Preseason: Game 3: Phoenix Suns @ Portland Trail Blazers l Friday l 7:00pm l NBATV

[bwoolf2]

You don't. But having dudes on the team that can't give you decent spot minutes on a contender is far from ideal. I'm not saying we should be relying on an end of bench guy in normal scenarios but I'd rather have experience and be able to rely on them if the situation ever comes up. I've said it before but I still believe we need one more vet on this team (ideally a table setter) and still like the idea of TJ McConnell. Other guys in the price range I'd be interested in is Delon Wright and Alec Burks. All bring an NBA level skill and has plenty of NBA experience.

Ultimately, we don't have a ton of assets to get a deal done but we do have Little and a bunch of vet min salaries which adds up to around $9m in salaries in a 2 for 1 type of trade. We still also have those TPE's which could be useful

I think we are making up problems that don't exist for a bunch of guys that will never see the court spot minutes or not. If somehow 3/6 of the guard rotation is injured at the same time they probably make a move at the trade deadline, and I'm not a McConnell guy he can't shoot the 3 at all don't think he makes sense.

My belief is a stacked team only helps a contender. You don't think we have a problem so we can just agree to disagree

We have what is likely the most stacked roster in the league but sure more

[RedIndian]

So far in preseason, out of the role players, I've been most impressed with Yuta and Allen. Eubanks, Goodwin and Metu have looked solid too.

I think the loose makings of our 8-9 man rotation will be Nurkic, KD, Okogie, Beal, Booker, Gordon, Allen, Yuta, Eubanks.

KBD and Little have been disappointing, and Bol Bol has been straight trash.

I definitely think there's a mid season trade to be had using our TPE or Little's salary plus our picks.

My early targets would be Royce O'Neale, Jae'Sean Tate and Kenrich Williams. We need a reliable defensive minded wing who can play in the playoffs.

[Revived]

Suns got the better end of the C matchup tonight.

[Bogyo]

So far in preseason, out of the role players, I've been most impressed with Yuta and Allen. Eubanks, Goodwin and Metu have looked solid too.

I think the loose makings of our 8-9 man rotation will be Nurkic, KD, Okogie, Beal, Booker, Gordon, Allen, Yuta, Eubanks.

KBD and Little have been disappointing, and Bol Bol has been straight trash.

I definitely think there's a mid season trade to be had using our TPE or Little's salary plus our picks.

My early targets would be Royce O'Neale, Jae'Sean Tate and Kenrich Williams. We need a reliable defensive minded wing who can play in the playoffs.

Yup. I think with Goodwin here as well we got enough ball handling and play initiating guys. Our biggest problem is the lack of a bit more quality defensive big wing (who might be able to fill in smallball C). The salary of Little (and maybe one of our vet min guys) should be enough to get somebody with a bit of luck.

[Revived]

I was just thinking the other day how the Suns lack of natural PG could hurt them in the starting lineup when teams press Booker full court and he has to exert lot of energy into bringing the ball up plus playmaking in the halfcourt with scoring responsibilities too. Same could apply to KD/Beal too.

But Dominurkic being able to dribble the ball up the court helps with this issue a lot. Most Cs in the league cannot press and will not press so he will always have that space to dribble the ball up sort of like Jokic does for Denver.

[RedIndian]

Still definitely concerned with our defense. Very early days of course yet, and Vogel will take 25-30 games at least to stamp his scheme on to this team, but I'm a little worried.

Okogie, Goodwin and Allen should be ok to handle the lead guards on opposing teams, but this team isn't really well equipped to handle big wings like Luka or Tatum or Lebron or Kawhi or paint threats like Jokic or Giannis.

KD is fine as a help defender, but you don't really want him to be taking on 1v1 assignments. Booker will need to step up. Yuta should be playable, and hopefully KBD improves over the season.

Definitely think we need a big wing through a trade.

Don't trust our backline defense or rebounding either. Nurkic has terrible foot speed, and Eubanks while quicker is not big enough.

Ideally we also need a highly energy playable big off the bench - someone in the mould of a Brandon Clarke or a healthy Larry Nance. Nurkic will not be playable in crunch time.

Not enough scheme versatile guys on defense on this roster.

[sashaturiaf]

I watched that flurry to end the 2nd quarter and it was comical how unfair our offense is even with Beal out.

That 3 man game between Book, Nurk and EG with KD as an off ball floor spacer was ridiculous

[sashaturiaf]

Our bench has showing promise too, I know Yuta was good but I also like the initial vibes on Jordan Goodwin. He's bigger than i expected and if we can get some Josh Hart level production from him that'll be huge.

[Saberestar]

Eric Gordon is too good to be a vet min player. What a steal

It is crazy. Like when we signed Grant Hill for the minimum.

[Saberestar]

Azubuike looks bad

Dude has no clue out there.

I’d rather have Biyombo back than him tbh.

Azubuike is on a two-way deal, Biyombo can't sign that contract.

[Saberestar]

It was a fun preseason game.

Book, KD and Gordon killed the Blazers in the first half with his scoring and on/off ball movement but the connector for all three was always the same...NURKIC.

It's easy to understand after watching this game why we wanted to make the deal. Nurkic’s basketball IQ makes everyone's life much easier on the court. His positioning, screening, passing and rebounding were fantastic in this one.

He can space the floor because he can do a lot of damage with his handoffs at the top of the 3p line. It's REALLY difficult to defend that play when the ball handlers are Book, Gordon, Beal or KD.

I enjoyed every second of the second quarter. We were on a mission.

[handsome salary]

My dad called from a rehab facility 1/3 through the 2nd quarter. He couldn't get the game on their TV. I told him it was tied at 45. At the end of the half I called him back and said they were up 21. Wow.

Ayton...still as exciting and impactful a player as I recall you being a lot of your Suns stay. Thanks for not ruining my memory.

[Fo-Real]

Goodwin is good, he was the difference maker that pushed us to a win late. Bol is just clueless and lost. I can't see depending on him for meaningful minutes, wonder if a surprise vet gets cut or bought out, if Bols spot on this roster is set in stone. Little and Johnson are meh at best right now. Wondering if we can fool a team into trading for whatever youth and upside they may have for an actual possible impactful player. It sucks that they are both under contracts after this year. Looking at rosters, the only player that sticks out to me as a target likely to be available is Gallo. I know he and book have some history and he us still a dangerous shooter but he moves like **** and would be a defensive liability.

[Saberestar]

Goodwin is good, he was the difference maker that pushed us to a win late. Bol is just clueless and lost. I can't see depending on him for meaningful minutes, wonder if a surprise vet gets cut or bought out, if Bols spot on this roster is set in stone. Little and Johnson are meh at best right now. Wondering if we can fool a team into trading for whatever youth and upside they may have for an actual possible impactful player. It sucks that they are both under contracts after this year.

Johnson only has this season guaranteed.

[bwoolf2]

Still definitely concerned with our defense. Very early days of course yet, and Vogel will take 25-30 games at least to stamp his scheme on to this team, but I'm a little worried.

Okogie, Goodwin and Allen should be ok to handle the lead guards on opposing teams, but this team isn't really well equipped to handle big wings like Luka or Tatum or Lebron or Kawhi or paint threats like Jokic or Giannis.

KD is fine as a help defender, but you don't really want him to be taking on 1v1 assignments. Booker will need to step up. Yuta should be playable, and hopefully KBD improves over the season.

Definitely think we need a big wing through a trade.

Don't trust our backline defense or rebounding either. Nurkic has terrible foot speed, and Eubanks while quicker is not big enough.

Ideally we also need a highly energy playable big off the bench - someone in the mould of a Brandon Clarke or a healthy Larry Nance. Nurkic will not be playable in crunch time.

Not enough scheme versatile guys on defense on this roster.

We don't need to be good defensively we just need to be ok, our offense is going to be historically good, D just can't be historically bad, it wont.

[enigmatics]

Suns got the better end of the C matchup tonight.

There was a point where DA was so obviously frustrated he extended an arm/elbow into Nurk and Nurk wasn't having any of it.

[enigmatics]

So far in preseason, out of the role players, I've been most impressed with Yuta and Allen. Eubanks, Goodwin and Metu have looked solid too.

I think the loose makings of our 8-9 man rotation will be Nurkic, KD, Okogie, Beal, Booker, Gordon, Allen, Yuta, Eubanks.

KBD and Little have been disappointing, and Bol Bol has been straight trash.

I definitely think there's a mid season trade to be had using our TPE or Little's salary plus our picks.

My early targets would be Royce O'Neale, Jae'Sean Tate and Kenrich Williams. We need a reliable defensive minded wing who can play in the playoffs.

Yup. I think with Goodwin here as well we got enough ball handling and play initiating guys. Our biggest problem is the lack of a bit more quality defensive big wing (who might be able to fill in smallball C). The salary of Little (and maybe one of our vet min guys) should be enough to get somebody with a bit of luck.

Last night was my first time watching Goodwin and I am REALLY liking the acquisition. Dude plays hard - like it's a personal point of pride with him.

[Saberestar]

Me to Yuta

Kukoc

His shooting form is somewhat similar and both are lefty and lanky...but other than that I don't see the comparison.

Kukoc was a ball handler and shot creator with a terrific passing ability. I like Watanabe but it's not close.

[SunsRback4Good]

Suns got the better end of the C matchup tonight.

There was a point where DA was so obviously frustrated in this works he extended an arm/elbow into Nurk and Nurk wasn't having any of it.

Leave Ayton alone just leave him alone. Nobody is perfect in this world.

[KLEON]

Me to Yuta

Kukoc

His shooting form is somewhat similar and both are lefty and lanky...but other than that I don't see the comparison.

Kukoc was a ball handler and shot creator with a terrific passing ability. I like Watanabe but it's not close.

Yeah you are right, I was only looking at his length and shooting form. I got a bit carried away