RealGM

This probably belongs in the NBA Trades thread, but I'll go ahead and create a new one since it is a big topic and lots of stuff below. Hear me out:

I think it is pretty safe to say the Suns play better when Lopez is not playing. Gortat should be the starting center and Frye should be the backup center off the bench. Frye is not a starting power forward and plays well as a center off the bench - or at the very least it improve Dragic's game.

At the starting power forward slot, Suns need a quicker guy - much like Grant Hill tonight. But we all know Grant Hill at power forward is not a permanent solution. Heck, the answer may be to start Hakim Warrick some nights. Warrick and Gortat may work well together, but I feel Suns are better off trading center Lopez for a power forward - either bench or starter.

Here is a list of realistic trades that I'd seek and why:

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SUNS: J.J. Hickson
CAVS: Robin Lopez, Suns 1st Round Pick

Why Cavs would do this: Hickson has lost his starting job and the Cavs coach has put him in the doghouse. He is one of four power forwards on that team and the Cavs would not mind having a decent backup center for Andy Varejao. Both salaries match. Suns big-man rotation would be Gortat/Frye and Hickson/Warrick.

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SUNS: Anthony Randolph
KNICKS: Robin Lopez, Suns 1st Round Pick

Why Knicks would do this: Knicks publicly stated they are looking for a backup center. They are in fact working out Earl Barron this week. All the bench bigs they have are not cutting D'Antoni's tight 7-man rotation and Randolph looks like an easy trade to make for a 7-foot Lopez to give Amare some break. Both salaries match. Suns big-man rotation would be Gortat/Frye and Randolph/Warrick.

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SUNS: Marreese Speights, Sixers 1st Round Pick
SIXERS: Robin Lopez

Why Sixers would do this: Another tale of a player in the doghouse. Both of these guys are not producing. Would be a win-win situation for both teams swapping big men. Both salaries match. Suns big-man rotation would be Gortat/Frye and Warrick/Speights.

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SUNS: Dante Cunningham, Armon Johnson, Blazers 2nd Round Pick
BLAZERS: Robin Lopez

Why Blazers would do this: Another team that is currently searching for a big man center after Oden, Joel Pryz, and now Marcus Camby have all gone down to injury. Suns can ask for and get youngsters Cunningham and Johnson to make Lopez salary match. Cunningham is a very quick power forward grabbing as many rebounds as Lopez in the same amount of playing time. Cunningham's game is fit for the Suns and could be a sleeper of the year if he starts at power forward. He is like Amundson, but with more offense. Suns also get a 3rd string young point guard in the event Nash goes down. Suns big-man rotation would be Gortat/Frye and Cunningham/Warrick.

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SUNS: Andray Blatche, Trevor Booker
WIZARDS: Robin Lopez, Hakim Warrick, Suns 2nd Round Pick

Why Wizards would do this: Wizards are apparently looking to trade their power forward because they are getting fed up with his attitude apparently. They also have way too many power forwards in newly acquired Rashard Lewis alongside Yi Jianlian and Kevin Sepharin. They could sure use a center to back up McGee. Suns should take the risk on Blatche's attitude problems because his numbers speak volume. To make salary work, you'd have to toss in Hakim Warrick. Blatche is a legit starting power forward with force. Suns big-man rotation would be Gortat/Frye and Blatche/Booker.

I'm sure Blanks is considering RoLo trades.

No Robin must not go, especially not for those garbage trades. Hickson for RoLo and our first? Are you kidding me?

Robin is still young for goodness sake. Gortat is older than him, and has gained a ton of experience playing behind Dwight Howard. Robin just needs more time to develop. Patience is a neccessity when it comes to Lopez.

Da_Reel_Kboy wrote:No Robin must not go, especially not for those garbage trades. Hickson for RoLo and our first? Are you kidding me?

Robin is still young for goodness sake. Gortat is older than him, and has gained a ton of experience playing behind Dwight Howard. Robin just needs more time to develop. Patience is a neccessity when it comes to Lopez.

I don't think Hickson is garbage. In fact, Suns were a signature away from trading Amare for Hickson/Z last year. Hickson is very productive - and can excel on the Suns.

Explain to me how Hickson is garbage. Or Blatche for that matter...

Mr. Sun wrote:I'm sure Blanks is considering RoLo trades.

Well, I sure hope so...

Hakim Warrick and Josh Childress for Antawn Jamison.

Neither rebound well, and neither will be any better than Robin Lopez will be at their peak.

Hickson has played himself out of the Cav's starting lineup, and Blatche has a few issues off the court. I see Blatche as a slightly rich man's Hakim Warrick. No need to trade Lopez for Blatche.

I'm happy for any trade of Lopez that nets us a STARTING QUALITY power forward

-SDU- wrote:I'm happy for any trade of Lopez that nets us a STARTING QUALITY power forward

Ditto. I don't know what's going on. When he was drafted I called him Jake Voskhul part 2... then last year he blossomed into a legit center when healthy. Now? He's back to being Jake Voskhul, and I really do believe he's about at the level Voskhul was when he was here, Voskhul's 4th year playing 24 minutes per game he averaged 6 & 5. Lopez is averaging 7.5 and 4.5 in 20 minutes, not much of a difference.

Yeah, if we were to trade Lopez for a legit PF and move Frye back to the backup center position I think we'd be a better team.

But if we were to package Lopez and Warrick for an even better PF and use Childress as a backup PF I'd be even happier.

My trade makes the most sense...

I like Hickson a lot but not giving up a our pick. Maybe Orlando's... I think JJ would fit perfectly here. Remember he was a quality starter with LBJ now Cleveland has nobody who can distribute the ball. He's an athletic strong kid who can get much better but i want to keep that lottery pick unless a better deal comes about.

I'm strongly considering Thabeet/2nd for Robin.

I actually want to keep him, though not labeling him completely untradable.
He's just been placed an unfair amount of pressure by pretty much everyone, from FO to fans. He can blossom into something when he doesn't have to carry the load offensively.

SUN wrote:I'm strongly considering Thabeet/2nd for Robin.

no way. Thabeet makes Lopez look like an all-star.

Realistically, I think the Cavs deal for Hickson - if such a deal was ever offered or in place - would ideally make most sense.

Nash/Drag
VC/Duds
Hill/Pete
Hickson/Hakim
Gortat/Frye

I've been extremely disappointed in his play this year. After the way he finished last season, I thought he would have a breakout year. I was wrong.

I would not trade him just yet. Not for those players anyways. He's cheap for a 7 footer and could be a nice backup center for us. I would definitely trade him in a bigger package for a solid starting PF, of course.

The only thought I have is that you don't give up a young player AND a first round pick unless the trade absolutely warrants it. A lot of the trade's you have, have us throwing in our first and I don't see why it's necessary. If we have to throw in a first, make it ORL or lottery protected.

Picks. Are. Valuable.

I don't think we fully grasp that concept because we've either traded them away, let whatever picks we did have rot on the bench, etc...

Also I don't see why you guys want Lopez gone, he has been battling that injury and the first 5 games he was back he averaged 12.6 points and 5.8 boards in 25 minutes per game. Add another 12 minutes to his game and he'd be having the same statistics as his brother except more rebounds. The last three games Gentry hasn't been using him for some reason, maybe because he wants Lopez to ease into it more and obviously to utilize Gortat. I'd much rather keep our three big guys (Gortat, Frye, Lopez) and just figure out a way to send out our non-rotation players in Childress and Warrick for a decent PF.
The two guys who I wouldn't mind giving up a first round pick for (because of their shorter contracts) would be Troy Murphy and Antawn Jamison. Suns would have a solid rotation of big guys, as well as the rest of the squad would be equally balanced.
Heck I would even trade Childress and Warrick for Boris Diaw. We have the shooters to go with Diaw's amazing passing, and he probably has the best post game skills I've ever seen (though he is his own worst enemy).

The only reason I have for wanting him to go is Gentry. Something like;

GENTRY!

Y U NO PLAY LOPEZ?

We need an answer. We, as fans, DESERVE an answer! haha - Maybe giving Gortat a crash course is the reality, maybe not. When you're starting center isn't breaking 15-20min a game though, well that causes concern.