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Let's talk about Jalen Smith and how great he's been playing since he's been thrown into the starting lineup. He's pretty much been averaging 16/10 in 25 minutes and is ONLY 21 years of age.

So now the fun part, the Suns didn't pick up his 4.7M Team Option making his an unrestricted free agent this offseason. I'm sure Smith is ecstatic about this decision as it will probably lead to a bigger payday for him.

I don't think this will break the Suns since they're still in a great spot but they made tons of moves like these during the Nash years that could have helped put them over the top. How badly can you misjudge their own talent to not see the potential to keep him around?

At this stage, they're probably better off trading him at the deadline since I doubt they'll be able to keep him. They already signed Biyombo to be the 3rd string center for the remainder of the year.

What teams do you feel could make a good target?

He's an active big man with bounce and shooting range. Lots of teams look for that kind of player every year.

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They already signed Biyombo to be the 3rd string center for the remainder of the year.

Is Kaminsky out for the year? Can't seem to find anything about it besides "out indefinitely", he was playing great this season before the injury

Pistons will probably be coming after bigs this off-season with alot of cap. So they're probably one team to worry about.

Man, Sarver has just got to go. He ruined the Suns dynasty during the Nash/Amare/Marion era by making cost cutting moves, trading draft picks for cash, and making it extremely difficult for them to win a title.

Looks like he's doing it again. The draft pick didn't make sense to begin with but now this makes even less sense! F this guy! Sorry Suns fans!

I don't think Suns fans are too upset about this with 5 serviceable centers, including a young franchise centerpiece. They can't be spending their entire budget on centers.

Bobbcats wrote:I don't think Suns fans are too upset about this with 5 serviceable centers, including a young franchise centerpiece. They can't be spending their entire budget on centers.

Seems like he has potential to be more than just a serviceable center though. The Ayton situation can still end badly for the Suns if Ayton has any resentment for not getting paid and decides he doesn't want to come back.

Regardless, it just doesn't seem like the best use of your assets in letting a 21 year old walk without getting anything back for him. Let's see how it plays out.

James Jones and Monty keep pushing the idea of Smith being a 4... but hes a 5 with a 4's body.

The Suns should've picked up his 3rd year option - that much is clear. But its also clear that now they have the front court depth that they did not have last year.

I also think the Suns won't trade him - they'll look to trade Saric, Payton, and Kaminsky instead for wing depth.

The interesting part about Smith is his free agency this summer.

Tor_Raps wrote:

Bobbcats wrote:I don't think Suns fans are too upset about this with 5 serviceable centers, including a young franchise centerpiece. They can't be spending their entire budget on centers.

Seems like he has potential to be more than just a serviceable center though. The Ayton situation can still end badly for the Suns if Ayton has any resentment for not getting paid and decides he doesn't want to come back.

Regardless, it just doesn't seem like the best use of your assets in letting a 21 year old walk without getting anything back for him. Let's see how it plays out.

A 21 year old that you just picked with the 11th pick... LAST YEAR...

Tyrese Halliburton, Cole Anthony, Devin Vassel, Isiah Stewart, all got picked right after him.

To just let that pick go for absolutely nothing makes no sense other than the fact that Robert Sarver did this before to save money. The guy is a total POS and has no business owning an NBA team after he continually puts them behind the 8-ball.

So do they (or a team that traded for him before the deadline) have Bird rights? Otherwise if not, no real reason for another team to pursue a trade either.

The number of active Jalen/Jaylens in the NBA is crazy.

Jalen Brunson - Mavs
Jalen McDaniels - Hornets
Jalen Green - Rockets
Jalen Suggs - Magic
Jalen Smith - Suns
Jalen Johnson - Hawks

Jaylen Brown - Celtics
Jaylen Nowell - Timberwolves
Jaylen Hoard - Thunder
Jaylen Morris - Spurs

DJ (DeVante Jaylen) Wilson - Raptors
Immanuel Jaylen Quickley - Knicks

Last season there was -

Jaylen Adams - Bucks
Jalen Harris - Raptors
Jalen Lecque - Pacers

A quick google and apparently the popularity of the name in the US can be attributed to Jalen Rose.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31309206/the-jalen-generation-how-jalen-rose-name-spread-world-sports

flranger wrote:So do they (or a team that traded for him before the deadline) have Bird rights? Otherwise if not, no real reason for another team to pursue a trade either.

This doesn't happen often - but I think they would retain his bird rights however the difference is now he's unrestricted he can just walk away for the FA offer he likes, where as if he was restricted the Suns could match. I think there is also a limited % the Suns can increase his salary by

Golden Knight wrote:The number of active Jalen/Jaylens in the NBA is crazy.

Indeed!

And at least 3 more to come in the next draft:

Jaden Ivey
Jalen Duren
Jaden Hardy

All of them lottery prospects.

Also...

Jaylin (!) Williams (Arkansas)
Jaden Shackelford (Alabama)

Both top 100 prospects.

Cp3 makes big men look like all-stars. Look at Deandre Jordan, Kaminsky, Biyombo, etc

Nothing to really see here NBA, move along.

Jalen Smith is not the center you have been looking for.

Tor_Raps wrote:

Bobbcats wrote:I don't think Suns fans are too upset about this with 5 serviceable centers, including a young franchise centerpiece. They can't be spending their entire budget on centers.

Seems like he has potential to be more than just a serviceable center though. The Ayton situation can still end badly for the Suns if Ayton has any resentment for not getting paid and decides he doesn't want to come back.

Regardless, it just doesn't seem like the best use of your assets in letting a 21 year old walk without getting anything back for him. Let's see how it plays out.

Also, McGee is a free agent next season, and with the way he's been playing he'll probably get a decent paycheck from some team. Smith would have been a cheap replacement. The suns are now at serious risk of losing both guys next offseason.

Golden Knight wrote:The number of active Jalen/Jaylens in the NBA is crazy.

Jalen Brunson - Mavs
Jalen McDaniels - Hornets
Jalen Green - Rockets
Jalen Suggs - Magic
Jalen Smith - Suns
Jalen Johnson - Hawks

Jaylen Brown - Celtics
Jaylen Nowell - Timberwolves
Jaylen Hoard - Thunder
Jaylen Morris - Spurs

DJ (DeVante Jaylen) Wilson - Raptors
Immanuel Jaylen Quickley - Knicks

Last season there was -

Jaylen Adams - Bucks
Jalen Harris - Raptors
Jalen Lecque - Pacers

A quick google and apparently the popularity of the name in the US can be attributed to Jalen Rose.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31309206/the-jalen-generation-how-jalen-rose-name-spread-world-sports

jalen/jaden/aiden/kaiden etc was just some trendy name in the early late90s/2000s for some reason. pretty soon we're gonna be talking about all the bran starks and ron weasleys in pro sports

One of those, He didnt show anything so it kind of made sense, but they just **** up as he's looked more then fine since he's gotten more minutes. May end up his blessing as he may get a decent payday from somewhere

brutalitops wrote:One of those, He didnt show anything so it kind of made sense, but they just **** up as he's looked more then fine since he's gotten more minutes. May end up his blessing as he may get a decent payday from somewhere

It probably falls more under the category of Sarver making short sighted moves when the suns are contenders.

Smith was brought in as a raw player who could potentially develop into a defensive stretch big. Even if he showed little promise in his rookie year, who gives up on a former lottery selection after just one year?

Anyone getting starter minutes and touches puts up counting stats especially bigs when they're the only ones on the team. He's nothing special. It was dumb to let him become an UFA though because he's the ultimate role player that will continue to work hard trying to earn minutes thus making him valuable for you and other teams in trades. Typical Suns.

I could be wrong, but didnt Phoenix waive him this past summer?