Okafor/Morris/Morris to Philly, Young/Turner/Len to Atlanta, Horford/Millsap to us.

A spin-off of trade #1. Philly nabs themselves the Philly-bred Bash Bros and dumps salary, all the while increasing their draft stock. Atlanta starts to re-build with younger players that havent quite reached their potential and saves a bit of money in the future doing it. We go all in and balls deep for a title run. Im sure we would have to give up most likely 2-3 of our draft picks, but it could end up being well worth it!

Bledsoe/Dragic/Millsap/Horford/Frye


Anyway, thats just a few ideas that i have been sitting on, feel free to bash me for them (as im sure some of you will).

[Blackification]

I really like the trade that involves atlanta i dont know if they would do it and is horford out for the season? But other than that ive felt like milsap would be a good fit on this team for a while i dont know how our bench would be with Len and Plumlee though it might create a logjam

[Kerrsed]

I really like the trade that involves atlanta i dont know if they would do it and is horford out for the season? But other than that ive felt like milsap would be a good fit on this team for a while i dont know how our bench would be with Len and Plumlee though it might create a logjam

Len would be going to Atlanta. Its a high price, but we could be great with Millsap/Horford. As for if they would do it, i just posted it on the Hawks board, so we will find out soon.

[Ring_Wanted]

Good point on Pau not being a mere rental to the Grizzlies, but ZBo's defense?

Also, 76rs would want at least one first round pick for Young, and I'd guess at their stage, they'd value it more than the twins, even if they are from Philly. I wouldn't be surprised if adding Moultrie was considered an insult from their standpoint, if no decent draft asset is going their way.

Turner is probably a rental too, as his QO would need to be around 9M, which is crazy unless he gave unprecedented performance and above all efficiency. If he was on the Suns (or almost any other team) by the end of the season, he probably should be made an UFA. I've expressed interest and wouldn't be opposed to trading for him, but the QO really makes it complicated cap wise, especially if it's a bigger deal involving Thad.

Horford would be a clear upgrade for the franchise, but I don't see the Hawks moving him, even if lost for the season. Certainly not without top notch draft picks. In my opinion the package you suggest might get you just Millsap and change. Millsap could be a David West type for a winning team, and I've liked him for years, but I don't know if I'd trade for him they way our franchise is currently shaped.

[Kerrsed]

Thats why i said it might costs us 2-3 of our 1st round picks. I figured that Atlanta would be hard pressed to find a better rebuild package of Young/Turner/Len and 2 1sts for Millsap/Horford. They already got a good PG in Teague, and thats about it. Len gives them a young TRUE C, which is something they have always lacked. Young is a decent replacement at PF, and the draft picks can help them fill in the rest of the gaps. They also own the right to swap 1st round picks with Brooklyn this year, so rebuilding with a younger squad with Teague/Turner/Young/Len and 3 1sts would be pretty damn good. Even if they let Turner expire, im sure it wouldnt be that hard to find a good young SG/SF to add in the mix.

Now with them getting 2 of our picks (which i believe is totally fair), i believe that 3rd pick might end up having to go to Philly.

The real question is, Is Horford/Milsap worth Okafor/Len/MorrisX2/3 1sts.

[Ring_Wanted]

Yep, but my point was that to part with Horford they'd need/want a high pick, not just mid 1stR, even if multiple. As for Len, at this point he is worth more to us than anyone else. After all, we were the ones who drafted him even knowing his health issues, so it probably wouldn't move the needle as much as we wish in a trade scenario.

But beyond that, I think they don't do it because they are not trying to rebuild, but to compete in the east, and they have the right to sawp picks with the Nets to boot. The point I guess would be getting what, a top3-5 pick, but even if they totally throw the season away, I think that ship has sailed for a number of teams lotto luck aside, the Hawks included.

Horford could indeed be a franchise difference maker, but very much like in Aldridge's case, I think the current team will try its best to compete with him. Granted, sometimes it can really backfire, as we are seeing with Love.

[thamadkant]

Nobody is advocating compromising the future tho, and said future doesn't depend on Indiana's pick anyway.

I though this Gasol scenario was dead, but turns out it's even made it's way to the trades board. Go there at your own peril, as you can see stuff like Gasol for Okafor and Was+LAL picks.

Getting Gasol as center which is his primary position these days...
Would mean moving Plumlee off the bench and which means Len gets shafted for minutes... As Frye and the twins would be in the rotation also ... That's 5 bigs rotating at PF/C.


Gasol may not work properly for Suns offense and defense... He's good still but have declined enough that he needs support to be effective.. May need a very good or elite big man to make up for his defense.


I would ask Bobcats for Gordon and Biyombo.... Biyombo atleast can be develope as defensive PF/C.. And young enough to slot next to Len a future front court... Once Frye become a bench role player or traded... If not Biyombo maybe MKG? The guy is still only 20/21 years old..

[Ring_Wanted]

I think there is enough for everybody. There are 96 minutes to share between our big men. Say Len gets his 8-10 by default (a notion I'm not enamored with, but in his case I think it's needed). That's an average of around 20mpg for the rest, with the actual figure depending on specific matchup and production any given night, particularly in Kieff's case.

Personally I would try Gasol-Miles together, disregarding nominal positions. I think they could really work together both on offense and defense. Frye would be my next big man and then Kieff-Len. If Pau agreed to start the games on the bench, all the better, as Hornacek really tries to get Frye going as soon as possible.

Besides, if we were to acquire Pau even just for this season, I'd totally look to move the twins, but that's probably another story.

One thing I'd keep in mind is that getting a perfect move fit-contract-game wise from Okafor and a low 1stR is probably not going to happen, so it's a matter of compromises. I respect those who think Pau wouldn't help us, but I don't share that opinion under the light of a playoff run.

[pidi]

no way the suns should even think of pau gasol, he stinks and is soft.. i hate his whiny attitude, come on the suns are better than pau gasol..

[BobbieL]

Pau for Okafor - I could live with that. Suns are taking on major salary. But it should not cost the Suns a pick to save the Lakers even MORE money for this summer. In fact, if the Lakers want a pick (like Indy's or even Minnesota) - they would have to take on salary

The trade I would like to see made is Thaddeus Young for the Morris Twins. They are from Philly, a package deal it seems as if they have to play together. I doubt Philly is interested. Maybe an first rounder

The last player - Frye. His value is an all time high. I think it would have to be a three team trade -as most good teams don't have an expiring close to $6m - but that might be the trade to make. Frye has been very good this year but he does have one year left, his value is right for a top 4 play off team in either conference - Portland makes sense but they don't have anything to trade. And for Frye, I would think an expiring makes sense

McDonough has assets and knowledge - I am not worried about the Suns with that guy in charge - if he makes a move with Okafor and that expiring, it will be solid.


Suns did sign Barbosa for the rest of the year too./

[Frank Lee]

2. Okafor to LA, Gasol to Memphis, and ZBO to us.

The original 20/10 machine in a Suns uni might not be what you expected, but his rebounding and defense would go along way for us. Starting Frye at the C spot and moving Plumlee to back-up C would help open up the paint for ZBO to do what he does best. Im sure Memphis would love it, as they are probably the only team in the league that wouldnt look at Gasol as a half-a-year rental. They re-unite the Gasol boys! -

As much as I'd like ZBo here...this just doesn't make sense. First all, ZBo IS the talent in this deal. ThefLakes would just keep him IF memphis wanted PGasol... and if they wanted PGasol, they could just wait till the off season and restructure ZBo and sign Pau.

Put ZBo on the trade table and he would command much more than the Spindly Spaniard.
Same goes for Horford...I can't see any deal for him that does not involve a high pick, and certainly, not before the pick order is determined... and thus , no Okafor involvement.


As attractive as Okafor's deal may seem, the interested parties all would have to have 'saving money' as the priority to trade. There are not but a few teams in the lux tax zone, and most of them shrug their shoulders about it (LA, NY, ?) and have little to offer. The other teams would be looking to sluff off excess salary to us, likely extending into next yr. The savings to these cost cutting teams would have to be more than the insurance settlement on Ok's ticket, resulting in us taking on more salary/restricting cap space. That doesn't seem wise at this point, unless we are getting a bonafide starter and a significant positional upgrade. example : Okafor/Goodwin for Young/JRich... that trims over $6 mill this yr and 15+ next for philly... cha-ching for them, but is it worth it for us ? McDo would have to be very high on Young.

Sometimes No deal is a the best deal you can (can't) make. I don't see much of a 'market' for Okafor

[BobbieL]

2. Okafor to LA, Gasol to Memphis, and ZBO to us.

The original 20/10 machine in a Suns uni might not be what you expected, but his rebounding and defense would go along way for us. Starting Frye at the C spot and moving Plumlee to back-up C would help open up the paint for ZBO to do what he does best. Im sure Memphis would love it, as they are probably the only team in the league that wouldnt look at Gasol as a half-a-year rental. They re-unite the Gasol boys! -

As much as I'd like ZBo here...this just doesn't make sense. First all, ZBo IS the talent in this deal. ThefLakes would just keep him IF memphis wanted PGasol... and if they wanted PGasol, they could just wait till the off season and restructure ZBo and sign Pau.

Put ZBo on the trade table and he would command much more than the Spindly Spaniard.
Same goes for Horford...I can't see any deal for him that does not involve a high pick, and certainly, not before the pick order is determined... and thus , no Okafor involvement.


As attractive as Okafor's deal may seem, the interested parties all would have to have 'saving money' as the priority to trade. There are not but a few teams in the lux tax zone, and most of them shrug their shoulders about it (LA, NY, ?) and have little to offer. The other teams would be looking to sluff off excess salary to us, likely extending into next yr. The savings to these cost cutting teams would have to be more than the insurance settlement on Ok's ticket, resulting in us taking on more salary/restricting cap space. That doesn't seem wise at this point, unless we are getting a bonafide starter and a significant positional upgrade. example : Okafor/Goodwin for Young/JRich... that trims over $6 mill this yr and 15+ next for philly... cha-ching for them, but is it worth it for us ? McDo would have to be very high on Young.

Sometimes No deal is a the best deal you can (can't) make. I don't see much of a 'market' for Okafor

The good thing is - the Suns are under the cap and can get the $$ savings from Okafor - so if they don't do anything, they will get his insurance savings and his big old expiring contract. Suns are in a good spot. They can possibly use Okafor to do something like the Sonics got for taking on Kurt Thomas - which was two number 1's, one of which turned out to be Ibaka

So, if I am trading Okafor - the Suns need to really win the deal. And this is where McDonough, being in charge, is good. He will do good. But if Wojnarowski is writing about it, this isn't Vescey or Stephen A writing hoops, the WojYahoo is locked in. I think the Suns make a move if Woj is taking about it

[bwgood77]

Atlanta isn't dealing Horford. They are third in the east without him. Obviously they would be even better with him.

And to say they are not going to win it all as currently constructed (as some might say) would be like someone offering us a bunch of younger guys for Bledsoe and Dragic and saying "Now you can start your rebuild..you guys are not winning it all as currently constructed anyway so you might as well break it all down and start your rebuild."