Season Speculation, Trade Ideas & Discussion Pt. 6

[WeekapaugGroove]

Read on Twitter

This should give everyone a good laugh. So much to be said about this article. Starting with the fact that the Lakers actually think Lonzo is an asset. I doubt any team would trade for him right now.

I personally wouldn’t trade a flat half drunken can of pepsi for Lonzo. Lakers are stuck with his sorry a$$.

Oh for **** sake. The big lead is trash but this is even dumb by their standards.

[kennydorglas]

Read on Twitter

This should give everyone a good laugh. So much to be said about this article. Starting with the fact that the Lakers actually think Lonzo is an asset. I doubt any team would trade for him right now.

I personally wouldn’t trade a flat half drunken can of pepsi for Lonzo. Lakers are stuck with his sorry a$$.

whewwwww

[BobbieL]

Read on Twitter

This should give everyone a good laugh. So much to be said about this article. Starting with the fact that the Lakers actually think Lonzo is an asset. I doubt any team would trade for him right now.

I personally wouldn’t trade a flat half drunken can of pepsi for Lonzo. Lakers are stuck with his sorry a$$.

My problem so far with Lonzo Ball - and I get its a very small sample size between UCLA and the Lakers: He plays with an almost non chalant style that borders on complete arrogance and complete lack of respect for the game and the players. The times of passes he makes. The way he shoots his shot. Again, maybe I am over-reading his playing style but he needs a comeuppance to come back to reality.

People compare him to Kidd. And the reasons they do that: bi-racial, California, bigger PGs, maybe not the best shooter (the main reason is of course they are bi-racial) - but Kidd played with a passion in college and carried that to the NBA. I don't see the comparison at all.

yes Ball has vision and talent to pass the ball but he needs to change his demeanor

[Sreister]

Read on Twitter

This should give everyone a good laugh. So much to be said about this article. Starting with the fact that the Lakers actually think Lonzo is an asset. I doubt any team would trade for him right now.

I personally wouldn’t trade a flat half drunken can of pepsi for Lonzo. Lakers are stuck with his sorry a$$.

My problem so far with Lonzo Ball - and I get its a very small sample size between UCLA and the Lakers: He plays with an almost non chalant style that borders on complete arrogance and complete lack of respect for the game and the players. The times of passes he makes. The way he shoots his shot. Again, maybe I am over-reading his playing style but he needs a comeuppance to come back to reality.

People compare him to Kidd. And the reasons they do that: bi-racial, California, bigger PGs, maybe not the best shooter (the main reason is of course they are bi-racial) - but Kidd played with a passion in college and carried that to the NBA. I don't see the comparison at all.

yes Ball has vision and talent to pass the ball but he needs to change his demeanor

You're right in that he gets the comparison because he is a bigger PG, but moreso that he is a pass first PG and can't shoot. Not sure it's because he's biracial and from California. (maybe to an extent, but their games are similar, minus the fire you also spoke about)

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Read on Twitter

This should give everyone a good laugh. So much to be said about this article. Starting with the fact that the Lakers actually think Lonzo is an asset. I doubt any team would trade for him right now.

I personally wouldn’t trade a flat half drunken can of pepsi for Lonzo. Lakers are stuck with his sorry a$$.

My problem so far with Lonzo Ball - and I get its a very small sample size between UCLA and the Lakers: He plays with an almost non chalant style that borders on complete arrogance and complete lack of respect for the game and the players. The times of passes he makes. The way he shoots his shot. Again, maybe I am over-reading his playing style but he needs a comeuppance to come back to reality.

People compare him to Kidd. And the reasons they do that: bi-racial, California, bigger PGs, maybe not the best shooter (the main reason is of course they are bi-racial) - but Kidd played with a passion in college and carried that to the NBA. I don't see the comparison at all.

yes Ball has vision and talent to pass the ball but he needs to change his demeanor

Ball needs to add about 15 pounds and he needs to work on his shot (don't know how, really... change form? more reps? which of these is actually a step forward?), but most of all, he needs to put his dad in his place. He needs to drop BBB, he needs to stop charging $200 for signatures, he needs to state publicly that his dad does not represent him or his views, and that he is responsible for his own career.

Lavar is toxic and Lonzo needs to stand up to him. Grow up, kid. This is ridiculous.

[Sunzgunz]

Obviously too soon to be sold on Elfrid, but if he continues to put up solid numbers until seasons end, does that change our draft strategy?

I think the Heat will give us the 12 or 13 spot and the bucks will give us that 16 or 17 spot. Do we go after a 4 and 5 in this deep 4/5 draft?

I think that 7 spot has a lot value without carrying the weight of a top 3 or top 5 pick, but you can still get a 'potential' generational type player who could have arguably been a top 3 or 5 pick. Looking at the number 7 in most mocks usually has one of the 4 in this spot: bagley, bamba, porter and *young ...not a 4 or 5, but great value pick!

We potentially have 4 picks that would require a roster spot (high 1st, heat, bucks and a high 2nd). Quality over quantity?

Option 1: heat pick plus bucks pick for the number 7? Is that too much, not enough? We still have a high 2nd to offer? Ayton or Docnic with any of those 4 at 7 seems legit.

Option 2: heat pick plus suns high 2nd round pick and chriss for number 7? Im guessing, lets say, ayton, porter or bagley, and bender would make Chriss the odd man out? Then take Shai, Simmons or Mitchell with the bucks pick.

Or

Option 3: bucks pick, marquisse chriss, suns early 2nd round pick, another filler pick and or player and maybe grab an ayton, bagley/porter/bamba an colin sexton with the heat pick...unless we get Young.

I dunno....not even sure how to determine 7 spot value from a trading standpoint, but I think its an attractive and obtainable spot.

[ATTL]

If the heat pick is late lotto I would trade the suns pick in 2019 with minimal protection to move up into the top 7 if we can. I don't like the 2019 draft much and think any of the top 7 would be riggt there with 19's draft.

[bwgood77]

Read on Twitter

This should give everyone a good laugh. So much to be said about this article. Starting with the fact that the Lakers actually think Lonzo is an asset. I doubt any team would trade for him right now.

I personally wouldn’t trade a flat half drunken can of pepsi for Lonzo. Lakers are stuck with his sorry a$$.

There was a thread on the trade board about who had more trade value between Ball and Donovan Mitchell and it was somewhat even, though Mitchell won out.

This was after Mitchell basically won out on a similar conversation regarding him and Booker.

But yeah, for us and even many or most fans, it's laughable.

[bwgood77]

Obviously too soon to be sold on Elfrid, but if he continues to put up solid numbers until seasons end, does that change our draft strategy?

I think the Heat will give us the 12 or 13 spot and the bucks will give us that 16 or 17 spot. Do we go after a 4 and 5 in this deep 4/5 draft?

I think that 7 spot has a lot value without carrying the weight of a top 3 or top 5 pick, but you can still get a 'potential' generational type player who could have arguably been a top 3 or 5 pick. Looking at the number 7 in most mocks usually has one of the 4 in this spot: bagley, bamba, porter and *young ...not a 4 or 5, but great value pick!

We potentially have 4 picks that would require a roster spot (high 1st, heat, bucks and a high 2nd). Quality over quantity?

Option 1: heat pick plus bucks pick for the number 7? Is that too much, not enough? We still have a high 2nd to offer? Ayton or Docnic with any of those 4 at 7 seems legit.

Option 2: heat pick plus suns high 2nd round pick and chriss for number 7? Im guessing, lets say, ayton, porter or bagley, and bender would make Chriss the odd man out? Then take Shai, Simmons or Mitchell with the bucks pick.

Or

Option 3: bucks pick, marquisse chriss, suns early 2nd round pick, another filler pick and or player and maybe grab an ayton, bagley/porter/bamba an colin sexton with the heat pick...unless we get Young.

I dunno....not even sure how to determine 7 spot value from a trading standpoint, but I think its an attractive and obtainable spot.

We probably won't get the Bucks pick and the Heat pick will likely be in the late teens. And no team in the top 7 is trading out of this stacked top 7 draft for a pick in the teens and a pick next year. They need talent now too....the bottom 8 teams are all really bad.

[JDLAW]

There is no upside for Booker to wait for his big payday. Even suggesting such an idea to him and his agent would go over like a lead balloon. The extension has already been mentioned in the local press and Booker has stated he would sign it. The Suns have been selling Booker as their franchise cornerstone and star and to suggest he goes another year being underpaid (as compared to his draft class) sends a very negative message to him, the general fanbase, and the season ticket holder base (I am a member and Booker's presence was a big selling point). It also suggests to Booker he does not even deserve the same treatment that Warren got, who extended after his third year.

With respect to financial, it would be a big hit to Booker from which he could not recover. You can do the math, but deferring $25M for a year and assuming he has the same career length - the money is never recoverable. As pointed out, an injury scenario would be devastating.

Finally, the last thing you want is for him to hit free agency, even if the Suns have rights of first refusal. Other teams get a chance to recruit him for unrestricted free agency and potentially set the calendar for when he becomes one. Does anyone even think the notion of pursuing an unknown free agent by preserving cap space is worth this? No amount of sitting down with him and "explaining" will undo the negative messages. Actions are much louder than words.

This is an idiotic notion that needs to be put to rest - 6 feet under.

You seem to be suggesting he would get a huge raise next year that he wouldn't get if he waited. No one was suggesting he forego any money. His pay increase wouldn't be until the 2019-20 season regardless of when he signed it. It was just a delay in signing on the dotted line his max extension that would start in 19-20....do it in late 18 or summer of 19?

If your understanding was that he would be giving up $25 million, then obviously of course there is no way we would suggest such a scenario to him. Warren isn't making any more money right now than he would have had he signed the same deal with his extension this coming summer...and he'd make the same next year.

That wasn't the thought of him waiting.

But you are mostly right regarding everything else...that it might send a bad message since it has been mentioned in the press, he has been basically marketed as the franchise player, there is a small chance he might rather have a shorter deal with an opt out or player option after a couple of years after another bad year, etc.....the potential injury...for many reasons it doesn't make sense for him or us to wait. I doubt we'd land a max guy anyway and have calculated we could carve out $20+ million regardless anyway with the extension.

My response was not directed at your comments as you do not seem to be a proponent of this. In reading the relevant postings it seems there were two threads a suggestion that he wait to sign his extension until next year and then one more ludicrous one that he wait until the end of his RFA season. He is currently under contract for next year. The Suns have exercised its option for next year. If he doesn't sign an extension in the off season, he cannot sign one until he becomes a restricted free agent. In this circumstance, it its a poor practice for the reasons I have stated. The other suggestion was that he play through his RFA season. This is even dumber. The delay in his signing an extension to the end of his RFA season allows him to talk to the other teams even if Suns have a right to match. Bad practice for a franchise matter. There was a suggestion that he and the Suns have some back-room handshake agreement deal to allow the Suns to be a bigger player in the free agent market next year and the following. These are unenforceable. My response was directed at these suggestions. You along with many of the posters have knowledge that these flights of fancy are often foolish and often contrary to the CBA and its rules.

[lilfishi22]

There is no upside for Booker to wait for his big payday. Even suggesting such an idea to him and his agent would go over like a lead balloon. The extension has already been mentioned in the local press and Booker has stated he would sign it. The Suns have been selling Booker as their franchise cornerstone and star and to suggest he goes another year being underpaid (as compared to his draft class) sends a very negative message to him, the general fanbase, and the season ticket holder base (I am a member and Booker's presence was a big selling point). It also suggests to Booker he does not even deserve the same treatment that Warren got, who extended after his third year.

With respect to financial, it would be a big hit to Booker from which he could not recover. You can do the math, but deferring $25M for a year and assuming he has the same career length - the money is never recoverable. As pointed out, an injury scenario would be devastating.

Finally, the last thing you want is for him to hit free agency, even if the Suns have rights of first refusal. Other teams get a chance to recruit him for unrestricted free agency and potentially set the calendar for when he becomes one. Does anyone even think the notion of pursuing an unknown free agent by preserving cap space is worth this? No amount of sitting down with him and "explaining" will undo the negative messages. Actions are much louder than words.

This is an idiotic notion that needs to be put to rest - 6 feet under.

No one really expects him *not* to sign his extension. But if he did agree to delay his extension by a year, there's potentially a lot we could do roster wise. Not saying he'll buy into it but imo approaching the topic is not a negative because it's not like we're withholding the deal and forcing him to defer. The money is STILL on the table, the extension is STILL on the table and it's more likely just an option that he can choose to or not take.

FWIW I was the first to suggest this as an option

[Qwigglez]

I'm not sure anyone suggested Booker not get his contract by at least next off-season. That would never happen unless Booker simply refused to sign, but I doubt it.

This is what Leonard and the Spurs did.

Restricted free agent Kawhi Leonard has agreed in principal to a five-year maximum contract with the San Antonio Spurs that should be worth more than $90 million, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.

The Spurs could've inked Leonard, the No. 2 free agent on our list, to a maximum extension last summer after he won NBA Finals MVP, but instead chose to wait in order to maintain more flexibility this offseason. There was an understanding in place between the two parties, so Leonard was always expected to return.

https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2015/7/1/8802781/kawhi-leonard-free-agency-san-antonio-spurs

So if Leonard signed after his 3rd year the Spurs wouldn't have been able to sign Aldridge. Also, Leonard still got his full max, no difference if he had signed one year earlier. Leonard didn't even take calls from other teams while being a RFA.

Basically what the Suns can do with Booker, and I don't see any reason why Booker wouldn't at least listen. I don't think he has much of an ego to take insult to it, he can just say no and that he would prefer to get the extension done right away. Booker being as competitive as he is, I would assume he understands the scenario and would appreciate any help he can get.

[Kerrsed]

Read on Twitter

Bye-Bye Beastmode Bender and that wonderful spacing.

[Wilber85]

I wouldn't trade Josh Jackson for Ball right now.

[Mulhollanddrive]

So Payton, Jackson, Warren, Bender, Len.

[Qwigglez]

I would consider trading Payton for Ball, but even that is risky. Don't really want Lavar around or his brothers.

[thamadkant]

I wouldn't trade Josh Jackson for Ball right now.

Thsts a no brainer.
I wouldn't trade Elfrid Payton for Ball... That's my take.

[Sunzgunz]

Obviously too soon to be sold on Elfrid, but if he continues to put up solid numbers until seasons end, does that change our draft strategy?

I think the Heat will give us the 12 or 13 spot and the bucks will give us that 16 or 17 spot. Do we go after a 4 and 5 in this deep 4/5 draft?

I think that 7 spot has a lot value without carrying the weight of a top 3 or top 5 pick, but you can still get a 'potential' generational type player who could have arguably been a top 3 or 5 pick. Looking at the number 7 in most mocks usually has one of the 4 in this spot: bagley, bamba, porter and *young ...not a 4 or 5, but great value pick!

We potentially have 4 picks that would require a roster spot (high 1st, heat, bucks and a high 2nd). Quality over quantity?

Option 1: heat pick plus bucks pick for the number 7? Is that too much, not enough? We still have a high 2nd to offer? Ayton or Docnic with any of those 4 at 7 seems legit.

Option 2: heat pick plus suns high 2nd round pick and chriss for number 7? Im guessing, lets say, ayton, porter or bagley, and bender would make Chriss the odd man out? Then take Shai, Simmons or Mitchell with the bucks pick.

Or

Option 3: bucks pick, marquisse chriss, suns early 2nd round pick, another filler pick and or player and maybe grab an ayton, bagley/porter/bamba an colin sexton with the heat pick...unless we get Young.

I dunno....not even sure how to determine 7 spot value from a trading standpoint, but I think its an attractive and obtainable spot.

We probably won't get the Bucks pick and the Heat pick will likely be in the late teens. And no team in the top 7 is trading out of this stacked top 7 draft for a pick in the teens and a pick next year. They need talent now too....the bottom 8 teams are all really bad.

I disagree. Heat could be 12 through 14; buck pick im not as sold on, but i think 16 or 17 is possible.

The 12th, 16th, *31st and Chriss for the number 7 maybe? I dont know for certain if any team will, but i know you dont know for certain every team wont

[lilfishi22]

I would consider trading Payton for Ball, but even that is risky. Don't really want Lavar around or his brothers.

Not sure if I could handle it as a fan. TBH I think what he's saying is crazy but I think a percentage of that is overshadowed/drowned out just by being near the circus that is Hollywood and I think Lavar recognises that. If Lonzo was traded to a smaller market like Milwaukee or Phoenix or something where they won't get as much national attention, I'd imagine he'd go even more over the top just to get headlines.

[Qwigglez]

I think Chriss may have 2nd round pick kind of value right now. The Kings couldn't even offload PapaG and had to waive him. That draft class was just bad (so far).

Anyway, I wouldn't trade Chriss just yet, maybe he finds that motivation again because his career kind of depends on it.