STICKY: Hill stays, Frye signs, Nash very close to extension

[DirtyDez]

I don't think most of u understand that we are a worse team if JR is traded. It would be a salary dump. Dude made some mistakes last year but give him a chance. He's a hell of a guard and fits our system. I'm tired of reading the ignorant trade JR posts. If u want a worse record then trade him.

I have to disagree, J-Rich is an above-average SG w/ bad b-ball IQ. He's selfish, overpaid, a terrible defender and an idiot off the court. We need a starting SG that can pertect Nash defensively like Raja did. I like Marquise Daniels but not sure if we can get him unless we unload J-Rich's enormous contract. When the Raja-Boris for J-Rich trade happened i was extrememly happy but now it seems like a terrible move. J-Rich starts games off well but then gets pulled for Barbosa late in close games. Plus if we MAX out Amare we need to drop J-Rich's contract anyway so lets get rid of him now

[BobbieL]

the starting line up does look pretty decent now that Hill, Amare, Nash, Frye are all going to be in Suns unifors for next season. We need Chandler now.

I don't think Chandler is happening - or Dalembert either - if Ben Wallace is bought out. The Suns do not want the cap problems because of the two years left on each players contract. Plus with Chandler, the injury risk is there. As if Chandler were healthy, he would probably be in OKC and if not that, he would be a Sun.

As I am with you TX Sun - a healthy Chandler is really the perfect "5" for the Suns system.

[Qwigglez]

As much as I'd like to get rid of Jason Richardson's contract, I doubt that is possible. Especially to get something of value back in return.
Richardson averaged over 20 points during two seasons with the Warriors, why can't he do that with us? Plus, he absolutely demolished the Mavs on their 67 win season in the playoffs. I think J-Rich might be of value come playoff time.

[The Diesel]

Grant Hill has been around pro sports for a lifetime.

He was born during the season that his father, Calvin, became the Dallas Cowboys' first 1,000-yard rusher. He was reared as his dad worked in NFL and MLB front offices. He has played in the NBA since 1994.

Hill, the son of a Yale man and Wellesley woman, is wise enough to handle his business and not let it overlap into his pleasure, playing basketball. So now that a tumultuous 10-day free-agency odyssey has ended, Hill is nothing but happy that he will stay with the Suns. Hill agreed to a deal that will pay him $3 million this season and give him an option for $3,240,000 in the 2010-11 season, when he will be 38.

"Once I make a decision, I'm cool," Hill said. "The one thing I'm certainly aware of and understand is that it's a business. You don't get emotional. You don't get upset. You sort through things and figure it out. That's what we were able to do."

Hill did not comment on the Suns' initial one-year offer of a $1.3 million minimum-salary contract, confirmed by sources familiar with the negotiations. Hill played the past two seasons on a bargain two-year, $3.8 million deal. He entered July free agency saying he hoped to be "fairly compensated."

The Suns did that after New York nearly swung him with a one-year offer of $5.85 million, a full mid-level exception that New York first offered to Jason Kidd. Hill said he also drew interest from Boston, Denver and Miami.

"I felt comfortable with Phoenix and felt uncomfortable with last season," Hill said, referring to a 46-36 non-playoff season. "We're better than what we did. Everything possible that could go wrong went wrong.

"I hope we get back to playing the way we played before. From a basketball standpoint, if everything works out, I'm excited."

Hill was not sure if the Suns brass' trip to his Orlando home Thursday was necessary because he was learning toward Phoenix once its final offer was made. Hill said his decision was aided by hearing their plans, including ones for Steve Nash and Amaré Stoudemire. Hill talked to Nash, who did not assure him of his Suns future.

"I really honestly don't know where he stands," Hill said. "It wasn't like he was recruiting me back. He was a friend helping me to sort things out."

Hill said reports about his wife, Tamia, being interested in New York for her singing career were false and that she emphasized how their home is a happier place when his team is winning.

Hill said he thinks Mike D'Antoni will turn around the Knicks but was also pulled back by his affinity for teammates and the Suns athletic trainers.

"It was an interesting process," Hill said. "I'm glad it's over."

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2009/07/11/20090711spt-sunshill.html

[Never Fear 33 Is Here]

"I hope we get back to playing the way we played before. From a basketball standpoint, if everything works out, I'm excited."

I think that is just about a given knowing our personnel.

Hill said his decision was aided by hearing their plans, including ones for Steve Nash and Amaré Stoudemire. Hill talked to Nash, who did not assure him of his Suns future.

"I really honestly don't know where he stands," Hill said. "It wasn't like he was recruiting me back. He was a friend helping me to sort things out."

At the end of the day if Nash doesn't sign an extension, he still is contracted this upcoming season isn't he? So with GH's player option for the second year, if Nash bolts or he isn't happy then he will fore go it and head elsewhere.

[Go7enKs]

Maybe you guys are forgetting but in 2004-2005 the Suns went to the Conference Finals with absolutely no bench (Jim Jackson, Barbosa wasn't too good at the time). At the time, no one expected us to make it that far.
2005-2006, Amare is out all season, and to make things worse we lost Joe Johnson. We got somewhat deeper, by being able to go 8 man deep though. Again we surprised everyone when we went to the Conference Finals.
2006-2007, Amare is back. Suns fall to the Spurs, Stern and Stu Jackson in the Conference Semi's.
2007-2008 Suns crash and burn with Shaq in the first round against, of course, the Spurs.
Who knew the Magic would make it to the Finals this year? Took me completely by surprise. What I'm saying, the Suns are far better when the expectations are low. 2005-2006, when we lost both Joe Johnson and Amare Stoudemire, I figured we'd barely squeeze in the playoffs, but we managed to be a top three team in the West.
We still have a great team, that is probably the deepest team we've had in years. We could fly in under the radar and wreck havoc. Ultimately, every year we lost in the playoffs, but I feel it has not been the lack of defense that killed us, more so of a lack of depth.

Fixed.

[Qwigglez]

Maybe you guys are forgetting but in 2004-2005 the Suns went to the Conference Finals with absolutely no bench (Jim Jackson, Barbosa wasn't too good at the time). At the time, no one expected us to make it that far.
2005-2006, Amare is out all season, and to make things worse we lost Joe Johnson. We got somewhat deeper, by being able to go 8 man deep though. Again we surprised everyone when we went to the Conference Finals.
2006-2007, Amare is back. Suns fall to the Spurs, Stern and Stu Jackson in the Conference Semi's.
2007-2008 Suns crash and burn with Shaq in the first round against, of course, the Spurs.
Who knew the Magic would make it to the Finals this year? Took me completely by surprise. What I'm saying, the Suns are far better when the expectations are low. 2005-2006, when we lost both Joe Johnson and Amare Stoudemire, I figured we'd barely squeeze in the playoffs, but we managed to be a top three team in the West.
We still have a great team, that is probably the deepest team we've had in years. We could fly in under the radar and wreck havoc. Ultimately, every year we lost in the playoffs, but I feel it has not been the lack of defense that killed us, more so of a lack of depth.

Fixed.

hahaha

[DirtyDez]

Still can't believe NBA rewarded Horry for that, whata joke

[Spartan13]

1) Sign Brevin Knight, a scrappy defending veteran savvy pass first capable backup pg to the vet min.

2) Trade Big Ben or possibly J-RICH for Dalembert, Chandler, Camby or Beidrins.

3) Sign a defensive 3 point shooting SG like Anthony Parker or Matt Barnes if you trade J-Rich.

4) Extend Nash 3 years 33 mill.

5) Tell OKC to enjoy their late first rounder cus youre making the playoffs!!!

Depth Chart:

Nash/Knight/Dragic
J-Rich or FA (get parker before he signs with Cleveland!)/Barbosa/Tucker
Hill/Clark/Dudley
Amare/Frye
FA center ( Beidrins, Camby, Dalembert or Chandler)/Lou/Rolo

[Wormwood74]

Brevin Knight is done at this point. Poor shooter, little range, undersized. I used to really like him, but like many smaller pg's time caught up with him faster than others.

Based on what we've been hearing there's not a lot of interest in JRich around the league. I don't think he's going anywhere at this point. Unfortunately....

(Barbosa should be starting over him at based on his performance last year)

After thinking it over about what Phoenix needs at the center position the answer is four things:

1. Post defense
2. Ability to defend the pick and roll
3. Rebounding
4. Ability to provide spacing on offense with good shooting outside the paint.

Tyson Chandler appears out of the question now. Not only do most teams out there believe he is done physically, but he is a liability on offense.

Biedrins is better, but again, he would cause many of the same problems Shaq did on offense when we need to go to a half court set.

Dalembert's defense is so-so due to his low bball IQ, and lacks a mid-range game.

So...who actually fits all of our needs?

Kurt Thomas. He does all of the above at half the price, and is an expiring contract. He shoots better than any of those guys, rebounds better than Chandler (really!), is phenomenal at cutting off penetration and the P&R (drew more charges per minute than any other C in the NBA). Sasha Pavlovic for KT and Malik Allen works, and even addresses Milwaukee's needs at SF (where Joe Alexander still looks to be a horrific bust).

Git'r done.

[amitg]

^^
+1

I'm all in the KT bandwagon

[rsavaj]

KT ftw!

Although i still heart Tyson, but we should get KT regardless.

[amitg]

I believe KT is a better fit than Chandler, since he's able to spread the floor.
and while he's less athletic than a healthy chandler, i think he rebounds and defends just as good.

and the good part: he's 1/4 the price, and expiring this year...

[BobbieL]

I believe KT is a better fit than Chandler, since he's able to spread the floor.
and while he's less athletic than a healthy chandler, i think he rebounds and defends just as good.

and the good part: he's 1/4 the price, and expiring this year...

But is Sarver willing to use the Sasha contract to get a better player and not save as much money.

I have no problem even if he wants to use one contract, either Wallace or Sasha to save - but there is the opportunity to use a contract to get a plyer that can help

Afflalo for Tucker cannot happen - the Nuggets did the deal

[JohnVancouver]

I believe KT is a better fit than Chandler, since he's able to spread the floor.
and while he's less athletic than a healthy chandler, i think he rebounds and defends just as good.

and the good part: he's 1/4 the price, and expiring this year...

Just how much does that 1/4 come to? I can;t figure out what he did after his deal form NY ran out after 2008

[RunDogGun]

I believe KT is a better fit than Chandler, since he's able to spread the floor.
and while he's less athletic than a healthy chandler, i think he rebounds and defends just as good.

and the good part: he's 1/4 the price, and expiring this year...

Just how much does that 1/4 come to? I can;t figure out what he did after his deal form NY ran out after 2008

Around $3.8 mil according to ESPN. So more like 1/3 the price.

[JohnVancouver]

Around $3.8 mil according to ESPN. So more like 1/3 the price.

He signed a 4 year/$30 mil deal in spring '04, so i guess he signed a two year deal after that (SA?)

That's pretty cheap for KT though I don't know how much he has left - could be plenty, I haven't seen him play much since he left Seattle.
Too expensive for us though

word on the other thread is that Nash is not as close to signing as we were led to believe

[NetsForce]

[lilfishi22]

^ lol

[RunDogGun]

Around $3.8 mil according to ESPN. So more like 1/3 the price.

He signed a 4 year/$30 mil deal in spring '04, so i guess he signed a two year deal after that (SA?)

That's pretty cheap for KT though I don't know how much he has left - could be plenty, I haven't seen him play much since he left Seattle.
Too expensive for us though

word on the other thread is that Nash is not as close to signing as we were led to believe

You didn't watch him(KT) when the Spurs used him to beat us?

At this point, I don't believe a word that comes from the Suns FO, so who knows?