The 2016 Offseason Thread

[Frank Lee]

Actually on second thought, I kind of like Booker off the bench, because the Booker/Ulis pairing is excellent. And we know that the Bledsoe/Knight pairing works really well too.

The only pairing I don't want to see is Knight/Booker.

Idk about that one, i never saw them gel. It seemed like they were taking turns almost rather than actively working together to make the offense flow. I think booker in the starting line up will help alleviate the pressure to create for bledsoe. Knight will have free reign to shoot as much as he wants off the bench and Ulis will be able to set him up all day and be the ball dominant general. They have great chemistry but i think its a better balance since both are good playmakers

The one question is, if Knight can start moving the ball, and we can have guys whip the ball around the perimeter, we have plenty of good shooters, and they can shoot within 2 seconds if wide open or pass. That is a monumental IF regarding Knight though. If anyone can not accept this, they hit the bench.

Best case scenario is Knight either buys in or gets traded, Booker plays like 40+ minutes. Starts with Bledsoe, and when Bledsoe sits, plays with Ulis. Play Warren when Bledsoe is in the game, and when it is Ulis and Booker, play Tucker, then Dudley plays PF, or him and Tucker can switch on guarding people at times. Give the PF rookies very limited minutes but with good defensive guys with them, with Dudley or Tucker at the 3 when they are in, and they can switch if needed, and maybe play Chandler when those guys are in as well.

With out an additional trade, this unbalanced assembly will be forced to play a smaller version of small ball, resembling some bastard form of a collegiate 3 guard line up.

Watson can point to his magic chart of the future all he wants, but unless we move 1-2 players, mainly guards, there are going to be unhappy guys who are 'sacrificing' their playing time. It looks good on paper, taking one for the team and all.... but it will get old quick. There are not enough minutes for everyone.

Another trade is imperative, and I will be very surprised if it does not happen before the season begins.

[Saberestar]

[instagram]https://www.instagram.com/p/BH0Z2kqAuXT/[/instagram]

[Qwigglez]

^I seriously thought Book was photoshopped until I read what Wade wrote bout Book being his favorite rook around the league. I know several peeps here aren't trying to think too highly of Booker just yet, but it's hard not to think he'll be a star soon when we got future HOF'ers and all-stars taking notice of him.

[Saberestar]

^I seriously thought Book was photoshopped until I read what Wade wrote bout Book being his favorite rook around the league. I know several peeps here aren't trying to think too highly of Booker just yet, but it's hard not to think he'll be a star soon when we got future HOF'ers and all-stars taking notice of him.

Yeah, I think he is gonna be AT LEAST an All Star in this league. He has all the tools to be a 20p, 5a, 5r SG and he is gonna be an average defender because he takes pride defensively and he is really smart.

Brandon Roy/Manu Ginobili type of player in his prime.

[bwgood77]

Idk about that one, i never saw them gel. It seemed like they were taking turns almost rather than actively working together to make the offense flow. I think booker in the starting line up will help alleviate the pressure to create for bledsoe. Knight will have free reign to shoot as much as he wants off the bench and Ulis will be able to set him up all day and be the ball dominant general. They have great chemistry but i think its a better balance since both are good playmakers

The one question is, if Knight can start moving the ball, and we can have guys whip the ball around the perimeter, we have plenty of good shooters, and they can shoot within 2 seconds if wide open or pass. That is a monumental IF regarding Knight though. If anyone can not accept this, they hit the bench.

Best case scenario is Knight either buys in or gets traded, Booker plays like 40+ minutes. Starts with Bledsoe, and when Bledsoe sits, plays with Ulis. Play Warren when Bledsoe is in the game, and when it is Ulis and Booker, play Tucker, then Dudley plays PF, or him and Tucker can switch on guarding people at times. Give the PF rookies very limited minutes but with good defensive guys with them, with Dudley or Tucker at the 3 when they are in, and they can switch if needed, and maybe play Chandler when those guys are in as well.

I agree with everything here except the idea of playing Booker 40+ minutes. Gone are the days of the 40 minute player and I don't see Booker as being an exception to that trend. Nobody has averaged 40 minutes since 2010 and last year only 2 players averaged more than 37 minutes (Harden led with 38.14 per). I'd like to see Booker play around 35 minutes at the most. And I think Watson is going to expect him to play hard both ways so even 35 might be pushing it.

I wasn't sure the most a guy played these days, so basically I just meant the most minutes if, of course, it doesn't wear him out to much.

[bwgood77]

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.

If this is true, and I take the rumor with a jug of salt, then they have to get Crowder who is a stud to fill in for Durant, and I guess IT would have to be part of the deal, but definitely Crowder. I think Payne will be good. If they can get a Brooklyn pick that's huge.

I can't see Brad Stevens being a fan of Westbrook, but they are desperate for that star, and if they can get Hayward, he is a good replacement for Crowder next year. They should try to get Robinson too.

I still think there is a good chance this is bogus, but Presti has traded stars nearing the ends of their deals before and has quite a few young pieces in place already. Payne/Dipo/Crowder/Illy or Sabonis/Adams with Kanter off the bench still good a good young core and Brooklyn pick would be a great asset to add a stud. IT to start and be that scorer for a while on a good deal not bad too, but I'm not really a fan.

I cant say that i'm a fan of Thomas either staying in Boston or being traded to OKC. Thomas has become a fan favorite in Boston, but sending him to the bench in favor of Westbrook might be detrimental. And i'm not sure how the two can co-exist on the floor with Westbrook at SG. Both are undersized for those positions.

For OKC....this is tough. For a fanbase that is losing Durant and Westbrook (devastating) within a few weeks, is Crowder/Thomas something they'll get behind? I cant imagine losing 2x top10 players in one offseason. And replacing them with 2 good players is nice, but realistically they are poor-poor-man versions of Durant/Westbrook.

The incentive for a Durant vs. Westbrook and GS vs Boston season might be enough for Boston to overpay a bit for Westbrook.

Crowder/Amir/Brook 2017/Brook 2018 for Westbrook might be the deal that serves both teams the best in the short and long term.

Well, everyone just assumes Westbrook being traded is a foregone conclusion, and I'm not sure about that. It all depends on what Presti thinks is best for the team because I think Westbrook seems to want to stay.

[bwgood77]

With out an additional trade, this unbalanced assembly will be forced to play a smaller version of small ball, resembling some bastard form of a collegiate 3 guard line up.

Watson can point to his magic chart of the future all he wants, but unless we move 1-2 players, mainly guards, there are going to be unhappy guys who are 'sacrificing' their playing time. It looks good on paper, taking one for the team and all.... but it will get old quick. There are not enough minutes for everyone.

Another trade is imperative, and I will be very surprised if it does not happen before the season begins.

Well, hopefully, as long as it's Knight going out, and perhaps Tucker and maybe Chandler (though we'd be thin there unless we can bring someone else in).

I'd be fine just sending Knight out now and perhaps Goodwin and if we are bringing back another wing, maybe Tucker, and another center, maybe Chandler. But I hope it makes sense and isn't just a trade for sake of trade. No more unnecessary trades please.

[NavLDO]

[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

Hill can play some PF. I'd expect he gets minutes off the bench in that role.

[NTB]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/status/753607000693600256[/tweet]

So Phila moved up with Simmons but we're still last.

[bhawk]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/status/753607000693600256[/tweet]

So Phila moved up with Simmons but we're still last.

So you're saying there's a chance? Seriously, we could look at this 2 ways...

1) Okay. We're a young team, rebuilding and will develop our talent. Plan on a high draft pick in 2017.
2) This sucks. Let's trade for a proven star and try to compete for the playoffs. The combination of our youth and a proven NBA star (Westbrook, Griffin, Cousins... etc.) will take us to the next level.

What does Sarver thinK? I like strategy #1, but Sarver and McD are not patient and have a propensity for OVER-tinkering.

[King4Day]

I hope we can get involved in any of these deals as a facilitator or sorts.

[King4Day]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/status/753607000693600256[/tweet]

So Phila moved up with Simmons but we're still last.

So you're saying there's a chance? Seriously, we could look at this 2 ways...

1) Okay. We're a young team, rebuilding and will develop our talent. Plan on a high draft pick in 2017.
2) This sucks. Let's trade for a proven star and try to compete for the playoffs. The combination of our youth and a proven NBA star (Westbrook, Griffin, Cousins... etc.) will take us to the next level.

What does Sarver thinK? I like strategy #1, but Sarver and McD are not patient and have a propensity for OVER-tinkering.

McD I think is patient. It's probably Sarver that's slowing him down or getting in his ear.

[NTB]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/azcsports/status/753620219730550787[/tweet]

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2016/07/13/suns-tyler-ulis-leaves-big-2-way-mark-vegas/87040238/?hootPostID=3195b87bc0b0eb6ec55973af94a06411

So this article considers Ulis 3rd PG and Brandon Knight 2nd PG. That's interesting. I hope it means Booker will start.

[rsavaj]

I hope Knight isn't ever slotted at PG...guy has no PG instincts.

Barbosa's terrible in the PG role too so he's strictly a SG in my book

Depth chart as I see it

Bledsoe/Ulis
Knight/Booker/Barbosa/Goodwin
Tucker/Warren
Dudley/Bender or Chriss with the other one in Prescott
Chandler/Len/Big Sauce

I'm sure that Knight will end up playing PG next to Booker or Barbosa in some lineups but those lineups are gonna suck.

Obvious problem is at SG. Ideally I'd like to move Knight for a good young SF, or Goodwin for a project SF, just to balance out the roster, especially since this is gonna be Tucker's last year with us IMO. Next year we won't have anybody other than Warren at SF, so it makes sense to use one of our SGs to get that guy this year.

Anybody have any non Rudy Gay, non Thad Young small forwards that we could get for Brandon Knight?

Or any end of the bench/project SFs we could get for Archie??

[NTB]

I hope Knight isn't ever slotted at PG...guy has no PG instincts.

Barbosa's terrible in the PG role too so he's strictly a SG in my book

Depth chart as I see it

Bledsoe/Ulis
Knight/Booker/Barbosa/Goodwin
Tucker/Warren
Dudley/Bender or Chriss with the other one in Prescott
Chandler/Len/Big Sauce

I'm sure that Knight will end up playing PG next to Booker or Barbosa in some lineups but those lineups are gonna suck.

Obvious problem is at SG. Ideally I'd like to move Knight for a good young SF, or Goodwin for a project SF, just to balance out the roster, especially since this is gonna be Tucker's last year with us IMO. Next year we won't have anybody other than Warren at SF, so it makes sense to use one of our SGs to get that guy this year.

Anybody have any non Rudy Gay, non Thad Young small forwards that we could get for Brandon Knight?

Or any end of the bench/project SFs we could get for Archie??

Covington.

[jcsunsfan]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/status/753607000693600256[/tweet]

So Phila moved up with Simmons but we're still last.

So you're saying there's a chance? Seriously, we could look at this 2 ways...

1) Okay. We're a young team, rebuilding and will develop our talent. Plan on a high draft pick in 2017.
2) This sucks. Let's trade for a proven star and try to compete for the playoffs. The combination of our youth and a proven NBA star (Westbrook, Griffin, Cousins... etc.) will take us to the next level.

What does Sarver thinK? I like strategy #1, but Sarver and McD are not patient and have a propensity for OVER-tinkering.

McD I think is patient. It's probably Sarver that's slowing him down or getting in his ear.

I don't think it is either. They delayed rebuilding for the sake of Nash in the Nash years. Then McD comes and they have a great season and think maybe they will turn it around quickly with Goran and Markieff. They try to add to that core knowing they need a star. But in collecting the assets it becomes clear that they are not as far along as they think. The chemistry falls apart as well. They take a step back and seek to add youth while improving the locker room climate. Adding a star is always the desire but it clearly has to fit with the time frame for rebuilding.


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[Andre Roberstan]

RE: Westbrook, based on what Smitty's said and what I've heard both on and off the record from Royce, he's committed to playing out this season with the team. Nesgoda runs SonicsRising...he's literally the last person I'd count on for any news related to the Thunder.

What I've heard leads me to believe he's going to be here for at least this year. Whether he's here next year I don't know if anyone knows. It's not 100%, but Russ is far more up-front with his opinions than KD, and his circle of influence is much smaller. He talks to his wife and his parents. Maybe Ray.

I was hoping we might be able to offer enough value for TJ (I love him—he was one of my under-the-radar fantasy guys last year along with Hood), but doubt we can. If Tucker's available as a stopgap we could do a lot worse. What would it take?

[saintEscaton]

^I seriously thought Book was photoshopped until I read what Wade wrote bout Book being his favorite rook around the league. I know several peeps here aren't trying to think too highly of Booker just yet, but it's hard not to think he'll be a star soon when we got future HOF'ers and all-stars taking notice of him.

Yeah, I think he is gonna be AT LEAST an All Star in this league. He has all the tools to be a 20p, 5a, 5r SG and he is gonna be an average defender because he takes pride defensively and he is really smart.

Brandon Roy/Manu Ginobili type of player in his prime.

I see more Allan Houston/Michael Redd with a lead guard mentality. Saying Booker’s floor is an All-Star is going too far IMO, only KAT deserves that projection. Ginobli was basically a gritter more team oriented two-way version of OKC Harden, arguably the most technically gifted passing 2 guard ever. his court vision was Magic/Bird level he could routinely nutmeg defenders, pull out the shammgo/fakeouts and basically pioneeered eurostep. Roy was looking like the second coming o Hardaway, shame areer wasn't ended prematurely and was held back playing in the slowest paced offense, he was a borderline superstar in 2008-2009 we didn't even get to witness his prime. I don't really see the stylistic similarities either, of course Booker can still diversify his game but Roy was different not really a pure shooter like Booker and a 4 year college player so he was more seasoned entering the league. Whereas Booker is an average athlete at Best, Roy was underrated he had hops and could posterize when he wanted to. He was a midrange maestro with his arsenal of fadeaway/pullups/stepbacks could break down his man with heky jerky stop no go deception, a more acrobatic finisher who could switch hands mid air

[WeekapaugGroove]

While i certainly wouldnt mind a trade if it brought back picks or prospects i get the feeling this is the group were gonna start yhe year with.

I think the plan is to hope knight, bledsoe and chandler get healthy and play well and raise their trade value so they can be moved at the deadline. All three are coming off down years and im guessing the offers right now are lowball.

[NTB]

I think Brandon Roy / Manu Ginobili thing was spot on. Booker has a really good court vision and playmaking ability. He can play pick and roll really well and I saw Booker throwing pocket passes like Steve Nash a lot. Also Booker is not just a "shooter" we know that. I think we will have our next star in Booker after Amar'e.