2020 Offseason Speculation, free agency, summer trades (keep draft prospect talk in draft thread)

[GoodBehavior]

I hardly think losing to Pistons and Warriors in the middle of a season where it doesn't look like we have the manpower to keep driving the team in a playoff race is the end of the world or that it means we're a bottom dweller for years to come.

We didn't play well against teams that we should confidently beat but it's just part of the NBA and even good teams go through these ruts during the long NBA season. Teams on our level are more susceptible to these ruts.

The Pistons and Warriors have nowhere close to the talent the Suns have, and beat the Suns. Decisively I might add, had it not been for the late Cam's barrage of 3. They did this on the road.

What does it say about this team that it lost to two of the worst teams in the league?

I am not saying this team is terrible. I am actually one of the optimist. But when you lose in that fashion, I think it's okay for people to think about alternatives. Like I mentioned before, I think the Booker issue is very fixable.

Sometimes it's more than talent. It's coaching, it's chemistry, it's health, it's shooting and sometimes, it's simply just one team playing better than the other on the night. Even then, it's a massive leap to think these two L's are indicative of what we're going to be going forward.

We are ranked #13 out of 15 teams in the West; one team ranked below are the Warriors, who will be back next year and contending for the title.

I say, we're definitely bottom dwellers.

[RunDogGun]

Read on Twitter

Looks like the Pistons will be claiming McRae ahead of the Suns.

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Is there any news on this? He was waived two days ago, right? It would really piss me off to no end, to not only lose the Detroit game, with Rose scoring huge, and then have Rose go out, and they bid ahead of us on a player who could help us.

[bwgood77]

I personally don't care to play the hypothetical trade Booker game. It's not productive, realistic and quite frankly, has no value in it. Star players don't grow on trees and the vast majority of them don't hit that super stardom tier anyway which you need in order to win a championship and even then, you're not guaranteed a title either. The fact is, winning a title requires more than one guy and trading a star level player in Booker for a vet, a young player and picks would have wasted the last 5 seasons of tanking and honestly, no one knows whether it would put us on a more solid path towards a championship.

I don't know if we can win multiple playoff series with Booker or not but the good thing is, he'd be a damn good #2 and we still have Ayton who's only this year starting to understand and feel like he belongs in the NBA. Booker might not be the elite star we hoped he would be but to discount his entire body of work and abilities on the court because he hasn't shown he can take over consistently and his defense is poor, would be throwing the baby out with the bath water.

We're not winning a championship this year or the next so let's show some patience with this squad and see if it can be good. If we're still not improving at the rate we need to then we can move on from Booker when he has a year or two left on his deal. Either way, to start thinking about moving him now is both premature and would be akin to panic selling.

We won't move him. The talk about it is when people say he will want to go to Minnesota or be traded somewhere. I doubt he will, but it obviously wouldn't be the end of the world if he did since we can't win 30 games with him as our main guy. We might get to that 30 win season at some point. Possibly this season. Maybe 35 in the future.

[bwgood77]

The Pistons and Warriors have nowhere close to the talent the Suns have, and beat the Suns. Decisively I might add, had it not been for the late Cam's barrage of 3. They did this on the road.

What does it say about this team that it lost to two of the worst teams in the league?

I am not saying this team is terrible. I am actually one of the optimist. But when you lose in that fashion, I think it's okay for people to think about alternatives. Like I mentioned before, I think the Booker issue is very fixable.

Sometimes it's more than talent. It's coaching, it's chemistry, it's health, it's shooting and sometimes, it's simply just one team playing better than the other on the night. Even then, it's a massive leap to think these two L's are indicative of what we're going to be going forward.

We are ranked #13 out of 15 teams in the West; one team ranked below are the Warriors, who will be back next year and contending for the title.

I say, we're definitely bottom dwellers.

Yeah, we have improved since last year, but obviously the teams behind us are missing major stars as well. Last year we had 14 more losses that anyone in the west. Sure we replaced TJ with Saric to get that real PF people wanted, Holmes with Baynes, and Melton with Rubio, and it's improved us quite a bit, but it's a tough conference to compete in, and if Towns, Curry and Klay were healthy, it would be tougher (and Lillard, Nurkic, the Kings injured players, etc).

We've obviously had injuries too but not to stars like the Wolves and Warriors have.

[RunDogGun]

We didn't have Ayton for 32 out of the 62 games we've played this year, and then all our bigs had injury issues. While we have had Booker for most of those 62 games, the loss of Ayton and the onslaught of injuries to our bigs destroyed this season. We started off great, and if Ayton didn't take himself out, and the domino effect that had on the team, coupled with not starting our best line up, I think we could have been above Dallas in the standings, with the right moves.

[WeekapaugGroove]

Sometimes it's more than talent. It's coaching, it's chemistry, it's health, it's shooting and sometimes, it's simply just one team playing better than the other on the night. Even then, it's a massive leap to think these two L's are indicative of what we're going to be going forward.

We are ranked #13 out of 15 teams in the West; one team ranked below are the Warriors, who will be back next year and contending for the title.

I say, we're definitely bottom dwellers.

Yeah, we have improved since last year, but obviously the teams behind us are missing major stars as well. Last year we had 14 more losses that anyone in the west. Sure we replaced TJ with Saric to get that real PF people wanted, Holmes with Baynes, and Melton with Rubio, and it's improved us quite a bit, but it's a tough conference to compete in, and if Towns, Curry and Klay were healthy, it would be tougher (and Lillard, Nurkic, the Kings injured players, etc).

We've obviously had injuries too but not to stars like the Wolves and Warriors have.

While you're not wrong it's so hard to predict what actually plays out with other teams. Like a year ago at this time we all probably thought Memphis would be sitting at last in the conference.

Teams will dramatically change this summer because that's just the way it goes in the NBA and some guys will get hurt next year too.

Basically if you want to make the playoffs you probably need to win 45-50 games. If you want to matter and get a playoff matchup you might win then you need 50-55 wins. If you do that it won't much matter what the rest of the conference does.

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[Gorilla Warfare]

We can’t even win a waiver claim...

[bwgood77]

We are ranked #13 out of 15 teams in the West; one team ranked below are the Warriors, who will be back next year and contending for the title.

I say, we're definitely bottom dwellers.

Yeah, we have improved since last year, but obviously the teams behind us are missing major stars as well. Last year we had 14 more losses that anyone in the west. Sure we replaced TJ with Saric to get that real PF people wanted, Holmes with Baynes, and Melton with Rubio, and it's improved us quite a bit, but it's a tough conference to compete in, and if Towns, Curry and Klay were healthy, it would be tougher (and Lillard, Nurkic, the Kings injured players, etc).

We've obviously had injuries too but not to stars like the Wolves and Warriors have.

While you're not wrong it's so hard to predict what actually plays out with other teams. Like a year ago at this time we all probably thought Memphis would be sitting at last in the conference.

Teams will dramatically change this summer because that's just the way it goes in the NBA and some guys will get hurt next year too.

Basically if you want to make the playoffs you probably need to win 45-50 games. If you want to matter and get a playoff matchup you might win then you need 50-55 wins. If you do that it won't much matter what the rest of the conference does.

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Well of course. But for us, winning 45-50 games is a tall order. Winning 35 games is a tall order. 55? I did predict Memphis to be one of two teams worse than us this year (along with Minnesota), so they are a team I was wrong about, and of course Curry going down was unpredictable.

[Frank Lee]

Sad sacking fan base that bemoans losing out on a waived player.... wtf ? He's an end of the bencher who would not likely figure into next yrs squad. We have guys on our pine that need to play. This season was over a when we did no trades then lost the OOB.
Play LeQ and Jerome, Oko and Carter...Cam should get 30 mins per...

its done boys (not like it really started)




Chuga chuga chuga

[lilfishi22]

The Pistons and Warriors have nowhere close to the talent the Suns have, and beat the Suns. Decisively I might add, had it not been for the late Cam's barrage of 3. They did this on the road.

What does it say about this team that it lost to two of the worst teams in the league?

I am not saying this team is terrible. I am actually one of the optimist. But when you lose in that fashion, I think it's okay for people to think about alternatives. Like I mentioned before, I think the Booker issue is very fixable.

Sometimes it's more than talent. It's coaching, it's chemistry, it's health, it's shooting and sometimes, it's simply just one team playing better than the other on the night. Even then, it's a massive leap to think these two L's are indicative of what we're going to be going forward.

We are ranked #13 out of 15 teams in the West; one team ranked below are the Warriors, who will be back next year and contending for the title.

I say, we're definitely bottom dwellers.

I mean that's an A-class organisation. The high chance that they are back in the playoff picture and possibly contending (I don't buy the contending part) is more indicative of a great organisation and structure more so than Steph or Klay coming back because neither guys are going to carry a team on their own to a deep playoff race. And neither will Booker.

My point is that the kind of turn around people are expecting from the Warriors is not because of any one player but because of two elite level players coming back and very likely their front office making good moves. Booker isn't all that but if we can't even compete in a playoff series during his tenure with the Suns, that's more indicative of the organisation failing him than him unable to carry us.

[WeekapaugGroove]

Sometimes it's more than talent. It's coaching, it's chemistry, it's health, it's shooting and sometimes, it's simply just one team playing better than the other on the night. Even then, it's a massive leap to think these two L's are indicative of what we're going to be going forward.

We are ranked #13 out of 15 teams in the West; one team ranked below are the Warriors, who will be back next year and contending for the title.

I say, we're definitely bottom dwellers.

I mean that's an A-class organisation. The high chance that they are back in the playoff picture and possibly contending (I don't buy the contending part) is more indicative of a great organisation and structure more so than Steph or Klay coming back because neither guys are going to carry a team on their own to a deep playoff race. And neither will Booker.

My point is that the kind of turn around people are expecting from the Warriors is not because of any one player but because of two elite level players coming back and very likely their front office making good moves. Booker isn't all that but if we can't even compete in a playoff series during his tenure with the Suns, that's more indicative of the organisation failing him than him unable to carry us.

I'm with you on skepticism that the warriors will be a contender next year. I've seen some media folks pencil them in at the top of the west next season and I'm not so sure. If healthy they should be good but Dray, Klay, and Curry are all in their 30s now with a lot of playoff miles on them. Not everyone is an unaging mutant like LeBron.

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[bwgood77]

We are ranked #13 out of 15 teams in the West; one team ranked below are the Warriors, who will be back next year and contending for the title.

I say, we're definitely bottom dwellers.

I mean that's an A-class organisation. The high chance that they are back in the playoff picture and possibly contending (I don't buy the contending part) is more indicative of a great organisation and structure more so than Steph or Klay coming back because neither guys are going to carry a team on their own to a deep playoff race. And neither will Booker.

My point is that the kind of turn around people are expecting from the Warriors is not because of any one player but because of two elite level players coming back and very likely their front office making good moves. Booker isn't all that but if we can't even compete in a playoff series during his tenure with the Suns, that's more indicative of the organisation failing him than him unable to carry us.

I'm with you on skepticism that the warriors will be a contender next year. I've seen some media folks pencil them in at the top of the west next season and I'm not so sure. If healthy they should be good but Dray, Klay, and Curry are all in their 30s now with a lot of playoff miles on them. Not everyone is an unaging mutant like LeBron.

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Interesting. I think they can be contenders if healthy. Top of the west with the Lakers and Clips stacked like they are and the Nuggets up there, I doubt they are at the top....but Curry, Klay and Dray swept Portland in the first round last year without Durant. They still were a pretty tough out for Toronto even after KD went down.

And yes, they have a lot of mileage, but these guys also know how to win, and have had a year off. Sure Klay and Curry will be coming off of injuries but both are basically already pretty much healthy, and get another 7 months off to prepare. Klay is only 29. Curry is a little older..he will be about the age Nash was in 06-07 and Nash had another 5 good years in him. Plus they have an injection of youth and a high pick. It's still the basic core that won 73 games. Sure they had 6th man Iggy and an older Bogut but this is the meat of the team. I certainly wouldn't count them out that easily if they stay healthy.

[bwgood77]

I guess ESPN listed their top 25 players under 25...they were listed at least up to 22 on the GB:

1 Luka
2 Zion
3 Tatum
4 Simmons
5 Towns
6 Mitchell
7 Morant
8 Trae
9 Ingram
10 Booker
11 Shai GA
12 Bam
13 J Brown
14 DLo
15 Fox
16 Lavine
17 JJJ
T18 Ayton
T18 J Murray
20 KP
21 Isaac
22 Sabonis

[lilfishi22]

I guess ESPN listed their top 25 players under 25...they were listed at least up to 22 on the GB:

1 Luka
2 Zion
3 Tatum
4 Simmons
5 Towns
6 Mitchell
7 Morant
8 Trae
9 Ingram
10 Booker
11 Shai GA
12 Bam
13 J Brown
14 DLo
15 Fox
16 Lavine
17 JJJ
T18 Ayton
T18 J Murray
20 KP
21 Isaac
22 Sabonis

Hmmm more or less agree.

[ATTL]

I guess ESPN listed their top 25 players under 25...they were listed at least up to 22 on the GB:

1 Luka
2 Zion
3 Tatum
4 Simmons
5 Towns
6 Mitchell
7 Morant
8 Trae
9 Ingram
10 Booker
11 Shai GA
12 Bam
13 J Brown
14 DLo
15 Fox
16 Lavine
17 JJJ
T18 Ayton
T18 J Murray
20 KP
21 Isaac
22 Sabonis

It's weird how towns gets a pass on his team success with him as the man.

[lilfishi22]

I guess ESPN listed their top 25 players under 25...they were listed at least up to 22 on the GB:

1 Luka
2 Zion
3 Tatum
4 Simmons
5 Towns
6 Mitchell
7 Morant
8 Trae
9 Ingram
10 Booker
11 Shai GA
12 Bam
13 J Brown
14 DLo
15 Fox
16 Lavine
17 JJJ
T18 Ayton
T18 J Murray
20 KP
21 Isaac
22 Sabonis

It's weird how towns gets a pass on his team success with him as the man.

Helps to be a two-time all-star, former #1 pick, made an all-NBA team and has been in the playoffs

[bwgood77]

I guess ESPN listed their top 25 players under 25...they were listed at least up to 22 on the GB:

1 Luka
2 Zion
3 Tatum
4 Simmons
5 Towns
6 Mitchell
7 Morant
8 Trae
9 Ingram
10 Booker
11 Shai GA
12 Bam
13 J Brown
14 DLo
15 Fox
16 Lavine
17 JJJ
T18 Ayton
T18 J Murray
20 KP
21 Isaac
22 Sabonis

It's weird how towns gets a pass on his team success with him as the man.

He has maybe the most elite #s from an efficiency standpoint of the group. 26.5, 10.8, 4.4 apg, 1.2 bpg (his lowest yet there but he's been injured too)....but also shooting over 41% on 3s on 8 attempts per game.

A 64.2% TS%. For a big that's not always impressive but when you find out he's shooting 8 3s a game it is. Plus 4.4 assists per game. He's probably the 2nd best passing true big in the NBA behind Jokic. I guess maybe 3rd now with Bam's sudden breakout.

But still, even Dirk only shot over 41% from 3, three times in his 21 year career and those were on 1.5, 3, and 2.2 attempts per game. Towns has like 3-5x the number of attempts.

[bwgood77]

Maybe we should just sign Jontay Porter with our open spot. Give him a couple of team option years. At this point, can't hurt.

[WeekapaugGroove]

Maybe we should just sign Jontay Porter with our open spot. Give him a couple of team option years. At this point, can't hurt.

Love this idea. I was super high on him before he blew out his knee twice. Hope he can make a recovery.

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[lilfishi22]

Maybe we should just sign Jontay Porter with our open spot. Give him a couple of team option years. At this point, can't hurt.

At this point, we should be doing what we can to find diamonds in the rough and Porter is a great idea. I loved that we gave Bolden a close look and I guess it didn't work out but I'm all for giving different guys a run just to see if there's anything there