2024-25 Season Discussion and Speculation

[ChuckS]

I've always believed our overall size, and starting three guards, were our biggest problems. I hoped we would get a comparable, 20 point, four before moving Beal, however. The only reason was that Beal kept our starting lineup at about 90 points per. This was within range of the better teams the last I checked. We "only" would give up about 15 when Boston has Porzingas.

Recently I thought Dunn might be a good compromise until and unless we could get another big. He would save a few points on defense and Brad is even better as a primary scorer. But using current averages my concern is that our starters lose 15 more points against the elite teams, and our rebounding will also suffer IMO.

In spite of all that, however, I like the improved size and Dunn's defense, and hope it is at least a good interim move, considering we've been changing starting lineups (because of injuries) like underwear. I just, personally, would keep Nurkic at the starting five, absent a pending trade.

[Saberestar]

Interview with Ira Winderman of the South Florida
Sun Sentinel on Sirius XM NBA Radio this morning.

When asked about the possibility of a Butler deal
with Phoenix:

"I do think what's happening now in Phoenix is
worth keeping an eye on, because let's face it:
For any Bradley Beal deal, he's not coming here
(Miami), but I know for a fact there's 3- and 4-way
combinations in play with Bradley Beal.

He has to waive his no trade clause. Well, what's
a good way to have a player want to waive his no
trade clause? Bench him. Play him off the bench
behind a player he clearly doesn't believe is better
than him. So I think a lot of these wheels are
starting to turn".

https://streamable.com/wwrj2y

[TeamTragic]

Interview with Ira Winderman of the South Florida
Sun Sentinel on Sirius XM NBA Radio this morning.

When asked about the possibility of a Butler deal
with Phoenix:

"I do think what's happening now in Phoenix is
worth keeping an eye on, because let's face it:
For any Bradley Beal deal, he's not coming here
(Miami), but I know for a fact there's 3- and 4-way
combinations in play with Bradley Beal.

He has to waive his no trade clause. Well, what's
a good way to have a player want to waive his no
trade clause? Bench him. Play him off the bench
behind a player he clearly doesn't believe is better
than him. So I think a lot of these wheels are
starting to turn".

https://streamable.com/wwrj2y

Definitely will be a 3/4 team deal as rumored.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Read on Twitter

These 3 man lineups are pretty dumb when you really look at them all. The one he lists of 8.9 is in 82 minutes

For example,

Morris, Okogie and Oso have a +30 in 77 minutes

Morris, Allen and Oso have a +28.5 in 77 minutes

Jones, Beal and Dunn have a +9.3 net rating in 105 minutes.

KD, Royce & Allen have a +12.8 in 93 minutes

Jones, Royce & Allen have a +11 in 129 minutes

Plumlee, Jones & Dunn have a +9.4 in 120 minutes

But clearly, if you look at all the data, our worst lineups are ones that consist of Beal and Jones playing together (except that one with Dunn). For some reason, every iteration, no matter the 3rd player, is bad. So yes, a lineup with both of them is too small.

Another thing that is pretty crazy and awesome is that almost every iteration of any lineup with Dunn in it is positive. He must be like one of those Shane Battier guys.

I guess for my part, it more about balancing out the roster with more defense energy and urgency while also simplifying players roles and hierarchy. It's also an indirect bonus for me that moving Beal to the bench should ( in theory) take some pressure off of Beal playing against other teams benches, it should dramatically boost our bench scoring numbers and provide better floor spacing and reduce turnovers by Beal not having to orchestrate our offense.

But more importantly, not adding to the complexity or confusion of how the offense should be run. And who of the big three should take the shot when they're all playing together in each possession or situation. Clear defined roles and hierarchy should reduce such confusion and tentativeness leading to turnovers.

With Jones orchestrating the offense for us as a starter, KD can be our top dog offensive option with Booker playing off him as a secondary elite weapon (sniper/etc). And Morris can orchestrate our bench offense with Beal focusing solely on offense so he can destroy other teams benches with his nuclear scoring ability and drives. Giving us a relentless explosive offensive attack.

[sunsbg]

^Exactly. I've mentioned a few times the Nuggets series as some evidence Booker/KD with CP3(Jones) lineup works. Roles are defined clearly. Beal as microwave scorer off the bench should work very well as long as he accepts it too.

[BobbieL]

Read on Twitter

Flex did say Kings/Pelicans are looking to make moves and Vuc is killing it out there.

Is there a way the Suns can trade Beal and NOT get Butler.

[bwgood77]

Read on Twitter

Flex did say Kings/Pelicans are looking to make moves and Vuc is killing it out there.

Is there a way the Suns can trade Beal and NOT get Butler.

Looks like right there you have your answer. Beal was not that 3rd star we need, but LaVine! The new big 3!

[DirtyDez]

Read on Twitter

Flex did say Kings/Pelicans are looking to make moves and Vuc is killing it out there.

Is there a way the Suns can trade Beal and NOT get Butler.

If Beal gets traded I’m sure that will be the outcome. Miami isn’t taking another team’s trash contracts.

[SunsRback4Good]

If Suns manage to get Butler with Vicuvic we’d become a true contender. No team would want to face us in a 7 game series including Boston, Cleveland and OKC. Let’s make it count fellas we only live once.. unless your a cat.

[Saberestar]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[Qwigglez]

Read on Twitter

Just throwing it out there but I'd trade Beal for Kawhi
If Lebron wanted play with KD, that is also fine...
(I kid, I kid)

Unsure what a trade with the Nuggets could look like, but MPJ and a couple of other pieces to make the salaries work. I was a fan of trying to get MPJ in his draft.

[Qwigglez]

Gambo also mentioned there could be other teams that could ultimately work for Beal. I mentioned previously that I think the Hawks make a lot of sense. They wanted to pair Trae Young with another guard and failed with Dejounte Murray because I believe they were too similar of a style. I think Beal makes a ton of sense with Trae Young since Beal played with John Wall and even Russel Westbrook. I think a three-team trade would make the most sense with Atlanta since they have Capela's expiring contract to work with, along with Larry Nance Jr. Additionally, they have Dejounte Murray trade exception, though I highly doubt they utilize it to its full extent. Jazz or Nets is who I would want to trade with personally.

Suns get -
Cam Johnson
Bogdan Bogdanovic

Nets get -
Clint Capela
Suns 2031 1st round pick unprotected

Hawks get -
Bradley Beal


Alternatively, Suns could get John Collins and Jordan Clarkson from the Jazz, meanwhile Jazz get Capela and the Suns 2031 1st.

[Qwigglez]

Flex did say Kings/Pelicans are looking to make moves and Vuc is killing it out there.

Is there a way the Suns can trade Beal and NOT get Butler.

Looks like right there you have your answer. Beal was not that 3rd star we need, but LaVine! The new big 3!

I prefer no big three. KD and Booker are just fine if they have the correct role players around them IMO. Three egos are tough to feed.

[bwgood77]

Read on Twitter

Just throwing it out there but I'd trade Beal for Kawhi
If Lebron wanted play with KD, that is also fine...
(I kid, I kid)

Unsure what a trade with the Nuggets could look like, but MPJ and a couple of other pieces to make the salaries work. I was a fan of trying to get MPJ in his draft.

I'd do that since we are going nowhere fast and KD would be the perfect 3rd guy if he was healthy, so even though he probably wouldn't be healthy, the upside is huge. He would be our best most clutch playoff guy, and that's saying a lot.

[Saberestar]

Read on Twitter

Just throwing it out there but I'd trade Beal for Kawhi
If Lebron wanted play with KD, that is also fine...
(I kid, I kid)

Unsure what a trade with the Nuggets could look like, but MPJ and a couple of other pieces to make the salaries work. I was a fan of trying to get MPJ in his draft.

What about...

MPJ + Nnaji for Beal + 2031 FRP + 3 2nds? It sounds realistic to me.

MPJ this season at $35M, 2025/26 at $38M and 2026/27 at $40M.

Nnaji has a $32M/4 years contract. This contract is so bad that can balance the difference between Beal and MPJ.

[bwgood77]

Ultimately since the Suns are SO active, I think teams like Memphis and maybe others will start to make more serious offers. I think Miami will likely ultimately trade him elsewhere given teams simply have a lot better assets than we do. There probably are some very young teams that would love that 31 pick, but not at the expense of sending out other good assets/salary (that Miami would want) and accept Beal. An he could nix it if it was such a team.

[Qwigglez]

What about...

MPJ + Nnaji for Beal + 2031 FRP + 3 2nds? It sounds realistic to me.

MPJ this season at $35M, 2025/26 at $38M and 2026/27 at $40M.

Nnaji has a $32M/4 years contract. This contract is so bad that can balance the difference between Beal and MPJ.

Why do the Suns have to give up a 1st for MPJ? I had to look up Nnaji, not sure why he got a second contract in the first place.

[Saberestar]

What about...

MPJ + Nnaji for Beal + 2031 FRP + 3 2nds? It sounds realistic to me.

MPJ this season at $35M, 2025/26 at $38M and 2026/27 at $40M.

Nnaji has a $32M/4 years contract. This contract is so bad that can balance the difference between Beal and MPJ.

Why do the Suns have to give up a 1st for MPJ? I had to look up Nnaji, not sure why he got a second contract in the first place.

MPJ is 26 years old and is better than Beal getting way less money per year. A 6'10 perimeter player...that's always a positive factor, he helps at rebounding.

[mkot]

What about...

MPJ + Nnaji for Beal + 2031 FRP + 3 2nds? It sounds realistic to me.

MPJ this season at $35M, 2025/26 at $38M and 2026/27 at $40M.

Nnaji has a $32M/4 years contract. This contract is so bad that can balance the difference between Beal and MPJ.

Why do the Suns have to give up a 1st for MPJ? I had to look up Nnaji, not sure why he got a second contract in the first place.

Because MPJ is the perfect fit alongside KD and Booker, low usage, high volume floor spacer.

Nanji is a twiner....too small to play the 5 and not quick/strong enough to play the 4. He can be a good pick and pop option but not much else. On defense he is a switchable defender with good instinct.

I'd take this trade 7 days a week and twice on Sunday. Denver probably say no though.

[BobbieL]

What about...

MPJ + Nnaji for Beal + 2031 FRP + 3 2nds? It sounds realistic to me.

MPJ this season at $35M, 2025/26 at $38M and 2026/27 at $40M.

Nnaji has a $32M/4 years contract. This contract is so bad that can balance the difference between Beal and MPJ.

Why do the Suns have to give up a 1st for MPJ? I had to look up Nnaji, not sure why he got a second contract in the first place.

Because MPJ is the perfect fit alongside KD and Booker, low usage, high volume floor spacer.

Nanji is a twiner....too small to play the 5 and not quick/strong enough to play the 4. He can be a good pick and pop option but not much else. On defense he is a switchable defender with good instinct.

I'd take this trade 7 days a week and twice on Sunday. Denver probably say no though.

Denver is not doing that trade. Nobody wants Bradley Beal - its a terrible contract

The Suns are stuck and trading the likes of Grayson Allen or Nurkic is just activity - not accomplishment

If the Suns want to accomplish - it starts with trading Booker and Durant and admitting the mistake.