Suns To Prioritize Adding Point Guard, Wing, Backup Big In Offseason

Post #1 » by **RealGM Wiretap** » Sat Jun 8, 2024 10:18 pm

The Phoenix Suns are coming off a disappointing season that saw them swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite being over the second apron, and limited in their ability to add outside talent, Phoenix has three priorities this offseason.

The Suns want to add a true point guard that can play 20-plus minutes per game. Phoenix went most of last season without a true point guard in their rotation.

The team would also like to add a young, athletic wing. The Suns relied mostly on veterans last year, after inking several players to minimum contracts.

Lastly, Phoenix would like to add a backup center to upgrade from Drew Eubanks. Last season, Eubanks was the primary backup behind Jusuf Nurkic.

As a second-apron team, the Suns are limited in how they can add talent this summer. Phoenix can re-sign their own free agents, sign draft picks and sign players to minimum contracts. The Suns can also make trades, but those trades are heavily restricted. Phoenix can't aggregate player salaries together. They also can't take back any more money than they send out in a trade.

Via John Gambadoro/Arizona Sports 98.7 FM

HotelVitale · Post #2 » by **HotelVitale** » Sat Jun 8, 2024 11:52 pm

Weird article, mostly lays out the Suns wishlist and then tosses in the truth that they basically can't do anything this summer. Minimum players and trades that don't take back extra salary, that's all they got at their disposal. Good like finding a good PG, wing, and backup PF/C with that.

alienpick · Post #3 » by **alienpick** » Sun Jun 9, 2024 2:51 am

HotelVitale wrote:Weird article, mostly lays out the Suns wishlist and then tosses in the truth that they basically can't do anything this summer. Minimum players and trades that don't take back extra salary, that's all they got at their disposal. Good like finding a good PG, wing, and backup PF/C with that.

Realistically they need to move Beal, then they can accomplish their list. KD would throw a hissy-fit though....

Rek · Post #4 » by **Rek** » Sun Jun 9, 2024 4:37 am

There's no version of what the Phoenix ownership and front office can say about their plans that will ever convince me that they would actually say no to any opportunity to trade Beal away in return for just a couple solid rotation guys.

They screwed themselves with that trade and the whole league knows it. They'll leap at a chance to escape that contract and have some actual production on the floor instead of nothing but injury reports.

Roy T · Post #5 » by **Roy T** » Sun Jun 9, 2024 8:42 am

Well, there are a bunch of veteran minimum guys availiable for those positions. None of them will put them into contending mode tho.

Good luck sucking for the reminder of the Beal contract...

dubbmotta · Post #6 » by **dubbmotta** » Sun Jun 9, 2024 1:11 pm

alienpick wrote:
HotelVitale wrote:Weird article, mostly lays out the Suns wishlist and then tosses in the truth that they basically can't do anything this summer. Minimum players and trades that don't take back extra salary, that's all they got at their disposal. Good like finding a good PG, wing, and backup PF/C with that.

Realistically they need to move Beal, then they can accomplish their list. KD would throw a hissy-fit though....

Realistically who would want him at that contract? And he still has that no trade clause so he can Vito the trade.

MitchB3 · Post #7 » by **MitchB3** » Sun Jun 9, 2024 4:24 pm

alienpick wrote:
HotelVitale wrote:Weird article, mostly lays out the Suns wishlist and then tosses in the truth that they basically can't do anything this summer. Minimum players and trades that don't take back extra salary, that's all they got at their disposal. Good like finding a good PG, wing, and backup PF/C with that.

Realistically they need to move Beal, then they can accomplish their list. KD would throw a hissy-fit though....

Realistically, Beal has a no-trade clause, so he's not moving.

MitchB3 · Post #8 » by **MitchB3** » Sun Jun 9, 2024 4:30 pm

I mean they still have to fill out the roster. Suns ownership and GM, need to sit down and ask themselves, why? Why did we trade away our entire future for KD & Beal? KD is an aging superstar that really can only take you to the 2nd round. Beal is on a historically bad contract and moving him would require his approval and you adding more picks. Booker is just an arrogant player who gets humbled a lot come playoff time.

HotelVitale · Post #9 » by **HotelVitale** » Sun Jun 9, 2024 4:50 pm

MitchB3 wrote:
alienpick wrote:
HotelVitale wrote:Weird article, mostly lays out the Suns wishlist and then tosses in the truth that they basically can't do anything this summer. Minimum players and trades that don't take back extra salary, that's all they got at their disposal. Good like finding a good PG, wing, and backup PF/C with that.

Realistically they need to move Beal, then they can accomplish their list. KD would throw a hissy-fit though....

Realistically, Beal has a no-trade clause, so he's not moving.

True and it wouldn’t help any time soon anyway. No one with cap to burn would take Beal’s $50m (and for like 3 more years I think) into pure cap space, so they’d have to trade him for the exact same amount of $ in bad salary that maybe lasts fewer years and/or worse players. So at best they’d save some money next summer and could maybe unlock the tax MLE.

Wildcat · Post #10 » by **Wildcat** » Sun Jun 9, 2024 6:02 pm

Feel like this is an onion article.

MitchB3 · Post #11 » by **MitchB3** » Sun Jun 9, 2024 8:05 pm

HotelVitale wrote:
MitchB3 wrote:
alienpick wrote:Realistically they need to move Beal, then they can accomplish their list. KD would throw a hissy-fit though....

Realistically, Beal has a no-trade clause, so he's not moving.

True and it wouldn’t help any time soon anyway. No one with cap to burn would take Beal’s $50m (and for like 3 more years I think) into pure cap space, so they’d have to trade him for the exact same amount of $ in bad salary that maybe lasts fewer years and/or worse players. So at best they’d save some money next summer and could maybe unlock the tax MLE.

For the '24-25 season, the Nuggets, Celtics, TWolves, and Suns are over the 2nd apron.
(https://www.spotrac.com/nba/cap/_/year/2024/sort/cap_maximum_space)

For the '25-26 season, the TWolves and Suns are currently the only two teams over the 2nd apron.
(https://www.spotrac.com/nba/cap/_/year/2025/sort/cap_maximum_space)

If you go to the '26-27 season that's when they are just "over the cap"

This team has no chance in hell of getting so now the decision has to be either run it back for 1 more season or start the rebuild process.

23artest23 · Post #12 » by **23artest23** » Sun Jun 9, 2024 8:42 pm

All season, I couldn't help but think how much better the Suns would have been if they had acquired TJ McConnell. The Suns needed a PG in the worst way and TJ would have elevated them quite a bit. Now that we have seen how the playoffs ended up playing out, I think the Suns could be in the Finals right now with TJ running the show.

TimeisIllmatic · Post #13 » by **TimeisIllmatic** » Mon Jun 10, 2024 4:21 am

23artest23 wrote:All season, I couldn't help but think how much better the Suns would have been if they had acquired TJ McConnell. The Suns needed a PG in the worst way and TJ would have elevated them quite a bit. Now that we have seen how the playoffs ended up playing out, I think the Suns could be in the Finals right now with TJ running the show.

Although TJ is terrific in the role he has with Indy, the issue with TJ is that he's a very small guard so you don't want him playing major minutes unless you have strong defenders surrounding him to cover for his lack of size.

TimeisIllmatic · Post #14 » by **TimeisIllmatic** » Mon Jun 10, 2024 4:24 am

23artest23 wrote:All season, I couldn't help but think how much better the Suns would have been if they had acquired TJ McConnell. The Suns needed a PG in the worst way and TJ would have elevated them quite a bit. Now that we have seen how the playoffs ended up playing out, I think the Suns could be in the Finals right now with TJ running the show.

TJ is on a super friendly team contract so I can't fault Indy for not wanting to part with him but he would've helped for sure.

alienpick · Post #15 » by **alienpick** » Mon Jun 10, 2024 7:26 am

MitchB3 wrote:
alienpick wrote:
HotelVitale wrote:Weird article, mostly lays out the Suns wishlist and then tosses in the truth that they basically can't do anything this summer. Minimum players and trades that don't take back extra salary, that's all they got at their disposal. Good like finding a good PG, wing, and backup PF/C with that.

Realistically they need to move Beal, then they can accomplish their list. KD would throw a hissy-fit though....

Realistically, Beal has a no-trade clause, so he's not moving.

Damn, that sucks for the Suns

haste10176 · Post #16 » by **haste10176** » Mon Jun 10, 2024 9:02 am

alienpick wrote:
MitchB3 wrote:
alienpick wrote:
Realistically they need to move Beal, then they can accomplish their list. KD would throw a hissy-fit though....

Realistically, Beal has a no-trade clause, so he's not moving.

Damn, that sucks for the Suns

They could sign chris paul

MitchB3 · Post #17 » by **MitchB3** » Mon Jun 10, 2024 11:56 am

haste10176 wrote:
alienpick wrote:
MitchB3 wrote:

Realistically, Beal has a no-trade clause, so he's not moving.

Damn, that sucks for the Suns

They could sign chris paul

You sir are a funny guy.

MitchB3 · Post #18 » by **MitchB3** » Mon Jun 10, 2024 11:57 am

TimeisIllmatic wrote:
23artest23 wrote:All season, I couldn't help but think how much better the Suns would have been if they had acquired TJ McConnell. The Suns needed a PG in the worst way and TJ would have elevated them quite a bit. Now that we have seen how the playoffs ended up playing out, I think the Suns could be in the Finals right now with TJ running the show.

TJ is on a super friendly team contract so I can't fault Indy for not wanting to part with him but he would've helped for sure.

That and the Suns have nothing the Pacers want.