The Official 2025 Offseason Thread #4 Free Agency Opens!

[Saberestar]

A straight up Beal for Lauri works financially. Suns save $7 million just off the salary differences. Lauri has regressed the last two seasons and has played in 55 games and then 47 games. He went from 25.6 points per game in 2022-23 down to 19 points per game this past season. He's only 27 years old, and he's regressing.
Who is going to trade for Lauri's $46 million per year contract? He had tremendous value when he was getting only $17 million, but now he's hardly worth it. Ainge can buy out Beal.

Too good for the Suns. Not happening.

With Collins out Jerami Grant is the best available PF out there.

Do you think that the Blazers would be OK trading him for Allen+Royce+Richards + 4 2nds?

[BobbieL]

Read on Twitter

Can the Clippers use the full MLE? Ballmer will spend the money if he can

[Qwigglez]

A straight up Beal for Lauri works financially. Suns save $7 million just off the salary differences. Lauri has regressed the last two seasons and has played in 55 games and then 47 games. He went from 25.6 points per game in 2022-23 down to 19 points per game this past season. He's only 27 years old, and he's regressing.
Who is going to trade for Lauri's $46 million per year contract? He had tremendous value when he was getting only $17 million, but now he's hardly worth it. Ainge can buy out Beal.

That would actually make sense

I didn't like your Jerami Grant trade but this one-- I think it would be the best use of the Beal contract

But my guess, Ishbia wants to save the cash

Suns could shed an additional $7.9 million by trade Grayson Allen to the Bulls for Jalen Smith. This would be a pure salary dump to get the Suns under the tax aprons. Grayson Allen could then be traded by the Bulls to a team like the Clippers or even the Nuggets for additional draft capital.

[starbosa10]

This summer Utah Jazz turned Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson and John Collins into…

- Jusuf Nurkic
- Kyle Anderson
- Kevin Love
- 2030 second-round pick
- 2027 Clippers second-round pick

Not sure what Ainge is thinking but thats not good

Clippers will be an interesting team this year if they get Beal and add CP3 - wouldn't that be something - Beal and CP3 to the Clippers

Theyre just continuing to tank

[BobbieL]

A straight up Beal for Lauri works financially. Suns save $7 million just off the salary differences. Lauri has regressed the last two seasons and has played in 55 games and then 47 games. He went from 25.6 points per game in 2022-23 down to 19 points per game this past season. He's only 27 years old, and he's regressing.
Who is going to trade for Lauri's $46 million per year contract? He had tremendous value when he was getting only $17 million, but now he's hardly worth it. Ainge can buy out Beal.

That would actually make sense

I didn't like your Jerami Grant trade but this one-- I think it would be the best use of the Beal contract

But my guess, Ishbia wants to save the cash

Suns could shed an additional $7.9 million by trade Grayson Allen to the Bulls for Jalen Smith. This would be a pure salary dump to get the Suns under the tax aprons. Grayson Allen could then be traded by the Bulls to a team like the Clippers or even the Nuggets for additional draft capital.

Why would the Bulls do that deal when they already have Huerter. I like it from the Suns standpoint but Allen is signed three more years for 55m and Smith is like 18m for two years...

[Qwigglez]

A straight up Beal for Lauri works financially. Suns save $7 million just off the salary differences. Lauri has regressed the last two seasons and has played in 55 games and then 47 games. He went from 25.6 points per game in 2022-23 down to 19 points per game this past season. He's only 27 years old, and he's regressing.
Who is going to trade for Lauri's $46 million per year contract? He had tremendous value when he was getting only $17 million, but now he's hardly worth it. Ainge can buy out Beal.

Too good for the Suns. Not happening.

With Collins out Jerami Grant is the best available PF out there.

Do you think that the Blazers would be OK trading him for Allen+Royce+Richards + 4 2nds?

I don't even think the 2nds are necessary for the Blazers. They are going to want to start Sharpe, Avdija, and Toumani at the SG, SF, PF spot. I imagine Jrue Holiday and Clingan are the remaining starters. Grant is going to have come off the bench and I imagine he wouldn't be happy about that as he's been mostly starting for most of his career. Getting rid of Grant for anything of value I think would be a homerun for the Blazers.

[BobbieL]

A straight up Beal for Lauri works financially. Suns save $7 million just off the salary differences. Lauri has regressed the last two seasons and has played in 55 games and then 47 games. He went from 25.6 points per game in 2022-23 down to 19 points per game this past season. He's only 27 years old, and he's regressing.
Who is going to trade for Lauri's $46 million per year contract? He had tremendous value when he was getting only $17 million, but now he's hardly worth it. Ainge can buy out Beal.

Too good for the Suns. Not happening.

With Collins out Jerami Grant is the best available PF out there.

Do you think that the Blazers would be OK trading him for Allen+Royce+Richards + 4 2nds?

I don't even think the 2nds are necessary for the Blazers. They are going to want to start Sharpe, Avdija, and Toumani at the SG, SF, PF spot. I imagine Jrue Holiday and Clingan are the remaining starters. Grant is going to have come off the bench and I imagine he wouldn't be happy about that as he's been mostly starting for most of his career. Getting rid of Grant for anything of value I think would be a homerun for the Blazers.

On the one hand - Grant expires the same year as Allen and O'Neale
on the other hand - Grant would be one contract that would be extremely hard to move. Granted, O'Neale and Allen have little trade value as Ishbia overpaid for them to keep them on the roster

Mat Ishbia is no Monte Hall and Lets Make a Deal

[Saberestar]

A straight up Beal for Lauri works financially. Suns save $7 million just off the salary differences. Lauri has regressed the last two seasons and has played in 55 games and then 47 games. He went from 25.6 points per game in 2022-23 down to 19 points per game this past season. He's only 27 years old, and he's regressing.
Who is going to trade for Lauri's $46 million per year contract? He had tremendous value when he was getting only $17 million, but now he's hardly worth it. Ainge can buy out Beal.

Too good for the Suns. Not happening.

With Collins out Jerami Grant is the best available PF out there.

Do you think that the Blazers would be OK trading him for Allen+Royce+Richards + 4 2nds?

I don't even think the 2nds are necessary for the Blazers. They are going to want to start Sharpe, Avdija, and Toumani at the SG, SF, PF spot. I imagine Jrue Holiday and Clingan are the remaining starters. Grant is going to have come off the bench and I imagine he wouldn't be happy about that as he's been mostly starting for most of his career. Getting rid of Grant for anything of value I think would be a homerun for the Blazers.

OK... but Allen/Royce/Richards are "anything of value"?

I would do it, no doubt about it.

[BobbieL]

Too good for the Suns. Not happening.

With Collins out Jerami Grant is the best available PF out there.

Do you think that the Blazers would be OK trading him for Allen+Royce+Richards + 4 2nds?

I don't even think the 2nds are necessary for the Blazers. They are going to want to start Sharpe, Avdija, and Toumani at the SG, SF, PF spot. I imagine Jrue Holiday and Clingan are the remaining starters. Grant is going to have come off the bench and I imagine he wouldn't be happy about that as he's been mostly starting for most of his career. Getting rid of Grant for anything of value I think would be a homerun for the Blazers.

OK... but Allen/Royce/Richards are "anything of value"?

I would do it, no doubt about it.

I would do it if the Blazers would do it. I think potentially, in Grant, you have a better player than those three

[Sunsdeuce]

Looks like LA can’t have its cake and eat it too.

If Bradley Beal agrees to a Suns buyout, the Clippers may have interest but only have $5.3 million of the non-tax MLE to use. Malcolm Brogdon and Chris Paul have also drawn free agency interest from LA.-Michael Scotto via Bluesky

[Fo-Real]

Looks like LA can’t have its cake and eat it too.

If Bradley Beal agrees to a Suns buyout, the Clippers may have interest but only have $5.3 million of the non-tax MLE to use. Malcolm Brogdon and Chris Paul have also drawn free agency interest from LA.-Michael Scotto via Bluesky

So that's the Clips and Heat who have voluntarily made themselves unable to help us. But each would be first in line in the case of waive and stretch.

[BobbieL]

Looks like LA can’t have its cake and eat it too.

If Bradley Beal agrees to a Suns buyout, the Clippers may have interest but only have $5.3 million of the non-tax MLE to use. Malcolm Brogdon and Chris Paul have also drawn free agency interest from LA.-Michael Scotto via Bluesky

So that's the Clips and Heat who have voluntarily made themselves unable to help us. But each would be first in line in the case of waive and stretch.

What do you mean "made themselves unable to help" -- Beal wasn't a reasonable trade option for any team

[dcoop]

I agree. I believe once we waive Beal CP3 sing here.

Just playing 28mpg last season he played all 82 games. With the youngsters he would be a huge benefit as it would take a lot off of him and he wouldn’t be relied on so heavily like he was a few years ago here.

[Fo-Real]

Looks like LA can’t have its cake and eat it too.

If Bradley Beal agrees to a Suns buyout, the Clippers may have interest but only have $5.3 million of the non-tax MLE to use. Malcolm Brogdon and Chris Paul have also drawn free agency interest from LA.-Michael Scotto via Bluesky

So that's the Clips and Heat who have voluntarily made themselves unable to help us. But each would be first in line in the case of waive and stretch.

What do you mean "made themselves unable to help" -- Beal wasn't a reasonable trade option for any team

Not trade!! I thought..... the idea was, Beal would agree to buyout and losing an amount of money from us, but only if it was set up to get REPLACEMENT money from the next team in a sense. I dont know how much it needs to be but examples: Beal leaves 14 mil on the table for a buyout. Team signing him agree to 7+ mil for the next two, keeping him whole. But now his preferred two teams (Clips, Heat), are hard capped AND CAN NOT! Isn't that what we were angling toward?

[BobbieL]

So that's the Clips and Heat who have voluntarily made themselves unable to help us. But each would be first in line in the case of waive and stretch.

What do you mean "made themselves unable to help" -- Beal wasn't a reasonable trade option for any team

Not trade!! I thought..... the idea was, Beal would agree to buyout and losing an amount of money from us, but only if it was set up to get REPLACEMENT money from the next team in a sense. I dont know how much it needs to be but examples: Beal leaves 14 mil on the table for a buyout. Team signing him agree to 7+ mil for the next two, keeping him whole. But now his preferred two teams (Clips, Heat), are hard capped AND CAN NOT! Isn't that what we were angling toward?

Oh I see what you are saying.

Since both teams can only offer the TPMLE of 5.3 - the might be leaving a few million on the table if he is bought out for the $96m. I think with the 5.3m starting figure - that can increase like 10% in year two so that would be close to $6m

He won't be whole but he will be in a better situation for himself and his family. The hate he has received from Suns fans - I just don't get it. He was a problem but he wasn't the only problem and just moving on from him , won't fix things. I wish him well - I thought he was very professional

[Fo-Real]

What do you mean "made themselves unable to help" -- Beal wasn't a reasonable trade option for any team

Not trade!! I thought..... the idea was, Beal would agree to buyout and losing an amount of money from us, but only if it was set up to get REPLACEMENT money from the next team in a sense. I dont know how much it needs to be but examples: Beal leaves 14 mil on the table for a buyout. Team signing him agree to 7+ mil for the next two, keeping him whole. But now his preferred two teams (Clips, Heat), are hard capped AND CAN NOT! Isn't that what we were angling toward?

Oh I see what you are saying.

Since both teams can only offer the TPMLE of 5.3 - the might be leaving a few million on the table if he is bought out for the $96m. I think with the 5.3m starting figure - that can increase like 10% in year two so that would be close to $6m

He won't be whole but he will be in a better situation for himself and his family. The hate he has received from Suns fans - I just don't get it

Me either!! Also the pockets of the owner!! First it was "This rich prick does not care about money, this is great, SPEND, SPEND, SPEND!!! Sarver was a broke bitch!!" THEN " This rich prick is spending too much.... OF HIS.... money!! Stupid, please stop!!" Now " This prick is broke and needs to shed money! Please get us someone else who didn't go broke and isn't interested in saving... MILLIONS... of dollars!!!" If you support the team, it means you support everything they have done like politics in here. We have taken silly risks and went for it. It failed horribly for many reasons. We have now changed our course and have gotten much younger and athletic! No one knows if it will work, but I am happy with the new mindset. Should be more fun to watch. Annoying to listen to the incessant mouth open wide crying of some. Not that what they cry about isn't true, but in the **** past and will not change no matter if you post about it every **** day. I enjoy the possible positives, I am in the minority on this board, which is why I just post less and skip through some posters broad rants. If this makes you mad and start lashing out (other posters, not you Bobbie)... just know, om not reading your retorts!! Furst 3 words then.... SCROLL!!

[BobbieL]

Not trade!! I thought..... the idea was, Beal would agree to buyout and losing an amount of money from us, but only if it was set up to get REPLACEMENT money from the next team in a sense. I dont know how much it needs to be but examples: Beal leaves 14 mil on the table for a buyout. Team signing him agree to 7+ mil for the next two, keeping him whole. But now his preferred two teams (Clips, Heat), are hard capped AND CAN NOT! Isn't that what we were angling toward?

Oh I see what you are saying.

Since both teams can only offer the TPMLE of 5.3 - the might be leaving a few million on the table if he is bought out for the $96m. I think with the 5.3m starting figure - that can increase like 10% in year two so that would be close to $6m

He won't be whole but he will be in a better situation for himself and his family. The hate he has received from Suns fans - I just don't get it

Me either!! Also the pockets of the owner!! First it was "This rich prick does not care about money, this is great, SPEND, SPEND, SPEND!!! Sarver was a broke bitch!!" THEN " This rich prick is spending too much.... OF HIS.... money!! Stupid, please stop!!" Now " This prick is broke and needs to shed money! Please get us someone else who didn't go broke and isn't interested in saving... MILLIONS... of dollars!!!" If you support the team, it means you support everything they have done like politics in here. We have taken silly risks and went for it. It failed horribly for many reasons. We have now changed our course and have gotten much younger and athletic! No one knows if it will work, but I am happy with the new mindset. Should be more fun to watch. Annoying to listen to the incessant mouth open wide crying of some. Not that what they cry about isn't true, but in the **** past and will not change no matter if you post about it every **** day. I enjoy the possible positives, I am in the minority on this board, which is why I just post less and skip through some posters broad rants. If this makes you mad and start lashing out (other posters, not you Bobbie)... just know, om not reading your retorts!! Furst 3 words then.... SCROLL!!

But just like Sarver -- who extended Diaw and Barbosa and 12 months later had to trade Kurt Thomas or traded Grant (saved $2m) and two first round picks, for $3m each -- only to turn around and sign Banks for 21/5.

Ishbia is the same way,. Okay, the Durant trade an overpay But who didn't read the CBA and they traded for Beal. And because he had limited options, he had to extend Allen and Royce
Now he is crying poverty it seems as stretching and waiving is a money grab

I do like the direction of the team in some respects - Fleming, Maulach even Green. Though Green is more potential - and hope for the best but it seems disjointed. Like the option on Richards being picked up -- and they might keep him after all. Why? That could have been 5m of easy cap savings.

[Saberestar]

Rookies' numbers:

Maluach 10.
Fleming 20.
Brea 14.

I love Maluach wearing 10.

[Sunsdeuce]

For these roster, we still have to balance it. We have about 8647 shooting guards. Got to move either O’Neal or Allen

Don’t know what the return for Allen or O’Neal will be but I think it could be a win-win if done correctly.

The Jazz would have been perfect partner and maybe still are but not sure if they need an Allen or O’Neal.

[sunsbg]

Rookies' numbers:

Maluach 10.
Fleming 20.
Brea 14.

I love Maluach wearing 10.

Why ?

Suns players picking 20 for whatever reason underperform. Hope it's not the case here.