2021-22 Season/Offseason Speculation

[Saberestar]

I am not comfortable with bringing back Torrey Craig for the BAE anymore.

I have a bad taste in my mouth after his last couple of games, I think he is OK for the minimun but I would prefer to sign someone better than him using that BAE money.

The way I see it backup PF is a position that we can upgrade.

Regarding backup C I think that we have our new addition already on the roster...Jalen Smith.

[GoodBehavior]

Jalen Smith development is going to be important. When Ayton goes to rest or in foul trouble, the Bucks feast. We win this series if Jalen Smith was a competent backup 4/5. If he's not progressing, the team needs to bring in a vet. Suns desperate need another rim protector when Ayton's out and a bigger forward when facing stronger power forwards in the league. With the Western conference being tough as usual, you need Smith not to be a damn zero.

The second most important development is Ayton's offense development. I think they're going to finally take off the training wheels since he demonstrated elite defense progression and PNR understanding. He needs to punish teams on the switch, and with his skill set he should. He needs to master the basic fundamentals (shielding, not getting stripped)

[Qwigglez]

Couple things to address:

1. We can re-sign Payne without using the MLE. We have his Early Bird Rights which means we can go over the cap up to $10 million to sign him.

I think that's false. This is what I got...

Early Qualifying Veteran Free Agent (aka “Early Bird”) Exception: A team may re-sign its own free agent to a contract with a first-year salary of up to the greater of (a) 175% of the player’s salary in the last season of his prior contract, or (b) 105% of the average player salary for the prior season, if he played for the team for some or all of each of the prior two consecutive seasons (or, if he changed teams, he did so by trade or by assignment via the NBA’s waiver procedures). A contract signed using the Early Bird Exception must be for at least two seasons (not including any option year).

So essentially the most we can sign Payne for using Early Bird Rights is almost $3.5 million. I'm perfectly fine paying Payne that much, but I'm thinking he's going to ask for more than that.

[Saberestar]

Couple things to address:

1. We can re-sign Payne without using the MLE. We have his Early Bird Rights which means we can go over the cap up to $10 million to sign him.

I think that's false. This is what I got...

Early Qualifying Veteran Free Agent (aka “Early Bird”) Exception: A team may re-sign its own free agent to a contract with a first-year salary of up to the greater of (a) 175% of the player’s salary in the last season of his prior contract, or (b) 105% of the average player salary for the prior season, if he played for the team for some or all of each of the prior two consecutive seasons (or, if he changed teams, he did so by trade or by assignment via the NBA’s waiver procedures). A contract signed using the Early Bird Exception must be for at least two seasons (not including any option year).

So essentially the most we can sign Payne for using Early Bird Rights is almost $3.5 million. I'm perfectly fine paying Payne that much, but I'm thinking he's going to ask for more than that.

No, it is about $10M.

[King4Day]

Paul has a player option worth $44.2 million for next season, and while plenty of contenders around the league could use a point guard of his ilk to make a push next season -- hello, Los Angeles Lakers -- he didn't sound like someone looking to leave a team stocked with young talent like Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton that took him two wins from the promised land that quickly.

"Everybody in that locker room knows we had enough, but it wasn't enough," Paul said. "So, we got to figure it out. I think for me, I just look at myself and figure out how can I get better, what I could have done more and make sure I come back next season ready to do it again."

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31853092/phoenix-suns-star-chris-paul-36-ready-get-back-work-not-considering-retirement-nba-finals-loss

[darealjuice]

Couple things to address:

1. We can re-sign Payne without using the MLE. We have his Early Bird Rights which means we can go over the cap up to $10 million to sign him.

I think that's false. This is what I got...

Early Qualifying Veteran Free Agent (aka “Early Bird”) Exception: A team may re-sign its own free agent to a contract with a first-year salary of up to the greater of (a) 175% of the player’s salary in the last season of his prior contract, or (b) 105% of the average player salary for the prior season, if he played for the team for some or all of each of the prior two consecutive seasons (or, if he changed teams, he did so by trade or by assignment via the NBA’s waiver procedures). A contract signed using the Early Bird Exception must be for at least two seasons (not including any option year).

So essentially the most we can sign Payne for using Early Bird Rights is almost $3.5 million. I'm perfectly fine paying Payne that much, but I'm thinking he's going to ask for more than that.

It's not, see: (b) 105% of the average player salary for the prior season

[Qwigglez]

Couple things to address:

1. We can re-sign Payne without using the MLE. We have his Early Bird Rights which means we can go over the cap up to $10 million to sign him.

I think that's false. This is what I got...

Early Qualifying Veteran Free Agent (aka “Early Bird”) Exception: A team may re-sign its own free agent to a contract with a first-year salary of up to the greater of (a) 175% of the player’s salary in the last season of his prior contract, or (b) 105% of the average player salary for the prior season, if he played for the team for some or all of each of the prior two consecutive seasons (or, if he changed teams, he did so by trade or by assignment via the NBA’s waiver procedures). A contract signed using the Early Bird Exception must be for at least two seasons (not including any option year).

So essentially the most we can sign Payne for using Early Bird Rights is almost $3.5 million. I'm perfectly fine paying Payne that much, but I'm thinking he's going to ask for more than that.

It's not, see: (b) 105% of the average player salary for the prior season

Okay. I was confused by that, with the addition of using Spotrac manager where I tried to sign Payne and it said I could only offer him an Early Bird Rights of $3.5 million or utilize the MLE upwards of almost $10 million.
https://www.spotrac.com/nba/manage/16268762179664/

[Saberestar]

A few names to upgrade Craig and/or Nader:

Jeff Green
Nicolas Batum
Otto Porter Jr
Andre Iguodala
PJ Tucker

There are many more like Carmelo, James Johnson, Millsap, Ojeleye...but I think those that I wrote above are particularly interesting because their two-way ability and experience.

[kennydorglas]

I wouldnt be surprised if Cam Payne is our starting PG in the next season.

[darealjuice]

I wouldnt be surprised if Cam Payne is our starting PG in the next season.

I would be shocked lol

[BobbieL]

I think that's false. This is what I got...



So essentially the most we can sign Payne for using Early Bird Rights is almost $3.5 million. I'm perfectly fine paying Payne that much, but I'm thinking he's going to ask for more than that.

It's not, see: (b) 105% of the average player salary for the prior season

Okay. I was confused by that, with the addition of using Spotrac manager where I tried to sign Payne and it said I could only offer him an Early Bird Rights of $3.5 million or utilize the MLE upwards of almost $10 million.
https://www.spotrac.com/nba/manage/16268762179664/

If we have to use the MLE to pay Cam Payne close to $10m - - James Jones needs to make a few other calls and see if there are other options.

As for Torrey Craig =- agree with the poster above - I liked him at the minimum - but again, see what other options are out there for the BAE.

Saric - truly find out if he is out all year

Should be an interesting offseason - if CP3 comes back - all good! As veterans will be wanting to get to Phoenix

[BobbieL]

I wouldnt be surprised if Cam Payne is our starting PG in the next season.

I would be shocked lol

If the Suns PG is not Chris Paul - I think it will be Kyle Lowry

[BobbieL]

A few names to upgrade Craig and/or Nader:

Jeff Green
Nicolas Batum
Otto Porter Jr
Andre Iguodala
PJ Tucker

There are many more like Carmelo, James Johnson, Millsap, Ojeleye...but I think those that I wrote above are particularly interesting because their two-way ability and experience.

Iguodala - interesting name
name with Batum and PJ

The Suns might have options. My guess PJ goes back to the Bucks - that seems natural fit

[Qwigglez]

I think CP3 stays, but I think Suns staff lets him know, if he wants to prolong his career or stay healthy when it matters (playoffs), they need to put him on a minutes and game restrictions in the regular season. CP3 should be averaging maybe 28.5 minutes a game, and then give Payne about 24 to 25 minutes a game instead of the 18 minutes a game he got this season.

It was a 72 game season and Paul played 70. Should maybe missed about 10-15% of games in the regular season to avoid potential injuries.

[Barkley6]

Couple things to address:

1. We can re-sign Payne without using the MLE. We have his Early Bird Rights which means we can go over the cap up to $10 million to sign him.

I think that's false. This is what I got...

Early Qualifying Veteran Free Agent (aka “Early Bird”) Exception: A team may re-sign its own free agent to a contract with a first-year salary of up to the greater of (a) 175% of the player’s salary in the last season of his prior contract, or (b) 105% of the average player salary for the prior season, if he played for the team for some or all of each of the prior two consecutive seasons (or, if he changed teams, he did so by trade or by assignment via the NBA’s waiver procedures). A contract signed using the Early Bird Exception must be for at least two seasons (not including any option year).

So essentially the most we can sign Payne for using Early Bird Rights is almost $3.5 million. I'm perfectly fine paying Payne that much, but I'm thinking he's going to ask for more than that.

Here is what I have for the 20-21 season:

The NBA revealed today that the estimated average salary for the 2020/21 season will be $10,000,000, while the Early Bird exception amount will be $10,047,450, according to Bobby Marks of ESPN and Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report (Twitter links).

My assumption being that it will be close to the same for 21-22

[Qwigglez]

Couple things to address:

1. We can re-sign Payne without using the MLE. We have his Early Bird Rights which means we can go over the cap up to $10 million to sign him.

I think that's false. This is what I got...

Early Qualifying Veteran Free Agent (aka “Early Bird”) Exception: A team may re-sign its own free agent to a contract with a first-year salary of up to the greater of (a) 175% of the player’s salary in the last season of his prior contract, or (b) 105% of the average player salary for the prior season, if he played for the team for some or all of each of the prior two consecutive seasons (or, if he changed teams, he did so by trade or by assignment via the NBA’s waiver procedures). A contract signed using the Early Bird Exception must be for at least two seasons (not including any option year).

So essentially the most we can sign Payne for using Early Bird Rights is almost $3.5 million. I'm perfectly fine paying Payne that much, but I'm thinking he's going to ask for more than that.

Here is what I have for the 20-21 season:

The NBA revealed today that the estimated average salary for the 2020/21 season will be $10,000,000, while the Early Bird exception amount will be $10,047,450, according to Bobby Marks of ESPN and Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report (Twitter links).

My assumption being that it will be close to the same for 21-22

Yeah what I posted in another post I was using Spotrac to manage the Suns, fun tool BTW if you guys wanna give it a shot, but when I tried to give Payne a new contract it only allows me to max out his Early Bird Rights contract to about $3.5 million. Assuming we can offer him upwards of $10 million, I think we land somewhere in the ballpark of around $7 million a year for Payne. I'm actually relieved because I was worried the Suns wouldn't have the MLE to offer for free agents. Though I'm not entirely certain we'll dip too heavily into all these exceptions with Sarver at the helm, but we'll see.

[Barkley6]

A few names to upgrade Craig and/or Nader:

Jeff Green
Nicolas Batum
Otto Porter Jr
Andre Iguodala
PJ Tucker

There are many more like Carmelo, James Johnson, Millsap, Ojeleye...but I think those that I wrote above are particularly interesting because their two-way ability and experience.

Iguodala and Tucker are not factors on offense anymore. Nader and Craig are both better offensive players at this point in their careers (and younger).

Batum, Green and Porter Jr are very good names.

I don't see Batum leaving the LAC though, and I doubt Green leaves Brooklyn, though I'd love to have him on the Suns. Green and Batum would be guys that I might consider using the DPE on to pry them away from their respective teams.

Porter Jr is likely more expensive because he's younger (28).

[Barkley6]

I think that's false. This is what I got...



So essentially the most we can sign Payne for using Early Bird Rights is almost $3.5 million. I'm perfectly fine paying Payne that much, but I'm thinking he's going to ask for more than that.

Here is what I have for the 20-21 season:

The NBA revealed today that the estimated average salary for the 2020/21 season will be $10,000,000, while the Early Bird exception amount will be $10,047,450, according to Bobby Marks of ESPN and Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report (Twitter links).

My assumption being that it will be close to the same for 21-22

Yeah what I posted in another post I was using Spotrac to manage the Suns, fun tool BTW if you guys wanna give it a shot, but when I tried to give Payne a new contract it only allows me to max out his Early Bird Rights contract to about $3.5 million. Assuming we can offer him upwards of $10 million, I think we land somewhere in the ballpark of around $7 million a year for Payne. I'm actually relieved because I was worried the Suns wouldn't have the MLE to offer for free agents. Though I'm not entirely certain we'll dip too heavily into all these exceptions with Sarver at the helm, but we'll see.

I'm playing around with it now, but it seems like you have to opt Chris Paul in otherwise you can't sign him in the FA pool for some reason.

[RaisingArizona]

Cp3 will probably opt in. 100% chance he stays and we run this back with better bigs.

[Barkley6]

Cp3 will probably opt in. 100% chance he stays and we run this back with better bigs.

I think he opts out but only to get more years from Phoenix. He just had a renaissance year and could probably get a 2-3 year contract on the market now. If he has a worse year next year or gets injured, his market value is going to take a huge hit.

I'd LOVE to get him at under $30m/season, but I doubt it happens. Though, you never know, maybe winning is important enough to him to take 3/$75m.

If that were the case, it would actually have the Suns start the year under the cap by about $7m, I believe. Which doesn't seem like a ton, but would allow us to sign someone for that, and then use the DPE and Cam Payne's Early Bird rights to go over the cap by no more than about $15m, which should keep us well clear of the luxury tax.