[Stein] Various Tidbits on Phoenix

[LarsV8]

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- Around the league people expect coach and GM to be gone.
- League has never seen so many dead coaching years.
- League anticipates Durant to be available.
- The change will be Phoenix works with Durant this time, as opposed to at the deadline
- Phx will do everything they can to move Beal, but hard to see a realistic path. Soft disagree with Gambo.
- Suns expected to be at the heart of a very busy offseason.
- In discussion with most disastrous seasons in league history, somehow two teams in the running this year.
- No chatter yet on potential new GM or coach, not appropriate to speculate if the two haven't been fired yet.
- Ishiba likes big names, but who would want to inherit this mess? So much of future mortgaged, there are few moves to make.
- Stein doesn't see a way Phx can be competitive in the next few years.
- Neither Book or Phx want Book to go, but a Hou trade for Book is likely only way to dig themselves out of the mess.
- Steins been told that Houston wants someone on their timeline, doesn't think they are interested in Durant.
- Dream scenario for Suns is they get 1 pick back from Houston for Durant.
- Houston's message is they will discuss Booker, not entertaining Durant trades.
- Maybe that changes after playoffs.

[Mr Puddles]

My guess for the offseason is that the Suns will try to get a win-now players in a desperate attempt to reboot.

I wouldn't be surprised if the front office has the following in mind:

- Land Sabonis in a KD trade (three team deal)
- Run the offensive through a facilitating 5 again, basically have Sabonis play the Nurkic role from a season ago
- trade Grayson Allen for a defensive big

Not saying this is what I want to happen, but I don't think the Suns are entertaining a full rebuild.

Basically the Suns would look something like:

Starters:
Booker
Beal
Dunn
Isaac (?) *insert defensive minded PF
Sabonis

Bench:
Gillespie (small brightspot to disastrous season)
Martin
O'Neal
#29
Oso

Suns have no control over the next two drafts, and no wiggle rooms until Beal is gone (two seasons from now) - so I think they'll be contend with trying to make the playoffs for the next two seasons and they see what they can do in the offseason two years from now.

[tester551]

My guess for the offseason is that the Suns will try to get a win-now players in a desperate attempt to reboot.

I wouldn't be surprised if the front office has the following in mind:

- Land Sabonis in a KD trade (three team deal)
- Run the offensive through a facilitating 5 again, basically have Sabonis play the Nurkic role from a season ago
- trade Grayson Allen for a defensive big

Not saying this is what I want to happen, but I don't think the Suns are entertaining a full rebuild.

Basically the Suns would look something like:

Starters:
Booker
Beal
Dunn
Isaac (?) *insert defensive minded PF
Sabonis

Bench:
Gillespie (small brightspot to disastrous season)
Martin
O'Neal
#29
Oso

Suns have no control over the next two drafts, and no wiggle rooms until Beal is gone (two seasons from now) - so I think they'll be contend with trying to make the playoffs for the next two seasons and they see what they can do in the offseason two years from now.

What type of defensive big would you want for Grayson?
Robert Williams + Murray?
Holmes?
Vanderbilt?

[giberish]

Next Phoenix starting PG: Russell Westbrook

(the biggest name that they can get).

[uraverage]

My guess for the offseason is that the Suns will try to get a win-now players in a desperate attempt to reboot.

I wouldn't be surprised if the front office has the following in mind:

- Land Sabonis in a KD trade (three team deal)
- Run the offensive through a facilitating 5 again, basically have Sabonis play the Nurkic role from a season ago
- trade Grayson Allen for a defensive big

Not saying this is what I want to happen, but I don't think the Suns are entertaining a full rebuild.

Basically the Suns would look something like:

Starters:
Booker
Beal
Dunn
Isaac (?) *insert defensive minded PF
Sabonis

Bench:
Gillespie (small brightspot to disastrous season)
Martin
O'Neal
#29
Oso

Suns have no control over the next two drafts, and no wiggle rooms until Beal is gone (two seasons from now) - so I think they'll be contend with trying to make the playoffs for the next two seasons and they see what they can do in the offseason two years from now.

Kinda like this for the Magic. Draft a PF/C (big) with one of their 2 picks. Don't know how the Sun's afford it and not sure I want to help the Sun's when the Magic have swap rights, but I could be sold.

[LarsV8]

My guess for the offseason is that the Suns will try to get a win-now players in a desperate attempt to reboot.

I wouldn't be surprised if the front office has the following in mind:

- Land Sabonis in a KD trade (three team deal)
- Run the offensive through a facilitating 5 again, basically have Sabonis play the Nurkic role from a season ago
- trade Grayson Allen for a defensive big

Not saying this is what I want to happen, but I don't think the Suns are entertaining a full rebuild.

Basically the Suns would look something like:

Starters:
Booker
Beal
Dunn
Isaac (?) *insert defensive minded PF
Sabonis

Bench:
Gillespie (small brightspot to disastrous season)
Martin
O'Neal
#29
Oso

Suns have no control over the next two drafts, and no wiggle rooms until Beal is gone (two seasons from now) - so I think they'll be contend with trying to make the playoffs for the next two seasons and they see what they can do in the offseason two years from now.

Booker, Beal and Sabonis seems like you are conceding 140 every night.

[Kiss of Death]

I am not surprised that the Rockets aren’t interested in Durant.
It doesn’t make sense to bring in someone of that age for this roster.
I think the Suns will ask for too much for Booker, so I doubt that trade materializes either.

[R-DAWG]

Pheonix really should be hitting the reset button while they still can by trading Booker to recoup most of their outstanding draft capital. Houston control's PHX's 25/27/29 1's and WAS controls 26/28. I feel like Houston should be able to figure out a way to send something to Washington to get control of those 2 swaps. As much as PHX loves Booker and Booker loves PHX, it's hard to see a path to establish a contending team around Booker in the short term, and it's hard to build from the ground up around stars approaching age 30 (Booker will be 29 in October).

Once Booker goes and the picks and back in hand, you work to get 1-2 picks back for Durant.

I doubt Isbiha will do this given how things have played out over the last few years, but he might have a get out of jail free card with Booker. A chance to wipe the slate clean. Pheonix is a good market and will attract talent.

[gswhoops]

I am not surprised that the Rockets aren’t interested in Durant.
It doesn’t make sense to bring in someone of that age for this roster.
I think the Suns will ask for too much for Booker, so I doubt that trade materializes either.

Agreed on all fronts. My gut says that Phoenix is still a year away from facing reality on Booker, and that they'll convince themselves this offseason that some combination of new coach + new GM + using the returns from a KD trade to get better "fits" around Booker will be enough to put them on the right path.

[LarsV8]

Pheonix really should be hitting the reset button while they still can by trading Booker to recoup most of their outstanding draft capital. Houston control's PHX's 25/27/29 1's and WAS controls 26/28. I feel like Houston should be able to figure out a way to send something to Washington to get control of those 2 swaps. As much as PHX loves Booker and Booker loves PHX, it's hard to see a path to establish a contending team around Booker in the short term, and it's hard to build from the ground up around stars approaching age 30 (Booker will be 29 in October).

I think one of the Washington picks is a swap, so they shouldn't be too concerned about that one, because Washington will be bad for a while. It may stop them from getting a top 1/2 pick, but they may only drop 2-3 draft slots, which is still quite good for a rebuilding team. It hurts, but it is tolerable.

[My gut says that Phoenix is still a year away from facing reality on Booker, and that they'll convince themselves this offseason that some combination of new coach + new GM + using the returns from a KD trade to get better "fits" around Booker will be enough to put them on the right path.

The problem here is that its hard to imagine Phx being better next year, they are likely worse. Booker is a year older and worse, Durant is likely gone. Most of the west should still be good, including SAS being better.

If you are Houston, and its next offseason, Phx is further in its decent, Booker is older, worse and more expensive, you are basically walking into 27 with a guaranteed top 5 pick. We don't know what the draft looks like at this point, but I think Houston has either traded the pick by then, or is no longer interested in an aging Booker. What if Booker gets injured? What if Green takes a leap? What if the pick is in new hands, like a rebuilding Bucks or Denver team?

[gswhoops]

[My gut says that Phoenix is still a year away from facing reality on Booker, and that they'll convince themselves this offseason that some combination of new coach + new GM + using the returns from a KD trade to get better "fits" around Booker will be enough to put them on the right path.

The problem here is that its hard to imagine Phx being better next year, they are likely worse. Booker is a year older and worse, Durant is likely gone. Most of the west should still be good, including SAS being better.

If you are Houston, and its next offseason, Phx is further in its decent, Booker is older, worse and more expensive, you are basically walking into 27 with a guaranteed top 5 pick. We don't know what the draft looks like at this point, but I think Houston has either traded the pick by then, or is no longer interested in an aging Booker. What if Booker gets injured? What if Green takes a leap? What if the pick is in new hands, like a rebuilding Bucks or Denver team?

Agree with all of this as a third-party fan with no skin in the game. I just don't think Ishbia is going to be there yet.

[eminence]

Booker's not old enough that he should be declining.

[Godaddycurse]

phoenix owes swaps to orlando too in addition to washington

[ReggiesKnicks]

My guess for the offseason is that the Suns will try to get a win-now players in a desperate attempt to reboot.

I wouldn't be surprised if the front office has the following in mind:

- Land Sabonis in a KD trade (three team deal)
- Run the offensive through a facilitating 5 again, basically have Sabonis play the Nurkic role from a season ago
- trade Grayson Allen for a defensive big

Not saying this is what I want to happen, but I don't think the Suns are entertaining a full rebuild.

Basically the Suns would look something like:

Starters:
Booker
Beal
Dunn
Isaac (?) *insert defensive minded PF
Sabonis

Bench:
Gillespie (small brightspot to disastrous season)
Martin
O'Neal
#29
Oso

Suns have no control over the next two drafts, and no wiggle rooms until Beal is gone (two seasons from now) - so I think they'll be contend with trying to make the playoffs for the next two seasons and they see what they can do in the offseason two years from now.

Booker, Beal and Sabonis seems like you are conceding 140 every night.

Sacramento did this in 2023 with Harrison Barnes and Rookie Keegan Murray and won 48-games. Booker is a better basketball player than De'Aaron Fox.

[JustBuzzin]

KD to Denver makes sense. Not sure why either KD or Houston would want each other.

[gswhoops]

Booker's not old enough that he should be declining.

His game also should age well - he's more reliant on skill than athleticism.

[gswhoops]

KD to Denver makes sense. Not sure why either KD or Houston would want each other.

Feels like KD for MPJ/Nnaji/Saric/Braun and a 1st is something both sides can ultimately live with.

[JustBuzzin]

KD to Denver makes sense. Not sure why either KD or Houston would want each other.

Feels like KD for MPJ/Nnaji/Saric/Braun and a 1st is something both sides can ultimately live with.

Agreed

KD would flourish playing off Jokic. He can just hoop and let Jokic lead the team. Perfect scenario for KD.

[Texas Chuck]

I think its always foolish to assume your window is a decade open just because your core guys are in their early 20's. It should be do I think they are good enough now if I add a high level scorer that our team desperately needs? If yes, trade for KD or Booker or whomever else might become available. If not, then you hope guys further develop or you should be trading some of those young guys now rather than paying them and now being expensive and still not good enough.

OKC is the exception, not the rule. Anyone looking at that and saying lets just wait it out. Well good luck to you. The rest of the West will thank you for your hubris.

[gswhoops]

I think its always foolish to assume your window is a decade open just because your core guys are in their early 20's. It should be do I think they are good enough now if I add a high level scorer that our team desperately needs? If yes, trade for KD or Booker or whomever else might become available. If not, then you hope guys further develop or you should be trading some of those young guys now rather than paying them and now being expensive and still not good enough.

OKC is the exception, not the rule. Anyone looking at that and saying lets just wait it out. Well good luck to you. The rest of the West will thank you for your hubris.

Agree with all of this, and just wanted to add that the leap from ok to good is hard, but the leap from good to "championship contender" is exponentially harder.