Almost off-season discussion! Trades/Free Agency Ep. 9

[bwgood77]

So if we can get a resigned Kawhi and we're happy with his medicals, do you think it's worth #1?

If you're asking me, I think if you're just judging strictly on trade value, yes, he's easily worth it because there is probably less than a 50% chance that any specific prospect will ever be as good as Kawhi, but at the same time, just from me personally being vested with my fandom and this pick, it would be very hard for me to pull the trigger because I want that #1 pick.

Before Kawhi's injury many felt he was top 2 or 3 player in the league, and best two way guy.

So in a nutshell, he's worth it. Would I do it? Probably not, even though I know it's not completely rational.

[Dr Manute]

I'd rather throw assets at whoever to land Luka than Kawhi

I don't think Lebron would come for Luka - but he probably would for Kawhi. Also - I think Sac will pick Luka #2 - him dropping is just smoke screen.

[Fo-Real]

How the hell did we get here? There is only a slight mention of a possibility of this on the main board and none on trade board, how the hell did we run this far this fast with no evidence?!?!

[8on]

McD interview wasn’t that interesting

[Dr Manute]

How the hell did we get here? There is only a slight mention of a possibility of this on the main board and none on trade board, how the hell did we run this far this fast with no evidence?!?!

[BobbieL]

I look at it this way. I was/am all for building through the draft and letting the young team grow, and i am against trading for Kawhi*, but there is that asterx there, If that means Lebron is coming to, then i have to be for it. Sure, we could have Ayton and JJ signed and have complete control of them for the next 8+ years, but Booker/Kawhi/Lebron and whatever other FA decide to come along on the ring chase would immediately volt us up to the top of the league with GS and Rockets (If they can keep their core together). Sure we might not be able to keep Lebron for more than 3 years, but that also means that Kawhi would have re-signed with us, and even after Lebron retires, we would still have Booker and Kawhi. Not only that, but we would turn into a FA destination again, just like we were in the Dantoni days when we were winning 60 games a season. Booker+Kawhi+some solid FA would be able to keep us right up there at the top for years.

But it would all depend on if Lebron is coming....and if Kawhi was willing to sign that extension. It would take both of those to make me ok and feel comfortable trading #1+JJ+The rest of the guys SA would take from us.

I was thinking about this on my drive home from work. If you could guarantee one Suns championship with Book/Kawhi/Leonard and go another couple times deep with those three and then roll the dice with Book and Leonard after that for awhile (maybe 5 years)...would you take THAT, or having Book/Jackson/Ayton (or Doncic) for the next 10-15 years and roll the dice? I wonder what would win in a poll.

I've always liked watching homegrown so I'd probably go for it. It would be exciting for a bit but being another stop on the LeBron tour....I think I'd rather have our own stars for a long stretch.

Though I think if we could get a re-signed Kawhi without trading the #1 pick or Booker you have to do it.

totally agree. a core of Booker/Kawhi/Ayton is worth it now and in the long run

If you can get Kawhi without giving up Ayton - meaning Jackson, 16 the Heat pick - of course you do. hell i would take Patty Mills in that type of scenario. I just don't see the SPurs taking Kawhi for anything but the top pick. I know I would

But if you could get Kawhi and Patty Mills for Jackson, Warren (Bender or Chriss) - plus the 16 plus the Bucks and Heat picks - heart beat

something like this - might even take Gasol to not give up Ayton

https://basketball.realgm.com/tradechecker/saved_trade/7070920

One other thing - there is probably only one team, supposedly that Kawhi is signing with long -term which might mean the offers are not as good as one would think

[AtheJ415]

I mentioned this already, but...

Read on Twitter

The site probably has a data issue. Look, Vegas wouldn't force betters to pick a winner, so if this was true, they wouldn't guarantee they lose money by forcing gamblers to bet on Phoenix. If anything that would make it seem like they know we aren't getting him.

[matt131]

McD interview wasn’t that interesting

I guess he didn't hear the news about us trading for Kawhi

[lilfishi22]

So if we can get a resigned Kawhi and we're happy with his medicals, do you think it's worth #1?

If you're asking me, I think if you're just judging strictly on trade value, yes, he's easily worth it because there is probably less than a 50% chance that any specific prospect will ever be as good as Kawhi, but at the same time, just from me personally being vested with my fandom and this pick, it would be very hard for me to pull the trigger because I want that #1 pick.

Before Kawhi's injury many felt he was top 2 or 3 player in the league, and best two way guy.

So in a nutshell, he's worth it. Would I do it? Probably not, even though I know it's not completely rational.

That's my view. 100% worth it and I'm leaning towards doing it but an irrational part of me don't like it.

[bwgood77]

I mentioned this already, but...

Read on Twitter

The site probably has a data issue. Look, Vegas wouldn't force betters to pick a winner, so if this was true, they wouldn't guarantee they lose money by forcing gamblers to bet on Phoenix. If anything that would make it seem like they know we aren't getting him.

Right, when I saw that I figured that was the final odds and betting on that prop was shut down, or there was an issue. Yes, obviously if they left just one up with favorable odds for bettors, I would guess he is signing somewhere else...it was obviously some kind of glitch. Then when I logged in it said betting was suspended so I thought it was a site issue but that might just be because my account had been dormant.

[lilfishi22]

I'd rather throw assets at whoever to land Luka than Kawhi

I don't think Lebron would come for Luka - but he probably would for Kawhi. Also - I think Sac will pick Luka #2 - him dropping is just smoke screen.

Which I'm fine with. As much as I'd love the Suns to win it's first championship, I'd rather it be through our own hands than just a "stop" on Lebron's championship career.

[BobbieL]

So if we can get a resigned Kawhi and we're happy with his medicals, do you think it's worth #1?

If you're asking me, I think if you're just judging strictly on trade value, yes, he's easily worth it because there is probably less than a 50% chance that any specific prospect will ever be as good as Kawhi, but at the same time, just from me personally being vested with my fandom and this pick, it would be very hard for me to pull the trigger because I want that #1 pick.

Before Kawhi's injury many felt he was top 2 or 3 player in the league, and best two way guy.

So in a nutshell, he's worth it. Would I do it? Probably not, even though I know it's not completely rational.

That's my view. 100% worth it and I'm leaning towards doing it but an irrational part of me don't like it.

a healthy signed happy motivate Kawhi Leonard - is worth a lot
I am not sure what in terms of players or picks. Josh and Ayton seems a bit much unless the Spurs are taking a salary like Dudley or Chandler

If you can get Kawhi without giving up Ayton or Booker - you almost have to do it - don't you - again depending on picks, and is healthy and that extension.

[AtheJ415]

So if we can get a resigned Kawhi and we're happy with his medicals, do you think it's worth #1?

No. Just keep Ayton and sign him next year. If he is interested enough to re-sign long-term then he should be even more interested in playing on the same team + Ayton.

[Fo-Real]

Ok so all of this was Orson Wells level bull ****! Got it

[bwgood77]

If you're asking me, I think if you're just judging strictly on trade value, yes, he's easily worth it because there is probably less than a 50% chance that any specific prospect will ever be as good as Kawhi, but at the same time, just from me personally being vested with my fandom and this pick, it would be very hard for me to pull the trigger because I want that #1 pick.

Before Kawhi's injury many felt he was top 2 or 3 player in the league, and best two way guy.

So in a nutshell, he's worth it. Would I do it? Probably not, even though I know it's not completely rational.

That's my view. 100% worth it and I'm leaning towards doing it but an irrational part of me don't like it.

a healthy signed happy motivate Kawhi Leonard - is worth a lot
I am not sure what in terms of players or picks. Josh and Ayton seems a bit much unless the Spurs are taking a salary like Dudley or Chandler

If you can get Kawhi without giving up Ayton or Booker - you almost have to do it - don't you - again depending on picks, and is healthy and that extension.

Yeah, we were just talking #1...of course you take him if you keep 1. But if it was just the 1, it's tough...however if you could then turn Jackson into a really good big or a pick high enough to get one of the good bigs, that would make more sense, since Jackson makes less sense if you have Kawhi. I'm not sure how high of a pick he would net though...or what type of big.

[AtheJ415]

My ultimate offseason is still taking Ayton 1, trading 16/Milwaukee/our first next year unprotected/31(so essentially 4 firsts), and salary (probably Dudley and Sauce), and take back Parsons for Doncic. Yes, that is a lot, but Parsons at least could be more than a dead body and I just want this lineup going forward: Doncic, Booker, Jackson, Chriss/Bender, Ayton. Standard star trade is 3 firsts, we offer 2 middling firsts, the top of the 2nd (same as late 1st), and our unprotected next year which should be lottery, combined with salary relief.

[Phnxsports]

There is just no way any of this can be true. Leonard had an amazing season two years ago but last year was really strange and should create enough doubt in any GMs mind to give up that much for arguably an unknown commodity.

[AtheJ415]

That's my view. 100% worth it and I'm leaning towards doing it but an irrational part of me don't like it.

a healthy signed happy motivate Kawhi Leonard - is worth a lot
I am not sure what in terms of players or picks. Josh and Ayton seems a bit much unless the Spurs are taking a salary like Dudley or Chandler

If you can get Kawhi without giving up Ayton or Booker - you almost have to do it - don't you - again depending on picks, and is healthy and that extension.

Yeah, we were just talking #1...of course you take him if you keep 1. But if it was just the 1, it's tough...however if you could then turn Jackson into a really good big or a pick high enough to get one of the good bigs, that would make more sense, since Jackson makes less sense if you have Kawhi. I'm not sure how high of a pick he would net though...or what type of big.

I'm just skeptical because he cannot extend here now. And so if he is making the decision next offseason anyways, wouldn't he, if he truly would consider staying here long term, prefer to play WITH Ayton instead of on the same team without him? I don't see the benefit from our perspective or his in making this trade. If he wants out of SA for this season, going elsewhere in the East would allow him to contend for a year. Then, if he really wanted to stay West near LA and viewed our core as the best of that group, he can sign next season so long as we don't blow our salary cap this offseason.

Also, I expect Ayton to be a top 5 center from Day 1, with the potential to be a lot higher.

[BobbieL]

the thought of Kawhi is good

but I can see a very bright future with Ayton, Booker and Jackson. One of Bender or Chriss possibly can be a rotational player; Warren I think has a skill set

Use 16 to maybe get a veteran PG -- I would do Dragic for the 16 if the right contracts are going back to Miami (Dudley, Daniels Williams) -- Heat get a bit of cap relief; Suns still have cap room to add another player

Personally I want to see this team with Ayton, Jackson and other picks or players more than Kawhi

[bwgood77]

a healthy signed happy motivate Kawhi Leonard - is worth a lot
I am not sure what in terms of players or picks. Josh and Ayton seems a bit much unless the Spurs are taking a salary like Dudley or Chandler

If you can get Kawhi without giving up Ayton or Booker - you almost have to do it - don't you - again depending on picks, and is healthy and that extension.

Yeah, we were just talking #1...of course you take him if you keep 1. But if it was just the 1, it's tough...however if you could then turn Jackson into a really good big or a pick high enough to get one of the good bigs, that would make more sense, since Jackson makes less sense if you have Kawhi. I'm not sure how high of a pick he would net though...or what type of big.

I'm just skeptical because he cannot extend here now. And so if he is making the decision next offseason anyways, wouldn't he, if he truly would consider staying here long term, prefer to play WITH Ayton instead of on the same team without him? I don't see the benefit from our perspective or his in making this trade. If he wants out of SA for this season, going elsewhere in the East would allow him to contend for a year. Then, if he really wanted to stay West near LA and viewed our core as the best of that group, he can sign next season so long as we don't blow our salary cap this offseason.

Also, I expect Ayton to be a top 5 center from Day 1, with the potential to be a lot higher.

Sure it's better to sign him in FA but I doubt we have the cap space. Now if they have figured out a way to carve that space and get Booker to not sign an extension until next offseason I'm all for it. I'll be surprised if he waits and if we don't sign any free agents that last longer than a year though.