2020 Season/Offseason (FA/Trade) Speculation - the Season Resumes

[Ghost of Kleine]

We need a 3-D shooting guard for the bench net season? Who should we target?

What about Justin Holiday? Over 40% from three and a good defender.

He is already 31 years old. Not sure about how much he will get on his next contract.

He is just an option, but probably we will not need to sign anyone with Oubre coming back or whoever we get for him in a trade.

He's a great option with our midlevel exception. Some Pacers fans mentioned really wanting to bring him back. He's currently making around 4 million. But we could probably get him without midlevel exception. But even if we can't get him, There's still Denzel Valentine ( he's restricted though)! But we could probably pry him away from Chicago for around a 5-7 million committment? Also Bruce Brown could be a really cheap option via trade from the pistons possibly? Although he's only shooting around 34% from three this season. And somewhat of an offensive liability at times, But he's still an absolute lockdown defender as the article below indicates:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/hoopshabit.com/2019/12/20/detroit-pistons-bruce-brown-defense-stifling/amp/

And he only has a 1.6 million team option.
https://hoopshype.com/player/bruce-brown/salary/
Other really solid yet very affordable free agency considerations could be:
- Glenn Robinson 3rd. Currently making around 1.8 million. Shooting around 37% for his career.
- Pat Connaughton. Currently making around 1.6 million. And is shooting around 34% on his threes.
- Damean Dotson. Currently making around 1.2 million. And is a reliable on ball defender and is a career 36% 3 pt shooter.
- Jordan Mcrae. Currently making around 898,000. He's a solid 6'5 scorer and pesky defender with a 7 ft wingspan.

Although for the lowest price, The draft also has some really nice perimeter defenders too. In the first round AFTER Vassell or Okoro, You still have Turese Maxey, Jahmius Ramsey, Josh Green,
Leandro Bolmero. And In the 2nd round, At 1 million or less, You have players like: Desmond Bane, Trevelin Queen, Elijah Hughes and Skylar Mays. Although Queen is by far the best defender of the group, And collects an insane amount of steals per game, while hitting on 38% of his threes. He's a Josh Richardson clone.

Ultimately, We need a dynamic perimeter defender at the 2 guard ( Vassell/ Okoro/ Josh Green/ Jahmius Ramsey). And an elite frontcourt rim protector/ weakside shotblocking 3 and D big ( Jalen Smith/ Paul Reed/ Tyler Bey or Precious Achiuwa).

In free agency, We should look at Justin Holiday, Andre Roberson, Wesley Mathews, GR3, Thabo Sefolosha, Jordan Mcrae. And for a backup center option ( since Baynes is always injured) We should look at Nerlens Noel, Mason Plumlee, Dwight Howard, Kyle O'Quinn. I would be very receptive to trading for Matisse Thybulle or even entertain trading our 10th pickard Ty Jerome or Okobo to Philly for Josh Richardson and the 22nd pick/ 34th pick. ( IF VASSELL IS ALREADY GONE)!

Then I'd use the 22nd pick to draft a tim protecting elite 3 and D big in either Jalen Smith or Paul Reed at 22. And then at 34, draft a backup guard option in either Malachi Flynn or Sam Merrill. Check out his outrageous metrics.
http://www.tankathon.com/players/sam-merrill . And check out how he compares to Luke Kennard ( whom many wanted to trade the 10th pick for)!
http://www.tankathon.com/players/compare?players=sam-merrill--luke-kennard .

[timetoshinebaby]

The Suns are showing they have potential and real potential. Something like this is a good stepping stone to gaining respect. Gaining respect could be a big help in the offseason.

[bwgood77]

Yes, it's weird...that there is more focus on the games right now with fewer games and everything at stake, without the playoffs having started, and the Suns are killing it so far. It is crazy we are doing it with such limited depth. We were already worried about depth without Oubre and Baynes out...at least to some extent...but I guess mostly at PG, because we despite the number of backup PGs, the drop off from Rubio to any other was too big for us to maintain anything.

I don't know about Payne, and there is little chance he can sustain this shooting, but he has shown he can be clutch. 9 assists through 4 games, but nothing to complain about....he's grown and probably realizes it's not easy in the NBA and you have to work hard...he has obviously been working hard on his shooting.

Booker has to be stoked to FINALLY have his first 4 game winning streak! Next game he will finally hit 7 3s!

[Qwigglez]

We could potentially trade Oubre and something for Hield. Seems he's out of favor in Sac.

This is something I can get behind. A proven player that fits with the rest of our core players. I'm not sure he'd want to take a sixth man role either though, and I'm not sure the Suns could swallow paying someone $25mil to do that.

I thought about that when I saw it on the trade board, and then I saw Hield's contract. He signed a 4/106 extension.

He has one of those weird contacts that pays him less as the years go on. Again, don’t think we want to pay someone off the bench that kind of money. Hield does get scorching hot sometimes, but he does little else IMO. If he was paid less I could see the FO potentially being interested.

[nevetsov]

This is something I can get behind. A proven player that fits with the rest of our core players. I'm not sure he'd want to take a sixth man role either though, and I'm not sure the Suns could swallow paying someone $25mil to do that.

I thought about that when I saw it on the trade board, and then I saw Hield's contract. He signed a 4/106 extension.

He has one of those weird contacts that pays him less as the years go on. Again, don’t think we want to pay someone off the bench that kind of money. Hield does get scorching hot sometimes, but he does little else IMO. If he was paid less I could see the FO potentially being interested.

At that money i'd rather keep Oubre - at least he's two way.

[bwgood77]

I thought about that when I saw it on the trade board, and then I saw Hield's contract. He signed a 4/106 extension.

He has one of those weird contacts that pays him less as the years go on. Again, don’t think we want to pay someone off the bench that kind of money. Hield does get scorching hot sometimes, but he does little else IMO. If he was paid less I could see the FO potentially being interested.

At that money i'd rather keep Oubre - at least he's two way.

That's the thing about Oubre..his rep. He is league avg on efficiency scoring, does not pass, and is not really that good of a defender...not really even a plus one. He is ok one on one but otherwise pretty lost. He has a reputation among many that he is a great scorer and defender though. He is an energy guy that has some highlight plays including dunks and blocks, but despite those dunks, his rim finishing is bad. He is empty stats. The best thing about him is the energy and motivating the team...BUT, we look even better right now without him...now maybe our net rtg or whatever isn't better but we are not playing any bottom feeders really. We are moving the ball much better...getting it to the guy with the open or best shot more often...not driving into multiple defenders because you don't see the whole floor. Our defensive rotations are smarter.

Having said all that, I wouldn't trade him for Hield, because he is paid too much for what he does, but if there contractual situations were the same, I'd definitely take Hield over him..he'd be much better for our team with his skillset.

[Qwigglez]

Just keep Oubre and ride this wave. There's too much uncertainty with how the salary cap will play out anyway. Oubre may have shot himself in the foot by taking a 2 year deal, if the salary cap is drastically reduced due to Covid. The whole league will be affected, and it will lower what teams will offer free agents. I don't think Oubre will be getting $20 mil per year offers from anyone, and may even have to take something in the $12-$15mil range. We have to be smart this off-season, and hopefully get Baynes & Saric on some value deals.

[AtheJ415]

We could've just not traded for Baynes and had the money for Rubio, which would've let us keep Warren. Oubre would be less impactful here, but Warren is better, and we'd have him locked up.

Regardless, I'm okay keeping Oubre, but I'd move him for Gordon, and I'd move him for Hield (declining contract matters here imo. I think that makes him moveable if a true star became available like a Bradley Beal or if Portland decided to shake things up). He won't be hard to trade in a few years, and no offense to Cam but I would start Hield. He's a 20 ppg guy on nearly 40% from 3. Having wings of Mikal, him, and Cam as the rotation spaces the floor for Ayton and Booker a ton. If our PG can also shoot 3s it's a big deal.

Also if your lineup has enough versatility you can have a 6th starter (30+ minutes per game). Wings are good bets for that, so Cam would still play starter minutes in this scenario.

I'm all for keeping Oubre, but I anticipate he's going to get $16-18 a year. That isn't much cheaper than Hield and Hield is better. All of that said I could easily see Hield to Orlando, Gordon to Phoenix, and Oubre to the Kings in a 3 way deal. We could then draft Vassell or Haliburton (assuming Hayes and Ball are gone), and roll out this:

PG: Rubio, Vassell / Haliburton, Payne
SG: Booker, Vassell, Cam
SF: Bridges, Cam
PF: Gordon, Bridges, Saric, vet min swing big
C: Ayton, Saric, vet min swing big

I'm against Bogdan, which somebody mentioned earlier. He's going to be more expensive that his production. I'd rather pay a premium for a VanVleet than go for Bogdan, who has a sub 15 PER at 27. And actually rather have Cam Payne at the price. Bogdan has his moments but they are few and far between, and he's just not good enough at the other things to deal with his inefficiencies.

[nevetsov]

I'm all for keeping Oubre, but I anticipate he's going to get $16-18 a year. That isn't much cheaper than Hield and Hield is better.

You think Hield at $26.5m/ $24.5m/ $22.5m/ $20.5m isn't much more than Oubre signing a deal in a Covid affected market (likely to impact for years)?

Even if Oubre gets $18m per, that's a sizeable gap to $26.5m for a guy that doesn't play defense. And every dollar is going to count as the cap reduces. I think Hield is fast going to become one nasty contract, especially if he's a non-starter.

[Stark]

Keep Saric and Carter. Let Kaminsky go. I'm ok with Baynes but James Jones should definitely check if there are other back up centers that might be better or younger. Our biggest signing probably will be a back up guard who can play both guard spots. VanVleet or Bogdan would be the best options. Ibaka would be pretty good but probably will cost too much so maybe Millsap.

Actually the guy i really want us to go after for the back up center position is Marc Gasol. He still plays very good, insanely high bball iq and chemistry between Rubio and Gasol would be great. Also what do you guys think about Cousins? He might have a comeback season like Howard. He can teach Ayton to be more agressive on offence. He might wanna play with Booker.

With Oubre as long as it's not a very good deal keep him. Maybe if OKC lose Gallo we can offer Oubre for Schroder and fill the back up forward position in the draft.

So if i rank the players i wanted us to go after this summer according to salary wise, it should look like this

* Bryn Forbes- Rondae Hollis Jefferson-Jamychal Green-James Johnson-Galloway-Justin Holiday--Boucher-Cousins

** Meyers Leonard -Gasol- Dragic- Joe Harris

*** VanVleet-Bogdanovic-Ibaka

***** Davis (lol)

We can sign two or three of these players according to how the team shapes up after trades and the draft. I would love to see these rotations and final rosters for the next year though.

Spoiler:

Rubio-Vanvleet/Bogdanovic-Payne-Jerome
Booker-Vanvleet/Bogdanovic-Carter
Mikal-Oubre
Cam-Saric
Ayton-Gasol-Saric

or

Rubio-Schroder-Payne-Jerome
Booker-Forbes-Carter
Mikal-Cam- RHJ
Cam-Saric- RHJ
Ayton-Gasol/Ibaka

Don't trade the pick and draft BPA (Haliburton/Vassell/Okongwu/Nesmith/Saddiq Bey) and try to get an extra pick and snatch Tyler Bey.

[Saberestar]

Keep Saric and Carter. Let Kaminsky go. I'm ok with Baynes but James Jones should definitely check if there are other back up centers that might be better or younger. Our biggest signing probably will be a back up guard who can play both guard spots. VanVleet or Bogdan would be the best options. Ibaka would be pretty good but probably will cost too much so maybe Millsap.

Actually the guy i really want us to go after for the back up center position is Marc Gasol. He still plays very good, insanely high bball iq and chemistry between Rubio and Gasol would be great. Also what do you guys think about Cousins? He might have a comeback season like Howard. He can teach Ayton to be more agressive on offence. He might wanna play with Booker.

With Oubre as long as it's not a very good deal keep him. Maybe if OKC lose Gallo we can offer Oubre for Schroder and fill the back up forward position in the draft.

So if i rank the players i wanted us to go after this summer according to salary wise, it should look like this

* Bryn Forbes- Rondae Hollis Jefferson-Jamychal Green-James Johnson-Galloway-Justin Holiday--Boucher-Cousins

** Meyers Leonard -Gasol- Dragic- Joe Harris

*** VanVleet-Bogdanovic-Ibaka

***** Davis (lol)

We can sign two or three of these players according to how the team shapes up after trades and the draft. I would love to see these rotations and final rosters for the next year though.

Spoiler:

Rubio-Vanvleet/Bogdanovic-Payne-Jerome
Booker-Vanvleet/Bogdanovic-Carter
Mikal-Oubre
Cam-Saric
Ayton-Gasol-Saric

or

Rubio-Schroder-Payne-Jerome
Booker-Forbes-Carter
Mikal-Cam- RHJ
Cam-Saric- RHJ
Ayton-Gasol/Ibaka

Don't trade the pick and draft BPA (Haliburton/Vassell/Okongwu/Nesmith/Saddiq Bey) and try to get an extra pick and snatch Tyler Bey.

Good idea about Marc Gasol.
I would love his signing, but I can't imagine him accepting a backup role on a non playoff team. He is yet an starting C on a contender.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Keep Saric and Carter. Let Kaminsky go. I'm ok with Baynes but James Jones should definitely check if there are other back up centers that might be better or younger. Our biggest signing probably will be a back up guard who can play both guard spots. VanVleet or Bogdan would be the best options. Ibaka would be pretty good but probably will cost too much so maybe Millsap.

Actually the guy i really want us to go after for the back up center position is Marc Gasol. He still plays very good, insanely high bball iq and chemistry between Rubio and Gasol would be great. Also what do you guys think about Cousins? He might have a comeback season like Howard. He can teach Ayton to be more agressive on offence. He might wanna play with Booker.

With Oubre as long as it's not a very good deal keep him. Maybe if OKC lose Gallo we can offer Oubre for Schroder and fill the back up forward position in the draft.

So if i rank the players i wanted us to go after this summer according to salary wise, it should look like this

* Bryn Forbes- Rondae Hollis Jefferson-Jamychal Green-James Johnson-Galloway-Justin Holiday--Boucher-Cousins

** Meyers Leonard -Gasol- Dragic- Joe Harris

*** VanVleet-Bogdanovic-Ibaka

***** Davis (lol)

We can sign two or three of these players according to how the team shapes up after trades and the draft. I would love to see these rotations and final rosters for the next year though.

Spoiler:

Rubio-Vanvleet/Bogdanovic-Payne-Jerome
Booker-Vanvleet/Bogdanovic-Carter
Mikal-Oubre
Cam-Saric
Ayton-Gasol-Saric

or

Rubio-Schroder-Payne-Jerome
Booker-Forbes-Carter
Mikal-Cam- RHJ
Cam-Saric- RHJ
Ayton-Gasol/Ibaka

Don't trade the pick and draft BPA (Haliburton/Vassell/Okongwu/Nesmith/Saddiq Bey) and try to get an extra pick and snatch Tyler Bey.

Good idea about Marc Gasol.
I would love his signing, but I can't imagine him accepting a backup role on a non playoff team. He is yet an starting C on a contender.

Intriguing idea for sure! I wonder if we decided to move on from Baynes for another center, I wonder if Baynes would agree to a sign and trade ( bird rights ) to Toronto for Terrence Davisand Chris Boucher?
Then we could look to add Gasol or else Nerlens Noel if we couldn't land Gasol. Baynes would get to contend, And They'd get a quality veteran center on a decent contract instead of overpaying for less.

[WeekapaugGroove]

My Baynes plan would be pretty simple. If he's interested in being Aytons backup I'd offer a slightly bloated 1 year deal. If he finds a better long term deal on the market then I'd thank him for his year here and wish him the best.

No way in hell I'd tie up long-term money on a backup C.

Saric kind of the same, I'd tender the QO and then let him test the market. Now if he signed an offer sheet that seemed reasonable like say 3 years 18 mil or something like that I'd certainly consider matching.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using RealGM mobile app

[BobbieL]

My Baynes plan would be pretty simple. If he's interested in being Aytons backup I'd offer a slightly bloated 1 year deal. If he finds a better long term deal on the market then I'd thank him for his year here and wish him the best.

No way in hell I'd tie up long-term money on a backup C.

Saric kind of the same, I'd tender the QO and then let him test the market. Now if he signed an offer sheet that seemed reasonable like say 3 years 18 mil or something like that I'd certainly consider matching.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using RealGM mobile app

I doubt Saric signs for 18/3 but yes, I might do that. Baynes for sure is a one year deal for sure - bloated for sure.

Suns have to be smart with the cap. They could be players in 2021 Free agency. Don't screw it up.

[Saberestar]

Draymond being Draymond...

Read on Twitter

[Calvin Klein]

It's not just Draymond though. It's many fans and players who think all star players should play together and avoid any kind of competition. Just get all the all stars into two different teams and play each other for the championship. This mentality is garbage.

[LV-Suns]

Curry was 24 when he had his first winning season over .500. Book is 23 and hasn’t even started his prime years, why are these people acting like we are wasting his prime here.

[suns12345]

It's not just Draymond though. It's many fans and players who think all star players should play together and avoid any kind of competition. Just get all the all stars into two different teams and play each other for the championship. This mentality is garbage.

I hope Booker takes the D Lillard approach.

Its cool, and I agree with your statement above. The current star clustering is boring.

[cberry78]

Draymond being Draymond...

Read on Twitter

Shouldn't this count as tampering? I mean he said flat out "Yes" when asked if he was, shouldn't he and the Warriors be penalized for this kind of thing? Tampering is still illegal according to the league, right?

[nevetsov]

It's many fans and players who think all star players should play together and avoid any kind of competition. Just get all the all stars into two different teams and play each other for the championship. This mentality is garbage.

Let the All Star Game decide the champions!