2021-22 Season/Offseason Speculation

[BobbieL]

I like Nance Jr’s skillset but he’s a very injury prone player.

I’d rather just keep Smith and tell him to add weight and then give him mins next season alongside CP3 and then evaluate him.

How much longer do you all think cp3 has left in the tank?
Guys his age can break at any time and be done for good.

2 years, but anything can happen. I think he can play past that but I imagine his productivity would start to drop. However, guys these days, especially him, train and eat a lot more healthy than players in the past, so who really knows?

Though I like the young core of Booker, Ayton, Bridges, Cam, Cam now Shamet and think they have a good group. The salary cap is a concern and how many more years can they keep them together? Booker is signed for three more years I believe.

I guess I would say what can Thad Young give you this year and possibly next with the understanding Stix has potential. But if you can get to the Finals again - not even win - but get to the Finals, for sure its worth it. You have to get there to have a chance.

[Blonde]

I would trade Jalen Smith in a nanosecond if it meant we get Young, Nance, or Markkanen. We don’t have the luxury of waiting to confirm that he’s a bust anymore. Championship window is now and he’s not helping now and doesn’t appear to be close.

[Crives]

I know Young is good, but he’s not exactly a floor spacer. I don’t think Monty will want to play McGee and Young together

[Cutter]

I have zero emotional attachment to Jalen Smith. If he is needed in a trade to get a better piece for the "win now" Suns, then it's a no brainer. I trust Suns talent evaluators to determine and estimate his ceiling, and apparently knowing his ceiling they are ok with trading him.

[grumpysaddle]

Oof

Read on Twitter

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He's their backup point guard. Richaun Holmes as starting SG. Kings playing checkers when everyone else is playing chess up in here!

[BobbieL]

I have zero emotional attachment to Jalen Smith. If he is needed in a trade to get a better piece for the "win now" Suns, then it's a no brainer. I trust Suns talent evaluators to determine and estimate his ceiling, and apparently knowing his ceiling they are ok with trading him.

There is a bit of that. You give me one more crack at the title in the NBA Finals.... worth the chance

[darealjuice]

If we're not getting anything back that moves the needle on our championship hopes, I don't really see the point in giving up on Smith already. You still need cost controlled young guys around to keep the blood flowing in, otherwise in 2-3 years we could easily be left with no Paul, no Crowder, and little to no cap space to replace them. I don't look at it as a "Win Now" move to swap him out for another back-up power forward like Young or Nance. It would make us deeper, but it won't take us over the top like trading for a legitimate upgrade for a starter could. I've said it ad nauseam, we don't have the minutes to go around for it to be worthwhile without doing more.

[bwgood77]

If we're not getting anything back that moves the needle on our championship hopes, I don't really see the point in giving up on Smith already. You still need cost controlled young guys around to keep the blood flowing in, otherwise in 2-3 years we could easily be left with no Paul, no Crowder, and little to no cap space to replace them. I don't look at it as a "Win Now" move to swap him out for another back-up power forward like Young or Nance. It would make us deeper, but it won't take us over the top like trading for a legitimate upgrade for a starter could. I've said it ad nauseam, we don't have the minutes to go around for it to be worthwhile without doing more.

I definitely agree. Also, Young can't hit the 3 so hard to play with DA or JaVale. You don't see any teams these days playing two bigs together with no range. It would just make things all that much tougher for Ayton with another defender in there (and Thad) and for any guards to cut or drive with so much traffic.

Thad was able to play with Vucevic or Lauri lately, then Myles Turner before that and Brook Lopez before that..all guys who can stretch floor.

One interesting thing about Thad was that he averaged 4.3 apg in his fewest minutes per game in 13 years (his rookie year) and that is far more than usual. Per 36 it's more than twice as much as any other year...his next highest is 3 per 36 and after that it's 2.6.

[dremill24]

I know Young is good, but he’s not exactly a floor spacer. I don’t think Monty will want to play McGee and Young together

He offers another Center option in matchups where going small is beneficial. He's a nice facilitator for a bench unit too. You're right hes not necessarily great with McGee but you can get away with it in the regular season probly and in the playoffs you have the versatility to adapt to different matchups.

[bigfoot]

I would trade Jalen Smith in a nanosecond if it meant we get Young, Nance, or Markkanen. We don’t have the luxury of waiting to confirm that he’s a bust anymore. Championship window is now and he’s not helping now and doesn’t appear to be close.

Not sure how Young, Nance, or Markkanen get minutes over Crowder/Johnson. Do they move the needle that much as 3rd PF that we'd give up a cheap rookie contract? People need to think about bigger upgrades at PF instead. Moving one of Crowder or CamJo and Stix plus a future pick for a big name player. Otherwise wishing for 3rd stringers really doesn't do any good.

[SunsLyf3]

I would trade Jalen Smith in a nanosecond if it meant we get Young, Nance, or Markkanen. We don’t have the luxury of waiting to confirm that he’s a bust anymore. Championship window is now and he’s not helping now and doesn’t appear to be close.

Not sure how Young, Nance, or Markkanen get minutes over Crowder/Johnson. Do they move the needle that much as 3rd PF that we'd give up a cheap rookie contract? People need to think about bigger upgrades at PF instead. Moving one of Crowder or CamJo and Stix plus a future pick for a big name player. Otherwise wishing for 3rd stringers really doesn't do any good.

Star Cam Johnson and move Crowder to back up SF. Nader can be back up SG.

CP3/CP/Elfrid
Book/Nader/Shamet
Mikal/Crowder
Cam/Markannen
DA/Javale

After the finlas run and Book going to the olympics it's almost a certainty that we'll load manage for some of our players. There should be plenty of minutes to go around.

[RunDogGun]

I would trade Jalen Smith in a nanosecond if it meant we get Young, Nance, or Markkanen. We don’t have the luxury of waiting to confirm that he’s a bust anymore. Championship window is now and he’s not helping now and doesn’t appear to be close.

Not sure how Young, Nance, or Markkanen get minutes over Crowder/Johnson. Do they move the needle that much as 3rd PF that we'd give up a cheap rookie contract? People need to think about bigger upgrades at PF instead. Moving one of Crowder or CamJo and Stix plus a future pick for a big name player. Otherwise wishing for 3rd stringers really doesn't do any good.

I don't want to trade Johnson yet. I just don't think he has been used enough to garner the value I think he is worth. I would really like to see at least half of a year of him starting to see what could happen. Also, it would depend on how Markkanen or others fit in with the squad before I decide if they were coming off the bench or starting. If the new player can out play Crowder, I guess you try and keep Johnson as our back up SF, and maybe just spot minutes at the 4. If the new guy gets the start, then split minutes with Crowder coming off the bench.

I also don't mind keeping Stix and then split the foward spot amongst our three rotational guys, and the extra minutes to Stix.

But if the guy we get plays as an upgrade to Crowder, I say go for it.

[Barkley6]

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Can't imagine why this would be. I mean, I assume it has to do something with the cap, but it seems odd that it hasn't been officially announced/filed yet.

[bigfoot]

I would trade Jalen Smith in a nanosecond if it meant we get Young, Nance, or Markkanen. We don’t have the luxury of waiting to confirm that he’s a bust anymore. Championship window is now and he’s not helping now and doesn’t appear to be close.

Not sure how Young, Nance, or Markkanen get minutes over Crowder/Johnson. Do they move the needle that much as 3rd PF that we'd give up a cheap rookie contract? People need to think about bigger upgrades at PF instead. Moving one of Crowder or CamJo and Stix plus a future pick for a big name player. Otherwise wishing for 3rd stringers really doesn't do any good.

Star Cam Johnson and move Crowder to back up SF. Nader can be back up SG.

CP3/CP/Elfrid
Book/Nader/Shamet
Mikal/Crowder
Cam/Markannen
DA/Javale

After the finlas run and Book going to the olympics it's almost a certainty that we'll load manage for some of our players. There should be plenty of minutes to go around.

Markkanen is not better than Crowder. Crowder would get his minutes at backup PF.

[RunDogGun]

I would trade Jalen Smith in a nanosecond if it meant we get Young, Nance, or Markkanen. We don’t have the luxury of waiting to confirm that he’s a bust anymore. Championship window is now and he’s not helping now and doesn’t appear to be close.

Not sure how Young, Nance, or Markkanen get minutes over Crowder/Johnson. Do they move the needle that much as 3rd PF that we'd give up a cheap rookie contract? People need to think about bigger upgrades at PF instead. Moving one of Crowder or CamJo and Stix plus a future pick for a big name player. Otherwise wishing for 3rd stringers really doesn't do any good.

Star Cam Johnson and move Crowder to back up SF. Nader can be back up SG.

CP3/CP/Elfrid
Book/Nader/Shamet
Mikal/Crowder
Cam/Markannen
DA/Javale

After the finlas run and Book going to the olympics it's almost a certainty that we'll load manage for some of our players. There should be plenty of minutes to go around.

I am all for that grouping, and we can alter it to maximize mismatches. That line up has our current top five guys starting, all with solid two way players as bench replacements. But if Markkanen can out play CamJ, I would start Makkanen.

[RunDogGun]

Markkanen is not better than Crowder. Crowder would get his minutes at backup PF.

That could very well happen, but it is possible that Markkanen is a better fit next to Ayton, so the move could could be an overall gain to our starting unit. If that was the case, I would be open for the trade. But in a trade, it would have to benefit the starting lineup, or there really isn't a reason to make it.

Looking at the numbers from last year, Markkanen is slightly better in most areas, other than assists. So....?

https://stathead.com/basketball/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1=crowdja01&p1yrfrom=2021&player_id2=markkla01&p2yrfrom=2021

[RunDogGun]

Read on Twitter

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Can't imagine why this would be. I mean, I assume it has to do something with the cap, but it seems odd that it hasn't been officially announced/filed yet.

That is strange. It was mentioned a bunch of times during the olympic games, and during summer league.

[SunsLyf3]

Not sure how Young, Nance, or Markkanen get minutes over Crowder/Johnson. Do they move the needle that much as 3rd PF that we'd give up a cheap rookie contract? People need to think about bigger upgrades at PF instead. Moving one of Crowder or CamJo and Stix plus a future pick for a big name player. Otherwise wishing for 3rd stringers really doesn't do any good.

Star Cam Johnson and move Crowder to back up SF. Nader can be back up SG.

CP3/CP/Elfrid
Book/Nader/Shamet
Mikal/Crowder
Cam/Markannen
DA/Javale

After the finlas run and Book going to the olympics it's almost a certainty that we'll load manage for some of our players. There should be plenty of minutes to go around.

Markkanen is not better than Crowder. Crowder would get his minutes at backup PF.

I never said he was. Crowder will get his minutes regardless based on match ups. There is no need to keep letting him take a beating against bigger PF's in the regular season though.

Edit: also due to his age, and being in b2b finals, Crowder will be one of those players who will likely see load management. It's really a win-win regardless of how you look at it.

[RunDogGun]

Markkanen is seven years younger than Crowder. Might not be bad to get really, and/or have both. Honestly I would love to see two guys go after a position, than worry if Stix can handle 10 minutes a game this season.

[King4Day]

Markkanen is seven years younger than Crowder. Might not be bad to get really, and/or have both. Honestly I would love to see two guys go after a position, than worry if Stix can handle 10 minutes a game this season.

I read earlier that Dallas is trying to use their trade exception to get him in a sign/trade. It's around 11mil. And he wants more.
I imagine we could trade Dario and Smith for him to put together a package a little bit more expensive but I'm afraid to give him a ton of money (to be our backup no less), when he's been pretty bad since his rookie year.
I know Chicago wants a first but I'd have to think they'd be content with Smith.