2024-25 Season Discussion and Speculation

[sunskerr]

Booker for Amen + our picks this off-season or at the trade deadline. Next year will be too late if it isn't already.

In fact I think it's probably best to just do it now.

Do it now or by the deadline

Ishbia and Jones: lol, never heard of Amen before. He is only a sophomore so he sucks.

Funny thing is, this is how casual fans think of NBA players. And Ish and Jones have run the Suns exactly like youd expect a casual fan to. So sadly I don't think this is far off the mark from reality.

[DirtyDez]

Booker for Amen + our picks this off-season or at the trade deadline. Next year will be too late if it isn't already.

In fact I think it's probably best to just do it now.

Sengun and Amen are untouchable but we could probably get Jabari, Whitmore and our pick/swaps back…

[King4Day]

Booker for Amen + our picks this off-season or at the trade deadline. Next year will be too late if it isn't already.

In fact I think it's probably best to just do it now.

Sengun and Amen are untouchable but we could probably get Jabari, Whitmore and our pick/swaps back…

I think the Nets have the pick swap rights still.
As far as I know, the best we can get from Houston would be our fully traded firsts for '25, '27, and '29

[King4Day]

I do not think you are getting a first for Allen.
I think it's a poor use of assets at this point to deal 2 firsts to get off Beal.

IE: Blow it the F up and ride out Beals contract.

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[dremill24]

Booker for Amen + our picks this off-season or at the trade deadline. Next year will be too late if it isn't already.

In fact I think it's probably best to just do it now.

Sengun and Amen are untouchable but we could probably get Jabari, Whitmore and our pick/swaps back…

I think the Nets have the pick swap rights still.
As far as I know, the best we can get from Houston would be our fully traded firsts for '25, '27, and '29

Its swap rights in '25, '29 and outright in '27

[Qwigglez]

Butler isn't going to solve this mess. He only wants the Suns because the payday he will get.

I don't even think the Beal deal was that bad. I honestly think the Suns screwed up when they traded Ayton for Nurkic and Grayson, who are both negative assets at this point. The Suns lost any kind of defensive identity having a plodding starting center.

Anyway, if a deal needs to happen, I'd look for something else where the Suns get a couple of role players over Jimmy Butler.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Booker for Amen + our picks this off-season or at the trade deadline. Next year will be too late if it isn't already.

In fact I think it's probably best to just do it now.

[King4Day]

Sengun and Amen are untouchable but we could probably get Jabari, Whitmore and our pick/swaps back…

I think the Nets have the pick swap rights still.
As far as I know, the best we can get from Houston would be our fully traded firsts for '25, '27, and '29

Its swap rights in '25, '29 and outright in '27

This article shows:

2025 first-round pick (from Phoenix)
2027 first-round pick (from Phoenix)
2028 first-round pick swap (from Phoenix)
2028 second-round pick (from Milwaukee)
2029 first-round pick (from Phoenix)
2029 second-round pick (from Milwaukee)

https://www.nba.com/news/suns-nets-kevin-durant-trade

Swaps would be '26, '28, '30 (though I'm not sure which team(s)) own them since we traded so many swaps of each of those firsts.

[Ghost of Kleine]

If we're not going to play Tyus Jones many minutes, Then we need to just trade him to get a first! Also if our season is low-key a lost cause (it really seems so), we should just go ahead and trade Allen (before his trade value plummets even more), and Bol, Okogie, and D Lee for 2nds if we could. But we're going to lose Jones for nothing this summer and we're really not even utilizing certain players much if at all. So rather than wasting these spots, we should try and get something/anything for them.

[sunskerr]

Booker for Amen + our picks this off-season or at the trade deadline. Next year will be too late if it isn't already.

In fact I think it's probably best to just do it now.

Sengun and Amen are untouchable but we could probably get Jabari, Whitmore and our pick/swaps back…

Those guys Jabari and Whitmore arent that good. I'd want Jalen and hold hard Tari Eason included. If that doesn't work then two of Smith/Whitmore/Sheppard included with Jalen if we're talking backup plans.

Nothing suggests either Sengun or Amen are untouchable. In fact was reported to be an evaluation year or something along those lines, similar to OKC last year. What's clear is that the Rockets are positioning themselves for some kind of big offseason move to vault themselves into the true competitor tier. But you have to start negotiations from Amen Thompson because quite frankly if we're talking a Booker trade Amen is the only guy who actually gives us reasonably fair value back.

[dremill24]

I think the Nets have the pick swap rights still.
As far as I know, the best we can get from Houston would be our fully traded firsts for '25, '27, and '29

Its swap rights in '25, '29 and outright in '27

This article shows:

2025 first-round pick (from Phoenix)
2027 first-round pick (from Phoenix)
2028 first-round pick swap (from Phoenix)
2028 second-round pick (from Milwaukee)
2029 first-round pick (from Phoenix)
2029 second-round pick (from Milwaukee)

https://www.nba.com/news/suns-nets-kevin-durant-trade

Swaps would be '26, '28, '30 (though I'm not sure which team(s)) own them since we traded so many swaps of each of those firsts.

True, but hose were included in a Houston/Brooklyn trade this summer.

https://www.nba.com/nets/news/brooklyn-nets-complete-trade-with-houston-rockets-2024

'29 is actually not really a swap sorry...

https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/future_drafts/detailed

Houston will receive the two most favorable of its 2029 1st round pick, Dallas' 2029 1st round pick and Phoenix's 2029 1st round pick and Brooklyn will receive the least favorable of the three (via Dallas and Phoenix to Brooklyn;

Then again, if you trade for your own swap rights back, you're just getting the pick outright lol and having typed it all out, maybe thats what you meant. I guess i was just looking at it from the perspective if what Houston currently 'owns.' Sorry

Edit: Actually its kinda sorta both?. Houston doesnt actually own the '25, only the right to swap with Brooklyn. So they cant actually trade the pick outright back to Phoenix. They can trade the right to swap the OKC or HOU pick they end up with to Brooklyn (which would obviously be done) but technically it would just be the better of our pick or the OKC/HOU one (whichever Houston is left with). We traded the outright rights to Brooklyn but Brooklyn never gave that up to Houston, only swap rights. Practically, it would all come out in the wash as the PHX pick, based on how the season has gone, but yeah. Same kinda goes for '29, if somehow the Suns were better than Houston and Dallas, they couldnt get that back since it'd be the lowest of the 3, which is still owned by Brooklyn. Anyway...it all ends up being the PHX picks returned most likely, they're not looking like they're gonna be very good for a while.

[DirtyDez]

Booker for Amen + our picks this off-season or at the trade deadline. Next year will be too late if it isn't already.

In fact I think it's probably best to just do it now.

Sengun and Amen are untouchable but we could probably get Jabari, Whitmore and our pick/swaps back…

Those guys Jabari and Whitmore arent that good. I'd want Jalen and hold hard Tari Eason included. If that doesn't work then two of Smith/Whitmore/Sheppard included with Jalen if we're talking backup plans.

Nothing suggests either Sengun or Amen are untouchable. In fact was reported to be an evaluation year or something along those lines, similar to OKC last year. What's clear is that the Rockets are positioning themselves for some kind of big offseason move to vault themselves into the true competitor tier. But you have to start negotiations from Amen Thompson because quite frankly if we're talking a Booker trade Amen is the only guy who actually gives us reasonably fair value back.

We’re not getting Amen and if we want Amen they’re not getting Booker.

[bullsaficianado]

The reason you do the Butler trade is Beal has not worked out for the Suns. It's not a slap on Beal the dude can ball but the chemistry is off. KD,Booker and Butler will have more chemistry on the court and Suns will win more games. I don't know about an NBA title but they will certainly be better. Beal is coming off the freaking bench now. He needs a team that he can be one of if not the main centerpiece which is not the Suns. Having chemistry on the court is huge. Denver has it. Miami for a little while had it. Suns will have it if they can get Butler. It's just a better fit. The only game I ever saw where Suns had some chemistry with Beal was the one when we came back from a huge deficit in the 4th. I think it was maybe the Kings. He just does not mix with KD and Booker's style of play and Butler will be perfect.

[sunskerr]

Sengun and Amen are untouchable but we could probably get Jabari, Whitmore and our pick/swaps back…

Those guys Jabari and Whitmore arent that good. I'd want Jalen and hold hard Tari Eason included. If that doesn't work then two of Smith/Whitmore/Sheppard included with Jalen if we're talking backup plans.

Nothing suggests either Sengun or Amen are untouchable. In fact was reported to be an evaluation year or something along those lines, similar to OKC last year. What's clear is that the Rockets are positioning themselves for some kind of big offseason move to vault themselves into the true competitor tier. But you have to start negotiations from Amen Thompson because quite frankly if we're talking a Booker trade Amen is the only guy who actually gives us reasonably fair value back.

We’re not getting Amen and if we want Amen they’re not getting Booker.

It's very easy to "this trade won't happen" because most trades don't end up happening lol. I'm just telling you how to negotiate properly, who the players you should actually want are, and what the available information is.

[Slim Charless]

Booker for Amen + our picks this off-season or at the trade deadline. Next year will be too late if it isn't already.

In fact I think it's probably best to just do it now.

Sengun and Amen are untouchable but we could probably get Jabari, Whitmore and our pick/swaps back…

I think the Nets have the pick swap rights still.
As far as I know, the best we can get from Houston would be our fully traded firsts for '25, '27, and '29

Done. Tho i think we can get Jalen Green in there as well, if for no other reason then the Rockets need to move him as he and Booker play the same pos.

Jabari
Jalen
Whitmore
Our picks back

[Slim Charless]

Booker for Amen + our picks this off-season or at the trade deadline. Next year will be too late if it isn't already.

In fact I think it's probably best to just do it now.

Sengun and Amen are untouchable but we could probably get Jabari, Whitmore and our pick/swaps back…

Those guys Jabari and Whitmore arent that good. I'd want Jalen and hold hard Tari Eason included. If that doesn't work then two of Smith/Whitmore/Sheppard included with Jalen if we're talking backup plans.

Nothing suggests either Sengun or Amen are untouchable. In fact was reported to be an evaluation year or something along those lines, similar to OKC last year. What's clear is that the Rockets are positioning themselves for some kind of big offseason move to vault themselves into the true competitor tier. But you have to start negotiations from Amen Thompson because quite frankly if we're talking a Booker trade Amen is the only guy who actually gives us reasonably fair value back.

I read somewhere that the Rockets love the idea of a Reed/Amen combo as they seem to compliment each other very well. That's why they took Reed so high. Now, will they break that up for Booker? Maybe. But they obviously got all of our picks for a reason....

[sunskerr]

Sengun and Amen are untouchable but we could probably get Jabari, Whitmore and our pick/swaps back…

I think the Nets have the pick swap rights still.
As far as I know, the best we can get from Houston would be our fully traded firsts for '25, '27, and '29

Done. Tho i think we can get Jalen Green in there as well, if for no other reason then the Rockets need to move him as he and Booker play the same pos.

Jabari
Jalen
Whitmore
Our picks back

Id ask for Jalen+Eason first, then pivot to Jalen+ two of Jabari/Whitmore/Sheppard with a small preference for Jabari (but it doesn't really matter who comes back it's a crap shoot as to which players turn out better).

I read somewhere that the Rockets love the idea of a Reed/Amen combo as they seem to compliment each other very well. That's why they took Reed so high. Now, will they break that up for Booker? Maybe. But they obviously got all of our picks for a reason....

Yeah they probably realized that last year we weren't very good, KD is likely to decline (yeah...he is compared to last year. Josh Lloyd from fantasy predicted a KD decline before the season with his model), and we are fully capped out/2nd apron'd etc., so they made a bet that we'd not make any progress this year and eventually want to rebuild. So far they're right on no progress. In fact we've gone backwards. But they might be underestimating Ishbia's stupidity.

[Slim Charless]

I think the Nets have the pick swap rights still.
As far as I know, the best we can get from Houston would be our fully traded firsts for '25, '27, and '29

Done. Tho i think we can get Jalen Green in there as well, if for no other reason then the Rockets need to move him as he and Booker play the same pos.

Jabari
Jalen
Whitmore
Our picks back

Id ask for Jalen+Eason first, then pivot to Jalen+ two of Jabari/Whitmore/Sheppard with a small preference for Jabari (but it doesn't really matter who comes back it's a crap shoot as to which players turn out better).

I read somewhere that the Rockets love the idea of a Reed/Amen combo as they seem to compliment each other very well. That's why they took Reed so high. Now, will they break that up for Booker? Maybe. But they obviously got all of our picks for a reason....

Yeah they probably realized that last year we weren't very good, KD is likely to decline (yeah...he is compared to last year. Josh Lloyd from fantasy predicted a KD decline before the season with his model), and we are fully capped out/2nd apron'd etc., so they made a bet that we'd not make any progress this year and eventually want to rebuild. So far they're right on no progress. In fact we've gone backwards. But they might be underestimating Ishbia's stupidity.

Beal is literally the only thing that can save us here lol. He needs to refuse this and any trade. If we can make it past the deadline with no Butler on the team, then Booker or Ish will hopefully get annoyed enough to make the move in the summer after we crap out or don't make it.

Houston isn't gonna win in the playoffs imo. They'll realize they need a #1 scorer and Booker will be the guy. I'd love if we can get Amen but money wise, it'll have to be 1 of FVV, Brooks or Jalen coming over. Fred i think they'll keep and just move to Reed the next yr and Brooks is not (neg) value but they'll have to add alot more.

Jalen just makes sense, he'll make 33 next yr to Booker's 53 so HOU just needs to find another 20 or so.

[sunskerr]

Beal is literally the only thing that can save us here lol. He needs to refuse this and any trade. If we can make it past the deadline with no Butler on the team, then Booker or Ish will hopefully get annoyed enough to make the move in the summer after we crap out or don't make it.

Houston isn't gonna win in the playoffs imo. They'll realize they need a #1 scorer and Booker will be the guy. I'd love if we can get Amen but money wise, it'll have to be 1 of FVV, Brooks or Jalen coming over. Fred i think they'll keep and just move to Reed the next yr and Brooks is not (neg) value but they'll have to add alot more.

Jalen just makes sense, he'll make 33 next yr to Booker's 53 so HOU just needs to find another 20 or so.

Yeah thats a good point about Beal. Honest but true. As bad as Beals contract is, if we're maxing or even giving a huge deal to Jimmy who will play his age 36 season next year, that's worse than stomaching Beal for two years.

Agree with you about Houston not being a real threat this year. Houston definitely has the depth/talent to win with Booker as their lead scorer. He is a top 10 offensive player in the league (that's why a trade from a value standpoint requires Amen Thompson to actually be "fair" - disregarding how the respective FOs might view their players. But I am prepared for a return without Amen).

Im not opposed to Jalen Green. I just don't really rate him like, close to Amen at all. If we had our picks I'd look at other teams for Booker if Houston says Amen is untouchable. But we definitely need our picks back.

[Qwigglez]

I feel like Houston may want KD more than Booker as he might cost just our picks back and not much additional assets.