Season Speculation, Trade Ideas & Discussion Pt. 4

[TeamTragic]

Lol we’ve got people at the point where they’d take Elfrid Payton as the starter of this team.. I knew morale was low after last night’s thumping but this???

- You must have missed the trade Warren bandwagon
- Don't forget throw in Bender/Miami pick for trash
- Now we should trade for Napier/Payton

Do you see a pattern?

[darealjuice]

Lol we’ve got people at the point where they’d take Elfrid Payton as the starter of this team.. I knew morale was low after last night’s thumping but this???

It's popular to want the starters of the teams projected to finish worse than us (Payton, Schroeder and Hill/Fox) or projected to finish almost as bad as us (Tyreke).

Sure, but Schroder, Hill, Fox, and Tyreke have redeeming qualities that make them attractive to us depending on your goals, whether it's youth or immediate fit.

Elfrid Payton, while undoubtedly being an improvement on our current situation, is one of the worst starting point guards in the league and changes nothing for us. If we're looking for someone by the trade deadline, there are better options. If we're going to stick with the guards on the roster and wait until the draft/offseason to address the point guard, there are better options. If he's on our roster next year, it's because we got him for a couple of the second rounders that we have no roster space for or he came here for cheap in restricted free agency and the Magic gave up on him.

[sunsbum]

Like someone else mentioned this is definitely an Eric Bledsoe type of situation when he was on the clippers. The Blazers are in desperate need of any cap relief possible as they are going to sign nurk to an extension this offseason.

Piggybacking on NAVs idea, how bout Turner/Napier for BK and the latest 1st ( or 2 seconds?) round we got this year? It saves the blazers 8M over the next 2 years by swapping the BK contract and they get some picks.

I really like bazz, he can score from all 3 levels, reminds me of a mini Booker. Plus, if we trade for him he doesn't have the track record yet to demand an enormous contract so maybe we can get him signed for 10 a year if he proves his worth this year.

[Hesh]

I'll listen to talk of aquiring any PG. Anyone > Ulis. At what price though? I'm not willing to give up any important pieces or assets to get Payton lol

[sunsbum]

Napier is a good player. Y'all need to quit trashing him just because he had a slow start to his career and you haven't watched him play.

[bwgood77]

Like someone else mentioned this is definitely an Eric Bledsoe type of situation when he was on the clippers. The Blazers are in desperate need of any cap relief possible as they are going to sign nurk to an extension this offseason.

Piggybacking on NAVs idea, how bout Turner/Napier for BK and the latest 1st ( or 2 seconds?) round we got this year? It saves the blazers 8M over the next 2 years by swapping the BK contract and they get some picks.

I really like bazz, he can score from all 3 levels, reminds me of a mini Booker. Plus, if we trade for him he doesn't have the track record yet to demand an enormous contract so maybe we can get him signed for 10 a year if he proves his worth this year.

If we really wanted him, why not just throw him a RFA offer that Portland wouldn't match? At that point we would know if we were able to address it in the draft. Why give up anything at all for him or take on a bunch of money to get him a month or two early.

I doubt he will have any/many suitors in free agency since most teams outside of us, the Magic and maybe the Knicks have a couple good point guards.

[m1chal]

The problem with Payton is his ridiculous hair. He just can't see much while on the floor. We acquire him, send him straight away to the same hair saloon Bledsoe used to frequent (no phones allowed this time though), pay for his haircut and bam, we have a young, greatly improved PG on our hands. Then details like fixing his jumpshot and defense. He can learn how to play defense together with Booker.

[sunsbum]

Like someone else mentioned this is definitely an Eric Bledsoe type of situation when he was on the clippers. The Blazers are in desperate need of any cap relief possible as they are going to sign nurk to an extension this offseason.

Piggybacking on NAVs idea, how bout Turner/Napier for BK and the latest 1st ( or 2 seconds?) round we got this year? It saves the blazers 8M over the next 2 years by swapping the BK contract and they get some picks.

I really like bazz, he can score from all 3 levels, reminds me of a mini Booker. Plus, if we trade for him he doesn't have the track record yet to demand an enormous contract so maybe we can get him signed for 10 a year if he proves his worth this year.

If we really wanted him, why not just throw him a RFA offer that Portland wouldn't match? At that point we would know if we were able to address it in the draft. Why give up anything at all for him or take on a bunch of money to get him a month or two early.

I doubt he will have any/many suitors in free agency since most teams outside of us, the Magic and maybe the Knicks have a couple good point guards.

Thing is the blazers are not afraid to go over the cap to keep a piece. If you remember they matched crabbes giant offer even though they really didnt need to. Hopefully Oshley learned his lesson and they have enough on their plate with nurk that we can just sign him for free this summer.

[lilfishi22]

I don't want to watch Knight playing for the Suns again. Never.

He can be on the roster like Luol Deng on the Lakers... but on the court? No.Please.No.

He's going to play. I don't think we're in a financial position to sit a $14m a year player. Even if it's 10mpg, he's going to play. Unfortunately

Maybe, but he's been sitting for almost a year. He sat after the all star break last year, a good 10 games before Bledsoe sat. I am sure if he's still around next year the tankers will want him to get minutes, but I've really had enough of him and hope by next year we are serious about trying to start to win.

I'll say this, Knight for better or for worse, still managed to put up 20/4/5 in his first full season with us. Then under Watson, he logged a ton of DNP's, his minutes were erratic and inconsistent (for good reasons) and had the worse season of his career. But we all know Watson was a TERRIBLE coach. With a better coach (Triano or someone else), he could be useful. So I'm not high on him but with $30m left on his contract, I'd give him a fair go under a proper coach and playing next a more experienced and better Booker and TJ.

[Damkac]

I'll listen to talk of aquiring any PG. Anyone > Ulis. At what price though? I'm not willing to give up any important pieces or assets to get Payton lol

I don't understand this logic. Just because our starting pg is bad it doesn't mean we should be happy with any pg that is just a bit better. We should try to get good pg.

[lilfishi22]

I don't want to watch Knight playing for the Suns again. Never.

He can be on the roster like Luol Deng on the Lakers... but on the court? No.Please.No.

He's going to play. I don't think we're in a financial position to sit a $14m a year player. Even if it's 10mpg, he's going to play. Unfortunately

I wonder if we start him at PG, like nothing ever happened and see how things progress? If he's not doing so hot, pull him off and bring him in to spell Booker at SG. If he is doing well, keep him in and trade him the first caller/opportunity that comes our way, as we know what the REALYl BK is, and what will eventually happen.

We start him, pray that he starts off pretty well, and if he's at least avg, keep him in and keep starting him. The second that changes, take him out, feign a mild injury, and do our best to trade him immediately.

Too transparent?? Yeah, probably. But man, we have GOT to find a way to get him off the roster ASAP, IMO, even for pennies on the dollar. The good thing is, his isn't the worst contract out there. See if we take take on a bigger one, but shorter one, and get a young player out of the deal.

I think we play him. It's still McD's mistake and I think he's going to do what he can to try and turn his mistake around. Not saying it's impossible and it won't be easy but it won't happen if we don't try. I don't want to see him play if he's going to play like the last couple of seasons but hey with the time off watching film, understanding his role and sticking to what he does well could help him.

If we don't address the PG in some meaningful way this offseason via the draft or trade, then I expect him to play him. I'm pretty sure of it.

[phnart]

These last two games have been ugly. They are not hustling on D at all, especially Booker, but I can't really blame him due to the effort he has to put out on offense to try and keep them in the game at all. The Suns made Houston and Indiana look unbeatable. Just venting, but I also want to add that there really isn't an answer out there, in my opinion, that would be worth blowing up the team for right now. Do they need a better point guard, hell yes...but at what cost when there is nothing to win this year? Everyone on here knows this...I'm a 48 year old Phoenix native. In my lifetime, I need to see a Suns championship.

[bwgood77]

He's going to play. I don't think we're in a financial position to sit a $14m a year player. Even if it's 10mpg, he's going to play. Unfortunately

Maybe, but he's been sitting for almost a year. He sat after the all star break last year, a good 10 games before Bledsoe sat. I am sure if he's still around next year the tankers will want him to get minutes, but I've really had enough of him and hope by next year we are serious about trying to start to win.

I'll say this, Knight for better or for worse, still managed to put up 20/4/5 in his first full season with us. Then under Watson, he logged a ton of DNP's, his minutes were erratic and inconsistent (for good reasons) and had the worse season of his career. But we all know Watson was a TERRIBLE coach. With a better coach (Triano or someone else), he could be useful. So I'm not high on him but with $30m left on his contract, I'd give him a fair go under a proper coach and playing next a more experienced and better Booker and TJ.

I HATE when stat lines like that get used as a positive with a player when efficiency and ast/to ratio are not used. He put up almost 20 but his efficiency was terrible...like 53% TS%...so the more he hogs the ball the worse our team is...those points come at a cost. Those five assists come at the expense of 3.5 turnovers as well.

His over dribbling and constant deer in headlights jump up in the air to pass to someone but not sure who which turns into pass to opponent is just really something this team does not need.

Even with that stat line you put up, he just comes out from an advanced stat line as being a huge negative. Besides making a team worse, teammates just have to watch him dribble and shoot so much which ultimately leads to making a team worse.

He is a great tank commander but I don't think it's a good idea AT ALL to mix him up on the court with this young team. Frankly it kind of scares me. I think it would be like we are going backwards.

[Hesh]

I'll listen to talk of aquiring any PG. Anyone > Ulis. At what price though? I'm not willing to give up any important pieces or assets to get Payton lol

I don't understand this logic. Just because our starting pg is bad it doesn't mean we should be happy with any pg that is just a bit better. We should try to get good pg.

Basically just a stop-gap. Similar to what we have with Canaan, not as our PG of the future. We'll use him for this season, evaluate him and make a decision on him when the time comes. He's a RFA next season.

The flow of the offense may improve and development of our players can continue within the flow of the game. Ulis brings nothing, his time on the court hurts the team. Even if Payton is only a minor upgrade at PG, we still need a PG on the floor and I'd rather it not be Ulis.

Booker isn't even looking to score anymore, I'm sure it's a personal and coaching decision to help him become our James Harden but he needs a capable running-mate to make life easier. If we end up drafting Trae then we can have Payton as a cheap temp while the rookie makes his transition into the NBA.

[lilfishi22]

Maybe, but he's been sitting for almost a year. He sat after the all star break last year, a good 10 games before Bledsoe sat. I am sure if he's still around next year the tankers will want him to get minutes, but I've really had enough of him and hope by next year we are serious about trying to start to win.

I'll say this, Knight for better or for worse, still managed to put up 20/4/5 in his first full season with us. Then under Watson, he logged a ton of DNP's, his minutes were erratic and inconsistent (for good reasons) and had the worse season of his career. But we all know Watson was a TERRIBLE coach. With a better coach (Triano or someone else), he could be useful. So I'm not high on him but with $30m left on his contract, I'd give him a fair go under a proper coach and playing next a more experienced and better Booker and TJ.

I HATE when stat lines like that get used as a positive with a player when efficiency and ast/to ratio are not used. He put up almost 20 but his efficiency was terrible...like 53% TS%...so the more he hogs the ball the worse our team is...those points come at a cost. Those five assists come at the expense of 3.5 turnovers as well.

His over dribbling and constant deer in headlights jump up in the air to pass to someone but not sure who which turns into pass to opponent is just really something this team does not need.

Even with that stat line you put up, he just comes out from an advanced stat line as being a huge negative. Besides making a team worse, teammates just have to watch him dribble and shoot so much which ultimately leads to making a team worse.

He is a great tank commander but I don't think it's a good idea AT ALL to mix him up on the court with this young team. Frankly it kind of scares me. I think it would be like we are going backwards.

That's why I said for better or for worse. There's games where he does well putting up 20pts then there's other games where puts up 15pts on god-awful efficiency. His TS% was actually .522 and last season it was barely above .500. I'm not here trying to sing his praises but he does have talent and under a proper coach, he should be given another go. It's either we don't give him a chance at all or we try and salvage some on-court value because he's going to be near impossible to trade.

He might be a great tank commander but he's no worse than Ulis yet we're still starting him. Knight is going to have a small role if he plays and I think he'll be fine in a small role. And any way you look at it, if we don't address the PG situation properly in the offseason, a healthy Knight is a better player than Ulis who's the only other PG signed beyond this season.

[Cutter]

The rise of Shabazz Napier for the Portland Trail Blazers may end up bittersweet. He’s gone from first-round burn-out to fringe starter in Portland. For that same reason the former University of Connecticut point guard could be playing himself into a sizeable contract next season—one the Blazers might not be able to match given their current payroll.
If the Blazers believe they won’t be able to retain Napier, the NBA Trade Deadline provides an out, offering potential to sell high. The deadline also provides an opportunity to pick up the next Napier: an under-the-radar, young point guard acquired for cheap. The Orlando Magic traded Napier himself for only “cash considerations” following his second underwhelming season in the league. Might the next candidate be right around the corner?
Let’s take a look at three PGs who might fit the bill:

Joe Young, Indiana Pacers
Joe Young, a former Oregon Duck, sticks out as a strong Napier parallel. The third-year guard is averaging 4.2 points on 9.0 minutes per game this season, on par with what Napier registered the season prior to coming to Portland (3.7 points in 10.9 minutes per game). Young (6-foot-2, 180 pounds) and Napier (6-foot-1, 175 pounds) are also strikingly similar physically.
Here is what DraftExpress said of Young ahead of the 2015 NBA Draft:
There is little question about Young’s ability to put the ball in the basket, as he failed to score in double digits in just two games last season. He can do it in a variety of ways and has great potential as a microwave scorer off the bench at the next level.
Sound familiar? It gets better:
Young is multi-dimensional scorer, able to make shots consistently and prolifically both in catch and shoot situations (41.9%) and off the dribble (43.9%) ... He’s comfortable in spot-up situations, taking a dribble or two before his jumper or coming off screens. He has great form on his shot, always seeming to be on balance, and his quick release allows him to get his shot attempts off despite his smaller size.
Young has failed to catch on with the Pacers, never getting the chance to grow into a bigger role. George Hill and Ty Lawson were ahead of him his rookie year in 2015-16; Jeff Teague and Aaron Brooks jumped ahead of him in 2016-17; and Darren Collison and Cory Joseph rank ahead of him this season.

It’s possible the Pacers don’t believe in Young, not seeing enough talent to warrant minutes. Napier only played 9.7 minutes per game his first season in Portland. But a sputtering offense allowed him a chance and he’s produced. Maybe Young just needs the same. His team option for 2018-19 makes him a fantastic buy-low opportunity.
Besides, who doesn’t want a player who sleeps on the team’s practice floor and makes 500 shots every time he wakes up?

Delon Wright, Toronto Raptors
Delon Wright, brother of former Blazer Dorell Wright, came to the Raptors in a situation similar to Napier’s in Portland: sitting behind two All-Star-quality guards in Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. Wright appeared in just 27 games his rookie year, averaging 3.8 points in 8.5 minutes per game.
In Summer League following his rookie year, Wright dislocated his right shoulder, requiring surgery. He returned for 27 more games, all after the All-Star break, and upped his minutes (16.5) and points (5.6) per game over that stretch.
Wright put in 14 points in two games over the first month of this season, adding 13 in a third, but then dislocated his right shoulder again, missing games from Nov. 17 to Dec. 13. He’s still enjoying career highs with 9.0 points on 21.5 minutes per game.
Wright isn’t a free agent until 2019, giving the Blazers another season to evaluate him while adjusting their roster to gauge need. A Napier-for-Wright swap may make sense as the former looks prepared for a big role with a contender, while the latter slots in as a piece for a team building for the future while still trying to compete.

Raul Neto, Utah Jazz
Raul Neto, out of Brazil, is at the end of a three-year contract with the Jazz. He played 18.5 minutes per game his rookie season, but Utah’s guard rotation has crowded him out since.
When Dante Exum returned from injury and George Hill joined the team in 2016-17, Neto averaged only 8.7 minutes per game. 2017-18 brought Ricky Rubio and the rise of Donovan Mitchell, limiting him to 4.9 points in 13.3 minutes. A concussion and knee injury have sidelined him since Dec. 9.
Even with his injuries, the Jazz decided to guarantee the rest of Neto’s 2017-18 season, which provides hope he’ll return sooner rather than later.
Neto is shooting 45.5 percent from three this season. He is a career 39.1 percent three-point shooter.
DraftExpress had this to say of Neto before the 2013 draft:
Athletically, Neto is a class above most European guards, showing terrific speed in the open floor and a very quick first step. This, combined with his aggressive nature, allows him to create his own shot exceedingly well...
Even if the Blazers didn’t make a move for him at the deadline, Utah certainly could pass on re-signing him this offseason. Portland may be in the market for a backup, and can snatch him up on the low given his injuries and lack of a minutes leading to less-than-stellar stats

[Cutter]

In 1987-88 Suns traded Larry Nance to Cleveland for Kevin Johnson, Ty Corbin and Mark West. Kevin Johnson scored 7.3 ppg on 20 mpg in his half year in Cleveland. Johnson was stuck behind veteran guard Mark Price who played nearly 33 mpg.

The following 1988-89 season as a Sun KJ scored 20 ppg and averaged 12 assists per game. KJ went on to play 12 seasons with the Suns, including their finals appearance where they lost to some guy named Michael Jordan in 6 games. He was drafted with the 7th pick in the draft, and was a 3 time All Star.

It shows that you don't have to tank to find All Star talent. Somewhere in the NBA is a future star PG sitting behind a veteran and not getting minutes. Many are looking at 26 year old Shabazz Napier being stuck behind Damian Lillard.

Not sure if Napier is the future at PG for the Suns, but as the Kevin Johnson trade shows it is very possible to trade for talent and turn the team around.

[sunsfever68]

IF WE DO NOT COME AWAY WITH THIS MISERABLE SEASON OF LOSING WITH ONE OF THE FOLLOWING

AYTON
BAGLEY
TRAE YOUNG
DONCIC
BOMBA
PORTER JR (assuming healthy)

WE WILL HAVE WASTED ANOTHER SEASON FOR ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

We need another young stud to add to the mix because you have to assume out of Jackson, Bender, Chriss, at least 1 maybe 2 will be role players at best. Let's hope 1 of the 3 turns into another star to go with Booker. It's a risk at this point to bank on any of these 3 to turn into that,

The Suns NEED TO TANK to get the best odds to get one of those superstars because Malik Jackson and Mikel Bridges don't do it for me like one of those 6 guys who are stars in the making most likely

[Hesh]

IF WE DO NOT COME AWAY WITH THIS MISERABLE SEASON OF LOSING WITH ONE OF THE FOLLOWING

AYTON
BAGLEY
TRAE YOUNG
DONCIC
BOMBA
PORTER JR (assuming healthy)

WE WILL HAVE WASTED ANOTHER SEASON FOR ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

We need another young stud to add to the mix because you have to assume out of Jackson, Bender, Chriss, at least 1 maybe 2 will be role players at best. Let's hope 1 of the 3 turns into another star to go with Booker. It's a risk at this point to bank on any of these 3 to turn into that,

The Suns NEED TO TANK to get the best odds to get one of those superstars because Malik Jackson and Mikel Bridges don't do it for me like one of those 6 guys who are stars in the making most likely

But Jackson was our star in the making last draft. And Bender the one before that. Every season we're calling for a top pick so that we can land one these potential "stars" but who really knows when it comes to the draft. Are we gonna tank next season again when one of these guys don't pan out? Are we gonna tank every season until we finally hit gold? I'm not calling you out because I would like a top pick as well, but this approach might be getting out of hand.

[Wilber85]

IF WE DO NOT COME AWAY WITH THIS MISERABLE SEASON OF LOSING WITH ONE OF THE FOLLOWING

AYTON
BAGLEY
TRAE YOUNG
DONCIC
BOMBA
PORTER JR (assuming healthy)

WE WILL HAVE WASTED ANOTHER SEASON FOR ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

We need another young stud to add to the mix because you have to assume out of Jackson, Bender, Chriss, at least 1 maybe 2 will be role players at best. Let's hope 1 of the 3 turns into another star to go with Booker. It's a risk at this point to bank on any of these 3 to turn into that,

The Suns NEED TO TANK to get the best odds to get one of those superstars because Malik Jackson and Mikel Bridges don't do it for me like one of those 6 guys who are stars in the making most likely

I am all for Bamba right now! The reason I want BAMBA this year is next years draft there really isn't many bigs but Bol Bol. I am comfortable with Booker bringing the ball up. We need Bender to take a step up in his game and become a Markonnen type shooter.

I want Mudiay or Rubio for cheap next year. then We draft RJ Barrett or Cameron Reddish in 2019 then we look like the following

Mudiay or Rubio / Ulis / Booker
Booker / Reddish or Barrett
Jackson (Let's develop him) - Hopefully his game grows
Bender
Bamba

Also sign any free agents.