2014 Official FA Thread

[Ring_Wanted]

I'd like to solve the backup PG thorough the draft with a late pick if possible, especially if the two PGs system is going to stick.

Vasquez sounds great for a second unit, but I think his status is beyond what we are talking about here in terms of minutes and money.

While there are definitely a few point guards in the draft I like for the Suns, I covet the lineup versatility Vasquez would afford the Suns. We could draft or sign any number of great shooting undersized 2s, and allow Vasquez to defend the 2. The Suns could field a 3-guard lineup with Vasquez and two shooting guards. I also love his competitive fire and confidence.

In terms of money, we'll see. I'm thinking his stock went down after his struggles in Sacramento. With the depth at the PG position around the league, I would rule out him agreeing to a reasonable deal.

I like Vasquez too, tho it seems I deem him more limited than you (but I love his fire too). Still a good pickup but if we'd want a undersized two to put him alongside a PG, I'd rather look at Mills and use the pick on Micic, for instance.

How much do you think Vasquez (or Mills) will get next summer? If it is in the 4M range for instance I believe he wouldn't be an option for us.

[gaspar]

Ish Smith is great as a 3rd string PG. His defense and energy off the bench are exactly what this this team needs. Someone like Ish who has a great work ethic and is hungry to prove his worth in the league will have a much better influence in the locker room than a Vasquez who was a starter a year ago and would be just a benchwarmer in Phoenix.

[INFORMER-93]

I would think Vasquez would command $2.8-3.5 mil a year. I think Mills would be looking at $2 million, give or take a few 100 grand.

Mo Williams and Darren Collison deals are similar to those figures.

[Ring_Wanted]

I think Vasquez's floor would be at 3 or 3.25M. Mills, I don't know, but if he could be had for 2M, it's a nobrainer.

I must be way less enamored with Ish than others, tho. All I see is speed and ballhandling, but no offense outside of a pass here and there and no relevant defense. Has been better lately, but I don't consider him a keeper.

[INFORMER-93]

Ish Smith is great as a 3rd string PG. His defense and energy off the bench are exactly what this this team needs. Someone like Ish who has a great work ethic and is hungry to prove his worth in the league will have a much better influence in the locker room than a Vasquez who was a starter a year ago and would be just a benchwarmer in Phoenix.

Vasquez just wants to win; and he seems fine coming off the bench in Toronto (was celebrating like crazy with his teammates the other night in their victory). And I think you have get a guy in here that can fit in multiple lineups to increase his utility to the team.

[gaspar]

Ish Smith is great as a 3rd string PG. His defense and energy off the bench are exactly what this this team needs. Someone like Ish who has a great work ethic and is hungry to prove his worth in the league will have a much better influence in the locker room than a Vasquez who was a starter a year ago and would be just a benchwarmer in Phoenix.

Vasquez just wants to win; and he seems fine coming off the bench in Toronto (was celebrating like crazy with his teammates the other night in their victory). And I think you have get a guy in here that can fit in multiple lineups to increase his utility to the team.

I just don't think that 3rd string PG is in the top 50 needs the Suns have to address in the offseason. Ish Smith on vet min is just fine as a benchwarmer and body in practice. I'm not a fan of having players on more than vet min or rookie contracts sitting on the bench.

[nevetsov]

Yup, when this team is healthy, Eric and Goran will handle all the PG minutes. It's only when one of them is injured that the 3rd stringer will get some burn (also blowouts but that doesn't matter either way). Ish is capable in that role - he's cheap and stays ready. Why rock the boat if we don't need to?

[RaisingArizona]

Yup, when this team is healthy, Eric and Goran will handle all the PG minutes. It's only when one of them is injured that the 3rd stringer will get some burn (also blowouts but that doesn't matter either way). Ish is capable in that role - he's cheap and stays ready. Why rock the boat if we don't need to?

Exactly. All of this talk about changing the chemistry to replace our 3rd string pg is the comedic humor I needed on a morning such as this. Especially since Ish has been playing well this year.

[Frank Lee]

Ish Smith is great as a 3rd string PG. His defense and energy off the bench are exactly what this this team needs. Someone like Ish who has a great work ethic and is hungry to prove his worth in the league will have a much better influence in the locker room than a Vasquez who was a starter a year ago and would be just a benchwarmer in Phoenix.

Yeah, but Ish might as well be chunking punkins at the rim. He could be the worst shooter in the league. Almost to the point of being a liability. He's fast and all that, but man, he's tough on backboards.


Here's a thought I expressed over on the big board about our FA situation. I was in a discussion about adding a player (Illysova) who had 3 more yrs on a deal. Other than shanking the Turk, the other rebuttals centered around the length of his deal...3 more yrs...

My thinking is so what ? If McDon finds a good young player he can trade for, especially with Okafor's hefty savings opportunity, he'll do it, contract be damned.

Isn't the end result the same as signing a FA?

For example, lets say McDon wanted Thad Young. OK... if Young was a free agent next yr it would take a 5 yr hefty deal to lock him up, and you would be subject to other teams bidding for him, driving up the price. Something that will likely happen to Heyward and Bledsoe.* Practically all the better young players will seek a 5 yr deal. But if you we able to acquire a solid young player who has an already established price tag by trading for him this yr, you actually may spend less per yr, as well as commit to a shorter time frame.

By no means do I think McDon is restricting his future cap space only to 'purchase' a free agent. Next yrs crop is not that impressive. And its going to be put up or shut up on auction day. Might as well go shopping now by dangling a cash saving deal like Ok's. That's a 14 million tab to drink on, and last call is coming up.




* No doubt our priority will be to sign Bledsoe... all other additions are up in the air. However, imagine we offer a chunky almost max deal to Hayward, like he wants.... And in the same swoop, Utah then counters with a max to Bledsoe... I think there is like 3 days to think before you ink... but I could see some leverage games being played

[jcsunsfan]

Is LeBron on some goodwill tour to bring the other 30 teams a title or something? No. Y'all stop it with the LeBron talk please. Dreaming is free and all but it's just silly at this point.

Carey, you have to stop this. That is last year's thinking. Yes, the most likely thing is for LeBron to stay in Miami, but the Suns have to be the best choice after that for the following reasons:

1. They can sign him outright. Only a few teams can do that.
2. They have the best roster to surround him with of those teams that can sign him outright.
3. They have the most versatility to add players if something needs to be altered.
4. The city of Phoenix is a great climate and environment for a player that has a family.
5. He could bring this team its first championship, which would just add to his legacy.
6. The Suns clearly have one of the best young coaches in the league.
7. The Suns have one of the best young GM's in the league.
8. Sarver has gotten himself completely out of the way.

I do not see a team out there that makes more sense, except staying in Miami for the money.

1. The Lakers are a mess, with little in the way of picks or players. He would not be a good match to play with Kobe and it will always be Kobe's team.
2. While Cleveland would have been a great choice, they just cannot get it together and well, the coaching, yuck.

Who else? This isn't pie in the sky. Its logic.

[carey]

Sigh.

I guess it's because he left his home town for a chance at a ring that everyone just assumes he's going to do it again. He's not. LeBron is very sensitive about his image. There's just no way he bails on Miami, which has become his home, and their fans. They'll say he's a front runner. They'll say he's afraid of adversity. Leaving Miami for any grass-is-greener team is a no win situation for him publicly. Unless he goes back to Cleveland, and apparently he's already squashed that rumor.

JC, I will concede to you that if LeBron wanted to leave, that Phoenix would be one of if not his best option. You don't want to go to the Lakers and play in Kobe's shadow forever. You don't want to go to the Bulls (provided they finally amnesty Boozer) and play in MJ's shadow forever, in fact he already passed on the opportunity to do just that in 2010 when they were in a much better cap & roster situation than they are now. The other teams that could sign him? Utah, Philadelphia, or Dallas (and that's only because Dirk and Marion are both expiring which would leave them gutted). So yes, if he were to leave, we'd be a great option. Only, he isn't going anywhere and hoping he will is going to lead to nothing but misery on your part come July.

[Frank Lee]

and that is 'real logic'

[Fo-Real]

My biggest question is what is P.J. Tucker going to command next year? The man will have held down our starting Sf. spot for two years at that point, so what is his value going to be and will we lose him?

[INFORMER-93]

All of this talk about changing the chemistry to replace our 3rd string pg is the comedic humor I needed on a morning such as this. Especially since Ish has been playing well this year.

Changing the chemistry? I think that's an overreaction. I think Ish has done well and helped some, given his limitations, but I would like a backup better then him.

I'm glad I could provide some "comedic humor" for you, though.

[INFORMER-93]

There's just no way he bails on Miami, which has become his home, and their fans.

I don't know, carey. "No way" seems a little strong. With Wade's uncertain health situation, I think that gives it a slight chance of happening.

They'll say he's a front runner.

He is.

Unless he goes back to Cleveland, and apparently he's already squashed that rumor.

Has he? I read that Latino Post and News Herald article, and it didn't really seem to shed any true light on LeBron's outlook. It just seemed like the author didn't believe it would happen, not that he had any insider information. There's not a better player than Kyrie Irving that LeBron could pair with.

[carey]

There's not a better player than Kyrie Irving that LeBron could pair with.

Wait, what? You mean in the league or of the teams that have available cap space to sign him outright?

[INFORMER-93]

Of the teams that have available cap space.

[bigfoot]

LeBron has to be realistic. Dwayne Wade is 32. He is on the downside of his career and his numbers this year are dropping relative to his career average. Wade relies on his athleticism which will decrease annually. The biggest concern has to be his knee. No meniscus remaining means Wade is going to struggle every season to play 82 games. LeBron will be forced to carry more of the load. Indiana has already show through last years ECF that Miami's days are numbered. I think he has to take a serious look at the Suns if he opts out.

[bwgood77]

I doubt LeBron would view this as a good destination for him. He wants to be surrounded by shooters. I assume everyone here would want Dragic and Bledsoe to stick around too. Who would you want to be the primary ballhandler? Instead of having two guys sharing the duties, now would you want three? Would you ever really want to take the ball out of LeBron's hands if he were here? If not, would you want to have Bledsoe and Dragic stand at the three point line and wait?

Or are you saying, "If we get LeBron, we trade anyone to put the people around him he needs."?

I'm not saying I wouldn't want LeBron, but I just wonder if people thought through how the current team would work with him on it and how the ball would flow. Maybe you just want to get rid of one of the point guards?

I kind of like the way the team is being built. I don't know that I really want LeBron all that much. I like being the underdog team that slowly is built into a juggernaut.

[E-Buck]

Can you explain to me how Miami makes their offense work with three ball handlers in Chalmers, Wade, and LeBron?

Dragic/Bledsoe > Chalmers/Wade at this point. LeBron would love playing with these two.