The One And Only Offseason Thread 4

[Christine-In-AZ]

ChrisinAZ I agree that Lowe's the best in the business right now and it's really not even close. It's refreshing to read someone who not only understands the cba but can also give really good analysis. He also puts out a ton of material. I remember a few people here hating on him last season and I never understood that.

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The Lowe hate was ignorant reaction to him being of the mindset that the Suns were setting up for a tank season...which put him with about 99% of the NBA writers and talking heads.

[Scutt]

Bottom line, you play your best players. There is a reason the NBA has a development league.

I agree you should play your best payers no doubt, but the D league doesn't compare to NBA talent. For example, Archie Goodwin put up really good numbers in his few short stints down there last year. I don't see how it is going to help him, as a 2nd year player, to stick him down in a league he has already proved he can ball in. Goodwin needs NBA playing time against real NBA talent, that is how is going to improve and mature.

With all this talk of Bledsoe not wanting to be in Phoenix, I have got to give props to Archie Goodwin. He has embraced the Suns and this city. He has been in Phoenix working out at US airways center the ENTIRE summer. The only time he left was to back to his home state, but that was only because the practice court at the arena was being redone. I have to respect an NBA player who is willing to stick out Phoenix summers to practice here in the offseason. This kid is a hard worker and seems to love the Suns, I think he deserves a bigger opportunity in his 2nd year, but I am sure that will not come because we are so guard heavy....

The point I am making with this rant is I don't think Goodwin should be in the D-league at all this season, let Ennis go down there and prove himself, Archie already did.

[RunDogGun]

And yet he still made poor decisions on the court in summer league. He isn't ready for meaningful minutes on this squad. Working very hard is a good thing, but it doesn't make him better than the rotational players we already have.

With the signing of IT, the only way I see Goodwin getting a rotational spot is if we trade Bledsoe for a big.

Overall, our opinions mean nothing when it comes to Goodwin. If Jeff feels Goodwin is ready, he will play him, but I'm guessing it will be the same as last year.

Ennis won't see the floor either, unless it's garbage time, there is significant foul trouble, a trade, or injuries.

If we re-sign Bledsoe, it will be heavy minutes for him, Dragic, and IT, with minor minutes going to Green. Jeff said in the PC, that two of the three pgs will on the floor at all times.

In the end, Goodwin is a shooting guard, who can't shoot, yet. Being in the DLeague could very well help that. He needs to develop his game.

[BVPN]

Regarding rookie minutes, Goran started out pretty awful too, but gentry let him play through it which is what gave him the confidence to succeed. He himself has said so many times. Warren, Archie, Len deserve the same thing.

[RunDogGun]

Regarding rookie minutes, Goran started out pretty awful too, but gentry let him play through it which is what gave him the confidence to succeed. He himself has said so many times. Warren, Archie, Len deserve the same thing.

Goran played alright, and then he really sucked. He sucked so bad that we had to trade him along with a draft pick. And that was under Gentry. It wasn't until he was in Houston, that Goran became consistent with strong play. It was that consistency that caused us to sign him.

The rookies and sophomores will get minutes when they earn them, plain and simple.

[JDLAW]

Regarding rookie minutes, Goran started out pretty awful too, but gentry let him play through it which is what gave him the confidence to succeed. He himself has said so many times. Warren, Archie, Len deserve the same thing.

It was a different circumstance. The team Gentry inherited from Porter was not nearly as deep as this one. I predict all three will get minutes in the rotation. Warren might have a better opportunity than Goodwin simply because of the depth of the backcourt and Warren seems to bring one readily definable skill - scoring - to the small forward position. Even so, he'll fight for minutes behind Tucker, Marcus Morris and G. Green. Goodwin will be fine, but he has to slow down a little and let the game come to him. Frenzied attacks on the basket from the perimeter, which result in turnovers or low percentage circus shots will get him minutes on the bench. Initially, he will likely be a fringe rotation player, whose focus needs to be a solid floor game, defense and scoring.

[Scutt]

Yes, Goodwin does need to develop him game, he needs to develop it against NBA caliber guys, not inferior talent in the D league where he averaged something like 30 points a game last year. Like I said earlier, I realize Goodwin wont get any burn on the Suns, they are too busy wanting to be mediocre and fight for the last playoff spot. Screw playing and developing young talent, its not the Suns way. We just sign guys in free agency or trade for guys who are ready to go and run on that treadmill, no rebuilds for the Suns.

[JTrain]

This is the age old debate about playing time for young players.

If you play worse players just to get them experience, you run the risk of losing games you could have won. In a conference as tough as the west, that could be the difference in making or missing the playoffs, or between a good seed and a bad one.

I took McD at his word when he said, "We not only want to make the playoffs but advance in the playoffs this year."

[Revived]

This is the age old debate about playing time for young players.

If you play worse players just to get them experience, you run the risk of losing games you could have won. In a conference as tough as the west, that could be the difference in making or missing the playoffs.

If took McD at his word when he said, "We not only want to make the playoffs but advance in the playoffs this year."

We didn't give our rookies much playing time last year and we still missed playoffs.

If it's between missing playoffs while playing your veteran players or missing playoffs while developing your rookies and youngsters and getting them experience, I think most NBA GMs would pick the second one.

[MilotheSlayer]

Right now I see our rotation running down to something like this.

Bledsoe (33) IT (25)
Dragic (33) Goodwin (5)
Tucker (27) Green (20) TJ (9)
Kieff (30) Mook (13) (Tolliver (5)
Plumdog (27) Len (13) Shav (DNP)

Now I know we can dress 13 but can have 15 under contract. Does this mean that Ennis goes against that?
Also I invision the minutes of the bench moving around every game depending on who we play. Going against a Mem we'd see Shav instead of archie and so on.

[PhxSunsFan1234]

Heard from a couple of Trailblazer fans they aren't sure if they want to pay Aldridge 5/max at age 29. I don't get it. Your athletic prime is 28. He's 29. 5 years, he's 33-34. I'd go all out for him. perfect for this team.

Won't happen. But I can dream.

[JTrain]

This is the age old debate about playing time for young players.

If you play worse players just to get them experience, you run the risk of losing games you could have won. In a conference as tough as the west, that could be the difference in making or missing the playoffs.

If took McD at his word when he said, "We not only want to make the playoffs but advance in the playoffs this year."

We didn't give our rookies much playing time last year and we still missed playoffs.

If it's between missing playoffs while playing your veteran players or missing playoffs while developing your rookies and youngsters and getting them experience, I think most NBA GMs would pick the second one.

But of course we only knew that in hindsight. Without hindsight, we feel we are a playoff team and we're going to put the best players on the court to win the most games.

[NTB]

Guys Tolliver will play AT LEAST 15 minutes. IMO he will play 20 mins.

[JTrain]

I believe Hornacek will find ways to get Green on the court a lot. Coming off by far the best season of his career and having the ability to singe-handedly turn a game offensively, I don't see him getting his minutes cut in half.

[ryan0098]

Should have signed Charlie Villaneuva for the league minimum instead of Tolliver.

[JDLAW]

Yes, Goodwin does need to develop him game, he needs to develop it against NBA caliber guys, not inferior talent in the D league where he averaged something like 30 points a game last year. Like I said earlier, I realize Goodwin wont get any burn on the Suns, they are too busy wanting to be mediocre and fight for the last playoff spot. Screw playing and developing young talent, its not the Suns way. We just sign guys in free agency or trade for guys who are ready to go and run on that treadmill, no rebuilds for the Suns.

I think you are over dramatizing this. He'll get minutes on the NBA level. He might also get them in the D-League when playing time with the Suns becomes scarce. Right now, you cannot make an argument that any of the players ahead seemingly of him (Bledsoe, Dragic, Thomas, and Green) should sit down for Goodwin. What we all should be hoping for is that the Suns blow out a number of teams and Goodwin and Warren get many game minutes.

[Puff]

This is the age old debate about playing time for young players.

If you play worse players just to get them experience, you run the risk of losing games you could have won. In a conference as tough as the west, that could be the difference in making or missing the playoffs.

If took McD at his word when he said, "We not only want to make the playoffs but advance in the playoffs this year."

We didn't give our rookies much playing time last year and we still missed playoffs.

If it's between missing playoffs while playing your veteran players or missing playoffs while developing your rookies and youngsters and getting them experience, I think most NBA GMs would pick the second one.

That sounds good in theory but it absolutely hardly ever happens.

The head coaches primary goal is to WIN basketball games, period. If he does not win games he loses his job. I hope Goodwin turns out great for our team but we still have time on his evaluation and he quite frankly has not played that well up to this point. He surely has had his flashes like the Sacramento game but he still has a lot of work to do. A 2 guard that cannot make a jumper is a liability not an asset. The guys that give us a better chance to win and we will have to make a decision on this off season are Green and Marcus Morris. They both show tremendous promise but still have a lot to prove as well. I would not give Goodwin their minutes, just because. Archie would earn minutes because he performed well at practice or the stints he is given during games. He absolutely should not get minutes just because he has "Great Potential". Of course both Green and Morris could play their way out of earning minutes as well.

The good thing is that we have some good options at his position. The rookies that generally get to play no matter what, get that privilege for a reason. They are just better than anyone else at their position on the roster. That is not the case with Archie.

[Frank Lee]

And yet he still made poor decisions on the court in summer league. He isn't ready for meaningful minutes on this squad. Working very hard is a good thing, but it doesn't make him better than the rotational players we already have.

With the signing of IT, the only way I see Goodwin getting a rotational spot is if we trade Bledsoe for a big.

Overall, our opinions mean nothing when it comes to Goodwin. If Jeff feels Goodwin is ready, he will play him, but I'm guessing it will be the same as last year.

Ennis won't see the floor either, unless it's garbage time, there is significant foul trouble, a trade, or injuries.

If we re-sign Bledsoe, it will be heavy minutes for him, Dragic, and IT, with minor minutes going to Green. Jeff said in the PC, that two of the three pgs will on the floor at all times.

In the end, Goodwin is a shooting guard, who can't shoot, yet. Being in the DLeague could very well help that. He needs to develop his game.

If you cant shoot in practice, and you can't shoot in the D Or summer league , there is little point to let you 'can't shoot' in the big league. Better to see some improvement out of AG else he'll be euro bound at best

[spanishninja]

This is the age old debate about playing time for young players.

If you play worse players just to get them experience, you run the risk of losing games you could have won. In a conference as tough as the west, that could be the difference in making or missing the playoffs.

If took McD at his word when he said, "We not only want to make the playoffs but advance in the playoffs this year."

We didn't give our rookies much playing time last year and we still missed playoffs.

If it's between missing playoffs while playing your veteran players or missing playoffs while developing your rookies and youngsters and getting them experience, I think most NBA GMs would pick the second one.

That sounds good in theory but it absolutely hardly ever happens.

The head coaches primary goal is to WIN basketball games, period. If he does not win games he loses his job. I hope Goodwin turns out great for our team but we still have time on his evaluation and he quite frankly has not played that well up to this point. He surely has had his flashes like the Sacramento game but he still has a lot of work to do. A 2 guard that cannot make a jumper is a liability not an asset. The guys that give us a better chance to win and we will have to make a decision on this off season are Green and Marcus Morris. They both show tremendous promise but still have a lot to prove as well. I would not give Goodwin their minutes, just because. Archie would earn minutes because he performed well at practice or the stints he is given during games. He absolutely should not get minutes just because he has "Great Potential". Of course both Green and Morris could play their way out of earning minutes as well.

The good thing is that we have some good options at his position. The rookies that generally get to play no matter what, get that privilege for a reason. They are just better than anyone else at their position on the roster. That is not the case with Archie.

and of course, the perfect solution to the problem of not being able to give enough minutes to rookies while winning games is to not be in a situation where you have too many of them at the same time.

[Suns Court 23]

Heard from a couple of Trailblazer fans they aren't sure if they want to pay Aldridge 5/max at age 29. I don't get it. Your athletic prime is 28. He's 29. 5 years, he's 33-34. I'd go all out for him. perfect for this team.

Won't happen. But I can dream.

And he also doesn't depend on athleticism like Amare or Griffin. His game is back to the basket and use footwork and touch to score his points. He will age very well and I hope we go for him next offseason if the Trail Blazers underperform and don't make the playoffs or they aren't willing to give him the MAX. If we got him, I think that makes us a top 3-4 seed. He is the prototypical power forward I would want.