SideSwipe wrote:Puff wrote:letsgosuns wrote:The Suns just need to get better talent. The team has not had any elite players for years. The last time they had an elite player was Nash and he was in the twilight of his career during that time.
Nash was probably the best but Amare and the Matrix were pretty good as well. I also think we all underrated what Boris brought to the party. He is still alive and well in San Antonio.
If that team would have had a player like Booker at the 2 and a younger Chandler coming off the bench they could have been real special.
The current team actually may have better role players but as you have stated we have no stars. We need to get a couple sooner than later.
However if our plan is to not play them, why bother.
What really is the point of playing Ronnie Price?
Why didn't we trade Tucker?
We just wasted the playing time that they were given, for what?
Wow, we are a freaking mess.
The good thing is that with just a couple of key player moves things can change for the better quickly. I hope it happens this summer.
Not moving Price, Tucker, Chandler or Tele at the line was an indication to me that the FO is going to be opportunistic at exploring big trades/ FA moves this summer with an eye towards pushing to a contender. Each of those players has limitations, but they are perfect role players on a good, playoff team. I am absolutely not convinced we are rebuilding at all. Add two alpha-male scorers to that team, and we are back in the mix. Most are very likely not happening but adding any two Butler, Melo, KD, George, Horford... A Knight/#3/Goodwin can net a good player; Warren/Len/#12/#29 package can net another player- maybe in a S&T, and depending on how that came out there could still be as much as $25 million to spend in FA. Pushing one of the more realistic scenarios it could lead to something like this.
Purchase an early #2 (Melo Trimble) for up to $3million
Bledsoe/ Price (re-up at $2-$4)/ Trimble (#39)
Booker/ FA (Bud at min)/ Jenkins
Melo (trade for pack #1)/ Tucker/ FA
Horford (S&T for pack #2)/ Tele (re-up at $8-10)/ Williams
Chandler/ FA/ Zicic(#33)
Great scoring potential, decent defensive potential with a balance of young, mid-career and experienced vets, and a pretty solid bench of good role players. My examples could be overpay or underpay for those deals, but this is really just to show what could be out there for the Suns if things fall into place.
I don't think there is any way Melo would agree to come to Phoenix (not only does he love NY, but if he did decide to move it is likely either to a contender, to play with his friends, or if it was a non contender, I think it would only be the Lakers because of the exposure, his wife, big city, etc), not that I'd want him anyway. I'm fairly doubtful on Horford, but if he gets all his money he MAY move, but he is from down south and has played there his entire career. Many think he may end up in Boston if he goes anywhere.
There is little doubt in my mind McD will try and swing for something fairly big and may meet with Horford and outline a good plan for him, and perhaps some others. I think Indy and Chicago will have little or no interest to trade George or Butler, and I think KD likely stays in OKC, but if he left, I think Phoenix would be WAY down on his list.
