2020 Offseason Speculation, free agency, summer trades (keep draft prospect talk in draft thread)

[Fo-Real]

KAT'S Mother passed!!!! Jesus!!! R.I.P!!

[Years90Suns]

I know the world is in peril right now BUT THIS A BASKETBALL FOURM!!! LOL That said, with all this idle time, I sure hope Cam is taking the opportunity to clang some IRON in his down time. Would be awesome to see him especially, but also Bridges and Ayton add some man mover in the couple months of interim offseason.

I do not think Cam needs more muscle. I would like to see him play at the 3 position mostly and playing at the 4 spot is something I do not understand.
I would love seeing him develope a much better dribbling, passing and better defensive skills.

[Kerrsed]

I have no idea why, but i posted the Booker vs Ayton highlights and it was changed to a marble race. So here i am re-posting it again for anyone that missed it.

Watch on YouTube

[King4Day]

https://arizonasports.com/story/2295772/suns-booker-sweeps-ayton-to-win-nba-2k20-players-only-tournament/

Nice to see that DA used the Suns in the semi's to make the finals though.

I loved this too. The fact that fans were so all over Beverly about winning this because of his personality.
I understand why Booker didn't pick Phoenix, I just wish he reacted better. Say that it depends on matchups right now or something. His reaction was basically him saying 'lol no thanks'.

Ayton eliminating Beverly with them was magic. He picked 2 teams Beverly didn't expect. Basically toyed with him.
I wish DA beat Booker but I'll take 2 Suns in the finals.

[Wilber85]

https://arizonasports.com/story/2295772/suns-booker-sweeps-ayton-to-win-nba-2k20-players-only-tournament/

Nice to see that DA used the Suns in the semi's to make the finals though.

I loved this too. The fact that fans were so all over Beverly about winning this because of his personality.
I understand why Booker didn't pick Phoenix, I just wish he reacted better. Say that it depends on matchups right now or something. His reaction was basically him saying 'lol no thanks'.

Ayton eliminating Beverly with them was magic. He picked 2 teams Beverly didn't expect. Basically toyed with him.
I wish DA beat Booker but I'll take 2 Suns in the finals.

Sad that one of the suns players didnt pick the suns in the finals! That would have been good!

[King4Day]

https://arizonasports.com/story/2295772/suns-booker-sweeps-ayton-to-win-nba-2k20-players-only-tournament/

Nice to see that DA used the Suns in the semi's to make the finals though.

I loved this too. The fact that fans were so all over Beverly about winning this because of his personality.
I understand why Booker didn't pick Phoenix, I just wish he reacted better. Say that it depends on matchups right now or something. His reaction was basically him saying 'lol no thanks'.

Ayton eliminating Beverly with them was magic. He picked 2 teams Beverly didn't expect. Basically toyed with him.
I wish DA beat Booker but I'll take 2 Suns in the finals.

Sad that one of the suns players didnt pick the suns in the finals! That would have been good!

I believe you can only pick a team once so it would have had to be Book. It's too bad Booker didn't pick Phoenix after he won game 1. It would have been pretty cool icing to win the whole thing with the Suns.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Read on Twitter

?s=19

[Ghost of Kleine]

James Jones on getting the season restarted.......

https://arizonasports.com/story/2296352/suns-gm-nba-ramp-up-from-coronavirus-halt-could-take-more-than-weeks/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Read on Twitter

?s=19
https://omny.fm/shows/empire-of-the-suns/james-and-monty-talk-coronavirus-point-book-and-nb


I sincerely hope that Jones isn't seriously entertaining this idea again. I'm vehemently against this repeated failed experiment. What's the end goal anyways? For Booker to get exhausted much faster, resulting in yet more increased turnovers, his efficiency dropping, and with increased duress, the increased potential of Booker reaggravating his ham string injury again.


Not to mention his inability or unwillingness to feed Ayton in the post. But looking on the brightside of this idea, At least we can likely place higher in the lottery in a very deep draft with elite prospects once he reinjures himself again from excessive wear and tear. Although this will be yet another year of stunted growth for Ayton potentially, Unless Booker learns and accepts willingly feeding Ayton in the post as a better option than forced turnovers and late game Iso Booker?

[lilfishi22]

What's the point of Rubio if they are going to explore Point Book again? Booker had his best season so far in his career in large because Rubio has dictated the way he SHOULD be playing. Taking the ball out of Rubio's hands means Booker is going back to much of his old ways and Rubio becomes a non-factor because of his lack of range/scoring abilities.

[cberry78]

What's the point of Rubio if they are going to explore Point Book again? Booker had his best season so far in his career in large because Rubio has dictated the way he SHOULD be playing. Taking the ball out of Rubio's hands means Booker is going back to much of his old ways and Rubio becomes a non-factor because of his lack of range/scoring abilities.

It's probably more in line with staggering their playing time throughout the game. Starting both (obviously), but then pulling one or the other after 5-ish minutes and letting the other run the point with the second string SG for 3-5 minutes before swapping them out for the other. As long as the best 5 are the ones on the floor at the end of the game, it really doesn't matter who's running the point at different points of the game, as long they're successful at it.

[starbosa10]

What's the point of Rubio if they are going to explore Point Book again? Booker had his best season so far in his career in large because Rubio has dictated the way he SHOULD be playing. Taking the ball out of Rubio's hands means Booker is going back to much of his old ways and Rubio becomes a non-factor because of his lack of range/scoring abilities.

It's probably more in line with staggering their playing time throughout the game. Starting both (obviously), but then pulling one or the other after 5-ish minutes and letting the other run the point with the second string SG for 3-5 minutes before swapping them out for the other. As long as the best 5 are the ones on the floor at the end of the game, it really doesn't matter who's running the point at different points of the game, as long they're successful at it.

Yeah I'm pretty sure I read they wanted point book for 10-12 mins a game

[King4Day]

I don't really mind what they try the rest of the way. When it kicks back off, it may as well be a new season. Everyone will be rested like it was a summer break. We have what? 20 games left at best? I don't care at this point. We already know what our team can do based on the first 60 some-odd games. And that's not be good.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Read on Twitter

?s=19

[bwgood77]

I loved this too. The fact that fans were so all over Beverly about winning this because of his personality.
I understand why Booker didn't pick Phoenix, I just wish he reacted better. Say that it depends on matchups right now or something. His reaction was basically him saying 'lol no thanks'.

Ayton eliminating Beverly with them was magic. He picked 2 teams Beverly didn't expect. Basically toyed with him.
I wish DA beat Booker but I'll take 2 Suns in the finals.

Sad that one of the suns players didnt pick the suns in the finals! That would have been good!

I believe you can only pick a team once so it would have had to be Book. It's too bad Booker didn't pick Phoenix after he won game 1. It would have been pretty cool icing to win the whole thing with the Suns.

Ayton picked the Suns in the semifinals and won against a superior team. Booker later said he didn't pick the Suns because he thought his player rating was too low (or maybe some of the Suns' player ratings).

[bwgood77]

What's the point of Rubio if they are going to explore Point Book again? Booker had his best season so far in his career in large because Rubio has dictated the way he SHOULD be playing. Taking the ball out of Rubio's hands means Booker is going back to much of his old ways and Rubio becomes a non-factor because of his lack of range/scoring abilities.

It's probably more in line with staggering their playing time throughout the game. Starting both (obviously), but then pulling one or the other after 5-ish minutes and letting the other run the point with the second string SG for 3-5 minutes before swapping them out for the other. As long as the best 5 are the ones on the floor at the end of the game, it really doesn't matter who's running the point at different points of the game, as long they're successful at it.

Yeah I'm pretty sure I read they wanted point book for 10-12 mins a game

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. He is our best backup PG right now, though he turns it over too much. In theory, Ty Jerome should be but he's just not quite athletic enough. Hopefully he could at least be like a Derek Fisher.

[Fo-Real]

Are there rumors floating about the NBA finishing the season in Vegas?!?! Seems like a viable option if there is one, Vegas is EMPTY, players can stay at all the Hotels, play games in mostly empty venues with not much trouble and televise it. Even mentions that the players families can be with them since there is no school and there are just oodles of empty hotels!! Its like them getting their own quarantined area since its shut down.

[RedIndian]

I hope the Point Book idea dies a permanent death. Booker is a secondary playmaker, and should stick to being a scorer first, and a playmaker second. He's not a bad passer, but he rarely makes advanced reads, and he's an absolute turnover machine. His ball-handling too is not at an elite level unfortunately to be a full-time lead guard.

The only difficult with Rubio at the point is that he offers very little gravity for Booker given his lack of shooting, and Booker still gets trapped regularly.

I think long-term, the Ayton-Booker-Bridges core will work only if there's another advanced offensive threat from the perimeter. Has to be either at PG or PF.

My personal view is that it'll be easier to find that player at PG rather than PF, either in the draft or through trade / free agency.

This draft itself has a number of candidates at PG in Lamelo, Hayes, Haliburtion, Kira, Anthony, Riller etc.

Our best hope is to find an absolute gem from amongst them.

[nevetsov]

I think long-term, the Ayton-Booker-Bridges core will work only if there's another advanced offensive threat from the perimeter. Has to be either at PG or PF.

100%.

As long ad we have Rubio and Bridges at the PG-SF (both of whom I love for their roles), we need a high level scorer at the other forward spot. Kelly is great - he's really stepped up as a two way player this year but I still have doubts with him being a consistent third scoring banana on a good team. Especially at the 4 Spot where we need a stronger rebounder.

If Bridges was a bit bigger, and could be a consistent 3&D rebounding stretch 4, then we'd be set. But then he'd basically be Jonathan Isaac, instead we have the wing equivalent.

Maybe Kaminsky is the short term answer, given we have 3 plus defenders around him. Cam J could provide some too, but he's light years away and his ceiling is probably more of a role player.

The Oubre for AG trade might work, especially if we retain Baynes - A floor spacing C is the best option next to AG as his long ball is a bit inconsistent. He's a good defender too and can switch reasonably well.

We could look to upgrade Rubio to a Chris Paul type, but we'd have to either mortgage our cap space, or throw in Oubre, all for 2 years of production. His $44m comes off the books the year that Ayton and Bridges' extensions kick in, so I it might not be that big of a deal money wise. I'm not too keen on such a short term solution though.

[Jdiddy701]

People really under value Kelly Oubre. It’s easy to forget that Oubre and Bridges are damn near the same age. Crazy how a lot of people put Bridges over Oubre so quickly.

Both are very important to this team going forward for so many different reasons. Ayton is honestly the one who worries me the most out of our core. To me, it doesn’t seem like he wants to be great like the rest of the team does. I also think if the right trade was available, James Jones would trade Ayton in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, he probably has very little trade value, if any. The success of this team will come down to Deandre Ayton.




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[Ghost of Kleine]

I think long-term, the Ayton-Booker-Bridges core will work only if there's another advanced offensive threat from the perimeter. Has to be either at PG or PF.

100%.

As long ad we have Rubio and Bridges at the PG-SF (both of whom I love for their roles), we need a high level scorer at the other forward spot. Kelly is great - he's really stepped up as a two way player this year but I still have doubts with him being a consistent third scoring banana on a good team. Especially at the 4 Spot where we need a stronger rebounder.

If Bridges was a bit bigger, and could be a consistent 3&D rebounding stretch 4, then we'd be set. But then he'd basically be Jonathan Isaac, instead we have the wing equivalent.

Maybe Kaminsky is the short term answer, given we have 3 plus defenders around him. Cam J could provide some too, but he's light years away and his ceiling is probably more of a role player.

The Oubre for AG trade might work, especially if we retain Baynes - A floor spacing C is the best option next to AG as his long ball is a bit inconsistent. He's a good defender too and can switch reasonably well.

We could look to upgrade Rubio to a Chris Paul type, but we'd have to either mortgage our cap space, or throw in Oubre, all for 2 years of production. His $44m comes off the books the year that Ayton and Bridges' extensions kick in, so I it might not be that big of a deal money wise. I'm not too keen on such a short term solution though.

I'd really prefer a trade of Oubre for Gordon honestly man. Chris Paul is surely a culture changer, But his contract at his age is not something that I'd prefer to be tied to. Now IF we did the Oubre trade, I'd try and work something along the lines of Oubre/ Diallo / 10th pick for Gordon/ 16th pick. This would allow them a much better chance of finding a quality lottery guard prospect. And now with adding Gordon, We can now look at Jaden McDaniels as Oubres' replacement. ** He's 6'10 and in my opinion, has Brandon Ingram potential (* if he reaches his ceiling).

Or we could look at Precious Achiuwa or Jalen Smith at 16, and they can be our rebounding 3 and D backup 4/5. Then we just buy a late first for either Tyrell Terry, Grant Riller, or Kira Lewis?

IF we trade Oubre for Paul's contract, Then I'd look to try for Oubre / Diallo/ future 2nd for Paul / 25th pick. Then:

Option#1-
At 10 we draft either Precious Achiuwa or Patrick Williams to be our rebounding/ shotblocking 3/4 and at 25, We can take Tyrell Terry or Kira Lewis to groom behind Paul.

Option #2-
At 10 we take Jaden McDaniels ( Oubres' replacement). And at 25, We take Jalen Smith ( to be our floor spacing 3 and D backup 4/5.

Option #3-
At 10 we take Patrick Williams, and at 25, We take Tyler Bey. Buy at late first/ early 2nd, And then draft Whoever falls of Riller, Terry, or Lewis.

Overall though, And by far my favorite option is to trade Oubre / Diallo/ 10th pick for Gordon/ and the 16th pick. Then take either Jaden McDaniels or Saddiq Bey. Gordon would provide awesome athleticism and defense at the 4, And Saddiq Bey would provide ( Hield/ Middleton) type offense and defense combination to replace Oubre. I'd still then look to aggressively purchase a late first/ early 2nd for Tyrell Terry or Kira Lewis at that point. Then call it a night. Then in free agency, sign a quality backup veteran guard. Maybe Augustine, Shabazz Napier or Raul Neto?