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Funky Tut wrote:sunsfan1o1 wrote:TeamTragic wrote:
The Warriors are 35-28 because Jimmy Butler is that guy. Clearly it was just Riley being a **** prick.
It’s cuz steph curry has been playing better due to the adrenaline boost teams get after a blockbuster trade.
This will subside shortly.
OKC, BOS CLE are the only contenders this year. Dark horse is Denver
Nah , Silver will make sure LAL will be in the finals
Funky Tut wrote:sunsfan1o1 wrote:TeamTragic wrote:
The Warriors are 35-28 because Jimmy Butler is that guy. Clearly it was just Riley being a **** prick.
It’s cuz steph curry has been playing better due to the adrenaline boost teams get after a blockbuster trade.
This will subside shortly.
OKC, BOS CLE are the only contenders this year. Dark horse is Denver
Nah , Silver will make sure LAL will be in the finals
Ghost of Kleine wrote:
Yet coach Bud never plays him, which will also subsequently severely inhibit his development. And destroy any good momentum/ confidence he initially was building early in the season.
Sunsdeuce wrote:Ghost of Kleine wrote:
Yet coach Bud never plays him, which will also subsequently severely inhibit his development. And destroy any good momentum/ confidence he initially was building early in the season.
At no point did I say “geez Dunn, Booker and Kd are the best defensive duo in the league” when they were on the court together. There is no universe where Booker is in elite defense conversations. Stats can lie and this is one of those times!
Ghost of Kleine wrote:Sunsdeuce wrote:Ghost of Kleine wrote:
Yet coach Bud never plays him, which will also subsequently severely inhibit his development. And destroy any good momentum/ confidence he initially was building early in the season.
At no point did I say “geez Dunn, Booker and Kd are the best defensive duo in the league” when they were on the court together. There is no universe where Booker is in elite defense conversations. Stats can lie and this is one of those times!
your opinion is noted, man. I agree on Booker as he just doesn't have the length, toughness or explosive athleticism to ever be an elite defender. But cumulatively, I'd think this tweet could be accurate in this current offensively driven climate
Sunsdeuce wrote:Ghost of Kleine wrote:Sunsdeuce wrote:
At no point did I say “geez Dunn, Booker and Kd are the best defensive duo in the league” when they were on the court together. There is no universe where Booker is in elite defense conversations. Stats can lie and this is one of those times!
your opinion is noted, man. I agree on Booker as he just doesn't have the length, toughness or explosive athleticism to ever be an elite defender. But cumulatively, I'd think this tweet could be accurate in this current offensively driven climate
Dunn is decent but I ain’t in love with his game like others here. He needs a lot of refining. As good as he is on defense, he’s just as bad on offense. It’s a give and take. I’ve seen some here say he has a higher floor than M Bridges, which to me is insane. I don’t see Dunn as any more than a decent role player, never starter material. I mean, I hope I’m wrong but we shall see.
Kevin Durant era over in Phoenix? Diving into what the Suns might obtain for NBA superstar
Duane RankinDuane Rankin
Arizona Republic
Kevin Durant arrived in Phoenix as the ultimate introductory splash for new Suns team owner Mat Ishbia, who dealt Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and four future unprotected first-round picks to Brooklyn for the superstar right before the 2023 trade deadline.
He’s reached 30,000 career points and remains one of the game’s best players, but the Suns have fallen way short of championship expectations with him.
Minnesota swept them last year in the first round. Phoenix has a losing record with fewer than 20 games left this season and is in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019-20.
This isn’t how the Suns envisioned the Durant era unfolding – and all signs point to it ending this summer unless this team embarks on an insane postseason run. Durant has one year remaining on his four-year, $194-million deal he signed with the Nets. “The Suns need a hard reset around Devin Booker," Washington Post national NBA writer Benjamin Golliver said. "They have very few assets to work with, and they will find themselves needing to trade Booker down the road if they don't act aggressively to put a more competent rotation around him.
"It seems clear that the Suns and Kevin Durant would both be better off if they part ways this summer.”
'Part of the business'
Sources informed The Arizona Republic that Durant’s camp was upset Phoenix put him in trade talks before the 2025 deadline last month as he rejected a move back to Golden State where he won back-to-back NBA titles and finals MVPs.
However, between the Suns having already looked to move Durant, him publicly saying he understood it and his camp taking issue with those talks, it's hard to see him staying in Phoenix beyond this season. “It's part of the business,” Durant said last month after the trade deadline. “Everybody is bought and sold in this league. Anybody can be up for auction.”
Ishbia’s all-in approach has led to him fielding the NBA’s first $400-million team, one that’s over the league’s second tax apron, limiting Phoenix’s roster flexibility. The Suns don’t have any control of their first-round picks from now until 2032 and they can’t currently trade their 2032 first-round selection due to being over the second apron.
Sources informed The Republic the most ideal return on a Durant trade is regaining three first-round picks and a young player as part of a multi-team deal tied to getting under the second apron.
Durant is due to make $54.7 million in the final year of his deal next season
How to get under the 2nd tax apron
The Suns could take back less to make the deal. Milwaukee did that in dealing Khris Middleton, who is due $31 million this season, to Washington for Kyle Kuzma, who is due $24.4 million.
The Suns ideally could take back $35 million in salary in any combination of players to save essentially $20 million and get under the second apron. Beal is currently in the third year of his five-year, $251-million deal with a player option, but he has a no-trade clause.
The Suns could also work toward sliding under the second apron by dealing Grayson Allen or Royce O’Neale. Allen is on a four-year, $70 million extension and O’Neale has a four-year, $42 million deal, but they cost the Suns more than $100 million in luxury tax penalties this season.
The Suns, as is, have $218 million in salary next season that includes non-guaranteed players Nick Richards and Cody Martin. They have a club option on Vasa Micic. Being under repeater tax, Phoenix is projected to pay $165 million in luxury tax next season. That’s more than what they’re paying this season.
The Suns could waive Micic and Martin and sign two vet minimum guys, saving them $80 million to $90 million in luxury tax. Phoenix acquired Micic and Martin from Charlotte in trading Jusuf Nurkic before the deadline.
Martin has not played for the Suns this season.
Staying in championship contention?
Moving Durant screams rebuild, something that goes against Ishbia’s championship-at-all-costs mindset.
So, the Suns could look to obtain two rotational players combining to make right around the $54.7 million Durant is due next season to avoid a rebuild – and acquire a draft pick or two.
“You could trade Durant for some expiring contracts to get out of the apron, eventually, but that won’t be so easy,” said senior NBA writer Sam Amico of Wire Hoops. “He likely only has a few other places he would be willing to go.” Golliver sees the Dallas Mavericks as a potential trade partner for Durant involving Daniel Gafford, PJ Washington and "whatever draft picks they have left," and then look to move Beal to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George pending Beal removing his trade clause. “The resulting team still wouldn't be good enough to compete, but at least its veteran pieces would fit together better on paper," Golliver said. "Mike Budenholzer was paid handsomely to win now rather than oversee a rebuild, so this plan would theoretically work from a coaching standpoint as well. At least for a year or two.”
That is if the Suns decide to keep Budenholzer, who signed a five-year deal for $50-plus million.
“Given that the Suns have gone from Monty Williams to Frank Vogel to Mike Budenholzer in successive seasons, why not a fourth coach in four seasons?” USA Today NBA writer Jeff Zillgitt said.
“Budenholzer’s track record is solid and he didn’t put together this roster. He’s not the issue. If the Suns went in another direction with front-office leadership, that makes Budenholzer’s future less stable.”
Ghost of Kleine wrote:
Yet coach Bud never plays him, which will also subsequently severely inhibit his development. And destroy any good momentum/ confidence he initially was building early in the season.
Edrees wrote:JRoy wrote:Monta Ellis have it all
I was hoping and expecting this to be one of the first replies. You did not disappoint. Jroy have it all.
Slim Charless wrote:Beal for PG13?
I don't know about that one lol. Hopefully that writer is just guessing and not basing that off anything concrete.
Slim Charless wrote:Beal for PG13?
I don't know about that one lol. Hopefully that writer is just guessing and not basing that off anything concrete.
JRoy wrote:Ghost of Kleine wrote:
Yet coach Bud never plays him, which will also subsequently severely inhibit his development. And destroy any good momentum/ confidence he initially was building early in the season.
Maybe coach figured that when you’re Dunn, youre done.
I’ll show myself out.
KdoubleDees23 wrote:Give me
Coby White
Patrick Williams
Vucevic
For KD. Screw 1st rounders.
Coby White
Booker
Dunn
Patrick Williams
Vucevic
bench
Beal, Allen, Bol Bol, Richards.
KdoubleDees23 wrote:Give me
Coby White
Patrick Williams
Vucevic
For KD. Screw 1st rounders.
Coby White
Booker
Dunn
Patrick Williams
Vucevic
bench
Beal, Allen, Bol Bol, Richards.
sunsbum wrote:KdoubleDees23 wrote:Give me
Coby White
Patrick Williams
Vucevic
For KD. Screw 1st rounders.
Coby White
Booker
Dunn
Patrick Williams
Vucevic
bench
Beal, Allen, Bol Bol, Richards.
gross
Sunsdeuce wrote:KdoubleDees23 wrote:Give me
Coby White
Patrick Williams
Vucevic
For KD. Screw 1st rounders.
Coby White
Booker
Dunn
Patrick Williams
Vucevic
bench
Beal, Allen, Bol Bol, Richards.
Why would you wish that evil on the suns. That’s a trash trade for the Suns.