2024-25 Season Discussion and Speculation Part V

[Hitachi77]

We're not going to make the play in. What a damned joke. Ishbia needs to burn for this and it's a shame that the only way fans can hold owners accountable is to not buy tickets or renew season passes.

I went to one game this season, and early tilt against SAC. And the Suns, who lead most of the game, quit and let the Kings back in it and lost. That same SAC team is likely going to keep us out this time, too.

To hell with this team. Seriously. I said a lot of things about Robert Sarver over time but I'll be damned if I wouldn't take him back in an instant over this jackass.

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Probably won’t make it, but it’s still a higher chance than it might appear. Kings have a very tough next 4 games. All teams jockeying for position. Even the Cavs haven’t clinched the conference yet. It’s possible they will lose all 4, in which case the Suns would only need to win the home game vs SA and that Kings game. The only other team that could mess that up is the Blazers, which apparently we lose out if it’s a 3 way tie with them and the Kings. But the Blazers seem to be tanking enough, otherwise they’d have more wins.

Watched a lot of the Suns game last night - just because I was at happy hour with friends - it was on in the corner

Not sure how anybody can watch that game and think a Durant trade alone will be enough to turn the team around to build around Booker. I just don't see it. If the Suns think they can build around Booker - they are mistaken. He needs to go as much as Durant does to rebuild the roster

100% agreed

[BobbieL]

Probably won’t make it, but it’s still a higher chance than it might appear. Kings have a very tough next 4 games. All teams jockeying for position. Even the Cavs haven’t clinched the conference yet. It’s possible they will lose all 4, in which case the Suns would only need to win the home game vs SA and that Kings game. The only other team that could mess that up is the Blazers, which apparently we lose out if it’s a 3 way tie with them and the Kings. But the Blazers seem to be tanking enough, otherwise they’d have more wins.

Watched a lot of the Suns game last night - just because I was at happy hour with friends - it was on in the corner

Not sure how anybody can watch that game and think a Durant trade alone will be enough to turn the team around to build around Booker. I just don't see it. If the Suns think they can build around Booker - they are mistaken. He needs to go as much as Durant does to rebuild the roster

100% agreed

The Suns really don't have any good depth. I mean, O'Neale and Grayson have their moments but I would have zero problem moving them for expirings that coincide with Beal. Beal is expiring in 2027 so that should be the goal to clear up the cap. I personally would rather keep him home next year, - get knee surgery or something -- as I don't want to add picks to just move him -- I get they will get back terrible contracts.

Nick Richards, nice player but ehh. Tyus Jones, Monte Morris, Plumlee -- nobody is missing any of these players next year

But Booker and Durant, I think you can get a bunch of young players, picks and expirings that can start a rebuild. A more fun team to watch and a team that will grow.

Booker - it would be spinning wheels as you still can't add enough around him.

[sunsbum]

Yea bring in another coach. That should do it. /s Booker isn’t going anywhere. Tearing down Book and what he’s done here won’t change Matt’s mind, it just makes you 50 pages deep of toxic whining.

[KdoubleDees23]

Suns need to get Marcus Smart or trade KD to houston and get FVV

Then draft Walter Clayton jr with a draft pick they get .

Would Love WCJ !

[JDJ26]

The scary thing about the Suns not making the playoffs is the Rockets may get Cooper Flagg.

[BobbieL]

Suns need to get Marcus Smart or trade KD to houston and get FVV

Then draft Walter Clayton jr with a draft pick they get .

Would Love WCJ !

Are you trying to get better or worse?

[Ghost of Kleine]

So that was interesting -- if KD gets enough in a trade, that is how they build around Booker
I don't think they can - but I understand Ishbia has to try

There's been way too much focus on building around Booker. He's just a piece not a center.

I see Memphis is on that list for KD, who would they offer? They have no picks and JJJ is off the table. Bane is no use here. The only one that makes sense for them to send over is Ja....which would be interesting. We do need a point guard.

I love Ja as a talent personally, but don't think there's any way our front office with their "choir boy" passive culture would ever allow that trade brother. I'd love to have him though and will go on record to say that our culture is mentallybweak/ fragile and we could use some toughness, edginess and Bravado on this team.

Even players like Dillon Brooks, Isiah Stewart, Draymond Green, Ja morant, etc would take us a long way competitively! We need a bit of bad boy added to this roster with the hope of a similar energizing outcome as when we brought in Charles Barkley.

I wonder if they'd be willing to do a 3 team trade sending Ja to New Orleans, Zion back to us and maybe some other fillers, etc exchanged? Otherwise, maybe a package of KD to Memphis for Bane/ Clarke/ Jackson/ Wells/ MEM 27' 1st/ MEM 29' 1st/ MEM 31' 1st.

But I'd honestly really want Ja if our front office would take him back, otherwise I'd definitely prefer Zion! Maybe even send Ja to Brooklyn for Johnson/ Claxton/ picks? Or Utah for Markannen/ Hendricks/ picks (** including our 31' 1st back).

[Ghost of Kleine]

The scary thing about the Suns not making the playoffs is the Rockets may get Cooper Flagg.

23% chance or something like that?? Would really be the icing on the Sh**cake we're all being fed by this front office.

[JDJ26]

The scary thing about the Suns not making the playoffs is the Rockets may get Cooper Flagg.

23% chance or something like that?? Would really be the icing on the Sh**cake we're all being fed by this front office.

The Rockets defense with Flagg, Amen Thompson, and Tari Eason would be very scary.

[SunsRback4Good]

The scary thing about the Suns not making the playoffs is the Rockets may get Cooper Flagg.

23% chance or something like that?? Would really be the icing on the Sh**cake we're all being fed by this front office.

The Rockets defense with Flagg, Amen Thompson, and Tari Eason would be very scary.

Rockets definitely not getting Cooper. He’s going to be drafted by the Utah Jazz. I’m bet u my life savings that’s his next destination.

[KdoubleDees23]

Suns need to get Marcus Smart or trade KD to houston and get FVV

Then draft Walter Clayton jr with a draft pick they get .

Would Love WCJ !

Are you trying to get better or worse?

So trade KD for FVV, Jabari Smith, Eason and a 1st (Walter Clayton Jr)

First that makes us better , second it gives us a vocal leader / quarterback in FVV. + it gives us depth.

Then trade beal for whomever.

This team sucks, and KD is a silent leader who doesn't make anyone around him better.

Give me those 4 over a KD suns team

FVV, Walter Clayton Jr
Booker , Allen
Eason, O'Neale
Jabari Smith Jr , Dunn
Richards, Oso

Whomever we get for Beal

Yeah give me that team over the team we have now.

[Ghost of Kleine]

23% chance or something like that?? Would really be the icing on the Sh**cake we're all being fed by this front office.

The Rockets defense with Flagg, Amen Thompson, and Tari Eason would be very scary.

Rockets definitely not getting Cooper. He’s going to be drafted by the Utah Jazz. I’m bet u my life savings that’s his next destination.

Most likely as he'd be a perfect fit there in Utah for the type of player they value. I had either Charlotte or San Antonio miraculously landing him though because:

If Charlotte, So then Flagg could be their franchise guy allowing the league to steer him to the Clippers or Golden state or another of their favored big market teams for ratings and storylines.

If San Antonio, To help expedite the Spurs dynasty resurgence again and to help push Wemby into the playoffs! Again for ratings, storylines, etc.

If the Pels, So the league can engineer a Zion to Lakers outcome to give LA a big 3 super team. With Doncic and Lebron! I see one of those three outcomes because of how rigged the league is in favor of large markets and revenue pull from those markets.

[thamadkant]

Read on Twitter

When talking about roster construction for a top-tier competitive team, and your top 2 players are mid-range dominant, it becomes important to surround those 2 players with absolute knock-down shooters from three and a dominant low post scoring presence to cause gravity and force defenses to collapse. How we should target these two archetypal players in trade and the draft or even by way of free agency when, if post KD trade we can get below the 2nd apron should be an absolute top priority this summer!

The stats that posts only show that Booker and KD have good talent and abilities.... as individuals.

Either are horrible team leaders and I question Booker as a team mate considering he's the knly one left from the 2021 Finals team.... seems to me he slowly pushed his other team mates away indirectly and directly...

[Slim Charless]

The idea is trading KD for a package that would help us now and in the future.

A package around an All-Star, borderline All-Star o future All-Star player, a young player and some picks or/and swaps.

That's why we agreed on trading him at the deadline. We got wat we needed from the GSW but they wanted KD on board with coming back to San Francisco.

The rumored trade was: Jimmy Butler (borderline All-Star player), Kuminga (young player), two picks and one swap (future).

So it's no putting ALL those positive assets that we could get for KD in the market next to Beal to ship him out. We could use one of those assets, no doubt about it, but obviously not most of the package.

I can't imagine the Rockets trading Jalen Green in a KD's trade. I know that Gambo keeps saying that the Rockets wants to trade him for his salary...but ****, he destroyed the Thunder yesterday.

Jalen Green makes more sense in a Booker to Houston trade . Granted, they still have Reed Sheppard if they traded Durant for a package centered around Green. Booker and Green again play the same position. How is that different than Beal and Booker playing together - meaning allocation of resources

At some point -- building a roster has to come into player. Complementary players.

How is that different? Jalen Green is young and an upcoming player full of energy. Beal usually plays like he is 40 years old...if he can play a couple consecutive games.

The redundancy in position isn't a big deal if they are great. The problem with Beal is that hasn't been a impact player since coming to the Suns.

If we could have the opportunity to get Anthony Edwards next to Book we wouldn't think about redundancy because he is a great athlete and amazing player...Jalen Green isn't Ant but he is closer to him than closer to Beal.

But I doubt we can get Jalen Green even for KD. His contract is looking an steal at this point.

That's an incredible post.....and very wrong. On multiple levels.

The highlighted portion though makes me think that you don't spend much time watching HOU games....

[Saberestar]

Jalen Green makes more sense in a Booker to Houston trade . Granted, they still have Reed Sheppard if they traded Durant for a package centered around Green. Booker and Green again play the same position. How is that different than Beal and Booker playing together - meaning allocation of resources

At some point -- building a roster has to come into player. Complementary players.

How is that different? Jalen Green is young and an upcoming player full of energy. Beal usually plays like he is 40 years old...if he can play a couple consecutive games.

The redundancy in position isn't a big deal if they are great. The problem with Beal is that hasn't been a impact player since coming to the Suns.

If we could have the opportunity to get Anthony Edwards next to Book we wouldn't think about redundancy because he is a great athlete and amazing player...Jalen Green isn't Ant but he is closer to him than closer to Beal.

But I doubt we can get Jalen Green even for KD. His contract is looking an steal at this point.

That's an incredible post.....and very wrong. On multiple levels.

The highlighted portion though makes me think that you don't spend much time watching HOU games....

Jalen Green is 23 years old. He is the best scorer on the clear cut 2nd best team in the West.

He is playing 33.5 minutes per game. His defense is good...yeah, he isn’t Amen Thompson but basically no one can do that.

Again...21.7 points, 4.7 boards, 3.6 assists and shooting 35% from threes on more than 8 points attempts per game.

Do you think that he is not gonna keep improving? The guy plays with passion and wants to be great. His athleticism is wild.

What I think is that Houston will offer FVV or Dillon Brooks before they will offer Jalen Green. IMO they will try to avoid to trade any of Sengun, Amen or Jalen Green.

[Puff]

Yea bring in another coach. That should do it. /s Booker isn’t going anywhere. Tearing down Book and what he’s done here won’t change Matt’s mind, it just makes you 50 pages deep of toxic whining.

If we do not fire wither the coach or the GM, I suggest both, for this years performance Ishbia is dumber than I thought.

As I remember Bud had trouble recruiting assistant coaches to come work for him. He has the reputation for being miserable to work for. I expect that includes his assistant coaches. You just do not see any good vibes with this team. They are and have been ready to go fishing. I expect Bud will be on a different boat.

If we do trade KD to Houston, it must include us getting our 1st round pick this year back.

Without KD in the lineup we look like we should be playing in a 6'4" and under league. We are and have been so small it really is hard to play defense. That blame goes on Ishbia and Jones. If we do not acquire a legit PF this summer, then it will not matter who the coach is.

[Djedefre]

Can anybody in keep Booker camp here explain what exactly do we get with doing so? How else can we regain our assets and reset this franchise?

[sunsbg]

I'm ok keeping Booker if he's paid like a star instead of superstar. Tell him 45-50M is max he'll get on his next extension and see if he's still eager to stay. Spend rest of the money on a good player who'll help him win. If not, get best trade offer and move on.

[BobbieL]

Can anybody in keep Booker camp here explain what exactly do we get with doing so? How else can we regain our assets and reset this franchise?

That is what I have been wanting to see. A clear cut vision of the type of trade you can make with Durant and how you surround Booker with that talent

Do they get below apron levels with a Durant trade and moving on from Martin and Micic

What trades can they make with Allen and O"Neale

Plus, if you wait a year to trade Booker, his value goes down which means less assets coming back

[Sunlight]

Booker is incapable of making other players better, so building around him is a waste of time.