Official Free Agent Thread: What to do with our cap space

[thamadkant]

Suns are currently just "potential" star players, none are proven stars yet... Knight is the closest since he just missed out this season as an All-Star.

McD is doing a Morey pre-Harden days, he was(is) banking on Bledsoe and NOW Knight to explode. He is also banking on Len, Goodwin, Warren to become impact players. Goodwin has the athleticism, size, aggressiveness to become a star, but needs to smarten up real quick. He doesnt even have to be a very good shooter, he just needs to learn how to consistently draw fouls getting to the rim and drawing defense to free-up his team mates for open looks. He just needs to nail open shots at a decent clip to be a starter-level SG, its his overall-basketball on court awareness/IQ that needs to catch up.

[Damkac]

They had 4 All-Stars, 31 appearences combined.

Nowitzki x 13
Kidd x 11
Marion x 4
Chandler x 1

We have 0.

We're a long way back even from the perceived weakest Championship winner.

That's why I don't really buy into the talk of getting more good, slightly above average players.

But only Nowitzki was All-Star the year they won championship.

[bwgood77]

Suns are currently just "potential" star players, none are proven stars yet... Knight is the closest since he just missed out this season as an All-Star.

McD is doing a Morey pre-Harden days, he was(is) banking on Bledsoe and NOW Knight to explode. He is also banking on Len, Goodwin, Warren to become impact players. Goodwin has the athleticism, size, aggressiveness to become a star, but needs to smarten up real quick. He doesnt even have to be a very good shooter, he just needs to learn how to consistently draw fouls getting to the rim and drawing defense to free-up his team mates for open looks. He just needs to nail open shots at a decent clip to be a starter-level SG, its his overall-basketball on court awareness/IQ that needs to catch up.

He needs to be a good shooter if he is going to play SG. If not, he can only play aside a really good shooting guard, like Knight (if Knight can get back to his Milwaukee #s from deep).

You can't trade too many 3s for 2s in this league and win, unless you have a really elite D like Memphis.

[SideSwipe]

I do not think Aldridge would be interested in the Suns. He is about to turn 30. I think he would want to play for an immediate contender if he leaves Portland. He is a great player though. I just believe the Suns are not an attractive situation for him unfortunately.

Like LA...Kobe, plus LA ( the marketing opportunities alone!!-I can already see the campaign- "I am LA"), plus high draft pick, plus Randle, plus ring chasers equals a problem....

Maybe we could squeeze Russell out of them for Bled like was proposed earlier in another thread.

It amazes me how many people still throw Kobe into some perceived killer lineup along with two rookies making a team an instant contender. Rookies will not contribute enough to become a contender in the west, and Kobe won't either. I hope they throw a ton of money at Rondo though, because he will not be worth it and is simply just not all that valuable in today's nba.

While I understand where you are coming from, there are 3 points that come to mind.
1. Never underestimate a motivated Kobe at any age.
2. There are more factors included there besides Kobe ( High pick, LA, high pick from last year, ring chasers because of perception.)
3. I hate it too, but it's true.

There few things that give me sweats, but the prospect of LAL getting good again is always one of them

[bwgood77]

But I said rookies because Randle will essentially be a rookie next year along with their draft pick. It is VERY hard to be an immediate impact player, particularly after one year of college. If they got a guy like Towns or Okafor, and also got Aldridge, I think they could be very good, but I don't think they'd be better than any team in the playoffs or OKC next year besides Dallas and Portland. I think Utah would be tougher too.

Aldridge did say this last summer.

Allen can offer more years and more money to Aldridge than any other owner. But behind the numbers and dollar figures is the undeniable fact that he has become comfortable in the city and feels valued within the organization. With Aldridge, that means more than any wad of money or the attention of any big city can offer.

It's why Aldridge took a bold stance last summer after he politely turned down an offer to sign a three-year extension, saying he would rather sign a five-year deal with Portland.

"I don't want it to be perceived that I'm not happy, or I'm not staying on because I'm not signing a three-year deal,'' Aldridge told The Oregonian last July. "It's just financially smarter to wait ... and I'm looking forward to signing the five-year deal when the chance comes.''

and if he does leave, a teammate thinks it will be because he wants to get back and be closer to family in Texas.

But one Blazers player cautioned that Aldridge already has enough money. Happiness is what he is truly seeking, and that could be found in being closer to family in Texas. Earlier this month a Blazers player estimated the chances of Aldridge returning to Portland at 50-50.
It's the tricky thing about Aldridge. No one ever really knows where he stands. He is fickle. Moody. And unpredictable.

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index ... hould.html

[thamadkant]

Suns are currently just "potential" star players, none are proven stars yet... Knight is the closest since he just missed out this season as an All-Star.

McD is doing a Morey pre-Harden days, he was(is) banking on Bledsoe and NOW Knight to explode. He is also banking on Len, Goodwin, Warren to become impact players. Goodwin has the athleticism, size, aggressiveness to become a star, but needs to smarten up real quick. He doesnt even have to be a very good shooter, he just needs to learn how to consistently draw fouls getting to the rim and drawing defense to free-up his team mates for open looks. He just needs to nail open shots at a decent clip to be a starter-level SG, its his overall-basketball on court awareness/IQ that needs to catch up.

He needs to be a good shooter if he is going to play SG. If not, he can only play aside a really good shooting guard, like Knight (if Knight can get back to his Milwaukee #s from deep).

You can't trade too many 3s for 2s in this league and win, unless you have a really elite D like Memphis.

I disagree with Goodwin needing to be a good shooter to play SG.

If he was a good shooter and his penetration ability, you are talking about a legit all-star within the next 2 seasons.

He just needs to have a reliable jump shot that he can hit when open, really good shooters are shooters that nail shots even with just a fraction of a second look at the ring. He doesnt need that IMO.

Give him a jumpshot similar to Wade, Lebron etc, who are "decent" jump shooters and Goodwin would be a 15ppg SG in his 3rd season.. with potential to be 20ppg if he continues to improve and learns how to draw fouls better... IMO.

[bwgood77]

Suns are currently just "potential" star players, none are proven stars yet... Knight is the closest since he just missed out this season as an All-Star.

McD is doing a Morey pre-Harden days, he was(is) banking on Bledsoe and NOW Knight to explode. He is also banking on Len, Goodwin, Warren to become impact players. Goodwin has the athleticism, size, aggressiveness to become a star, but needs to smarten up real quick. He doesnt even have to be a very good shooter, he just needs to learn how to consistently draw fouls getting to the rim and drawing defense to free-up his team mates for open looks. He just needs to nail open shots at a decent clip to be a starter-level SG, its his overall-basketball on court awareness/IQ that needs to catch up.

He needs to be a good shooter if he is going to play SG. If not, he can only play aside a really good shooting guard, like Knight (if Knight can get back to his Milwaukee #s from deep).

You can't trade too many 3s for 2s in this league and win, unless you have a really elite D like Memphis.

I disagree with Goodwin needing to be a good shooter to play SG.

If he was a good shooter and his penetration ability, you are talking about a legit all-star within the next 2 seasons.

He just needs to have a reliable jump shot that he can hit when open, really good shooters are shooters that nail shots even with just a fraction of a second look at the ring. He doesnt need that IMO.

Give him a jumpshot similar to Wade, Lebron etc, who are "decent" jump shooters and Goodwin would be a 15ppg SG in his 3rd season.. with potential to be 20ppg if he continues to improve and learns how to draw fouls better... IMO.

I'm just saying if he played with Bledsoe he needs to be able to shoot. You can't win without any shooters in your lineup. No, Archie is not two years away from being an all star if he has a jump shot.

[lilfishi22]

I'm just saying if he played with Bledsoe he needs to be able to shoot. You can't win without any shooters in your lineup.

Agreed

No, Archie is not two years away from being an all star if he has a jump shot.

Agreed, he'd be a Nick Young type of player if he had a jumpshot

[bwoolf2]

What I would like to see the Suns do...

1. Trade Bledsoe, and I like Bledsoe, just takes way too many plays off and isnt a true PG or SG so he has no real position fit. Get what you can he still has value around the league and given the cap is on a reasonable contract.

2. Re-sign Brandon Knight, better leadership qualities than Bledsoe and will be a better guard to lead this team going forward.

3. Make Max offer to Jimmy Butler and try to pair him with Knight. (chicago will try and find a way to match)

4. Sign and trade with Cleveland, Love is gone so why not get something for him, the Morris Twins would be a nice haul for Cleveland if the Suns can talk Love into signing a long term deal.

While highly unlikely all possible that would give the Suns a starting 5 of

C. Len
PF. Love
SF. Warren/Tucker
SG. Butler
PG. Knight

With Wright, Goodwin, draft picks and others coming off the bench.

That team is a hell of a lot better than the team as it stands...

[thamadkant]

I'm just saying if he played with Bledsoe he needs to be able to shoot. You can't win without any shooters in your lineup.

Agreed

No, Archie is not two years away from being an all star if he has a jump shot.

Agreed, he'd be a Nick Young type of player if he had a jumpshot

If he settles for jump shots and DOESNT attack the rim... yes he can be Nick Young..

But we all know Archie attacks the rim... if he can get a good reputation with the refs, he can easily go to the line 7-8 times a game.

[bwgood77]

What I would like to see the Suns do...

1. Trade Bledsoe, and I like Bledsoe, just takes way too many plays off and isnt a true PG or SG so he has no real position fit. Get what you can he still has value around the league and given the cap is on a reasonable contract.

2. Re-sign Brandon Knight, better leadership qualities than Bledsoe and will be a better guard to lead this team going forward.

3. Make Max offer to Jimmy Butler and try to pair him with Knight. (chicago will try and find a way to match)

4. Sign and trade with Cleveland, Love is gone so why not get something for him, the Morris Twins would be a nice haul for Cleveland if the Suns can talk Love into signing a long term deal.

While highly unlikely all possible that would give the Suns a starting 5 of

C. Len
PF. Love
SF. Warren/Tucker
SG. Butler
PG. Knight

With Wright, Goodwin, draft picks and others coming off the bench.

That team is a hell of a lot better than the team as it stands...

I think if Love would stay in Phx, AND the Suns wanted to move on from the twins, that they would be a nice package for the Cavs...I've thought about this a bit. The only problem is the fact that they also have Tristan Thompson, who has the same agent as LeBron, and they are likely going to give him a bunch of money and overpay him this summer.

I can't imagine, under any circumstance, that the Bulls don't match. As a matter of fact, I don't think any team will not match a contract this offseason with the impending cap increase, unless it is unbelievably bad, like even worse overpays than Parsons.

[thamadkant]

If Suns miss out on Cousins, Love...

I would love for them to aim for Brook Lopez.
Create a Lopez/Len front court.

Brook Lopez IMO is 75% chance he will OPT IN, so Suns may have to trade for him and due to him being a free agent soon after, Nets may trade him lesser than his value.

Offer Markieff Morris, Marcus Morris, 2018 Heat pick.

And depending on cap space, aim for BOTH or ONE OF, Danny Green and Thadeus Young, as these guys can thrive as shooters.

And dangle Bledsoe for the highest draft pick possible.... imagine D'Angelo Russell or Mudiay. Might have to add in 2021 Heat pick or a 2016 Suns pick

C: Len
PF: Lopez
SF: *Young
SG: *Green
PG: Knight
Bench
PG/SG: Russell/Mudiay
PG/SG: Goodwin
SF: Warren
PF/C: Wright
PG: McNeal
SG/SF: Bogdanovic
PF/C: Alec Brown
FA/Rookie



Suns can then offer him Max contract in 2016-2017 season... if it doesnt work out, then Suns can sign and trade him... and Suns won't be in too bad of a shape, since they will be way under the cap (81-108 million projected)... they arent capped out and with a Russell/Mudiay to run along with Knight, Goodwin, Len, Warren, Bogdanovic... and 30+ million cap space.

[NoKneeBledsoe]

How about we keep up with the NBA 2k trades and first off with Love I think we lose more games then we did this year! Dude is a scrub and 3rd option at best! Worst defender I have seen

[Mulhollanddrive]

If it were up to me I'd trade everything (literally) for Dangelo Russell.

I'd then sign the best possible assets with the other 60m in cap space, to once again be traded for star material.

Get your 2-3 franchise players, and you can build an actual roster around them.

That's how the championship teams have done it - Spurs, Lakers, Boston, Miami etc... basically gave up their rosters for stars, knowing positions 4 to 15 are easy to fill for a championship roster than 1 to 3.

None of this is ever likely to happen, as we don't have the philosophy or culture that makes these moves. Even McDonough's shake up lasted 6 months, and once we got good enough for 9th seed, we're back to contending or conbuilding.

The good news is that I read research that says this approach is just as effective as any other. And of all the championship teams, they all looked terrible until 1 or 2 humans out of 6 billion made a single decision each. So how much method there is to all this, I'm not sure, it's a bit like voodoo, GMs appear to know what they're doing, but you can't really tell or know exactly and if it'll work.

[Qwigglez]

I'd like to see if the Suns/Jazz can make a trade of Eric Bledsoe/MoBros (maybe a pick too?) for Derrick Favors. Gobert is a monster in the paint, so he would be able to mask Kieff's inability to rebound. It seems like a fair trade to me, but then again, on the Jazz board someone mentioned they would offer Burkes/Burk and a 2nd for Bledsoe.
Anyway,
Knight/Goodwin/Warren/Favors/Len is a pretty good foundation to me.

[MathiasPW]

Please stop suggesting teams with Knight as your PG. I know he is smart and such, but he has shown consistent bad decision making. You are not getting better BBIQ with Knight over Bledsoe, just better outside shooting, at the expense of worse defense.

Search with "Brandon Knight" and "turnover prone" yields 5680 results on google Any report you read on him always highlights this as a weakness. We'd have to believe he'll improve that dramatically over the years.

http://www.hoopsstats.com/basketball/fa ... 16/245/345

[gaspar]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/kpelton/status/589544755840724992[/tweet]

[RunDogGun]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/kpelton/status/589544755840724992[/tweet]

We don't care about truth!

[bwgood77]

Please stop suggesting teams with Knight as your PG. I know he is smart and such, but he has shown consistent bad decision making. You are not getting better BBIQ with Knight over Bledsoe, just better outside shooting, at the expense of worse defense.

Search with "Brandon Knight" and "turnover prone" yields 5680 results on google Any report you read on him always highlights this as a weakness. We'd have to believe he'll improve that dramatically over the years.

http://www.hoopsstats.com/basketball/fa ... 16/245/345

If you're arguing for Bledsoe over Knight with the turnover prone results on google, try Eric Bledsoe and turnover prone. 138,000 results. Not saying I'd take Knight over Bledsoe necessarily but that doesn't help your argument a ton.

But there is probably no use arguing. All signs point to McD wanting to go with two ball handling point guards in the lineup unless we can add a star.

[MathiasPW]

Please stop suggesting teams with Knight as your PG. I know he is smart and such, but he has shown consistent bad decision making. You are not getting better BBIQ with Knight over Bledsoe, just better outside shooting, at the expense of worse defense.

Search with "Brandon Knight" and "turnover prone" yields 5680 results on google Any report you read on him always highlights this as a weakness. We'd have to believe he'll improve that dramatically over the years.

http://www.hoopsstats.com/basketball/fa ... 16/245/345

If you're arguing for Bledsoe over Knight with the turnover prone results on google, try Eric Bledsoe and turnover prone. 138,000 results. Not saying I'd take Knight over Bledsoe necessarily but that doesn't help your argument a ton.

But there is probably no use arguing. All signs point to McD wanting to go with two ball handling point guards in the lineup unless we can add a star.

4.870 results when put on "quotes" like the one I did on Knight. Come on, I obviously checked that before posting
My point is that Knight does not solve the issue of PG that has been bothering people (turnovers/bad decisions). I see no reason to start him over Bledsoe on any team reconstruction, except if we get him for a bargain.