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Any chance at all that he plays this year?

I would like to think so but I have a feeling emeka was never in the teams plan.

Sunsdeuce wrote:I would like to think so but I have a feeling emeka was never in the teams plan.

But he sure would be a nice option to have should we manage to make the playoffs.

Paul Coro
Mon Jan 13, 2014 11:20 PM

Okafor non-update

The Suns spent two days here, where center Emeka Okafor has been living with his family while doing rehabilitation for a herniated disk with a cervical spine specialist since last summer. He is indefinitely out. He did not meet with the team.

Okafor, 31, is in his final contract year on a $14.5 million salary. Insurance would cover about $5.8 million for the Suns if Okafor does not play this season for health reasons.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/ar ... #protected

I have said all along that he would not play for the Suns. The Insurance payment is too attractive and every team in the league knows this is likely to be available, therefore his contract becomes financially attractive if they can get the Suns to take a similar or higher cost contract back. For example, if the Lakers were to trade Gasol to the Suns for Okafor's contract and the Suns remaining cap space, they would benefit to the tune about $15M - $21M financially. (Don't worry I am not advocating this for the Suns).

I also believe Okafor believes that it is in his interest to remain sidelined so he can have the best chance to heal his injury without the need for surgery.

Between the insurance and Len he's not playing plus he's not getting traded either. Enjoy the golf Emeka.

Keeping him on the roster means that Insurance writes the check for the money that Sarver owes to Childress. Not bad really. I hope Sarver is saving his money to take this team into the luxury tax in the coming years.

If he can make a full recovery from his injury, I would be interested in bringing him back next season for the veteran minimum.

Wouldn't you love to be in Okafor's shoes? Be big, and get paid more money in one year than most Americans will make in their lifetime...all by just sitting on a couch and doing absolutely nothing.

Ah the life of an NBA player and guaranteed contracts.

Yeah, Coro recently wrote that Okafor is 100% not playing this season. Doesn't mean we can't get something useful out of his contract though. I think if the Suns are still in the hunt at the deadline we could make a move. I'm not sure an Okafor for Gasol deal even works. Off the top off my head Gasol makes $19M and Okafor $13M. Do we have enough cap room to absorb the extra money. I'd have to see the exact salary amounts and review the CBA rules for trades when under the cap. I think LAL can send us 125% of what they take back, but again I'd have to look.

Who are we gonna trade for on a short term deal?
Deng would of been ideal.
Who else?

S&T for LeBron at the trade deadline!

Carmelo Anthony.

Pau Gasol is someone a lot of people are mentioning. He is an expiring and has been playing lights out lately, plus he can space the floor due his his strong mid range 2. Also provides a big upgrade over Frye rebounding wise, and I wouldn't mind if we re-signed him on a 2 year $16m deal after the season. However, I'm uncomfortable giving the Lakers an additional assets. Maybe Okafor + IND's 2014 1st for Gasol?

I think this is the most important sentence...

The Suns have expressed a willingness to absorb a veteran player on a short-term deal who wouldn't compromise the organization's ample salary-cap space for the future, league sources said.

So....

Pau Gasol?
Evan Turner?

What other options we have?

Pau Gasol on the Suns.... Ummm no. Doesn't fit. Rather take a gamble on Melo.

Jdiddy701 wrote:Carmelo Anthony.

NYK will never trade Carmelo.

Fans at the Lakers board want a 1st and Okafor for Nash and Jordan Hill, and they think they can buy Indiana's pick from us.

SunsFanSSOL wrote:Pau Gasol is someone a lot of people are mentioning. He is an expiring and has been playing lights out lately, plus he can space the floor due his his strong mid range 2. Also provides a big upgrade over Frye rebounding wise, and I wouldn't mind if we re-signed him on a 2 year $16m deal after the season. However, I'm uncomfortable giving the Lakers an additional assets. Maybe Okafor + IND's 2014 1st for Gasol?

I originally thought no way for Gasol but if it was just Okafor and not much else, I wouldn't mind. He would have to play 5 with Frye still spreading the floor at 4 though mostly I imagine. I don't think we need him, but he would be a nice option on the inside offensively. Good passer too.

Makes no sense long term though, but is expiring so we would get a ton of cap space back. I guess there is no downside if we only have to give up Okafor. Lakers only incentive then would have to be to save money and maybe get under luxury tax (though not sure about their tax situation).