2019 season speculation including trade ideas

[Desertfox]

Why the hell did we not sign Alan Williams as soon as we could? He would have been quite useful the last two games. Everyone is hyping up JJ when he's been way more lucky than good and has done absolutely nothing to bring in extra help when we need it. Its not like we would have to cut anyone or shell out a lot of money for Williams (or any other backup C out there).

As for Noah, I actually ran into him a couple months back in Big Sur. Looked old and out of basketball shape, don't think he is a viable option.

[NapoleonII]

I have a feeling this organization is still a little shell-shocked from losing Ayton to Ayton's stupidity and the league's nonchalance. Luka playing like a star doesn't help, either. The team's reserves are coming back down to earth and Rubio's health has been a real blow.

If Ayton was here, healthy, balling like he was in that first game, we'd have 2-4 more wins and be way more secure in the playoff hunt.

Dude needs to come back and stfu and play like an all-star.

[Ghost of Kleine]

The core issues that I see, that have put us in this situation are obviously:

1- Losing our top 3 starters.

2- Being a woefully unathletic team with Ayton, and Baynes.

3- Not having any true and legitimate shot creators in the absence of Rubio. Booker is good but not taking over games as a max contract player should. And the rest consist of basic average complimentary bench players at best.
4- Injuries are an unfortunate part of the NBA each season, However, We have yet to make the proper adjustments with respect to the roster to maintain our competitiveness and sustain momentum.

5- James Jones whole offensive strategy (or (gimmick) is predicated upon us having someone of Aytons' caliber to draw defenders into the post and create enough gravity for our shooters to be effective. But without Ayton or Baynes, We are basically rendered useless in that capacity, As both Saric and/or Kaminsky are not big shot makers and are average at best post players that offer minimal defensive resistance due to their lack of athleticism. The end result is an offense that is no longer dominant or effective. A minimal effort on defense due to lack of athleticism and intensity, And a general malaise or feeling sorry for themselves from missing key players that is resulting in the very poor defensive effort and the allowing of opposing teams to thusly get into a great offensive rythym against us, get their confidence up and go on big runs consistently. Meaning that we have to then further exhaust ourselves in order to constantly come back from large deficits and then start making more costly mistakes from sloppy play due to being fatigued.

The irony is that we have consistently put ourselves in that very situation by repeatedly not playing solid defense and showing some modicum of fight and intestinal fortitude. This is further evidenced by the ability of Diallo, Okobo, and even Carter bringing helping to cut our deficits and get us back into games with their energy and defense. Monty really needs to do his job, adapt the rotations to better promote roster prosperity in spite of this adversity. And he really needs to find a way to motivate this team and reinstill some fight and cohesiveness. In the meantime, When you're injured and bleeding out( metaphorically) it's important to stop the bleeding first and foremost and stabilize things. For us, that lies in picking up some more size, rebounding , and defensive tenacity ( rim protection)? By signing some unsigned big with that respective skillset such as Alan Williams, Jason Smith, Marcin Gortat, Deyonta Davis, Amir Johnson, Salaj Mejri, or Mo Speights or Tyler Zeller even!!

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/tommybeer/2019/09/01/an-updated-list-of-the-15-best-nba-free-agents-still-available-on-the-open-market/amp/.

The point is that you can sign a big man to a short contract ( 10 day or whatever really) to basically be a big body that can bang, rebound, contest shots and most importantly add 5 hard fouls. Again, in doing this, We can more easily deter opposing teams from blatantly abusing our current frontcourt bigs lack of defense and overall passivity. We also as a result of the tough play and fouls ( by signed big) will more easilybwear down and fatigue opposing players, resulting in more lapses in their defenses, sloppy play and poor defensive rotations that will provide us with more easy scoring opportunities and open shots. This will in turn lead to better offensive sets and increaed confidence that can help promote similar intensity and efficiency that we began the season with. And would hopefully also help us maintain some positive momentum until Aytons' Baynes, and Rubio's eventual return.

We need to make these very adjustments now! And not just try and ride out the storm, Banking that Aytons' return will instantly transform us back into the same team that started the season so dominantly. I really hope that Monty Williams and James Jones plan to aggressively rectify these issues before they foster more long term detrimental habits throughout the team.

[Kerrsed]

Im not stressed one bit.

Look, 1st game of the season we DOMINATED. Ayton played phenomenal. He was taken away from us. From that point we still competed night in and night out. Whether it was our starters or our bench, we came to play and were in every single game up until the final buzzer, besting and competing with the leagues top teams. We lose our starting PG and our "New" starting C.....and we are still competing. We are still keeping up with these teams. We've lost 7 games and combining all the points we have lost by, in our losses we are only behind 6.4 points on average. Thats like 2 or 3 possessions.

Fact is we have an almost new squad of players, a new coach, and a new system. Playing the way we have usually takes years to adjust to all those factors, yet we have totally bought in and done so in a single offseason. We will be fine people.

[bwgood77]

Why the hell did we not sign Alan Williams as soon as we could? He would have been quite useful the last two games. Everyone is hyping up JJ when he's been way more lucky than good and has done absolutely nothing to bring in extra help when we need it. Its not like we would have to cut anyone or shell out a lot of money for Williams (or any other backup C out there).

As for Noah, I actually ran into him a couple months back in Big Sur. Looked old and out of basketball shape, don't think he is a viable option.

Alan Williams is currently playing for a Russian team btw.

[lilfishi22]

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I like it

[El Hespiritu]

Playing the way we have usually takes years to adjust to all those factors, yet we have totally bought in and done so in a single offseason. We will be fine people.

I hear you.

Is often hard for me to take Late pre Season games as a valid sample for what we're going to get long term but I'm feeling good vibes.

I'm specially amazed for the level of defensive (I mean Team Defense, what is entirely different from individual defensive skills) commitment this roster is displaying.

Surprised with Papi Onda. He made me re-think my previous (bad) opinion about him.

D-Book's current attitude is not exactly a surprise... a Best Case Scenario made true instead.
No matter how of a big fanboy of Rubio, Tormund and Dancing Kami I am and no matter how high ceiling anyone is foreseeing in DeUretic Ayton, let's be real:

This team will go so far as D-Book push it. Not an inch more.

Maybe it's just wishful thinking but D-Book looks now to me more of a team guy and less of a one-army-man.
That, in my conception of Basketball, is the best could happen to Black Troll Suns.


Addendo: for your consideration, I made this signature under your style's influence.

[Crives]

No Layman... we have a chance

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?s=21

[bwgood77]

No Layman... we have a chance

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?s=21

Covington out is enormous. He's easily their 2nd most important player. Wiggins has been playing great but Covington holds that team together defensively.

If we have Baynes and especially Rubio we should be fine.

Also, if Okogie is out, he is another defender they will miss and Culver will have to play a lot. He's been playing ok, but not great.

Towns will be hard to stop and if Wiggins is hot, it will still be tough since they still have a top 10-12 player and Wiggins has been playing so well. Even Teague seems to be playing pretty well so they have their PG and two key scorers.

Another game we just need to move the ball and hit our shots. Obviously Rubio and Baynes help moving the ball and Baynes with the shots (with his screens and hitting 3s).

[Crives]

No Layman... we have a chance

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?s=21

Covington out is enormous. He's easily their 2nd most important player. Wiggins has been playing great but Covington holds that team together defensively.

If we have Baynes and especially Rubio we should be fine.

Also, if Okogie is out, he is another defender they will miss and Culver will have to play a lot. He's been playing ok, but not great.

Towns will be hard to stop and if Wiggins is hot, it will still be tough since they still have a top 10-12 player and Wiggins has been playing so well. Even Teague seems to be playing pretty well so they have their PG and two key scorers.

Another game we just need to move the ball and hit our shots. Obviously Rubio and Baynes help moving the ball and Baynes with the shots (with his screens and hitting 3s).

Even Baynes will be a bad matchup for Towns (can’t guard the perimeter). Going to really miss Aytons foot speed in this one.. luckily Laymen the suns killer is out.. with Covington out Book will have a much easier time.. if Book isn’t injured with that knee bangup.

[Saberestar]

No Layman... we have a chance

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?s=21

Covington out is enormous. He's easily their 2nd most important player. Wiggins has been playing great but Covington holds that team together defensively.

If we have Baynes and especially Rubio we should be fine.

Also, if Okogie is out, he is another defender they will miss and Culver will have to play a lot. He's been playing ok, but not great.

Towns will be hard to stop and if Wiggins is hot, it will still be tough since they still have a top 10-12 player and Wiggins has been playing so well. Even Teague seems to be playing pretty well so they have their PG and two key scorers.

Another game we just need to move the ball and hit our shots. Obviously Rubio and Baynes help moving the ball and Baynes with the shots (with his screens and hitting 3s).

Baynes out again.

Read on Twitter

[Dual]

What a week...

[sunskerr]

It's such a Suns thing isn't it? We finally upgrade our roster and now we lose all our new players to injury.

[bwgood77]

No Layman... we have a chance

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?s=21

Covington out is enormous. He's easily their 2nd most important player. Wiggins has been playing great but Covington holds that team together defensively.

If we have Baynes and especially Rubio we should be fine.

Also, if Okogie is out, he is another defender they will miss and Culver will have to play a lot. He's been playing ok, but not great.

Towns will be hard to stop and if Wiggins is hot, it will still be tough since they still have a top 10-12 player and Wiggins has been playing so well. Even Teague seems to be playing pretty well so they have their PG and two key scorers.

Another game we just need to move the ball and hit our shots. Obviously Rubio and Baynes help moving the ball and Baynes with the shots (with his screens and hitting 3s).

Even Baynes will be a bad matchup for Towns (can’t guard the perimeter). Going to really miss Aytons foot speed in this one.. luckily Laymen the suns killer is out.. with Covington out Book will have a much easier time.. if Book isn’t injured with that knee bangup.

Of course ideally you have Ayton. I'm more talking about banging inside. Baynes isn't too bad at moving around but he probably doesn't have the length to block 3s from a C...nor does anyone really....MAYBE Ayton but still doubtful. You just have to bother him a lot...swipe at the ball early, stay close, etc, even it it's a wing that switches onto him or a PF, but neither of them are very good defenders.

[bwgood77]

No Layman... we have a chance

Read on Twitter

?s=21

Covington out is enormous. He's easily their 2nd most important player. Wiggins has been playing great but Covington holds that team together defensively.

If we have Baynes and especially Rubio we should be fine.

Also, if Okogie is out, he is another defender they will miss and Culver will have to play a lot. He's been playing ok, but not great.

Towns will be hard to stop and if Wiggins is hot, it will still be tough since they still have a top 10-12 player and Wiggins has been playing so well. Even Teague seems to be playing pretty well so they have their PG and two key scorers.

Another game we just need to move the ball and hit our shots. Obviously Rubio and Baynes help moving the ball and Baynes with the shots (with his screens and hitting 3s).

Baynes out again.

Read on Twitter

We will need a lot of Diallo....not sure how good he is with chases guys around perimeter but seems pretty athletic and has the same wingspan as Ayton (7'5) and a 9'0 standing reach so if anyone has the length to stick on Towns, it's him.

[Saberestar]

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[Crives]

At least the kings/spurs are losing tonight

[ATTL]

How are there no official updates on baynes time table? They always give estimates for injuries but its been really quiet on aron

[spanishninja]

How are there no official updates on baynes time table? They always give estimates for injuries but its been really quiet on aron

it's annoying. yahoo fantasy just switched him to injured. it's hard to fault him for being out though as he has been used and abused in every one of his games. even the toughest guys have a limit.

[Revived]

At least the kings/spurs are losing tonight

You may do as you wish but it’s probably less stressful to realize that the Suns are likely not going to make playoffs in the incredibly tough West by overcoming these key absences. 3 of their arguably top 4 players are gonna miss 15 games+ (at the very minimum) this season from the looks of it.

This season can still be a success even without making the playoffs and winning 35-40 games.

Maybe it’s “loser mentality” but for me, this is much less stressful and more fun way to watch the games. I don’t have the “Oh their not gonna make playoffs then why even watch” mentality The important thing for me is to see the system that Monty Williams implements and then the progress in the 2 best players, Booker, & Ayton and then seeing what Cam and Jerome can show flashes of in their first season in the league.