2014 Official FA Thread

[SunsFanSSOL]

Shawn Marion said that Phoenix will always have a special place in his heart: http://arizonasports.com/41/1738514/Sha ... -his-heart

He mentioned that he'd like to sign with a contender and win another championship, and said something along the lines of if the Suns make some trades this summer that we might be in contention next year.

Trade for Love and sign Marion?

[letsgosuns]

I have a radical idea I think might be plausible if the Suns miss out on a big free agent acquisition or trade.

I am assuming that the Suns are going to re-sign Eric Bledsoe, so he and Goran Dragic are obviously the starting guards with Green and Goodwin the back up guards. The Suns biggest offensive needs are an inside presence and a proven closer. The Suns actually have a few players that can take and create shots at the end of games with their guards, but they do not have anyone with championship experience.

Outside of Miami's big three and Carmelo, there are no marquee free agents available. Kevin Love is a possibility, although no one knows what the asking price really is. I also have no interest in giving up Dragic, Bledsoe, Green, Goodwin, Len, or Plumlee for Love either so I have no idea if the Suns have any chance of trading for him.

Taking those things into account, I would not mind adding two veterans with championship experience to the roster. This is by no means my first, second, or even third choice as to what I want the Suns to do, but I think it would be interesting if the Suns made a run at Pau Gasol and Paul Pierce. They are both proven champions and can still play at an extremely high level. I am strictly thinking playoffs here. I thought of Pierce because of the McDonough connection in Boston and Gasol because the Suns were reportedly interested in him last year. If the Suns could get them both on two year deals, it could be worth it.

Let's say the Suns also Keep P.J. Tucker as well. You could have so many different lineups to go with. You could play small with Pierce and Tucker at the forwards, or go big with Gasol at the four and Plumlee or Len at the five. This would be the Suns depth chart:

Bledsoe/Goodwin
Dragic/Green
Piece/Tucker/Marcus Morris
Markieff Morris/Frye (if he opts-in)
Gasol/Plumlee/Len

That would probably be the deepest team in the league and they could play with anyone. They could play big or small. Need points in the paint at the end of a game, throw it in to Pau. Need someone that can make a big shot at the end of the game, throw it to Pierce. They might be older players, but the Spurs three best players (Duncan 38, Parker 32, and Ginobili 36) are all considered old and still making the finals with a chance to win the finals this year. I think Pierce and Gasol still have what it takes to win big. So if the Suns do not get a marquee free agent or trade for a superstar, I would not mind a scenario where Pierce and Gasol join the team.

[bwgood77]

That team doesn't get close to being a contender in the west with those guys ages, and hampers us for the future. I'd either stick to building with young players unless we can add an impact guy no older than 32 who could be kind of a leader to help take us a step further without taking too much playing time and without a long term contract. The biggest place we can upgrade is at center for rebounding and rim protection. Those guys are too offensive oriented without providing enough defense to really move the defense or rebounding much at all.

[thamadkant]

Pierce would be good for 20-24 minutes off the bench... As that go to guy against the other team's bench... Ala Ginobili role.


Gasol would also be good off the bench or around 28 minutes a game so he can save himself until playoffs.


Both must be signed for cheap though.

C: Plumlee / Gasol / Len
PF: Markieff Morris / Frye / Marc Morris
SF: Tucker / Pierce / Rookie
SG: Dragic / Green / Rookie
PG: Bledsoe / Goodwin

Suns can win 50+ games assuming Bledsoe and Dragic continue their slash brothers performance.
Suns can overcome the other hopeful playoff west teams through sheer depth, the starters tire them out and Pierce and Gasol led bench with Goodwin and Frye overcome the bench by +10... Gives suns a good strategy.

[letsgosuns]

That team doesn't get close to being a contender in the west with those guys ages, and hampers us for the future. I'd either stick to building with young players unless we can add an impact guy no older than 32 who could be kind of a leader to help take us a step further without taking too much playing time and without a long term contract. The biggest place we can upgrade is at center for rebounding and rim protection. Those guys are too offensive oriented without providing enough defense to really move the defense or rebounding much at all.

I am not worried too much about the ages for the reason that I pointed out. I understand they are older players but again the Spurs dominated the whole league with two of their best players in their mid-late thirties. I think Pierce and Gasol could have a similar career where they can still play at an elite level even though they are older. I also think Pierce can still defend and Gasol is a great rebounder.

Gasol averaged 17 ppg, 10 rbs, and 1.5 blks on the season while shooting 48% fg. Those averages are virtually identical to his career averages so he can still play at a high level. Paul Pierce averaged about 14 ppg, 5 rbs, and 2 asst while shooting 45%. His scoring is definitely down from his 21 ppg career average, but he can still hit huge shots and make big plays as he did in this year's playoffs.

The Suns are a very young team and could benefit greatly from the presence of these two guys. I would prefer the Suns can get a marquee superstar, however every team is going to be fighting for them. I look at it this way, is there anybody out there that the Suns can realistically sign or trade for that will make them challenge the Spurs and Heat? I do not know. Both of those teams are well oiled machines. I feel that the Suns biggest needs to compete with them are upgrading the small forward and power forward positions.

P.J. Tucker was awful in the three biggest games of the season with the playoffs on the line. He scored 3 points against the Spurs and shot 1-8. He scored 6 points against the Mavs and shot 2-7. He then scored 5 points against the Grizzlies and shot 1-3. His backup Marcus Morris was even worse in those three games as Morris scored 3 points, 6 points, and 3 points respectively. The Suns definitely need an upgrade at the small forward, unless they got a superstar scoring power forward. Then you can get away with Tucker at the three.

Even if the Suns got Paul Pierce and Pau Gasol, I do not think it would hinder the team's development. I think they would provide great leadership and set examples of how to play championship basketball. Pierce and Gasol are fierce competitors and could be good additions. Again though this is not my ideal scenario. I was just brainstorming on players the Suns could get if they do not get a superstar.

[Qwigglez]

I don't understand why some of us on the board put restrictions on age. Pau Gasol and Paul Pierce would never come off the bench, kind of like how Grant Hill tried that role with the Suns and the coaches realized that wasn't his role at all. Pierce and Gasol would be leaders, and even if their game didn't show on the stat sheets they would still affect the outcome of the game.
I don't think Pierce's game would transition well with the Suns style, mostly because Pierce likes to slow the offense down into a half-court set.
I'd like to see what Ariza would cost, I think Haywood would be out of our price range after we'd pick up Pau Gasol.

[bwgood77]

Don't get me wrong, I think Pierce and Gasol would probably make us better for a year. We might push for the 2nd round. But Pierce would be 38 when the season started and I don't think he has that hunger any more. I don't even think he'd want to go to another new situation. He played with a bunch of ex all stars and they were not that great. And JJ is three years younger than him and Williams six. Age does matter.

Even though Gasol's #s were decent he stunk for much of last year. I watched him closely because he was on my fantasy team. I thought he would be a good pickup mid season, but he is a guy that probably only really makes a difference for a year, maybe two.

These guys probably make us a little better next year, and we could have a good chance of getting into the second round. But we are not going to do better than that. Most of the top teams in the west are getting better, not worse. They don't get us past healthy OKC, LAC, MEM, HOU teams or SA if they bring their guys back. By the time SA declines, so do those guys. Portland and GS are mostly young teams and will probably improve as well.

[thamadkant]

Pierce is a player a good player at that who knows how to get under Lebron's skin.

Fast pace or slow pace, won't really matter. Especially if he is leading the bench squad as mentioned... He is a smart player and will understand his role...

Obviously suns don't sign him up if he doesn't agree with the role ... It's quiet simple.


Suns need additional high IQ players... To offset the youth and the not so smart players.

[JMac1]

Gasol: if the price is right. As a PF
Pierce: No
Marion: No

[Qwigglez]

I don't think Pierce is a good fit at all, and wouldn't want to go to the Suns anyway. I also don't like his game, lol.
I thought I watched Gasol pretty closely too, and I feel like he just had a very bad team, and he was the only bright spot to that whole squad. When any player is asked to do too much, they are gonna break down, and I feel like that's what happened to Pau.
Anyway, moving on, the Suns had the Thunder's numbers this past season. Memphis might be losing Z-Bo, but even so, they don't have enough perimeters scorers, and with the right about of low-post scoring for the Suns, I feel like we'd be able to run them out of the building with enough fast breaks and quick plays, Marc Gasol (and Z-Bo if they retain him) would get tired fast. The Rockets are pretenders. Any team with Dwight Howard, I just can't take seriously, his low-post scoring, which has been improving, is still terrible, and Harden doesn't play defense. Clippers and Spurs definitely worry me. Even the Thunder still scare me. I feel like we match up well with Portland and Warriors.

[gaspar]

A puppy dies every time someone talks about signing Pau Gasol.

[DirtyDez]

A puppy dies every time someone talks about signing Pau Gasol.

I think an old dog getting put down is a better analogy.

Look Pau is a good player and makes us better but he's a center at this point of his career. Are we going to give multiple years and at least 10m annually for 30 mpg while completely erasing Plumlee or Len's minutes. Seems like too small of an improvement to sacrifice cap space and development of our young centers.

[nevetsov]

Can someone crunch these salary numbers for me please?

THIS OFFSEASON
- we match a maxed Bledsoe (I think that's around $56/4, starting at around $13.5m?)
- we sign our rookies
- we let PJ go
- Frye opts in
- no other significant moves

NEXT OFFSEASON
- we have Frye, Gerald, Ish, Markieff, Marcus, Plumlee all come off the books and renounce them all
- we are left with Bledsoe, Archie, Len, #14, #18, our 2015, Lakers 2015, and cap hold for Goran

HOW MUCH CAN WE OFFER LOVE, AND THEN CAN WE EXTEND GORAN WITH BIRD RIGHTS TO EXCEED THE CAP?

Surely we could offer him (or someone else) a max, with only 2 big contracts and a lot of rookie deals?

[DirtyDez]

Can someone crunch these salary numbers for me please?

THIS OFFSEASON
- we match a maxed Bledsoe (I think that's around $56/4, starting at around $13.5m?)
- we sign our rookies
- we let PJ go
- Frye opts in
- no other significant moves

NEXT OFFSEASON
- we have Frye, Gerald, Ish, Markieff, Marcus, Plumlee all come off the books and renounce them all
- we are left with Bledsoe, Archie, Len, #14, #18, our 2015, Lakers 2015, and cap hold for Goran

HOW MUCH CAN WE OFFER LOVE, AND THEN CAN WE EXTEND GORAN WITH BIRD RIGHTS TO EXCEED THE CAP?

Surely we could offer him (or someone else) a max, with only 2 big contracts and a lot of rookie deals?

Plumlee has a 2m team option. Unless he gets traded the Suns will pick that up...

Bledsoe - 15m (2nd year max?)
Len - 3.8
Plumlee - 2.1
Goodwin - 1.6
Dragic cap hold - 13-14m??

Something around 35m not counting draft-picks. So let's say 40m tops and the projected salary cap is 66m for 2015-16 season:

Suns would have approximately 26-28m to spend next summer.

[bigfoot]

Can someone crunch these salary numbers for me please?

THIS OFFSEASON
- we match a maxed Bledsoe (I think that's around $56/4, starting at around $13.5m?)
- we sign our rookies
- we let PJ go
- Frye opts in
- no other significant moves

NEXT OFFSEASON
- we have Frye, Gerald, Ish, Markieff, Marcus, Plumlee all come off the books and renounce them all
- we are left with Bledsoe, Archie, Len, #14, #18, our 2015, Lakers 2015, and cap hold for Goran

HOW MUCH CAN WE OFFER LOVE, AND THEN CAN WE EXTEND GORAN WITH BIRD RIGHTS TO EXCEED THE CAP?

Surely we could offer him (or someone else) a max, with only 2 big contracts and a lot of rookie deals?

Plumlee has a 2m team option. Unless he gets traded the Suns will pick that up...

Bledsoe - 15m (2nd year max?)
Len - 3.8
Plumlee - 2.1
Goodwin - 1.6
Dragic cap hold - 13-14m??

Something around 35m not counting draft-picks. So let's say 40m tops and the projected salary cap is 66m for 2015-16 season:

Suns would have approximately 26-28m to spend next summer.

What about our 2014 rookies and 2015 rookies?
What about cap holds on Frye, Green, and Morri. Do we just waive their rights and hope they resign with us?
You don't have Tucker in their either.
Bledsoe would be more like $17M

We will have no where near $20M next year. I believe we will be lucky to have $10M and probably less.

[nevetsov]

Plumlee has a 2m team option. Unless he gets traded the Suns will pick that up...

Bledsoe - 15m (2nd year max?)
Len - 3.8
Plumlee - 2.1
Goodwin - 1.6
Dragic cap hold - 13-14m??

Something around 35m not counting draft-picks. So let's say 40m tops and the projected salary cap is 66m for 2015-16 season:

Suns would have approximately 26-28m to spend next summer.

What about our 2014 rookies and 2015 rookies?
What about cap holds on Frye, Green, and Morri. Do we just waive their rights and hope they resign with us?
You don't have Tucker in their either.
Bledsoe would be more like $17M

We will have no where near $20M next year. I believe we will be lucky to have $10M and probably less.

I think Dez is pretty close to the money with his estimates, I arrived at similar figures but I did forget about Plumlee too.

Assume $60m salary cap (will likely be a little more):

Bledsoe $14m
Dragic $14m (cap hold - not sure if 150% or 200% of final year salary? assumed worst case)
Len $4m
Plumlee $3m
Archie $2m
#14 $2m
#18 $2m
2015 (LAL) $2m
2015 (PHX) $1m
=$44m
So we'd have at minimum $16m to spend? More if Dragic's cap hold is less than $14m and if the cap in above $60m.

Bigfoot, in the original scenario I specified PJ leaving (replaced by #14) and the rights to all the FA being renounced (thus no cap holds). We'd have ten guys wanting minutes in 2015 anyway so I don't see bird rights being all that critical.

[nevetsov]

And PS, Bledsoe's second year won't be $17m, a max four year for a guy coming off a rookie deal is around $56-58m/4. It's basically what we offered Eric Gordon when NOH matched (adjusted for cap inflation, etc.) so it would be in the order of:

2014-15 $13.5m
2015-16 $14m
2016-17 $14.5m
2017-18 $15.5m

total approximately $57.5m or thereabouts.

[DirtyDez]

Can someone crunch these salary numbers for me please?

THIS OFFSEASON
- we match a maxed Bledsoe (I think that's around $56/4, starting at around $13.5m?)
- we sign our rookies
- we let PJ go
- Frye opts in
- no other significant moves

NEXT OFFSEASON
- we have Frye, Gerald, Ish, Markieff, Marcus, Plumlee all come off the books and renounce them all
- we are left with Bledsoe, Archie, Len, #14, #18, our 2015, Lakers 2015, and cap hold for Goran

HOW MUCH CAN WE OFFER LOVE, AND THEN CAN WE EXTEND GORAN WITH BIRD RIGHTS TO EXCEED THE CAP?

Surely we could offer him (or someone else) a max, with only 2 big contracts and a lot of rookie deals?

Plumlee has a 2m team option. Unless he gets traded the Suns will pick that up...

Bledsoe - 15m (2nd year max?)
Len - 3.8
Plumlee - 2.1
Goodwin - 1.6
Dragic cap hold - 13-14m??

Something around 35m not counting draft-picks. So let's say 40m tops and the projected salary cap is 66m for 2015-16 season:

Suns would have approximately 26-28m to spend next summer.

What about our 2014 rookies and 2015 rookies?
What about cap holds on Frye, Green, and Morri. Do we just waive their rights and hope they resign with us?
You don't have Tucker in their either.
Bledsoe would be more like $17M

We will have no where near $20M next year. I believe we will be lucky to have $10M and probably less.

He asked how much we would have if those guys were renounced. Like I wrote rookies would cost maybe 3-4m if we're picking in the teens. If we trade up it could be more.

[SunsFanSSOL]

Curious if we still have interest in Rudy Gay: http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/ ... ree-agent/

For the right price he'd be great here. He's much better than Hayward.

[BurningHeart]

The most ideal thing would be to keep Bledsoe, trade for Love, and sign Marion for something reasonable. I'm not a cap nerd so I don't know if all that is possible but I think a starting lineup with Bledsoe, Dragic, Marion, Love, and Frye would be spectacular. Uptempo offense, very strong perimeter defense, all five guys can hit the three, and REBOUNDING.

It would be a Phoenix Suns Basketball dream lineup.