The 2016 Offseason Thread

[OGBAH]

I can't watch the games... I know nothing about nothing most of the time.

[NavLDO]

Everyone seems to think that Booker is not going to play the three. Well I think you are completely wrong in that belief. This will surely happen after the trade for LB, unless Knight is traded.

I foresee our starting lineup on opening to be as follows:

C - Chandler or Len (This is the only position of question)
PF - Dudley
SF - Booker - (maybe Warren but my money is on Booker starting)
SG - Knight
PG - Bledsoe

It surely could be our best lineup at crunch time, unless one of the rookies step up, which likely will not happen early in the year.

The writing has been on the wall since Watson was hired on as coach. He said he saw Booker at the three as viable, as I remember.

If that is the Suns starting lineup or best lineup in crunch time, I expect them to lose every night. They would be the worst team in basketball. That lineup would be 6'1", 6'3", 6'6, and 6'7" at positions 1-4. How are they supposed to defend? They would get destroyed. How could that team defend Curry at 6'3", Thompson at 6'7", and Durant at almost 7'. You want Booker guarding Durant?

If I had to choose, I would trade Knight and Tucker and start Bledsoe, Booker, Warren, Bender, and Len. Ulis, Barbosa, Dudley, Chriss, and Chandler would be my second team. Goodwin and Williams can round out the bench or Goodwin can play more if he shoots better.

I also find this Dudley at the four spot hilarious. Does anybody realize that with Dudley playing power forward, the Wizards knew they were not going anywhere and traded for Markieff. That team was 24-28 in the East with Dudley playing power forward. This is a team that made the second round of the playoffs two years in a row prior to Dudley going there. With Dudley and then Markieff playing power forward, they did not even make the playoffs. They got worse with Dudley on the team. Do people not remember that? If the Suns play Dudley at the four spot, they will suck. I do not care about Bender or Chriss' ages. Talent is what matters. I would play them immediately and let them develop rather than suck with mediocre players playing just because they are veterans.

You can call it hilarious but I can see it happening unless Watson all of a sudden falls in love with Warren. God forbid he starts Tucker, anywhere. He might just do that, unfortunately.

The league is all about putting their best players on the floor. The Warriors won a championship that way that last year and the Cavs followed suit this year. They both played a version of small ball. The Cav's basically won a championship this year with a PF at center (Thompson), I doubt they would have missed Love at all. What happened to Mosgov? The Warriors won with Draymond Green playing their most important minutes at the 5.

To go back in time in 1975 the Warriors actually created small ball with George Johnson and Clifford Ray splitting the minutes at the 5. They started each game with 12 fouls and used them aggressively. They really had no one you could call a legit PF on that team, they were fantastic. I can see us using Chandler and Len in a similar fashion this season. We do not need them to be scorers we need them to dominate the paint on both ends. I really think both are more than capable of doing that. We will see how it turns out.

But neither of those teams played a 6'1", a 6'3", a 6'7", and a 6'5"(Tucker)/6'7"(Duds) players at 1-4. There's "small ball", and then there's "mighty mouse" ball. We have to have SOME size out there; there has to be SOME defensive presence out there, and while Bledsoe and Tucker/Duds can provide a bit of defense, it won't be enough size...it just won't.

Curry--6'3.25"
Klay -- 6'7.25"
Iguodola--6'6.75"
H. Barnes--6'8"

Kyrie--6'3.5"
J.R. Smith--6'6.75"
James--6'8"
Love--6'9.5"

We are giving up 2", 4", 0"/1", and 2"/4" by starting this proposed line-up. Sorry, but we need to have some size outside of just Len/Chandler at the 5. You can call what the Warriors or Cavs as being "small ball", but it really isn't. Just because you choose to start a 6'9" or 6'10" Center, doesn't mean you are playing small ball when your 2-4 are all 6'7"-6'9".

I'm fine with starting a short PG, but our 2-4 can't be 6'3"-6'5"/6'7", and not only that, Booker has a difficult enough time defending 2s, and you want him defending 3s?? Warren's not a great defender either, but at least he has some size to disrupt some shots and bang around a bit.

Once Chriss/Bender get their feet under them, we're going to have some great size out there; might even be able to move Warren to the 2 for some stretches. But right now, when playing Bledsoe and Knight together on the court, it would be unwise to put Booker at the 3 and Duds or Tucker at the 4...at least that's my opinion. And why wouldn't you want one of your best scorers, who has size (Warren) out on the court?? Anyway, that's how I'm looking at it, but doesn't mean that Watson is thing that way. I just hope that if he does play Bledsoe/Knight/Booker, that he at least puts Warren or Len at the 4, or if ready, Chriss or Bender.

[NavLDO]

Booker is better than all those guys and it involves a ton more than %'s and anylitics.

True, but I will say this. Warren's not far behind. He's a bit untraditional in his play, but it works well for him on the offensive side; he just needs to get it done better on the D side...but so does Booker, so that's why I'd say Warren's close, if he come back healthy this year.

[NavLDO]

Not sure the lemmings comment was accurate, wise, or helpful.

You're right. It wasn't. It was meant to fight emotion with emotion. But, if I say it that way, perhaps it'll get people thinking.

Do I just think Booker is better than Warren because everyone else says so, or because I'm afraid to get chewed out on this forum?

Why is that the case? What do numbers tell me? Besides benefit of the doubt, in which areas is Booker better than Warren or Knight? Any?

Serious question..there was a guy here who was posting and in the midst of it mentioned that they really dont watch the games much. Was that you?

Naw, that was probably me. I'm typically limited to watching highlights...but I did get to see that 1st SL game yesterday, and will do my best to watch more, if able, this season.

[dremill24]

You're right. It wasn't. It was meant to fight emotion with emotion. But, if I say it that way, perhaps it'll get people thinking.

Do I just think Booker is better than Warren because everyone else says so, or because I'm afraid to get chewed out on this forum?

Why is that the case? What do numbers tell me? Besides benefit of the doubt, in which areas is Booker better than Warren or Knight? Any?

Serious question..there was a guy here who was posting and in the midst of it mentioned that they really dont watch the games much. Was that you?

Naw, that was probably me. I'm typically limited to watching highlights...but I did get to see that 1st SL game yesterday, and will do my best to watch more, if able, this season.

Wait so you're freaking the **** out on people every day here and you dont even watch??

[Puff]

If that is the Suns starting lineup or best lineup in crunch time, I expect them to lose every night. They would be the worst team in basketball. That lineup would be 6'1", 6'3", 6'6, and 6'7" at positions 1-4. How are they supposed to defend? They would get destroyed. How could that team defend Curry at 6'3", Thompson at 6'7", and Durant at almost 7'. You want Booker guarding Durant?

If I had to choose, I would trade Knight and Tucker and start Bledsoe, Booker, Warren, Bender, and Len. Ulis, Barbosa, Dudley, Chriss, and Chandler would be my second team. Goodwin and Williams can round out the bench or Goodwin can play more if he shoots better.

I also find this Dudley at the four spot hilarious. Does anybody realize that with Dudley playing power forward, the Wizards knew they were not going anywhere and traded for Markieff. That team was 24-28 in the East with Dudley playing power forward. This is a team that made the second round of the playoffs two years in a row prior to Dudley going there. With Dudley and then Markieff playing power forward, they did not even make the playoffs. They got worse with Dudley on the team. Do people not remember that? If the Suns play Dudley at the four spot, they will suck. I do not care about Bender or Chriss' ages. Talent is what matters. I would play them immediately and let them develop rather than suck with mediocre players playing just because they are veterans.

You can call it hilarious but I can see it happening unless Watson all of a sudden falls in love with Warren. God forbid he starts Tucker, anywhere. He might just do that, unfortunately.

The league is all about putting their best players on the floor. The Warriors won a championship that way that last year and the Cavs followed suit this year. They both played a version of small ball. The Cav's basically won a championship this year with a PF at center (Thompson), I doubt they would have missed Love at all. What happened to Mosgov? The Warriors won with Draymond Green playing their most important minutes at the 5.

To go back in time in 1975 the Warriors actually created small ball with George Johnson and Clifford Ray splitting the minutes at the 5. They started each game with 12 fouls and used them aggressively. They really had no one you could call a legit PF on that team, they were fantastic. I can see us using Chandler and Len in a similar fashion this season. We do not need them to be scorers we need them to dominate the paint on both ends. I really think both are more than capable of doing that. We will see how it turns out.

But neither of those teams played a 6'1", a 6'3", a 6'7", and a 6'5"(Tucker)/6'7"(Duds) players at 1-4. There's "small ball", and then there's "mighty mouse" ball. We have to have SOME size out there; there has to be SOME defensive presence out there, and while Bledsoe and Tucker/Duds can provide a bit of defense, it won't be enough size...it just won't.

Curry--6'3.25"
Klay -- 6'7.25"
Iguodola--6'6.75"
H. Barnes--6'8"

Kyrie--6'3.5"
J.R. Smith--6'6.75"
James--6'8"
Love--6'9.5"

We are giving up 2", 4", 0"/1", and 2"/4" by starting this proposed line-up. Sorry, but we need to have some size outside of just Len/Chandler at the 5. You can call what the Warriors or Cavs as being "small ball", but it really isn't. Just because you choose to start a 6'9" or 6'10" Center, doesn't mean you are playing small ball when your 2-4 are all 6'7"-6'9".

I'm fine with starting a short PG, but our 2-4 can't be 6'3"-6'5"/6'7", and not only that, Booker has a difficult enough time defending 2s, and you want him defending 3s?? Warren's not a great defender either, but at least he has some size to disrupt some shots and bang around a bit.

Once Chriss/Bender get their feet under them, we're going to have some great size out there; might even be able to move Warren to the 2 for some stretches. But right now, when playing Bledsoe and Knight together on the court, it would be unwise to put Booker at the 3 and Duds or Tucker at the 4...at least that's my opinion. And why wouldn't you want one of your best scorers, who has size (Warren) out on the court?? Anyway, that's how I'm looking at it, but doesn't mean that Watson is thing that way. I just hope that if he does play Bledsoe/Knight/Booker, that he at least puts Warren or Len at the 4, or if ready, Chriss or Bender.

You are splitting hairs. Golden State is not that much bigger and they have bigger players that just did not play when the game was on the line. Cleveland has the advantage of the Cyborg but Love had little affect on the series other than a decent final game. The games were dominated by the defense and rebounding of Thompson and the playmaking and scoring of Lebron and Kyrie.

Surely I would prefer Chriss and Bender down the road but they are just not going to be ready at the start of the season. Hopefully they progress and earn solid minutes all year long. I am not saying that we are going to go small from the beginning to the end of the game but we will start the games small and finish them the same way. Watson has said that he wants to develop a team that shares the ball and the 5 players that I suggest should be the most capable of doing just that. I see the potential of both Bender and Chriss fitting in nicely so I do not think there is a need to go out and get just anyone just because they are big.

I could also see Booker moving to the 2nd unit with Ulis. Thank should move Warren into his slot as a starter. I just think we are going to see Bledsoe and Knight at the 1 & 2 until the play themselves out of minutes or we go on a losing streak. We will see.

I know a lot of folks loved Amare but not anymore than I did. I really think he could be a really nice addition for a lot of reasons. The ball never got stuck in his hands. He either went hard to the hoop immediately or gave it up. That is what I want to see from our bigs. No dancing around, just do it. He could set a great example for the youngsters if he comes with a good attitude. If they just get in the weight room with him they will get better. He never ever was out of shape.

[Fo-Real]

With the lack of visibility and seemingly not buying in, I feel like Tuck and Goodwin may be on the way out.

[AtheJ415]

How awful is Brooklyn going to be this season? Lost their two biggest FA signings... Will Boston draft #1 next season?

There are still guys available. At the end of the day Crabbe and Johnson aren't guys who are really going to make a dent in the win column imo, although I like Crabbe's potential.

They can still get guys like DMo who are sitting there.

[Years90Suns]

Has anyone heard rumors about a trade mainly involving Bledsoe and Westbrook?????????

No, where did you hear that?

Supposedly we are one of four-five teams that have offered a trade for Westbrook.
The Thunder could fear losing him next summer for nothing and they could consider trading him.
We could be offering Bledsoe, Bender and a 2017 pick.

[PhxSunsFan13]

What do you guys think about the possibility of adding Jared Sullinger? The Celtics just renounced their rights to him so he's unrestricted. What kind of deal would be acceptable for a player of his caliber? And do you think he's worth chasing or would it create too much of a log jam at the forward-center positions? I think he could be a decent option if we were to trade Chandler to make room for him.

[Years90Suns]

Thon Maker: 17+17+2
Simmons: 18
Ingram: 12+8+2
Dunn: 18
Hield: 21
Diallo: 12

Let's hope our rookies get their feet wet in the next game. I am beginning to think we made some mistakes. Let's hope it is not like that, but every single thing I heard about Dunn was that he had no shooting ability at all. Then I see his video and I get really surprised. I see Thon Maker and he seems a man among children in SL. Then Diallo mans his defenders at will with his strengh. Tehn Hield is a hell of a scorer (we already had Booker).
Please Bender and Chriss develop into something good... please, please, please...

[SunsBlood23]

Has anyone heard rumors about a trade mainly involving Bledsoe and Westbrook?????????

No, where did you hear that?

Supposedly we are one of four-five teams that have offered a trade for Westbrook.
The Thunder could fear losing him next summer for nothing and they could consider trading him.
We could be offering Bledsoe, Bender and a 2017 pick.

Now when you say that teams have offered, does that mean Westbrook is actually available or just that we want to see if they will bite on a deal if they think it's good enough?

[LukasBMW]

Thon Maker: 17+17+2
Simmons: 18
Ingram: 12+8+2
Dunn: 18
Hield: 21
Diallo: 12

Let's hope our rookies get their feet wet in the next game. I am beginning to think we made some mistakes. Let's hope it is not like that, but every single thing I heard about Dunn was that he had no shooting ability at all. Then I see his video and I get really surprised. I see Thon Maker and he seems a man among children in SL. Then Diallo mans his defenders at will with his strengh. Tehn Hield is a hell of a scorer (we already had Booker).
Please Bender and Chriss develop into something good... please, please, please...

Simmons is a superstar #1 pick
Thon is 23.
Dun is 22
Buddy is 22

Bender and Chriss are 18.

[SunsBlood23]

Thon Maker: 17+17+2
Simmons: 18
Ingram: 12+8+2
Dunn: 18
Hield: 21
Diallo: 12

Let's hope our rookies get their feet wet in the next game. I am beginning to think we made some mistakes. Let's hope it is not like that, but every single thing I heard about Dunn was that he had no shooting ability at all. Then I see his video and I get really surprised. I see Thon Maker and he seems a man among children in SL. Then Diallo mans his defenders at will with his strengh. Tehn Hield is a hell of a scorer (we already had Booker).
Please Bender and Chriss develop into something good... please, please, please...

Simmons is a superstar #1 pick
Thon is 23.
Dun is 22
Buddy is 22

Bender and Chriss are 18.

Amen Let's see how they play when they are 22

[bwgood77]

You're right. It wasn't. It was meant to fight emotion with emotion. But, if I say it that way, perhaps it'll get people thinking.

Do I just think Booker is better than Warren because everyone else says so, or because I'm afraid to get chewed out on this forum?

Why is that the case? What do numbers tell me? Besides benefit of the doubt, in which areas is Booker better than Warren or Knight? Any?

Serious question..there was a guy here who was posting and in the midst of it mentioned that they really dont watch the games much. Was that you?

Naw, that was probably me. I'm typically limited to watching highlights...but I did get to see that 1st SL game yesterday, and will do my best to watch more, if able, this season.

Do you watch many Steelers games?

[bwgood77]

What do you guys think about the possibility of adding Jared Sullinger? The Celtics just renounced their rights to him so he's unrestricted. What kind of deal would be acceptable for a player of his caliber? And do you think he's worth chasing or would it create too much of a log jam at the forward-center positions? I think he could be a decent option if we were to trade Chandler to make room for him.

Don't want him at all. Too slow and fat with no shooting range.

[Years90Suns]

No, where did you hear that?

Supposedly we are one of four-five teams that have offered a trade for Westbrook.
The Thunder could fear losing him next summer for nothing and they could consider trading him.
We could be offering Bledsoe, Bender and a 2017 pick.

Now when you say that teams have offered, does that mean Westbrook is actually available or just that we want to see if they will bite on a deal if they think it's good enough?

I believe that the what some commentators think is that the Thunder should be rumbling the decission, as they recently lost KD and got nothing in return.
In 11 months and a half, they will face a very similar situation with Westbrook.
it has been said that we have offered Bledsoe, Bender and our 2017 first pick for Westbrook, but obviously we should get a commitment on his side to resign here.
Knight could be included instead of Bledsoe shoudl the Thunder believe Bledsoe has a high injury risk.
There are news in the azcentral and arizonasports, then in yibada. Also there are suppositions made in valleyofthesuns. Many users posting comments on both paper sites.

What do you all think of this? Would you do the trade?
I believe Bender could either create an era here, or be a burst.
Russell is still 27 and supposedly he should have his best years ahead still, as he is phisically at his prime and mentally he is becoming more of a slow paced player.
Russell would be a star here, can share the court perfectly with Booker and we would have still a nice roster. Even we could add a player to sweeten the transaction.

Westbrook
Booker
Tucker
Chriss
Chandler
---------------
Knight
Goodwin
Barbosa
Warren
Dudley
Len

Man, that is an incredible roster right there just a couple of years away of something big.

[Years90Suns]

Thon Maker: 17+17+2
Simmons: 18
Ingram: 12+8+2
Dunn: 18
Hield: 21
Diallo: 12

Let's hope our rookies get their feet wet in the next game. I am beginning to think we made some mistakes. Let's hope it is not like that, but every single thing I heard about Dunn was that he had no shooting ability at all. Then I see his video and I get really surprised. I see Thon Maker and he seems a man among children in SL. Then Diallo mans his defenders at will with his strengh. Tehn Hield is a hell of a scorer (we already had Booker).
Please Bender and Chriss develop into something good... please, please, please...

Simmons is a superstar #1 pick
Thon is 23.
Dun is 22
Buddy is 22

Bender and Chriss are 18.

Amen Let's see how they play when they are 22

I did not want to sound like I am against their elections, but simply a little bit worried that their competence are playing well and, through statistics, I see they did not play well in the first game, and Bender also did not play well in the second too.
But now I have read that their coach is happy with their contributions and that Bender is playing more aouside the paint while trying to get his partners involved and trying to do a little bit of everything so they can play together and he can develope as a SF in the L.

[Saberestar]

The Suns avoided a difficult decision on guard John Jenkins' status by delaying his contract guarantee date until October.

Jenkins' $1.05 million 2016-17 salary was going to become guaranteed Monday if he was not waived but the Suns now plan to bring Jenkins, 25, to training camp in Flagstaff. Jenkins has sat courtside for each of the Suns' NBA Summer League games in Las Vegas.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2016/07/11/dragan-benders-pro-experience-helps-summer-league/86931436/

[King4Day]

Has anyone heard rumors about a trade mainly involving Bledsoe and Westbrook?????????

No, where did you hear that?

Supposedly we are one of four-five teams that have offered a trade for Westbrook.
The Thunder could fear losing him next summer for nothing and they could consider trading him.
We could be offering Bledsoe, Bender and a 2017 pick.

That trade rumor was discussed a few days ago. Consensus was, and should be, don't go near Westbrook without a commitment. It's too much to give up without assurance he'll stay.

I think Westbrook finishes the season in OKC. For them, it'll be more valuable to have a chance to keep him than to trade him and get scraps in return.