The 2016 Offseason Thread

[bwgood77]

There are three things that lead me to believe Booker is starting. Firstly, Gambo stated multiple times that Booker is going to start and just recently said Knight is going to back up Bledsoe, although Knight can come in for Booker at shooting guard as well. Secondly, Dudley himself said in an interview that he is going to help Knight adjust to his role as a back up off the bench. Why would he say that if the Suns are planning on starting Knight. Thirdly, the Suns organization is making Booker the face of the franchise. I said that multiple times already. You go on the Suns website and Booker is the player on the left side of the page that is part of the background. No one else. There is even a ticket package named after him called Booker's Dozen. You do not market a player that way and then put him on the bench. It would be like if the Suns benched Amare after his rookie season in favor of Gugliotta. Booker has to start.

Well I hope you're right but if Booker doesn't start I understand why.

[NavLDO]

I am going to say this right now. If the Phoenix Suns organization starts Brandon Knight over Devin Booker and sends Booker to the bench, I do not see how I could ever support them again until they get new ownership. Sending Booker to the bench is beyond unfathomable. Maybe if the Suns signed Wade and Booker takes himself out of the starting lineup in favor of Wade out of respect, that is one thing. But taking Booker out of the lineup for Brandon Knight? BRANDON KNIGHT!?! Yes I put that in caps because I am screaming about this. GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BRANDON KNIGHT SUCKSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.

I am not screaming, but I agree. Your franchise guy doesn't come off of the bench. Contrary to popular belief, being called at starter matters. Why do you think Knight doesn't want to come off of the bench and IT didn't and AI didn't.

No body falls for that, well you will play more minutes garbage. If you ain't starting you are a bench player!

I think Sarver probably wants Booker to start, and they plan to start him at some point. I don't know what to think. I do know I want Booker to play as many minutes as possible. Knight looked somewhat impressive at times early in the season. But about a month in, when we went on that road trip, the wheels fell off at the end of two games against Detroit and Memphis with such crazy mistakes that I lost any last hope that I could be a fan of the way he played.

I specifically remember, in both games, tied or with a lead and the ball and less the 24 seconds left on the shot clock and I typed in caps in both games...ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS NOT TURN IT OVER.. so we could run the clock out and win or go into OT, he once threw it to Marcus Morris and the other time fumbled it out of bounds..I think there was like 2 seconds left against Memphis when he fumbled the inbounds pass leading to a alley oop slam dunk at the buzzer by Jeff Green..

He kind of never recovered. Nor did I. The whole team never did. I think we actually came back and won at Chicago to close out that trip, but that trip was kind of the beginning of the end.

I know Watson is preaching ball movement but I don't know if Knight's habits are ingrained his game and he just automatically will always default to that or not...dribbling too long with the ball and jacking up long 2s..but it's not fun to watch.

Few people like his game, and the reason he would start is to trade him and for no other reason, so if you want him gone, that is likely the best way to go. If you want him here, by all means let him come off the bench.

We all want Booker to be the long term starter by mid season. If you knew he was traded by mid season if he started for two months but Booker played more, or we kept him for 4 years coming off the bench for 30 minutes a night, which would you choose?

So long as Watson or McD pull Booker aside and explain that he has earned the right to be a starter, and he'll get his chance at some point this season, but right now, we need to start games off with Bledsoe and Knight early, but he'll get his 30+ minutes a night, so he understands that's it's not a referendum on his play or ability, I think Booker is mature enough and SMART enough to figure out what's going on.

[NTB]

https://audioboom.com/boos/4811670-the-chris-mannix-show-earl-watson

[bigfoot]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/Earl_Watson/status/744996763891695616[/tweet]

Earl's program he is trying to get the team to buy into. Based on the Mannix interview (above) with Watson, coach is going to ask someone Booker, Bledsoe, or Knight to "Surrender" and take on that sixth man role.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

If Knight were willing to come off the bench, he'd get more shots up. Between Bled and TJ, a lot of the shots in the starting lineup are spoken for.

See what I did there?

[sunsbum]

As much as I cant stand BK, I think he would be a perfect fit in philly now that they are making simmons a true point forward. Take the ball out of knightmares hands and make him a spot up shooter. I think he does well over there. Whats in it for us? Tyson Chandlers replacment nerlens noel.

[SideSwipe]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/Earl_Watson/status/744996763891695616[/tweet]

Earl's program he is trying to get the team to buy into. Based on the Mannix interview (above) with Watson, coach is going to ask someone Booker, Bledsoe, or Knight to "Surrender" and take on that sixth man role.

If Bledsoe were smart, he would step forward. It would be a great leadership move to even suggest to try it. He is clearly the best player and for pre-season games it would send a message. Not sure if he will actually do it, but if he is committed to being a leaders he would suggest it and try it. He is also the one coming back from injury, so there is some sense to it to start the season for a few games.

You also ideally do need Knight to play well to pop his value to at least have conversations about trades. If he is willing to be a super-sub then you keep him around, otherwise it is important to maxiize his value for a few games, then trade him early to clear out the space for Book.

[NTB]

Bledsoe coming from the bench is the worst idea. Bledsoe can compensate both Knight's and Booker's defensive flaws. If Knight and Booker plays together, we will get crushed by opponent guards.

[saintEscaton]

If I was a Philly fan I would call for BC's head if he gave up Noel just for Knightmare, an inferior PG to Teague who they turned down altho he is locked up longer on a "bargain" deal.

[NTB]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/WojVerticalNBA/status/753288899263205377[/tweet]

[bwgood77]

If Bledsoe were smart, he would step forward. It would be a great leadership move to even suggest to try it. He is clearly the best player and for pre-season games it would send a message. Not sure if he will actually do it, but if he is committed to being a leaders he would suggest it and try it. He is also the one coming back from injury, so there is some sense to it to start the season for a few games.

You also ideally do need Knight to play well to pop his value to at least have conversations about trades. If he is willing to be a super-sub then you keep him around, otherwise it is important to maxiize his value for a few games, then trade him early to clear out the space for Book.

We saw Knight and Booker playing together, and it didn't look so good for Booker. At least Bledsoe passes more and makes more of an attempt to get other guys going. He HAS to start. Knight plays much better with Bledsoe and I'm sure Booker would as well. Knight would probably play better with Ulis as long as Ulis got to handle the ball some and Knight didn't keep saying...I'm the vet, I got this, which he would, and make Ulis useless. Book obviously wouldn't do that playing with Ulis.

[saintEscaton]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/WojVerticalNBA/status/753288899263205377[/tweet]

Kind of redundant with the Cole Aldrich signing, guess KG will take on more of a coach's role and Pek won't see the floor. KAT culd play more minutes at the 4 spelling Dieng

[NTB]

If Bledsoe were smart, he would step forward. It would be a great leadership move to even suggest to try it. He is clearly the best player and for pre-season games it would send a message. Not sure if he will actually do it, but if he is committed to being a leaders he would suggest it and try it. He is also the one coming back from injury, so there is some sense to it to start the season for a few games.

You also ideally do need Knight to play well to pop his value to at least have conversations about trades. If he is willing to be a super-sub then you keep him around, otherwise it is important to maxiize his value for a few games, then trade him early to clear out the space for Book.

We saw Knight and Booker playing together, and it didn't look so good for Booker. At least Bledsoe passes more and makes more of an attempt to get other guys going. He HAS to start. Knight plays much better with Bledsoe and I'm sure Booker would as well. Knight would probably play better with Ulis as long as Ulis got to handle the ball some and Knight didn't keep saying...I'm the vet, I got this, which he would, and make Ulis useless. Book obviously wouldn't do that playing with Ulis.

Booker kinda did that too in SL though. Not necessarily like bullying Ulis but you know..

[bwgood77]

If Bledsoe were smart, he would step forward. It would be a great leadership move to even suggest to try it. He is clearly the best player and for pre-season games it would send a message. Not sure if he will actually do it, but if he is committed to being a leaders he would suggest it and try it. He is also the one coming back from injury, so there is some sense to it to start the season for a few games.

You also ideally do need Knight to play well to pop his value to at least have conversations about trades. If he is willing to be a super-sub then you keep him around, otherwise it is important to maxiize his value for a few games, then trade him early to clear out the space for Book.

We saw Knight and Booker playing together, and it didn't look so good for Booker. At least Bledsoe passes more and makes more of an attempt to get other guys going. He HAS to start. Knight plays much better with Bledsoe and I'm sure Booker would as well. Knight would probably play better with Ulis as long as Ulis got to handle the ball some and Knight didn't keep saying...I'm the vet, I got this, which he would, and make Ulis useless. Book obviously wouldn't do that playing with Ulis.

Booker kinda did that too in SL though. Not necessarily like bullying Ulis but you know..

Yes, but there was ball movement. He may have dribbled it a bit and taken a shot, and usually a good one but he didn't dribble it for an extended period of time ignoring his teammates and then just take a contested long 2 pointer.

[sunsbum]

If I was a Philly fan I would call for BC's head if he gave up Noel just for Knightmare, an inferior PG to Teague who they turned down altho he is locked up longer on a "bargain" deal.

Teague is not better than BK, hes also a true PG and like 3 or 4 years older than knight. BK would actually be a good fit to ben simmons playing PGForward.

[Frank Lee]

Booker fell into the line up due to injury. Those players are healthy now. NBA protocol says the original starters get their jobs back. Its an easy out... but ultimately, the call comes from Watson and his mystical flow chart.

[NTB]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/753305264011431936[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/753305630346125312[/tweet]

[saintEscaton]

If I was a Philly fan I would call for BC's head if he gave up Noel just for Knightmare, an inferior PG to Teague who they turned down altho he is locked up longer on a "bargain" deal.

Teague is not better than BK, hes also a true PG and like 3 or 4 years older than knight. BK would actually be a good fit to ben simmons playing PGForward.

Teague is definitely better than BK a two-way player who orchestrated one of the better offenses in the league and was a deserving All-Star reserve , Knight wasn't even "borderline" in his best year out East. If Knight is relegated off the ball he doesn't do anything Covington can't as a 3&D wing. Noel is gunna get the max, so Philly might not keep him but he has already had two of the best 4 DBPM seasons for a palyer under 22 ever. Simmon has eyes in the back of his head, a freight train in transition and can make flashy wraparound passes, but Brown will realize the need for a lead guard who can take some of the load off of him in the halfcourt

[letsgosuns]

Kevin Nesgoda ‏@KDN4 1h1 hour ago
I’m hearing that the Westbrook to Boston deal is basically in place and now just waiting on the final details to be worked out.

It says this guy is the managing editor of sonicsrising.com. Idk what to think anymore about these trade rumors. Hard to believe rumors from anyone other than Woj, Stein, and Aldridge. Anyway, If it turns out to be true and Westbrook does get traded to the Celtics, I wonder what the package will be. The Celtics definitely can make the best offer of any team because those two Nets picks are about as good of picks as any in the league right now.

[NTB]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/rexchapman/status/752731253883871232[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/rexchapman/status/752347470751862784[/tweet]