RealGM

Comments

Nash is gone. Amare and Shaq will go because they're unhappy Nash is gone. J Rich will probably want to play out his contract or get an extension just to make sure they sell some tickets. I think Nash/Shaq/Amare will be traded.

My predictions:

- Nash is traded if he rejects the contract extension

- Amare and Shaq will stay for another season

I have no doubt Shaq is the one most likely to stay. There is a lot of trade talk surrounding him, but I think they will let his contract expire in 2010 to pursue some good free-agents and hope to get one more good year out of Shaq.

Shaq has also claimed that he's staying just a few days ago.

He wants to stay, which I admire considering all the mistakes Kerr has made since he's been in Phoenix.

Remember, it was reported Shaq rejected a deal at the trade deadline which would have sent him to Portland.

I know many fans don't like Shaq, but I think he deserves some respect because:

- He was the team's best player last season

- He's worked VERY hard with the training staff

- He has outplayed Marion since the trade

- Players and coaches on the team have talked about what a great team-mate he is off-the-court.

- He wants to stay even though Kerr is a horrible GM

nash wont be traded he is staying in phoenix amare is staying unless a team offers the suns a great deal and shaq is mostly the one that will be traded not nash nor amare

I think Amare's gone if we can get a cheaper replacement (ie Tyrus), otherwise he's kept and not re-signed til we've established how his eye is

Nash stays

Shaq is gone for a cactus, a bottle of water and packet of pencils

JRich stays because we can't find anyone who wants him that isn't offering an equally bad contract back

We draft Budinger or some other player NOBODY here wants at #14

We don't re-sign Hill or Barnes. Hill goes to LAL, Barnes goes to BOS

I think it comes back to what we will get in return.

Having said that I think Shaq is the most likely to leave. I mainly base this on the fact that Nash can and more then likely will keep going after his contract ends and he's usually pretty reasonable when it comes to money/contracts (I'm sure a certain Dallas owner might disagree with that). So longer term there's a chance we could re-sign him on a relatively cheap contract.

Shaq on the other hand is here for a good time, not a long time. If he keeps going past his contract (and I seriously doubt he will) it would need to be for decent coin. Shaq doesn't play for the love of the game. He'll be able to get a decent media contract while not having to train or listen to anyone. Not to mention his obsession over the season with moving up the all-time rankings makes me think next season will be it for him.

I think Amare's situation all revolves around his contract, health and what we could get. Just too many variables to know whether he'll stick around. I'm sure they'd love to keep him but clearly not for the max.

I don't see us trading JRich less then 12 months after obtaining him. To admit that 2 major trades haven't worked out in such a short space of time would be way too embarrassing.

I dunno why but I expect Hill to be with us next season. I think he just appreciates that our medical staff has managed to keep him healthy for a full season.

Barnes will go.

Shaq on the other hand is here for a good time, not a long time. If he keeps going past his contract (and I seriously doubt he will) it would need to be for decent coin. Shaq doesn't play for the love of the game. He'll be able to get a decent media contract while not having to train or listen to anyone. Not to mention his obsession over the season with moving up the all-time rankings makes me think next season will be it for him.

Shaq said he plans to play until 2012. He was going to retire after this upcoming season, but he says the Suns training staff has him feeling so good he intends to play two more years after that.

As much as I like Shaq, I was hoping this upcoming season would be his last.

He has nothing left to prove and it's been an ugly ending to his career so far and the longer he plays, the more risk there is of tarnishing his legacy.

There is no way he will re-sign with the Suns after next season, so it's better to trade him while he still has some value instead of risking losing him for nothing.

I am amazed he wants to come back and play for a team that has a GM that has destroyed a title contender by trading Bell/Diaw and running out D'Antoni.

But Shaq says Kerr has treated him better than any other GM he has ever been around.

I don't see us trading JRich less then 12 months after obtaining him. To admit that 2 major trades haven't worked out in such a short space of time would be way too embarrassing.

I hope they trade Richardson because he's a terrible defender, but I don't know who would want him. Him and Nash are the worst defensive back-court in the NBA.

He's a talented offensive player and a great athlete, but he has a low basketball IQ and is a TERRIBLE defender.

But I don't think Kerr is afraid to admit he made a mistake.

He has shown that by firing Porter so quickly and admitting the Shaq trade was a mistake just a few days ago.

I think he knows it was a mistake to trade two great defenders in Raja and Boris for a guy who plays zero defense.

According to Nash, Porter is the reason they were traded. He says Raja and Boris didn't like playing for Porter and Porter didn't like them, so management chose to get rid of them.

The team really missed Boris after Amare got hurt and missed Raja's defense.

I wish the Suns kept them.

Shaq says a lot of things but I still don't think he'll sign another NBA contract unless he's put in some kind of "can't lose" situation (and like you said it certainly won't be with us).

I am amazed he wants to come back and play for a team that has a GM that has destroyed a title contender by trading Bell/Diaw and running out D'Antoni.

Yeah, the poor guy only gets 20m for one more season ... must be tough!

I think he knows it was a mistake to trade two great defenders in Raja and Boris for a guy who plays zero defense.

Raja was far from a great defender the last season or two he was with us. Would like to lay it at the feet of Porter's coaching but signs were there even under D'Antoni. Just wasn't the same physically as his first couple of seasons with us. That injury he copped in the play-offs (against Dallas IIRC) ... was just never the same after that. Couldn't keep up with quicker players which is what perimeter defending is all about.

Yeah, the irony that we traded Boris in the season we really needed him isn't lost on me!

I think there's more chance of trading someone like Barbosa then JRich to be honest. Wouldnt be surprised if he is thrown in with a deal to sweeten the pot. We def can't afford a back-court trio of LB, JRich and Nash ... zero defense there.

Well, most guys in his situation would probably be hoping to be traded or something, but Shaq already turned down a trade at the trade deadline and has made it clear he wants to be back.

The Suns are no longer a contender and the main reason he wanted to come to the Suns was because he thought the team were contenders.

Kerr has destroyed this team.

It all started when he ran out D'Antoni; one of the best coaches in the NBA.

I have no doubt that if D'Antoni/Bell/Diaw stayed and everyone was healthy, this past season would have been a very successful one.

I have no faith in Gentry. He's a better fit than Porter, but he's not a great coach.

Nash will make his own decision. Kerr will then react to that. W/O Nash, we have to rethink what we will be doing. Essentially, he holds the key to our future. Another 3 yrs of him or .... light the fuse.

Again, if we do nothing but add a rookie, may be a cheap PF/C, and retain Hill... barring injury, this team will compete for a play off spot... but a true contender ???

To think we can get significantly better by trading Stat, Nash, or Shaq is a stretch.

The rebuild is looming on the horizon. Its never easy for any team to dismantle its core.

Hey man, its good to see you in here again KJ7

I think this upcoming week, nothing happens. Nash is waiting to see what happens with this team and no way in Hell do I want a cheaper, and crappier replacment in Tyrus. That dude is not that good and never will be. I think will take a wait and see approach with Amare, which in turn will burn them again. Shaq should not be traded unless we can get some kind of youth or picks back. His value is rising and will be higher at the deadline.

I would trade barbs unless you can bring in a bigger guard who can play next to barbs and is a good decision maker. You know, someone like JJ.

The Diesel wrote:

Shaq on the other hand is here for a good time, not a long time. If he keeps going past his contract (and I seriously doubt he will) it would need to be for decent coin. Shaq doesn't play for the love of the game. He'll be able to get a decent media contract while not having to train or listen to anyone. Not to mention his obsession over the season with moving up the all-time rankings makes me think next season will be it for him.

Shaq said he plans to play until 2012. He was going to retire after this upcoming season, but he says the Suns training staff has him feeling so good he intends to play two more years after that.

As much as I like Shaq, I was hoping this upcoming season would be his last.

He has nothing left to prove and it's been an ugly ending to his career so far and the longer he plays, the more risk there is of tarnishing his legacy.

There is no way he will re-sign with the Suns after next season, so it's better to trade him while he still has some value instead of risking losing him for nothing.

I am amazed he wants to come back and play for a team that has a GM that has destroyed a title contender by trading Bell/Diaw and running out D'Antoni.

But Shaq says Kerr has treated him better than any other GM he has ever been around.

I don't see us trading JRich less then 12 months after obtaining him. To admit that 2 major trades haven't worked out in such a short space of time would be way too embarrassing.

I hope they trade Richardson because he's a terrible defender, but I don't know who would want him. Him and Nash are the worst defensive back-court in the NBA.

He's a talented offensive player and a great athlete, but he has a low basketball IQ and is a TERRIBLE defender.

But I don't think Kerr is afraid to admit he made a mistake.

He has shown that by firing Porter so quickly and admitting the Shaq trade was a mistake just a few days ago.

I think he knows it was a mistake to trade two great defenders in Raja and Boris for a guy who plays zero defense.

According to Nash, Porter is the reason they were traded. He says Raja and Boris didn't like playing for Porter and Porter didn't like them, so management chose to get rid of them.

The team really missed Boris after Amare got hurt and missed Raja's defense.

I wish the Suns kept them.

Who did like playing for Porter? He suffocated the offense while forcing the team to play a horrible, jumbled brand of what he thought was "defense" and completely mishandled the bench. With that said, I really liked Raja and Boris but J-Rich is pretty awesome. (at least on offense) If we can add someone like Posey in a trade for Shaq he would probably either equal or exceed Raja's play here. We have some good young wings and just players in general although Lopez sucks. They help to equal Diaw. Diaw is still good but he never seemed to equal his play in the 06-07 season.

chrice wrote:Nash is gone. Amare and Shaq will go because they're unhappy Nash is gone. J Rich will probably want to play out his contract or get an extension just to make sure they sell some tickets. I think Nash/Shaq/Amare will be traded.

wtf? are you serious? you've been smoking bull $hit. I'm not surprised either Shaq or Amar'e get traded but Nash is staying put.

-I hope Nash stays (I just posted a much longer comment on this in the "Nash will be traded this offseason" thread).

-I hope Shaq is traded. I have never been a fan of him and in fact I will always think he was somewhat overrated though I am sure I am in the minority with these thoughts.
Yeah he has the numbers and titles to back up the "one of the greatest players of all time" talk but I will never think of him as being as good as the best C's the league has seen, even those in more recent years like Olajuwon. Anyway, all that said I do appreciate what he brought to the team last season but I won't be sad to see him go.

-Amare is a tough one. I have always like him as a player but as a person he is not very likeable and his ego seems to grow bigger everyday. If he would be happy just to play hard and not pout if things don't go his way then I say keep him. If he's just going to be a distraction and he's not going to put in the effort then I say trade him. I have a feeling he will be traded.

-I hope Hill stays. He is all class and the kind of solid veteran presence our young guys need. Plus he can still play at relatively high level despite his age.

-I hope J-Rich is traded. Just don't think he is right for this team despite the fact he is talented on offense.

-Barnes I think will leave.

-Rest of the team will stay the same IMO.

KJ7 wrote:Not to mention his obsession over the season with moving up the all-time rankings

I think he was obsessed with moving up the all-time Twitter rankings

Nash, Shaq and Amare stay ...so I guess that means "stay put"

[Suns nearly trade Amare in return for Al Jefferson (via Washington) on draft day, but the player Minnesota wants at #5 isn't there, so no deal is made]

SSOS Suns win 52-54 games next year and make some noise in the playoffs

Shaq gets traded for Deng, Tim Thomas and Jerome James. JRich goes for Chandler. Nash stays and we draft either Jennings or Clark.

Chandler isn't going to be traded unless they get expirings in return.

ryan0098 wrote:Shaq gets traded for Deng, Tim Thomas and Jerome James. JRich goes for Chandler. Nash stays and we draft either Jennings or Clark.

I think this wouldn't work out with either team.

Shaq(a contract which ends next year) for Deng (has 5 years for 18 million left) the suns organization doesn't want to pay a player like Deng for that long and much.

J-Rich for Chandler wouldn't work either because all the hornets want are expiring contracts.

I say we will probably draft Jennings or Clark, Nash and Amare will stay and Shaq will be traded. JRich, whom I'd like to move, will most likely stay because no one wants his contract. Hill will resign, Barnes will go elsewhere. If we get a good center in return for Shaq, then we'll be a competitor in the playoffs next year, but if we do the deal with cleveland, we'll have to pick up someone in free agency and there's not really anything out there right now.