grumpysaddle wrote:cosmofizzo wrote:INFORMER-93 wrote:
For some reason, Bledsoe's injury has got me kind of shell shocked. I'm kind of hoping we just stand pat and play the season out. But I also hope that McDonough makes a few moves for the future. I'd like him to call up Charlotte and see if they have buyer's remorse with Cody Zeller, and/or if they're willing to part with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. I also would like to see us acquire Donatas Motiejunas. And I think we should offer Miami a chance to salary dump Joel Anthony while getting from them the draft rights to James Ennis and Philadelphia's protected first rounder (which in all likelihood will just becomes two second rounders).
As I mentioned in another thread, I'd like to move Frye. With Bledsoe out, I think we have an opportunity to guarantee ourselves 4 picks, with one in the late-lotto, by diving below Minnesota. Simply getting rid of Frye gives us $6.8 million in additional cap space next summer. Two long-term birds, one short-term stone.
I don't think we should make a move for a star this season - we'll be in better position on draft night, or this summer, to make such a move. Interesting ideas with the Bobcats though. Think they'd be interested in the Morrises for either target?
I also mentioned in the other thread that the meniscus tear won't stop us from signing Bledsoe to a $12-$14 million deal I think. But if he doesn't want to be here, we'll have the ability to S&T him. We have a great deal of flexibility in this rebuilding process, even if we don't have a top pick.
"Simply" getting rid of Frye hurts the team so much more than you think. He's integral to this team's success anyway you slice it, and the way his game is, provided his health is maintained, he can definitely play the same part for the team going forward for the next 4-5 years. He doesn't rely on athleticism for his game, and he had that year off, so that helps a bit with wear and tear. His contract is super reasonable for what he gives the team, and they can probably give him a 3-4 year deal after this contract that is even cheaper. I'm not into throwing players away because another player got injured.
What I'm getting from this post is that you want to get 4 picks so badly to you are willing to turn the team's culture into a stinking pile of crap by not being competitive by any means necessary. I'd rather the Suns keep what they have, play hard for the rest of the season, and barely miss the playoffs than trade away important pieces in the name of getting a pick in the 14-18th spot of the draft, while also making their own pick be in the late, late lottery.
I agree in that I'd like the Suns to keep competing, but it would be nice to get the Minny pick. But that Minny pick (if they make the playoffs) very likely won't be in the 14-18 range, but more likely in the 19-20 range.
If you look at projected records, it's likely that the first 4-5 non lotto picks will all be made by eastern teams. The 8th seed in the west will probably have a better record than 4-5 east teams, so those east teams would get picks 15-18 or 19.
http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/playoffoddsSo this obviously also rings true for our own pick. If we make the playoffs it will probably be a pick in the low 20s, but if we miss, it will probably be around 14.
I imagine the Washington pick will probably be late teens, but if they were to miss the playoffs, there is almost no way we would get it, since a handful of western conf teams would probably get picks 11-14.
Shorten season, many many injuries, and one trade. Even if Barnes doesn't play a game, their starting lineup save Iggy is still from that team that lost many games. The only difference is they are all healthy now.
Maybe you are right, Marc Jackson seems like the type of guy that is willing to be completely dishonest, purposely throw games, in his first season, in the slim chance if landing exactly on the draft pick that kept it theirs.
