2019 Summer League

[bwgood77]

Young players from Europe can have trouble adjusting early on. You guys remember how bad Dragic his first couple of years? I hate giving up on young players when the effort hasn't been put in to properly develop them. I would love to keep Bender and Okobo as end of the bench guys and see what a year of proper development does for them. The problem was when we needed them to start and produce, that is no longer the case.

Yeah, I never give up on young guys after one season. As for Bender I considered him a rookie contract project so I wouldn't mind bringing him back, but they look like they've moved on. I'll be surprised if they get rid of Okobo though.

Can't fall in love with second round picks. If you have a better prospect, you keep the better one.

Carter>Okobo, Lecque>Okobo (as a prospect).

Okobo out. He hasn't shown enough to keep him.

I agree Carter is better and Lecque is a better prospect, but he's under contract, is a development guy, and we likely lose Johnson and Carter next year. He can spend time in G league. Now if there is a great minimum option to replace him with, fine, but might as well see if he improves this year and if he doesn't, don't pick up his option next year. We have his rights at the minimum for 3 years. We still have a roster spot to add someone. No reason to pay him $1.6 million not to play for us unless there are two guys you think can really help us for the minimum. I just don't think we will cut him....perhaps, but not considering circumstances.

[bhawk]

Young players from Europe can have trouble adjusting early on. You guys remember how bad Dragic his first couple of years? I hate giving up on young players when the effort hasn't been put in to properly develop them. I would love to keep Bender and Okobo as end of the bench guys and see what a year of proper development does for them. The problem was when we needed them to start and produce, that is no longer the case.

Yeah, I never give up on young guys after one season. As for Bender I considered him a rookie contract project so I wouldn't mind bringing him back, but they look like they've moved on. I'll be surprised if they get rid of Okobo though.

Can't fall in love with second round picks. If you have a better prospect, you keep the better one.

Carter>Okobo, Lecque>Okobo (as a prospect).

Okobo out. He hasn't shown enough to keep him.

Agreed. What is amazing is how amerture fans can watch just 10 of summer league and know that Leque will be significantly better than Okobo. Sometimes talent is THAT obvious.

I just hope that young Leque works hard and can walk the straight and narrow. No Josh Jackson crap.

[bwgood77]

By that logic you could have given up on De'Aaron Fox after a year. Per 36, he had similar #s to Okobo...Okobo a better TS%, eFG%, similar ast/to ratio, steals. http://bkref.com/tiny/XQ9J5

Rookies struggle. Not saying he will be good, but giving up on guys after a year, particularly when they played on a dysfunctional team is premature, unless you desperately need the roster spot. Not sure we do.

With him and Lecque, it's not an either/or thing at this point.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Young players from Europe can have trouble adjusting early on. You guys remember how bad Dragic his first couple of years? I hate giving up on young players when the effort hasn't been put in to properly develop them. I would love to keep Bender and Okobo as end of the bench guys and see what a year of proper development does for them. The problem was when we needed them to start and produce, that is no longer the case.

Yeah, I never give up on young guys after one season. As for Bender I considered him a rookie contract project so I wouldn't mind bringing him back, but they look like they've moved on. I'll be surprised if they get rid of Okobo though.

It's just hard for me to see any path to value from Elie's contract. If he figures it out 4-5 years from now, then sign him in 4-5 years. I don't see anything in his game worth exercising the team option for. The biggest problem is that he fails to break down defenses, create shots, draw defenders. He's not good at anything.

I'd rather add a player with more promise at a position of need, a position at which we don't have other young players to develop.

... I also don't think that pointing at stats is the right approach. We're down on him because he's failed the eye test, not the stats test. Fox was always intriguing because of his incredible speed. Elie doesn't have that, from what I *see* but it's cool to disagree.

[bwgood77]

Young players from Europe can have trouble adjusting early on. You guys remember how bad Dragic his first couple of years? I hate giving up on young players when the effort hasn't been put in to properly develop them. I would love to keep Bender and Okobo as end of the bench guys and see what a year of proper development does for them. The problem was when we needed them to start and produce, that is no longer the case.

Yeah, I never give up on young guys after one season. As for Bender I considered him a rookie contract project so I wouldn't mind bringing him back, but they look like they've moved on. I'll be surprised if they get rid of Okobo though.

It's just hard for me to see any path to value from Elie's contract. If he figures it out 4-5 years from now, then sign him in 4-5 years. I don't see anything in his game worth exercising the team option for. The biggest problem is that he fails to break down defenses, create shots, draw defenders. He's not good at anything.

I'd rather add a player with more promise at a position of need, a position at which we don't have other young players to develop.

There is no team option. He's guaranteed this year. We pay him either way unless we trade him. It would be like cutting De'Aaron Fox after his rookie year. He shot fairly well from 3 in summer league, about 36%, mostly off the dribble. I'd let him develop since we likely lose Carter and Johnson next year. Your last few roster spots are usually development guys anyway. The problem is we had development guys at higher spots before. He would likely be 14th-15th man.

I mean it's not that big of a deal to cut him..it just doesn't seem necessary when you have to pay him anyway. They may if they want to add two other players, but he won't get much playing time, nor will likely anyone we add for the minimum. I guess I might prefer Spalding and Big Sauce, but not sure Sarver will want to eat $1.6 million to do that.

I guess if they don't think he's coachable or working hard they may consider.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Yeah, I never give up on young guys after one season. As for Bender I considered him a rookie contract project so I wouldn't mind bringing him back, but they look like they've moved on. I'll be surprised if they get rid of Okobo though.

It's just hard for me to see any path to value from Elie's contract. If he figures it out 4-5 years from now, then sign him in 4-5 years. I don't see anything in his game worth exercising the team option for. The biggest problem is that he fails to break down defenses, create shots, draw defenders. He's not good at anything.

I'd rather add a player with more promise at a position of need, a position at which we don't have other young players to develop.

There is no team option. He's guaranteed this year. We pay him either way unless we trade him. It would be like cutting De'Aaron Fox after his rookie year. He shot fairly well from 3 in summer league, about 36%, mostly off the dribble. I'd let him develop since we likely lose Carter and Johnson next year. Your last few roster spots are usually development guys anyway. The problem is we had development guys at higher spots before. He would likely be 14th-15th man.

I mean it's not that big of a deal to cut him..it just doesn't seem necessary when you have to pay him anyway. They may if they want to add two other players, but he won't get much playing time, nor will likely anyone we add for the minimum. I guess I might prefer Spalding and Big Sauce, but not sure Sarver will want to eat $1.6 million to do that.

I guess if they don't think he's coachable or working hard they may consider.

I was talking about next year's team option. I'm saying there's basically no chance we'll keep him around beyond this year in any case.

You don't see much to be gained from cutting him; I don't see anything to be gained from keeping him. I regard his salary as a sunk cost. I'm interested in looking at other options, that's all.

[pelifan]

Hard for me to watch NAW and not think he is exactly who the suns need at pg

Happy to see a player who I supported predraft be on my team and playing well though... miss you buddy H

[WeekapaugGroove]

I'd expect the Carter vs Okobo thing to work itself out in training camp. Hell one guy could get injured and make that decision for them. I do think it probably comes down to one or the other assuming they bring in another big. But even that's not an absolute, they could sign two bigs to the two way contracts and have the emergency depth that way.

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[bwgood77]

I'd expect the Carter vs Okobo thing to work itself out in training camp. Hell one guy could get injured and make that decision for them. I do think it probably comes down to one or the other assuming they bring in another big. But even that's not an absolute, they could sign two bigs to the two way contracts and have the emergency depth that way.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using RealGM mobile app

They still have an open roster spot to bring in a big.

[WeekapaugGroove]

I'd expect the Carter vs Okobo thing to work itself out in training camp. Hell one guy could get injured and make that decision for them. I do think it probably comes down to one or the other assuming they bring in another big. But even that's not an absolute, they could sign two bigs to the two way contracts and have the emergency depth that way.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using RealGM mobile app

They still have an open roster spot to bring in a big.

Ah for some reason I thought they were at 15 already. Then sure I'd keep Okobo around for another year. I was high on him after the pick but haven't been to impressed so far.

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[bwgood77]

I'd expect the Carter vs Okobo thing to work itself out in training camp. Hell one guy could get injured and make that decision for them. I do think it probably comes down to one or the other assuming they bring in another big. But even that's not an absolute, they could sign two bigs to the two way contracts and have the emergency depth that way.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using RealGM mobile app

They still have an open roster spot to bring in a big.

Ah for some reason I thought they were at 15 already. Then sure I'd keep Okobo around for another year. I was high on him after the pick but haven't been to impressed so far.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using RealGM mobile app

Me neither but never expect too much from young rookie PGs, especially on our dysfunctional team. I don't really care too much either way but don't see a big reason to give up this early given Carter and Johnson are likely gone next year and Lecque probably takes a couple years if he pans out and learns to shoot.

[lilfishi22]

I don't expect them to be PG's but I expect them to do something (anything) good at least. He hasn't even shown that. Certainly would prefer Carter over Okobo.

[Gorilla Warfare]

We should have drafted Carsen Edwards. That is the young instant offense we could use off the bench.

Also, Tacko Fall deserves to be a 10-12th man in this league for now, but sadly I think he’s going to fall down into the g-league.

[bwgood77]

I don't expect them to be PG's but I expect them to do something (anything) good at least. He hasn't even shown that. Certainly would prefer Carter over Okobo.

Me too. I don't expect to get rid of Carter either. Depth is nice and a young development guy is nice.

[bwgood77]

I guess we play China today at 3:30.

[bwgood77]

Summer league stats for those who are interested. https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/stats/2020/Averages/Qualified/points/All/desc/1/Summer_League

Just the Suns..

https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/teams/Phoenix-Suns/23/stats/2020/Averages/Qualified/points/All/desc/1/Summer_League

[SlovenianDragon]

I guess we play China today at 3:30.

so is this our last game because the earthquake **** us?

[Crives]

I guess we play China today at 3:30.

so is this our last game because the earthquake **** us?

Yes... poor Okobo

[SlovenianDragon]

better win by 30 lets gooo

[ATTL]

Xiao is playing well for china