2024-25 Season Discussion and Speculation Part IV

[Fo-Real]

Back to reality, Ben Simmons is likely to get bought out. Think we'd be interested in signing him for the minimum? I wonder what KD thinks of him. I don't even know if he's worth playing or how good his defense is anymore, but it used to be first team defense caliber.

I thought our buyout market was different because of the second apron thing. We cant get anyone who previously made more than like 13 mil or something?

[Fo-Real]

Tyus/Beal/Monte
Book/Allen/Micic
Dunn/Martin/Lee
KD/O'Neale/Bol
Richards/Plumlee/Oso

And I would even prefer to give Beal the starting spot and play Tyus as a backup PG next to 3 shooting SG/SF players + Plumlee.

Probably we can make it work with Beal, Book and KD next to 2 athletic low usage player like Dunn and Richards.

Royce has been better in the starting lineup than Dunn in my opinion.

[Fo-Real]

Anyone want Ben Simmons? he is going to be bought out by Nets.

Makes too much I thought? If not, then why not!!

[bwgood77]

If KD to OKC is a thing, Ishiba better not blink and accept anything less than Jalen Williams or Chet plus a pick. Jalen Williams is sitting happy under the radar below Shai, but man this guy is like a bigger longer Jrue Holiday who can shoot the 3. Dream SG for me.

JDubb is happy....for now. That will last only so long and it'll start with the payday he wants coming this summer.

OKC can get his offense and then some from KD and his defense can be cobbled from the Caruso, Dort, Wallace combo.

IMO (just so people don't think I'm saying this is a for sure thing) OKC can make the move and buy an elite player to put next to SGA. We'll see who else becomes available, but at the moment it seems that KD and (Booker) will the best available to teams looking to add.

Gives us the decided advantage in negotiations.

I think Jalen Williams is like a James Harden type of bloomer if and when he gets to be the main man. I would build around him on the Suns.

Then trade Booker to Rockets for Amen and 2 of the Suns picks, and you have an elite defensive wing combo.... then try to pry away Scottie Barnes and you have a dynasty in the making.

That would be killer. Love Jalen Williams. Heck, traded Jokic for him in fantasy. Well, along with Sengun. Houston needs to make a move big time. I will be surprised is Amen is traded, but I think if we held firm on him and our 2 firsts in 27 and 29 for Book (if we decide to trade him) there is a chance. Jalen I don't see a big chance with him. OKC is already loaded with great chemistry and playing together. Wherever KD goes post GS, things tend to go south. Players want out, get traded. Doesn't bring a great vibe. Is older and declining. Only a madman would trade Jalen Williams for KD, even straight up, from a team crushing people when that young. They don't need scoring. They have it from a lot of players, even when Chet is out, and Shai is MVP caliber. If I'm Presti, it's the last thing I do.

You think the Raptors want to move on from Barnes?

The Rockets are really the team to pounce on if we could, because they NEED that go to guy and scorer, have Udoka and a GREAT D, depth and picks. Book could maybe be MVP candidate if he went there and they were the #1 seed. So that would give us some chance at Amen. But if not, even some combination of Green, Eason, Smith, Whitmore, our picks would be a nice haul to give us youth, depth and some athleticism. Maybe try to get 3 or 4 picks overall too. Theirs in 29 and maybe ours in 25 if it was an early trade.

I don't think we trade Book yet, but I think they will start to give it some thought and he will probably think about where is wants to go in his career next if we fail so spectacularly this season with the oldest team in the league and little for picks. Not much you can do to retool our team since he's our only real trade asset left outside of 37 year old KD (next year) who very likely won't have as much value as people hope.

[Fo-Real]

Anyone want Ben Simmons? he is going to be bought out by Nets.

Pretty sure Suns can't get him after a buyout due to 2nd apron, not that you'd want him anyway. He could help contending teams as a 10 minute guy off the bench and we are not that.

What if he were signed by a team like the spurs at minimum and then strategically.. released at that salary a week or so later?
Does that change the rule?

[bwgood77]

Read on Twitter

From earlier today! They make a pretty good but also obvious point. But how truly bad must our front office be if this is the consensus opinion of the entire league.

How are we good at talent acquisition? By trading one of the most massive hauls in history for 34 year old KD? They have made what look like decent fringe moves getting Royce, Jones, Morris, etc. I don't really think the Ayton/Camara for Nurkic/Allen was a great trade. I understand why they wanted to get off of Ayton, but still don't think it was good.

I don't really view Martin, Richards, or any of these other moves as great talent acquisitions.

[bwgood77]

There is no front office, just this lunatic and a bunch of yes-men

Agreed....when people say fire Jones, it's like "is he really the problem?" I mean he may be a yes man, but if he is, Ishbia won't bring in a guy who he lets make decisions over him. At least until he gets humbled and realized he should. But I don't even know if he's self aware enough to ever get there. I think at least Sarver got there finally and got better.

I do think Jones has made mistakes, and we need to beef up scouting, but I think he is great with player relations (if he is allowed to take care of that...not susre he is). Ish will probably get rid of him though to blame someone. Probably will get rid of Bud too after praising him so much at the delight of Puff and bring in a new guy Puff won't like. Because no one can probably do anything with our current roster makeup.

[bwgood77]

Tyus/Beal/Monte
Book/Allen/Micic
Dunn/Martin/Lee
KD/O'Neale/Bol
Richards/Plumlee/Oso

And I would even prefer to give Beal the starting spot and play Tyus as a backup PG next to 3 shooting SG/SF players + Plumlee.

Probably we can make it work with Beal, Book and KD next to 2 athletic low usage player like Dunn and Richards.

I agree. Beal was great last year with KD and Book. It took them awhile to learn to play together but they went 34-18. What changed? Starting Tyus.

I might start Book/Allen/Dunn/KD/Richards though. But I do think starting Beal now that you have Richards and Dunn in there, and could remove Tyus, just makes you bigger with better defense.

[BobbieL]

Read on Twitter

From earlier today! They make a pretty good but also obvious point. But how truly bad must our front office be if this is the consensus opinion of the entire league.

How are we good at talent acquisition? By trading one of the most massive hauls in history for 34 year old KD? They have made what look like decent fringe moves getting Royce, Jones, Morris, etc. I don't really think the Ayton/Camara for Nurkic/Allen was a great trade. I understand why they wanted to get off of Ayton, but still don't think it was good.

I don't really view Martin, Richards, or any of these other moves as great talent acquisitions.

Agreed -- Ishbia took a team with a solid young core and draft picks and turned into a terrible roster with little cap flexibility and he took out a bunch of draft picks in the process. I keep forgetting they traded Camara in that trade too - another young player.

Total overreaction trades - fan boy stuff.

[BobbieL]

There is no front office, just this lunatic and a bunch of yes-men

Agreed....when people say fire Jones, it's like "is he really the problem?" I mean he may be a yes man, but if he is, Ishbia won't bring in a guy who he lets make decisions over him. At least until he gets humbled and realized he should. But I don't even know if he's self aware enough to ever get there. I think at least Sarver got there finally and got better.

I do think Jones has made mistakes, and we need to beef up scouting, but I think he is great with player relations (if he is allowed to take care of that...not susre he is). Ish will probably get rid of him though to blame someone. Probably will get rid of Bud too after praising him so much at the delight of Puff and bring in a new guy Puff won't like. Because no one can probably do anything with our current roster makeup.

When I say fire Jones, part of the solution is Ishbia letting the GM do their jobs.

[bwgood77]

If KD to OKC is a thing, Ishiba better not blink and accept anything less than Jalen Williams or Chet plus a pick. Jalen Williams is sitting happy under the radar below Shai, but man this guy is like a bigger longer Jrue Holiday who can shoot the 3. Dream SG for me.

I just don't think the Suns will have the option to play hard ball with Durant this summer. Get a good solid trade - I would take a good solid B at this point. Get a couple draft picks, a young player and contracts that other teams might find have value at the trade deadline

The best thing that can happen with Durant is for a few teams with title aspirations, fall short and they want Durant as the missing piece

The Twolves called on Durant - probably would have been Randle, Divicenzo and draft picks.

Now Booker - he is the player you really use to get the A trade

Looking at that KD package from the Wolves. Not impresssed. Still can't believe they traded Towns for that. And that many thought Minny won the trade. People look too much at contracts. To me that's irrelevant if you are making your team a lot worse. Towns became one of those guys that got severely underrated at some point though. Wasn't sure why. He was injured quite a bit. They had another C. But guess what? It worked!

[bwgood77]

Back to reality, Ben Simmons is likely to get bought out. Think we'd be interested in signing him for the minimum? I wonder what KD thinks of him. I don't even know if he's worth playing or how good his defense is anymore, but it used to be first team defense caliber.

I thought our buyout market was different because of the second apron thing. We cant get anyone who previously made more than like 13 mil or something?

Oh, didn't know that. Nvm then.

[grumpysaddle]

Should have traded Durant for a haul of picks and a young player or two. His return is only going to get worse over time and with knowledge that he is unhappy after hearing his name involved in trade talks. The only player that has a say over his destiny is Beal, and you can't be mad at him as that was always the reality. The Durant experiment epically failed and the team has been worse after his acquisition and progressively so. Dark times in the Valley.

[bullsaficianado]

Yeah the 2nd apron rules. Keep forgetting about that. No Simmons for the Suns.

[Saberestar]

Yeah the 2nd apron rules. Keep forgetting about that. No Simmons for the Suns.

Yeah, but there are gonna be a few interesting names that can help us at the PF position. Some of them are PF/SF and some are PF/C but all of them can help us at rebounding.

Under the current CBA, teams who are over the first or second apron are restricted from signing a player after a buyout (or waiver) whose previous contract was greater than the Non-Taxpayer MLE for the current season. For this year, that’s $12,822,000.

Daniel Theis (OKC) and PJ Tucker (Raptors) are for sure buyout options. But there are other potential buyout options:

Marvin Bagley
Larry Nance
Cam Reddish

We need to make one addition to our frontcourt.

[bwgood77]

Read on Twitter

From earlier today! They make a pretty good but also obvious point. But how truly bad must our front office be if this is the consensus opinion of the entire league.

How are we good at talent acquisition? By trading one of the most massive hauls in history for 34 year old KD? They have made what look like decent fringe moves getting Royce, Jones, Morris, etc. I don't really think the Ayton/Camara for Nurkic/Allen was a great trade. I understand why they wanted to get off of Ayton, but still don't think it was good.

I don't really view Martin, Richards, or any of these other moves as great talent acquisitions.

Agreed -- Ishbia took a team with a solid young core and draft picks and turned into a terrible roster with little cap flexibility and he took out a bunch of draft picks in the process. I keep forgetting they traded Camara in that trade too - another young player.

Total overreaction trades - fan boy stuff.

Did you watch Camara in these last couple games against Portland? I thought he was pretty good seeing him some last year, but he is really good. Like I love Dunn (and I wasn't excited about the pick) but he doesn't look as good as Camara who really crashes the boards, gets lots of steals, defends like crazy and his a better 3pt shooter. Though he is a couple years older than Dunn.

[BobbieL]

Yeah the 2nd apron rules. Keep forgetting about that. No Simmons for the Suns.

Yeah, but there are gonna be a few interesting names that can help us at the PF position. Some of them are PF/SF and some are PF/C but all of them can help us at rebounding.

Under the current CBA, teams who are over the first or second apron are restricted from signing a player after a buyout (or waiver) whose previous contract was greater than the Non-Taxpayer MLE for the current season. For this year, that’s $12,822,000.

Daniel Theis (OKC) and PJ Tucker (Raptors) are for sure buyout options. But there are other potential buyout options:

Marvin Bagley
Larry Nance
Cam Reddish

We need to make one addition to our frontcourt.

And if the one player goes back to Europe on a buyout - or just quits, there is a roster spot. Ishbia should see if he will take a buyout
Who knows - maybe the Suns take a flier on a PF -- and see if that can help. Anything is better and if this is the team, might as well see if they can make the playoffs

[bwgood77]

Yeah the 2nd apron rules. Keep forgetting about that. No Simmons for the Suns.

Yeah, but there are gonna be a few interesting names that can help us at the PF position. Some of them are PF/SF and some are PF/C but all of them can help us at rebounding.

Under the current CBA, teams who are over the first or second apron are restricted from signing a player after a buyout (or waiver) whose previous contract was greater than the Non-Taxpayer MLE for the current season. For this year, that’s $12,822,000.

Daniel Theis (OKC) and PJ Tucker (Raptors) are for sure buyout options. But there are other potential buyout options:

Marvin Bagley
Larry Nance
Cam Reddish

We need to make one addition to our frontcourt.

Theis was waived. He may get claimed on waivers but then will just sign somewhere. Lakers will probably go after him. I guess we should. Not sure how he compares with Richards/Plumlee.

Probably not enough to put us over the top.

Now if we somehow could get Nance, that would be great. I've always wanted him. Still probably not enough to put us over the top though.

[BobbieL]

JDubb is happy....for now. That will last only so long and it'll start with the payday he wants coming this summer.

OKC can get his offense and then some from KD and his defense can be cobbled from the Caruso, Dort, Wallace combo.

IMO (just so people don't think I'm saying this is a for sure thing) OKC can make the move and buy an elite player to put next to SGA. We'll see who else becomes available, but at the moment it seems that KD and (Booker) will the best available to teams looking to add.

Gives us the decided advantage in negotiations.

I think Jalen Williams is like a James Harden type of bloomer if and when he gets to be the main man. I would build around him on the Suns.

Then trade Booker to Rockets for Amen and 2 of the Suns picks, and you have an elite defensive wing combo.... then try to pry away Scottie Barnes and you have a dynasty in the making.

That would be killer. Love Jalen Williams. Heck, traded Jokic for him in fantasy. Well, along with Sengun. Houston needs to make a move big time. I will be surprised is Amen is traded, but I think if we held firm on him and our 2 firsts in 27 and 29 for Book (if we decide to trade him) there is a chance. Jalen I don't see a big chance with him. OKC is already loaded with great chemistry and playing together. Wherever KD goes post GS, things tend to go south. Players want out, get traded. Doesn't bring a great vibe. Is older and declining. Only a madman would trade Jalen Williams for KD, even straight up, from a team crushing people when that young. They don't need scoring. They have it from a lot of players, even when Chet is out, and Shai is MVP caliber. If I'm Presti, it's the last thing I do.

You think the Raptors want to move on from Barnes?

The Rockets are really the team to pounce on if we could, because they NEED that go to guy and scorer, have Udoka and a GREAT D, depth and picks. Book could maybe be MVP candidate if he went there and they were the #1 seed. So that would give us some chance at Amen. But if not, even some combination of Green, Eason, Smith, Whitmore, our picks would be a nice haul to give us youth, depth and some athleticism. Maybe try to get 3 or 4 picks overall too. Theirs in 29 and maybe ours in 25 if it was an early trade.

I don't think we trade Book yet, but I think they will start to give it some thought and he will probably think about where is wants to go in his career next if we fail so spectacularly this season with the oldest team in the league and little for picks. Not much you can do to retool our team since he's our only real trade asset left outside of 37 year old KD (next year) who very likely won't have as much value as people hope.

Durant -- he needs to be traded this summer. Its just a reality of where they are cap wise, needing draft picks and getting younger. The value may not be what people think (like Greg Moore - he thinks KD is the equivalent of Luka now and the Suns could have traded for Sengun) - but get good solid value


Booker - team needs to have a heart to heart and if the Rockets are offering most of what you offer up there like Green, Whitmore, Smith, not even Amen - and the picks back -- might just have to tell him "thank you but we need to do this for our future". But like you said, all depends on how the season end s- if the Suns don't make the playoffs - he might want to get out now.

Final 32 games will be telling..

[King4Day]

Anyone want Ben Simmons? he is going to be bought out by Nets.

Makes too much I thought? If not, then why not!!

Yup.
Those wanting a buyout player, think much much smaller. Theis is probably best (only?) option.