The 2016 Offseason Thread

theSUNalsoRISES · Post #1661 » by **theSUNalsoRISES** » Tue Sep 27, 2016 11:48 pm

NTB wrote:http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-am-executives-on-the-hot-seat/

Do you think McDonough is on the hot seat? I don't.

Only in the sense it is now he's team. no-one on roster has been inherited. But yeah not close to be fired. Maybe if coach Watson doesn't turn out there may be some issues and we have a dragic trust issue. However, Id say he is in a safer spot than most GM. Funny how some GM get forgiven for their failures.(Morey and Presti)

letsgosuns · Post #1662 » by **letsgosuns** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 12:00 am

The thought of McDonough being fired this season is ridiculous. Not many teams if any had a better draft. The Suns did very well in free agency. Outside of landing Durant, there was no one out there I would have rather gotten than what the Suns got. Their cap space is intact for next season and they did not give out any stupid contracts like half the league did.

The number one guy that I think should be on the hot seat is Phil Jackson and he was not even on that list. What has he done for the Knicks since he was hired? Nothing good I can think of. Look at what he did this offseason. Traded for Rose who has not done anything in years. Gave a big contract to Noah who is already way past his prime and had injuries. Hired Hornacek as the coach and we all know about Hornacek. The Knicks should have blown it up and built the team around Porzingis.

Post #1663 » by **lilfishi22** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 12:21 am

When looking at McD's work over the past years, it's impressive. His drafting has been excellent, his signings and trades have been above average overall and even his coach signings could be seen has a positive overall. But he hasn't produced results outside of that one 48 win season which some call a fluke. GM's are generally seen to be on the hot seat if they haven't sniffed playoffs after 3-4 seasons, especially if the franchise is a historically winning one. Even Hinkie in that long term rebuilding project in Philly eventually got pushed out. That's really the only reason why he may be on the seat.

I personally think his job is safe but we also have Sarver as the owner of the team and it's a matter of how much patience he has for a rebuilding project. He didn't buy this team to watch it miss playoffs for half a decade after being one of the most winningest team in NBA history.

letsgosuns · Post #1664 » by **letsgosuns** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 12:35 am

I think Sarver has no one to blame but himself when it comes to missing the playoffs. He is the one that hired the atrocious combination of Blanks and Babby. He is the one that signed off on giving Michael Beasley a three year contract and make him a focal point of the team.

Look at how many people left the organization and won championships elsewhere. Marion, Diaw, Barbosa, Jones, Frye, Kerr, Gentry, David Griffin, Collins. No matter how big or small any one of their contributions were to their team, they still won. While they were off winning championships, Sarver made so many awful moves and let a lot of good people get away. Hopefully he learned from that and will not be making those mistakes again. So therefore, I would not put much blame on McDonough for the failures of this organization.

NTB · Post #1665 » by **NTB** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 5:53 am

Read on Twitter

NTB · Post #1666 » by **NTB** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 6:01 am

“If not there, he’s really close,” McDonough said of Knight’s health. “He looks more like that guy.

“Last year, he settled a lot for jab stepbacks (jump shots) and things like that just because he didn’t feel like he had the burst to get to the paint, get to the free-throw line, absorb contact, bounce back up without potentially aggravating an injury.”

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2016/09/27/phoenix-suns-brandon-knight-looks-his-best/91173960/

KPCB34 · Post #1667 » by **KPCB34** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 6:05 am

I am really pleased to see that Knight has come to accept a role off the bench and hopefully him and the rest of the team can stay healthy this season

NTB · Post #1668 » by **NTB** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 6:21 am

I still think Knight is gonna start though.

letsgosuns · Post #1669 » by **letsgosuns** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 6:29 am

The biggest reason to start Booker over Knight, regardless of talent or skills, is because of height. It is much better to have a starting backcourt of 6'1" and 6'6" instead of 6'1" and 6'3". Look at how tall some of the best Suns backcourts of the past 25 years were:

K. Johnson: 6'1"
Majerle: 6'6"

Kidd: 6'4"
Hardaway: 6'7"

Nash: 6'3"
J. Johnson: 6'7"

Nash: 6'3"
Bell: 6'5"

*Edit*
Forgot to add
Nash: 6'3"
Richardson: 6'6"

A Bledsoe/Booker backcourt matches the height of the K. Johnson/Majerle backcourt. Imo, that is extremely important. No matter how skilled a player is, if that player is undersized at the particular position, it is very difficult to guard the position. We saw it with Bledsoe/Dragic and Bledsoe/Knight last year how much of a disadvantage an undersized backcourt can be on defense. Now obviously there are exceptions if the undersized players are historically great players and/or defenders like Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars, but that is like the only example I can think of off the top of my head. I am much more confident that the Suns can match up against great teams in the league if they have a big starting backcourt

Post #1670 » by **batsmasher** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 6:29 am

NTB wrote:I still think Knight is gonna start though.

Agreed. He is acting like a leader. He probably earns an opening night start..... and hopefully doesn't play badly enough to lose it.

It's really good that we have strong competition in the backcourt. I wouldn't call it a log jam because I believe all of Book/BK/LB/Ulis are prepared to sacrifice for the team.

Damkac · Post #1671 » by **Damkac** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 6:47 am

Only way Knight is starting is if Booker would start at SF.

NTB · Post #1672 » by **NTB** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 5:17 pm

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2016/09/27/phoenix-suns-earl-watson-shows-tough-love-defense-camp/91199528/

Nice read.

NTB · Post #1673 » by **NTB** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 5:31 pm

http://arizonasports.com/player/?a=325490

Bledsoe at Burns & Gambo if anyone didn't listen.

Zelaznyrules · Post #1674 » by **Zelaznyrules** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 5:33 pm

Damkac wrote:Only way Knight is starting is if Booker would start at SF.

I'm not saying it will happen but if Knight outplays Booker and especially if he beats him out as a defender, I'm pretty sure we'll see Knight starting. Watson would lose this team if he stressed defense and allowed someone to start that wasn't getting it done at that end of the court. But like I said, I don't expect that to be the case. Booker is a very smart player and appears to have a great work ethic so I expect him to start at the 2 or the 3.

Dambo · Post #1675 » by **Dambo** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 6:13 pm

So what does our rotation look like right now?
seems kinda weird to me to see knight off the bench though.

NTB · Post #1676 » by **NTB** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 6:26 pm

Dambo wrote:So what does our rotation look like right now?
seems kinda weird to me to see knight off the bench though.

Bledsoe / Ulis
Knight / Booker / Barbosa / Goodwin / Jenkins(?)
Warren / Tucker
Dudley / Bender / Chriss
Chandler / Len / Williams

Walt_Uoob · Post #1677 » by **Walt_Uoob** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 8:01 pm

NTB wrote:
Dambo wrote:So what does our rotation look like right now?
seems kinda weird to me to see knight off the bench though.

Bledsoe / Ulis
Knight / Booker / Barbosa / Goodwin / Jenkins(?)
Warren / Tucker
Dudley / Bender / Chriss
Chandler / Len / Williams

Seems about right but I think a lot of people on this board are overestimating how much we'll see Ulis on the court. I bet in actuality Knight, Barbosa, and possibly Goodwin will be in front of Ulis in the PG rotation. But we'll see.

jcsunsfan · Post #1678 » by **jcsunsfan** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 8:10 pm

NTB wrote:
Dambo wrote:So what does our rotation look like right now?
seems kinda weird to me to see knight off the bench though.

Bledsoe / Ulis
Knight / Booker / Barbosa / Goodwin / Jenkins(?)
Warren / Tucker
Dudley / Bender / Chriss
Chandler / Len / Williams

This is what I expect it to be opening night. I am including players at multiple positions because it will better reflect the reality of the rotation.

Bledsoe, Knight, Ulis
Knight, Booker, Barbosa, Jenkins
Booker, Warren, Bender, Tucker (injured)
Dudley, Bender, Warren, Chriss
Chandler, Len, Williams

Jarlaxle0204 · Post #1679 » by **Jarlaxle0204** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 8:32 pm

I think that's pretty close. I think Len should probably start over Chandler but can definitely see Chandler getting the nod early in the season.

letsgosuns · Post #1680 » by **letsgosuns** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 8:57 pm

Idk what the Suns starting lineup will be on opening night, but I think at some point the future, the starting lineup will look something like this:

Bledsoe
Booker
Warren
Bender
Len

or

Bledsoe
Booker
Bender
Chriss
Len

Both of those lineups, especially the second, will be so huge and versatile and should be able to play great defense. It may not happen this year, but I envision it could in the future if the new rookies play well. How many teams in the league potentially have a frontline that is 7'1", 6'10", and 7'1". Idk. Not many if there even is another team out there. That would be the biggest Suns team in franchise history if I am not mistaken.