2019 season speculation including trade ideas

[sunsbg]

Id like us to rehire McDonough so we can fire him again. And again. And again and again and again.

Luka Luka Luka. We are never going to live this down. It's so bad. It really is. I'm not sure I'll ever get over it. And I preach against being rabid fans, and realize it's just sports and it's not my life. But I have my own life, it's fine and I have my own hobbies and am pretty good now at what I'm working on. But I can't get over it. That's how bad it is. It's not Artest putback bad- it's 2007 Donaghy & Suspensions bad.

Please go and get Towns. Guy looks like a generational player. Maybe then it will be safe to look at a Suns vs Mavs box score again.

Easier to wait 8-9 more games and see how box scores look like with Ayton in the lineup. It's not like your generational talent is leading the Wolves to anything better with a player of Booker's caliber on his team.

[Saberestar]

Meanwhile the Lakers had at one point had a 35 point lead on Washington, the same team that couldn’t miss a shot against us and we made them look like Eastern conference contenders..

That was our worst game of the season by far. That Wizards team is one of the worst teams, his record says it all. Sorry but no sorry. We were at home and rested...but who cares if we could not defend at all.

It is sad that we are gonna have three "easy" games now, because we are exacty in our worst momentum. We are 1W-6L since that 7-4 start, with two consecutive losses at home.

It is the moment to step up and win games. These next three games are REALLY important.

[bwgood77]

Id like us to rehire McDonough so we can fire him again. And again. And again and again and again.

Luka Luka Luka. We are never going to live this down. It's so bad. It really is. I'm not sure I'll ever get over it. And I preach against being rabid fans, and realize it's just sports and it's not my life. But I have my own life, it's fine and I have my own hobbies and am pretty good now at what I'm working on. But I can't get over it. That's how bad it is. It's not Artest putback bad- it's 2007 Donaghy & Suspensions bad.

Please go and get Towns. Guy looks like a generational player. Maybe then it will be safe to look at a Suns vs Mavs box score again.

The TWolves are ahead of us right now. They are not trading Towns and may be building a good team themselves if Wiggins continues to improve and Culver gets better. They can draft a PG in this deep class, and maybe even play Culver a bit as a ball handler too. They may even end up with Russell, though I don't know if that would make them a lot better...no way should they trade Covington for him and probably should hang onto Culver over him too with his contract and chance to improve.

[bwgood77]

Id like us to rehire McDonough so we can fire him again. And again. And again and again and again.

Luka Luka Luka. We are never going to live this down. It's so bad. It really is. I'm not sure I'll ever get over it. And I preach against being rabid fans, and realize it's just sports and it's not my life. But I have my own life, it's fine and I have my own hobbies and am pretty good now at what I'm working on. But I can't get over it. That's how bad it is. It's not Artest putback bad- it's 2007 Donaghy & Suspensions bad.

Please go and get Towns. Guy looks like a generational player. Maybe then it will be safe to look at a Suns vs Mavs box score again.

Easier to wait 8-9 more games and see how box scores look like with Ayton in the lineup. It's not like your generational talent is leading the Wolves to anything better with a player of Booker's caliber on his team.

I wonder what our record would look like with Ayton in the lineup. I was thinking instead of 8-10 maybe more like 12-6 but he probably wouldn't give us that many more wins...though on the other hand while also missing Baynes we were a different team starting Kaminsky so we probably win one before Baynes went out, like the close Utah and Denver games, and then take the game against the Pelicans and probably the Wizards...so probably 11-7. Most of the other games were out of hand. Possibly the 2nd Kings game since we destroyed them the first time. So maybe 12-6. We will probably lose 1 more because of it too and miss the playoffs by like 1 or 2 games. Maybe we can jump in the lottery big time if we do it.

Maybe a PG like Anthony, Hampton or Mannion as PG of the future or if we get a pick late lotto can get our PF, like Okongwu, who is averaging over 3 blocks a game in 27 minutes. Don't know that I want to sign Saric to a long contract. Still wish we got Clarke.

[sunsbg]

Id like us to rehire McDonough so we can fire him again. And again. And again and again and again.

Luka Luka Luka. We are never going to live this down. It's so bad. It really is. I'm not sure I'll ever get over it. And I preach against being rabid fans, and realize it's just sports and it's not my life. But I have my own life, it's fine and I have my own hobbies and am pretty good now at what I'm working on. But I can't get over it. That's how bad it is. It's not Artest putback bad- it's 2007 Donaghy & Suspensions bad.

Please go and get Towns. Guy looks like a generational player. Maybe then it will be safe to look at a Suns vs Mavs box score again.

Easier to wait 8-9 more games and see how box scores look like with Ayton in the lineup. It's not like your generational talent is leading the Wolves to anything better with a player of Booker's caliber on his team.

I wonder what our record would look like with Ayton in the lineup. I was thinking instead of 8-10 maybe more like 12-6 but he probably wouldn't give us that many more wins...though on the other hand while also missing Baynes we were a different team starting Kaminsky so we probably win one before Baynes went out, like the close Utah and Denver games, and then take the game against the Pelicans and probably the Wizards...so probably 11-7. Most of the other games were out of hand. Possibly the 2nd Kings game since we destroyed them the first time. So maybe 12-6. We will probably lose 1 more because of it too and miss the playoffs by like 1 or 2 games. Maybe we can jump in the lottery big time if we do it.

Maybe a PG like Anthony, Hampton or Mannion as PG of the future or if we get a pick late lotto can get our PF, like Okongwu, who is averaging over 3 blocks a game in 27 minutes. Don't know that I want to sign Saric to a long contract. Still wish we got Clarke.

Our record would have been better than Wolves' record. We are definitely better if everyone is playing, so let's hope the team wins at least half the games until Ayton is back. That stretch of games between 09-14.12 against 8th seed contenders is especially important.

On another note, you always look so high on Clarke, you probably would have picked him before Morant. His stats look great, but I would like to see him against starters before making big conclusions. Saric is average and inconsistent, but he looks better on paper next to Ayton with his passing and ability to spread the floor on a good volume.

[bwgood77]

I said in the draft prospect watch thread after our strong start that I'm still looking at the range of 12-18 with our draft pick. I stand by that, no matter the awsome start, nor the letdown in the last couple games. Average is still .500ish, north or south doesn't really matter in the regard of our draftpick being in my projected range.
Ofcourse it does matter in every other way if we are a playoff team or not, lottery or not, but I'm not too concerned in this regard, just as I wasn't OVERLY hyped after our hot start.

I predicted 32-50 for us so even a 500 season for us will be a major step and better than I projected, but the problem is we may lose Baynes and our PFs next year. You just hope our young guys grow enough to help that. I am happy to find Diallo though and to see the Okobo improvement. And then Jerome being back should help. Need to find that PF though if we don't keep Saric, though I suspect Monty will want to keep him and he's only 25 so should get better and historically has slow starts to seasons, which hopefully can change if we do keep him.

I was around that number BEFORE the season started, so I guess we are on the same page here. Now I'm around .500 (I think between 38-43 wins), which will get us in that range in the lottery. That should get us a decent PF in the lottery, or through trade if we do not keep Saric. Or we might just address the issue with a TJ trade before the deadline.

I had the Mavs winning 7 more games than us, at 39-43...I think we probably both get 7-10 more wins than I projected...perhaps us any more if we can win these next few and stick around or over 500 before Ayton returns. Mavs schedule will get tougher, but they are still very tough, especially when Kristaps is more on, and may beat a lot of good teams. viewtopic.php?f=27&t=1895328#p78697593

538 has Mavs projected for 50-32 and us projected for 40-42, missing the playoffs by 1 game...Pelicans getting the 8th spot, and OKC only 1 game behind us. https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2020-nba-predictions/?ex_cid=rrpromo..easiest to see sorting by record.

[bwgood77]

Easier to wait 8-9 more games and see how box scores look like with Ayton in the lineup. It's not like your generational talent is leading the Wolves to anything better with a player of Booker's caliber on his team.

I wonder what our record would look like with Ayton in the lineup. I was thinking instead of 8-10 maybe more like 12-6 but he probably wouldn't give us that many more wins...though on the other hand while also missing Baynes we were a different team starting Kaminsky so we probably win one before Baynes went out, like the close Utah and Denver games, and then take the game against the Pelicans and probably the Wizards...so probably 11-7. Most of the other games were out of hand. Possibly the 2nd Kings game since we destroyed them the first time. So maybe 12-6. We will probably lose 1 more because of it too and miss the playoffs by like 1 or 2 games. Maybe we can jump in the lottery big time if we do it.

Maybe a PG like Anthony, Hampton or Mannion as PG of the future or if we get a pick late lotto can get our PF, like Okongwu, who is averaging over 3 blocks a game in 27 minutes. Don't know that I want to sign Saric to a long contract. Still wish we got Clarke.

Our record would have been better than Wolves' record. We are definitely better if everyone is playing, so let's hope the team wins at least half the games until Ayton is back. That stretch of games between 09-14.12 against 8th seed contenders is especially important.

On another note, you always look so high on Clarke, you probably would have picked him before Morant. His stats look great, but I would like to see him against starters before making big conclusions. Saric is average and inconsistent, but he looks better on paper next to Ayton with his passing and ability to spread the floor on a good volume.

No, I would have picked Morant. I had him ahead of Clarke a few weeks before the draft. We may need a PF more if we don't keep Saric, and with Rubio here, along with Jerome, and then a great PG class coming in. Tankathon has us projected to take Tyrese Halliburton at 16...so making the playoffs and getting him...look at his per 36 #s here...over 9 apg and 3 spg, so that would be nice. http://www.tankathon.com/mock_draft

I won't be surprised if Okobo keeps getting better though and could start post Rubio, and be good. Jerome remains to be seen too.

[Qwigglez]

Here's a trade that allows us to get Blake without giving up much of our future.

Suns get Blake Griffin, Pistons get Tyler Johnson, Dario Saric, Frank Kaminsky, Jevon Carter, 2021 1st (top 10 13 protection).

The Pistons are 6-13, and 2-5 with Blake Griffin the lineup. I've been trying to watch the Pistons a bit lately to see if Griffin is worth going after, and I think he still is. He's not the player he was 3-4 years ago, he's adapted, and he plays much more below the rim then in his earlier days. Ideally, he gives us yet another playmaker to go along with Rubio & Booker, and he's probably one of the best bigs in the game to create for others. We give up a ton of depth in our frontcourt, but Diallo has proven to be a very capable backup. Carter likely won't see the rotation much soon anyway with Jerome coming back.

This would be our rotation
Rubio / Okobo
Booker / Jerome
Oubre / Cam
Griffin / Bridges / Diallo
Ayton / Baynes

Only player we'd need to keep in free agency is Baynes. Our cap space without him with this entire roster coming back would be at $123.7 mil, with the salary cap being projected at $116 mil. The luxury tax is projected to be at $141 mil, so we could likely sign Baynes to $8 mil a year for two or three years, and could still use part of the MLE on a veteran free agent.

[spanishninja]

Here's a trade that allows us to get Blake without giving up much of our future.

Suns get Blake Griffin, Pistons get Tyler Johnson, Dario Saric, Frank Kaminsky, Jevon Carter, 2021 1st (top 10 13 protection).

The Pistons are 6-13, and 2-5 with Blake Griffin the lineup. I've been trying to watch the Pistons a bit lately to see if Griffin is worth going after, and I think he still is. He's not the player he was 3-4 years ago, he's adapted, and he plays much more below the rim then in his earlier days. Ideally, he gives us yet another playmaker to go along with Rubio & Booker, and he's probably one of the best bigs in the game to create for others. We give up a ton of depth in our frontcourt, but Diallo has proven to be a very capable backup. Carter likely won't see the rotation much soon anyway with Jerome coming back.

This would be our rotation
Rubio / Okobo
Booker / Jerome
Oubre / Cam
Griffin / Bridges / Diallo
Ayton / Baynes

Only player we'd need to keep in free agency is Baynes. Our cap space without him with this entire roster coming back would be at $123.7 mil, with the salary cap being projected at $116 mil. The luxury tax is projected to be at $141 mil, so we could likely sign Baynes to $8 mil a year for two or three years, and could still use part of the MLE on a veteran free agent.

I think today's game highly favors a guy like current Griffin. stretch ability, can pass and handle the ball. if we are still preferring to be good sooner rather than later, we should take a shot on him. not only would he help with our overall talent level, but he would revitalize the buzz around the team that has died down significantly since October.

[Blonde]

We’re now tied in record with the Kings. We’ve been missing Ayton but they’ve had Fox and Bagley gone most of the year. I imagine they’ll be better than us when we're both fully healthy.

[bwgood77]

We’re now tied in record with the Kings. We’ve been missing Ayton but they’ve had Fox and Bagley gone most of the year. I imagine they’ll be better than us when we're both fully healthy.

We beat them pretty bad opening night and it appears we were both pretty healthy.

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401160654

[Blonde]

We’re now tied in record with the Kings. We’ve been missing Ayton but they’ve had Fox and Bagley gone most of the year. I imagine they’ll be better than us when we're both fully healthy.

We beat them pretty bad opening night and it appears we were both pretty healthy.

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401160654

Yeah I was there, I know. But that was over a month ago and now they’re playing at a high level and we, well.... aren’t.

[bwgood77]

We’re now tied in record with the Kings. We’ve been missing Ayton but they’ve had Fox and Bagley gone most of the year. I imagine they’ll be better than us when we're both fully healthy.

We beat them pretty bad opening night and it appears we were both pretty healthy.

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401160654

Yeah I was there, I know. But that was over a month ago and now they’re playing at a high level and we, well.... aren’t.

I guess I did predict they would be better, and perhaps we overachieved, or people overlooked us, so maybe you are right, but we are better than I thought we would be.

[Airseven]

To answer the poll question - Booker isn’t sniffing an all star game.

[Calvin Klein]

No All Star for Book if things keep going the way they are right now.

[Saberestar]

No All Star for Book if things keep going the way they are right now.

Ok, so no All Star for Lillard. And no All Star for Bradley Beal.

The All Star is about the best players, no some players from the Top 10 teams in the league. Do you prefer Bledsoe over Beal in the All Star because his team is 17W-3L?

The winning record is important, but it is not everything.

8W-10L is a decent record ( I expected a worse record after 18 games) and Booker is playing REALLY well. Enough to be an All Star IMO.

[Qwigglez]

To answer the poll question - Booker isn’t sniffing an all star game.

Care to elaborate?

Last year's Western Conference All-Stars...

Spoiler:

Steph Curry
James Harden
Kevin Durant
Paul George
Lebron James

Russell Westbrook
Damian Lillard
Klay Thompson
Anthony Davis
Lamarcus Aldridge
Nikola Jokic
Karl Anthony Towns

Curry, Klay aren't going to make it, and Durant is in the East. Booker has had pretty solid numbers throughout his entire career but everyone says he doesn't make the all-star team based on being on a losing team. Well right now record wise the Suns are better than the Blazers and Spurs so you could potentially take off Lillard and LMA. Obviously Doncic is making the all-star team, likely starting, and Kawhi too, but that still leaves 3 open all-star spots. D-Lo isn't making the all-star team either. There really isn't as much competition this year, so I'm not sure who makes it over Booker as of now.

[bwgood77]

To answer the poll question - Booker isn’t sniffing an all star game.

Care to elaborate?

Last year's Western Conference All-Stars...

Spoiler:

Steph Curry
James Harden
Kevin Durant
Paul George
Lebron James

Russell Westbrook
Damian Lillard
Klay Thompson
Anthony Davis
Lamarcus Aldridge
Nikola Jokic
Karl Anthony Towns

Curry, Klay aren't going to make it, and Durant is in the East. Booker has had pretty solid numbers throughout his entire career but everyone says he doesn't make the all-star team based on being on a losing team. Well right now record wise the Suns are better than the Blazers and Spurs so you could potentially take off Lillard and LMA. Obviously Doncic is making the all-star team, likely starting, and Kawhi too, but that still leaves 3 open all-star spots. D-Lo isn't making the all-star team either. There really isn't as much competition this year, so I'm not sure who makes it over Booker as of now.

Yeah, if everyone was healthy, probably not, but with no Curry, Klay, and Durant, that leaves:

Doncic

Then 2 of

Gobert
Aldridge
Booker
Lillard
Westbrook

I was originally thinking Lillard would definitely make it, after your posts, and that Westbrook probably wouldn't. I did a comparison of Booker, Lillard and Westbrook, and I definitely think Lillard makes it. And Westbrook's #s are a little better than I thought. Aldridge's #s are about the same as last year so I wouldn't for sure count him out. Gobert I thought might after people thinking he got snubbed...but he is having a worse year.

http://bkref.com/tiny/aQvAA

So all in all I thought the 3 spots would be taken by Doncic, Lillard and then a toss up. I think it's very borderline. I voted no on the poll originally, mostly because I think it would have to be clear cut but also because we seem to be playing more team ball and he isn't really carrying us, and when we miss others, we can lose to avg teams. But he is playing better than ever.

If the players rate him really high this year he has a good chance. I think it really is a toss up and depends on whether people still want to reward guys like Aldridge and Westbrook. Aldridge is averaging more blocks and is shooting 3s fairly well, but is down in rebounds.

[Revived]

No All Star for Book if things keep going the way they are right now.

Ok, so no All Star for Lillard. And no All Star for Bradley Beal.

The All Star is about the best players, no some players from the Top 10 teams in the league. Do you prefer Bledsoe over Beal in the All Star because his team is 17W-3L?

The winning record is important, but it is not everything.

8W-10L is a decent record ( I expected a worse record after 18 games) and Booker is playing REALLY well. Enough to be an All Star IMO.

No it’s not. The All Star game has always and will forever be a popularity contest. This has been proven right time and time again.

Kobe was among the very top leading vote leaders in years where he sat out with the Achilles injury or was rather mediocre when he was old as hell.

[Saberestar]

No All Star for Book if things keep going the way they are right now.

Ok, so no All Star for Lillard. And no All Star for Bradley Beal.

The All Star is about the best players, no some players from the Top 10 teams in the league. Do you prefer Bledsoe over Beal in the All Star because his team is 17W-3L?

The winning record is important, but it is not everything.

8W-10L is a decent record ( I expected a worse record after 18 games) and Booker is playing REALLY well. Enough to be an All Star IMO.

No it’s not. The All Star game has always and will forever be a popularity contest. This has been proven right time and time again.

Kobe was among the very top leading vote leaders in years where he sat out with the Achilles injury or was rather mediocre when he was old as hell.

That is only for the starters. The ten players that fans want to watch the most.