Zeno wrote:Mr Puddles wrote:CIN-C-STAR wrote:“Prioritizing flexibility” = crapping their pants about the 2nd apron after a first round exit

Somebody has not been paying attention to the offseason

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Phoenix has the highest payroll in nba history after a number of offseason signings including giving 44 mil to royce oneal and 16 mil to Okogie.
If there's one owner in the NBA not giving a **** about the 2nd apron apron, it's Ishbiah, figuratively the exact opposite of crapping ones pants.
You are absolutely right that they have not operated in any way like they care about the 2nd apron but this move does nothing for their flexibility. There is nothing gained here as far as making future move other than savings on tax. They can still only sign minimums. They will save roughly 30 million this year off their crazy tax bill and salary by stretching Little and decided it wasn’t worth him taking up a roster spot.
Nassir little was probably not going to crack the Suns' 12 man rotation this season. O'Neal, Allen, Okogie and Dunn would likely all be in front of him. Meanwhile, the Suns are still facing size issues, so that spot could go to someone more useful:
Little might still be able to make it work elsewhere, so I could imagine the Suns made a win-win move:
- Phoenix opens up a roster spot and save a bit of money
- Little gets to sign with another team that might give him more of a shot at playing time.
Technically the Suns could have waited with waiving Little until they needed to waive him for a mid season move, but if he's not part of their plans this season, then what's the point? By freeing him now, little gets to play, and the Suns open up a spot to add someone with size.
I think that's drastically different than **** bricks at the thought of the 2nd apron tax payments.