Babby needs to upgrade FO, make tough decision about coach

[rsavaj]

http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2013/ ... his-summer

[tsherkin]

I can't see a coaching move as sensible when the obvious issue is roster talent. Cap space will be useful if used properly and now all that remains is stockpiling draft talent and looking for opportunities.

[Sunsdeuce]

Great article thanks for posting. Definitely need a change at both GM and coach.

An experienced coach is mandatory at this point to guide the inexperienced players. Makes so much sense to rid yourself of hunter!!

[MathiasPW]

This is a great article. Even with the limitations we have on knowledge about Blanks, the logic is so sound.

Keeping Blanks is risking Babby's own job and a 3 (to become 5) year-long project..and then pretty much the rest of his NBA career, if he ever intended one. Is he willing to take the risk?

On the other hand, there is such a short time to get another GM to make the right calls for this offseason. A 2014 offseason would be a more appropriate target for a new guy to act. So a new GM now could actually be good, reducing the odds of a quick turnaround desperation move (aka Eric Gordon).

As for Hunter, his mentality might be more adjusted to what Babby sees as a signature for a team, but the fact is that almost nothing has changed since he overtook Gentry. The article points good reasons towards that, but to me it would be a no brainer if another more experienced coach with the same profile becomes available in the offseason.

[bigfoot]

Here's the beef with the article. Babby and Blanks had to clean-up a huge mess before they could even mold this team to their liking.

First the previous coaching staff (Gentry etal) was hired by GM Kerr/Sarver. Gentry has proven he could not develop young talent when he was the head coach of the LA Clippers and had Lamar Odom, Elton Brand, and Andre Miller. He again showed he could not develop young talent with the Suns who have jettisoned Earl Clark, Robin Lopez, and Goran Dragic. Now does anyone think Babby/Blanks could honestly ask Sarver to fire Gentry when he was already paying Terry Porter's salary? Now that Babby/Blanks finally have the guy they want coaching young players they should get rid of him after 2.5 months on the job? The team was actually doing fairly well until Gortat went down and are playing significantly better over the last four games.

Second, they spent two years cleaning up the Turkoglu, Warrick, and Childress debacle. Although this their third season they have only had one real free agency period. GM Sarver dealt with Turk, Warrick, and Childress, then they had the lockout season (3-4 day free agency period with no cap room). They added they first legitimate center the Suns have ever had in Gortat. This year they've picked up Dragic, Tucker, O'Neal, and Beasley. Three of those were quality free agents and one was a swing for the fences risk. Still in their first real off season they did a pretty good job on the FA market. Beasley could be stretch provisioned this year which would give them more cap space for this summer. They would just be wasting Sarver's money which they convinced him to do with Childress.

Finally they had to deal with a super delicate situation with Nash and Hill, both fan favorites. Trading either of them last year would have caused fan revolts. At the same time, not trading them caused the a small contigent of rebuilders/tankers to revolt. Honestly they got great value in the sign-and-trade for Nash this summer. Better than anyone expected. Burning bridges with those Nash/Hill would be bad when they would both be great future front office guys.

So here we sit after a crappy season, which most everyone expected. They have finally cleared the plate of nasty tasting food that was left behind for them. Shouldn't they be given the opportunity to run the team for two years instead of making them the sacrificial lambs of Kerr/Sarver/Gentry? I think so.

[Sunsdeuce]

Here's the beef with the article. Babby and Blanks had to clean-up a huge mess before they could even mold this team to their liking.

First the previous coaching staff (Gentry etal) was hired by GM Kerr/Sarver. Gentry has proven he could not develop young talent when he was the head coach of the LA Clippers and had Lamar Odom, Elton Brand, and Andre Miller. He again showed he could not develop young talent with the Suns who have jettisoned Earl Clark, Robin Lopez, and Goran Dragic. Now does anyone think Babby/Blanks could honestly ask Sarver to fire Gentry when he was already paying Terry Porter's salary? Now that Babby/Blanks finally have the guy they want coaching young players they should get rid of him after 2.5 months on the job? The team was actually doing fairly well until Gortat went down and are playing significantly better over the last four games.

Second, they spent two years cleaning up the Turkoglu, Warrick, and Childress debacle. Although this their third season they have only had one real free agency period. GM Sarver dealt with Turk, Warrick, and Childress, then they had the lockout season (3-4 day free agency period with no cap room). They added they first legitimate center the Suns have ever had in Gortat. This year they've picked up Dragic, Tucker, O'Neal, and Beasley. Three of those were quality free agents and one was a swing for the fences risk. Still in their first real off season they did a pretty good job on the FA market. Beasley could be stretch provisioned this year which would give them more cap space for this summer. They would just be wasting Sarver's money which they convinced him to do with Childress.

Finally they had to deal with a super delicate situation with Nash and Hill, both fan favorites. Trading either of them last year would have caused fan revolts. At the same time, not trading them caused the a small contigent of rebuilders/tankers to revolt. Honestly they got great value in the sign-and-trade for Nash this summer. Better than anyone expected. Burning bridges with those Nash/Hill would be bad when they would both be great future front office guys.

So here we sit after a crappy season, which most everyone expected. They have finally cleared the plate of nasty tasting food that was left behind for them. Shouldn't they be given the opportunity to run the team for two years instead of making them the sacrificial lambs of Kerr/Sarver/Gentry? I think so.

Seriously?!! The team was playing better before gortat went down. Really?!!! The most blow-outs of 25+ came with gortat playing under hunter.

And to brag about the signings of Beasley, o'neal, tucker. There is about a 100 Tucker's in the d league! O'neal is on his last leg. Beasley, no explanation necessary. Don't get me started on their draft picks. And great value for Nash? Really?!! Had this joke of a front office dealt with the situation earlier, we would have got a lot more assets. I feel like the miz right now. To say they did good in the free agent market is like going to a car dealer wanting a mustang and leaving with a Kia rio and saying you did good.

I wish gambo would read what you just wrote,along with every other sports writer not named coro. He would laugh you out of the building!

[bigfoot]

Read you fool read. You let your emotions get too much of you and your obvious anger and rage miss important words. I said Dragic, O'Neal, and Tucker were good FA signings. Not Beasley you nitwit.

Also, as much as you'd like to believe it there are not 100's of Tuckers in the D-League. Not even close. The guy was an MVP european league player. Come on do your research instead of responding on pure emotional girly nonsense. There are only 16 D-League teams so figure about 300 players total. No way on God's green earth are there 100's of Tuckers in D-League. Do you see how you arguments are so nonsensical.

Time and time again it is blabbering drivel and I wouldn't be surprised if your keyboard was covered with tears or spittle. And you are wrong about the most 25+ blowouts (as usual) being when Gortat played for Hunter. Under Gentry there were three including a forty pointer to Detroit. Under Hunter with Gortat there where three including two against OKC and one against Boston. After Gortat went down there were another 4 and Hunter has been playing rookies and young players instead of the starters like Gentry. Need proof ... below are the links you can weep over.

They fact that you even listen to Gambo ... the biggest dufus, talking head in the Phoenix market just strengthens my argument. Whatever he recommends for the Cardinals, Suns, DBacks, and Coyotes their GMs do the opposite. Gambo must have a BS, MS, and PhD degrees ... Bull Shat, More Shat, and Piled Higher and Deeper.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... y=diff_pts

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... y=diff_pts

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... y=diff_pts

[bigfoot]

And you know what's really messed up. You can't even acknowledge that Babby and Blanks were handed a f-ed up situation. Nope that is beyond reasoning for you to take more than half a second and examine the situation they were given and then what they had to do to dig out of the mess. SMH

[RunDogGun]

A lot of logic there Bigfoot. The only thing you forgot to mention was we did resign Brown, which has been a negative, but also signed Scola, who has been quite the positive. So while you left out those two, it still becomes a positive.

The one question that still lingers is the rumor that Mayo was told he would not be signed as a starter.

[phrazbit]

Babby gets too much of a free pass for the disastrous summer of 2010. Turkeyglue and Childress were his guys, he was already being talked about for the GM job when the Suns landed them... under Babby's representation. He had a hole to dig out of but he played a part in putting himself there.

You can try to break down the individual moves and signings and claim they're in the Suns favor but when you step back and look at the big picture the Suns are sitting with arguably the most depressing roster in the league and every guy on the roster (except Frye) is here because the current regime wanted them here.

[ShawnBronald]

And you know what's really messed up. You can't even acknowledge that Babby and Blanks were handed a f-ed up situation. Nope that is beyond reasoning for you to take more than half a second and examine the situation they were given and then what they had to do to dig out of the mess. SMH

We had a decent team when Babby and Blanks first came in. If the situation was bad, they actually prolonged it (held on to Nash and Hill longer than necessary). Also, as has been mentioned, Babby signed Childress and traded Barbosa for Turkoglu. Of course, he and Blanks somewhat fixed that by then making the Gortat trade, but the original mistake was still their own. Furthermore, they were responsible for signing Brown and Beasley. Sarver gets credit for Dragic and Scola (I've heard that Blanks was against this as he didn't want Scola and preferred Raymond Felton over Dragic). Finally, Babby and Blanks drafted Marshall. Obviously, I'll give them some credit for stockpiling draft picks this year and over the next few years as well as signing Tucker.

[rsavaj]

As far as potential coaches that would be interesting to interview along with Hunter this summer:

Mike Malone from Golden State
Mike Budenholzer from San Antonio

Maybe SVG if he's up for it.
Skiles if you want to turn this team into a really hard-nosed, defensive squad. In fact...if that's the route you want to take, I don't see any reason to pick Hunter over Skiles.

[rsavaj]

I agree that the two-headed Blabby had to wait a while before they could finally compose "their" team, but this was their year. They said in the beginning of the summer that THIS was their squad. They said they took full responsibility for every player on the roster, because every single player was there because they wanted them to be.

Their creation is the 2nd worst team in the history of this franchise.

I don't mind Babby too much. I think he's doing his job okay. The contracts he's handed out haven't been too bad. Even Beasley's isn't a complete albatross.

But Blanks assembled the 2nd worst team in franchise history thinking it was going to be a playoff team...and I see no reason to reward him for his efforts.

[Frank Lee]

......

The one question that still lingers is the rumor that Mayo was told he would not be signed as a starter.

Who knows the real story, but I can see the Front Office telling Mayo he had to earn his spot and nothing will be handed to him. Mayo was seeking 'starter' money, and the rumors were in the 8-10 mill range/pipedream. He simply was not worth the risk, not for us anyway. As it was, he ended up signing a short term deal for a lot less money. No doubts he and his agent will be trying to cash in again. Good luck with that as this new CBA has tightened the free wheeling FA signings.

I am glad we didn't sign him, just as glad NO matched Gordon. Look where we are now. Its been tough, but its almost over.

I think Hunter will get a lowballed two yr deal.... one that will be easy to absorb if we sack him next yr. Put up or pack up Lindsay.

[bigfoot]

Fortunately (or unfortunately for some folks) Blanks has one more year on his contract. If next year there is a major turn around then everyone will be slapping his back and giving him kudos. If we suck then he'll have earned us another top draft pick and he will be gone. I guess the worst case for some people is we are battling for an eighth seed playoff spot.

[Frank Lee]

Fortunately (or unfortunately for some folks) ...... I guess the worst case for some people is we are battling for an eighth seed playoff spot.

and thats likely the best case scenario, win wise. Of course then, the chants of 'stuck in mediocrity' will ring through the halls.

I dont discount the benefit of having a top pick in 2014.... but not if predetermined losing is the strategy. You make that decision in January when you have a sense of what your team's capabilities are.... much like this yr when we cashed in the chips under the guise of 'developing our youth' .

BTW, thanks Lance for a top pick. Was that your game plan after all ?

[bigfoot]

Fortunately (or unfortunately for some folks) ...... I guess the worst case for some people is we are battling for an eighth seed playoff spot.

and thats likely the best case scenario, win wise. Of course then, the chants of 'stuck in mediocrity' will ring through the halls.

I dont discount the benefit of having a top pick in 2014.... but not if predetermined losing is the strategy. You make that decision in January when you have a sense of what your team's capabilities are.... much like this yr when we cashed in the chips under the guise of 'developing our youth' .

BTW, thanks Lance for a top pick. Was that your game plan after all ?

I 100% agree on this Frank. Any GM is going to both say and try to win for at least the first half of the season. Anything less is a disservice to the players, coaches, and fans. Evaluate mid-year and then change course if necessary. As long as the team is challenging for a playoff position I think you stay the course (ala Dallas, Utah, and the Lakers this year). Or I guess Mitch Kupchak could have just sat Kobe/Howard/Gasol/Nash and made D'Antoni play the scrubs when they were like eight games under 500.

Edit: Lakers stuck in mediocrity !!!

[Saberestar]

Where do you have Hunters chances at getting the gig? I'm hoping very low

John Gambadoro
‏@Gambo620 33 1/3 because three guys Sarver, Babby and Blanks decides it and I have to figure one of them wants him to stay

[jman2585]

There is a section on your front office here on the GM analysis thread: viewtopic.php?f=64&t=1243235&start=45#p35406728
My opinion is you should clean house and fire Blanks to start with.

[Universe]

I've always wondered if the Suns would try for Vinny Del Negro if he doesn't get signed by the Clippers. Has experience with the Suns and seems like a perfect coach for the young roster that will be adding the likes of McLemore, Noel or other.