2014 Official FA Thread 2

[JJ13]

Why would he, as a small forward, have a problem in the Western Conference? Who is is competition? Batum Leonard, Gay…? Are you saying he's afraid of these players?

It's pretty clear he's referring to the much superior western conference. Arguing with that is just arguing for the sake of arguing.

Another inane comment from you. Maybe you'd like to instruct me on how to respond?

I know what he is referring to. The point remains the same. He is without peer at the small forward spot in the WC. I have a hard time believing LeBorn is afraid of anything on the basketball court and have a hard time believing he would not believe he could elevate the Suns to one of the top teams in the West. When Jordan played the East was considered stronger than the west. He did not shy away from the competition for an easier path.

Going to go out on a limb and say what I'm guessing many readers/posters are thinking...this board is a lot less enjoyable with all your know-it-all dickishness

[AZWildByNature]

"@WojYahooNBA: Kyle Lowry has agreed to a 4 year, $48M contract to stay with Toronto, sources tell Yahoo."

There goes Lowry...

[SSOL]

Lowry 4 for $48 with the raptors

[matt131]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/484531648940085250[/tweet]

yes yes yes yes

[Sunsdeuce]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/wojyahoonba/status/484531648940085250[/tweet]

[Split T]

Why would he, as a small forward, have a problem in the Western Conference? Who is is competition? Batum Leonard, Gay…? Are you saying he's afraid of these players?

It's not his direct competition, (you did leave out Kahwi Leonard who was a terror in the Finals), but the fact that in the East he has an easier road through Indiana and Chicago than in the West where he'd have to go through the Clips, Rockets, Spurs and Thunder, not to mention other strong teams like Dallas and Golden State.

I did not leave him out.

You did leave out Durant

[Split T]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/wojyahoonba/status/484531648940085250[/tweet]

Well that sets the baseline for Bledsoe, he's better than lowry, but I think we all knew bled would get at least 12 a year.

[PassWarden]

I'm with Barkley, I really think our biggest competition for his services are the Cavaliers. The one place where I could actually see "loyalty" screwing us over.

[letsgosuns]

The Lowry news is good for two reasons. One, it takes away a major target for Miami. Two, it is not a max contract and should help with Bledsoe's market value.

[Barkley6]

So Wade and Bosh might stay in Miami. 14mil a year for Wade, and 15mil starting off for Bosh. Then they get Luol Deng for 12mil.

Even if we just add Lebron to our team, it's still pretty scary. I'd like to keep Frye if any other big name free agents don't wanna join him. I wonder if Pau would like to play with that roster, at maybe 30mil/3years. I really don't want to see him going to the Spurs, but I said during the playoffs that I could see them making a run at him.

Is this a feasible lineup?
Dragic/Ennis
Bledsoe/Goodwin
Lebron/Green/Warren/Marcus
Frye/Kieff
Pau/Plumlee/Len

If that's the case, the Suns would still have aprox. 7-10m to spend depending on how much you brought Frye back for. Doubt they leave that much room open, there are GOOD players to be had for that much, so in theory that team, while a championship contender already could still add another quality rotation player.

Lol. Suns wouldn't have room for another role player.

Actually, we could put Ray Allen in there so our back court on our bench isn't so inexperienced.

I was going to say that that team could probably use another shooter, but I'm not enticed by the idea of an 87 year old Ray Allen. I'd rather have someone who can grow a little with the team.

[Qwigglez]

Allen is still captain clutch. And it's always been a wet dream of mine to have him on the Suns squad, no matter the age. I think Lebron would like his company as well. Allen, I'd say, was one of the most consistent Heat players during their entire playoff run, and their season.

[JDLAW]

The Lakers need to decide on a course to pursue and do so. Chasing RFAs who are likely to be matched (Suns will not let Bledsoe go to the Lakers for nothing) is futile. My observation is that the Lakers have very little to sell to a free agent right now except their heritage and Los Angles itself. They are clearly in a rebuilding state and right now they are sitting around and waiting for Carmelo.

The team is so devoid of talent, adding a Bledsoe at a max salary is not going to make the Lakers attractive to the Durant's of the world. I am not sure Bledsoe would want to play for the Lakers in their current state. They need to assemble a team with a direction as opposed to vagabond players playing on 1-2 year contracts built around Kobe.

I believe there is a power struggle going on in the Laker organization between Jimmy and Jeanie Buss and both are being pulled on by Kobe who is like Brett Farve in his dying days with the Packers and Nash in his last days with the Suns. Kobe wants to win now and no one is crossing him in that organization. He was largely responsible for the firing of D'Antoni and the departure of Howard.

It won't make them a competitive team but with Kobe done in a couple of seasons, they need at least one good player . You can't show up for dinner with Durant and hope to recruit him with a postcard of LA and a max offer. It's not gonna get it done. I'm not saying they would secure Bledsoe with a max offer, but I'd imagine at the very least, they send out an offer just to show Kobe they aren't just sitting on their hands waiting for Kobe to retire.

I agree you cannot go there with the cupboard bare and I think we agree on that. I do think they want to make a run at Love when he becomes a free agent next year and they will not be able to do that with Kobe at $25M and Bledsoe at $16+ (second year of a max salary). Despite having cap space, they are not terribly flexible this year with their cap. They have 5 players at $37M committed. Add in the charges for 8 open roster spots and they are at $41M. If they were to get an RFA at the max, they'd be at $ 57M leaving $6M to spend on 7 players. It's not much of a team.

[JDLAW]

It's pretty clear he's referring to the much superior western conference. Arguing with that is just arguing for the sake of arguing.

Another inane comment from you. Maybe you'd like to instruct me on how to respond?

I know what he is referring to. The point remains the same. He is without peer at the small forward spot in the WC. I have a hard time believing LeBorn is afraid of anything on the basketball court and have a hard time believing he would not believe he could elevate the Suns to one of the top teams in the West. When Jordan played the East was considered stronger than the west. He did not shy away from the competition for an easier path.

Going to go out on a limb and say what I'm guessing many readers/posters are thinking...this board is a lot less enjoyable with all your know-it-all dickishness

Maybe you just need to bring your level of knowledge up and not worry about others. I think a lot of others like what I post. I'll leave it to you to figure out why I draw that conclusion.

[JDLAW]

It's not his direct competition, (you did leave out Kahwi Leonard who was a terror in the Finals), but the fact that in the East he has an easier road through Indiana and Chicago than in the West where he'd have to go through the Clips, Rockets, Spurs and Thunder, not to mention other strong teams like Dallas and Golden State.

I did not leave him out.

You did leave out Durant

Yes I did an oversight. Would you not like to see 4 games a year between the Suns with Bledsoe Dragic and LBJ and the cast of characters and OKC with Westbrook, Durant and Ibaka. This would be epic and must watch.

[Kerrsed]

Well Lebron gave Miami a timeline to improve the team before he even considers re-signing there, and they have added.......uh........NOBODY! It seems like most of the major targets that they talked about being interested in have signed elsewhere (Lowery/Gortat).

The good news for them is that some of their other targets are still free agents! Steve Blake, VC, Marion, Marvin Williams, Ariza are all still available somehow!

[Qwigglez]

I think since the Suns haven't made serious contact with any free agents like the Rockets/Mavs/Bulls did, it makes Phoenix more appealing to Lebron as we our clearly showing him he's our No 1 interest. For some reason, I think that goes a long way.

[King4Day]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/celticscenter/status/484457344340721664[/tweet]
Ok so I sent a tweet to gambo he then immediately tweeted it to these guys, who In turn tweeted this.

Celtics get Dragic but they aren't certain who the Celtics get. Interesting...

To me, this would make no sense. Why take back a PG who can't shoot for another guard who can? It would hurt us IMO. I really hope this isn't true.

It is not true - it makes no sense. Dragic is better than Rondo and less expensive.

Yea I know. I was just mocking their overuse of the Celtics.

[Jdiddy701]

Something tells me tomorrow will be good... Nash's deal with the lakers came on 4th of July. Hold on everyone.....


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[Blackification]

I think since the Suns haven't made serious contact with any free agents like the Rockets/Mavs/Bulls did, it makes Phoenix more appealing to Lebron as we our clearly showing him he's our No 1 interest. For some reason, I think that goes a long way.

Even better is that McD is in go big or go home mode. Don't waste your money on someone who isn't a superstar.

[NaturalBuns]

Miami has everything they just need a couple scorers
I can see nick young going to Miami that would be a pretty underrated move