2014 Official Suns Free Agent/Trade/Transaction Thread

[INFORMER-93]

Man, would love to get Embiid! The guy looks like a double double player... Technically Len is supposed to be the inside presence but my confidence is low currently.

Now, if your confidence is low on him ever being healthy, that's another story.

That's how I understood it.

[thamadkant]

Sure Suns won't have a perennial all star but they have Bledsoe and Hayward as borderline stars... Like Parker and Ginobili...

They may put up comparable quantity of numbers, but Bledsoe has a long ways to go before becoming as smart, steady, and dominant as Parker has become. And Hayward has a LONG ways to go before establishing himself as clutch, tough, and reliable as Ginobili has been.

Parker and Ginobili are the "ceiling" of Bledsoe and Hayward in essence... IMO anyways.

Parker became the way he is because of great coaching and teaching from Popovic... Same with Ginobili.
I still remember Ginobili and Parker in their first 3 seasons and Bledsoe and Hayward are definitely comparable to them as young players.

Suns just need Hornacek to become a half as good as a teacher as Popovic is...

[thamadkant]

Man, would love to get Embiid! The guy looks like a double double player... Technically Len is supposed to be the inside presence but my confidence is low currently.

I'll wait until the guy is healthy for my confidence to be low on him turning into an inside presence.

Now, if your confidence is low on him ever being healthy, that's another story.

Yes, my confidence is a bit low on Len staying healthy long enough to play 75+ games a season to fulfil his potential...
He can't improve sitting down watching...

[thamadkant]

My Suns / Jazz / 76ers trade proposal is actually a possibility if Hayward's agent convinces Jazz Hayward will not sign for anything less than 12 million a year.

The question here is: are those picks worth more than the extra money (compared to the player's real worth) that it would cost to get the player thru RFA?

Sure Suns won't have a perennial all star but they have Bledsoe and Hayward as borderline stars... Like Parker and Ginobili...

There is an universe between those two couples. Just like there is one between Plumlee and prime Duncan.

Man, would love to get Embiid! The guy looks like a double double player... Technically Len is supposed to be the inside presence but my confidence is low currently.

If the Suns somehow were in a position to draft Embiid, you don't even factor in Len.

1. I understand the notion of waiting until offseason... My concern is with time, but Hayward's value may increase by the end of the season, which may also convince Jazz to keep him at all cost. Currently there are doubts about him being worth 12 million a year. If he fires up during second half of the season it could make Jazz pull the trigger and resign him at all cost.

2. Parker and Ginobili as 23 year olds weren't the player they are now or during their prime.
I still recall Parker and Ginobili as young players and Bledsoe and Hayward is on the same level if not just a tiny tad below. And at no point did I ever contemplated Plumlee approaching Duncan... Plumlee would be glad to hold Duncan's jocks to dry... And Plumlee is one of my favourite suns players at the moment.

3. Embiid is a almost just a dream... He is likely to be pick 2 or 3... If not 1... Basically top 3 pick.
Suns just need to focus on making the most out of Len either ways..
Len as a double double guy with shot blocking skills... I'd be ecstatic.

[Ring_Wanted]

When Parker was 23 it was the 2005-06 season. He was a monster by that time as we as Suns fans can recall. Manu didn't reach his NBA level until he was 27 or so. In that regard, I'd compare him more to Goran than Hayward(*), especially the way they play.

As for Hayward(*), I just don't think spending assets now is a good idea. If he didn't give Utah a discount, he won't do it for the Suns, or the C's, no matter what happens the rest of the season, and if the Boston has indeed made him their offseason target, a huge offer sheet is being signed either way. And that's assuming Utah wouldn't match, which is not a given.

[Frank Lee]

Would anyone trade Bledsoe for a top 5 pick on draft day?
I'm just hoping we don't get a snag up in $$ with Bled. Keep it all reasonable, and just hope no one gives Lowry 10mill+.

We can't trade him on draft day, because he would be a RFA, and the draft would take place before FA period started. Or was that just a hypothetical question, as if we had him locked up already?

uh... yeah, thats right, hypothetical

I hope we keep him, and what ever he signs for doesn't effect his or anyone's mindset. He might be the highest paid PG FA this yr. TParker may edge him out. I would not be surprised to see the process draw out till Parker and Lowry are signed. His camp may want a couple of bank barometers. Who is his agent ?

and....



All this HayWORD-ing is rivaling the GoodWhining. That Boston connection looks pretty strong.

[JMac1]

When Parker was 23 it was the 2005-06 season. He was a monster by that time as we as Suns fans can recall. Manu didn't reach his NBA level until he was 27 or so. In that regard, I'd compare him more to Goran than Hayward(*), especially the way they play.

As for Hayward(*), I just don't think spending assets now is a good idea. If he didn't give Utah a discount, he won't do it for the Suns, or the C's, no matter what happens the rest of the season, and if the Boston has indeed made him their offseason target, a huge offer sheet is being signed either way. And that's assuming Utah wouldn't match, which is not a given.

Parker had been playing since he was 19. That means he had four years on the court, this is Bledsoe's 1st (full time). Sometimes you just have to take a chance. Gordon, Bledsoe, and Goran have shown enough to make me believe that they could become those type of players. I know it is blasphemy to say it before the fact.......hindsight is 20/20 though.

As far as Len. People need to stop trippin on the guy. Len was drafted on potential and he has shown plenty of it in college, give the 20 year old guy a chance. I don't care about Embiid potential; the new potential center of the future flavor of the month.

Edit: just watched the draft videos on Len and Embiid. Embiid is stronger, has more agility, he is longer and more wiry, but Len is more skilled. Oh, as of today Embiid is healthier. I think Embiid will definitely be a much better rebounder and defender than Len, but offensively he better develop a shot and some type of handles, because bullying inferior college guys on offense wont work in the NBA.

Two different type of players. I will be happy with a healthy Len looking like Brook Lopez.

[Ring_Wanted]

I have no problem with Len. I deliberately stayed away from all things draft this past summer, in a way to come to this season with a clear state of mind after the dreadful Blanks regime. Len's ankles were a problem, but if the med staff ok'd it, I was willing to wait and see, and that's where I remain at this point, and probably for the rest of the season at least. Len is not really my war, as I didn't deem him as the target nor had a favorite over him.

And about Bledsoe, I don't want to come up like a hater or anything like that. All I am saying is that linking him to Parker is having some hefty expectations. I'm not saying he can't meet them (he's certainly got the physical gifts), and actually have posted in favor of matching a max contract if it comes down to it.

[bwgood77]

I think the only way we get Hayward is if we trade for him. I think the celtics already have a strangle hold on him, they can offer him max money, reunite him with Brad Stevens (who he loves) and can make him the star of a historic franchise.

I like the guy and think he would work great with bled/goran but I don't think he turns down the celtics offer.

I don't think Utah lets him go. I mentioned I thought they might earlier, but that was before looking at their cap space. They have tons, and regardless of who they draft and what their plans are for Kanter, there is really no reason to let him go. They don't really have any really bad contracts after this year.

There is one problem with Boston signing Hayward as well. They don't have any cap space.

[JMac1]

I have no problem with Len. I deliberately stayed away from all things draft this past summer, in a way to come to this season with a clear state of mind after the dreadful Blanks regime. Len's ankles were a problem, but if the med staff ok'd it, I was willing to wait and see, and that's where I remain at this point, and probably for the rest of the season at least. Len is not really my war, as I didn't deem him as the target nor had a favorite over him.

And about Bledsoe, I don't want to come up like a hater or anything like that. All I am saying is that linking him to Parker is having some hefty expectations. I'm not saying he can't meet them (he's certainly got the physical gifts), and actually have posted in favor of matching a max contract if it comes down to it.

That's the chance you take with Bledsoe. He sat on the bench for all of those years, never growing to earn his contract. Now you have to take a chance on him unlike Parker who you knew what he could do by that time. But it isn't like we have a choice. No stars are coming and no top draft picks. You don't let a guy go who has help resuscitate your franchise because he might be worth a few million less, then where does that leave us?

Back to Hayward. We have to make our team better and he does. I agree with the high salary team with no star syndrome alas Denver, but I do think Bledsoe, Goran, and Hayward is a lot better than Chandler, Lawson, and Gallo.

[JMac1]

I think the only way we get Hayward is if we trade for him. I think the celtics already have a strangle hold on him, they can offer him max money, reunite him with Brad Stevens (who he loves) and can make him the star of a historic franchise.

I like the guy and think he would work great with bled/goran but I don't think he turns down the celtics offer.

I don't think Utah lets him go. I mentioned I thought they might earlier, but that was before looking at their cap space. They have tons, and regardless of who they draft and what their plans are for Kanter, there is really no reason to let him go. They don't really have any really bad contracts after this year.

There is one problem with Boston signing Hayward as well. They don't have any cap space.

I know.... Utah holds all of the cards. But would they want to pay max or close to it for Hayward and they are not in playoff contention yet? Burke, 2014 Pick, Kanter, Favors, and Hayward is a good start I think if they don't trade him, they will match. If the Suns want him, they will have to trade for him. So for all of the you don't trade for a guy who you can get for free is a big fallacy.

Plus you let the market set your price for Gordon and Bledsoe and you just match. Now what do you give to get Hayward?

[Ring_Wanted]

You don't let a guy go who has help resuscitate your franchise because he might be worth a few million less, then where does that leave us?

That's the key. The difference between what he is worth ideally and what he'll get probably won't be big enough to justify letting him go for free. Now, if there was a crazy sign and trade available in the JJ mold, you have to listen. The Bucks or the Lakers could get desperate, for instance, but I wouldn't count on it, so it would be biting the bullet or dodging it altogether, no in-betweens.

Hayward, on the other hand, I don't know if the excess it would take to get the Jazz not to match would be worth it, as he comes from a losing team and his %s are not great. INF says 12M, but anything over 10 would make me really unconfortable, and we know he won't extend for that amount of the Jazz would already have locked him in.

In his case, we could be the ones offering a sign and trade, after all we have the ammo, but Utah probably matches anything and goes from there as besides Favors they don't have any long term contract. Really, it would need to be that rumored 'unmatchable' offer, but personally I want no part of it.

[bwgood77]

I think the only way we get Hayward is if we trade for him. I think the celtics already have a strangle hold on him, they can offer him max money, reunite him with Brad Stevens (who he loves) and can make him the star of a historic franchise.

I like the guy and think he would work great with bled/goran but I don't think he turns down the celtics offer.

I don't think Utah lets him go. I mentioned I thought they might earlier, but that was before looking at their cap space. They have tons, and regardless of who they draft and what their plans are for Kanter, there is really no reason to let him go. They don't really have any really bad contracts after this year.

There is one problem with Boston signing Hayward as well. They don't have any cap space.

I know.... Utah holds all of the cards. But would they want to pay max or close to it for Hayward and they are not in playoff contention yet? Burke, 2014 Pick, Kanter, Favors, and Hayward is a good start I think if they don't trade him, they will match. If the Suns want him, they will have to trade for him. So for all of the you don't trade for a guy who you can get for free is a big fallacy.

Plus you let the market set your price for Gordon and Bledsoe and you just match. Now what do you give to get Hayward?

Sure I think they give Hayward the money if they are not in playoff contention because they have the cap space. Favors is their only big contract after this year. Kanter might get decent money, but maybe not too much. Everyone else will probably be on rookie contracts.

I don't think a trade works for Hayward, because they are set at the other positions. They would need a 2 or 3, and we don't really have any traditional 2/3's that have the type of trade value it would take. They don't need a pg, pf or center.

If we do give Hayward close to the max, we also may not have the cap space to go after Love in free agency either. Love is going to make $20M+ per year on his next contract.

[JMac1]

Utah probably matches anything and goes from there as besides Favors they don't have any long term contract. Really, it would need to be that rumored 'unmatchable' offer, but personally I want no part of it.

Hear hear.......me neither; that is like participating in closed bidding, I don't like that. We could always sit tight and hope Archie can develop a shot like MCW did and play the 3 or luck up on one of our 4 1st in 2014 (looking good right now ) or trade for a 3 or 4. We have to upgrade one of those positions!

[DRK]

If we give Hayward the max but not Bledsoe, I'ld be A very angry man.

[TASTIC]

I almost feel we'd be better throwing Okafor + a pick at CHI and see if they bite.

Offer Deng for $40m over 4yr and see if he's keen at the end of the season...I'd rather Deng at $10m than Hayward at $12m +

He's a perfect veteran SF who leads by example and plays hard on both ends, and with our med staff we could patch him up.

[JMac1]

I almost feel we'd be better throwing Okafor + a pick at CHI and see if they bite.

Offer Deng for $40m over 4yr and see if he's keen at the end of the season...I'd rather Deng at $10m than Hayward at $12m +

He's a perfect veteran SF who leads by example and plays hard on both ends, and with our med staff we could patch him up.

Could be a better deal financially and we need some veteran leadership. Deng is not an old guy, but can he shoot the corner 3?!

EDIT:

If he played like this.....

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdUJhziUMAM[/youtube]

[Ring_Wanted]

Deng is not 'old', but has a lot of mileage on his body and is no stranger to missing big chunks of seasons. Look no furhter than this year, as he is battling the kind of nagging unjuries that come with such erosion.

He certainly brings stuff to the table, but if what you are looking for is corner 3pt and ballhandling, he is not your guy.

Still, if Chicago wanted to part with him for just the Pacers' pick and Okafor, I'd do it, but I don't think it would be prudent to give him his last major contract. It would be a rental, unless he agreed to a team oriented deal, but if the Bulls don't feel confident in getting it done (they are said to be 5M per apart), I am inclined to believe the Suns have no chance whatsoever.

[bwgood77]

I'd rather have PJ Tucker at $1 million than Deng at $10 million.

[Frank Lee]

If you can get PJ for a mill... then get them both

I think Tucker will find a home somewhere for 10 mill over 3. He can help any team out there with his D and corner 3... even if that is all he does. Will he be here ? Perhaps that depends on him more than anything.

BTW.... Bledsoe's agent is Rich Paul.... who also reps LeBron. Paul recently split off from a larger group, and is a kid friend of James.