2024-25 Season Discussion and Speculation Part IV

[Ryu]

I am curious if the Suns ever were in worse state than nowadays? No salary cap, stars with no chemistry on the court, no picks and no control of the draft till forever, depressed fanbase... and to think that just couple of years ago we had this:

Read on Twitter

But hey, fair share of the fanbase wanted the best Suns center in the last 40 years traded, wanted a splash for the stars (there was a talk how trading for Beal was a good idea for years here), we quickly forgot about CP3 intagibles, our smartass owner grossly overpaid for Kevin Durant etc. Now we can expect a decade of irrelevance.

[Ghost of Kleine]

https://stathead.com/basketball/versus-finder.cgi?player_id2=roybr01&player_id1=bookede01&request=1&utm_source=bbr&utm_id=bookede01&utm_campaign=2023_01_wdgt_player_comparison&utm_medium=sr_xsite

Looking at their production, stats, efficiency, Booker has been measurably better overall. But for me, again they're not that far apart from one another in statistical comparison and style of play. I can also see and understand your comp for Lavine too! Sans the athleticism gap of course....lol.

I'll always have a soft spot for BRoy but Booker is almost certainly better as a scorer. Far more efficient and at high volumes. That said, Roy was a damn good defender, he was a really good playmaker (low turnovers too) and anecdotally, a more reliable and clutch player down the stretch

Yes.

Booker is a better scorer. Because Booker has that mentality.

But Roy was the better overall player.

In today's high tempo offense he would put up 25ppg 8apg 6rpg 2spg with really good IQ.

Comparing Roy stats to Booker when they played during completely different NBA environment will skew offensive numbers towards Booker since Roy's era was slow and grittier, less 3pt shots and spacing.

Yep! This era of basketball is a disappointment to all of the old heads that watched throughout the 80s and 90s back whe past physicality and tough defense was allowed. Now it's become a glorified 3 point ( horse) shootout/ contest.

[Ghost of Kleine]

I am curious if the Suns ever were in worse state than nowadays? No salary cap, stars with no chemistry on the court, no picks and no control of the draft till forever, depressed fanbase... and to think that just couple of years ago we had this:

Read on Twitter

But hey, fair share of the fanbase wanted the best Suns center in the last 40 years traded, wanted a splash for the stars (there was a talk how trading for Beal was a good idea for years here), we quickly forgot about CP3 intagibles, our smartass owner grossly overpaid for Kevin Durant etc. Now we can expect a decade of irrelevance.

Nope! This is the very worst they've ever been, even since the early Booker days despite what some would say about rebuilding eras' and sucking. The glaring difference is that even though that, there was still development (legitimate improvement) to look forward to.

But now with going the oldest team in the league with a dysfunctional roster of all these mercenarial stars that don't really have any chemistry with each other and really only each play for themselves in disjointed fashion, there's no camaraderie or connections/ chemistry etc.

And it shows on the court and on the bench when the players don't even sit together! It's high school " clickish" drama! We also as you've pointed out got no picks, no cap space and no future to look forward to. Basically our owner backed us into a corner while letting the rest of the league capitalize off our truly embarrasing misfortunes.

It's like being the little nerdy kid on the playground that gets bullied every day, but now paying everyone to bully you and come up and kick you in the nuts over and over! And for all of these huge reasons, Ishbia will likely go down as our worst owner ever!!!

[Ghost of Kleine]

Read on Twitter

Sneaky good throw in that'd address our rim pressure issue with his speed and high end athleticism and vertical burst.

Bro.

We need him in a KD trade. I'd do Jabari, him and our 27/29 and filler. He'd be a better version of Jalen but way cheaper and younger. Really need to root for a 1st round exit by HOU next month. All of us.

For sure! That's why I sneak him into all of my Houston trade premises as a trade piece. His comps have him somewhere between Jerry Stackhouse and a more explosive DeRozan. I think he'll end up better than both! But for sure he's already a lot more competitive/ tenacious than Booker currently is now after the whole KD "unbothered " effect.

[handsome salary]

[
Nope! This is the very worst they've ever been, even since the early Booker days despite what some would say about rebuilding eras' and sucking. The glaring difference is that even though that, there was still development (legitimate improvement) to look forward to.

Yep.
Even when Booker was the star on the worst Suns teams ever there was always the talk of "when he gets quality help" and the promise of what's going to happen. He got it. Failed again and again. There's no hope anymore with Booker or his game. He's not a MVP candidate or franchise player and barely an All Star. He's Klay Thompson with worse defense.

[SkyBill40]

It's a shame as to how poorly this season has turned out. Is his has destroyed our franchise. The only thing left to pull it off is to fire James Jones and install Isiah Thomas.



Sent from my SM-F936U using RealGM mobile app

Do people actually remember Isiah Thomas tenure with the New York Knicks? Trading picks and young players for the stars who dont mesh well together only to... miss playoffs year after year. And he is close to Ishbia.

Of course we remember... hence the impending sense of dread we share over his proximity to Ishbia.

[They_Them_Hatin]

These losers probably still won’t make the play in with the potential news of Kyrie missing time. I can’t see the Mavs winning another game with all of their injuries for the next few weeks. Suns really don’t even have that tough of a schedule where they can’t finished 10th even in the west. They just are pathetic and give up. We shall see what happens.

[BobbieL]

It's a shame as to how poorly this season has turned out. Is his has destroyed our franchise. The only thing left to pull it off is to fire James Jones and install Isiah Thomas.



Sent from my SM-F936U using RealGM mobile app

Do people actually remember Isiah Thomas tenure with the New York Knicks? Trading picks and young players for the stars who dont mesh well together only to... miss playoffs year after year. And he is close to Ishbia.

Of course we remember... hence the impending sense of dread we share over his proximity to Ishbia.

Which is why I want him to hire Bob Myers sooner than later. As the dread of Zeke looms large.

[sunsbg]

These losers probably still won’t make the play in with the potential news of Kyrie missing time. I can’t see the Mavs winning another game with all of their injuries for the next few weeks. Suns really don’t even have that tough of a schedule where they can’t finished 10th even in the west. They just are pathetic and give up. We shall see what happens.

Not sure what you mean don't have tough schedule. Convincingly lost in first of eight consecutive games against WC teams with better record. They can certainly manage to lose against this Mavs team though most likely win. Two games vs BOS and one vs Cavs. Not sniffing win here other than these teams not playing their starters like NOP. Even if we pass Mavs watching how Blazers played against Cavs they have a better chance to make the play-in.

[Slim Charless]

These losers probably still won’t make the play in with the potential news of Kyrie missing time. I can’t see the Mavs winning another game with all of their injuries for the next few weeks. Suns really don’t even have that tough of a schedule where they can’t finished 10th even in the west. They just are pathetic and give up. We shall see what happens.

Not sure what you mean don't have tough schedule. Convincingly lost in first of eight consecutive games against WC teams with better record. They can certainly manage to lose against this Mavs team though most likely win. Two games vs BOS and one vs Cavs. Not sniffing win here other than these teams not playing their starters like NOP. Even if we pass Mavs watching how Blazers played against Cavs they have a better chance to make the play-in.

Mavs will be tanking though. We should hopefully make the play-in. Winning should still be the priority to dull the return for Houston in a summer trade.

Speaking of summer trades.....I wonder if Durant for AD is possible in the summer? KY might be out for awhile. Maybe we throw in Dunn too in the deal.

[Revived]

Mavs and Suns have so much in common. Both teams disbanded a team that went to the finals within a year or two of coming just few games shy on winning a ring.

Matt Ishbia and Patrick Dumont must be best friends in real life.

[handsome salary]

Blazers will overtake Suns and Mavs for 10th.

[sunsbg]

These losers probably still won’t make the play in with the potential news of Kyrie missing time. I can’t see the Mavs winning another game with all of their injuries for the next few weeks. Suns really don’t even have that tough of a schedule where they can’t finished 10th even in the west. They just are pathetic and give up. We shall see what happens.

Not sure what you mean don't have tough schedule. Convincingly lost in first of eight consecutive games against WC teams with better record. They can certainly manage to lose against this Mavs team though most likely win. Two games vs BOS and one vs Cavs. Not sniffing win here other than these teams not playing their starters like NOP. Even if we pass Mavs watching how Blazers played against Cavs they have a better chance to make the play-in.

Mavs will be tanking though. We should hopefully make the play-in. Winning should still be the priority to dull the return for Houston in a summer trade.

Speaking of summer trades.....I wonder if Durant for AD is possible in the summer? KY might be out for awhile. Maybe we throw in Dunn too in the deal.

Mavs GM was so high on Davis he traded franchise face for him. Now moving him for Durant makes zero sense.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Mavs and Suns have so much in common. Both teams disbanded a team that went to the finals within a year or two of coming just few games shy on winning a ring.

Matt Ishbia and Patrick Dumont must be best friends in real life.

They look like if Rick Moranis and Wreck-It Ralph were brothers!

[Ghost of Kleine]

Read on Twitter

To me this drastic disparity speaks to being the oldest team in the NBA, the most unathletic (because our coach doesn't really play the only two young, energetic athletes we have much at all), and in general the lack of cohesion, chemistry because we brought in a bunch of mercenarial players that are only going through the motions and playing for themselves!

This wouldn't be the case if we built this team organically through the draft and somewhat through free agency, but kept the players together through multiple seasons for internal growth. Lastly, the system and scheme is horrifically non adaptive and our rotations suck! No clearly defined roles. just scrambling and overlap! Our team is confused, lost, and apathetic with no leader to be found from our big three, the coach or the roster itself.

It's time to tear it down and rebuild correctly. Also change the culture from a pussified, passive soft jumpshooting team to a physical, gritty, athletic go for the jugular tenacious team.

[thamadkant]

I am curious if the Suns ever were in worse state than nowadays? No salary cap, stars with no chemistry on the court, no picks and no control of the draft till forever, depressed fanbase... and to think that just couple of years ago we had this:

Read on Twitter

But hey, fair share of the fanbase wanted the best Suns center in the last 40 years traded, wanted a splash for the stars (there was a talk how trading for Beal was a good idea for years here), we quickly forgot about CP3 intagibles, our smartass owner grossly overpaid for Kevin Durant etc. Now we can expect a decade of irrelevance.

Suns should have made Ayton happy by giving more shots and touches... and not messed around with his contract. Because even at 75%, Ayton is a walking 15/10 60% FG and can play end of games because he can guard 4 spots well enough.

But blame Ayton for being lazy, but actually it's Booker and KD and their ineffective system. Many gets discourage with such systems because ball movement is awful and predictable and it involves watching for 10 seconds or more of the shot clock before hoisting a 3pter

Nurkic had a tremendous rebounding year last year but he was trying to play a Sabonis or mini Jokic role but couldn't play critical minutes come playoffs. Bud had him traded because he needs his center playing off ball.

[Slim Charless]

Not sure what you mean don't have tough schedule. Convincingly lost in first of eight consecutive games against WC teams with better record. They can certainly manage to lose against this Mavs team though most likely win. Two games vs BOS and one vs Cavs. Not sniffing win here other than these teams not playing their starters like NOP. Even if we pass Mavs watching how Blazers played against Cavs they have a better chance to make the play-in.

Mavs will be tanking though. We should hopefully make the play-in. Winning should still be the priority to dull the return for Houston in a summer trade.

Speaking of summer trades.....I wonder if Durant for AD is possible in the summer? KY might be out for awhile. Maybe we throw in Dunn too in the deal.

Mavs GM was so high on Davis he traded franchise face for him. Now moving him for Durant makes zero sense.

What about AD for Booker?

[thamadkant]

Mavs will be tanking though. We should hopefully make the play-in. Winning should still be the priority to dull the return for Houston in a summer trade.

Speaking of summer trades.....I wonder if Durant for AD is possible in the summer? KY might be out for awhile. Maybe we throw in Dunn too in the deal.

Mavs GM was so high on Davis he traded franchise face for him. Now moving him for Durant makes zero sense.

What about AD for Booker?

AD would fit better with KD and Beal.... and Bud will get his defensive center and athletic big.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Read on Twitter

[Slim Charless]

Mavs GM was so high on Davis he traded franchise face for him. Now moving him for Durant makes zero sense.

What about AD for Booker?

AD would fit better with KD and Beal.... and Bud will get his defensive center and athletic big.

I think Booker has more value still. If they would include Gafford and their pick this year.........I can be convinced lol