2023-24 Season Discussion and Speculation - Free Agency Begins

[Puff]

I think we are far too worried about us not having a great point guard. When we have had great point guards we have won nothing except for a bunch of regular season games.

Teams that have won championships, without a great point guard.

Lakers with Kobe - his point guard was Derek Fisher 3 assists with PER of 11.7

Bulls with Jordan - his point guard was Steve Kerr 1.8 assists with a 13.1 Per

Spurs with Duncan - his point guard was Tony Parker - 5.6 assists with a 18.2 PER

What PG helped Lebron win anything?

We have three guys Book, KD and Beal in the same conversation as these leaders of the teams above that won multiple championships.

The one thing that all of those teams did do, was play defense. That is my only concern, not who is going to lead the league in assists.

We are going to be just fine as long as we stay relatively healthy.

[Puff]

Gambo is about to discuss the point guard position during his next segment. It will be interesting as to how he views it.

[Sunsdeuce]

I think we are far too worried about us not having a great point guard. When we have had great point guards we have won nothing except for a bunch of regular season games.

Teams that have won championships, without a great point guard.

Lakers with Kobe - his point guard was Derek Fisher 3 assists with PER of 11.7

Bulls with Jordan - his point guard was Steve Kerr 1.8 assists with a 13.1 Per

Spurs with Duncan - his point guard was Tony Parker - 5.6 assists with a 18.2 PER

What PG helped Lebron win anything?

We have three guys Book, KD and Beal in the same conversation as these leaders of the teams above that won multiple championships.

The one thing that all of those teams did do, was play defense. That is my only concern, not who is going to lead the league in assists.

We are going to be just fine as long as we stay relatively healthy.

Just one tad correction: Bulls with Jordan had BJ Armstrong (12 ppg 4 assists 91-95) and Ron Harper (8ppg 2.5 assists 95-99). Kerr came off the bench and was never a starter unless there was an injury. Otherwise your premise is correct.

[Slim Charless]

Read on Twitter

So we actually only have 5 2nd round picks.

So ishbia spent 5.7m to not spend 15m or whatever

5.7M to not spend $26.5M in tax penalties.

Smart move with Beal, Book, Gordon and Goodwin over Payne in the rotation.

Also, it's worth bringing up that if we drop below the 2nd apron, then we are allowed to buy picks again next draft cycle. I think that at part of the reasoning here too. Along with not paying an insane amount of luxury tax.

[lilfishi22]

Kyle Lowry if somehow acquired would be the last missing piece to the puzzle for a possible dynasty in the makings. It would make our team even more stacked and the league might as well hand us our first nba championship trophy. Regardless if we acquire him or not, I can’t see us losing this year. I’ve never been more confident in a squad since 01 when I began watching suns basketball.

If Lowry was 30, maybe there's a dynasty in the making but dude will be 38 before the playoffs begin.

[lilfishi22]

Read on Twitter

?s=46

That’s really odd pick protection. We get it if it’s the 1 of 5 picks in the second round. Weird.

The whole point is for it to be so protected (within legal reason) that it won't convey in order to meet the trade requirements. Spurs weren't going to give us cash, an actual pick or a player but had to give something so this was the workaround.

[lilfishi22]

The second Phoenix received from San Antonio is:

2024 via SAS (protected 31-49 and 55-59)

The Suns had to receive cash, draft considerations or a player in the trade.

They received a second that likely doesn’t get conveyed.

Read on Twitter

So we actually only have 5 2nd round picks.

So ishbia spent 5.7m to not spend 15m or whatever

I thought we saved like $25m in tax just in that Spurs trade alone.

[bwoolf2]

Suggs could be a lockdown defender like Marcus Smart. We should get him before Celtics or Lakers do.

That's what Goodwin is at a fraction of the cost. Pass

Lol. Goodwin. OK cool.

Ok ok, who is who

17 min 6.6 pts 3.3 reb 2.7 ast def rating 113.3

24 min 9.9 3 reb 2.9 ast def rating 112.9

[Slim Charless]

That's what Goodwin is at a fraction of the cost. Pass

Lol. Goodwin. OK cool.

Ok who is who

17 min 6.6 pts 3.3 reb 2.7 ast def rating 113.3

24 min 9.9 3 reb 2.9 ast def rating 112.9

That's aside from the point which is that Suggs didn't come on until later in the year. I'm at the airport now or I'd pull up stats showing the massive leap he took defensively in the later part of the year. Orlando started winning alot more games and while Paolo and Franz will get the credit, Suggs defense played a huge part of it.

Now, why would they then draft those guards they did? Probably because they had pidgoen holed themselves into having to take guards. They very well couldn't have drafted guys to take over for Franz/Paolo.

Comparing pedigree and talent/athleticism is no contest between Suggs and Goodwin. It's hilarious to even attempt. Suggs is a better player with a MUCH higher ceiling.

[bwoolf2]

Lol. Goodwin. OK cool.

Ok who is who

17 min 6.6 pts 3.3 reb 2.7 ast def rating 113.3

24 min 9.9 3 reb 2.9 ast def rating 112.9

That's aside from the point which is that Suggs didn't come on until later in the year. I'm at the airport now or I'd pull up stats showing the massive leap he took defensively in the later part of the year. Orlando started winning alot more games and while Paolo and Franz will get the credit, Suggs defense played a huge part of it.

Now, why would they then draft those guards they did? Probably because they had pidgoen holed themselves into having to take guards. They very well couldn't have drafted guys to take over for Franz/Paolo.

Comparing pedigree and talent/athleticism is no contest between Suggs and Goodwin. It's hilarious to even attempt. Suggs is a better player with a MUCH higher ceiling.

Ok dude lol, Suggs hasnt been good as a pro and saying he has just is basing that on him as a college player, that's why Orlando keeps trying to upgrade, and the kid they drafted this year is already better.

And where someone is drafted is irrelevant once they are in the league would you rather have Giannis or Anthony Bennett Ayton or Joker....

[Slim Charless]

Ok who is who

17 min 6.6 pts 3.3 reb 2.7 ast def rating 113.3

24 min 9.9 3 reb 2.9 ast def rating 112.9

That's aside from the point which is that Suggs didn't come on until later in the year. I'm at the airport now or I'd pull up stats showing the massive leap he took defensively in the later part of the year. Orlando started winning alot more games and while Paolo and Franz will get the credit, Suggs defense played a huge part of it.

Now, why would they then draft those guards they did? Probably because they had pidgoen holed themselves into having to take guards. They very well couldn't have drafted guys to take over for Franz/Paolo.

Comparing pedigree and talent/athleticism is no contest between Suggs and Goodwin. It's hilarious to even attempt. Suggs is a better player with a MUCH higher ceiling.

Ok dude lol, Suggs hasnt been good as a pro and saying he has just is basing that on him as a college player, that's why Orlando keeps trying to upgrade, and the kid they drafted this year is already better.

And where someone is drafted is irrelevant once they are in the league would you rather have Giannis or Anthony Bennett Ayton or Joker....

Nonsense:

Since his return, the Magic have a 115.4 defensive rating overall. With Suggs on the floor, the Magic have a 106.5 defensive rating. No other regular rotation player has a better on-court defensive rating than Suggs (the Magic posted a 90.5 defensive rating in Jonathan Isaac’s 10 minutes on the floor Monday).

It actually is not even close with Moe Wagner the next-best player in that mark at 109.3.

On top of this, Jalen Suggs is second on the team in deflections per game for the season with 2.8 per game (trailing only Markelle Fultz). But since his return, he is still averaging 2.3 deflections per game despite his minutes dropping to just 14.1 per game, a significant drop from his season average of 23.1 minutes per game.

Even further since his return, opponents shoot just 43.9 percent when Suggs is the closest defender

https://orlandomagicdaily.com/2023/01/25/jalen-suggs-development-is-a-tricky-case-for-the-orlando-magic/

This is a silly argument. If you really think that Jordan Goodwin is a better player then you need to actually watch games. I'm sure you watch Suns games, but there's other teams bro.

[bwoolf2]

That's aside from the point which is that Suggs didn't come on until later in the year. I'm at the airport now or I'd pull up stats showing the massive leap he took defensively in the later part of the year. Orlando started winning alot more games and while Paolo and Franz will get the credit, Suggs defense played a huge part of it.

Now, why would they then draft those guards they did? Probably because they had pidgoen holed themselves into having to take guards. They very well couldn't have drafted guys to take over for Franz/Paolo.

Comparing pedigree and talent/athleticism is no contest between Suggs and Goodwin. It's hilarious to even attempt. Suggs is a better player with a MUCH higher ceiling.

Ok dude lol, Suggs hasnt been good as a pro and saying he has just is basing that on him as a college player, that's why Orlando keeps trying to upgrade, and the kid they drafted this year is already better.

And where someone is drafted is irrelevant once they are in the league would you rather have Giannis or Anthony Bennett Ayton or Joker....

Nonsense:

Since his return, the Magic have a 115.4 defensive rating overall. With Suggs on the floor, the Magic have a 106.5 defensive rating. No other regular rotation player has a better on-court defensive rating than Suggs (the Magic posted a 90.5 defensive rating in Jonathan Isaac’s 10 minutes on the floor Monday).

It actually is not even close with Moe Wagner the next-best player in that mark at 109.3.

On top of this, Jalen Suggs is second on the team in deflections per game for the season with 2.8 per game (trailing only Markelle Fultz). But since his return, he is still averaging 2.3 deflections per game despite his minutes dropping to just 14.1 per game, a significant drop from his season average of 23.1 minutes per game.

Even further since his return, opponents shoot just 43.9 percent when Suggs is the closest defender

https://orlandomagicdaily.com/2023/01/25/jalen-suggs-development-is-a-tricky-case-for-the-orlando-magic/

This is a silly argument. If you really think that Jordan Goodwin is a better player then you need to actually watch games. I'm sure you watch Suns games, but there's other teams bro.

This is silly I didn't say he was better i actually don't know who is better Suggs based on reputation I guess, but for the price and what they have shown I'll take Goodwin.

And I don't care about team defensive ratings Orlando had better defenders on the floor. Individually they are basically even.

[Blonde]

I don’t want to start a traditional PG given that Book/Beal can handle those duties and I wouldn’t want one of them having to play a lot of SF. That said, I do think a traditional PG off the bench is probably our biggest need to round out the roster. Someone who can set guys up and handle the ball well enough. Goodwin can maybe provide that, I just haven’t seen it and it feels premature to expect him to step into that role right away. Davion Mitchell from the Kings is a guy who I would take a look at if he’s available at. It seems like we’ll go into the season and make moves after assessing our rotation, which is probably the correct approach. We don’t know how many of these vet min pickups will actually be able to hang. I only really feel confident in Eubanks. KBD and Gordon to a lesser extent.

[bigfoot]

Maybe he can afford two G-League teams ...

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/phoenix-suns-owner-is-tearing-down-5-homes-to-build-massive-estate/ar-AA1e1sb3?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=acf5d6e1144442e3bdba72558c139342&ei=25

[Ryu]

Second is even more important. Book will chip in with ballhandling and playmaking, KD with playmaking and halfcourt offense.
We need somebody to shut down dudes 1 to 3.

I'm still of the opinion our Ayton trade will bring the true PG for us. To Orlando for Fultz/Suggs and WCJ or to OKC where we get picks and players that can be rerouted. Either way.

Orlando has good, young, inexpensive bigs!! The last thing they want is to exchange any of them for an expensive Ayton!!

Good. Because I wouldn`t trade Ayton (even though he is expensive, its not my money after all, Ishbia isn`t afraid to spend thankfully) for any of their mediocre bigs (Banchero excluded but he isn`t traded anyway).

[Mulhollanddrive]

Milwaukee seem to be going with a similar ball handling gameplan as us.

They have Holiday, Middleton, Giannis and then rookie PGs in Jackson and Wigginton.

We have Beal, Booker, Durant and then Goodwin, Lee, Gordon.

[Mulhollanddrive]

I wonder if we go with this closing lineup:

Beal, Gordon, Booker, Durant, Ayton

We'd be relying on Beal defensively on PGs, maybe we trap in that situation and make them drive at Durant and Ayton.

[Saberestar]

Milwaukee seem to be going with a similar ball handling gameplan as us.

They have Holiday, Middleton, Giannis and then rookie PGs in Jackson and Wigginton.

We have Beal, Booker, Durant and then Goodwin, Lee, Gordon.

Holiday is/was a PG, but yeah, they have had always three guys with high usage.

[Saberestar]

I wonder if we go with this closing lineup:

Beal, Gordon, Booker, Durant, Ayton

We'd be relying on Beal defensively on PGs, maybe we trap in that situation and make them drive at Durant and Ayton.

IMO that is gonna be our death lineup.

[kennydorglas]

No death lineup will feature Ayton.
Its probably Durant at 5