2024-25 Season Discussion and Speculation

[BobbieL]

If we're looking for wins, we're doing worse with Jalen Green than with Booker. I guess you're saying, why not wait until the summer. Mostly I've been afraid some untimely sequence of events will remove Durant. But as the season goes on, that starts to like less and less likely. Perhaps you're right.

Brad's looked much better since we demoted him to the bench. The dude can play. Perhaps this will improve his trade value and we can get Jimmy Butler more-or-less straight up.

Or perhaps, if Beal's contract is truly such a negative, it would be Big Brain to trade Booker for Jimmy Butler and The World by trading Booker in a three way deal to wherever the hell for Butler PLUS whatever in the whole world of basketball we want. If it's truly true that all Wishbia wants to win, you could probably add a star player to Beal/Butler/Durant by trading Booker.

Booker doesn't have an NTC, after all.

I had that thought before. If you really want Butler to put us over the top, and we can't get him for Beal, if we moved Book in a deal for him we could probably get some picks back in that exchange, assuming he goes to a 3rd team and they send something to Miami and picks to us. Then we can compete with 3 older guys that have talent and have some picks back. I know we talked a lot about what prospect Houston would give up, but what if they got Book, we got Butler and our 3 picks, and the Heat got the filler contracts (Brooks, Adams, and one young prospect).

Obviously that is very far fetched and not going to happen, but I did have that thought a few days ago. We kind of still get to compete, and get our picks.

I'd rather just not get Butler at all. I think he's cooked and giving him a 115m at his age is one of the stupider things I've ever heard.....

That said, if we have to have this deal, then getting our picks back and him for Booker is about the best we can hope for. If we're bringing him on. Which again, I don't wanna do.

Butler Durant and Booker wouldn't even make the top 10 in the West
that would be a bad basketball team

Somebody needs to take the car keys away from Ishbia
this is not a good basketball team
They were shooting 60% from the field last night against atlanta and barely had a lead at halftime
This team is 4 and out in the first round at best.

[Fo-Real]

Also, dont for get Javale McGee sitting courtside earlier this year. Biyombo and Frank the Tank are also available
This is how much I dont like Plumlee starting!!

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Fine, there's a huge gap between the 2 on that we can agree.

Look, just on basic math alone the Rockets have to get rid of Jalen Green if they take on Booker. Why dudes are willing to take nothing on the dollar is funny and sad. You can ask for more.

If we're looking for wins, we're doing worse with Jalen Green than with Booker. I guess you're saying, why not wait until the summer. Mostly I've been afraid some untimely sequence of events will remove Durant. But as the season goes on, that starts to like less and less likely. Perhaps you're right.

Brad's looked much better since we demoted him to the bench. The dude can play. Perhaps this will improve his trade value and we can get Jimmy Butler more-or-less straight up.

Or perhaps, if Beal's contract is truly such a negative, it would be Big Brain to trade Booker for Jimmy Butler and The World by trading Booker in a three way deal to wherever the hell for Butler PLUS whatever in the whole world of basketball we want. If it's truly true that all Wishbia wants to win, you could probably add a star player to Beal/Butler/Durant by trading Booker.

Booker doesn't have an NTC, after all.

I had that thought before. If you really want Butler to put us over the top, and we can't get him for Beal, if we moved Book in a deal for him we could probably get some picks back in that exchange, assuming he goes to a 3rd team and they send something to Miami and picks to us. Then we can compete with 3 older guys that have talent and have some picks back. I know we talked a lot about what prospect Houston would give up, but what if they got Book, we got Butler and our 3 picks, and the Heat got the filler contracts (Brooks, Adams, and one young prospect).

Obviously that is very far fetched and not going to happen, but I did have that thought a few days ago. We kind of still get to compete, and get our picks.

If we're not blowing it up, I would look leaguewide to see who wants Booker the most, like Slim's suggesting.

[dremill24]

Mentioning again, Nurk and D'Lo's salaries can be traded for eachother, I hope that dont come back to burn us
Also, if you are gonna not be able to resign Jones, maybe you trade him in a deal for a center/big man.

I don't think you have to worry about Nurk for D'Lo. Brooklyn has been making 2025 cap space a major priority and that swap would cut $18 million into that.

[Slim Charless]

I had that thought before. If you really want Butler to put us over the top, and we can't get him for Beal, if we moved Book in a deal for him we could probably get some picks back in that exchange, assuming he goes to a 3rd team and they send something to Miami and picks to us. Then we can compete with 3 older guys that have talent and have some picks back. I know we talked a lot about what prospect Houston would give up, but what if they got Book, we got Butler and our 3 picks, and the Heat got the filler contracts (Brooks, Adams, and one young prospect).

Obviously that is very far fetched and not going to happen, but I did have that thought a few days ago. We kind of still get to compete, and get our picks.

I'd rather just not get Butler at all. I think he's cooked and giving him a 115m at his age is one of the stupider things I've ever heard.....

That said, if we have to have this deal, then getting our picks back and him for Booker is about the best we can hope for. If we're bringing him on. Which again, I don't wanna do.

Butler Durant and Booker wouldn't even make the top 10 in the West
that would be a bad basketball team

Somebody needs to take the car keys away from Ishbia
this is not a good basketball team
They were shooting 60% from the field last night against atlanta and barely had a lead at halftime
This team is 4 and out in the first round at best.

Can you not read or something? I just said I don't want Butler.

Also, while getting Butler isn't the answer it also is not trading away Booker, KD and Jones for 2 FRPs back....I mean are you freaking serious with that suggestion?

Let me ask you this:

Where do you think Booker is as an NBA player? Top 10, 20, 30, 40, 900....which group would you place him?

[Ghost of Kleine]

You're likely right.

I would bet that is for Rob Williams.

Makes sense because Williams has 2 more years left on his contract so Nurkic having 1 more year it not a big problem for the Blazers.

Williams is exactly the type of C that we need, obviously the issue is his health but he is healthy now.

Nurkic + 2nd for Rob Williams.

Why do the Blazers want Nurkic back? that's the real question.

Because they miss his elite social media posting commitment?


Joking aside, It'd most likely just be about getting an asset or two back in exchange for swapping contracts. And as Garrick pointed out, Timelord has injury/durability concerns that aren't as prevalent with Nurkic.

[BobbieL]

I'd rather just not get Butler at all. I think he's cooked and giving him a 115m at his age is one of the stupider things I've ever heard.....

That said, if we have to have this deal, then getting our picks back and him for Booker is about the best we can hope for. If we're bringing him on. Which again, I don't wanna do.

Butler Durant and Booker wouldn't even make the top 10 in the West
that would be a bad basketball team

Somebody needs to take the car keys away from Ishbia
this is not a good basketball team
They were shooting 60% from the field last night against atlanta and barely had a lead at halftime
This team is 4 and out in the first round at best.

Can you not read or something? I just said I don't want Butler.

Also, while getting Butler isn't the answer it also is not trading away Booker, KD and Jones for 2 FRPs back....I mean are you freaking serious with that suggestion?

Let me ask you this:

Where do you think Booker is as an NBA player? Top 10, 20, 30, 40, 900....which group would you place him?

The Suns aren't going anywhere with Booker and Durant. And by anywhere, I mean winning playoff series. That is all this is about - winning games in the playoffs.

So the Suns can either keep Booker and Durant and not get to the playoffs or they can face reality to try to get to the playoffs in the next five years. As this isn't getting better for the Suns - each year, it will only get worse.

Too me, trading Booker, getting those picks back and trading, Durant, Jones, O'Neale, Allen -- gets the team closer to the playoffs than keeping this group together
Granted, Ishbia needs to simmer down and not trade those picks - but build a team

Booker is a really good player -- probably top 20. And I am not blaming Book or KD - I blame Ishbia. He is playing fantasy basketball wanting to show off he is an NBA owner.

[bwgood77]

If we're looking for wins, we're doing worse with Jalen Green than with Booker. I guess you're saying, why not wait until the summer. Mostly I've been afraid some untimely sequence of events will remove Durant. But as the season goes on, that starts to like less and less likely. Perhaps you're right.

Brad's looked much better since we demoted him to the bench. The dude can play. Perhaps this will improve his trade value and we can get Jimmy Butler more-or-less straight up.

Or perhaps, if Beal's contract is truly such a negative, it would be Big Brain to trade Booker for Jimmy Butler and The World by trading Booker in a three way deal to wherever the hell for Butler PLUS whatever in the whole world of basketball we want. If it's truly true that all Wishbia wants to win, you could probably add a star player to Beal/Butler/Durant by trading Booker.

Booker doesn't have an NTC, after all.

I had that thought before. If you really want Butler to put us over the top, and we can't get him for Beal, if we moved Book in a deal for him we could probably get some picks back in that exchange, assuming he goes to a 3rd team and they send something to Miami and picks to us. Then we can compete with 3 older guys that have talent and have some picks back. I know we talked a lot about what prospect Houston would give up, but what if they got Book, we got Butler and our 3 picks, and the Heat got the filler contracts (Brooks, Adams, and one young prospect).

Obviously that is very far fetched and not going to happen, but I did have that thought a few days ago. We kind of still get to compete, and get our picks.

I'd rather just not get Butler at all. I think he's cooked and giving him a 115m at his age is one of the stupider things I've ever heard.....

That said, if we have to have this deal, then getting our picks back and him for Booker is about the best we can hope for. If we're bringing him on. Which again, I don't wanna do.

Yeah, I think Butler, once he gets paid, will just coast. I think he's probably about ready to move on. He hasn't taken it as seriously as he used to the last couple of years and his antics are just getting worse and you know it's because he just wants that last big payday....

Spoiler:

[Ghost of Kleine]

Read on Twitter

They need to try and look at moving some bench players for minor assets (2nds) to make more important moves and hopefully address bigger roster concerns such as our center position. Not to use towards a Butler trade though.

[Slim Charless]

Butler Durant and Booker wouldn't even make the top 10 in the West
that would be a bad basketball team

Somebody needs to take the car keys away from Ishbia
this is not a good basketball team
They were shooting 60% from the field last night against atlanta and barely had a lead at halftime
This team is 4 and out in the first round at best.

Can you not read or something? I just said I don't want Butler.

Also, while getting Butler isn't the answer it also is not trading away Booker, KD and Jones for 2 FRPs back....I mean are you freaking serious with that suggestion?

Let me ask you this:

Where do you think Booker is as an NBA player? Top 10, 20, 30, 40, 900....which group would you place him?

The Suns aren't going anywhere with Booker and Durant. And by anywhere, I mean winning playoff series. That is all this is about - winning games in the playoffs.

So the Suns can either keep Booker and Durant and not get to the playoffs or they can face reality to try to get to the playoffs in the next five years. As this isn't getting better for the Suns - each year, it will only get worse.

Too me, trading Booker, getting those picks back and trading, Durant, Jones, O'Neale, Allen -- gets the team closer to the playoffs than keeping this group together
Granted, Ishbia needs to simmer down and not trade those picks - but build a team

Booker is a really good player -- probably top 20. And I am not blaming Book or KD - I blame Ishbia. He is playing fantasy basketball wanting to show off he is an NBA owner.

Booker for:

Jabari Smith
Jalen Green
Cam Whitmore
Our picks

Anything less than that is stupid to take for Booker. Stupid.

Maybe you don't watch other teams besides the Suns. Take it from someone who actually knows the NBA, those are good players, but not untouchable and we can get them..... and our picks.

Not taking anything less as it's dumb to give away things for free.

[BobbieL]

Can you not read or something? I just said I don't want Butler.

Also, while getting Butler isn't the answer it also is not trading away Booker, KD and Jones for 2 FRPs back....I mean are you freaking serious with that suggestion?

Let me ask you this:

Where do you think Booker is as an NBA player? Top 10, 20, 30, 40, 900....which group would you place him?

The Suns aren't going anywhere with Booker and Durant. And by anywhere, I mean winning playoff series. That is all this is about - winning games in the playoffs.

So the Suns can either keep Booker and Durant and not get to the playoffs or they can face reality to try to get to the playoffs in the next five years. As this isn't getting better for the Suns - each year, it will only get worse.

Too me, trading Booker, getting those picks back and trading, Durant, Jones, O'Neale, Allen -- gets the team closer to the playoffs than keeping this group together
Granted, Ishbia needs to simmer down and not trade those picks - but build a team

Booker is a really good player -- probably top 20. And I am not blaming Book or KD - I blame Ishbia. He is playing fantasy basketball wanting to show off he is an NBA owner.

Booker for:

Jabari Smith
Jalen Green
Cam Whitmore
Our picks

Anything less than that is stupid to take for Booker. Stupid.

Maybe you don't watch other teams besides the Suns. Take it from someone who actually knows the NBA, those are good players, but not untouchable and we can get them..... and our picks.

Not taking anything less as it's dumb to give away things for free.

I like the trade idea. And yes, sign me up for it. A combination of players and picks for Booker would be ideal.

[Slim Charless]

Read on Twitter

They need to try and look at moving some bench players for minor assets (2nds) to make more important moves and hopefully address bigger roster concerns such as our center position. Not to use towards a Butler trade though.

I had that thought before. If you really want Butler to put us over the top, and we can't get him for Beal, if we moved Book in a deal for him we could probably get some picks back in that exchange, assuming he goes to a 3rd team and they send something to Miami and picks to us. Then we can compete with 3 older guys that have talent and have some picks back. I know we talked a lot about what prospect Houston would give up, but what if they got Book, we got Butler and our 3 picks, and the Heat got the filler contracts (Brooks, Adams, and one young prospect).

Obviously that is very far fetched and not going to happen, but I did have that thought a few days ago. We kind of still get to compete, and get our picks.

I'd rather just not get Butler at all. I think he's cooked and giving him a 115m at his age is one of the stupider things I've ever heard.....

That said, if we have to have this deal, then getting our picks back and him for Booker is about the best we can hope for. If we're bringing him on. Which again, I don't wanna do.

Yeah, I think Butler, once he gets paid, will just coast. I think he's probably about ready to move on. He hasn't taken it as seriously as he used to the last couple of years and his antics are just getting worse and you know it's because he just wants that last big payday....

Spoiler:

I'll add that we should not try and tank now as if our pick is higher on this year's draft, it gives Houston a bit more leverage. We need to hold onto everything and not make any moves. Hope our pick is mediocre, then trade Booker for the aforementioned trade to Houston.

Last thing I want is to tank and move guys-before we get our picks back from Houston.

[BobbieL]

Read on Twitter

They need to try and look at moving some bench players for minor assets (2nds) to make more important moves and hopefully address bigger roster concerns such as our center position. Not to use towards a Butler trade though.

I'd rather just not get Butler at all. I think he's cooked and giving him a 115m at his age is one of the stupider things I've ever heard.....

That said, if we have to have this deal, then getting our picks back and him for Booker is about the best we can hope for. If we're bringing him on. Which again, I don't wanna do.

Yeah, I think Butler, once he gets paid, will just coast. I think he's probably about ready to move on. He hasn't taken it as seriously as he used to the last couple of years and his antics are just getting worse and you know it's because he just wants that last big payday....

Spoiler:

I'll add that we should not try and tank now as if our pick is higher on this year's draft, it gives Houston a bit more leverage. We need to hold onto everything and not make any moves. Hope our pick is mediocre, then trade Booker for the aforementioned trade to Houston.

Last thing I want is to tank and move guys-before we our picks back from Houston.

Thats the catch 22 though

If Ishbia sees the team win 2 games in a row and is like , lets trade Dunn, Oso, Jones, and get all of that to give up for Butler PLUS the 2031 -- -that wouldn't be good

The Suns almost have to lose a lot more games for maybe Ishbia to see the writing on the wall - which than creates that problem with the 2025 pick

Personally - it shouldn't take the trade deadline to see how to proceed

[BobbieL]

Read on Twitter

They need to try and look at moving some bench players for minor assets (2nds) to make more important moves and hopefully address bigger roster concerns such as our center position. Not to use towards a Butler trade though.

I agree - I would be looking to trade Tyus Jones to a contender for a couple second round picks.

But my guess, if Ishbia does that - its just all to get Jimmy Butler.

[bwgood77]

Read on Twitter

They need to try and look at moving some bench players for minor assets (2nds) to make more important moves and hopefully address bigger roster concerns such as our center position. Not to use towards a Butler trade though.

I'd rather just not get Butler at all. I think he's cooked and giving him a 115m at his age is one of the stupider things I've ever heard.....

That said, if we have to have this deal, then getting our picks back and him for Booker is about the best we can hope for. If we're bringing him on. Which again, I don't wanna do.

Yeah, I think Butler, once he gets paid, will just coast. I think he's probably about ready to move on. He hasn't taken it as seriously as he used to the last couple of years and his antics are just getting worse and you know it's because he just wants that last big payday....

Spoiler:

I'll add that we should not try and tank now as if our pick is higher on this year's draft, it gives Houston a bit more leverage. We need to hold onto everything and not make any moves. Hope our pick is mediocre, then trade Booker for the aforementioned trade to Houston.

Last thing I want is to tank and move guys-before we get our picks back from Houston.

Well we're certainly not going to purposely tank if we haven't traded for our pick back. I mean I don't think you need to spell that out.

[Slim Charless]

I don't necessarily agree with you on the last part of that BW, regardless my point is that the best case is we basically stay status que. Hover around the play in and then get our doors blown off. Or another sweep in the 1st round. That also works.

Win enough to not give Houston a good pick this year- and more leverage in the Booker trade.

Lose badly enough when the lights get bright to make it apparent to Ish this needs to end.

[bwgood77]

I don't necessarily agree with you on the last part of that BW, regardless my point is that the best case is we basically stay status que. Hover around the play in and then get our doors blown off. Or another sweep in the 1st round. That also works.

Win enough to not give Houston a good pick this year- and more leverage in the Booker trade.

Lose badly enough when the lights get bright to make it apparent to Ish this needs to end.

I don't know what you mean. You are talking as if we are deciding. Ishbia is not going to purposely tank, period. The only possible reason he would even consider it is if we DID do an in season trade to get our 25 pick back. That is literally the only point at which there is any rationale whatsoever to tank.

I mean I guess I think you are responding in some sort of way to those hoping we just start losing a ton so we are forced to blow it up (though not even sure Ishbia would do it then) and your point is that it would be better if we were pretty good but then lost in the first round so Houston maybe wouldn't think the picks they were giving back to us were as good as they will be. If that is what you are saying, yes, I understand and I think that IF we trade with Houston for our picks back it won't be until this summer anyway and that we will do everything we can do get better prior to then (but hopefully fail to get Jimmy/trade our 31 pick).

[bwgood77]

On another note, it's great to see Book doing so well distributing. Over the last 5 he has 50 assists and only 12 turnovers, over a 4 to 1 ast/to ratio.

Especially with his shooting/scoring on the decline.

That potential thought of "maybe Book is our PGoTF" back when we were wondering what to do post Paul may have worked out in the long run had we not salvaged our future for a hopeful shot at a ring the last two years.

[Slim Charless]

I don't necessarily agree with you on the last part of that BW, regardless my point is that the best case is we basically stay status que. Hover around the play in and then get our doors blown off. Or another sweep in the 1st round. That also works.

Win enough to not give Houston a good pick this year- and more leverage in the Booker trade.

Lose badly enough when the lights get bright to make it apparent to Ish this needs to end.

I don't know what you mean. You are talking as if we are deciding. Ishbia is not going to purposely tank, period. The only possible reason he would even consider it is if we DID do an in season trade to get our 25 pick back. That is literally the only point at which there is any rationale whatsoever to tank.

I mean I guess I think you are responding in some sort of way to those hoping we just start losing a ton so we are forced to blow it up (though not even sure Ishbia would do it then) and your point is that it would be better if we were pretty good but then lost in the first round so Houston maybe wouldn't think the picks they were giving back to us were as good as they will be. If that is what you are saying, yes, I understand and I think that IF we trade with Houston for our picks back it won't be until this summer anyway and that we will do everything we can do get better prior to then (but hopefully fail to get Jimmy/trade our 31 pick).

Your second paragraph nailed it. That's exactly what I'm saying. Basically be a middle of the pack team, a team that will get molly whopped when the lights get bright and the sports world is watching. Be it in the playoffs 1st round or in the play-in. I'd rather the playoff as 4 games of seeing Ishbia have to squirm on national TV would drive the point home. I hope

[JRoy]

You're likely right.

I would bet that is for Rob Williams.

Makes sense because Williams has 2 more years left on his contract so Nurkic having 1 more year it not a big problem for the Blazers.

Williams is exactly the type of C that we need, obviously the issue is his health but he is healthy now.

Nurkic + 2nd for Rob Williams.

Why do the Blazers want Nurkic back? that's the real question.

We don’t, unless we’re sending Dominayton back where he belongs!