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

[lilfishi22]

No one is doubting Carroll is a better player than Tucker. But is he $5-7m per year better? He's only 14 months younger than Tucker so he doesn't have a significant age advantage and their stats are comparable for their salary.

All I'm saying is, I don't know whether he's worth going out and splashing $12m a year on when he doesn't really fix the major problems on our team nor does he "fill a need" either.

I agree, that is a lot of money committed to a guy who still won't help us make the playoffs.

I could see Portland picking up Carroll and letting Matthews go but I can't see him as that much of an improvement over tucker and I wouldn't want to pay a guy that much when Warren has so much potential.

We either swing for the fences this offseason or get better gradually. Demarre Carroll achieves neither of those goals. These small expensive move are wasteful at best.

[Blackification]

No one is doubting Carroll is a better player than Tucker. But is he $5-7m per year better? He's only 14 months younger than Tucker so he doesn't have a significant age advantage and their stats are comparable for their salary.

All I'm saying is, I don't know whether he's worth going out and splashing $12m a year on when he doesn't really fix the major problems on our team nor does he "fill a need" either.

I agree, that is a lot of money committed to a guy who still won't help us make the playoffs.

I could see Portland picking up Carroll and letting Matthews go but I can't see him as that much of an improvement over tucker and I wouldn't want to pay a guy that much when Warren has so much potential.

We either swing for the fences this offseason or get better gradually. Demarre Carroll achieves neither of those goals. These small expensive move are wasteful at best.

My bet is on the latter, I don't see us signing any big names this off season, especially if we failed to do so last year.

I just hope we play better team basketball, and Warren and Len continue to develop.

[Saberestar]

The agent for Bogdan Bogdanovic, Alex Raskovic, told Novosti that the Serbian guard will remain with Fenerbahce next season.
Bogdanovic was seen with Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek at a baseball game last week.
The Suns selected Bogdanovic at the 2014 NBA Draft.

http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/turkey/164945/bogdan-bogdanovic-s-agent-he-will-remain-with-fenerbahce.html

[bwgood77]

No one is doubting Carroll is a better player than Tucker. But is he $5-7m per year better? He's only 14 months younger than Tucker so he doesn't have a significant age advantage and their stats are comparable for their salary.

All I'm saying is, I don't know whether he's worth going out and splashing $12m a year on when he doesn't really fix the major problems on our team nor does he "fill a need" either.

I agree, that is a lot of money committed to a guy who still won't help us make the playoffs.

I could see Portland picking up Carroll and letting Matthews go but I can't see him as that much of an improvement over tucker and I wouldn't want to pay a guy that much when Warren has so much potential.

Can you answer me what is the difference between Tucker and Carroll? Why trading Tucker to sign Carroll would make any sense?

Well Carroll is more of a PF. That is one difference. He is something we need. Haven't watched him enough to know how good he really is.

He does shoot about 40% from 3 though, and is active in steals.

He would be undersized at PF though, sure he could be used to stretch the floor but it would also be nice to have a PF with some size and rebounding to take some pressure off of Len on the defensive end.

Well he's 6'8, and Tucker is 6'5 playing PF sometimes. He's not that small. I think he'd be a good vet to get. However, I was just looking at the Hawks forum, and obviously most people here think of him as a SF, so if that's the case, I wouldn't want him UNLESS we get rid of Marcus and PJ. I don't want 3 guys who can play the 3 ahead of Warren. No way. If he could effectively primarily play the 4, I'd do it, but it sounds like he is better at the 3.

[AtheJ415]

I watch the Hawks a lot. I don't think Carroll and Tucker are on the same planet personally. Carroll can play 2-4, just like Tucker, but he adds such a different dimension offensively than Tucker does. Also, he is a better leader, and we're prioritizing veteran leadership this FA class.

[jcsunsfan]

If its a sideways move, why make it?

[Saberestar]

The Suns had talks with the Knicks about dealing the fourth pick for point guard Eric Bledsoe and the No. 13 pick, but Phoenix has not been limited to the Knicks in that regard. The Suns have been dangling Bledsoe in trade offers this offseason and are likely to continue to do so after the draft if Bledsoe is not moved this week, sources confirmed.

Kaminsky is among the Suns’ targets in the draft, but there is some question as to whether he will still be around at No. 13. Kaminsky had a good workout and meeting with Indiana, which picks No. 11. Kaminsky has not worked out with any teams beyond the 13th pick.

http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2015-06-22/nba-draft-rumors-knicks-frank-kaminsky-wisconsin-dangelo-russell-emmanuel-mudiay?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[WeekapaugGroove]

If they are looking to deal Bledsoe for a lotto pick I think it's a sign they are going super young and punting this upcoming season. I like it no reason to half step on the rebuild.

[toucansma]

Hey, worth a flyer? Ex: low draft pick or Tucker? Originally one of the people that Suns were considering if available when Len was drafted.


http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13130430/anthony-bennett-minnesota-timberwolves-available-trade

[letsgosuns]

If the Suns trade Bledsoe and want to go super young, they can do it. I am all for it. Get the fourth pick in the draft. Make another trade like Tucker and/or the Morris brothers to a contending team in the East like Indiana for their pick. Do whatever you have to do to clear out Bledsoe's, Tucker's, and the Morris brothers' contracts. Re-sign Knight in the offseason. Bring in a couple of veterans and go with a team of Len, Knight, Warren, Goodwin, the new draft picks, Granger, and some vets. Wins will probably suffer but who cares. Suns ain't gonna make the playoffs next season anyway or in the foreseeable future with the core they have right now. Might as well go for broke with all young players and hope they turn into superstars/all stars. At least the Suns will have players that give it their all every night instead of players that McDonough said himself sometimes lack motivation to play. Of course this is just one of the many roads the organization can take though as there are lots of options McDonough can choose from.

[AtheJ415]

I don't mind trading Bledsoe. I do mind trading Bledsoe if the end goal is Frank Kaminsky. If we get the 4th pick, either Russell or Porzingis better be the names coming out of the commissioner's mouth.


Kaminsky at 11 or so is fine. Kaminsky at 4 is true insanity.

[letsgosuns]

I don't mind trading Bledsoe. I do mind trading Bledsoe if the end goal is Frank Kaminsky. If we get the 4th pick, either Russell or Porzingis better be the names coming out of the commissioner's mouth.


Kaminsky at 11 or so is fine. Kaminsky at 4 is true insanity.

Yeah I think the Suns can get both of those picks with potential trades.

[TASTIC]

There's a heap of teams ahead of us that could use/might take Bledsoe.

You HAVE to think Sacramento would be interested in getting Cousins/Bled back together, but would the Suns want to face that four times a year? We'd likely have to take Collison back, but might be able to nab Stauskas on the cheap as well as #6. Could always flick Collison to a team needing a strong back-up PG like say the Clippers for Jamal Crawford's expiring?

The 76ers have so much space but I doubt they want Bledsoe's ability to improve their team!

Indiana seem to have been looking for a point guard for years, despite George Hill having a career year - he's more a 6th man though on a really good team.

Would the Jazz give up on Burke? I called it on draft day that he wasn't a legit starter and he's shown zero improvement in two seasons, but imagine Bledsoe on that team with Hayward, Favors and Gobert!?! Yikes...Doubt they'd move anything we'd want and the 12 pick isn't enough. I like Alec Burks but not at that price, especially coming off an injury.

Pistons have two starter quality guys in Reggie Jackson and Brandon Jennings, but I'm not overly interested in either.

Now the Lakers...I would offer Bledsoe for Randle and Clarkson...Clarkson has the size and skill to play alongside Knight, while Randle is a likely starter either next season or the one after. Again, would we want to face him four times a year? I doubt Lakers would do it without getting #13 back, especially when they could likely make a run at another PG like Rondo or Monta Ellis.

If the Knicks want Bledsoe and the 13 I'd walk away, it's not like Bledsoe isn't a legit starter who plays both ends, so no need to give him away. He's also locked into a long-term deal that will probably pay him $4m-$5m a year LESS than Dragic for example...Jrue Holiday got the 76ers a nice haul, no reason we can't wait if they're insistent on moving him and look for the right deal.

Have to think Bledsoe will be seeing all this and fuming...Cue the trade demand!

[WeekapaugGroove]

I don't mind trading Bledsoe. I do mind trading Bledsoe if the end goal is Frank Kaminsky. If we get the 4th pick, either Russell or Porzingis better be the names coming out of the commissioner's mouth.


Kaminsky at 11 or so is fine. Kaminsky at 4 is true insanity.

yeah if they moved up and took frank at 4 I'd lose it... and I really like him as a prospect.

[batsmasher]

Ranking of all free agents:
http://www.sbnation.com/a/nba-free-agents-2015

[jcsunsfan]

Ranking of all free agents:
http://www.sbnation.com/a/nba-free-agents-2015

Interesting that they ranked Knight over Dragic, and then spent considerable time defending that decsion.

[bwgood77]

If the Suns trade Bledsoe and want to go super young, they can do it. I am all for it. Get the fourth pick in the draft. Make another trade like Tucker and/or the Morris brothers to a contending team in the East like Indiana for their pick. Do whatever you have to do to clear out Bledsoe's, Tucker's, and the Morris brothers' contracts. Re-sign Knight in the offseason. Bring in a couple of veterans and go with a team of Len, Knight, Warren, Goodwin, the new draft picks, Granger, and some vets. Wins will probably suffer but who cares. Suns ain't gonna make the playoffs next season anyway or in the foreseeable future with the core they have right now. Might as well go for broke with all young players and hope they turn into superstars/all stars. At least the Suns will have players that give it their all every night instead of players that McDonough said himself sometimes lack motivation to play. Of course this is just one of the many roads the organization can take though as there are lots of options McDonough can choose from.

I feel like I've read this from you quite a bit. I'm not against anything if we get proper value in trading the players. I agree that it is far fetched for us to make the playoffs, and especially get out of the first round in the foreseeable future. But I also want to see a fun product.

[bwgood77]

Ranking of all free agents:
http://www.sbnation.com/a/nba-free-agents-2015

I think Millsap and Matthews are too low, even if Matthews is out for half the season. I say clear out the cap space and sign him and have a three guard rotation of Bledsoe, Knight and Matthews if we keep Bledsoe.

I'm a little torn on Bledsoe and Knight. I like them both, but I also like pure point guards, and Knight doesn't seem to be a pure pg, so if we lose Bledsoe, I don't know how I feel about Knight at our pg of the future. Bledsoe I'm not sure is enough of a leader. This is kind of why the dual pg thing doesn't bother me nearly as much as it bothers others. But I'd still want them to only play about 16 minutes together and let a pure SG like Matthews get the other 32 minutes at guard.

I think to some extent, they kind of compensate for the other's weaknesses. Knight is a good outside shooter and can play off ball well. Bledsoe is more athletic and a better defender. Knight is probably a better leader.

[bwgood77]

Have to think Bledsoe will be seeing all this and fuming...Cue the trade demand!

I wouldn't be surprised if Rich Paul wants Bledsoe to go to the east, and that Bledsoe wouldn't care, unless he went somewhere he wouldn't start. I'm sure he'd be happy to reunite with Cousins or to play in NY.

[letsgosuns]

If the Suns trade Bledsoe and want to go super young, they can do it. I am all for it. Get the fourth pick in the draft. Make another trade like Tucker and/or the Morris brothers to a contending team in the East like Indiana for their pick. Do whatever you have to do to clear out Bledsoe's, Tucker's, and the Morris brothers' contracts. Re-sign Knight in the offseason. Bring in a couple of veterans and go with a team of Len, Knight, Warren, Goodwin, the new draft picks, Granger, and some vets. Wins will probably suffer but who cares. Suns ain't gonna make the playoffs next season anyway or in the foreseeable future with the core they have right now. Might as well go for broke with all young players and hope they turn into superstars/all stars. At least the Suns will have players that give it their all every night instead of players that McDonough said himself sometimes lack motivation to play. Of course this is just one of the many roads the organization can take though as there are lots of options McDonough can choose from.

I feel like I've read this from you quite a bit. I'm not against anything if we get proper value in trading the players. I agree that it is far fetched for us to make the playoffs, and especially get out of the first round in the foreseeable future. But I also want to see a fun product.

Oh yeah I want to see a fun product too. I think the Suns can be really fun to watch though with guys like Len, Warren, Goodwin, Knight, and some rookies running up and down the court. Two of the most fun games I remember watching were against Dallas and Golden State. The Dallas game where Goodwin hit that huge three pointer down the stretch in Phoenix and the Suns won that game. And the other game where T.J. Warren took over in the fourth quarter against the Warriors in Golden State. It was awesome to watch the young guys do that against top competition. Even though the Suns lost the game against Golden State, Warren was phenomenal and showed how much promise he has. However I want to reiterate that I am not interested in trading Bledsoe for garbage or a salary dump. The fourth pick in the draft is highly sought after and where you can potentially draft a superstar. Here is a list of all the fourth picks in the draft since 1980. http://www.mynbadraft.com/nba-draft-picks/4th-overall/40509/ Not a bad list.