The Official 2025 Offseason Thread Part 2

[ChuckS]

I expect the big three to be together on opening night. I expect whichever coach that comes up with a plan to make it work will be our new head coach. Not sure about Beal but Vogel won 49 games with him alongside Book.

I am just hoping that we get a couple of guys in the draft that are fun to watch as well as free agent PF and or PG that was not on last years roster.

It was nice to see Nick Richards at the Mercury's opening night game.

We need some team unity building this summer similar to Kyler Muray's softball game this past weekend. We used to have that prior to KD. Miss those days.

I just don't see it with Booker, Beal and Durant. It hasn't worked And since the organization won't get move on from Booker, they have to trade Durant - -that is if they want to start winning and moving forward

Booker and Durant together I just don't think are the right players next to each other. Need to complement each other and they don't which is the point you made. Before Durant, this was a team. KD was not good for Booker

A few herein seem to believe that KD is some Svengali who has somehow corrupted or manipulated the otherwise intelligent and competent Booker. But Books' last seven years have been remarkably consistent, with his two best scoring years since KD's arrival. I can't attribute his highest season scoring year to KD who played only 8 regular season games with the team in 22/23. But the playoff loss to Denver was another matter. KD, to me, was still not acclimated, but averaged 29 points per to outperform Murray. Devin, on the other hand was awesome. He had the best of his four playoff performances, averaging 33.7PPG @58.5/50.8/86.6% to offset Jokic. We lost, but not because of our two best players doing their jobs by outscoring theirs. The next year with KD the Suns were swept by the larger/better team but Booker averaged 27.5PPG @49.2/35.1/95.1. His in season average was his second highest at 27.1 per. (KD equaled that in season number, was an all star, and 2d team NBA, Book NBA3d.)

It's common to remember the most recent happening. This year was Book's lowest with KD at 25.6, with his 2d worst 3pt%. But the difference wasn't Durant, but a new coach with an emphasis on shooting threes, and also the necessity for Book to oftentimes play the one. I think the two are very compatible, and have balanced their talents to excellently co-exist.

[TeamTragic]

I don't think KD should be traded unless we get an offer that helps position this team for future success.

[TeamTragic]

Fischer reporting Suns are looking for a starting center. Any thoughts on who we should target?

[sasquatchBob]

The 49 win season was terrible and not enjoyable at all. Last season was even worse and it makes it look ok in comparison, but don't forget it was awful and disappointing as well. There is no point in going back to that just to be a first round exit at best.

Changes need to be made because it's not gonna get better with these 3 players being the main guys.


Durant needs to go now. Unfortunately they waited too long and might end up getting a bad return just as it happened with Ayton. But he can't return.

If you can get a good package for Booker, you do it as well. Otherwise you keep him and see where it goes, maybe revisit at the deadline.

Beal, who knows...

First paragraph made me laugh I feel the same as you. I understand that Booker is all Phoenix and all that, but for us to become relavent again we do need to trade him.

[sasquatchBob]

Fischer reporting Suns are looking for a starting center. Any thoughts on who we should target?

Goga Bitadze. He looks good when he starts for Magic. They need shooting, so they play WCJ instead. Goga brings defense, rebounding and grittiness. We could probably get him for cheap.

[Saberestar]

Fischer reporting Suns are looking for a starting center. Any thoughts on who we should target?

It has to be via trade. I would love Nick Claxton, but his value could be pretty high.

[thamadkant]

I expect the big three to be together on opening night. I expect whichever coach that comes up with a plan to make it work will be our new head coach. Not sure about Beal but Vogel won 49 games with him alongside Book.

I am just hoping that we get a couple of guys in the draft that are fun to watch as well as free agent PF and or PG that was not on last years roster.

It was nice to see Nick Richards at the Mercury's opening night game.

We need some team unity building this summer similar to Kyler Muray's softball game this past weekend. We used to have that prior to KD. Miss those days.

I just don't see it with Booker, Beal and Durant. It hasn't worked And since the organization won't get move on from Booker, they have to trade Durant - -that is if they want to start winning and moving forward

Booker and Durant together I just don't think are the right players next to each other. Need to complement each other and they don't which is the point you made. Before Durant, this was a team. KD was not good for Booker

Everyone who has an inch of basketball knowledge know the trio of KD, Booker and Beal is not ideal as they clash with each other game style. Everyone has established this.

The fact is, the Suns have no move that makes sense nor beneficial now and in the future.

If a star player that fits along was willing to sign for minimum and waiving or stretching Beal would allow that star to be added... then sure, it's worth sacrificing 150M worth of contract by waiving Beal. But there is NO ONE the suns can sign that is equal or greater talent wise than Beal...

Anyone with a brain can see that the Suns can win without Booker... at the same time he's the one that can bring in youth, picks and supporting help for KD for one last chance of a championship ring run.

Just imagine KD, Beal, 3 first rounders, a young player and ability to trade for other fitting players.

KD can average 30ppg still and I guarantee Beal would also put up 20ppg if he was given the Booker role.

But Ishiba is dumb... he's afraid the fans won't turn up and his new arena will be empty.... but he doesn't take to account that a young team with upcoming players, KD and Beal gelling and Suns looking better and contending for a playoff spot is much better than appeasing Booker who only really wants the 70M a year extension and franchise records for his own selfish gains.

[TeamTragic]

I expect the big three to be together on opening night. I expect whichever coach that comes up with a plan to make it work will be our new head coach. Not sure about Beal but Vogel won 49 games with him alongside Book.

I am just hoping that we get a couple of guys in the draft that are fun to watch as well as free agent PF and or PG that was not on last years roster.

It was nice to see Nick Richards at the Mercury's opening night game.

We need some team unity building this summer similar to Kyler Muray's softball game this past weekend. We used to have that prior to KD. Miss those days.

I just don't see it with Booker, Beal and Durant. It hasn't worked And since the organization won't get move on from Booker, they have to trade Durant - -that is if they want to start winning and moving forward

Booker and Durant together I just don't think are the right players next to each other. Need to complement each other and they don't which is the point you made. Before Durant, this was a team. KD was not good for Booker

Everyone who has an inch of basketball knowledge know the trio of KD, Booker and Beal is not ideal as they clash with each other game style. Everyone has established this.

The fact is, the Suns have no move that makes sense nor beneficial now and in the future.

If a star player that fits along was willing to sign for minimum and waiving or stretching Beal would allow that star to be added... then sure, it's worth sacrificing 150M worth of contract by waiving Beal. But there is NO ONE the suns can sign that is equal or greater talent wise than Beal...

Anyone with a brain can see that the Suns can win without Booker... at the same time he's the one that can bring in youth, picks and supporting help for KD for one last chance of a championship ring run.

Just imagine KD, Beal, 3 first rounders, a young player and ability to trade for other fitting players.

KD can average 30ppg still and I guarantee Beal would also put up 20ppg if he was given the Booker role.

But Ishiba is dumb... he's afraid the fans won't turn up and his new arena will be empty.... but he doesn't take to account that a young team with upcoming players, KD and Beal gelling and Suns looking better and contending for a playoff spot is much better than appeasing Booker who only really wants the 70M a year extension and franchise records for his own selfish gains.

KD and Beal would be disgusting. Either move KD or find a way to move on from Beal.

Booker could still be moved at the deadline or next season.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Read on Twitter

If Beal was willing to accept this trade, would you guys do this knowing that yes, you'd take the hit next season to have Lillard in 27??

[Fo-Real]

Read on Twitter

If Beal was willing to accept this trade, would you guys do this knowing that yes, you'd take the hit next season to have Lillard in 27??

Just read that!! Lillard wont play effectively again until the 26/27 season when he will be 36 coming off a blood clot then achilles in the same leg. This does not feel like a good idea.

[MrMiyagi]

Read on Twitter

If Beal was willing to accept this trade, would you guys do this knowing that yes, you'd take the hit next season to have Lillard in 27??

Self immolation would be preferable

[BobbieL]

I expect the big three to be together on opening night. I expect whichever coach that comes up with a plan to make it work will be our new head coach. Not sure about Beal but Vogel won 49 games with him alongside Book.

I am just hoping that we get a couple of guys in the draft that are fun to watch as well as free agent PF and or PG that was not on last years roster.

It was nice to see Nick Richards at the Mercury's opening night game.

We need some team unity building this summer similar to Kyler Muray's softball game this past weekend. We used to have that prior to KD. Miss those days.

I just don't see it with Booker, Beal and Durant. It hasn't worked And since the organization won't get move on from Booker, they have to trade Durant - -that is if they want to start winning and moving forward

Booker and Durant together I just don't think are the right players next to each other. Need to complement each other and they don't which is the point you made. Before Durant, this was a team. KD was not good for Booker

A few herein seem to believe that KD is some Svengali who has somehow corrupted or manipulated the otherwise intelligent and competent Booker. But Books' last seven years have been remarkably consistent, with his two best scoring years since KD's arrival. I can't attribute his highest season scoring year to KD who played only 8 regular season games with the team in 22/23. But the playoff loss to Denver was another matter. KD, to me, was still not acclimated, but averaged 29 points per to outperform Murray. Devin, on the other hand was awesome. He had the best of his four playoff performances, averaging 33.7PPG @58.5/50.8/86.6% to offset Jokic. We lost, but not because of our two best players doing their jobs by outscoring theirs. The next year with KD the Suns were swept by the larger/better team but Booker averaged 27.5PPG @49.2/35.1/95.1. His in season average was his second highest at 27.1 per. (KD equaled that in season number, was an all star, and 2d team NBA, Book NBA3d.)

It's common to remember the most recent happening. This year was Book's lowest with KD at 25.6, with his 2d worst 3pt%. But the difference wasn't Durant, but a new coach with an emphasis on shooting threes, and also the necessity for Book to oftentimes play the one. I think the two are very compatible, and have balanced their talents to excellently co-exist.

The record has gotten worse each year

Two players of that caliber - arguably a top 10 player and a top "teen" player and they win 36 games this year. One needs to be the Batman and the other the Robin and they are both "Robins"

I don't care about stats - I care about W's and L's. Yes, Beal hasn't been good and that is a big part of the problem as well. He was a terrible fit next ot Booker

But moving forward - the best player to trade, if they are keeping Booker - is Durant. Two years of this has shown, its not working. And if you try again, you will get even less value for Durant at the deadline and Bookers value could fall too - especially if they extend him.

[BobbieL]

Read on Twitter

If Beal was willing to accept this trade, would you guys do this knowing that yes, you'd take the hit next season to have Lillard in 27??

Just read that!! Lillard wont play effectively again until the 26/27 season when he will be 36 coming off a blood clot then achilles in the same leg. This does not feel like a good idea.

If its a bad idea - Isbhia will do it

[Blonde]

They need to do the easy, and uncontroversial thing and fire Josh Bartelstein. He’s effectively been a terrorist to this organization since he arrived. I don’t want this guy anywhere near basketball operations or anywhere else in the organization. Do the right thing Mat.

[BobbieL]

They need to do the easy, and uncontroversial thing and fire Josh Bartelstein. He’s effectively been a terrorist to this organization since he arrived. I don’t want this guy anywhere near basketball operations or anywhere else in the organization. Do the right thing Mat.

He does . Very good point. Clean up the organization -- don't just keep your "butthead" about to Mat being Beavis. Clean up the antics

[TeamTragic]

Read on Twitter

If Beal was willing to accept this trade, would you guys do this knowing that yes, you'd take the hit next season to have Lillard in 27??

**** NO

[sunsbum]

Read on Twitter

If Beal was willing to accept this trade, would you guys do this knowing that yes, you'd take the hit next season to have Lillard in 27??

I was thinking about some kind of move to get dame here a few days ago but obviously they wouldnt take on beal if giannis wasnt there. I actually think Beal would be a good fit for the bucks with giannis but I'm not sure how much lillard has left. (on the other hand maybe taking a year off will help with some of these nagging injuries that he wont let heal, also a warmer climate might help?.) his injuries seem to be stacking up and sticking pretty fast but he does have a bad habit of rushing back for the sake of the team.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Read on Twitter

If Beal was willing to accept this trade, would you guys do this knowing that yes, you'd take the hit next season to have Lillard in 27??

The premise for this trade was that we would have control of our '26 pick after that three-way with Houston and Washington mentioned earlier in that Bleacher Report article. But Bleacher Report is wrong. We can't get our '26 back, because Orlando and Memphis ALSO have the right to swap with us. There's just no way to tank next season.

If we could tank, I would, in which case I'd consider dealing Beal for a future FRP and the right to rehab Lillard. But since we can't, I'd like to think we can find better value.

Given the injury, Lillard's contract is worse than Beal's. Beal can play, just not very well with Devin.

[Frank Lee]

Fischer reporting Suns are looking for a starting center. Any thoughts on who we should target?

It has to be via trade. I would love Nick Claxton, but his value could be pretty high.

Who is this Fischer dude?

Seems like PG should be the #1 priority

[bwgood77]

Read on Twitter

If Beal was willing to accept this trade, would you guys do this knowing that yes, you'd take the hit next season to have Lillard in 27??

The premise for this trade was that we would have control of our '26 pick after that three-way with Houston and Washington mentioned earlier in that Bleacher Report article. But Bleacher Report is wrong. We can't get our '26 back, because Orlando and Memphis ALSO have the right to swap with us. There's just no way to tank next season.

If we could tank, I would, in which case I'd consider dealing Beal for a future FRP and the right to rehab Lillard. But since we can't, I'd like to think we can find better value.

Given the injury, Lillard's contract is worse than Beal's. Beal can play, just not very well with Devin.

We could still rebuild and start giving young guys' time. I mean I just don't see us finishing top 10. I suppose there is a chance none of the teams involved in the swaps are that good. Ultimately it comes down to wanting to rebuild a team with more youth to build chemistry, give them time, or do you think we can cobble together a playoff contender? I don't really think the latter is too probable. I don't see us making the play in, or if somehow we do, winning play in games to get in. And if we somehow did THAT, having a chance at beating a top playoff team in a series.

Though if we extend Book this offseason, I guess we can't trade him until the deadline anyway, and by then he will probably be itching to get out of Phx.