Season Speculation, Trade Ideas & Discussion Pt. 1

[Mulhollanddrive]

Bledsoe, Miami 1st, Miami 1st, Toronto 2nd for Shumpert, Frye, Brooklyn 1st.

Don't think they'd bite but they'd add Bledsoe, save $15m in luxury tax all for the cost of splitting the Brooklyn pick into 2 Miamis.

[Waylay13]

Gilbert didnt make Kyrie ask out. He added Rose, that's not a rebuild move, I think he did ok all things considered.

The return was good. The priorities appear to be wrong. He should be kissing Lebron's feet and selling that pick to the highest bidder. Who knows. Maybe he will.

Or, if you know LeBron is leaving...100% leaving...I'd bring him in and discuss. Let him know the 'bad taste' he left in every Cavaliers' fan, and every Cleveland resident, the last time he 'up and left'. If his true desire is to leave Cleveland, ask if he'd be willing to at least allow the Cavaliers' organization profit from his loss, so that they can start their rebuild now that they have the BRK pick next season. Play to his sense of fair play to the oft 'dejected' Cleveland fan...Browns, Indians, and up until LeBron's return, the Cavaliers, and ask if they's allow the opportunity to shop him to a small number of teams that he'd be ok with, so that they could get some return and start a rebuild now. He'd like tell them to 'pack sand', but if they word it properly, make the Cavaliers' look as if they are the 'petty' or 'stupid' ones, he might buy it?

I'm going to use Phoenix as an example, but teams like the Bulls, Sixers, Dallas, Nuggets, and Pacers--teams with some cap space--or maybe even teams that don't, I don't know, could fashion a trade, but teams with a lot of youth like us and the Sixers might be best.

McD starts with Trade 1 - Minimal pieces, and we only get LeBron back

Knight (26YO in 2018), Dudley, Bender (or Chriss-their pick; not both), JJ + Mia Top 7 2018 Unprotected/Mia Unprotected 2021 1st Rd Picks

McD ups the ante wth Trade 2 if that doesn't work - We take back Frye/Shumpert, but add in Chandler.

Knight, Chandler, Dudley, Warren, Bender (or Chriss-their pick, not both), JJ + Mia Top 7 2018 Unprotected/Mia Unprotected 2021 1st Rd Picks

http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yasp9oye

You might say "No way in hell do they make that trade," but they stand to lose out completely next year, and not get a dime from LeBron leaving, right? This way, they get BRK's, MIA's (likely late lotto to late teens), plus their own, which is likely to 'suck' with no Bron. They get 2 x 20YOs from us, have Zizic, Cedi Osman, and Felder, and shoot, Crowder and TT are still fairly young. That's 8 (including the picks) 23YO or younger talent to build from, with 2 being top 5 picks...possibly 3 with BRK's pick.

The 2nd trade, which they'd probably push after the Boston debacle, would net them Warren as well.

For us (2nd Trade)??

Bledsoe/Booker/Bron/Chriss/Sauce or Len...with...Ulis/Shumpert/DJ Jr/Frye/Sauce or Len

I know; everyone is likely saying "No WAY; we wouldn't be competitive with GSW." Well, who exactly is? Bledsoe could irritate Curry, Booker and go toe-to-toe with Klay on any given night, and oh, say what you want, but LeBron is still THE BEST all-around NBA player, so, as good as Durant is...he's still no Bron. So that leaves Chris vs Green, and Len vs Zaza. Given Len the reins for a season and some of you may be surprised...

...no, I do not expect to win the series, but we are instantly relevant. And yes, this is highly fantastical, and will never happen, and some of you would just rather 'wait' and try to get him in FA, but we're bidding against 28 other teams...we loose those more often than not...

What the heck is wrong with you? Almost every post you have you are trying to trade JJ and draft picks. What has JJ done that you are working so hard on getting rid of him?

[bwgood77]

Bogdan just put up 30 against Latvia with 3 rebounds and 4 assist in the W. I liked him, he could be good for Sac down the line.

Suns could defiantly regret that trade. Bogdan looks legit.

Sent from my SM-N920V using RealGM mobile app

Yeah, and I've heard a lot of analysts consider Skal a better prospect than Chriss. The funny thing is that doesn't even consider their best piece of the trade which was 13, which they used on Papa..who knows what he becomes. I don't think many would view us as winners in that trade though. We gave up a bit. But I guess still too early to determine.

[bwgood77]

What the heck is wrong with you? Almost every post you have you are trying to trade JJ and draft picks. What has JJ done that you are working so hard on getting rid of him?

I don't understand either. It's nice to want to trade for stars, but the strange thing is all these ideas came well after the draft and all the stars were traded. The offseason is pretty much over for trade purposes. On top of that the Warriors are one of the best teams of all time, if not THE best, two all stars moved west (Butler, George) to teams that will be competitive. Millsap moved west...he may have been an all star to a team who finished just outside of the playoffs. Nurkic just got traded to the 8th seed at the end of last season and really was balling but got injured...but they will be better with a healthy Nurkic.

The west is perhaps the best ever at the very top and extremely deep right now with like 10+ teams that look playoff quality, and we are a team with players in their young 20s, rookies and draft picks. I don't care who you add to this team, but we'd be hard pressed to make the playoffs, particularly if traded away part of our roster for one.

Josh Jackson was one of the most highly touted prospects to come a long in a while. I mean our prize for being terrible was getting this stud and controlling him for 8-9 years (barring him not taking QO). And we trade him? We already tried to trade a great assets for a budding all star in Brandon Knight....short cuts don't work. At least not until you have some sort of foundation.

[nevetsov]

It certainly wouldn't be a popular move, but if CLE fully expect LBJ to bolt, wouldn't it have made more sense from an asset standpoint to trade him now and keep Kyrie?

You could still land a grandfather haul for LBJ, while retaining a top 25 player in Kyrie to build around.

[Kerrsed]

It certainly wouldn't be a popular move, but if CLE fully expect LBJ to bolt, wouldn't it have made more sense from an asset standpoint to trade him now and keep Kyrie?

You could still land a grandfather haul for LBJ, while retaining a top 25 player in Kyrie to build around.

Oh, it would have been a lot better, but the problem is Irving was demanding a trade and Lebron isnt going anywhere. No trade clause. Not to mention the amount of heat the FO would get if they did trade Lebron (If he OK'd it). They were/are in a **** situation. They had to trade Irving no matter what. Lebron isnt going to weaken the team he plans on going to, and most likely ending his career with, by having them trade valuable assets when they could just sign him outright the next season. Lebron also doesnt want to look that bad to the Cleveland fans either. He finishes up his contract and then moves on, instead of bailing on them right away. Thats not going to happen. When he leaves, expect the blame to be on the FO. From not putting a better team around him after losing to GS (who also improved their team), to trading for an injured IT, to firing Griff, the moves the FO made will be Lebrons excuse and scapegoat to the fans when he leaves next season.

If Cleveland thought they had a chance at keeping Lebron, they would have made some real moves in the offseason. They wouldnt have traded for IT (who will end up missing at least the first 3 months of the season AND is on an expiring deal). They wouldnt have signed Rose and Calderon (on 1 year deals as well). Pretty much all the moves they have made are looking to their future without Lebron, as opposed to competing this and future seasons WITH Lebron.

But still, Irving had to be moved. There was no way they could have him on the floor or in the same locker room with King James, and since Lebron isnt going anywhere this season, you find the best offer to help you in the Lebron-less future, which is exactly what they did.

[nevetsov]

My understanding was that Kyrie only wanted a trade because he was sick of playing with LBJ. If you find a way to trade LBJ, the Kyrie situation might be salvageable with a bit of ego stroking.

That doesn't discount your points about LBJ and the no trade clause etc, which are essentially the deal breaker. Unless you could get him to agree to a trade to a big market like NY or LA, you're pretty much boned.

Still, if you could sell him on playing with Carmelo in NY and get Porzingis in a trade, or hell, even Ingram and a pick, you've all of a sudden got 2 young cornerstones to build with.

But as you said, it's all moot unless he agrees.

[Kerrsed]

My understanding was that Kyrie only wanted a trade because he was sick of playing with LBJ. If you find a way to trade LBJ, the Kyrie situation might be salvageable with a bit of ego stroking.

That doesn't discount your points about LBJ and the no trade clause etc, which are essentially the deal breaker. Unless you could get him to agree to a trade to a big market like NY or LA, you're pretty much boned.

Still, if you could sell him on playing with Carmelo in NY and get Porzingis in a trade, or hell, even Ingram and a pick, you've all of a sudden got 2 young cornerstones to build with.

But as you said, it's all moot unless he agrees.

Say you're Lebron. Even if you are entertaining the idea of a trade to NY or LAL, wouldnt you rather play WITH the best players on the team instead of being traded for the best players and being stuck with a lame roster? Exactly. And if im NY or LAL, i dont make either of those trade for Lebron, knowing that it would be a one year rental (In NY's case) or that you could just sign him outright next season without having to gut your roster of all talent (In LA's case).

As for Irving, it was a mixture of things that led him to ask to be traded. Sure Lebron was a major part of that, but also was escaping his shadow. Thats hard to do in Cleveland, with or without Lebron. If they kept him and somehow by miracle convinced Lebron to accept a trade, Irving would be hated by fans for driving Lebron away. Irving also took issue with the FO and how they treated him (Very very differently than Lebron). He wants a fresh break, and thats impossible to get wearing a Cav's jersey.

[Walt_Uoob]

The one way I could see LeBron getting traded is the way things are going now: they make rebuilding-oriented moves until LeBron agrees to a trade, and he can say it was their decision to go in a different direction, not his. He could say they stopped believing they can beat the Warriors and that's unacceptable to him. They'd probably have to also trade Love to get to that point though, and/or some of LeBron's close friends on the team.

Can't actually see it happening but I didn't think LeBron would ever go back to Cleveland either. So maybe if the Cavs think their window is closed and they can get a haul like Boston got for Garnett and Pierce, then it's somewhat conceivable.

Edit: but even in this unlikely scenario, Kerrsed's point still stands, making it even more unlikely that a trade goes down.

[Waylay13]

What the heck is wrong with you? Almost every post you have you are trying to trade JJ and draft picks. What has JJ done that you are working so hard on getting rid of him?

I don't understand either. It's nice to want to trade for stars, but the strange thing is all these ideas came well after the draft and all the stars were traded. The offseason is pretty much over for trade purposes. On top of that the Warriors are one of the best teams of all time, if not THE best, two all stars moved west (Butler, George) to teams that will be competitive. Millsap moved west...he may have been an all star to a team who finished just outside of the playoffs. Nurkic just got traded to the 8th seed at the end of last season and really was balling but got injured...but they will be better with a healthy Nurkic.

The west is perhaps the best ever at the very top and extremely deep right now with like 10+ teams that look playoff quality, and we are a team with players in their young 20s, rookies and draft picks. I don't care who you add to this team, but we'd be hard pressed to make the playoffs, particularly if traded away part of our roster for one.

Josh Jackson was one of the most highly touted prospects to come a long in a while. I mean our prize for being terrible was getting this stud and controlling him for 8-9 years (barring him not taking QO). And we trade him? We already tried to trade a great assets for a budding all star in Brandon Knight....short cuts don't work. At least not until you have some sort of foundation.

I agree, look at Golden State they build their core in the draft and then filled in around it with players who complement the core. it takes time and it takes luck but in the end with the day's CBA it is the best way to build a successful team.

[MrMiyagi]

I have an idea guys.

We should trade everyone currently on our roster, for completely different players.

or we can just enjoy watching the guys we've got...

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

I have an idea guys.

We should trade everyone currently on our roster, for completely different players.

or we can just enjoy watching the guys we've got...

Josh Jackson and Devin Booker are the future so I find all the superstar trade fansturbation a little anticlimactic.

[Mauro Pedrosa]

Hi Suns fans!

No disrespect, but I started a series on YouTube to preview all 30 NBA teams and you guys had the first video! Meaning I think you'll have the worst record

Feel free to check it out and give me feedback

Watch on YouTube

[MrMiyagi]

Hi Suns fans!

No disrespect, but I started a series on YouTube to preview all 30 NBA teams and you guys had the first video! Meaning I think you'll have the worst record

Feel free to check it out and give me feedback

Watch on YouTube

First of all, good on you for making a series. I'll give you some feedback, and like you, no disrespect, just trying to help.

The one thing I tend to notice when people talk about the Suns is a lack of specificity regarding the way the team plays that can't be discerned from the stat sheet. Yes, Ulis and Big Sauce (Alan Williams) are under-sized, but does that hinder them when they play? I think most of us Suns fans can see both do other things incredibly well to compensate for their lack of height (and weight in Ulis's case). If you go through our message board, you'll find near unanimous consensus favoring Ulis to Knight and Alan Williams to Alex Len - players who have better on-paper physical tools - because of the way they play.

Although YouTube is a world of short attention spans, I'd recommend digging more into the teams, watch them play multiple times throughout the season, and give a more nuanced and unique perspective on the teams and their players.

So, I think this is a fine start, but I'd like to walk away from a video knowing that I'm getting Mauro Pedrosa's perspective, and not just a stat-sheet look-over delivered by Mauro Pedrosa. I look forward to seeing more of your perspective in future videos.

[Mauro Pedrosa]

Hi Suns fans!

No disrespect, but I started a series on YouTube to preview all 30 NBA teams and you guys had the first video! Meaning I think you'll have the worst record

Feel free to check it out and give me feedback

Watch on YouTube

First of all, good on you for making a series. I'll give you some feedback, and like you, no disrespect, just trying to help.

The one thing I tend to notice when people talk about the Suns is a lack of specificity regarding the way the team plays that can't be discerned from the stat sheet. Yes, Ulis and Big Sauce (Alan Williams) are under-sized, but does that hinder them when they play? I think most of us Suns fans can see both do other things incredibly well to compensate for their lack of height (and weight in Ulis's case). If you go through our message board, you'll find near unanimous consensus favoring Ulis to Knight and Alan Williams to Alex Len - players who have better on-paper physical tools - because of the way they play.

Although YouTube is a world of short attention spans, I'd recommend digging more into the teams, watch them play multiple times throughout the season, and give a more nuanced and unique perspective on the teams and their players.

So, I think this is a fine start, but I'd like to walk away from a video knowing that I'm getting Mauro Pedrosa's perspective, and not just a stat-sheet look-over delivered by Mauro Pedrosa. I look forward to seeing more of your perspective in future videos.

Thanks for the great and detailed answer.

I try to watch every team because I'm an NBA fanatic and I love fantasy basketball so I always give my opinion and I talk about what I've seen. I don't rely on other analyst's opinions, for example.

The problem with making videos longer is that it takes an absurd amount of effort to edit in Adobe Premiere Pro, and there are 30 teams to talk about. And I've had an issue where newer or more casual fans want the information to be easier to understand, and more hardcore fans like yourself want deeper analysis.

I thank you again for your reply and I'll add that I think the Suns will be 30th overall because the schedule is harder out West. You don't necessarily have a worse roster than some of the teams I'll be talking about very soon

[NavLDO]

Spoiler:

The return was good. The priorities appear to be wrong. He should be kissing Lebron's feet and selling that pick to the highest bidder. Who knows. Maybe he will.

Or, if you know LeBron is leaving...100% leaving...I'd bring him in and discuss. Let him know the 'bad taste' he left in every Cavaliers' fan, and every Cleveland resident, the last time he 'up and left'. If his true desire is to leave Cleveland, ask if he'd be willing to at least allow the Cavaliers' organization profit from his loss, so that they can start their rebuild now that they have the BRK pick next season. Play to his sense of fair play to the oft 'dejected' Cleveland fan...Browns, Indians, and up until LeBron's return, the Cavaliers, and ask if they's allow the opportunity to shop him to a small number of teams that he'd be ok with, so that they could get some return and start a rebuild now. He'd like tell them to 'pack sand', but if they word it properly, make the Cavaliers' look as if they are the 'petty' or 'stupid' ones, he might buy it?

I'm going to use Phoenix as an example, but teams like the Bulls, Sixers, Dallas, Nuggets, and Pacers--teams with some cap space--or maybe even teams that don't, I don't know, could fashion a trade, but teams with a lot of youth like us and the Sixers might be best.

McD starts with Trade 1 - Minimal pieces, and we only get LeBron back

Knight (26YO in 2018), Dudley, Bender (or Chriss-their pick; not both), JJ + Mia Top 7 2018 Unprotected/Mia Unprotected 2021 1st Rd Picks

McD ups the ante wth Trade 2 if that doesn't work - We take back Frye/Shumpert, but add in Chandler.

Knight, Chandler, Dudley, Warren, Bender (or Chriss-their pick, not both), JJ + Mia Top 7 2018 Unprotected/Mia Unprotected 2021 1st Rd Picks

http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yasp9oye

You might say "No way in hell do they make that trade," but they stand to lose out completely next year, and not get a dime from LeBron leaving, right? This way, they get BRK's, MIA's (likely late lotto to late teens), plus their own, which is likely to 'suck' with no Bron. They get 2 x 20YOs from us, have Zizic, Cedi Osman, and Felder, and shoot, Crowder and TT are still fairly young. That's 8 (including the picks) 23YO or younger talent to build from, with 2 being top 5 picks...possibly 3 with BRK's pick.

The 2nd trade, which they'd probably push after the Boston debacle, would net them Warren as well.

For us (2nd Trade)??

Bledsoe/Booker/Bron/Chriss/Sauce or Len...with...Ulis/Shumpert/DJ Jr/Frye/Sauce or Len

I know; everyone is likely saying "No WAY; we wouldn't be competitive with GSW." Well, who exactly is? Bledsoe could irritate Curry, Booker and go toe-to-toe with Klay on any given night, and oh, say what you want, but LeBron is still THE BEST all-around NBA player, so, as good as Durant is...he's still no Bron. So that leaves Chris vs Green, and Len vs Zaza. Given Len the reins for a season and some of you may be surprised...

...no, I do not expect to win the series, but we are instantly relevant. And yes, this is highly fantastical, and will never happen, and some of you would just rather 'wait' and try to get him in FA, but we're bidding against 28 other teams...we loose those more often than not...

What the heck is wrong with you? Almost every post you have you are trying to trade JJ and draft picks. What has JJ done that you are working so hard on getting rid of him?

Nothing is wrong with me. Not that the scenario I painted has even a .000001% chance of happening, but if it did, how likely do you think that trade would be without JJ??

I'm in no hurry to trade JJ; I'm just pointing out that in order to get PREMIER talent on this squad, the FIRST name that is going to come up is Booker, and I think we can all agree that's a negative, because he's actually PROVEN to be an NBA player. the SECOND name would be JJ, and JJ hasn't proven a darn thing in the NBA.

I sure as heck am not going to propose a trade for LeBron James, and on our side of the trade, not provide them some potential to build off of..."Oh, here Cleveland, we'll give you Jones Jr., Ulis, Peters, and injured Reed, and Bender. Is that fair?"

Again, if I'm going to propose a 'far-out' trade, I'm at least going to do my best to make it 'palatable' to the other side...would you rather I include Booker, and keep JJ??

[Sonne]

@Mauro Pedorsa

in Michael Rapaport Words: you are young dumb and full of cum!

No disrespect, but its the truth.....

This is unacceptable.

[Phystic]

Hi Suns fans!

No disrespect, but I started a series on YouTube to preview all 30 NBA teams and you guys had the first video! Meaning I think you'll have the worst record

Feel free to check it out and give me feedback

Watch on YouTube

I can appreciate the amount of effort and work it takes to put together a ranking of all 30 teams. However, I don't think you really put any reasoning behind putting the Suns as the worst team in the league(not saying I disagree). You just listed our roster, vegas odds and then Ulis/Sauce being a bit undersized.

What I will say is, our team really needs a legit playmaker. We ISO guys or guys that can't(or shouldn't ) create on their own. And I think that's where Ulis comes in. He's a much more natural creator than Bledsoe. Sure he is undersized, but that doesn't mean he can't be a quality player for us. It's about effort and heart with guys like him. Same goes for Sauce(Williams), he may a little undersized(not sure this is true with the league steering away from big men these days), but he has heart and fights for everything. Reminds me of a guy like Lou Amundson. Had no business to be as effective as he was, but it was all due to heart and effort.

As for Chandler, I wouldn't say his contract is as bad as people make it out to be. 2 years at about $13M per, not horrible. He doesn't show much for us because we don't need/want him in the lineup for 30 minutes a night. He's still a quality defensive player, great rebounder and can still run the pick and lob as well as just about anyone. Which is what his career has always been. He's valuable to us in the same way Dudley is. Locker room. They help keep our young guys in check and working. I'd be totally fine to see each of them finish out their contracts here.

Bledsoe should probably be traded if we can find the value we want. As his health, age and contract situation don't line up very well with our roster.

Anyway, I'm rambling. It was a good attempt at a ranking for the Suns. And I don't know if we will be the worst team in the league, but we will probably be among the worst. I think moving forward with your rankings you should be a bit more substance into why you rank the team there and not just lay out obvious roster movement and leave it at that.

[Shank]

@Mauro Pedorsa

in Michael Rapaport Words: you are young dumb and full of cum!

No disrespect, but its the truth.....

"Young dumb and full of cum" was a saying long before you heard it come out of rapaports mouth a few days ago.

[Waylay13]

What the heck is wrong with you? Almost every post you have you are trying to trade JJ and draft picks. What has JJ done that you are working so hard on getting rid of him?

Nothing is wrong with me. Not that the scenario I painted has even a .000001% chance of happening, but if it did, how likely do you think that trade would be without JJ??

I'm in no hurry to trade JJ; I'm just pointing out that in order to get PREMIER talent on this squad, the FIRST name that is going to come up is Booker, and I think we can all agree that's a negative, because he's actually PROVEN to be an NBA player. the SECOND name would be JJ, and JJ hasn't proven a darn thing in the NBA.

I sure as heck am not going to propose a trade for LeBron James, and on our side of the trade, not provide them some potential to build off of..."Oh, here Cleveland, we'll give you Jones Jr., Ulis, Peters, and injured Reed, and Bender. Is that fair?"

Again, if I'm going to propose a 'far-out' trade, I'm at least going to do my best to make it 'palatable' to the other side...would you rather I include Booker, and keep JJ??

How about not making a trading the bank for a star who is on the downward path on his career and will be a free agent next year. IF really think he can win us a championship (and i really question as great of a player that Lebron is he can come in with Booker and win a championship or even get us far in the WC with the people who are left) than sign him as a free agent; but you sure as heck down trade your future to get short term success. What you are saying is sure if I can get my dream job for one year I will be happy to get brain, lung and colon cancer the year after.