The 2016 Offseason Thread

[Saberestar]

Phoenix Suns head coach Earl Watson and his family are hoping to land justice Thursday to help them begin healing after suffering two years of heartache over his brother’s murder.

“I want closure for myself and my family’s healing,” Watson told The Undefeated.

One game of note was a 118-111 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Feb. 21 in which the Suns challenged the NBA power. Watson got scolded by Spurs coach Gregg Popovich afterward for being too hard on himself after not landing the big win.

“[Popovich] told me, ‘Great job.’ I said, ‘Coach, we have to win games. No one cares about great job.’ He got in my face and asked me if I was crazy. ‘Are you f’ing crazy. Great job. I really mean it. You were poised. Your team is playing great. They’re playing for you.’ I told him that I love him. He said, ‘I love you, too,’ ” Watson said.

http://theundefeated.com/features/earl-watson-goes-after-a-victory-close-to-his-heart/

[King4Day]

I'm posting this just because it's out there and it has been floating around. I do not give this much credibility other than the merit it would be intresting to see a pure passing point at the helm. Booker will be taking a lot of shots and Chriss looks like he's on springs. Now Rubio has missed the same about of time with injuries as Bledsoe.

http://www.sportsrageous.com/nba/nba-rumors-minnesota-timberwolves-trading-ricky-rubio-eric-bledsoe-suns-need-pass-first-pg/37495/

Just for fun the Suns beloved point guards compared to the Rubix Cube

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=1&y1=2015&p1=bledser01&y2=2016&p2=knighbr03&y3=2016&p3=rubiori01&y4=1999&p4=kiddja01&y5=2000&p5=nashst01&p6=

I did not realize how atrocious of a shooter Ricky is I don't know if that shot can be fixed.

This could make sense maybe midseason if the team is just not gelling.
Given Bledsoe's summer with the team, I just can't see McDonough making a move like that suddenly. Maybe if Dunn was part of the deal.

[Saberestar]

I like Rubio but I prefer Bledsoe over him.

[Walt_Uoob]

Would jersey retirement means Booker won't be able to wear "1" anymore? Or jersey retirement and number retirement are two different things?

It would mean Booker would have to change numbers.

And is that the same as the ring of honor? Or can someone go in the ring of honor without having their number/jersey retired?

[phnart]

Couple Amare memories...2004....Nash through him a late pass as he was breaking for the basket (I think it was against Houston, for some reason) and he caught it was he was going under the basket and dunked it so fast I had to rewind it several times to see how he did it. The guy was a freak of nature.

Then there was the day I was looking for some shoes at the Macy's at Biltmore Fashion Square and he was in there looking for shoes and had Macy's staff keeping everyone away from him. During the ten minutes I browsed the shoe section, no one got close to him (including me), but no one actually tried (including me). It was sad...and telling.

[bwgood77]

Would jersey retirement means Booker won't be able to wear "1" anymore? Or jersey retirement and number retirement are two different things?

It would mean Booker would have to change numbers.

And is that the same as the ring of honor? Or can someone go in the ring of honor without having their number/jersey retired?

I'm not sure about this.

[Fo-Real]

Fondest memory of STAT is when he used the word MOMENTEMUM instead of momentum in a live interview!!

[thamadkant]

But Nash (and maybe Marion) is the only guy I wish ended on better terms with Phoenix and I'd still love to have him here as a coach if Watson doesn't work out. Nash is just such a natural/skilled leader.

IMO, chances are that would end bitterly (like Hornacek). Even Pop was super close to being fired in his first few seasons as a head coach for the Spurs.

Really?

Wasn't Popovic part of the Spurs FO who became coach also after Bob Hill and remained part of the FO until even today
Hence why the Spurs roster and system have remained a similar structure for 20 years.

[sunsbum]

Anyone here think even with everyone coming back healthy Booker could make a 5ppg jump?

[Qwigglez]

Anyone here think even with everyone coming back healthy Booker could make a 5ppg jump?

Yes. I think his efficiency should go up as well. Warren could also see a huge jump in productivity.

[Saberestar]

Anyone here think even with everyone coming back healthy Booker could make a 5ppg jump?

Yes. I think his efficiency should go up as well. Warren could also see a huge jump in productivity.

Yeah, I expect a big jump from both playing 30-32 minutes per game

Booker 16p, 3r, 3a
Warren 16p, 4r, 2a

Knight is gonna put lower numbers... hopefully he plays at most 25 mpg.

[Villalobos]

But Nash (and maybe Marion) is the only guy I wish ended on better terms with Phoenix and I'd still love to have him here as a coach if Watson doesn't work out. Nash is just such a natural/skilled leader.

IMO, chances are that would end bitterly (like Hornacek). Even Pop was super close to being fired in his first few seasons as a head coach for the Spurs.

Really?

Wasn't Popovic part of the Spurs FO who became coach also after Bob Hill and remained part of the FO until even today
Hence why the Spurs roster and system have remained a similar structure for 20 years.

Yes. I remember he or RC Buford told the story after they won their 5th ring. The team was going through a hard stretch early on and the owner was supposedly this close to firing Pop and going in a different direction. Owners are impulsive, and Sarver isn't the only one. Luckily (for them) they landed Duncan soon after and won a championship and everything is else history.

[NTB]

Read on Twitter

[sunsbum]

Read on Twitter

Bye Felecia.

[sunskerr]

Would have been nice to have Amare back for one more go but he's not better at this point than any of our bigger guys who look like they're in line for serious playing time (Dudley, Len and Chandler). Then we still have to find space for Bender and Chriss somehow. When I say "would have been nice", I really do mean that. He was such a big part of our recent history.

[sunsbum]

"I bleed purple and orange but I'm going to spite them and retire a knick because I've been wanting to come back to the suns for the last 2 years and they dont want me...but yea, purple and orange"

[kennydorglas]

Oh boy... this Amaré interview is just 'something'.
This guy is just nuts.

[Qwigglez]

I don't question the Suns front office for not signing Amare to a one year deal, but they could have at least given him a one-day contract so he can retire with us. We need to surround our youth with good mentors and quality veterans, and I don't think Amare fits that mold so I understand not letting him around our youngsters.

[bwgood77]

"I bleed purple and orange but I'm going to spite them and retire a knick because I've been wanting to come back to the suns for the last 2 years and they dont want me...but yea, purple and orange"

Well if the Suns won't let you retire a Sun, who cares that he signs a day with the Knicks? That's the only other team he spent a decent amount of time with.

[LukasBMW]

We made the right decision not to give him a second max contract.
We made the right decision not to let him end his career here.
We made the wrong decision by not trading him at the end of 06-07 when his value was at it's peak.

We could have moved him in the summer of 07 for Garnet. We could have moved him in 08. Instead we let him walk in 09 for nothing. Now THAT was stupid.