Season Speculation, Trade Ideas & Discussion Pt. 1

[bwgood77]

Another quiet offseason for Phoenix, but your major move was made on Draft Day. Excited to see how Jackson goes this season.

Biggest questions for PHX:

1. Can Bender and Chriss co-exist long term?
2. Will Len be back for 17/18 and beyond?
3. What do PHX do about the lack of depth at SG?
4. Are the Suns truly committed to #TheTimeline?



We've written a piece on the Suns offseason, focusing on the Devin Booker debate and how the Suns build from here. Have a read if interested: https://thefourpointplay.blog/2017/09/12/nba-suns-season-preview/

That's a good write up, and if it was done by a non Suns fan, the writer seems much more knowledgeable about the Suns than most write ups you will see from non Suns fans.

Though Klay didn't struggle THAT much early..he still shot VERY well from 3 and just became an insanely good shooter later.

[Wiltside]

Another quiet offseason for Phoenix, but your major move was made on Draft Day. Excited to see how Jackson goes this season.

Biggest questions for PHX:

1. Can Bender and Chriss co-exist long term?
2. Will Len be back for 17/18 and beyond?
3. What do PHX do about the lack of depth at SG?
4. Are the Suns truly committed to #TheTimeline?



We've written a piece on the Suns offseason, focusing on the Devin Booker debate and how the Suns build from here. Have a read if interested: https://thefourpointplay.blog/2017/09/12/nba-suns-season-preview/

That's a good write up, and if it was done by a non Suns fan, the writer seems much more knowledgeable about the Suns than most write ups you will see from non Suns fans.

Though Klay didn't struggle THAT much early..he still shot VERY well from 3 and just became an insanely good shooter later.

Thanks very much for the feedback, appreciate it. There's actually 4 writers in our group (hence the Four Point Play), and we all support different teams. David (Suns fan) wrote this one, so I thought I'd see what other Suns fans think.

Fair point you make re: Klay, he has always been a high % 3pt shooter. Overall though, they are very similar and I'd expect that Book can go back to averaging close to his Kentucky numbers from three once the team is more settled around him. Here's hoping Book can get some cleaner looks this year.

[Shank]

Jackson, Jok, Ulis, Chriss - All went to a dbacks game that's cool

[bwgood77]

Another quiet offseason for Phoenix, but your major move was made on Draft Day. Excited to see how Jackson goes this season.

Biggest questions for PHX:

1. Can Bender and Chriss co-exist long term?
2. Will Len be back for 17/18 and beyond?
3. What do PHX do about the lack of depth at SG?
4. Are the Suns truly committed to #TheTimeline?



We've written a piece on the Suns offseason, focusing on the Devin Booker debate and how the Suns build from here. Have a read if interested: https://thefourpointplay.blog/2017/09/12/nba-suns-season-preview/

That's a good write up, and if it was done by a non Suns fan, the writer seems much more knowledgeable about the Suns than most write ups you will see from non Suns fans.

Though Klay didn't struggle THAT much early..he still shot VERY well from 3 and just became an insanely good shooter later.

Thanks very much for the feedback, appreciate it. There's actually 4 writers in our group (hence the Four Point Play), and we all support different teams. David (Suns fan) wrote this one, so I thought I'd see what other Suns fans think.

Fair point you make re: Klay, he has always been a high % 3pt shooter. Overall though, they are very similar and I'd expect that Book can go back to averaging close to his Kentucky numbers from three once the team is more settled around him. Here's hoping Book can get some cleaner looks this year.

Though Klay (and Curry) played 3 years in college too so Book's 1st two years in the league are somewhat equivalent to Klay's Soph and Jr years (where he shot 36.4% and 39.8% from 3 with lesser defenders)...and then the NBA probably gave him more open looks early playing with Klay.

So Booker typically drawing the best defender was good to point out.

I'll be happy if Booker turns into Klay though and is THAT efficient with solid defense. It will be much easier, as mentioned, if some of the players around him become offensive weapons as well though, so Booker isn't double teamed often.

We need people to cover for his defensive shortcomings, but we need other offensive weapons as well. TJ may still be underrated. He is such an efficient scorer that he can't be ignored. Hopefully he can improve on his range.

[bwgood77]

Jackson, Jok, Ulis, Chriss - All went to a dbacks game that's cool

And at least one more... viewtopic.php?f=27&t=1492705&p=58577570#p58577570

[Shank]

Jackson, Jok, Ulis, Chriss - All went to a dbacks game that's cool

And at least one more... viewtopic.php?f=27&t=1492705&p=58577570#p58577570

Yep Booker too

[AtheJ415]

I have a good feeling about Jok. I would've been okay with him in the draft with our later 2nd rounder. Think he will make it in the league.

[Jdiddy701]

Bledsoe and Tyson were there too


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[LukasBMW]

Another quiet offseason for Phoenix, but your major move was made on Draft Day. Excited to see how Jackson goes this season.

Biggest questions for PHX:

1. Can Bender and Chriss co-exist long term?
2. Will Len be back for 17/18 and beyond?
3. What do PHX do about the lack of depth at SG?
4. Are the Suns truly committed to #TheTimeline?



We've written a piece on the Suns offseason, focusing on the Devin Booker debate and how the Suns build from here. Have a read if interested: https://thefourpointplay.blog/2017/09/12/nba-suns-season-preview/

1. Chances are, only one will become an NBA quality starter.
2. Who cares. No one wants him. He'll have to come back for 2017. And he'll need to prove himself to stay beyond that.
3. Not a huge problem since we are tanking this year.
4. Thank god. It finally seems like the answer is YES.

[AtheJ415]

Wow. The Heat continue to eat up future cap space on non-stars. They are very much banking on that relatively small run this year prior to injuries being legitimate.

[In2ition]

Wow. The Heat continue to eat up future cap space on non-stars. They are very much banking on that relatively small run this year prior to injuries being legitimate.

It kind of reminds me of the first year with Hornacek, when the Suns were thought to be rebuilding and almost made the playoffs.

[Saberestar]

For those who play 2K18, these are our players ratings to start the season:

Booker 85, Bledsoe 84, Warren 78, Jackson 78, Chriss 76, Chandler 76, Ulis 75, Williams 75, Dudley 74, Knight 74, Len 73, Bender 72, DJJ 70, Reed 69 and Elijah Millsap 67.

I think that they have made a great job with the overall ratings, I am OK with all of them.

[bwgood77]

For those who play 2K18, these are our players ratings to start the season:

Booker 85, Bledsoe 84, Warren 78, Jackson 78, Chriss 76, Chandler 76, Ulis 75, Williams 75, Dudley 74, Knight 74, Len 73, Bender 72, DJJ 70, Reed 69 and Elijah Millsap 67.

I think that they have made a great job with the overall ratings, I am OK with all of them.

Wow, Booker higher than Bledsoe? That's a little crazy, but the hype is real. Hopefully Booker passes him up this year with his on court value though.

[Damkac]

Book should be lower, Tj higher.

[Saberestar]

Book should be lower, Tj higher.

Yeah, I agree, but only an small change. I would rate them closer...probably Booker 84 and Warren 79.

[LukasBMW]

TJ needs to play a full season to get respect.

Same could be said for Bledsoe...even though him getting benched wasn't his fault.

People like scoring, and Booker can score.

[bwgood77]

Book should be lower, Tj higher.

Yeah, I agree, but only an small change. I would rate them closer...probably Booker 84 and Warren 79.

Maybe if he takes a big step forward. Warren was the superior player this past year using the eye test and looking at the numbers. To compare them side by side, from an advanced perspetive especially, TJ had the better TS%, eFG%, more than doubled him in win shares, almost tripled him in WS/48, had a net 0 rating as opposed to a negative 13. Had a positive VORP while Book had a negative one. Had a BPM 2 points better, etc.

http://bkref.com/tiny/hDgKq

Book had turf toe for a while but I'd argue TJ's "injury" had a much larger impact on his play for a stretch.

So based on last season Booker shouldn't be ahead, but if the ratings are based on a big leap from Booker and not so much from TJ in this upcoming season, I guess it would make sense.

I do expect TJ to continue to improve given the fact he really has only started 64 games, so he hasn't even really gotten the opportunity and minutes that Booker has overall, so despite being older, he may still have quite a bit of upside. Booker is likely to have more, but I think TJ can continue to get better.

[Saberestar]

Book should be lower, Tj higher.

Yeah, I agree, but only an small change. I would rate them closer...probably Booker 84 and Warren 79.

Maybe if he takes a big step forward. Warren was the superior player this past year using the eye test and looking at the numbers. To compare them side by side, from an advanced perspetive especially, TJ had the better TS%, eFG%, more than doubled him in win shares, almost tripled him in WS/48, had a net 0 rating as opposed to a negative 13. Had a positive VORP while Book had a negative one. Had a BPM 2 points better, etc.

http://bkref.com/tiny/hDgKq

Book had turf toe for a while but I'd argue TJ's "injury" had a much larger impact on his play for a stretch.

So based on last season Booker shouldn't be ahead, but if the ratings are based on a big leap from Booker and not so much from TJ in this upcoming season, I guess it would make sense.

I do expect TJ to continue to improve given the fact he really has only started 64 games, so he hasn't even really gotten the opportunity and minutes that Booker has overall, so despite being older, he may still have quite a bit of upside. Booker is likely to have more, but I think TJ can continue to get better.

It is true.
Thinking about it for a second time I really think that they are really close at this point of their careers, but Booker has more upside given his age and his perimeter skillset (ball handling and 3p shooting).

I would give them a closer rating then... Booker 83 and Warren 80. And that is my final answer.

[JMac1]

The tank is alive for one more season!!

[Saberestar]

Starbury back? He wants to play in the NBA this season.
I do not think he can play at a high level anymore...but who knows.

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