The Official 2025 Offseason Thread Part 2

[Ghost of Kleine]

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I think that we are targeting this player with #52 in mind.

Jihad had a fantastic prep career, being one of the top players in Michigan

Senior. 6'9 with a 7'2 wingspan and weights 239 pounds. He really looks fast and mobile with that size.

Possibly, although he could honestly probably be had aw a two way UDFA. And I'd much rather use that 52nd pick on one of Yannick Konan Neiderhauser, Vladislav Goldin, or Milos Uzan or John Tonje ( if he falls)??

Yannick Neiderhauser-
7'1 242 lbs with a 7'3 wingspan. Budget Javale McGee/ DeAndre Jordan .

Vlad Goldin-
7'1 264 lbs. With a 7'6 wingspan. Ivaca Zubac.

Milos Uzan-
6'5 190 lbs with a 7'2 wingspan!! Andrew Nembhard/ Chris Duhon.

John Tonje-
6'5 222 lbs with a 6'9 wingspan. Devin Booker/ Rich mans' Norman Powell.

[BobbieL]

Going to state the obvious:
1) there are no trades on the table right now for anyone on the suns. Anything being reported is conjure. The NBA season isn’t even over yet so reporting on “possible” off season trades is no different than any of us coming up with trade ideas. No substance behind any trades right now other than someone wanting their 5 minutes of fame.

2) it takes two teams to tango. Just because Ishbia talks about “upgrading” this roster doesn’t mean it will happen. He’s said that each year he’s owned the team and still hasn’t been able to do it. Everyone wants to upgrade from Allen and O’Neal but it takes another team to tango to give you a better player BUT what team is willing to do that?

3) Booker needs to go for this team to get better. It’s the harsh truth BUT we got an owner acting like Booker is on MJ level which is pure insanity because Booker is more Gilbert Arenas than any player comparable. Both Gilbert and Booker just put up numbers but don’t/can’t affect the game. BUT the other part is Booker is going to stay so get use to not being competitive.

4) KD will prob get traded and the team will slightly improve. Improving from 36 wins to 37 wins isn’t asking for a whole lot and not exactly hard to do.

5) Beal controls his own destiny. Conjuring up possible trades with Beal is a pointless endeavor. Probably be best to stop talking about trading Beal. No team wants him right now because the suns successfully killed his value. And his no trade clause and salary figure make it impossible to move him. Have to bite the bullet and ride out his last two years.

Last but not least: no coach will fix this mess. Coaches have taken the fall for this incompetent owner. I’ve never seen an owner go from hero to zero in less time than Ishbia. Ishbia could possibly be worse than Sarver. If you asked me if it could get worse than Sarver 10 years ago, I’d call you nuts! But here we are.

Thats a pretty good comp for Booker. I usually call him a slightly better version of DeMar DeRozan since both are so reliant on the mid-range game. Like Booker, as good of a mid-range shooter, only shoots like 36% for his career behind the arc. By comparison, Klay T is over 40%. Booker has never been over 40% either

As for Allen and O"neale - to me it is just about getting out of those deals long term to get some cap space in 2027 combined with whatever you get from Beal. Granted, Ishbia isn't think about two years - he is thinking like two minutes


Booker was perfect next to the PG 13 and that crew. But as the number 1 option, not happen ing

[thamadkant]

I really don't like any of the offers for Durant. Might as well just keep him if we trade him we are gonna suck anyway.

If you look up the game logs, when KD scores 30+ Suns have a pretty competitive record. Booker on the other hand, as first option and apparently on his prime, when he scores big, the Suns usually lose.

I would rather trade Booker than KD... purely because KD cannot fetch any good trades, but Booker can. Keep KD and make him average 33ppg as first option and Suns should be able to win 40 games or so.

I've mentioned before, if you actually look up the game logs...

In the last two seasons, the Suns are 4-3 when KD scores 40 and 8-4 when Booker scores 40. They are 25-23 when Durant scores 30 and 29-21 when Booker scores 30.

Im not making a bigger picture Booker vs Durant argument, your broader point could be true. Just pointing out the evidence you chose for this particular point doesnt necessarily support your claim.

Now post the Booker historical 40 plus point record before KD. Look up his 50 point games and look at Suns record also.

Booker scoring 30 plus and KD also scoring 25 plus, Suns tend to win, thats not a surprise. This is known. Hence the two man team focus which the Nuggets exposed.

Now look up KD without Booker, scoring 30 plus. Suns are competitive.

KD's record as main option scoring 30 plus is also much better than Booker. MVP after all.

Booker is a stat padded through and through.

He was never going to be the next big shooting guard star to be mentioned with Wade, Kobe etc.

SGA and Anthony Edwards are a tier and a half above Booker. The Suns are making a big mistake by building around him.
If Rockets are willing to trade 3 firsts, two young players and a filler for him... Ishiba should do it.

[Ghost of Kleine]

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[BobbieL]

If you look up the game logs, when KD scores 30+ Suns have a pretty competitive record. Booker on the other hand, as first option and apparently on his prime, when he scores big, the Suns usually lose.

I would rather trade Booker than KD... purely because KD cannot fetch any good trades, but Booker can. Keep KD and make him average 33ppg as first option and Suns should be able to win 40 games or so.

I've mentioned before, if you actually look up the game logs...

In the last two seasons, the Suns are 4-3 when KD scores 40 and 8-4 when Booker scores 40. They are 25-23 when Durant scores 30 and 29-21 when Booker scores 30.

Im not making a bigger picture Booker vs Durant argument, your broader point could be true. Just pointing out the evidence you chose for this particular point doesnt necessarily support your claim.

Now post the Booker historical 40 plus point record before KD. Look up his 50 point games and look at Suns record also.

Booker scoring 30 plus and KD also scoring 25 plus, Suns tend to win, thats not a surprise. This is known. Hence the two man team focus which the Nuggets exposed.

Now look up KD without Booker, scoring 30 plus. Suns are competitive.

KD's record as main option scoring 30 plus is also much better than Booker. MVP after all.

Booker is a stat padded through and through.

He was never going to be the next big shooting guard star to be mentioned with Wade, Kobe etc.

SGA and Anthony Edwards are a tier and a half above Booker. The Suns are making a big mistake by building around him.
If Rockets are willing to trade 3 firsts, two young players and a filler for him... Ishiba should do it.

My guess, Ishbia thinks DBook is enough of a draw that fans will still show up if he is the team. I think Ishbia is mistaken. Fans want to see a winning team

[Ghost of Kleine]

Wolves will be the most aggressive team going after Durant after Thunder sweeps them or win 4-1.

But they don't have anyone and Randle ain't it.

TBH. I would take

Randle, Naz Reid and 1st for KD

This would be a solid package for sure! Only problem is that Naz Reid will likely opt out of his player option to seek upwards of 25-30 million annually (will probably settle around 24 per annum though) and will prefer to test free agency over a sign n trade.

Randle would be a solid expiring for us, but could also provide a strong blend of physicality and post dominance that we lack if we brought him back on a reasonable somewhat cheaper deal though? (Ishbia could add easy benchmark incentives to help him pull more money and circumvent the cap a bit)??

And Randle could provide solid secondary playmaking too. But for my part, I'd only settle on a package of:
KD/ 29th pick ( CLE) for Randle (opts in) / Di Vincenzo/ Dillingham/ Minott/ 17th pick (DET)/ 31st pick (MIN)/ MIN 31' 1st.
** Then I'd trade Dillingham/ O'neale/ Richards to Washington for Smart/ 40th pick (PHX)/ PHX 26' 2nd. And Allen/ CLE 29 1st for Isaac/ 46th pick.

17- Maxime Raynaud.
31- Cedric Coward or Adou Thiero.
40- Sion James.
46- Rocco Zisarky or Vlad Goldin.
52- Milos Uzan.
** Sign Adams in free agency.

Smart/ Booker/ Isaac/ Randle/ Lopez.
Beal / Di Vincenzo/ Dunn/ Ighodaro/ Raynaud.
Gillespie/ James/ Thiero/ Moni/ Zisarky.

G League
1- Milos Uzan.
2- Josh Minott.

[handsome salary]

My guess, Ishbia thinks DBook is enough of a draw that fans will still show up if he is the team. I think Ishbia is mistaken. Fans want to see a winning team

Ishbia is always going to want a "star" on the Suns. I dont see him having patience enough to not have one in his eyes at any time. Stars are team leaders, unstoppable at times, games changers and great decision makers when clutch baskets are needed. Book doesn't fit any of those.

When the Booker/Beal Suns hit the road next season there's going to be a lot of available tickets for those games around the country. They'll be some of the cheapest tickets too. Like when the Hornets or Wizards come here.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Wolves will be the most aggressive team going after Durant after Thunder sweeps them or win 4-1.

But they don't have anyone and Randle ain't it.

TBH. I would take

Randle, Naz Reid and 1st for KD

Wouldn't McDaniels be better than Randle -- granted longer term deal but some upside potential

It depends upon what kind of value you're looking for. Randle would give us a dominant post presence with playmaking, but also more importantly, also a 30 million expiring contract for us to he players in 26' free agency and then when Beal expires in 27' next, we could be players in BOTH summers!!

PLUS, taking back the lesser value talent in Randle over McDaniels would then require Minnesota to replace the lost value by including Dillingham and their 17th pick AND their 31st pick too.

Then we could package Dillingham with O'neale and/ or Richards for Marcus Smart and other picks from Washington or just trade Dillingham to another team with multiple picks in this draft for other assets. Just more options for making moves. By the way,

Mikal Bridges is an unrestricted free agent in 26. And Cam Johnson is an unrestricted free agent in 27. With us being able to be players in free agency for BOTH possibly.

[BobbieL]

TBH. I would take

Randle, Naz Reid and 1st for KD

Wouldn't McDaniels be better than Randle -- granted longer term deal but some upside potential

It depends upon what kind of value you're looking for. Randle would give us a dominant post presence with playmaking, but also more importantly, also a 30 million expiring contract for us to he players in 26' free agency and then when Beal expires in 27' next, we could be players in BOTH summers!!

PLUS, taking back the lesser value talent in Randle over McDaniels would then require Minnesota to replace the lost value by including Dillingham and their 17th pick AND their 31st pick too.

Then we could package Dillingham with O'neale and/ or Richards for Marcus Smart and other picks from Washington or just trade Dillingham to another team with multiple picks in this draft for other assets. Just more options for making moves. By the way,

Mikal Bridges is an unrestricted free agent in 26. And Cam Johnson is an unrestricted free agent in 27. With us being able to be players in free agency for BOTH possibly.

good plan about why Randle makes sense as an expiring

and truly, it just makes sense to not stretch Beal

[Ghost of Kleine]

I really don't like any of the offers for Durant. Might as well just keep him if we trade him we are gonna suck anyway.

But the thing to remember is that most every team is still waiting for the playoffs to end and
Also to see what happens with Giannis.


Really all of the "conjecture" that is going around with the various trade rumors is just customary feelers being put out in the aether to gauge where teams are at on potential trade values and packages. In the coming weeks, things will really start heating up!

And once the teams that don't really have legitimate assets to get Giannis realize that fully, then many will pivot to the cheaper plan B option of KD. The Suns promoting reports that they may just keep KD is just another leverage tactic to try and increase value perception for him.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Wouldn't McDaniels be better than Randle -- granted longer term deal but some upside potential

It depends upon what kind of value you're looking for. Randle would give us a dominant post presence with playmaking, but also more importantly, also a 30 million expiring contract for us to he players in 26' free agency and then when Beal expires in 27' next, we could be players in BOTH summers!!

PLUS, taking back the lesser value talent in Randle over McDaniels would then require Minnesota to replace the lost value by including Dillingham and their 17th pick AND their 31st pick too.

Then we could package Dillingham with O'neale and/ or Richards for Marcus Smart and other picks from Washington or just trade Dillingham to another team with multiple picks in this draft for other assets. Just more options for making moves. By the way,

Mikal Bridges is an unrestricted free agent in 26. And Cam Johnson is an unrestricted free agent in 27. With us being able to be players in free agency for BOTH possibly.

good plan about why Randle makes sense as an expiring

and truly, it just makes sense to not stretch Beal

Yep! It's just disappointing that some here still can't fully understand this strategy. But I'm glad that others do understand the value behind this premise.

[Ghost of Kleine]

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Put New York back in the mix for KD soon!

[Ghost of Kleine]

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[Ghost of Kleine]

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[Ghost of Kleine]

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Booker and D Lo hanging out already. Could this be our next point guard target in free agency?

[Saberestar]

Labaron Philon had a workout for the Suns. There was a picture in his Tik Tok story.

PG from Alabama, projected late in the first round or early 2nd. We have #29.

He is just 19 years old. 6'3/6'4 with high upside.

[Saberestar]

RJ Luis had a workout for the Suns too.

SF from St. John's. He is 22 years old and 6'7. Projected to be a late 2nd. We have #52.

[Rebound Mound]

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I think that we are targeting this player with #52 in mind.

Jihad had a fantastic prep career, being one of the top players in Michigan

Senior. 6'9 with a 7'2 wingspan and weights 239 pounds. He really looks fast and mobile with that size.

Possibly, although he could honestly probably be had aw a two way UDFA. And I'd much rather use that 52nd pick on one of Yannick Konan Neiderhauser, Vladislav Goldin, or Milos Uzan or John Tonje ( if he falls)??

Yannick Neiderhauser-
7'1 242 lbs with a 7'3 wingspan. Budget Javale McGee/ DeAndre Jordan .

Vlad Goldin-
7'1 264 lbs. With a 7'6 wingspan. Ivaca Zubac.

Milos Uzan-
6'5 190 lbs with a 7'2 wingspan!! Andrew Nembhard/ Chris Duhon.

John Tonje-
6'5 222 lbs with a 6'9 wingspan. Devin Booker/ Rich mans' Norman Powell.

Indeed...
I do not what we are even doing checking out small forwards when we have Dunn and we have a clear weakness on our C and PF spots...

[BobbieL]

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Booker and D Lo hanging out already. Could this be our next point guard target in free agency?

Oh jeez -- please - no. Don't really want D'Lo

[BobbieL]

It depends upon what kind of value you're looking for. Randle would give us a dominant post presence with playmaking, but also more importantly, also a 30 million expiring contract for us to he players in 26' free agency and then when Beal expires in 27' next, we could be players in BOTH summers!!

PLUS, taking back the lesser value talent in Randle over McDaniels would then require Minnesota to replace the lost value by including Dillingham and their 17th pick AND their 31st pick too.

Then we could package Dillingham with O'neale and/ or Richards for Marcus Smart and other picks from Washington or just trade Dillingham to another team with multiple picks in this draft for other assets. Just more options for making moves. By the way,

Mikal Bridges is an unrestricted free agent in 26. And Cam Johnson is an unrestricted free agent in 27. With us being able to be players in free agency for BOTH possibly.

good plan about why Randle makes sense as an expiring

and truly, it just makes sense to not stretch Beal

Yep! It's just disappointing that some here still can't fully understand this strategy. But I'm glad that others do understand the value behind this premise.

Yesterday on twitter, I should have copied it but somebody reposted a quote from Sam Presti and it was 2019 about how he was going to build the roster

Six years later, look at OKC. I just don't think Ishbia has the vision or patience. He is like the kid who needs instant gratification and doesn't worry about the future.

I realize Beal has two years left - but this next year - its not a free year - but the team is probalby not making the playoffs. So thats one year down. Now, without Durant, maybe Beal is better off the bench, raises his value and in the summer of 2026 - he is a huge expiring tradeable contract. If nothing buy him but you get a bunch of space in 2027.

I hope Ishbia has the patience -but I doubt it