The Official 2024 Offseason Thread Part 2

[Revived]

It’s funny, I was talking to a buddy of mine today that’s also a Suns fan and he was saying how the Suns have sabatoged 2 of the last 3 HCs the team hired by not giving them a PG even when it was obvious.

Igor Kokoskov had to deal with the worst PGs in the league and McDonough/James Jones seemingly made no effort to actually bring in a PG to elevate pressure off of Booker and others. Ronnie Price was the Suns PG during that time iirc lmao. Of course Suns passed on Booker in Kokoskov’s first year, otherwise we would’ve never needed a starting PG again for the next 15-20 years.

Vogel got screwed last season with James Jones insistence on forcing Booker to be a PG with his brain dead logic of “always wanting the ball in Booker/KD/Beal’s hands” and thinking that would be some revolutionary basketball move. It was obvious to every single person in the media and nearly everyone here who all kept talking about how this team lacks a PG and how much it hurts them…obvious to everyone except Jones. He even admittedly denied looking to acquire a PG during the season last year because of his dumbass logic of forcing Booker to play out of position.

It’s interesting to think about. Would Kokoskov and Vogel still have been fired if they had a chance to coach Suns teams with CP3 or Tyus Jones/Monte Morris? Maybe. But Suns did them both pretty dirty by ignoring a significant position of need even when it was obvious to just about every other person in the world.

[Mulhollanddrive]

Morris and Beal had extraordinary net rating together at +13 in Washington.

If Beal comes off the bench he can play the same 20 minutes as Morris.

Booker, Durant, Nurkic can then get 24 minutes together and had a 3 man net rating last season at +9.

It'll take great teams to be able to beat our units if we structure that way.

[Qwigglez]

It would be neat to have a more balanced bench.

Jones / Booker / Grayson / KD / Nurkic
Morris / Beal / Royce / Bol / Plumlee

Gillespie / Lee / Bridges / Okogie / Oso as third string. I think Dunn could use some more time in the G-League to get reps in, work on his shot.

I think Beal off the bench can run a more up-tempo style with those players as opposed to the slow-it-down pace that Booker and KD (and Nurkic) seem to enjoy. 4th quarter, the Suns can roll out a death lineup with Bol or Royce O'Neal at center, Beal and Booker at the 2/3.

[NapoleonII]

There's no SG in the league (since Kobe and Wade are gone) that should have qualms about coming off the bench.

Manu freaking Ginobli did it in his prime and he was a beast.

Beal is also just used to the offense going through him, I think he'll be much more comfortable with the Morris pairing (obviously) and having low usage guys like Royce and Plumlee.

[Bogyo]

It would be neat to have a more balanced bench.

Jones / Booker / Grayson / KD / Nurkic
Morris / Beal / Royce / Bol / Plumlee

Gillespie / Lee / Bridges / Okogie / Oso as third string. I think Dunn could use some more time in the G-League to get reps in, work on his shot.

I think Beal off the bench can run a more up-tempo style with those players as opposed to the slow-it-down pace that Booker and KD (and Nurkic) seem to enjoy. 4th quarter, the Suns can roll out a death lineup with Bol or Royce O'Neal at center, Beal and Booker at the 2/3.

I'd still go with Royce as a starter and Allen as sub. Royce is more physical, better defender, better rebounder (and not afraid to chuck, and can actually hit them as well - and actually is OK with standing in the corners). Doesnt need the ball in his hands as he is not a guard, so our stars and our PG can have it more, and shouldn't have a problem with taking less shots, and more of the "leftover" shots. This balance in the starting lineup is more important than balance on the bench in my opinion. There Allen and his scrappy, hustling, but not fully adequate against starters defense could be hidden and utilized with better efficency. He can also let it fly with that group, have the ball more, handle a bit more against lesser bench competition, etc...

Not sure why a lot of people are advocating for Allen as a starter, but I'd like to hear the reasoning - other than Allen is better overall basketball player a bit. Sure he is (or was last year), but I'm about 99% sure Royce is a better fit in this starting lineup.

[They_Them_Hatin]

There's no SG in the league (since Kobe and Wade are gone) that should have qualms about coming off the bench.

Manu freaking Ginobli did it in his prime and he was a beast.

Beal is also just used to the offense going through him, I think he'll be much more comfortable with the Morris pairing (obviously) and having low usage guys like Royce and Plumlee.

Bud was also a coach for 3 of the Spurs championship and loves Manu. I would hope that’s his plan for Beal. Because Booker is clearly not a 3.

Starters should be
PG Jones
SG Booker
SF Royce
PF KD
C Nurkic (by default )

There has to be some big that their team wants to get rid of we can flip Little for that makes no more then 6.8 million out there.

[They_Them_Hatin]

Need to give JT Thor a 2-way deal

[They_Them_Hatin]

It would be neat to have a more balanced bench.

Jones / Booker / Grayson / KD / Nurkic
Morris / Beal / Royce / Bol / Plumlee

Gillespie / Lee / Bridges / Okogie / Oso as third string. I think Dunn could use some more time in the G-League to get reps in, work on his shot.

I think Beal off the bench can run a more up-tempo style with those players as opposed to the slow-it-down pace that Booker and KD (and Nurkic) seem to enjoy. 4th quarter, the Suns can roll out a death lineup with Bol or Royce O'Neal at center, Beal and Booker at the 2/3.

I'd still go with Royce as a starter and Allen as sub. Royce is more physical, better defender, better rebounder (and not afraid to chuck, and can actually hit them as well - and actually is OK with standing in the corners). Doesnt need the ball in his hands as he is not a guard, so our stars and our PG can have it more, and shouldn't have a problem with taking less shots, and more of the "leftover" shots. This balance in the starting lineup is more important than balance on the bench in my opinion. There Allen and his scrappy, hustling, but not fully adequate against starters defense could be hidden and utilized with better efficency. He can also let it fly with that group, have the ball more, handle a bit more against lesser bench competition, etc...

Not sure why a lot of people are advocating for Allen as a starter, but I'd like to hear the reasoning - other than Allen is better overall basketball player a bit. Sure he is (or was last year), but I'm about 99% sure Royce is a better fit in this starting lineup.

Royce was putting up great numbers next to KD in Brooklyn. They play well off each other.

[Crives]

Booker looking great I these Olympics.. his 1-1 defense has been great

[KdoubleDees23]

Why does our 3x3 suck lol

They should have sent better players

Womens

CC
Reese
Mercury girl who dominated all star
Hailey VL

Men’s

Jaylon brown
Brunson
Trae young
Chet Holmgren

[Qwigglez]

It would be neat to have a more balanced bench.

Jones / Booker / Grayson / KD / Nurkic
Morris / Beal / Royce / Bol / Plumlee

Gillespie / Lee / Bridges / Okogie / Oso as third string. I think Dunn could use some more time in the G-League to get reps in, work on his shot.

I think Beal off the bench can run a more up-tempo style with those players as opposed to the slow-it-down pace that Booker and KD (and Nurkic) seem to enjoy. 4th quarter, the Suns can roll out a death lineup with Bol or Royce O'Neal at center, Beal and Booker at the 2/3.

I'd still go with Royce as a starter and Allen as sub. Royce is more physical, better defender, better rebounder (and not afraid to chuck, and can actually hit them as well - and actually is OK with standing in the corners). Doesnt need the ball in his hands as he is not a guard, so our stars and our PG can have it more, and shouldn't have a problem with taking less shots, and more of the "leftover" shots. This balance in the starting lineup is more important than balance on the bench in my opinion. There Allen and his scrappy, hustling, but not fully adequate against starters defense could be hidden and utilized with better efficency. He can also let it fly with that group, have the ball more, handle a bit more against lesser bench competition, etc...

Not sure why a lot of people are advocating for Allen as a starter, but I'd like to hear the reasoning - other than Allen is better overall basketball player a bit. Sure he is (or was last year), but I'm about 99% sure Royce is a better fit in this starting lineup.

Mostly because GA started when he was with the Bucks under Budenholzer, so I figured the familiarity of having GA and his ability to shoot the deep three gives the other starters a bit more breathing room to drive into the paint. I do like everything you said though, and would agree that Royce being with Jones, Booker, KD, and Nurkic offers a lot more physicality and overall better defense. He isn't the offensive threat that Grayson is. I also agree that Allen would give the bench more versatility and give Beal / Morris another ball handler that could bail them out if need be.

I like that this is even a conversation as that shows the Suns have options for depth and flexibility in their roster. I would be fine trying both lineups, and ultimately, I think it would come down to who's a better fit for that bench role as I think both players would excel in the starting lineup.

[Mulhollanddrive]

Connaughton was the only option to Allen on the Bucks that year so don't think that means much.

I'm ONeale all the way for team balance.

[bwgood77]

It would be neat to have a more balanced bench.

Jones / Booker / Grayson / KD / Nurkic
Morris / Beal / Royce / Bol / Plumlee

Gillespie / Lee / Bridges / Okogie / Oso as third string. I think Dunn could use some more time in the G-League to get reps in, work on his shot.

I think Beal off the bench can run a more up-tempo style with those players as opposed to the slow-it-down pace that Booker and KD (and Nurkic) seem to enjoy. 4th quarter, the Suns can roll out a death lineup with Bol or Royce O'Neal at center, Beal and Booker at the 2/3.

I'd still go with Royce as a starter and Allen as sub. Royce is more physical, better defender, better rebounder (and not afraid to chuck, and can actually hit them as well - and actually is OK with standing in the corners). Doesnt need the ball in his hands as he is not a guard, so our stars and our PG can have it more, and shouldn't have a problem with taking less shots, and more of the "leftover" shots. This balance in the starting lineup is more important than balance on the bench in my opinion. There Allen and his scrappy, hustling, but not fully adequate against starters defense could be hidden and utilized with better efficency. He can also let it fly with that group, have the ball more, handle a bit more against lesser bench competition, etc...

Not sure why a lot of people are advocating for Allen as a starter, but I'd like to hear the reasoning - other than Allen is better overall basketball player a bit. Sure he is (or was last year), but I'm about 99% sure Royce is a better fit in this starting lineup.

I don't think Beal would have a problem coming off the bench, but I'd start him purely to give him more in game rest time. Just sit him after about 4-5 minutes and bring Royce in. Then Monte can come in with 2-3 minutes left in the first and Beal to start the second.

Basically have Beal almost be like a bench/6th man type but start him so he can get a few minutes in and then rest, instead of rest before playing at all.

[enigmatics]

The Beast doin' all the right things this offseason.

His mechanics are already night/day better. Losing the weight will help with that even more.

Read on Twitter

[Mulhollanddrive]

gym workouts are like masturbation there's no bad ones

[Mr Puddles]

gym workouts are like masturbation there's no bad ones

Tell that to the people over my local shopping mall and their draconian 'no masturbating in front of the lingerie mannequins' policy. I thought this was a free country, but apparently not for good God fearing folk who just want to stroke the one eyed gopher whenever the urge calls.

[Mulhollanddrive]

Gone over some lineup permutations and there's less difference with Beal starting vs bench than I thought.

But I give the edge to bench so Booker doesn't have to guard Shai, Doncic, Edwards and Durant doesn't have to guard Zion, LeBron in the opening 6 minutes.

If they pick up 2 fouls it changes the game from the start, let O'Neale take those early instead.

[Saberestar]

Gone over some lineup permutations and there's less difference with Beal starting vs bench than I thought.

But I give the edge to bench so Booker doesn't have to guard Shai, Doncic, Edwards and Durant doesn't have to guard Zion, LeBron in the opening 6 minutes.

If they pick up 2 fouls it changes the game from the start, let O'Neale take those early instead.

Tyus
Beal
Book
KD
Nurk

“Tyus is coming here to start. We have Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. We feel good about those guys. Coach has different lineups to see how they fit, but we feel really good about those three guys forming a 3-headed monster and playing off each other.”

#Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein.

[Saberestar]

Read on Twitter

[bigfoot]

Read on Twitter

Wow did not expect him to retire. He still has role as a bench player but I guess thats not where he wants to be.