Kurt Thomas - how much did losing him hurt the Suns?

Suns_fan_2007 · Post #1 » by **Suns_fan_2007** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:43 am

I'm curious - it seems Kurt Thomas has been a key factor in the Spurs / Suns series.

How much did losing Kurt hurt the Suns, and how much did it help the Spurs this season?

I like Skinner but it seems Kurt is far more effective as a backup against Duncan. To see him play for the Spurs against us is like a jab to the heart...

The Hypnotoad · Post #2 » by **The Hypnotoad** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:45 am

On a scale of 1 to 10? 20 after him getting traded to the Spurs. 3 if he would have stayed in Seattle. Honestly Kerr, you didn't see PJ Carlismo and Sam Presti helping out the Spurs when you traded Kurt there? Really?

Intensity · Post #3 » by **Intensity** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:47 am

ALOT... I think that Kurt Thomas & Shawn Marion >>> Shaq. I have no idea why you guys let Thomas go because you didn't want to pay the lux tax. Yet you trade Marion for Shaq. Marion makes the suns offense GO..

mkot · Post #4 » by **mkot** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:49 am

But Sarver got his cash so it's all good...I hope he's thrilled with the cash he saved...I really do...

WTFsunsFTW · Post #5 » by **WTFsunsFTW** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:38 am

Wow um first, point of order: We didn't lose him, we paid for him to be taken.

Along with two first round picks.

We also gave away a backup SF and a first round draft pick for cash around the same time.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers took an expensive center with an expiring contract, two first round draft picks, and a 3rd string point guard and turned it all into an allstar PF/C.

Too bad we already gave up our expensive center with an expiring contract, two first round draft picks, and an average player before the season started.

Think of the deal we could have made Memphis if we held our breath in the offseason:

Kurt Thomas(8mil exp), Shawn Marion(17mil exp) Suns 07,08,10 first rounders, James Jones, ATL 08, Marcus banks

for

Pau Gasol, Mike Miller, and Hakim Warrick. (take on stromile swift for salary matching)

and we would be amazing.

raff · Post #6 » by **raff** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 11:35 am

Think of the deal we could have made Memphis if we held our breath in the offseason:

Kurt Thomas(8mil exp), Shawn Marion(17mil exp) Suns 07,08,10 first rounders, James Jones, ATL 08, Marcus banks

for

Pau Gasol, Mike Miller, and Hakim Warrick. (take on stromile swift for salary matching)

and we would be amazing.

that would've been awesome...

chrbal · Post #7 » by **chrbal** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 3:57 pm

The Kurt Thomas was one that I really couldn't understand. The Suns were that desperate to shave $8 mil off their books? A 4/5 that actually seems to fit the Suns system (pretty good numbers in 06-07 for a guy who played 18 minutes a game).

Not only that, the team trades away two first round picks, never giving fans the false sense that the suns might have the good sense to use them.

I think its great that the Spurs got him and that the Sonics got 3 1st round picks just for dealing with Thomas.

NaplesSunsFan · Post #8 » by **NaplesSunsFan** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:54 pm

It's GM's helping old friends out. Jerry West in Memphis with LA.. Same with PJ and Presti.

I expect the NBA rules committee to end the stupid 'buyout' clause that enabled San Antonio to trade Brent Barry and get him back for free pretty much. It's total bull.

jaypo · Post #9 » by **jaypo** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:52 pm

Intensity wrote:ALOT... I think that Kurt Thomas & Shawn Marion >>> Shaq. I have no idea why you guys let Thomas go because you didn't want to pay the lux tax. Yet you trade Marion for Shaq. Marion makes the suns offense GO..

Last time I checked, Marion was on the bench injured. And since Shaq got here, our rebounding and defense has been better. Not many people were questioning the trade when we played the spurs before the playoffs started. And doesn't Marion have a history of disappearing in the playoffs? Conversely, Shaq had 19, 14, and 4, roughly the same numbers TD had. He played excellent defense on Duncan. The problem isn't Shaq. It's Nash, Barbs, and Amare. (And Hill being hurt). They can't guard anyone. Add that to the fact that D'Antoni ran the offense thru Diaw almost the whole 2nd half, and it got them nothing but a bunch of turnovers.

Add up the rings that KT and Marion have and compare those to the ones Shaq has. Then, Shaq>>>>>>>>>>>> (x a lot) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>KT and Marion.

Actually, if you still had Marion, I think the Spurs would be averaging about a 15 point margin of victory instead of 4. Face it-before this series, the Suns became a lot tougher after the trade. I don't know what happened during the 2nd half of both games. By losing KT, we definitely lost a lot of flops, because that's all I've seen him do in the 1st 2 games. That's it! Nothing else!

**Edited to fix the margins

TASTIC

Ballings7 · Post #10 » by **Ballings7** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:32 am

Not that much... Kurt's not an interior anchor, #1 big man defender on a team...

If Amare was a defensive anchor-type, Kurt would of been a better fit and had more of an impact. Because Kurt's lesser areas would of been made up for by Amare's defense.

As with the Spurs, Knicks, and Heat, Kurt is best fit as a top helper big man to star two-way big men. Zo, Ewing, Duncan.

Because, Thomas is a positional defender rather than a good shot alterer/blocker around the rim. Lacking some size and leaping ability is the key there.

tanat-0s · Post #11 » by **tanat-0s** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 10:17 am

It's ironic for sure.
I mean the Suns gave away two 1st round picks to get rid of him and now he's on the Spurs, playing critical role in a Game 1 of the series (he got Amare in foul trouble with his flopping).

garrick · Post #12 » by **garrick** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 2:43 pm

For future reference we should not trade any of our quality players to teams with ties to the Spurs.
I also agree that there should be a trade review committee so that ridiculous trades are not acted upon like the Memphis/Lakers trade.

Mr. Sun · Post #13 » by **Mr. Sun** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 10:44 pm

We are more cursed by D'Antoni not playing Skinner then losing Kurt.

Post #14 » by **TASTIC** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 10:48 pm

^That's a good point, but you also can't overlook the HUGE difference in quality between the two players' jump shots. Kurt can nail that 15-20 footer whereas Skinner really struggles with it

Mr. Sun · Post #15 » by **Mr. Sun** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 10:54 pm

Skinner doesn't need to attempt 15 footers as Amare is now at PF.

Post #16 » by **TASTIC** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 11:09 pm

^Yeah but watching the games if he catches in ANYWHERE within the 3 point line it seems he's hoisting, if for no other reason that he thinks he needs to take/make that shot to stay in the game

Mr. Sun · Post #17 » by **Mr. Sun** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 11:25 pm

^^ That is only because D'Antoni gives him the green light.

Kobe>Jordan>God · Post #18 » by **Kobe>Jordan>God** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 7:42 pm

NaplesSunsFan wrote:It's GM's helping old friends out. Jerry West in Memphis with LA.. Same with PJ and Presti.

Jerry West quit as GM last season and had no role in Chris Wallace's decisions. But don't let facts get in the way of your paranoid fantasies, they're very entertaining. :rofl:

Post #19 » by **TASTIC** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 10:56 pm

Jerry West to replace Kerr!

GET ER DONE! haha

Tactician · Post #20 » by **Tactician** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 5:47 pm

West is retired and unless you gave him an unheard of salary, there is no way in hell he would come to the Suns.