2021-22 Season Discussion and Speculation

[Ghost of Kleine]

Xin Varlock (@XinNBA) Tweeted:
https://t.co/wA4jWkxrdt

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[Mr Puddles]

Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) Tweeted:
Paris Bass averaged 17.9 PPG and 8.4 RPG in 27.5 MPG over his 14 appearances with the South Bay Lakers in the G League, shooting 48.7 FG% and 33.9 3P% on 4.0 attempts per game. He'll be the Suns' 3rd 10-day addition

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This signing makes little sense considering the guy is only 6'8. And Jalen Smith is our only higbleft not in Covid protocols. We need size! Not more wing forwards. Boston should have a field day with us in the paint!

Paris Bass. I love players whose names sound like an exotic European fish. The Warriors and Lakers have had great success with players named after curry and beef - I believe fish based names are a logical next step in the NBA food pyramid. I'm expecting at least 2 MVPs and 3 scoring titles.

[spanishninja]

Phoenix Suns (@Suns) Tweeted:
Heading East for the new year

#ValleyProud https://t.co/Kk41oPrzWw

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oh snap when did Payne get a lambo?

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

[SunsRback4Good]

Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) Tweeted:
Paris Bass averaged 17.9 PPG and 8.4 RPG in 27.5 MPG over his 14 appearances with the South Bay Lakers in the G League, shooting 48.7 FG% and 33.9 3P% on 4.0 attempts per game. He'll be the Suns' 3rd 10-day addition

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?s=20

This signing makes little sense considering the guy is only 6'8. And Jalen Smith is our only higbleft not in Covid protocols. We need size! Not more wing forwards. Boston should have a field day with us in the paint!

Paris Bass. I love players whose names sound like an exotic European fish. The Warriors and Lakers have had great success with players named after curry and beef - I believe fish based names are a logical next step in the NBA food pyramid. I'm expecting at least 2 MVPs and 3 scoring titles.

[Frank Lee]

Jeebus Ghost, The kid is getting some meaningful minutes and you just can’t squash the trade bug? How bout we just run him a while and see what we got? He has actually contributed and he’s now next man up

[Ghost of Kleine]

Jeebus Ghost, The kid is getting some meaningful minutes and you just can’t squash the trade bug? How bout we just run him a while and see what we got? He has actually contributed and he’s now next man up

Yeah! I get you. And your absolutely right that he should get some run. My post in response to Napoleon was in that he believed Smith wouldn't have any trade value to another team. Which of course wouldn't be the case at all (for the reasons I offered in my response). Especially with his recent showings too.

For the record, I'd prefer to keep Smith! But have come to terms with the likelihood of the suns either letting him walk for cap space or trading him. Which is why I had mentioned those three trade proposals that would address our repetitive weaknesses that contributed to our losses. But for now I agree that I'm intrigued by this anomalous situation wherein he's actually getting playing time. And am willing to abstain as long as possible and see how things play out.

[thamadkant]

Jalen Smith bout to get his 3rd double doubles, averages double double when playing 25 Minutes or more.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Phoenix Suns (@Suns) Tweeted:
LOVE TO SEE IT! Who else has attempted the DA challenge since watching his pregame routine?

@DeandreAyton | #NBAAllStar

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[Revived]

The way Jalen Smith has played makes you wonder why Monty never gave him much mins last season especially in the finals when the Suns needed help in the front court.

[Ghost of Kleine]

The way Jalen Smith has played makes you wonder why Monty never gave him much mins last season especially in the finals when the Suns needed help in the front court.

This was the premise of my argument ( back 'n' forth) With Bigfoot not too long ago. His inference that Smith was not playing and/ or Monty was not playing him because he was essentially a not good and a bust. Also because he somehow didn't show out in practice. With me telling him that it's impossible to prove on court value/ impact from the bench! If he never gets actual minutes, How was he supposed to develop and prove he belongs in the rotation eventually.

He was basically a wasted asset. But now that he is actually getting on court time in game scenarios, he's getting the opportunity to show his skillset and why we drafted him along with his potential upside. Now it's looking like a mistake to not pick up his option!

I do think that Monty plays favorites. I also think that he's somewhat like D'antoni in that he prefers really shortened rotations. As evidenced last season with not even using Galloway, Moore, or Carter. But the problem with that is in doing that you're not utilizing your full roster depth. And only putting more wear and tear on key rotation players and fatiguing your rotation players that much faster. Making them less active and less efficient playing on tired legs!

[Frank Lee]

Y’all are acting like Smith is a certainty to leave.... I’d say, if he continues to contribute, we are as likely to sign him on a 2+yr deal as anyone. He isn’t going to get some eyepopper chunky long term offer. And I doubt anyone throws 4-5 mill per at him, his would be extended ticket. Isn’t this Jones practicing sound economics? Me thinks so.

He has to like it here. Live in Phoenix, playing on a contender, with CP, Book, and for Monty... what’s there not to like? No matter what happens with the cap tax, you still need quality role players. He’s not a starter. There are many in his boat.

The bigger gaff was not inking McGee on a two yr deal.

[bwgood77]

Sham-wow + Saric for Marvin Bagel III, who says no?

Him and Ayton were teammates in high school. Monty and CP3 get Bagley to buy into contending for a championship. He's a 6'10 decent defender to throw against team's benches, has been playing decent ball for a couple of weeks. He's unhappy in Sac, is not getting their qualified offer (which we don't have to offer, either? So he's essentially an expiring). He's less raw than Stix (who we're losing anyways).

Bagley's a straight no from me, dawg. Character issues - dad whining about role on the team, refusing to come into a game. Even if he plays well here, he's surely looking out for #1 right now, and if we won't pay Stix $5 million, why would we pay Bagley what would surely be more than that? I prefer Stix as a prospect at this point, anyways.

Not really a topic worth discussing since there's no way Monty would let that guy into his locker room.

Yeah, I hear all that. But I think it's fundamentally still a low risk, medium to high reward. Saric is basically done for us / cannot play vs Anthony Davis/Jokic/Giannis. Shamet is a net negative and a drain on our cap going forward.


Okay, Dad goes Lavar on us, can't we just waive him? Hell, we could even entice Bagley by saying, come play for us, if you're not happy, we'll waive you by the April 6th (or w/e) deadline so you can play for whatever team you want, including in the playoffs.

So Bagley looking out for #1 might play into, hey, play a part on a winning team and write your own narrative, not just be the sullen, slight bust the Kings messed up on. There's lots of teams looking to upgrade their front court and pay out based on potential. Look at Jeremi Grant.

And if anything, there's probably only 2-3 coaches I'd trust in turning head cases into winning players, pieces. Popovich, Spoelstra, and Monty.

The only reason I'd do that is to get out of those contracts...I'd let Bagley walk. I never could stand him as a prospect. His defense is awful. Duke had to change their whole defense and play zone because he was so lost. He thinks he's way better than he is too and will want a ton of money. He's a guy someone will have to overpay....unless no one pays him and he has to become humble and accept way less than he thinks he's worth, like happens with some players.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Y’all are acting like Smith is a certainty to leave.... I’d say, if he continues to contribute, we are as likely to sign him on a 2+yr deal as anyone. He isn’t going to get some eyepopper chunky long term offer. And I doubt anyone throws 4-5 mill per at him, his would be extended ticket. Isn’t this Jones practicing sound economics? Me thinks so.

He has to like it here. Live in Phoenix, playing on a contender, with CP, Book, and for Monty... what’s there not to like? No matter what happens with the cap tax, you still need quality role players. He’s not a starter. There are many in his boat.

The bigger gaff was not inking McGee on a two yr deal.

I dunno man!

There'll be a number of teams with max cap space this summer. Many will of course be looking towards what we do with Ayton!

Teams with most cap space, 2021-22 offseason (via Spotrac)
Aug 1, 2021

New York Knicks - $52.6 million.
San Antonio Spurs - $48 million.
Dallas Mavericks - $33.5 million.
Oklahoma City Thunder - $30million.
Memphis Grizzlies - $24.4 million.
Toronto Raptors - $22.1 million.
Miami Heat - $20.4 million.
Charlotte Hornets - $16.8 million.

( They also forgot about Detroit that'll have around 17 million) ** And can get up to 22 million if they waive Mcgruder and Tyler Cook)
https://pistonpowered.com/2021/08/01/detroit-pistons-plans-cap-space/

So really, You can take any of San Antonio (whom RC Buford targeted prior to the draft), OKC ( whom has plenty of cap space they'll be looking to spend) and can use more frontcourt size/ rebounding, Miami ( whom could use more size and depth for their frontcourt) after Adebayo, and the Charlotte Hornets will also be looking to add frontcourt size and depth too. Take any of those teams with significant cap space, or even that could use legitimate frontcourt size/ depth. And if they know that were signing Ayton, And also prioritizing resigning McGee too, Then it's terribly unlikely that we match any decent offer for someone like Smith.


Right now Jalen is playing himself into a much more lucrative situation in free agency than had he not been playing. He's a young lotto big that is now when finally given playing time, putting up near double/ double production. And he still possesses a unique skillset as a floor spacing big with great rebounding and shotblocking potential too. I mean how much competition does everyone expect him to really have this summer in a shallow free agency.

It know that it may seem ludicrous to some here. But I could see him possibly getting in the 5-8 range if push comes to shove from some young team looking for size and rebounding and willing to gamble on untapped upside. Now it may be true that he likes it here, and that might give us an edge. But then again, once the team comes back together and ge starts seeing playing time diminish again, And ge reaches free agency whilst of course remembering that we passed on picking up his option and under normal circumstances didn't have any intentions of giving him playing time. Should we really expect him to possibly take less on what could be his (first big/ legitimate contract), Just to give us a discount after we planned on letting him walk pre Covid situation?? I'm just not seeing that honestly.

[King4Day]

Have a great New Year's everyone! Be safe
Here's to our '22 title run

[SunsRback4Good]

Have a great New Year's everyone! Be safe
Here's to our '22 title run

Happy New Year's hope you enjoy it that goes to everyone here as well.

[lilfishi22]

The way Jalen Smith has played makes you wonder why Monty never gave him much mins last season especially in the finals when the Suns needed help in the front court.

This was the premise of my argument ( back 'n' forth) With Bigfoot not too long ago. His inference that Smith was not playing and/ or Monty was not playing him because he was essentially a not good and a bust. Also because he somehow didn't show out in practice. With me telling him that it's impossible to prove on court value/ impact from the bench! If he never gets actual minutes, How was he supposed to develop and prove he belongs in the rotation eventually.

He was basically a wasted asset. But now that he is actually getting on court time in game scenarios, he's getting the opportunity to show his skillset and why we drafted him along with his potential upside. Now it's looking like a mistake to not pick up his option!

I do think that Monty plays favorites. I also think that he's somewhat like D'antoni in that he prefers really shortened rotations. As evidenced last season with not even using Galloway, Moore, or Carter. But the problem with that is in doing that you're not utilizing your full roster depth. And only putting more wear and tear on key rotation players and fatiguing your rotation players that much faster. Making them less active and less efficient playing on tired legs!

In the latest Empire of the Suns podcast, Kellan Olson mentioned Jalen didn't look good in practice and in the limited minutes he was given. It isn't simply because we assumed he was bad, it was because he was bad. If he can't show out in practice, how can you earn NBA minutes? I've mentioned this in the past but we're no longer the Suns of old where guys like Josh Jackson, Dragan Bender (and you know the rest) were likely not showing out in practice but because we had no one else better to play, we gifted them plenty of minutes that didn't earn in any way, shape or form.

The way we're handling Smith's situation isn't uncommmon either. A ton of young, unproven talent don't get the opportunity until injury, trade or never at all. FWIW, it hasn't been proven that it was a mistake not picking up his contract. When we get some more consistency and impact, he'll grow his value and perhaps prove it to be a mistake.

[Saberestar]

Biyombo to the rescue.

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[Mulhollanddrive]

It'll be a miracle to beat Charlotte with this rotation, we were bad with Jalen Smith on the floor even if he had good stats.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Biyombo to the rescue.

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"Big mac Combo" !

[SunsRback4Good]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/arizonasports.com/story/2952030/phoenix-suns-to-sign-c-bismack-biyombo-per-report/amp/

We finally got a center who should help us grab rebounds and defend.