Official Free Agent Thread: What to do with our cap space

[RunDogGun]

I still don't understand why people want to trade our best wing defender. People keep saying we are bad at defense, yet continue to want to trade our best defenders, how ironic.

[tdjm]

I still don't understand why people want to trade our best wing defender. People keep saying we are bad at defense, yet continue to want to trade our best defenders, how ironic.

It's nothing to do with his on court stuff. Pretty much everyone who wants to trade him points to the logjam, a desire to give increased minutes to young players (who at least have a miniscule outside shot at developing into stars of some sort), and his contract only running for two more years (or one) so it makes sense to get something now so we aren't stuck holding his expiring. Tucker and his defense/rebounding probably makes the difference on some N number of wins, and people say they do not care about those N wins because they want to rebuild and play more youth.

I think Tuck's cool, but I thought Dudley was cool, too, and it was clearly time for him to move on (and bring in Bledsoe, yeeeee). People want to trade him precisely because he's our best wing defender - he's going to be like 34+ by the time we're contending, so why not get a neat little return on someone not in our long term plans?

[RunDogGun]

I still don't understand why people want to trade our best wing defender. People keep saying we are bad at defense, yet continue to want to trade our best defenders, how ironic.

It's nothing to do with his on court stuff. Pretty much everyone who wants to trade him points to the logjam, a desire to give increased minutes to young players (who at least have a miniscule outside shot at developing into stars of some sort), and his contract only running for two more years (or one) so it makes sense to get something now so we aren't stuck holding his expiring. Tucker and his defense/rebounding probably makes the difference on some N number of wins, and people say they do not care about those N wins because they want to rebuild and play more youth.

I think Tuck's cool, but I thought Dudley was cool, too, and it was clearly time for him to move on (and bring in Bledsoe, yeeeee). People want to trade him precisely because he's our best wing defender - he's going to be like 34+ by the time we're contending, so why not get a neat little return on someone not in our long term plans?

I'm fine with trading Tucker if it yields us a star player, but for a late first round pick, like many here have suggested just isn't logical. We have already seen Tucker and Warren starting together, so this idea that Tucker is stealing Warren's minutes is silly. Moreover, it's best to have our youngsters learning defense from Tucker. Tucker is our best three and D guys we have, and he does all the dirt work. Trading him just to free up time is not going to happen.

As for him being old, people here are suggesting that Granger get the sf minutes?

Oh well, I just don't see our FO or coaching staff trade Tucker because fans think he steals Warren's minutes. And I don't think they are sweating his $5 million contract when the cap is going up greatly.

Dudley was happy to move on from the Suns, after fans flooded his Twitter telling him to lose games.

[WeekapaugGroove]

Granger is done. I'd be surprised is if he was on the roster in November.

I think he still has gas in his tank. But for him it's all about getting healthy and playing a reduced role. My hope for him is to get some good games into him and for him to mentor our younger guys. He's been on championship calibre teams and he understands the mindset needed to be successful. If he can show he can still contribute and stay healthy, I think a few contenders may come knocking looking to trade for the vet.

I hope you're right but I really have my doubts he's not just done. He hasn't been a useful player since 2011. I'm not so sure about the leader thing either. Back when he was good there was talk he's not the easiest guy to get along with.

Who knows maybe he revives his career but I wouldn't count on it. I think he only picked up his option because it's probably the last time someone will pay him to play basketball. It's just as likely he's used as salary filler in a trade or simply cut as it is he plays minutes for the suns next year. And if they play him over Warren then the suns have officially lost their minds.

[letsgosuns]

Just put this in your signature so you don't have to type the same thing out every post.

Yes I took your advice and put it in my signature hahahahah

[RaisingArizona]

For the millionth time, it's not a good time to trade the Morris brothers. Their value is low due to the off the court stuff. It would be better to trade them at the deadline or next offseason.

The reason you have to trade both is they have proven they need to play on the same team. Plus, I think they are bad in the locker room. I think they are about themselves over the team. Meaning its them two first. Plus., do they rebound? Do they defend? I am just done with them and think its addition by subtraction. But, if you keep one, you have to keep Markieff for sure.

As for Tucker - with Warren and Granger - trade him.

Kieff did fine without Marcus here. You think they're bad in the locker room? Links to prove that claim? Kieff is an okay rebounder but he's usually hanging out on the wing like Frye did. You're not going to put up huge rebounding numbers unless you're a post presence. The defense is average. Hard to gauge with Len being out so much. Sometimes he was playing the center out there. Unless you want to take on a bad contract or give up a guy who is averaging 15 and 6 with clutch shooting for nothing, you wait.

[RaisingArizona]

For the millionth time, it's not a good time to trade the Morris brothers. Their value is low due to the off the court stuff. It would be better to trade them at the deadline or next offseason.

The reason you have to trade both is they have proven they need to play on the same team. Plus, I think they are bad in the locker room. I think they are about themselves over the team. Meaning its them two first. Plus., do they rebound? Do they defend? I am just done with them and think its addition by subtraction. But, if you keep one, you have to keep Markieff for sure.

As for Tucker - with Warren and Granger - trade him.

Or they've proven they can't stay out of trouble or both keep a calm head while on the same team. I would be happy to keep them if I knew they'd act a bit more professional.

McD is giving them a second chance but next slip up is it. That's what he said on 98.7

[tdjm]

The reason you have to trade both is they have proven they need to play on the same team. Plus, I think they are bad in the locker room. I think they are about themselves over the team. Meaning its them two first. Plus., do they rebound? Do they defend? I am just done with them and think its addition by subtraction. But, if you keep one, you have to keep Markieff for sure.

As for Tucker - with Warren and Granger - trade him.

Or they've proven they can't stay out of trouble or both keep a calm head while on the same team. I would be happy to keep them if I knew they'd act a bit more professional.

McD is giving them a second chance but next slip up is it. That's what he said on 98.7

How long ago did he say that? Was that the interview a couple months back right after the season ended, or was that a more recent one where he re-iterated his position? I don't live in AZ anymore so I miss all the radio updates, lol.

Also, for what it's worth the Morris twins like their teammates and are liked by those teammates in turn. There hasn't really been any indications they're cancerous within the locker room, even if they got a little out of hand on the court last year.

[RaisingArizona]

Or they've proven they can't stay out of trouble or both keep a calm head while on the same team. I would be happy to keep them if I knew they'd act a bit more professional.

McD is giving them a second chance but next slip up is it. That's what he said on 98.7

How long ago did he say that? Was that the interview a couple months back right after the season ended, or was that a more recent one where he re-iterated his position? I don't live in AZ anymore so I miss all the radio updates, lol.

Also, for what it's worth the Morris twins like their teammates and are liked by those teammates in turn. There hasn't really been any indications they're cancerous within the locker room, even if they got a little out of hand on the court last year.

It was in early May. Sounds like the team is going to strictly enforce the rules this season.

[DirtyDez]

Why in the hell did we sign Quentin Richarson? Was that before or after the Nash signing?

I think it was before. The Colangelos were always signing whoever they could with cap space. Luc Longley at like $35 million when Vlade was available for like 3/10. Vlade played a big role with the Kings. I don't know...it maybe came from D'Antoni. Either way, that signing hurt us in the long run...big time.

Looking back at the transactions page Q was signed 2 weeks after Nash. I suppose JJ rejected their initial offer so maybe they wanted Q for insurance but they ended up getting rid of both the next offseason. Those two summers confuse the hell outta me and that's not even including the Kobe/T-Mac stuff.

[lilfishi22]

I hope you're right but I really have my doubts he's not just done. He hasn't been a useful player since 2011. I'm not so sure about the leader thing either. Back when he was good there was talk he's not the easiest guy to get along with.

Who knows maybe he revives his career but I wouldn't count on it. I think he only picked up his option because it's probably the last time someone will pay him to play basketball. It's just as likely he's used as salary filler in a trade or simply cut as it is he plays minutes for the suns next year. And if they play him over Warren then the suns have officially lost their minds.

He hasn't been a useful player because he's been on and off with injuries since 2011. It's been a few years since he's been good so he may have mellowed out a bit seeing he's not longer "the man". Also seeing how he's one of the elder statements on the team and the D.West/TJ mentoring connection, I think he's in a good situation to not only get healthy but also be a prominent voice and leader on the team.

My hope is he does get back healthy, gives our youngins some guidance and eventually garner some trade interest around the trade deadline.

[Cutter]

A thread on the General Board has pictures of Alex Len in a car wreck. Alex is reportedly ok, but the other person was slightly injured. One of the vehicles was flipped on it's side. Alex is standing next to the flipped car and he looks huge.

Nothing but bad luck following this kid.

http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1393497#start_here

[letsgosuns]

Listening to hour 3 of the podcast today from Gambo's show and he said the Suns are going to go all in to try to sign Lamarcus Aldridge and Kevin Love. He thinks the Suns have a small chance to get one of them and his partner thinks they have no chance. I agree that when it comes down to it, why would either one of them want to come to the Suns. They will get max offers from any interested team and there are far better situations out there for them than what the Suns currently have, unfortunately. Gambo also mentioned the Suns would love to get rid of the Morris brothers but it is going to be incredibly hard to trade them because of their legal issues. Here is the link if anyone wants to listen: http://arizonasports.com/?nid=244&a=313154&p=&n=

[thamadkant]

Listening to hour 3 of the podcast today from Gambo's show and he said the Suns are going to go all in to try to sign Lamarcus Aldridge and Kevin Love. He thinks the Suns have a small chance to get one of them and his partner thinks they have no chance. I agree that when it comes down to it, why would either one of them want to come to the Suns. They will get max offers from any interested team and there are far better situations out there for them than what the Suns currently have, unfortunately. Gambo also mentioned the Suns would love to get rid of the Morris brothers but it is going to be incredibly hard to trade them because of their legal issues. Here is the link if anyone wants to listen: http://arizonasports.com/?nid=244&a=313154&p=&n=

happy to hear the FO wants to trade the Morris twins.

No chance at getting Love or Aldridge... those guys want a contending team.
Love maybe... depending if the FO tells him the Suns have another move to bring in a star along him.

[RaisingArizona]

Listening to hour 3 of the podcast today from Gambo's show and he said the Suns are going to go all in to try to sign Lamarcus Aldridge and Kevin Love. He thinks the Suns have a small chance to get one of them and his partner thinks they have no chance. I agree that when it comes down to it, why would either one of them want to come to the Suns. They will get max offers from any interested team and there are far better situations out there for them than what the Suns currently have, unfortunately. Gambo also mentioned the Suns would love to get rid of the Morris brothers but it is going to be incredibly hard to trade them because of their legal issues. Here is the link if anyone wants to listen: http://arizonasports.com/?nid=244&a=313154&p=&n=

Why wouldn't either guy come here? A chance to be a star on an up and coming team. Both guys will never be the man in their current situation. It's basically the same reason Joe Johnson left-- to be the star of a franchise and get paid handsomely.

[batsmasher]

Who knows maybe he revives his career but I wouldn't count on it. I think he only picked up his option because it's probably the last time someone will pay him to play basketball. It's just as likely he's used as salary filler in a trade or simply cut as it is he plays minutes for the suns next year. And if they play him over Warren then the suns have officially lost their minds.

No way we trade a guy who actually wants to be on this team and just built a home here. Some assets are bigger than just what they bring on the court.

[bwgood77]

I still don't understand why people want to trade our best wing defender. People keep saying we are bad at defense, yet continue to want to trade our best defenders, how ironic.

I like PJ...a lot actually, but it's because people know we have little chance of getting anywhere while he is in his prime, which is right now, and other teams might benefit from having a guy like him, and give us a young asset that can help us when we CAN be competitive as a playoff team.

Do you want to fight for the 8 seed or build for the future?

[Damkac]

Build for future, but unfortunately we are not owners of this team

Listening to hour 3 of the podcast today from Gambo's show and he said the Suns are going to go all in to try to sign Lamarcus Aldridge and Kevin Love. He thinks the Suns have a small chance to get one of them and his partner thinks they have no chance. I agree that when it comes down to it, why would either one of them want to come to the Suns. They will get max offers from any interested team and there are far better situations out there for them than what the Suns currently have, unfortunately. Gambo also mentioned the Suns would love to get rid of the Morris brothers but it is going to be incredibly hard to trade them because of their legal issues. Here is the link if anyone wants to listen: http://arizonasports.com/?nid=244&a=313154&p=&n=

Why wouldn't either guy come here? A chance to be a star on an up and coming team. Both guys will never be the man in their current situation. It's basically the same reason Joe Johnson left-- to be the star of a franchise and get paid handsomely.

If all they wants is to be the man on their teams and get paid then Aldridge will resign with Portland and Love wouldn't be traded from Minnesota at all.

If getting them is a plan A then I hope Suns have great plan B

[Qwigglez]

Would Love me some Love. Definitely could see him leaving Cleveland to be the man here. I think he realizes the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Does he really want his story to only be a chapter of Lebron's legacy?

[nevetsov]

Would Love me some Love. Definitely could see him leaving Cleveland to be the man here. I think he realizes the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Does he really want his story to only be a chapter of Lebron's legacy?

Very interested to see if they keep both Love and Thompson, especially with them both wanting serious coin.