The Official 2025 Offseason Thread Part 3

[BobbieL]

Everybody taking advantage of the Suns. Durant, Beal, the Nets, Wizards, Utah, etc...all made Ishbia their bitch.

Just wait until, or IF he trades Beal

[Ghost of Kleine]

Dude - you think the SUNS are done. This is the first domino. Wait to see the next moves.

Yeah, I understand that part. But their track record is absolutely terrible so far. And the idea knowing that not only do you have multiple holes to fill, and you absolutely understand that you need a starting center and starting point guard and post KD a starting power forward and you get absolutely none of those.

You go into this knowing that you have to hit on this trade because you have mo assets and KD is your biggest trade chip. And you completely come out on the losing end getting not a single box checked that was critical for the roster. And on top of that, you get smaller and quadruple down on an already ridiculously redundant position at SG.

Things you didn't get done:

- You didn't get a starting caliber center.
- You didn't get a starting caliber point guard.
- You didn't get a starting caliber power forward.
- you didn't get bigger positionally.
- You didn't get a jumbo defensive wing with size ( 6'8- 6'9) etc.
- You didn't get expirings or imminent cap flexibility.
- You didn't get literally any of the desired targets.
- You didn't even get Whitmore as a throw in when he's not even playing for the Rockets.
- You didn't take the best available offer (TOR).
- You didn't get any key impact players from Houston to at least equitably steal value back.
- You took their worst contract that they clearly were desperate to get off of and didn't even get more than one of your critical 1sts back as compensation for taking that contract.
- You created ridiculous positional redundancy by adding yet even more of a logjam at a singular position we're already overloaded at.
- You now tied up over $140 million to the SG position with multiple roster positional holes to fill!


Basically, The Suns got nothing that we desperately needed apart from maybe the 10th pick. They took back more money (aprox $570,000) didn't save any cap space for flexibility. They didn't address any positional needs, etc. And they took a really lousy offer that was really bad just to accommodate KD rather than prioritizing the critical needs for our tranchises' future. And I actually like Green!

This was our Suns front office in this trade outcome man:

We actually have no clue what the best offer was.

I highly doubt that Ujiri offered Barrett or IQ , Poeltl and the 9th pick for Durant
Granted, with the injury to Haliburton, maybe he should have

Actually we do though from the multitude of reports coming out from various pundits, media personnel, etc. Even our own franchise mouthpieces. And we can make comparisons from those absent a front row seat in the front office ourselves.

Very simply put for example: ( The stated offers).

- San Antonio.
Vassell/ Barnes/ 14th pick. No Sochan, no #2 pick, no additional picks.

- Miami.
Wiggins/ Robinson/ Jovic or Jacquez/ 20th pick. No Ware, no multiple future 1sts, no Adebayo or Hero obviously.

- Minnesota.
Gobert/ Divencenzo/ Dillingham or Shannon (not both)/ 17th pick. No McDaniels, no Randle, No multiple 1sts.

- Toronto.
*** Would take KD regardless of commitment.
Barrett/ Quickly/ 9th pick. No Poetl, no George, No Ingram, no multiple 1sts.

- Houston.
J Green/ D Brooks/ 10th pick/ multiple 2nds.
No J Smith Jr, No Sheppard, No Eason, No Van Vleet, No Whitmore, No multiple PHX 1sts, No Thompson or Sengun.

So we at the very least we do understand the foundational framework value of the proposals. And clearly the Minnesota offer was the best, Houston the 2nd best ONLY DUE TO THE 10TH PICK .

And because we didn't even get one if the key young players we wanted, and we didn't get at least two of our picks back either while taking back their unwanted contract and giving up the very best player in the deal.

Now we could've gotten the best offer in the Minnesota offer, BUT KD completely screwed us out of that! Yet we then still prioritized accommodating him to a team he wanted! When what we should have done was to return that ill intent by trading him to Toronto which immediately became the best offer by virtue of the Raptors still offering a top 10 lotto pick without KD agreeing to that trade!

The 9th pick is better than the 10th obviously even if only marginally. Barrett is a better, bigger, more productive and contractually cheaper asset that could be flipped elsewhere. Green however ( and I like Green) doesn't have that same value as a trade asset.

Quickly although paid a bit much is a starting caliber guard with big time potential. So on these conditions, we passed on the clearly better offer just to accommodate a malcontent in KD when we really didn't have to.

Worst of all we yet again, compounded positional overlap and redundancy to the extreme!!

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Quick question. Who is the best PG we could realistically sign this offseason? It's gotta be Russell Westbrook, right?

How about best center? Or power forward? Honestly, no one comes to mind.

I hope the BPA on our board just happens to be a big. I don't know enough to be confident about anyone, but the void left by Deandre Ayton just gets bigger and bigger.

[zimpy27]

Quick question. Who is the best PG we could realistically sign this offseason? It's gotta be Russell Westbrook, right?

How about best center? Or power forward? Honestly, no one comes to mind.

I hope the BPA on our board just happens to be a big. I don't know enough to be confident about anyone, but the void left by Deandre Ayton just gets bigger and bigger.

Dlo

[BobbieL]

Quick question. Who is the best PG we could realistically sign this offseason? It's gotta be Russell Westbrook, right?

How about best center? Or power forward? Honestly, no one comes to mind.

I hope the BPA on our board just happens to be a big. I don't know enough to be confident about anyone, but the void left by Deandre Ayton just gets bigger and bigger.

With the veteran minimum - probably Westbrook
Would Russell take $3m or whatever
Chris Paul can get more than that.

Suns need to do a good job with O'Neale, Allen and the 10th pick plus 29 and the second rounders
I don't need to see Bol Bol or Damion Lee again

[Saberestar]

Another move. This was highly anticipated but it's done now.

The Phoenix Suns have decided to decline the team option on Vasilije Micic for next season.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Maybe, you also pay $200+ tax if you do that over next 2 seasons. Team can avoid tax completely next 2 seasons with the stretch and waived.

Regardless, I think you can find a starting at C for MLE. Like BroLo or Capela.

In the meantime, that's what the point of trading KD and then using all of our picks to fill out roster spots (we'll have alot of roster spots to fill) is about, along with looking to trade Allen and O'neale and possibly Martin too for expirings and cost conttolled picks to drop below the 2nd apron!

The coming moves they'll seek to make this next week will seek to accomplish this. That way we can hopefully duck that 200 + tax and look to sign a center like you mentioned.

But overall, my guess is we'll target a trade back scenario with Brooklyn for Claxton (Sorry Tragic) because he's obviously legitimately elite defensively, can run the fast break in Otts' scheme, and is on a descending 25+ million salary contract.

And in doing that trade, then we can turn one pick into 3-4 that will help us to fill out the majority of our positional holes with cost controlled young athletic talent. This allows us to consolidate picks for future moves a bit too.

And helps to reduce our cap line and generate flexibility to use our MLE? ( likely on a point guard).

Martin, Micic, Richards can just be waived and I did that as part of my calculations.

Here is the long maths:



Beal (54)
Booker (53)
Green (33)
Brooks (21)
Dunn (3)
Allen (17)
O'Neale (10)
Oso (2)
#10, #29, #52, #59 (11)

That's all the guaranteed deals at $204m.
That's 12 players and $3m under 2nd apron (or $16m over tax line). So they would go over 2nd apron without a trade.

By waive and stretch Beal at $97m the Suns save $34.5m this season. So it drops them like $18.5 under tax line.

They could use $14m MLE and add 2 vet mins players (14 players) while just being under the Tax.

Resetting their repeater this season means they can be aggressive next season.

Yes moving Allen and O'Neale in to capspace is an alternative way that the Suns can drop out of the tax and reset the repeater. I just think Allen and O'Neale are good players, I like both more than Beal for the Suns.

I wouldn't just decline Martin and absolutely not Richards if they could obviously be traded because we need so many things positional fillers and assets, expirings, etc.

And honestly, just waiving them is more of a benefit to other potential teams with a vested interest in being able to pick up cheap players or that would target a center on the cheap once we waive them. Richard's specifically as we really don't have another center starting or backup on our roster.

So we need to maximize all available mechanisms for asset acquisition even small or cumulative. And also not give away any free value to other teams with underlying interests in a center like Richards if waived
or even Martin.

[KdoubleDees23]

Quick question. Who is the best PG we could realistically sign this offseason? It's gotta be Russell Westbrook, right?

How about best center? Or power forward? Honestly, no one comes to mind.

I hope the BPA on our board just happens to be a big. I don't know enough to be confident about anyone, but the void left by Deandre Ayton just gets bigger and bigger.

Best PG for Vet Min -

Russ Westbrook. *****
Brogdan
Ben Simmons
Fultz
Deangelo Russell (If he would sign vet min) *****
Dinwiddie *****
Shroeder


Best C

Clint Capela ****
Kevon Looney
Thomas Bryant


Best PF

Bagley ****
Chris Boucher ****
Precious Achiuwa ****
Yabusele *****

**** these are ones i wouldn't mind if we can get them for the right price

[BobbieL]

Quick question. Who is the best PG we could realistically sign this offseason? It's gotta be Russell Westbrook, right?

How about best center? Or power forward? Honestly, no one comes to mind.

I hope the BPA on our board just happens to be a big. I don't know enough to be confident about anyone, but the void left by Deandre Ayton just gets bigger and bigger.

Best PG for Vet Min -

Russ Westbrook
Brogdan
Ben Simmons
Fultz
Deangelo Russell (If he would sign vet min)
Dinwiddie
Shroeder


Best C

Clint Capela
Kevon Looney
Thomas Bryant


Best PF

Bagley
Chris Boucher
Precious Achiuwa
Yabusele

Suns should vet minimum as many players as possible - at least three draft picks on the roster
keep Beal
I don't think any of the above are worthy of the MLE

[Ghost of Kleine]

Quick question. Who is the best PG we could realistically sign this offseason? It's gotta be Russell Westbrook, right?

How about best center? Or power forward? Honestly, no one comes to mind.

I hope the BPA on our board just happens to be a big. I don't know enough to be confident about anyone, but the void left by Deandre Ayton just gets bigger and bigger.

With the veteran minimum - probably Westbrook
Would Russell take $3m or whatever
Chris Paul can get more than that.

Suns need to do a good job with O'Neale, Allen and the 10th pick plus 29 and the second rounders
I don't need to see Bol Bol or Damion Lee again

Chris Paul is supposedly going to Dallas. And Westbrook is supposedly heading to Miami. We're likely looking at Delon Wright, maybe Brogdon if he's willing to take a discount due to injury concerns, or D Lo. But even D lo was reported to he heading to Milwaukee.

Now if we could get a bit of money together, one name not really mentioned is De'Anthony Melton who could be available to us? Or maybe we look at Delano Bsnton since we're not really competing anyways.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Quick question. Who is the best PG we could realistically sign this offseason? It's gotta be Russell Westbrook, right?

How about best center? Or power forward? Honestly, no one comes to mind.

I hope the BPA on our board just happens to be a big. I don't know enough to be confident about anyone, but the void left by Deandre Ayton just gets bigger and bigger.

Best PG for Vet Min -

Russ Westbrook
Brogdan
Ben Simmons
Fultz
Deangelo Russell (If he would sign vet min)
Dinwiddie
Shroeder


Best C

Clint Capela
Kevon Looney
Thomas Bryant


Best PF

Bagley
Chris Boucher
Precious Achiuwa
Yabusele

Suns should vet minimum as many players as possible - at least three draft picks on the roster
keep Beal
I don't think any of the above are worthy of the MLE

Agree on everyone mentioned except maybe Achiuwa. But even then, he could be somewhat redundant to Ighodaro. Even though that appears to be our front offices' modus operandi.

[KdoubleDees23]

Quick question. Who is the best PG we could realistically sign this offseason? It's gotta be Russell Westbrook, right?

How about best center? Or power forward? Honestly, no one comes to mind.

I hope the BPA on our board just happens to be a big. I don't know enough to be confident about anyone, but the void left by Deandre Ayton just gets bigger and bigger.

Best PG for Vet Min -

Russ Westbrook
Brogdan
Ben Simmons
Fultz
Deangelo Russell (If he would sign vet min)
Dinwiddie
Shroeder


Best C

Clint Capela
Kevon Looney
Thomas Bryant


Best PF

Bagley
Chris Boucher
Precious Achiuwa
Yabusele

Suns should vet minimum as many players as possible - at least three draft picks on the roster
keep Beal
I don't think any of the above are worthy of the MLE

If somehow we got

Westbrook or Russell or Dinwiddie
Clint Capela
and/
Boucher, Yabusele or Achiuwa.

Sign me up

[Calvin Klein]

50 year old Chris Paul >>>>> current Russ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> D Lo

[BobbieL]

50 year old Chris Paul >>>>> current Russ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> D Lo

What about Simmons - guy plays good defense.

but agree with you

I think it will be Westbrook for the minimum

[KdoubleDees23]

I actually wouldn't mind DLO, but my sleeper is Ben Simmons if we can add a shooter.

Ben Simmons
Green
Booker
Markannen (Trade with Beal)
Capela

Sign me up for that team.

[BobbieL]

I actually wouldn't mind DLO, but my sleeper is Ben Simmons if we can add a shooter.

Ben Simmons
Green
Booker
Markannen (Trade with Beal)
Capela

Sign me up for that team.

So Ainge is trading four years of Markkanen for two years of Beal for the 10th pick in the draft
Not sure Ainge does that deal unless he is done with Markkanen
Plus that means Booker, Markkanen and Green - pretty top heavy -- granted, much cheaper than Book, beal and KD. Probably 30m cheaper

[phnart]

Westbrook is not coming here for the vets minimum, although seeing him, Brooks, Grayson, and Dunn on the floor together agitating people would be fun.

Summer of being underwhelmed is not done yet, sadly.

I am curious what a dose of attitude is going to do to this team. What do they really see in Green, too?

[Sunsdeuce]

lol, they have us taking another SG.

https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2025/6/23/24451800/nba-mock-draft-2025-updated-projection-with-nba-finals-now-over?commentID=44854bd5-bef4-4810-9b6d-f0e133d24f8f

[dremill24]

Westbrook is not coming here for the vets minimum, although seeing him, Brooks, Grayson, and Dunn on the floor together agitating people would be fun.

Summer of being underwhelmed is not done yet, sadly.

I am curious what a dose of attitude is going to do to this team. What do they really see in Green, too?

I mean if you dont think Westbrook would be interested in Phoenix (or vice versa), thats fine. But hes been playing for the minimum for multiple seasons now so if thats your hangup, I think you can put that to rest.

[Saberestar]

lol, they have us taking another SG.

https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2025/6/23/24451800/nba-mock-draft-2025-updated-projection-with-nba-finals-now-over?commentID=44854bd5-bef4-4810-9b6d-f0e133d24f8f

My first impression on prospects that would be available at #10 is that Egor Demim could be the BPA and he can have a really high ceiling.

An skilled 6'9 PG who has been 3 years in Real Madrid (B team) before going to BYU.

Watching his highlights I thought about Kukoc. Yeah...I am old lol.