Coro/Woj: Suns sign Jared Dudley for 3 years, $30 million

[Barkley_34]

Fine! Good Contract!

[phx#7]

I feel like all the moves the Suns have made this off-season show a commitment to developing the young guys. This isn't the type of signing that is going to have people expecting a playoff push.

Like most I think this make a Tucker trade much more likely at some point.

[Cutter]

Welcome back JD.

[GetYourPHX]

Honestly a blah signing. I'm a Dudley fan like the rest of you, but what is he bringing to this team right now? I mean, did we just spend a ninth of our cap on veteran leadership?

[AtheJ415]

Great deal. Even better numbers. 3/30 is awesome considering some of the contracts getting thrown around. Jerryd Bayleas got 3/27, Evan Turner got 4/70.

Welcome home JYD!

I like the deal, but Bayless deserved more than Dudley. He signed a bargain deal to get uber shots on an awful team. Bayless is much younger and still improving and shot 44% from 3 last year. Dudley is on the downside of his career.

Don't get me wrong, I didn't want us to sign Bayless, but his deal in this FA class is one of the best ones, and I'd argue better than Dudley's.

[Qwigglez]

Spoiler:

Honestly a blah signing. I'm a Dudley fan like the rest of you, but what is he bringing to this team right now? I mean, did we just spend a ninth of our cap on veteran leadership?

Asset collection. His contract isn't horrendous and he can still provide a role for a contending team. In two years when Bender/Chriss/Booker are starters and we fighting for a playoff spot maybe we trade Dudley along with other contracts to get a disgruntled star. In the meantime, Dudley provides veteran leadership, something Chandler is also suppose to do but only when it's convenient for him.

[lilfishi22]

Spoiler:

Honestly a blah signing. I'm a Dudley fan like the rest of you, but what is he bringing to this team right now? I mean, did we just spend a ninth of our cap on veteran leadership?

Asset collection. His contract isn't horrendous and he can still provide a role for a contending team. In two years when Bender/Chriss/Booker are starters and we fighting for a playoff spot maybe we trade Dudley along with other contracts to get a disgruntled star. In the meantime, Dudley provides veteran leadership, something Chandler is also suppose to do but only when it's convenient for him.

Imagine if we pull off another Bledsoe for Dudley trade

[lilfishi22]

Lots of talk about Dudley playing the majority of his minutes as a stretch 4 which leads to the question, would you rather have Leuer (legit size for a 4) at $42m/4 or Dudley (smart enough to play the 4) at $30m/3.

Both deals round out at about $10-11m a year. So it's whether you value size, rebounding and youth or veteran leadership, glue-guyness, very high bbiq and understanding of his diminishing role in the future.

So is it wrong for me to think that letting Leuer go and signing Dudley instead is a mistake? Or is this just a case of, signing Leuer would mean there's not enough of a veteran presence for the younger guys and will lead to an eventual overcrowding in the front court as Bender/Chriss earns more minutes? I certainly see future issues with signing Leuer but I don't see those issues as being whether he can play or not.

[NTB]

Lots of talk about Dudley playing the majority of his minutes as a stretch 4 which leads to the question, would you rather have Leuer (legit size for a 4) at $42m/4 or Dudley (smart enough to play the 4) at $30m/3.

Both deals round out at about $10-11m a year. So it's whether you value size, rebounding and youth or veteran leadership, glue-guyness, very high bbiq and understanding of his diminishing role in the future.

So is it wrong for me to think that letting Leuer go and signing Dudley instead is a mistake? Or is this just a case of, signing Leuer would mean there's not enough of a veteran presence for the younger guys and will lead to an eventual overcrowding in the front court as Bender/Chriss earns more minutes? I certainly see future issues with signing Leuer but I don't see those issues as being whether he can play or not.

I love Leuer but I prefer Dudley.

[lilfishi22]

How did you come to that conclusion NTB? In my books both would've been fine signings although I would be more excited about Leuer.

[bigfoot]

Honestly a blah signing. I'm a Dudley fan like the rest of you, but what is he bringing to this team right now? I mean, did we just spend a ninth of our cap on veteran leadership?

What is the other option? We needed a stretch 4 that could play defense. Dudley is much more well rounded than either Telly or Leuer. Much better passer ... more steals ... higher three point percentage ... higher true shooting percentage ... doesn't take as many shots ... much better leadership ... higher bbiq ... shorter and cheaper contract ... played majority of time at PF last year for Washington

Here is a comparison of the three http://bkref.com/tiny/xhb4p

He is actually one of the best options to work with two young PFs that are going to get playing time this year.

[bigfoot]

https://valleyofthesuns.com/2016/07/03/jared-dudley-perfect-signing-phoenix-suns/3/

[bwgood77]

Honestly a blah signing. I'm a Dudley fan like the rest of you, but what is he bringing to this team right now? I mean, did we just spend a ninth of our cap on veteran leadership?

What is the other option? We needed a stretch 4 that could play defense. Dudley is much more well rounded than either Telly or Leuer. Much better passer ... more steals ... higher three point percentage ... higher true shooting percentage ... doesn't take as many shots ... much better leadership ... higher bbiq ... shorter and cheaper contract ... played majority of time at PF last year for Washington

Here is a comparison of the three http://bkref.com/tiny/xhb4p

He is actually one of the best options to work with two young PFs that are going to get playing time this year.

I agree for leadership and possibly trading Tucker mostly...though Tucker should play PF not him...if you looked at how he played at PF (and someone posted the actual minutes and he played mostly at SF and was certainly more effective at PF)...he lost BIG time on the other end playing PF.

But your link doesn't do too much for me. Firstly, Dudley rarely shot...he played far more minutes than both of them and still had fewer shots...if you look sat per 36 he had WAY lower shot rate. I don't think he holds up that 3 pt % on as many shots..perhaps, but it is unknown, and my guess is he would finish 3rd of those guys.

Also, comparing their PER's is ugly for Dudley.

[bwgood77]

Lots of talk about Dudley playing the majority of his minutes as a stretch 4 which leads to the question, would you rather have Leuer (legit size for a 4) at $42m/4 or Dudley (smart enough to play the 4) at $30m/3.

Both deals round out at about $10-11m a year. So it's whether you value size, rebounding and youth or veteran leadership, glue-guyness, very high bbiq and understanding of his diminishing role in the future.

So is it wrong for me to think that letting Leuer go and signing Dudley instead is a mistake? Or is this just a case of, signing Leuer would mean there's not enough of a veteran presence for the younger guys and will lead to an eventual overcrowding in the front court as Bender/Chriss earns more minutes? I certainly see future issues with signing Leuer but I don't see those issues as being whether he can play or not.

Honestly I think it would have been good to sign both. Leuer is without a doubt the better PF, but Dudley can play multiple positions and can allow us to more easily trade guys like Tucker or Knight. Dudley's most importance will just be making it even more fun in the locker room to play for the Suns. It seems the locker room is already positive, but he will help loosen guys up a bit.

Would have loved to have Leuer though.

[lilfishi22]

Honestly I think it would have been good to sign both. Leuer is without a doubt the better PF, but Dudley can play multiple positions and can allow us to more easily trade guys like Tucker or Knight. Dudley's most importance will just be making it even more fun in the locker room to play for the Suns. It seems the locker room is already positive, but he will help loosen guys up a bit.

Would have loved to have Leuer though.

Would've loved to sign both but I really think it would only make sense to sign one or the other. My preference as already stated is Leuer. I fully recognise the contribution Dudley is likely to make, I just think as a player and as an asset (value wise) Leuer would've been the better pick of the two.

[NTB]

How did you come to that conclusion NTB? In my books both would've been fine signings although I would be more excited about Leuer.

You can check bigfoot's post And at this aimless season, I'd prefer someone who is fan-favorite.

[drewsprocket]

I think the vet leadership will really grow our youth movement. Chandler, PJ, Duds are gonna out hustle our athletes and build them up to be the stars we want and teach them some real craft out there in lieu of just going after highlights. This was amare's problem is not having an elder peer to teach him the big man intangibles.
I do think we should find a taker for knight who can send us sideways if he doesn't accept a sixth man role.


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[Saberestar]

ESPN.com’s Kevin Pelton is one of those experts who gave the Suns praise for the expected signing in his day 2 summary of NBA free agency.

Dudley , who first found his footing in the NBA with the Suns, is headed back on one of the better values of this free-agent season. I’m not sure whether the market just wasn’t there for Dudley, at least on a three-year deal, or he took less money to return to a desirable market.

Either way, Dudley offers veteran leadership while also contributing as a stretch 4. The development of lottery picks Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss could push Dudley to a smaller role (or perhaps even lead to a trade) down the road, but for now his addition allows Phoenix to bring the rookies along slowly.

http://arizonasports.com/story/725318/espns-pelton-expected-dudley-deal-one-of-summers-best-value-signings-in-nba/

[Wormwood74]

I don't like it simply because they have committed to playing him exclusively as a PF, where he is out of position. He's going to spend night after night just getting obliterated in the paint (and so are we). Playing guys so much bigger takes a physical toll, so I expect him to sustain injuries as a result.

[WeekapaugGroove]

I don't like it simply because they have committed to playing him exclusively as a PF, where he is out of position. He's going to spend night after night just getting obliterated in the paint (and so are we). Playing guys so much bigger takes a physical toll, so I expect him to sustain injuries as a result.

I'm not sure I'd consider him out of position at pf since that's where he's almost exclusively played the past two years. Now is dudley a starting caliber guy on a playoff team? Of course not but this team is "embracing the youth movement" so while they won't come out and say they are tanking I think their actions speak for themselves.

I think the reason they wanted a vet "stretch 4" is because both bender and chriss have potential to work on the perimeter so they will build an offense with one true big and 4 perimeter guys. Might as well have a guy like dudley with a similar skill set so they don't need to change up things when they play the young guys.

With penetrating guards like Bledsoe and Knight this makes sense.