The Boogie Watch

[thamadkant]

I honestly think Warren or booker has to be on the proposal. Are we talking about the best NBA Center (my opinion), relatively young yet (26 years?). And on offer comes the Cauley stein which was a top 10 pick, but it can bloom depending on how it will be developed. Knight, Alex today does not have much trade value, honestly. In my vision I would offer Warren, Chris, Knight 1st suns 2017 and the Miami pick (2018). In terms of value I find it quite interesting for them, mainly because they have 2 young centers and one sg still prospect and that can burst which is mclemore.
And on your question, I think Wizards Nuggets and Boston can offer things better than your offer.

What about Booker instead of Warren then?

Booker and Cousins are friends, he said that after the game we lost to Kings and that they discussed. I think it's easier for Cousins to reassign us if Bledsoe and Booker are here.

Well considering Warren is the better player than Booker then Kings should want him more.

Booker's teen idol looks for marketing purpose is his main advantage over Warren right now.

[bwgood77]

Spoiler:

Thank you. This is pretty much around where i think a Cousins trade would be, and something that i have been trying to express to the board. For some reason people around here think that players like Knight/Tucker hold any value in a trade for a star player, and the fact that they hate them and see what they do to our team night after night, yet think they would all of a sudden be a great trade chip for a star player boggles my mind.

Now, with that being said, i would make a few alterations to your proposal. 1, with Cousins/WCS coming here, we would be overtly stacked at the C spot, leaving the Kings rather bare, so i would believe the Suns would counter offer by including Len and subtracting one of our young rookies (Bender/Chriss).

I also believe that there is another play that can be made to better the Kings return, while also having the Suns keep another asset (a draft pick or another youngster), and that would be by including Philly in this trade and doing the much talked about Knight to 76ers for Noel or Okafor (which ever one you guys would prefer). The desperately need some kind of PG this season, but the value in Knight would be increased next season when they get Simmons back. All the news out of Philly keeps reiterating that they plan on having Simmons run the team as a point-forward, so it makes sense to have more of a shooting PG in the starting 5 nest to him, and thats where i think Knight would excel.

Maybe something like: http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=gmwqeoy

Suns get Cousins/WCS
Kings get 2 (of Warren and/or Chriss and/or Bender)/Okafor/Len/(1 of either Miami's 2018 pick or Suns 2018 1st)
76ers get Knight/2017 Suns 2nd

I definitely think it takes at least two of Warren/Bender/Chriss and maybe all three, though they'd probably demand Booker along with 1 or 2 of those guys. Personally, as I've mentioned many times, I've always been a fan of building through the draft, and want to continue building through the draft, and like all our young players (23 and under) and don't want to try to just destroy our future by trying to quickly make a splash trade to make the playoffs this year and for a few years, but build a good long term outlook...

Having said all that, I have zero idea what's going to happen. I thought Sarver had finally embraced the youth movement and all, but that goes against him always trying to make short sighted moves to try desperately to win now, and always has thought short term over long term, so perhaps that wins out in the end..

So...I put this edit in the first post of the thread- (lilfishi was/is going to add a poll later about whether or not people want to trade for Boogie, and if so, how much they are willing to give up, but I'm going to do a quick one now to see who people would rather keep IF we had to trade one of Bender or Warren. This is kind of a tough one for me because they are probably the two Suns for which I have the biggest interest, fandom, pull for, etc. I'm guessing the board will be fairly split on this but I don't know. I guess if we get Boogie it might make more sense to keep Warren if we could. And it might make more sense for Sac to take Bender if they were going rebuild route but I don't know).

Oh, and I want no part of Willie Cauley Stein.

The funny thing is I have never pulled against a team so much in college basketball than that team Wisconsin beat with Booker, Towns, Lyles, WCS, Harrison twins, Ulis, etc. But of course what could those guys do against a team with Frank the Tank and Sam Dekker? Can't beat a couple white boys from the mid west. Of course I hated them too because they BARELY knocked out AZ in the elite 8 two years in a row, and Kaminsky had the biggest game of his college tourney career in the first one and Dekker the second. Should have been AZ to take Kentucky out.

I'm not against building through the draft and in many cases it is an exciting way to build a winning team because you get to follow the development of young players you drafted. That being said, a trade for Boogie wouldn't be a a short-sighted win-now move that we've seen in the past. I would consider trading for someone like a Dwight Howard, LMA, Melo or a Chris Paul for example, as a short-sighted win-now move. All of these guys have a short competitive window where they could still be the best 1-3 player on the team. Cousins would likely be the best player on our team for at least another 5 so we're essentially fast tracking the build of a potential contender. It will not be a win it all in 1 or 2 seasons but be a perennial contender for 4-5.

The only problem with this is that we wouldn't be a perennial contender for the next 4-5 because we wouldn't have enough around Boogie. I know people think Bledsoe/Booker/Boogie is a contender, but they simply are not. Boogie is a GREAT player. Bledsoe is an exciting individual talent sometimes (and our best player now...though TJ is closing the gap), and Booker hopefully will become a star type talent in a couple years, and if we are lucky, Klay Thompson or better in 3-4 years.

For the next 2-3 years we would probably hover around fringe playoff team IF Boogie stayed here and didn't decide playing with Wall was a better alternative, because you can bet your ass Wall and Washington will damn near do their best to say look at this team....established vets Wall/Beal/Porter to play with...we are instantly at least 2 in the east. So there is a VERY good chance we give up a ton and then watch him walk in less than a year and a half. At least 50/50.

On top of this, IF we got to contention status somehow in 4 or 5 years once Booker is full developed...well, having typed that Bled will have probably been in decline by then or his knees shot, and had we traded for Boogie it might make us miss on this great crop of point guards this year.

I was eventually going to get to the fact that GS is such a juggernaut that I'd rather build with youth, watch them grow and get better and watch our team become really good in 4 or 5 years and then be a contender for 7-8 straight years after that, when the other juggernauts have faded away....

Before I got to that last point I diverted in too many directions and rambled...I guess the way I'd look at it is, I'd hate to cash in all of my chips right now on a questionable character star who had no guarantee of staying and a best friend in Washington, all for some real hope we can become a juggernaut quickly, because I have my doubts that we would be THAT good immediately with Bledsoe, Booker and Cousins and not a whole lot else...I guess Dudley and Tucker would be solid for now, but I still don't see us winning a round in the playoffs if we squeeze in to face GS, SA or LAC.

[Kerrsed]

For as much as i have been a Bledsoe fan since we got him, i believe if we arnt planning on using him to obtain Cousins then we might as well put him on the trade block.

[bwgood77]

For as much as i have been a Bledsoe fan since we got him, i believe if we arnt planning on using him to obtain Cousins then we might as well put him on the trade block.

I was just going to add to my last post to say. I think we should go after Boogie in free agency. With Sac, you never know if it might come to that anyway. If we end up losing to Washington (or any other team for that matter) when he gets to free agency, it probably will only mean that had we given up a ton of assets for him in trade, that he would have left us anyway.

I think we should keep Bledsoe. I don't think he has a ton of trade value, and we should go after Boogie when he is a FA and we will have a leg up on most with him. Keep our core and get him? Then we have a serious shot to do some damage. The only place that might give us a really good package for Bledsoe is Sacramento. If we think Ball or one of these PGs in the upcoming draft is our guy, we could probably pry quite a bit from the Kings for him. They don't have much, but we could take a flyer on some of their young guys, like that greek center and a first rounder the soonest they can trade one....they might even do it unprotected or lightly protected if they thought it would be enough to keep Boogie long term.

It's probably worth keeping Bledsoe for a Boogie pitch. I'd certainly love to have Boogie on the team, but I hate giving up a crap ton of assets for him. I watched us do that for McDyess and he left. He even went back to the same team...not that Boogie would of course. But NY gave up a ton for Melo and never could really compete with him because they cleared out all their assets for him. Some of those guys are still seriously balling in Denver.

I have a feeling Boogie wants to play with Wall in Washington. He might like to play with Bledsoe too, but if we trade for him, we are gambling that he will end up choosing playing with Bledsoe, 21st pick (or whatever) over Wall #1 pick who he played with in Kentucky. I'm pretty sure him and Wall and the entire country felt that Wall and Cousins carried that team. Bledsoe was a talent with them but more like a sidekick.

Boogie knows Wall is a pure point who can be the alpha dog on a great team (like he was on Kentucky) but that Bledsoe is just an exciting combo guard.

Put it this way...if we trade for Boogie, as I die hard Suns fan I will be petrified for a year and a half.

[lilfishi22]

The only problem with this is that we wouldn't be a perennial contender for the next 4-5 because we wouldn't have enough around Boogie. I know people think Bledsoe/Booker/Boogie is a contender, but they simply are not. Boogie is a GREAT player. Bledsoe is an exciting individual talent sometimes (and our best player now...though TJ is closing the gap), and Booker hopefully will become a star type talent in a couple years, and if we are lucky, Klay Thompson or better in 3-4 years.

For the next 2-3 years we would probably hover around fringe playoff team IF Boogie stayed here and didn't decide playing with Wall was a better alternative, because you can bet your ass Wall and Washington will damn near do their best to say look at this team....established vets Wall/Beal/Porter to play with...we are instantly at least 2 in the east. So there is a VERY good chance we give up a ton and then watch him walk in less than a year and a half. At least 50/50.

On top of this, IF we got to contention status somehow in 4 or 5 years once Booker is full developed...well, having typed that Bled will have probably been in decline by then or his knees shot, and had we traded for Boogie it might make us miss on this great crop of point guards this year.

I was eventually going to get to the fact that GS is such a juggernaut that I'd rather build with youth, watch them grow and get better and watch our team become really good in 4 or 5 years and then be a contender for 7-8 straight years after that, when the other juggernauts have faded away....

Before I got to that last point I diverted in too many directions and rambled...I guess the way I'd look at it is, I'd hate to cash in all of my chips right now on a questionable character star who had no guarantee of staying and a best friend in Washington, all for some real hope we can become a juggernaut quickly, because I have my doubts that we would be THAT good immediately with Bledsoe, Booker and Cousins and not a whole lot else...I guess Dudley and Tucker would be solid for now, but I still don't see us winning a round in the playoffs if we squeeze in to face GS, SA or LAC.

It's true that we wouldn't be a contender right away but with Booker/Bledsoe/Cousins, we have a solid core and who knows what McD can do as a contender builder. All we've been doing is rebuilding and the occasional attempt at reloading. What we know is that the Suns team has never been attractive enough to bring in big FA's. We went for the big fish in Lebron and LMA and we were close both times. If we had a potent core, McD would have a lot more to sell to top FA's. I'd love to give McD a chance to build a contender and not just a long term rebuilding project.

The reason I'm for going down this path is because you and I just have a fundamental difference in opinion in regards to our chips. I love Warren, I like Bender and I like Chriss. I just don't see superstar potential in ANY of these players. Of course, anyone can say these guys have only played 19 or so games in the NBA so how would I know what they could turn into. Well that's just my opinion. I truly feel with the way we're built, the blueprint of Plan A is still there. We're too unbalanced with too much high potential youth and we're ripe for a trade for a disgruntled star.

Again, I'm not against trying to sign him when he becomes a FA and in many respects, it's the safer route. I just think the way we're built, it just seems like we're hoarding high quality assets for a trade rather than building an actual team.

[bwgood77]

The only problem with this is that we wouldn't be a perennial contender for the next 4-5 because we wouldn't have enough around Boogie. I know people think Bledsoe/Booker/Boogie is a contender, but they simply are not. Boogie is a GREAT player. Bledsoe is an exciting individual talent sometimes (and our best player now...though TJ is closing the gap), and Booker hopefully will become a star type talent in a couple years, and if we are lucky, Klay Thompson or better in 3-4 years.

For the next 2-3 years we would probably hover around fringe playoff team IF Boogie stayed here and didn't decide playing with Wall was a better alternative, because you can bet your ass Wall and Washington will damn near do their best to say look at this team....established vets Wall/Beal/Porter to play with...we are instantly at least 2 in the east. So there is a VERY good chance we give up a ton and then watch him walk in less than a year and a half. At least 50/50.

On top of this, IF we got to contention status somehow in 4 or 5 years once Booker is full developed...well, having typed that Bled will have probably been in decline by then or his knees shot, and had we traded for Boogie it might make us miss on this great crop of point guards this year.

I was eventually going to get to the fact that GS is such a juggernaut that I'd rather build with youth, watch them grow and get better and watch our team become really good in 4 or 5 years and then be a contender for 7-8 straight years after that, when the other juggernauts have faded away....

Before I got to that last point I diverted in too many directions and rambled...I guess the way I'd look at it is, I'd hate to cash in all of my chips right now on a questionable character star who had no guarantee of staying and a best friend in Washington, all for some real hope we can become a juggernaut quickly, because I have my doubts that we would be THAT good immediately with Bledsoe, Booker and Cousins and not a whole lot else...I guess Dudley and Tucker would be solid for now, but I still don't see us winning a round in the playoffs if we squeeze in to face GS, SA or LAC.

It's true that we wouldn't be a contender right away but with Booker/Bledsoe/Cousins, we have a solid core and who knows what McD can do as a contender builder. All we've been doing is rebuilding and the occasional attempt at reloading. What we know is that the Suns team has never been attractive enough to bring in big FA's. We went for the big fish in Lebron and LMA and we were close both times. If we had a potent core, McD would have a lot more to sell to top FA's. I'd love to give McD a chance to build a contender and not just a long term rebuilding project.

The reason I'm for going down this path is because you and I just have a fundamental difference in opinion in regards to our chips. I love Warren, I like Bender and I like Chriss. I just don't see superstar potential in ANY of these players. Of course, anyone can say these guys have only played 19 or so games in the NBA so how would I know what they could turn into. Well that's just my opinion. I truly feel with the way we're built, the blueprint of Plan A is still there. We're too unbalanced with too much high potential youth and we're ripe for a trade for a disgruntled star.

Again, I'm not against trying to sign him when he becomes a FA and in many respects, it's the safer route. I just think the way we're built, it just seems like we're hoarding high quality assets for a trade rather than building an actual team.

I guess the biggest question for everyone is, if he leaves for Washington or anywhere else in Summer of 18, do you think giving up Warren, Bender or/and Chriss and a couple first rounders was worth the roll of the dice? Because the answer you have then should be the same answer you have now.

The bad thing from my view, knowing I am a long term die hard fan under any circumstance, is that a GM like McD has to balance what is good for the Suns with what is good for him and him keeping his job. I think if McD knew he would be with the Suns for 5 years under any circumstance, no way would he trade for Boogie (barring not having to give up significant assets) but the fact that he could be gone at any time is what sucks. The guys in charge of the team are not as vested in long term success as the long time fans. They need short term success or they might be gone.

[lilfishi22]

I guess the biggest question for everyone is, if he leaves for Washington or anywhere else in Summer of 18, do you think giving up Warren, Bender or/and Chriss and a couple first rounders was worth the roll of the dice? Because the answer you have then should be the same answer you have now.

The bad thing from my view, knowing I am a long term die hard fan under any circumstance, is that a GM like McD has to balance what is good for the Suns with what is good for him and him keeping his job. I think if McD knew he would be with the Suns for 5 years under any circumstance, no way would he trade for Boogie (barring not having to give up significant assets) but the fact that he could be gone at any time is what sucks. The guys in charge of the team are not as vested in long term success as the long time fans. They need short term success or they might be gone.

That's obviously that's biggest question, biggest risk and also the worst scenario. The answer invariable is no if that's the scenario you want me to comment on.

However, if the question being posed is, if the Suns best chance at Boogie for the long term isn't through free agency but through a trade of Warren, Bender and/or Chriss plus a couple of picks, then is it worth the roll of the dice? I'd be leaning towards yes.

Unfortunately, there are very few GM's with "tenure". I don't think even someone like Phil Jackson with all his accolades has tenure with the Knicks. The fact is, no GM outside of Buford, Riley, MAYBE Morey, has tenure and they know they have a relatively short time to show some level of success. I think McD and many other GM's in his position would for sure strongly consider making a move for Cousins if it was presented to them.

[bwgood77]

I guess the biggest question for everyone is, if he leaves for Washington or anywhere else in Summer of 18, do you think giving up Warren, Bender or/and Chriss and a couple first rounders was worth the roll of the dice? Because the answer you have then should be the same answer you have now.

The bad thing from my view, knowing I am a long term die hard fan under any circumstance, is that a GM like McD has to balance what is good for the Suns with what is good for him and him keeping his job. I think if McD knew he would be with the Suns for 5 years under any circumstance, no way would he trade for Boogie (barring not having to give up significant assets) but the fact that he could be gone at any time is what sucks. The guys in charge of the team are not as vested in long term success as the long time fans. They need short term success or they might be gone.

That's obviously that's biggest question, biggest risk and also the worst scenario. The answer invariable is no if that's the scenario you want me to comment on.

However, if the question being posed is, if the Suns best chance at Boogie for the long term isn't through free agency but through a trade of Warren, Bender and/or Chriss plus a couple of picks, then is it worth the roll of the dice? I'd be leaning towards yes.

Unfortunately, there are very few GM's with "tenure". I don't think even someone like Phil Jackson with all his accolades has tenure with the Knicks. The fact is, no GM outside of Buford, Riley, MAYBE Morey, has tenure and they know they have a relatively short time to show some level of success. I think McD and many other GM's in his position would for sure strongly consider making a move for Cousins if it was presented to them.

Yes, that's my fear, but I know I'm in the very small minority on this one.

[lilfishi22]

Yeah and I understand your fear. To be honest, I feel McD has had a longer leash than most rookie GM's. This is his 5th season now and he's shown very little outside of the 48-win season. He's picked up some nice players from the draft but in terms of building a team that wins.....I think we're still waiting on that. I just think he's been on Plan A since the beginning and he has to know that he needs to show something so if a Cousins deal come up, he may roll the dice.

[Damkac]

To compete you need good players in their prime (about 25-30 yeras old). Suns have one: Bledsoe. And Knight but we all know he is not good.
Then there are 2 players 2-3 years away of their prime (TJ and Len) and most of this board don't view Len as starting level player.
And there are 19-20 years old guys that still have much to learn and that include Booker.
Finally there are 30+ years old veterans that have their prime years gone and will only get worse from this point.

Is this roster made to compete?
Even if you put Cousins here this team is far away from being a contender. Especially if you trade TJ, Len and Knight for him. How many games Bledsoe and Cousins could won? For me it's 8th seed best. Maybe 7th if lucky. And if Suns would not make the playoffs would Cousins resign?
Everybody likes to view Booker as a part of hypothetical "big 3" but so far this season he showed that he is not ready for that.

IMO it makes much more sense to trade veterans (except Dudley and maybe Barbosa), try to get another pick and tank for top prospect (in probably amazing draft) and build team around Booker, Warren, Bender, Chriss, Ulis, Len(?) and drafted player(s) than to trade most of assets for player that may leave in 2 years.
But if you want to trade for Cousins you would also need to make another trades to got another good player(s) in thie prime to be competitive. And it would cost most of Suns young players and picks. I'm not a fan of that.

[Qwigglez]

I checked out the Wizards board recently and I'm pretty confident they hate their owner more than Suns fans have hated Sarver. He hasn't signed a decent free agent besides Paul Pierce in years. They've built through the draft and through trades with us (Gortat & Kieff). Porter is still on his rookie contract and he's probably looking at a pay raise worth 18mil a year at least (Crabbe got this). They gave a contract worth 16mil per year to friggin Ian Mahinmi who has career averages of 5 points 4 boards per game! That dude is 30 years old already.
At this point once they get Porter's contract situated they'd have 92mil invested into 6 guys (Wall/Beal/Porter/Kieff/Gortat/Mahinmi). I fail to see how this squad has more appeal to Cousins in 2018 than the Suns would.

[Frank Lee]

You naysaying contenderites fail to consider McD making more than one trade on deal day.

Granted, getting the Boogie Monster will take youth and picks as the meat.... but send some potatos elsewhere to finish the plate.

Offer Warren, Chriss, and two tasty picks.....if that works, send Tucker and a pick away for that Holmes kid on Philly.
Or package up Len for a SF.... maybe see what Knight plus a pick would bring. More than one deal will be made as getting Boogie is an all in move by McD, that would blow up if DMC walked. Don't you think McD would hedge his bet and swap out another asset for an athletic SF who defends and shoots well? No way DMC walks away from a team that goes deep into the playoffs.... and no way McD would thumbuphisbutt through the next off season without yet more additions.

We'd have a solid core built around DMC and a team better than an Eigth seed that could be a load to deal with.


THEY wouldn't fear anyone.... it's you chicken****s here that have all but handed GState the banner for the next 3 years running.

IMO, there is no way Sarver and McD pass on this opportunity. There is a limit on what to give up, but but a big Boogie man in the hand, is much better than handful of picks and may be's in the bush.

[Barkley_34]

You naysaying contenderites fail to consider McD making more than one trade on deal day.

Granted, getting the Boogie Monster will take youth and picks as the meat.... but send some potatos elsewhere to finish the plate.

Offer Warren, Chriss, and two tasty picks.....if that works, send Tucker and a pick away for that Holmes kid on Philly.
Or package up Len for a SF.... maybe see what Knight plus a pick would bring. More than one deal will be made as getting Boogie is an all in move by McD, that would blow up if DMC walked. Don't you think McD would hedge his bet and swap out another asset for an athletic SF who defends and shoots well? No way DMC walks away from a team that goes deep into the playoffs.... and no way McD would thumbuphisbutt through the next off season without yet more additions.

We'd have a solid core built around DMC and a team better than an Eigth seed that could be a load to deal with.


THEY wouldn't fear anyone.... it's you chicken****s here that have all but handed GState the banner for the next 3 years running.

IMO, there is no way Sarver and McD pass on this opportunity. There is a limit on what to give up, but but a big Boogie man in the hand, is much better than handful of picks and may be's in the bush.

. If we getting boogie, more deals would be on the table, No doubt

[bwgood77]

You naysaying contenderites fail to consider McD making more than one trade on deal day.

Granted, getting the Boogie Monster will take youth and picks as the meat.... but send some potatos elsewhere to finish the plate.

Offer Warren, Chriss, and two tasty picks.....if that works, send Tucker and a pick away for that Holmes kid on Philly.
Or package up Len for a SF.... maybe see what Knight plus a pick would bring. More than one deal will be made as getting Boogie is an all in move by McD, that would blow up if DMC walked. Don't you think McD would hedge his bet and swap out another asset for an athletic SF who defends and shoots well? No way DMC walks away from a team that goes deep into the playoffs.... and no way McD would thumbuphisbutt through the next off season without yet more additions.

We'd have a solid core built around DMC and a team better than an Eigth seed that could be a load to deal with.


THEY wouldn't fear anyone.... it's you chicken****s here that have all but handed GState the banner for the next 3 years running.

IMO, there is no way Sarver and McD pass on this opportunity. There is a limit on what to give up, but but a big Boogie man in the hand, is much better than handful of picks and may be's in the bush.

. If we getting boogie, more deals would be on the table, No doubt

Sure if multiple teams will give up valuable players for our players like Tucker or Knight, by all means, he'll take advantage of that. Not so long ago it seems like Frank was talking about how other teams wouldn't value are steaming pile of crap (not sure if those were the exact words used though).

[Tysons Elbow]

We wont necessarily need to get players of value for those guys, though. Getting Cousins will change our free agency approach (and hopefully results) next summer. Get the best deal (picks) we can for Knight and Tucker, free up some more cap space and set ourselves up for the offseason. We will be building a different team at that point and our needs will have changed.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

[GMATCallahan]

You naysaying contenderites fail to consider McD making more than one trade on deal day.

Granted, getting the Boogie Monster will take youth and picks as the meat.... but send some potatos elsewhere to finish the plate.

Offer Warren, Chriss, and two tasty picks.....if that works, send Tucker and a pick away for that Holmes kid on Philly.
Or package up Len for a SF.... maybe see what Knight plus a pick would bring. More than one deal will be made as getting Boogie is an all in move by McD, that would blow up if DMC walked. Don't you think McD would hedge his bet and swap out another asset for an athletic SF who defends and shoots well? No way DMC walks away from a team that goes deep into the playoffs.... and no way McD would thumbuphisbutt through the next off season without yet more additions.

We'd have a solid core built around DMC and a team better than an Eigth seed that could be a load to deal with.


THEY wouldn't fear anyone.... it's you chicken****s here that have all but handed GState the banner for the next 3 years running.

IMO, there is no way Sarver and McD pass on this opportunity. There is a limit on what to give up, but but a big Boogie man in the hand, is much better than handful of picks and may be's in the bush.

... in no way would Sacramento accept that offer, and seeing the Suns go deep into the playoffs in either of the next two springs is virtually unfathomable—with or without Cousins. (And, of course, we just saw Durant walk away from a team that nearly reached the NBA Finals.)

I could easily see Cousins coming to Phoenix, the Suns improving somewhat yet still falling short of the playoffs, and Cousins becoming disenchanted and leaving in free agency.

Actually, though, I could not "easily" see Cousins coming to Phoenix, as I again do not believe that Sacramento would trade him within the Pacific Division if there is a reasonable alternative. And what message would the Kings be sending by trading him in the first year of their new arena, anyway?

In short, there is no likely scenario whereby Cousins becomes a Sun, nor should Phoenix possess any great desire for him given his future free agency and emotional immaturity.

[LukasBMW]

Who are we bidding against?

Warriors, Spurs, Clippers are all standing pat.

The Rockets, Blazers, and OKC could all become instant contenders on paper if they could somehow keep their top 2 guys and add Boogie, but their spare parts are not much better then ours. Harden/Boogie, Dame/CJ/Boogie, and especially Russ/Boogie are all scary combo's and we should make sure that none of those teams snag him for an offer that we could beat.

The East coast teams seem more likely as the Kings would probably want to trade him out of the conference. We all know Boston wants to make a splash, but they just signed Horford AND they can only offer what we can offer: Draft picks and spare parts.

We can compete in any trade for him as long as the price is reasonable. Given that assumption, I hope we are prepared to pull the trigger if the price is reasonable.

[kennydorglas]

I dont think we have enough to offer for them without gutting our future.
I'd stand pat for now. Wait for a better opportunity. Always buy low.

[GMATCallahan]

Who are we bidding against?

Warriors, Spurs, Clippers are all standing pat.

The Rockets, Blazers, and OKC could all become instant contenders on paper if they could somehow keep their top 2 guys and add Boogie, but their spare parts are not much better then ours. Harden/Boogie, Dame/CJ/Boogie, and especially Russ/Boogie are all scary combo's and we should make sure that none of those teams snag him for an offer that we could beat.

The East coast teams seem more likely as the Kings would probably want to trade him out of the conference. We all know Boston wants to make a splash, but they just signed Horford AND they can only offer what we can offer: Draft picks and spare parts.

We can compete in any trade for him as long as the price is reasonable. Given that assumption, I hope we are prepared to pull the trigger if the price is reasonable.

My guess is that the Kings will not trade Cousins this season (if at all), because they are in the first year of their new arena. I could be wrong, but most of the speculation is probably idle.

[ATTL]

Who are we bidding against?

Warriors, Spurs, Clippers are all standing pat.

The Rockets, Blazers, and OKC could all become instant contenders on paper if they could somehow keep their top 2 guys and add Boogie, but their spare parts are not much better then ours. Harden/Boogie, Dame/CJ/Boogie, and especially Russ/Boogie are all scary combo's and we should make sure that none of those teams snag him for an offer that we could beat.

The East coast teams seem more likely as the Kings would probably want to trade him out of the conference. We all know Boston wants to make a splash, but they just signed Horford AND they can only offer what we can offer: Draft picks and spare parts.

We can compete in any trade for him as long as the price is reasonable. Given that assumption, I hope we are prepared to pull the trigger if the price is reasonable.

My guess is that the Kings will not trade Cousins this season (if at all), because they are in the first year of their new arena. I could be wrong, but most of the speculation is probably idle.

Pretty sure that's right. Kings are trying to fill up that new arena as much as possible and trading their best player won't do that. They may be willing to mortgage more of their future to add middling pieces around boogie. We should be looking to do that since I dont think they're wanting to move cuz right now.