Season speculation, free agency, and trade ideas: #ValleyBoyz rise up

[Crives]

Over the last 10 games Booker has some impressive stats. 4th most free throw attempts and 5th most points per game. If he keeps this up he will be rivaling Harden soon on league leader in free throws per game

[bwgood77]

Read on Twitter

[KLEON]

Melton and Tyler are going to be our PGs for next season. No need to chase one in FA ... we need a dirt working PF.

Johnson/Melton
Booker/Jackson
Oubre/Bridges
PF/Warren
Ayton/Holmes

THE MANIMAL

[bigfoot]

Wonder what Bender is going to get paid this summer. I imagine some team is going to take a chance on him since he is only 21.

[Crives]

Read on Twitter

Love it, hope this means he’s coming back.

If you look at it his growth as developing from a garbage can in summer league to an NBA player post all star break.... maybe Bender can become very good if he continues improving at the same rate.

[Crives]

Wonder what Bender is going to get paid this summer. I imagine some team is going to take a chance on him since he is only 21.

I am starting to feel that if we want a chance at keeping him we would have to offer him the starting pf job.

[BobbieL]

Read on Twitter

Bender is tricky. But he needs to be the 4 the rest of the year. See what he can do. As who knows, he might be an option next year at the 4 position. That being said - maybe a cheaper option at the 4 as a just in case -- Weeks guy Aminu might be that kind of player. Hell, not that he would come to Phoenix but Keiff, and I never thought I would write that name either. But I am not trusting Bender just yet

And, I still think this roster needs a more traditional point guard - even if just one year. Let Melton and Okobo grow, and than Tyler can run off the bench but playing many minutes.


I think its going to take Jackson and the 2019 FRP pick if not Zion to achieve these goals.

[Barkley6]

Random thought: If the Suns don't land the top pick, do you think we could use that pick as the center piece to land Lauri Markkanen? I know Chicago won't want to give him up, but maybe we can entice them with the idea of having two top 5 picks?

Suns 1st 2019
Suns 1st 2021
Bucks 1st 2020
TJ Warren
Josh Jackson

for

Lauri Markkanen
Cristiano Felicio


It's a huge risk to give up that many draft choices, BUT....it also gives us the perfect front court pairing for Ayton, and solidifies the PF and C position for a decade or more. I don't know if Chicago would go for the trade tbh, but from the Suns perspective, when you look around the NBA, you couldn't craft a better front court partner for Ayton than Markkanen.

This trade doesn't leave the Bulls talentless either. Zach LaVine, Otto Porter and TJ Warren, plus 2 top 5 picks, and two additional firsts isn't a bad place to be for a team who likely wasn't going to compete next year anyway.

I think this trade becomes even more likely if the Bulls land the top pick. If they draft Zion, they are gambling that one of Zion or Markkanen can play the 5.

Realize this is HIGHLY unlikely, but I would like to see it happen.

[Barkley6]

Wonder what Bender is going to get paid this summer. I imagine some team is going to take a chance on him since he is only 21.

I am starting to feel that if we want a chance at keeping him we would have to offer him the starting pf job.

That I dont know. What other team would offer him a chance to start?

[Barkley6]

Read on Twitter

Bender is tricky. But he needs to be the 4 the rest of the year. See what he can do. As who knows, he might be an option next year at the 4 position. That being said - maybe a cheaper option at the 4 as a just in case -- Weeks guy Aminu might be that kind of player. Hell, not that he would come to Phoenix but Keiff, and I never thought I would write that name either. But I am not trusting Bender just yet

And, I still think this roster needs a more traditional point guard - even if just one year. Let Melton and Okobo grow, and than Tyler can run off the bench but playing many minutes.


I think its going to take Jackson and the 2019 FRP pick if not Zion to achieve these goals.

That's the name I had circled in FA for power forward if we don't land Zion.

[Crives]

Wonder what Bender is going to get paid this summer. I imagine some team is going to take a chance on him since he is only 21.

I am starting to feel that if we want a chance at keeping him we would have to offer him the starting pf job.

That I dont know. What other team would offer him a chance to start?

Lakers need a cheap center... LOL

[Barkley6]

I am starting to feel that if we want a chance at keeping him we would have to offer him the starting pf job.

That I dont know. What other team would offer him a chance to start?

Lakers need a cheap center... LOL

If you think GM LeBron is going to sign Dragan Bender to be the starting center for that team you're either high, insane or a troll.

[Crives]

That I dont know. What other team would offer him a chance to start?

Lakers need a cheap center... LOL

If you think GM LeBron is going to sign Dragan Bender to be the starting center for that team you're either high, insane or a troll.

They traded Zubac for Muscala. I don’t know what that front office is doing.

[Jdiddy701]

Wonder what Bender is going to get paid this summer. I imagine some team is going to take a chance on him since he is only 21.

The lowest contract amount possible, if that. I guarantee no one is thinking about Dragan Bender. If the Suns want to keep him, they will be bidding with themselves. Also, if Bender is in the rotation next year, our GM failed this offseason.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Barkley6]

Wonder what Bender is going to get paid this summer. I imagine some team is going to take a chance on him since he is only 21.

The lowest contract amount possible, if that. I guarantee no one is thinking about Dragan Bender. If the Suns want to keep him, they will be bidding with themselves. Also, if Bender is in the rotation next year, our GM failed this offseason.


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I'm not expecting miracles from Bender. But if he can average about 7 and 5, and shoot 35+% from 3, and continue to play good D, I wouldn't mind him getting some minutes off the bench.

[LukasBMW]

Wonder what Bender is going to get paid this summer. I imagine some team is going to take a chance on him since he is only 21.

The lowest contract amount possible, if that. I guarantee no one is thinking about Dragan Bender. If the Suns want to keep him, they will be bidding with themselves. Also, if Bender is in the rotation next year, our GM failed this offseason.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm not expecting miracles from Bender. But if he can average about 7 and 5, and shoot 35+% from 3, and continue to play good D, I wouldn't mind him getting some minutes off the bench.

This is really all we need from him. Good defense and consistent 3 point shooting.

I'd like to see him back. I still think he can still be a good rotation player.

Typically I'd expect guys in his potion to walk, but given his personality and the fact that he finally seems to have hit his stride, maybe he stays. I'd imagine we can match whatever another team offers.

[WeekapaugGroove]

I'm not completely opposed to bringing Bender back but I doubt it happens. If he gets a similar contract someplace else I bet he moves on.

Plus if the suns want to get better they need to add pieces and that limits money and opportunity, they will need to move on from some guys.

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[Saberestar]

The lowest contract amount possible, if that. I guarantee no one is thinking about Dragan Bender. If the Suns want to keep him, they will be bidding with themselves. Also, if Bender is in the rotation next year, our GM failed this offseason.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm not expecting miracles from Bender. But if he can average about 7 and 5, and shoot 35+% from 3, and continue to play good D, I wouldn't mind him getting some minutes off the bench.

This is really all we need from him. Good defense and consistent 3 point shooting.

I'd like to see him back. I still think he can still be a good rotation player.

Typically I'd expect guys in his potion to walk, but given his personality and the fact that he finally seems to have hit his stride, maybe he stays. I'd imagine we can match whatever another team offers.

I think Bender can stay on the Suns.

Pay him around $3M for a couple of seasons... if it is possible the second one with a team option.

[BobbieL]

I'm not completely opposed to bringing Bender back but I doubt it happens. If he gets a similar contract someplace else I bet he moves on.

Plus if the suns want to get better they need to add pieces and that limits money and opportunity, they will need to move on from some guys.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using RealGM mobile app

To get better there will need to be some roster turnover more than Crawford out and a rookie in. So Bender Warren, Jackson, maybe Melton or Okobo- two of those players probably are not back

[King4Day]

Random thought: If the Suns don't land the top pick, do you think we could use that pick as the center piece to land Lauri Markkanen? I know Chicago won't want to give him up, but maybe we can entice them with the idea of having two top 5 picks?

Suns 1st 2019
Suns 1st 2021
Bucks 1st 2020
TJ Warren
Josh Jackson

for

Lauri Markkanen
Cristiano Felicio


It's a huge risk to give up that many draft choices, BUT....it also gives us the perfect front court pairing for Ayton, and solidifies the PF and C position for a decade or more. I don't know if Chicago would go for the trade tbh, but from the Suns perspective, when you look around the NBA, you couldn't craft a better front court partner for Ayton than Markkanen.

This trade doesn't leave the Bulls talentless either. Zach LaVine, Otto Porter and TJ Warren, plus 2 top 5 picks, and two additional firsts isn't a bad place to be for a team who likely wasn't going to compete next year anyway.

I think this trade becomes even more likely if the Bulls land the top pick. If they draft Zion, they are gambling that one of Zion or Markkanen can play the 5.

Realize this is HIGHLY unlikely, but I would like to see it happen.

I don't think the Bulls move Markkanen unless it's in a package for Zion.
He's really valuable. Would love to nab him though and if we landed anything outside the top pick, I would certainly call them to see if there's ANYthing that we have they would be interested in. But I am not dealing Ayton, Booker in any deal.
First, future first, bucks pick, and Warrent or Jackson.
They won't do it but maybe it gets them thinking at least.