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Of course we'd all like to land Durant ( within reason) and absent of overpay. But if things draf on and we end up not being able to land Durant, what would be everyone's best choice for realistic alternative upgrades to improve our roster this season, and why?? It could be one big move or a couple slightly smaller moves that yield bigger results through improved depth and versatility..Or even a move ( or two that would provide flexibility for us heading into 2023 free agency)??

I just want to hear what everyone's best options would be in the event Durant is no longer an option for us? Don't be afraid to really get creative on this premise too!
( use any trade format you like best as well if you like to):

https://basketball.realgm.com/tradechecker

http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine

https://fanspo.com/nba/trade-machine

Or maybe don't use a trade machine at all and just share your great ideas on what we could do to make the best out of a " No Durant " situation??

I'd probably just roll with the team basically as is and save their trade chips to use at the deadline after they have a better understanding of their weaknesses. I think the 30+ mil in expirings plus all their picks should leave them well positioned for a mid season trade.

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Durant didn’t ask out not knowing exactly what would happen

I roll back the team that got to the finals and won 64 and got more experience for our core. Not too terrible of a plan considering all our years, # of finals appearances, and # of times we've won 64 games. Payne can't play much worse. Shamet can't play worse. Saric will at least play.

I did mention a Crowder/Saric/protected pick for Barnes, but he expires and it's a downgrade defensively, depth wise, and getting rid of another first so I don't know if it would be worth it.

If no KD, run it back.

Although I'm not opposed to the idea of an Isaac trade if he's healthy for the right price.

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Donovan Mitchell if he would sign an extension here.

Run it back is an option but don't think it's a championship pathway so would just delay the inevitable.

Last year we carried 4 PGs, 4 Cs and about 8 wings across the 2-4 spots. I feel like that was pretty good balance considering half a team can be wiped out at any given time with COVID and most guys, even the guys like Payton, Holiday and Frank, served a role at some point in the season.

Going into next season, I see we only have 2 PGs and it worries me. At minimum I think we need to add at least one more guy who can play either starter or reserve at short notice. Would love a young heir to CP3, but then you run the risk (like Holiday) of not getting the minutes needed to develop into that role. Hence, I think we need to target a veteran who's content to play sparingly on a contender. Like a midseason trade for Neto, Rubio, Corey Joseph, Patty Mills, etc.

Otherwise, we'll probably end up seeing some Point-Shamet at some stage, which doesn't fill me with a great deal of confidence.

Dream situation? The Suns find a way to trade for Zion when he asks out. But more realistic and short-term:

Make Ayton a focal point of the team. Like I want equal shots for him and Booker. CP3 goes to the 3rd option.

Hope the camP can be a good backup and Shamet finds his shot. If not we need to make moves by Feb.

Also, not opposed to an Isaac trade provided by can get him cheaply.

My Plan B (basically my Plan A because I don't support giving up the farm for KD) echoes what others here are saying: run it back with tweaks.

I think we have a few expendable players but I only see Crowder really having much positive trade value, especially for a young team that is trying to turn that corner and get serious about contending, like maybe the Hawks. And I'm just over some of his borderline-dirty antics and am also ready for an upgrade at PF and/or for Cam Johnson to start. I would also be fine dealing Payne and Saric but I still have some faith in each of them and I don't think they'll be seen as positive value anyway. I have no faith in Shamet but I do have some hope for him (his athleticism surprises me repeatedly, so if he could hit his shots and play smart defense, he'd be worth his contract), but again I can't imagine other teams seeing him as a positive in a trade. Craig/Landale/Okogie could be other contracts to use in a trade. But most of the value would have to come from picks, which are going to be low, so it'll be tough.

For backup PG: Conley might be the best mix of realistically getable and still able to help. We could send Crowder, Craig, Okogie, Landale, and an FRP, maybe two. Those guys all expire so that gets them completely out of the last year of Conley's deal and they could probably flip Crowder for another late first or a couple of seconds. And it allows us to keep Saric as a backup big. Before making that move, I'd call about Lonzo, and maybe see if Kemba Walker perhaps has more left than people think, but both of those seem like pipe dreams.

Paul - Conley - Payne
Booker - Shamet
Bridges
CamJo - Saric - Wainwright?
Ayton - Biyombo

Not a perfect team but should compete for HCA in the playoffs and have a lot to prove once we get there!

I'm fine with running it back if the Nets won't budge on a KD trade. I think we'll need to make some moves at the deadline but to start the regular...who cares.

What I wouldn't be fine is going into the post season with the same squad. So Plan B, I'd look at Eric Gordon again.

I'd prefer a plan B of possibly running it back too now that Ayton is resigned. Albeit with a few roster adjustments to address issues that have been troublesome for us continually. Maybe move our expirings with some ( not majority of) our picks to be able to actually upgrade our depth from last year's.

1- Phoenix/ Utah
Saric/ Craig/ Payne/ ( lotto protected) 1st for Clarkson and Vanderbilt.

2- Phoenix/ Philly
Shamet/ ( lotto protected) 1st/ 2nd for Melton and Niang.

( ***IF bought out)
We sign:

- Kemba Walker.
- Daulton Hommes.
- Aaron Baynes.

Paul/ Booker/ Bridges/ Crowder/ Ayton.
Walker/ Melton/ Vandy/ Johnson/ Biyombo.
Lee/ Hommes/ Okogie/ Niang/ Baynes.

Guard/Wing capable of taking on some offensive responsibility off the bench
Small 5 option so we're not giving up a ton of open looks to other small ball/stretch 5s again
An actual Power Forward as an option off the bench would be nice for when we're playing teams with more size

Not sure who is left but can't imagine there's a lot of good options at this point

darealjuice wrote:Guard/Wing capable of taking on some offensive responsibility off the bench
Small 5 option so we're not giving up a ton of open looks to other small ball/stretch 5s again
An actual Power Forward as an option off the bench would be nice for when we're playing teams with more size

Not sure who is left but can't imagine there's a lot of good options at this point

Would you have liked Dipo if we could have gotten him for tax MLE? TJ Warren at minimum (I know unlikely he would want Suns)....of guys left available I am not sure who fits other than names thrown out there who are under contract from other teams who are unlikely like Gordon or Clarkson, neither of who I particularly want. I wouldn't mind Bojan but I can't imagine they would take crap for him unless we gave a 1st.

darealjuice wrote:Guard/Wing capable of taking on some offensive responsibility off the bench
Small 5 option so we're not giving up a ton of open looks to other small ball/stretch 5s again
An actual Power Forward as an option off the bench would be nice for when we're playing teams with more size

Not sure who is left but can't imagine there's a lot of good options at this point

The "pickins" are really slim now. But for scoring wings (SG options):
Hommes or Merrill would be good for the minimum.
Daulton Hommes
https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/players/daulton-hommes-1.html
(His stats, albeit international are very solid. And I really like his size for potential mismatches post-development).


Sam Merrill
(Merrill is everything that we wanted Shamet to be a great knockdown shooter that isn't at all timid to shoot! He's a bargain Kennard). He's more or less a bargain version of Kennard). He offers great value for the vet's minimum IF Shamet is outgoing in a Durant trade, or even as a 3rd rotation flamethrower.


And for a small ball 5 option,
I think we have covered decently for now. Otherwise, I may look at Reggie Perry or Moses Wright. There's also Michael Foster who's actually a very underrated, strong 4/5. Like a bigger, stronger Jeff Green perhaps.
Reggie Perry
https://stats.gleague.nba.com/player/1629617/traditional/


Moses Wright
https://stats.gleague.nba.com/player/1630589/


Lastly, Actual power forwards with size:
I really like Pter Cornelie and Meyers Leonard, Juan Hernangomez. But I like Cornelie the best on the cheap.
Pter Cornelie
https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/players/petr-cornelie-1.html

(He compares to Christian Wood quite favorably in many ways). He's very mobile for a 7'1 4/5. And a very good rebounder and 3 pt shooter.

Meyers Leonard
He hasn't played for a bit obviously due to significant issues. But he's still a top-notch floor spacing talent with size.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/leoname01.html

(**IF Leonards' mistake is too much for people to get past, Then we could always trade for Muscala IF we're still able to surrender a 1st without sabotaging our Durant chances). But of course, also have the Thunder include the rights to Micic for next season?? But my first choice is definitely Cornelie, and my 2nd (IF trade was a consideration) would be Muscala).

Juan Hernangomez
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hernaju01.html

(Although he may be a bit redundant with Landale). Ideally, We would have Isiah Hartenstein coming back IF that Gambo-mentioned trade is actually legitimate.

bwgood77 wrote:

darealjuice wrote:Guard/Wing capable of taking on some offensive responsibility off the bench
Small 5 option so we're not giving up a ton of open looks to other small ball/stretch 5s again
An actual Power Forward as an option off the bench would be nice for when we're playing teams with more size

Not sure who is left but can't imagine there's a lot of good options at this point

Would you have liked Dipo if we could have gotten him for tax MLE? TJ Warren at minimum (I know unlikely he would want Suns)....of guys left available I am not sure who fits other than names thrown out there who are under contract from other teams who are unlikely like Gordon or Clarkson, neither of who I particularly want. I wouldn't mind Bojan but I can't imagine they would take crap for him unless we gave a 1st.

I don’t see why not. I would have really liked Bruce Brown Jr on the deal the Nuggets got him on.

Schroder would be nice offense off the bench. PJ Dozier was kind of interesting before he got hurt, maybe see if there’s anything there. Harrell off the bench wouldn’t be horrible but we’re not hurting for big men either. Probably only getting someone that moves the needle much through trade at this point.

Agree with all the above. Just run it back and see what we can do at the deadline. We have a good amount of expirings/picks

Any chance we could make an offer the Cavs wouldn’t match for Sexton? Suns desperately need a shot creator/scorer that isn’t CP3 or Book. He’d be killer in the second unit.

Bojan would also be an excellent addition and won’t shoot you out of games like Crowder. Way more versatile offensively as well. I’d offer up a protected first for a far greater shot at a title with him on board. These would be my two targets.

WeekapaugGroove wrote:I'd probably just roll with the team basically as is and save their trade chips to use at the deadline after they have a better understanding of their weaknesses. I think the 30+ mil in expirings plus all their picks should leave them well positioned for a mid season trade.

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Most logical and sensible option
I probably would hold on to the MLE at this point and use in the buyout market if need be

Lean on and expect a lot from Ayton and Cam Jo!

Fo-Real wrote:Lean on and expect a lot from Ayton and Cam Jo!

Somebody in the main thread - maybe Bwoolf posted that the first two months of the season should be about getting Ayton touches. And I agree. Even if the Suns lose a few games in the process - figure out how to get Ayton to something like 22 points per game