What will it take for this team to be a contender again?

[Flying Colors]

First question is, can we contend? We the ragtag group of fellers we got now, could we be a dark horse?
if not what will it really take, do we need another piece, some role changes, some players to step up? what do you think

[MaryvalesFinest]

Needs a complete overhaul...

I could probably write an essay right now but if they want to get back to a championship level they need to do these two things

1) Play defense, right now they rank 28th or 29th in the league in defense. Not saying they have to be top 5, would be nice but top 10 would be alright.

2) Needs a star player, Amare is gone this summer and Nash retires in 2012 is the most likely scenario. Unless Earl Clark plays like the Lebron/Magic hybrid in the NBA like he did in his d-league game tonight I don't see how a team of Lopez, Dragic, Dudley and Amundson can win games. This is a stars league and you need them to win...

[DirtyDez]

Needs a complete overhaul...

Only with the right GM that has experience successfully rebuilding NBA franchises... With this current managment i'd say stand pat.

[MaryvalesFinest]

Needs a complete overhaul...

Only with the right GM that has experience successfully rebuilding NBA franchises... With this current managment i'd say stand pat.

Yeah you look around at every team in the league and it seems they have a competent GM while Sarver has his drinking buddy Kerr or in the future, a yes man in Dave Griffin...

[ma_falaa_50]

we have the players all we need is a great coaching staff.

[DaDragicShow]

we have the players all we need is a great coaching staff.

I would cream my pants if Dan Majerle became the Suns coach,

[MrVince]

If we build around Taylor Griffin, then possibly

[Qwigglez]

Keep Amare. Might be able to trade Richardson for a younger SG next trade deadline. Suns have a solid group of young guys.






Sign Deron Williams or Chris Paul when Nash leaves

[Sun Scorched]

Below are the only players we will have under contract (assuming no re-ups) in the 2011/2012 season that are currently on the roster right now.

Point Guard

Steve Nash – in the final year of his contract, Nash will be turning 38 year old. He will have had two more years under his belt and, more importantly, two more years of mentoring Dragic.

Goran Dragic – I have to be careful not to get too excited here, but Dragic does look like he can become 0.5 Nash and 0.5 Williams. He has and is developing the vision necessary, the passing ability required and the shooting touch of the former while possessing the physical tools and slashing ability of the latter. Flame away, but it is there.

Shooting Guard

Leandro Barbosa – going into the 2011/2012 season, Barbosa will have a player option for $7.6m. Will he take it? Odds are more than likely that the new CBA will see a significant reduction in the salary for most NBA players and it’s possible, though not definite, that teams could get similar production for less at that point. My guess is that Leandro stays in the valley, but this still begs the question: Is he a starting SG?

Small Forward

Jared Dudley – a fantastic “glue” guy that does everything well, but nothing great. Unless you count his 3pt fg% that is… 44.3%. Think of a younger, more active Raja Bell. Dudley is defensively oriented and does not need the ball in his hands to be effective; that’s something we haven’t had since Bell.

Power Forward

Earl Clark – “potential” is the key word here, but assuming (or rather, hoping) a Dragic like ascension in his sophomore year we would be looking at a decent defensive cog that could develop into a Marion-esque type asset for this team; One that just happens to be played $15 million less.

Center

Robin Lopez – who doesn’t love a 7 footer with energy and fire. With increased footwork/lateral speed Robin will become a 10+ per night guy. Will he ever be as offensively oriented as his brother? Maybe not, but he doesn’t need to be. The Suns will always be able to put scorers around the big guy. 10ppg, 10rpg and 2bpg makes this guy exactly what we need (and always have needed) down in the low post. Now go develop that hook shot young one! Go!

So, where does that leave us roster-wise?
PG – Nash/Dragic
SG – Barbosa
SF – Dudley
PF – Clark
C – Lopez

For a whopping total of $26,290,904 under contract assuming Barbosa takes his option.

Our draft picks between here and now look like this:

2010 – CHA 2nd, CLE 2nd
2011 – PHX 1st, PHX 2nd

Assuming one of the 2010 2nds stick and we roster both of the 2011 draft picks, we have 9 players and $24 million (up to the cap, if one still does exist in its present state) to split between 4 other players to get us to the 13 player minimum.

[AZdeuce]

Honestly Kerr has ACCIDENTLY done a good job of mixing youth and veterans on this team keeping it a contender. I mean we could be in Dallas' position with the exemption of two players on the Mavs all are over 30 years old. In 1 to 2 years Dallas is in a really bad place.
Phoenix is currently only carrying 3 players on our roster of players over thirty
Nash-Dragic is rounding out to be a very nice player
Hill-If clark rounds out may be Hills replacement
Collins-bench player, dime a dozen

So what I am saying is Phoenix is in a great situation to maintain competative while rebuilding. So i am pleased. My opinion is if some how some why we can get an ALL-star next year we are golden.

[impulsenine]

Scorched, that's a great analysis, thanks.

I am, at this point, figuring that the Suns will get Amare for just slightly less than what he asked for, but at the full amount of time he asked for.

I also think Nash will stay for a high, but not incredibly/undeservedly high, price.

Assuming those two things happen, and that JRich, Frye, and/or Barbosa get traded, do you think we could find a superstar SG to replace him/them? I mean - JRich and Barbosa command $20M in salary. That's Super-Star salary.

[Zarko]

Well, if we could go back in time and go in the future at the same time (Past- Nash/Hill Future- Lopez/Dragic) the suns would be a contender

[RaisingArizona]

Keep Amar'e, keep our picks. I like our nucleolus and the way we're developing. I still think we need to upgrade our sg position but with barbs back, we should be okay now.

[hunterxaz]

Nash and Amare alone make us contenders. We're making a championship run this season... we will next season after we re-sign Amare, we have two all-stars and can make a run.

[Jimmy76]

total rebuild

we're 5-10 years from really contending again and thats assuming we rebuild well

[MarJJMar]

An allstar draftpick.

[impulsenine]

I've never really been happy with the total rebuild plan - seems to me it fails as often as it works.

I mean, can anyone think of a championship contender (a team in the conference finals) that went from ground zero (think New York or New Jersey) to contender in the amount of time it would take to get a draft player going (i.e., about 3 years)?

[Juicy Juice]

If we lose Amare, go for Perry Jones next year. If we keep Amare, try to get a young SG.

[SUN]

We need to upgrade the SF postion.


Let`s face it homies, Grant Hill is old. He is not¸ as strong as he was before - and he is one of those ``Get injured, R.I.P career`` type of guys.

SG

Well, Jason is not that BAD, and LB is awesome, but I think the SG needs to be on lockdown, not a Sixth man guy, or a bone-head like Jason, a stable dude maybe a Draft pick.


PG

Goran Dragic, yes please.

Steve Nash, yes, PLEASE.

We could also use a new GM, and a few solid picks. Other then that, not horrible.

[DBrimstone]

I've never really been happy with the total rebuild plan - seems to me it fails as often as it works.

I mean, can anyone think of a championship contender (a team in the conference finals) that went from ground zero (think New York or New Jersey) to contender in the amount of time it would take to get a draft player going (i.e., about 3 years)?

Cleveland... That's all I can think of. And that took like 6 years. Boston sort of, but they just made a couple big trades, rather than big draft picks to do that