Suns PG of the Future

[franksredhot]

When the time comes for us to trade for a "Star" / Proven player obviously we'd have to ship out either Bledsoe or Knight etc.
Curious as to see who everybody would like to see stick around? I personally like both players and if we were 1 piece away from contending i'd trade Knight but obviously we are multiple pieces away so my pick to keep Knight around due to age/shooting/vocal

Who do you guys like and why?
feel free to post pros and cons

[saintEscaton]

Hopefully neither but I would keep Bled because he at least posses a altruistic PG instinct as a proficient passer who looks to create for teammates , something Knight sorely lacks with his heroball antics. They both have poor court vision and aren't high BBIQ players. I can live with a future backcourt of Bled+ Booker if we have a superstar SF or PF (hardest to find). But both are expendable and are dime a dozen guards that are at best above league average at their oversaturated position and are a tier well below the elite.

[franksredhot]

Hopefully neither but I would keep Bled because he at least posses a altruistic PG instinct as a proficient passer who looks to create for teammates , something Knight sorely lacks with his heroball antics. They both have poor court vision and aren't high BBIQ players. I can live with a future backcourt of Bled+ Booker if we have a superstar SF or PF (hardest to find). But both are expendable and are dime a dozen guards that are at best above league average at their oversaturated position and are a tier well below the elite.

Interesting.. I suppose you'd want Kendall Marshall or Tyler Ennis running the show?

[saintEscaton]

Hopefully neither but I would keep Bled because he at least posses a altruistic PG instinct as a proficient passer who looks to create for teammates , something Knight sorely lacks with his heroball antics. They both have poor court vision and aren't high BBIQ players. I can live with a future backcourt of Bled+ Booker if we have a superstar SF or PF (hardest to find). But both are expendable and are dime a dozen guards that are at best above league average at their oversaturated position and are a tier well below the elite.

Interesting.. I suppose you'd want Kendall Marshall or Tyler Ennis running the show?

I'd still take Ennis on this team as a backup. But its too early to tell how well our new backcourt gels together. If they can combine for around 30+ PPG and 10-15 APG it should be okay. I'm just saying they aren't the kind of franchise cornerstones you can build around.I'm not a stickler for the antiquated notion of a "pure" PG which has become a thing of the past. Althought I would prefer a traditional SG with the prototypical size and length with either the ideal spot up off the ball sharpshooting abilities or slashing wing athleticism to compliment a facilitator. But if we eventually have an opportunity to draft one of these new breeds of ball dominant combo guards in the Westbrook mold who make up for their lack of defined position/playmaking with high volume scoring/killer instinct I would pull the trigger

[franksredhot]

Hopefully neither but I would keep Bled because he at least posses a altruistic PG instinct as a proficient passer who looks to create for teammates , something Knight sorely lacks with his heroball antics. They both have poor court vision and aren't high BBIQ players. I can live with a future backcourt of Bled+ Booker if we have a superstar SF or PF (hardest to find). But both are expendable and are dime a dozen guards that are at best above league average at their oversaturated position and are a tier well below the elite.

Interesting.. I suppose you'd want Kendall Marshall or Tyler Ennis running the show?

I'd still take Ennis on this team as a backup. But its too early to tell how well our new backcourt gels together. If they can combine for around 30+ PPG and 10 APG it should be okay. I'm just saying they aren't the kind of franchise cornerstones you can build around..

Low expectations i think they meet that easily, 25 and under PG's in the league i'd only take John Wall over our two, I think Lillard and Irving are vastly over rated who else is there? Bricky Rubio? Jrue Holiday? Kemba Walker? MCW? Reggie Jackson no thank you to all of them

[bwgood77]

I take it you mean we'd have to trade one for a star for salary matching purposes? There isn't a huge demand for average point guards in the league. I have to see more of Knight though. They might be slightly above average but when you go through the exercise of ranking point guards, they land in about our usual spot, 13 or 14. Though when you only compare them with guys their age or younger, they obviously would rate higher.

So again, I'm not sure. I think Knight may end up playing a role like Manu or OKC Harden in the long run though. Obviously not as good, but that guy that can can come off the bench, do some ball handling AND scoring when needed.

I think for now having them both on the floor or able to play the PG minutes when the other is off the floor takes pressure off of both of them, and Bledsoe already gets winded pretty easily, so if he doesn't have to lead the fast break every time, it preserves energy.

I picked neither, but not because I want either of them traded, but I'm not completely sold on either one and I don't clearly value one over the other.

[franksredhot]

I take it you mean we'd have to trade one for a star for salary matching purposes? There isn't a huge demand for average point guards in the league. I have to see more of Knight though. They might be slightly above average but when you go through the exercise of ranking point guards, they land in about our usual spot, 13 or 14. Though when you only compare them with guys their age or younger, they obviously would rate higher.

So again, I'm not sure. I think Knight may end up playing a role like Manu or OKC Harden in the long run though. Obviously not as good, but that guy that can can come off the bench, do some ball handling AND scoring when needed.

I think for now having them both on the floor or able to play the PG minutes when the other is off the floor takes pressure off of both of them, and Bledsoe already gets winded pretty easily, so if he doesn't have to lead the fast break every time, it preserves energy.

I picked neither, but not because I want either of them traded, but I'm not completely sold on either one and I don't clearly value one over the other.

Yea Knights only pro over Bledsoe is his shooting but bledsoe cons are far too much for me as you mentioned gets winded ALOT
and takes games off/uninterested/too quiet/injury history

[saintEscaton]

Interesting.. I suppose you'd want Kendall Marshall or Tyler Ennis running the show?

I'd still take Ennis on this team as a backup. But its too early to tell how well our new backcourt gels together. If they can combine for around 30+ PPG and 10 APG it should be okay. I'm just saying they aren't the kind of franchise cornerstones you can build around..

Low expectations i think they meet that easily, 25 and under PG's in the league i'd only take John Wall over our two, I think Lillard and Irving are vastly over rated who else is there? Bricky Rubio? Jrue Holiday? Kemba Walker? MCW? Reggie Jackson no thank you to all of them

BKnight and Bled still aren't spring chickens. They are well seasoned and entering their 5th and 6th seasons respectively so this argument about them having a growing ceiling/sustaining their upward career trajectory until it reaches a pinnacle is wishful crystalball speculation. Majority of starting PGs are in their prime well under 30 anyways so the age differential ain't that much. And yes I'd take Kyrie,Dame over either of them in a heartbeat. I would place Bled just outside the Top 10 behind Dragic,Teague, Conley and Lowry and BKnight in the late teens/early twenties maybe slightly above Jennings, Kemba and RJackson

[franksredhot]

I'd still take Ennis on this team as a backup. But its too early to tell how well our new backcourt gels together. If they can combine for around 30+ PPG and 10 APG it should be okay. I'm just saying they aren't the kind of franchise cornerstones you can build around..

Low expectations i think they meet that easily, 25 and under PG's in the league i'd only take John Wall over our two, I think Lillard and Irving are vastly over rated who else is there? Bricky Rubio? Jrue Holiday? Kemba Walker? MCW? Reggie Jackson no thank you to all of them

BKnight and Bled still aren't spring chickens. They are well seasoned and entering their 5th and 6th seasons respectively so this argument about them having a growing ceiling/sustaining their upward career trajectory until it reaches a pinnacle is wishful crystalball speculation. Majority of starting PGs are in their prime well under 30 anyways so the age differential ain't that much. And yes I'd take Kyrie,Dame over either of them in a heartbeat. I would place Bled just outside the Top 10 behind Dragic,Teague, Conley and Lowry and BKnight in the late teens/early twenties maybe slightly above Jennings, Kemba and RJackson

Reality is Knight is only 23 and has improved each season my crystalball says he is still untapped.

[lilfishi22]

To be honest, neither guys would be fit the mold of my starting PG of the future. But if I had to choose, I'd go with Bledsoe because of his defense and being able to finish at the rim.

[Mulhollanddrive]

Bledsoe is a better player than Knight.

I think both have areas they need to work on to be better for the team, not just their own stats.

[Qwigglez]

If you could fuse both players strengths together then yeah I'd take that player, but neither one is really my kind of point guard. I like Knight because I feel like he can score 20-30 a night, he has a good motor and has a good shot. I also think his style of play will outlast Bledsoe, Bledsoe relies heavily on his athleticism. Bledsoe has way better defensive potential though. All in all, I want to see how this backcourt works out, but if a trade were a coming and we had to get rid of one, I'd say trade Bledsoe. Mostly because I think he'll end up getting injured in the next three years and his play will heavily decline.

[Cball]

Interesting.. I suppose you'd want Kendall Marshall or Tyler Ennis running the show?

I'd still take Ennis on this team as a backup. But its too early to tell how well our new backcourt gels together. If they can combine for around 30+ PPG and 10 APG it should be okay. I'm just saying they aren't the kind of franchise cornerstones you can build around..

Low expectations i think they meet that easily, 25 and under PG's in the league i'd only take John Wall over our two, I think Lillard and Irving are vastly over rated who else is there? Bricky Rubio? Jrue Holiday? Kemba Walker? MCW? Reggie Jackson no thank you to all of them

Spot on here.

[NavLDO]

Tough question, as Knight has only played 10 games with us, and they were not very good games, so at least right now, we know what Bledsoe brings to the table in our system, so I'm going with the 'devil I know', and that's Bledsoe.

Problem is, I think Bledsoe would also net us more in a trade, so if it's between Knight and a 'Star', or Knight being the deal breaker, and we remain Bledsoe and Knight, then I trade Bledsoe to get that 'star' to play with Knight.

And one more thing. Bledsoe is viewed by media-types, and probably NBA execs as a top 10 PG in the league right now. I think EB gets beat up on this board a little bit more than he probably should; he could definitely be viewed as part of a 'Big 3' moreso than Knight, I think.

[GMATCallahan]

Hopefully neither but I would keep Bled because he at least posses a altruistic PG instinct as a proficient passer who looks to create for teammates , something Knight sorely lacks with his heroball antics. They both have poor court vision and aren't high BBIQ players. I can live with a future backcourt of Bled+ Booker if we have a superstar SF or PF (hardest to find). But both are expendable and are dime a dozen guards that are at best above league average at their oversaturated position and are a tier well below the elite.

I would not say that they both possess "poor" court vision, and Knight may be a little better than Bledsoe in that regard, as Hornacek indicated last season.

But I generally agree with your concluding sentence, although Bledsoe's defensive ability and athleticism might render him something more than "dime-a-dozen."

[GMATCallahan]

Tough question, as Knight has only played 10 games with us, and they were not very good games, so at least right now, we know what Bledsoe brings to the table in our system, so I'm going with the 'devil I know', and that's Bledsoe.

Problem is, I think Bledsoe would also net us more in a trade, so if it's between Knight and a 'Star', or Knight being the deal breaker, and we remain Bledsoe and Knight, then I trade Bledsoe to get that 'star' to play with Knight.

And one more thing. Bledsoe is viewed by media-types, and probably NBA execs as a top 10 PG in the league right now.I think EB gets beat up on this board a little bit more than he probably should; he could definitely be viewed as part of a 'Big 3' moreso than Knight, I think.

"Top-ten" is stretching it, and most "media-types" hardly know what they are talking about and are in the business of promotional hype rather than genuine analysis. Unfortunately, most fans look up to "media-types." As for NBA executives, their view of Bledsoe appears ambiguous at this point. I do agree that he is above-average as a total lead guard and that the industry sees him that way.

And I concur that Bledsoe is probably a more valuable player than many Phoenix fans would currently acknowledge, primarily on the basis of his defense. But he is not an offensive centerpiece, and the idea of a "Big Three" is merely fanciful at this juncture.

[GMATCallahan]

Interesting.. I suppose you'd want Kendall Marshall or Tyler Ennis running the show?

I'd still take Ennis on this team as a backup. But its too early to tell how well our new backcourt gels together. If they can combine for around 30+ PPG and 10 APG it should be okay. I'm just saying they aren't the kind of franchise cornerstones you can build around..

Low expectations i think they meet that easily, 25 and under PG's in the league i'd only take John Wall over our two, I think Lillard and Irving are vastly over rated who else is there? Bricky Rubio? Jrue Holiday? Kemba Walker? MCW? Reggie Jackson no thank you to all of them

Neither Irving nor Lillard is a true point guard, but ...

I would take either of them over Bledsoe or Knight, easily. Irving might be the best pure scoring guard in the league right now, and his playmaking is certainly not worse than that of Bledsoe or Knight. Injuries are a concern with him, but they have also constituted a concern with Bledsoe and now Knight.

[NavLDO]

Tough question, as Knight has only played 10 games with us, and they were not very good games, so at least right now, we know what Bledsoe brings to the table in our system, so I'm going with the 'devil I know', and that's Bledsoe.

Problem is, I think Bledsoe would also net us more in a trade, so if it's between Knight and a 'Star', or Knight being the deal breaker, and we remain Bledsoe and Knight, then I trade Bledsoe to get that 'star' to play with Knight.

And one more thing. Bledsoe is viewed by media-types, and probably NBA execs as a top 10 PG in the league right now.I think EB gets beat up on this board a little bit more than he probably should; he could definitely be viewed as part of a 'Big 3' moreso than Knight, I think.

"Top-ten" is stretching it, and most "media-types" hardly know what they are talking about and are in the business of promotional hype rather than genuine analysis. Unfortunately, most fans look up to "media-types." As for NBA executives, their view of Bledsoe appears ambiguous at this point. I do agree that he is above-average as a total lead guard and that the industry sees him that way.

And I concur that Bledsoe is probably a more valuable player than many Phoenix fans would currently acknowledge, primarily on the basis of his defense. But he is not an offensive centerpiece, and the idea of a "Big Three" is merely fanciful at this juncture.

So, I did some 'googling' and it appears you are right--top 15ish is probably more accurate.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12563832/nba-espn-nba-forecast-ranks-nba-starting-point-guards-no-1-chris-paul-no-30-dante-exum

http://www.nba.com/2015/news/hca/01/06/the-list-top-10-point-guards/

But, there are some that do feel he's on the cusp:

http://isportsweb.com/2015/06/13/top-10-point-guards-2014-2015-regular-season/

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2396318-br-nba-200-ranking-the-top-point-guards-of-2014-15-season/page/25

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2396348-br-nba-200-ranking-the-top-combo-guards-of-2014-15-season/page/11

[No-Man]

Knight is best suited to play a Jason Terry role, come off the bench, play a big role and likely close games, but do not start and let the game get to you and flow,no idea if he'd accept that.

[saintEscaton]

Knight is best suited to play a Jason Terry role, come off the bench, play a big role and likely close games, but do not start and let the game get to you and flow,no idea if he'd accept that.

We payed way too much for Knight to relegate him into being our 6th man. But I agree