2024-25 Season Discussion and Speculation Part IV

[Slim Charless]

GoK can talk further about this, but there's a PG from BYU that can pass pretty darn well. Can't shoot, but with Beal, KD, AD all on the team there's not as much of a need

[sunsbg]

What about AD for Booker?

No way. Harrison's selling point was he values defense. So it ends trading Luka for Booker. As I said makes no sense.

[Rebound Mound]

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.

I believe both made the right decisions. A different thing is that they changed the original product for something worst instead of something better.
I would not pay Doncic 345 when he is not willing to get in shape. I would also not invest further in a team with DA at C and Crowder at PF and Paul as a PG. A different thing would have been to change a couple of players to improve the chances of performing better.

From my point of view, going to the Finals that year was because of the circumstances. I do not think we would have an option now with a similar roster seeing the quality ad style of play of other teams in the West. Also we lasted two games to that Bucks team that was also no big deal in today's basketball...

[Ghost of Kleine]

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[Ghost of Kleine]

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What about a Billups (head coach) and Dudley (asst coach) bench?

[dremill24]

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:

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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.

I still have a hard time with this particular piece. Every player, every employee thinks they should get the most money possible. 99% of them don't actually get that number. Most of that 99% don't turn it into some toxic situation with untenable levels of "disrespect."

Ayton has shown time and time again he's not worth even close to what he ultimately received, much less the even higher amount he was seeking. If your market value says you're not worth a certain number, then you have to adjust your expectations. Obviously I'm not sure how much tact was involved with the negotiations on the Suns' side (I'd bet there was a lot of room for improvement), and I'm sure the drama-mongering, negativity-fueled media cycle didn't help either. But at the end of the day it's a contract negotiation, you get what your suitors think you're worth.

I dunno, the Suns clearly have some issues with conducting business on the player personnel side, but I don't see how Ayton gets a pass here.

[Revived]

I can see Dudley being a good HC actually.

[Saberestar]

Anthony Davis could potentially miss the remainder of the 24-25 season with the Dallas Mavericks' chances of competing in the playoffs completely shifting following the season-ending ACL injury to Kyrie Irving.

"I think him, his representatives, are going to huddle up," said Shams Charania on The Pat McAfee Show. "They're going to have some hard conversations. It's not out of the realm of possibilities that's the last time. That one game is the last time we see Anthony Davis this season."

We play the Mavs next Sunday.

[sunsbg]

What a blow for Mavs. They need a full rebuild now, but their FO will probably try to get someone like KD to help AD keep DAL relevant until Kyrie's back. Of course they'll never be a true contender with three brittle players, but can't go in rebuild mode either so soon after trading 26yo superstar. Apparently FO raised ticket prices too. They desperately need to put a winning product to not lose whatever fanbase has left. In offseason send them KD, Allen, Royce for every pick you can get back.

[sunsbg]

Now we need someone to remind Blazers they are supposed to tank and we've a real chance for that precious 10th spot.

[Ghost of Kleine]

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Full Tank mode engaged! I guess there's no point in a KD to Dallas UNLESS their 25' (soon to be) lotto pick is involved!

[Slim Charless]

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Full Tank mode engaged! I guess there's no point in a KD to Dallas UNLESS their 25' (soon to be) lotto pick is involved!

What a blow for Mavs. They need a full rebuild now, but their FO will probably try to get someone like KD to help AD keep DAL relevant until Kyrie's back. Of course they'll never be a true contender with three brittle players, but can't go in rebuild mode either so soon after trading 26yo superstar. Apparently FO raised ticket prices too. They desperately need to put a winning product to not lose whatever fanbase has left. In offseason send them KD, Allen, Royce for every pick you can get back.

This is actually fantastic news for us. IF Nico keeps his job, then he'll be desperate to win. Same with Kidd.

We can/should be able to leverage them into giving us more stuff. Now obviously that (looking to be lotto) pick is on the table. Plus I don't think Lively is unavailable now either.

They will need to win next year...and that means they HAVE to make moves. This will help make the KD haul better imo.

[sunsbg]

Full Tank mode engaged! I guess there's no point in a KD to Dallas UNLESS their 25' (soon to be) lotto pick is involved!

Say Mavs end in 5-10 spot and pick is traded in KD deal. Who we are taking with that pick, GoK ?

I see on a draft site interesting comparison for Liam McNeeley - “thunder” Dan Majerle.

[JRoy]

Camara named WC defensive player of the month.

[sunsbg]

Camara named WC defensive player of the month.

So happy for you.

[JRoy]

Camara named WC defensive player of the month.

So happy for you.

Wrong forum.

[Slim Charless]

There's a poll on the trade forum that puts KDs value at picks 4 through 8.

Seems like a good match-if we're forced to keep Booker. Afford, PJ, top 4-8 pick. If they wanna include Klay in there, then the LAL 29 pick must be as well.

[BobbieL]

There's a poll on the trade forum that puts KDs value at picks 4 through 8.

Seems like a good match-if we're forced to keep Booker. Afford, PJ, top 4-8 pick. If they wanna include Klay in there, then the LAL 29 pick must be as well.

I think that wouldn't be a bad trade. Still want to know what Houston is offering

Unless you are keeping Booker for Houston

[Slim Charless]

There's a poll on the trade forum that puts KDs value at picks 4 through 8.

Seems like a good match-if we're forced to keep Booker. Afford, PJ, top 4-8 pick. If they wanna include Klay in there, then the LAL 29 pick must be as well.

I think that wouldn't be a bad trade. Still want to know what Houston is offering

Unless you are keeping Booker for Houston

Well, that's part of my point.

Now we can put pressure on the Rockets to offer up more. They can see KD go to their division rival OR they give us Jabari, Whitmore, our picks. Plus whatever filler. I'd even let them keep our pick this year-as long as it falls outside of the top 10.

Same with OKC, if they fail. Offer up Hartenstein, that Philly pick this year and some good young players on the team (Wallace, Topic, Dieng, etc) or see him go to 1 of those teams in Texas.

Plus again, this is based on us keeping Booker this year. Which I don't want to happen but I can't just ignore all the reports from credible sources saying he's not leaving.

[lilfishi22]

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.

In his only healthy playoff run, he averaged almost 27/5/3 and that's with Portland ranked dead last in the NBA in pace in each season he played for them. Absolutely unreal. In hindsight, his style of shot creation probably wasn't helpful to his longevity. What a shame we weren't able to get more BRoy and to think, Lebron is half a year younger than him and still balling out at 40.