The Official 2025 Offseason Thread Part 2

[KdoubleDees23]

in reality we need a PG who can be vocal and seeing Westbrook coaching the bench in playoffs. Sign me up. I like the guy and his hustle.

We also need a Center here are some I would target (Robinson, Claxton, Kessler, Zubac, Allen, Poetl)

Or if Wolves are serious for durant - go hard for that and get Naz Reid and Randle. I actually like randle

[thamadkant]

Is there an SGA/PG trade out there for us? Sochan the next draymond? Jabari the next rashard lewis? Things can change quickly if we hit this trade with someone thats ready to blossom.

1. Jaylen Williams - but highly unlikely. A Kawhi and Jrue Holiday hybrid.

2. Ausar or Amen Thompson - Potential to be Matrix and Gerald Wallace version 2

3. Castle - A more bulkier Dejounte Murray

[BobbieL]

I would do

OG, Mitch Robinson and 2026 1st (Wizards top 10 protected), 1st 2026 (Their Own)

sign Russ Westbrook to Veteran Minimum

Trade Beal for something.

Westbrook, Beal, Walter Clayton Jr (Our Pick 2025)
Booker, Beal
OG, Allen
Dunn, O'Neale
Robinson, Richards, OSO

If anyone has ideas on who to trade Allen, O'Neal, or beal let me know!

My problem with a Beal trade is two fold since his contract is terrible:
1) what player(s) are you bringing back and how bad are their contracts. Though if they are broken up instead one contract at $53m you get three that total $53

2) What draft capital will you have to pay just to take on those crappy contracts

I get why Ishbia wants to stretch him - it saves him a LOT of money not paying - so if that is the choice over a bad trade using draft picks - I am good with it
My preference, since its not my money - see if he would take between $95-100m - buy him out and in two years you have him off the books

I think the best thing would be to convince Beal to lead the bench team and be the 6th man, and stretch his contract.

How can Beal be both the 6th man and stretch

[Rebound Mound]

The trade option mentioned around on Twitter lately has us receiving Nick Claxton and picks for KD in a three team deal.

The more I think about the situation, the more I believe we need to reconstruct and that would mean selling everybody except Beal, who has more value as a player and expiring contract in two years than what we would be getting for him.

The assets to receive for KD and Booker could mean a very good reconstruction and probably more than what we deserve, as KD is in a final year with 37 years. Booker should be now in his lowest value in years, but Beal is untradeable.

The Wolves option does not seem like very interesting, as the best players to come here would be either Reid or McDaniels, both after poor playoff performances. Reid is a C who can shoot, but at 6-10 he is unable to guard PFs and he cannot play C all the time. McDaniels seemed like a solid defender, but proofed too light to defend Doncic or LBJ (who wouldn't seem to) and too slow to defend SGA and the likes.

I do not know, unless we get Giannis for Booker and assets and ship KD for good playes, I do not see us being competitive next year.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Is there an SGA/PG trade out there for us? Sochan the next draymond? Jabari the next rashard lewis? Things can change quickly if we hit this trade with someone thats ready to blossom.

I like Frank's suggestion of Marcus Smart in a Washington trade. And think there's something that could be done there. Although, I just don't see them wanting Allen because they still already have all of Kispert, Poole, George, Johnson, etc on their roster. But do think something around maybe O'neale/ Richards/ CLE 27' 1st for Smart/ 46th pick could get a deal done!

GoK

The 2027 pick is the worst of all the Suns first rounders - is that why you are including it? Meaning it will probably be in the 20's

Yes! Because I have Smart (older vet/ expiring) as not having that much trade value left. BUT in trading say O'neale/ Richards/ Martin (expiring) and the CLE 27' 1st (likely 30th pick)?? The value exchange should be ffg fairly equitable.

And for my part, I see Smart as a solid expiring vet stopgap option that could be a 1 yr rental to move Booker back to SG, and could also mentor a Sion James ( 52nd pick) or maybe an RJ Felton ( UDFA) combo Guard the Suns worked out. Because BOTH prospects are powerfully built, athletic guards with a very similar archetype to Marcus Smart.

And then Smart could expire in the summer of 26' allowing us to have over 22-24 million in cap space for free agency ( likely more)?? PLUS getting back our 25' 2nd from Washington ( 40th pick) would put us eadily in the range of any of Yannick Neiderhauser, Rocco Zisarky, Vlad Goldin, Amari Williams to replace Richards with a younger, more athletic, more dynamic backup center option! and having that on a cost controlled contract would afford is even greater financial flexibility too.

This means we could afford a more high profile, costly free agent at a position of need. Or we could be in range of any of these other dynamic talents too:
John Tonje, Kobe Brea, Tyrese Proctor, Scion James, Mohammed Faye, etc.


So IF we could turn O'neale/ Richards/ Martin/ CLE 27' 1st into a:
1- A solid defensive starting guard on an expiring contract.
2- move Book back to his natural position, at shooting guard.
3- pick up an additional draft pick.
4- secure a younger, more dynamic cost controlled center.
5- Gain and additional $22 million in cap flexibility in the process.
6- Have an all defensive vet ( Smart) to mentor a young prospect guard for us to take over after he expires.
7- Turning O'neales' multi year contract into an expiring in the process too.

** And this trade is just a smaller separate trade from any KD trade! Then I'd call this a winning outcome if only at the expense of O'neale/ Martin (expiring)/ Richards (expiring)/ CLE 27' 1st (late 20s' 1st).

[Ghost of Kleine]

Is there an SGA/PG trade out there for us? Sochan the next draymond? Jabari the next rashard lewis? Things can change quickly if we hit this trade with someone thats ready to blossom.

I like Frank's suggestion of Marcus Smart in a Washington trade. And think there's something that could be done there. Although, I just don't see them wanting Allen because they still already have all of Kispert, Poole, George, Johnson, etc on their roster. But do think something around maybe O'neale/ Richards/ CLE 27' 1st for Smart/ 46th pick could get a deal done!

I don't think Marcus Smart is ready to blossom. He's old and will never be the same player he was.

Sunsbum is asking about young current NBA players that can blow up if they are finally given a chance to shine. Not to the level of Brunson, but in that vein.

To answer his question, I think both Jabari and especially Cam Whitmore can fill that void. I love Whitmore and would try and demand him in any trade involving Booker for sure but probably KD as well.

That guy is a walking bucket. Ime doesn't like him as he's just a scorer now and is more or less a Jalen Green player-but younger and MUCH cheaper.

Yeah, I mentioned the Marcus Smart premise because he's an expiring vet contract that is still solid defensively, would put Booker back at the SG position hopefully, and could mentor a young defensive PG prospect that we might draft like maybe either Sion James or RJ Felton, aw BOTH are very similar builds/ archetypes to Smart when he came into the league.

My thinking was to use O'neal's multi year contract along with Martin and Richards expirings to turn O'neales' contract into Smart's 22 million expiring (for 26' free agency) and also get another draft pick in the process ( 40th pick) in a smaller trade outside of any potential KD trade we might do.

The KD trade being reserved for the premise that you and SunsBG suggested. I would basically use that 40th pick for.................

- 40th pick. To replace Richards with a bigger, longer more dynamic backup center option on a rookie scale contract.

Marcus Smart. To be a stopgap expiring starting guard option to force Booker to move ba k to shooting guard ( hopefully raising his trade value back up more before he asks out next summer). But to also mentor whichever young string defensive guard we might target in the draft or in undrafted ranges.

Trading for Smart to also turn O'neales long term contract into an expiring for 26' free agency. This Smart trade is just a smaller separate fringe move completely separate from a bigger KD outcome. It's more supplemental to what we may do with KD.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Read on Twitter

[MrMiyagi]

Read on Twitter

We were very serious about trading for Anthony Edwards, too.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Read on Twitter

We were very serious about trading for Anthony Edwards, too.

Read on Twitter

[MrMiyagi]

Read on Twitter

We were very serious about trading for Anthony Edwards, too.

Read on Twitter

We were very serious about trading for Anthony Edwards, too.

[Saberestar]

Gambo:

The Phoenix Suns have completed in-person interviews with Sean Sweeney, Jordan Ott, Johnnie Bryant and Chris Quinn. Dave Bliss and the Thunder are still in the playoffs, so an in-person has not happened as of now.

[sunsbum]

I like Frank's suggestion of Marcus Smart in a Washington trade. And think there's something that could be done there. Although, I just don't see them wanting Allen because they still already have all of Kispert, Poole, George, Johnson, etc on their roster. But do think something around maybe O'neale/ Richards/ CLE 27' 1st for Smart/ 46th pick could get a deal done!

I don't think Marcus Smart is ready to blossom. He's old and will never be the same player he was.

Sunsbum is asking about young current NBA players that can blow up if they are finally given a chance to shine. Not to the level of Brunson, but in that vein.

To answer his question, I think both Jabari and especially Cam Whitmore can fill that void. I love Whitmore and would try and demand him in any trade involving Booker for sure but probably KD as well.

That guy is a walking bucket. Ime doesn't like him as he's just a scorer now and is more or less a Jalen Green player-but younger and MUCH cheaper.

Brooks Jabari Smith Londale (for cap reasons) Whitmore + FRP *2 for Durant -- would that work for you Slim?

I think this trade would help with the cap by $5-6m for apron purposes

look at all of us getting along! :wipes away tear:

[Saberestar]

The Timberwolves need another “alpha” next to Edwards to win it all, which is why sources told Hoops Wire that Minnesota is expected to pursue a Durant trade again this offseason.

A future Hall of Famer, Durant doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract, but he’s interested in playing for the Timberwolves, sources said.

https://hoopswire.com/nba-trade-rumors-news-suns-timberwolves-kevin-durant-offseason/

[Jesus_H_Macy]

Gambo:

The Phoenix Suns have completed in-person interviews with Sean Sweeney, Jordan Ott, Johnnie Bryant and Chris Quinn. Dave Bliss and the Thunder are still in the playoffs, so an in-person has not happened as of now.

I really hope it's not Sweeney. Not interested in a dude who's entire NBA coaching career has been learning from J-Kidd....

[thamadkant]

Read on Twitter

Yeah, but Suns werent.

Wolves was basically ready to pull the trigger for Randle and a bunch of fillers and low picks. Suns werent moving...

[thamadkant]

The Timberwolves need another “alpha” next to Edwards to win it all, which is why sources told Hoops Wire that Minnesota is expected to pursue a Durant trade again this offseason.

A future Hall of Famer, Durant doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract, but he’s interested in playing for the Timberwolves, sources said.

https://hoopswire.com/nba-trade-rumors-news-suns-timberwolves-kevin-durant-offseason/

haha. KD is a Top 20 GOAT player, but he is not Alpha. If anything he is Sigma. As in, he's a lone wolf that you bring in to your team that wrecks everyone and then leaves.

[Blonde]

Minnesota might be the desperate team to fork up a lot for KD… but they’re also in the second apron and will be virtually impossible to make a direct trade with them. They’re also pretty tapped out on draft capital. Dillingham hasn’t shown much yet.

[dremill24]

I'd be really uninspired by dealing with Minnesota for KD unless McDaniels is involved. Even then the salary matching is a pain at that point and they have VERY little in the way of extra assets. And tbh if Im Minny, I want McDaniels to continue as my PoA defender alongside KD. Something like Randle, Dillingham, 17 as the base would probably make me vomit.

[Frank Lee]

I get why Ishbia wants to stretch him - it saves him a LOT of money not paying - so if that is the choice over a bad trade using draft picks - I am good with it

Lesser of two evils … he needs to go

[BobbieL]

The Timberwolves need another “alpha” next to Edwards to win it all, which is why sources told Hoops Wire that Minnesota is expected to pursue a Durant trade again this offseason.

A future Hall of Famer, Durant doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract, but he’s interested in playing for the Timberwolves, sources said.

https://hoopswire.com/nba-trade-rumors-news-suns-timberwolves-kevin-durant-offseason/

haha. KD is a Top 20 GOAT player, but he is not Alpha. If anything he is Sigma. As in, he's a lone wolf that you bring in to your team that wrecks everyone and then leaves.

Well stated..... If the Twolves want him - they are going to have to work to get him and that means another team
So just skip them and go straight to Houston or SA