Season Speculation, Trade Ideas and Discussion

[DaleyBlind]

Suns- Aldridge
Spurs- Chriss, Bledsoe

yeah, lets go back to being a treadmill team. All that does for us is make us good enough to sneak into the playoffs and no where good bad enough for a good pick. TREADMILL TEAM.

I know, right! Booker and Warren were horrible picks at 13 and 14 respectively, yet Len, taken at 5 has made himself into that top talent we're building around!

I don't want Aldridge either...at least not for Bledsoe and Chriss, but honestly, there are strong draft classes, and others not so strong, so playing for a 'pick position' all the while with a Lottery System in place which guarantees nothing, is a great idea!

I want to play our rookies so they'll get experience playing with the guys we are building around--Booker and Warren, and to some degree, Bledsoe--not so we can try to position ourselves for another top 5 pick. We are NOT a TREADMILL TEAM, and never were; we were building talent and moving players left and right; that's not what treadmill teams do. 'Treadmill Teams' don' trade the team's top starters/talent (Scola, Dudley, Dragic, Gortat, IT, Kieff, etc.) for draft picks and young, budding talent (Bledsoe, and yes, even Knight--even if they didn't get it right, the intention was there).

Under McDonough we have not been a treadmill team, that much is obvious.

Under Blanks/Babby we were absolutely a treadmill team.

[Zelaznyrules]

To me, Tucker offers more than what shows up on the scoreboard. We just drafted 2 'Forwards', which Tucker plays both positions, and his enthusiasm, and ability to be tenacious down low I not something that is going to show up in a box score...and besides, these guys weren't around for those 'bad' Tucker incidents; I honestly believe he's moved on from that.

How many guys are there with 7' Wingspans that can sub-in at all 3 front-court positions, and do it for $5.5M? Naw, keep Tucker until the end of his contract to help solidify the Watson 'family' construct.

He's an energy player but for an energy guy, he's surprisingly limited upstairs. He makes the occasional hustle play but at what cost? He should have never been a starter for us or for anyone, in fact, he shouldn't be more than the 8th or 9th man on any team IMO. He has his uses. When the refs allow him to be physical, he's the perfect guy to use against some of the really hard to guard players in this league. But it's always dependent on referees and even when he's excelling in that role, he's still likely a hindrance on offense. So you save him for Davis, Durant, P George, Harden and a couple of others but you need to keep him off the court against most opponents. Unfortunately, we don't seem to be willing to do that though so trading him might be our best option.

[OGBAH]

Boston 1st, Zeller and Young for Chandler. No **** brainer imo


viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1457771&start=1460#start_here

Lurking the Celts board found this ^

[nevetsov]

Knight to SAC
Gay to ATL
Korver to PHX

Knight works in SAC because having Cousins in the paint limits Knight's requirement to make decisions with the ball, and allows him to focus on being a spot up shooting PG.

ATL gets a more dynamic starting SF to relieve the scoring hole left by Horfords departure, and a guy more adept at running the floor than Korver.

PHX gets rid of the black hole, and adds a polished veteran, only a few seasons removed from being an All Star, who adds reliable 3 point shooting, and can sub at both wing spots.

I'm willing to consider anything to get Knight off this team.

Starters:
Bled, Book, Warren, Chriss, Chandler

Bench:
Ulis, Barbosa, Korver, Tucker, Dudley, Bender, Len.

[LukasBMW]

We really are stuck with Knight now. He's playing so poorly that I don't know how anyone would give up more then a late first rounder for him.

Morris was unhappy and openly tanking but fresh off an impressive year and on a bargain contract.

I think best case scenario is to trade him to a fringe playoff team for a late lottery pick.

If Knight for Okafor was once a possibility and we passed...

[thamadkant]

I think Rockets would be interested on Knight... they need someone on the bench who can relieve Harden when he's on the bench and Knight can carry a bit of the scoring especially in D'Antoni's PG focus offense.


Brewer and Beverly comes to Suns...

Then a 4 way trade with Hornets / Nets / Kings / Suns

Suns:
IN: Cousins + Hawes
OUT: Len + Tucker + Chandler + Heat 2019 Pick + Suns 2017 2nd Rounder

Kings:
IN: Lopez + RHJ + Lamb + Heat 2019 Pick
OUT: Cousins + Gay

Nets:
IN: Gay + Tucker + Len + Suns 2nd Rounder
OUT: Lopez + RHJ

Hornets
IN: Chandler
OUT: Hawes + Lamb



Suns New Line-up
C: Cousins / Hawes / Bender
PF: Chriss / Dudley / Bender
SF: Warren / Bender / Brewer
SG: Booker / Brewer / Blessoe
PG: Bledsoe / Beverly / Ulis

[OnceUponADime]

Read on Twitter

They also lead the league in giving up fast break points. Its not a coincidence.

[Frank Lee]

Under McDonough we have not been a treadmill team, that much is obvious.

Under Blanks/Babby we were absolutely a treadmill team.

Ha.... what is obvious is under McD, we are just plain bad.

You banking his success on Booker Warren and a couple of teenagers ? Because the rest of his tinkering hasn't really improved this team... but he has set himself up for another deal.
The heat is on. We'll see if McD has the stones to make an impact trade. He has to, for relying on youth to lead the way to success is far to flimsy of a plan.

My take is he has positioned the Suns to be a front runner in the Boogie Sweepstakes when they begin. He has gathered extra picks and has enough tradable youngsters to offer a pretty decent chance for Sac to rebuild. Len, warren, binder, Chris's, ulis... all available. Golden child Booker the only certain Sun.

Remember his blueprint? The one lacking piece is acquiring a superstar/all star.

There is no guarantee DMC will be on the block, but it won't take much as Sac continues to suck.
Furthermore, no guarantee we'll have the best offer. But imagine if DMC is the one who says Phoenix, and only agrees to resign here? Take a look at McDs structuring so far. He has acquired the consummate veteran leader in Chandler. Added solid lockerroomer Dudley, and kept no nonsense Tucker. These have to be three of the best 'handlers' you could have for volatile DMC. Add in family guy Watson best bud Bled, and alums Ulis and Booker and you have a solid foundation that Boogie has never seen.

This is what seems obvious to me.

Of course, a plan B must exist as well, and frankly, I think if McD can't get DMC, then it's firesale and a full blown youth movement. Sell high on Bled, move TC to a playoff team, Tuck too...etc etc. it's going to take some balls either way, but to do nothing will cost McD his job.

[LukasBMW]

Under McDonough we have not been a treadmill team, that much is obvious.

Under Blanks/Babby we were absolutely a treadmill team.

Ha.... what is obvious is under McD, we are just plain bad.

You banking his success on Booker Warren and a couple of teenagers ? Because the rest of his tinkering hasn't really improved this team... but he has set himself up for another deal.
The heat is on. We'll see if McD has the stones to make an impact trade. He has to, for relying on youth to lead the way to success is far to flimsy of a plan.

My take is he has positioned the Suns to be a front runner in the Boogie Sweepstakes when they begin. He has gathered extra picks and has enough tradable youngsters to offer a pretty decent chance for Sac to rebuild. Len, warren, binder, Chris's, ulis... all available. Golden child Booker the only certain Sun.

Remember his blueprint? The one lacking piece is acquiring a superstar/all star.

There is no guarantee DMC will be on the block, but it won't take much as Sac continues to suck.
Furthermore, no guarantee we'll have the best offer. But imagine if DMC is the one who says Phoenix, and only agrees to resign here? Take a look at McDs structuring so far. He has acquired the consummate veteran leader in Chandler. Added solid lockerroomer Dudley, and kept no nonsense Tucker. These have to be three of the best 'handlers' you could have for volatile DMC. Add in family guy Watson best bud Bled, and alums Ulis and Booker and you have a solid foundation that Boogie has never seen.

This is what seems obvious to me.

Of course, a plan B must exist as well, and frankly, I think if McD can't get DMC, then it's firesale and a full blown youth movement. Sell high on Bled, move TC to a playoff team, Tuck too...etc etc. it's going to take some balls either way, but to do nothing will cost McD his job.

Agree with you 100%. We may not have the best offer, but between Knight, Len, and draft picks, we sure have a load to offer.

Plan B absolutely must be to blow it all up. Trade Bledsoe before he gets hurt again and while his numbers look good to maximize his value. Let Knight pad his stats for the rest of the year and then move him maybe on draft day.

[AtheJ415]

We really are stuck with Knight now. He's playing so poorly that I don't know how anyone would give up more then a late first rounder for him.

Morris was unhappy and openly tanking but fresh off an impressive year and on a bargain contract.

I think best case scenario is to trade him to a fringe playoff team for a late lottery pick.

If Knight for Okafor was once a possibility and we passed...

I think this is revisionist history. Morris was playing every bit as badly as Knight, and his advanced numbers were also awful. His contract was a bargain, but most assumed we'd have to add an asset to dump him. I think we aren't quite stuck with Knight. It is still early. This is a role he has the capability to excel in.

[LukasBMW]

I'd be down for:

-Knight swapped for Okafor

-Len swapped for WCS and Rudy Gay

All 3 teams are awful and need to make trades. Philly does it to get themselves a point guard. Sacramento does it because they have given up on WCS and Rudy Gay is going to walk. We do it to strengthen our bench and get even younger.

Bledsoe/Ulis
Booker/Barbosa
Warren/Gay
Chriss/Dudley
Chandler/Oakfor

Deep Bench: WCS, Bender, Tucker

Essentially we hope Gay can come in and fill the chucker role at a more efficient level then Knight. Okafor strengthens our Bench and actually gives us a 1-2 offensive punch with Gay. WCS can learn from Chandler in practice and maybe even see some action if we get some front line injuries.

We'd have to cut someone or send someone to the D-league permanently but that's OK.

[AtheJ415]

Under McDonough we have not been a treadmill team, that much is obvious.

Under Blanks/Babby we were absolutely a treadmill team.

Ha.... what is obvious is under McD, we are just plain bad.

You banking his success on Booker Warren and a couple of teenagers ? Because the rest of his tinkering hasn't really improved this team... but he has set himself up for another deal.
The heat is on. We'll see if McD has the stones to make an impact trade. He has to, for relying on youth to lead the way to success is far to flimsy of a plan.

My take is he has positioned the Suns to be a front runner in the Boogie Sweepstakes when they begin. He has gathered extra picks and has enough tradable youngsters to offer a pretty decent chance for Sac to rebuild. Len, warren, binder, Chris's, ulis... all available. Golden child Booker the only certain Sun.

Remember his blueprint? The one lacking piece is acquiring a superstar/all star.

There is no guarantee DMC will be on the block, but it won't take much as Sac continues to suck.
Furthermore, no guarantee we'll have the best offer. But imagine if DMC is the one who says Phoenix, and only agrees to resign here? Take a look at McDs structuring so far. He has acquired the consummate veteran leader in Chandler. Added solid lockerroomer Dudley, and kept no nonsense Tucker. These have to be three of the best 'handlers' you could have for volatile DMC. Add in family guy Watson best bud Bled, and alums Ulis and Booker and you have a solid foundation that Boogie has never seen.

This is what seems obvious to me.

Of course, a plan B must exist as well, and frankly, I think if McD can't get DMC, then it's firesale and a full blown youth movement. Sell high on Bled, move TC to a playoff team, Tuck too...etc etc. it's going to take some balls either way, but to do nothing will cost McD his job.

This is just short-sighted. If you think the team has a less promising future given who we have drafted and their respective ages then I don't know what to tell you. What is clear is that young teams don't win in the NBA. It is incredibly rare. That doesn't mean our future is just plain bad. I don't think "the heat is on" and that the youth movement hasn't begun. It has. We're starting Chriss even though he's not as good as Dudley. We're finally starting Warren even though he's been better than Tucker for 2 years now. The vets we have signed this offseason like Dudley were done with the express message and purpose of aiding in the youth movement.

[AtheJ415]

I'd be down for:

-Knight swapped for Okafor

-Len swapped for WCS and Rudy Gay

All 3 teams are awful and need to make trades. Philly does it to get themselves a point guard. Sacramento does it because they have given up on WCS and Rudy Gay is going to walk. We do it to strengthen our bench and get even younger.

Bledsoe/Ulis
Booker/Barbosa
Warren/Gay
Chriss/Dudley
Chandler/Oakfor

Deep Bench: WCS, Bender, Tucker

Essentially we hope Gay can come in and fill the chucker role at a more efficient level then Knight. Okafor strengthens our Bench and actually gives us a 1-2 offensive punch with Gay. WCS can learn from Chandler in practice and maybe even see some action if we get some front line injuries.

We'd have to cut someone or send someone to the D-league permanently but that's OK.

I don't mind adding Okafor especially for Knight, but I have no real desire to move Len for WCS (though I'd consider other guys for WCS). Gay though would hate coming off the bench. He's still a legitimate starter in this league, and at his age I think he's a bad fit for us. I'd rather offload him to a different team for a pick or youngster at a need position.

[OnceUponADime]

Honestly our best chance at getting rid of Knight is trading him to Orlando for Jeff Green straight up. I'm kinda surprised that McD hasn't done this yet.

We can then of course buyout Green out or sent him to someone else for some 2nd rd pick or something since he's a huge expiring contract.

[bwgood77]

Honestly our best chance at getting rid of Knight is trading him to Orlando for Jeff Green straight up. I'm kinda surprised that McD hasn't done this yet.

We can then of course buyout Green out or sent him to someone else for some 2nd rd pick or something since he's a huge expiring contract.

Gotta do something with him. When Rivers' worst qtr of his career reminds me of Brandon Knight that's not a good thing.

[KLEON]

Can you imagine Anthony Davis on this team? I wish A.D would demand a trade and then McD pull offs a steal like the Lakers did when they got Gasol but a man can only dream.

[Damkac]

Maybe on Suns he wouldn't get injuried every month.

[carey]

Can you imagine Anthony Davis on this team? I wish A.D would demand a trade and then McD pull offs a steal like the Lakers did when they got Gasol but a man can only dream.

Don't wish that on NOLA please. The city was really hurt when Chris Paul demanded a trade, and it came on the heels of Baron Davis openly tanking and refusing to play. They really don't need that again.

[OGBAH]

http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/2675960-nba-players-who-already-need-to-a-trade/page/7#

Philadelphia can't give him that, but there are plenty of other struggling organizations that could use an offensive boost in the frontcourt. The Phoenix Suns, for example, could give up on Alex Len and Tyson Chandler, throwing Brandon Knight to the Sixers as point guard relief while salivating over the prospect of pairing Okafor with the athletic defense of Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss.



Potential Trade: Jahlil Okafor to the Phoenix Suns for Brandon Knight and a pair of second-round picks

[OGBAH]

Rather have the Orlando kid or Henson