2022-23 Season Discussion and Speculation 5 - The KD era begins

[Ghost of Kleine]

https://thunderousintentions.com/2022/12/11/writing-wall-future-darius-bazley/#:~:text=Despite%20his%20offensive%20struggles%2C%20Darius,64th%20percentile%20according%20to%20synergy.

Despite his offensive struggles, Darius Bazley has turned into an incredible defender that can switch 1-5 and in man defense, he is graded as good to the tune of 0.952 points per possession which ranks in the 64th percentile according to synergy.

[bwgood77]

TJ Warren was once nearly as beloved like Bridges was. It would be really cool for him to win a title with us after all this. I don’t think he’s much more than a bench scorer at this point in his career but it’s nice to have him back.

Respectfully, TJ "RIP Girlfriend" Warren was a headcase when he was here and not even close to Mikal. The fact we dumped him to Indiana speaks volumes about his PHX tenure and how the franchise felt about this guy. That said, I hope he can perform as we make this title run.

I'm pretty sure TJ's relationship with McD broke down after in addition to Josh Jackson they added Ariza (and drafted Bridges)...that is when he seemed to want out. We were starting Ariza and Jackson (and frankly, TJ was better than both)...he was injured most of that year, but I think may have been healthy near the end and didn't come back, probably fear of risking injury and knew we would ship him out since we had so many wings.

I think given we don't have McD, Sarver, Igor, Watson, Ariza, Bridges, Jackson, etc...he's in a much much much better situation here now. And him and Booker respect each other. He played with Ayton too as a rookie.

[SunsRback4Good]

I am shocked that Suns fans would rather be a good team with zero chance to win a NBA Finals for 4-5 more years vs. a top contender for the next couple of years. If we subbed Durant for Mikal vs the Bucks. We win the series 99% of the time, especially going up 2-0.

I love Mikal, I love CamJo but we got KEVIN DURANT! Mikal isnt calling up veterans and saying come join us, KD is, and will attract the top while he is here. We have 2-3 years left of him.

Bazley is a great 1-5 defender, and athletic! He is a great bench player and is = to Saric but more athletic, and better defender.

I am crossing my fingers that Derrick Rose gets bought out, and we convince him to come to the SUNS, and Josh Richardson!

Imagine that

CP3, DROSE, Payne
Booker, Richardson, Lee, Okogie
Craig, Warren
Durant, Bazley, Warren
Ayton, Biyombo, Landale.

Probably would be the best, most complete lineup we ever had as a franchise. Not too many weaknesses in each position. Obviously, there will always be minor weaknesses no matter what great a team is but you get my point.

[Crives]

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[bwgood77]

I'm old enough to remember when people made a big deal about Wall going to the clippers



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I still think the Clips will be very very tough to beat in the playoffs unless Kawhi/George get hurt. They have solid depth, even if no one is really really good. Gordon can be a really good player sometimes. So can Powell and Kennard a great shooter.

Yeah clips are good, just poking fun at the folks who treated Wall like some difference maker when he signed there this summer.

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I thought it was a good low risk, potentially somewhat high reward signing. Seems like you asked me at one point "still think the Clips will be good?"..same with Brooklyn before they got everyone back.

[Mulhollanddrive]

hmm so nothing more?

[bwgood77]

Wow Reggie Jackson to the Hornets for Plumlee, that is an odd one. If Jackson hits the buyout market that is probably the best name I’ve heard yet.

Absolutely and I think he would strongly consider Phoenix. Good spot for him to actually play and contend.

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Yeah, he played with KD.

[matt131]

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I missed this as well. That would be great. I imagine teams like the Lakers are still more favored in buyout deals though.

[SunsRback4Good]

https://thunderousintentions.com/2022/12/11/writing-wall-future-darius-bazley/#:~:text=Despite%20his%20offensive%20struggles%2C%20Darius,64th%20percentile%20according%20to%20synergy.

Despite his offensive struggles, Darius Bazley has turned into an incredible defender that can switch 1-5 and in man defense, he is graded as good to the tune of 0.952 points per possession which ranks in the 64th percentile according to synergy.

So basically Darius Bazley is Boris Diaw without the offense. I’ll take that any day of the week. Can’t wait to watch him, Craig, Okogie come off the bench and play suffocating defense.

[Crives]

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I missed this as well. That would be great. I imagine teams like the Lakers are still more favored in buyout deals though.

I think we are clear front runner, especially with us having AmLE available

[sunskerr]

https://thunderousintentions.com/2022/12/11/writing-wall-future-darius-bazley/#:~:text=Despite%20his%20offensive%20struggles%2C%20Darius,64th%20percentile%20according%20to%20synergy.

Despite his offensive struggles, Darius Bazley has turned into an incredible defender that can switch 1-5 and in man defense, he is graded as good to the tune of 0.952 points per possession which ranks in the 64th percentile according to synergy.

So basically Darius Bazley is Boris Diaw without the offense. I’ll take that any day of the week. Can’t wait to watch him, Craig, Okogie come off the bench and play suffocating defense.

and shoot 20% from 3...

[Bogyo]

https://thunderousintentions.com/2022/12/11/writing-wall-future-darius-bazley/#:~:text=Despite%20his%20offensive%20struggles%2C%20Darius,64th%20percentile%20according%20to%20synergy.

Despite his offensive struggles, Darius Bazley has turned into an incredible defender that can switch 1-5 and in man defense, he is graded as good to the tune of 0.952 points per possession which ranks in the 64th percentile according to synergy.

I think he migh even be the 5th starter eventually. We don't need scoring in the starting 5, we need defense and rebounding. We can do that better probably with him at the PF spot and KD as a small forward, than Craig playing the big wing. Craig might have a bit more offense and that will be needed from the bench for sure. Bazley just needs to stand in the corner on offense and shoot 3s at league average, while he is wide open. If he sneaks baseline for a couple dunks thats just added bonus.

[KLEON]

Read on Twitter

This has the potential to be a steal

[Fo-Real]

Not who I wanted from the Thunder

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PERFECT!!

[Mulhollanddrive]

Bazley starting SF?

[bwgood77]

I am shocked that Suns fans would rather be a good team with zero chance to win a NBA Finals for 4-5 more years vs. a top contender for the next couple of years. If we subbed Durant for Mikal vs the Bucks. We win the series 99% of the time, especially going up 2-0.

I love Mikal, I love CamJo but we got KEVIN DURANT! Mikal isnt calling up veterans and saying come join us, KD is, and will attract the top while he is here. We have 2-3 years left of him.

Bazley is a great 1-5 defender, and athletic! He is a great bench player and is = to Saric but more athletic, and better defender.

I am crossing my fingers that Derrick Rose gets bought out, and we convince him to come to the SUNS, and Josh Richardson!

Imagine that

CP3, DROSE, Payne
Booker, Richardson, Lee, Okogie
Craig, Warren
Durant, Bazley, Warren
Ayton, Biyombo, Landale.

We are certainly better with KD if everyone is healthy. But once Paul is done our depth is thinner. TJ will likely be gone too since he's on a minimum...not that he's that important.

But Bridges, Cam, Book and Ayton still have/had more upside and I don't necessarily think there was zero chance. We would have always been in the mix, for like the next 10 years if we keep those guys. We will see what happens to replace CP3 and eventually KD and if they hold up this year and next in the regular season and playoffs.

[sunskerr]

Bazley starting SF?

not much of a difference between him and KD defensively. Both can go to the 3 or slide up to the 5.

Justin Holiday is concerning because he couldn't get PT on an ATL team desperate for shooters. But if he could get back to that 37-38% from 3 where he was a few years ago he'd be more or less perfect for us. He's 33 but all we'd care about is if he can give us you know a good ~20 minutes in the playoffs and knock down 3s and defend.

[matt131]

so I 'think' we got past the deadline without the raptors helping out a western conference team. that is huge.

Lakers got much, much better. Clippers got...different.

If we can pick up Reggie and Holiday (if they are even bought out), i'd say we will have had the best deadline. However, if we don't pick up anyone else, I think we are a bit shallow.

Also, we only have 9 active guys tonight haha

[SunsRback4Good]

https://thunderousintentions.com/2022/12/11/writing-wall-future-darius-bazley/#:~:text=Despite%20his%20offensive%20struggles%2C%20Darius,64th%20percentile%20according%20to%20synergy.

So basically Darius Bazley is Boris Diaw without the offense. I’ll take that any day of the week. Can’t wait to watch him, Craig, Okogie come off the bench and play suffocating defense.

and shoot 20% from 3...

The other two off the bench would be Payne and Landale raising the 3 point % to 23%. good thing is they won’t play heavily minutes in the playoff.

[suns12345]

Is the deadline passed now?