Phoenix and Dallas....Do they blow it up?

[Mylie10]

Now that they're out and the big trades a failed expiriment, Do they blow it up?

It looks as though D'Antoni might be gone.

Josh Howard is having trouble with his image.

JKidd has clearly lost a step.

Shaq can't handle an entire season and is a libility if he can't finish shots.

The Mavs have no future PG.

Phoenix needs more depth.

Dirk is frustrated and is tired of doing it all by himself.

Nash is getting older.

Grant Hill might be done.



Dallas won't be willing to deal with us easily.

Phoenix suddenly needs draft picks. And they wouldn't deal with us easily.

The best news about these guys falling is if we can add some pieces to our current good group, then we can take steps to pass these guys.

Denver may blow it up as well.

Karl is probably gone.

Camby is getting old.

Najera wants out of the circus.

Nene makes to much to be a bench guy.

JR Smith is a powder keg.

AI makes to much.

Melo is not proving to be a winner.


This offseason will be a clear sign of Mullin's competence.

We've got to sign our 2 studs.

We've got to let Baron play his final year out and not extend him.

We've got to add another draft pick or two to this years late round and early second round bonanza of potential players who are NBA material.

We've got to sign replacements for Pietrus and POB.

Barnes may have no other options than to come back very cheap. But Nellie froze him out at the end of the year which might spell his end here.

Cohan loosen the purse strings and Mullin get us more picks!!!!!

[azwfan]

I dont think either team blows it up. Both teams have traded away future picks so the "reward" for sucking isnt there. They may look to make deals they would not have previously (Josh Howard, Barbosa), but i dont think Amare, Nash, or Dirk are going anywhere (which would be a "blow up").

[kevin44]

They both should, but can they? The Suns are screwed roster/cap wise. How do they get rid of Nash or Shaq and rebuild around Amare? Dallas would have to get rid of Kidd, Terry, Dampier and build around Dirk and Howard. Both of these teams are going to have a rough time next season. The Spurs, Lakers, and now the Hornets are the elite teams. Utah and Houston are pretty damn good. That leaves Dallas, Suns, Denver, and Warriors fighting for a playoff spot. Portland and the Clips with their full rosters could mess things up.

[Sid the Squid]

Simple solution for the mavs..Trade us JKidd/Bass for Baron/Al

The suns are a really good team..I wouldnt blow it up..

The nuggets?>>> they have to find a dummy to trade away *He who Stops all Ball Movement*

[GswStorm3]

Simple solution for the mavs..Trade us JKidd/Bass for Baron/Al

The suns are a really good team..I wouldnt blow it up..

The nuggets?>>> they have to find a dummy to trade away *He who Stops all Ball Movement*

You've finally fallen on the Bass bandwagon.

[turk3d]

Both Phoenix and Dallas are in a bind imo.

They are not in a position to blow things up, Dallas with Kidd, Dirk, and Howard and especially Phoenix with Shaq, Nash and Diaw (big, untradeable salary).

So what's the best alternative for them? To try and retool in a way they can still be competitive this year. Remember, Dallas just barely made it in this year, so things don't bode well for them. Phoenix is in a lttle bit better shape in that they can likely get in next season once again, however they now must have come to the realization that they will never be able to get beyond Duncan, Parker and the Spurs. Now that they have Shaq's bloated salary, they're pretty much stuck unless they make somewhat of a drastic move. That move could be a Nash for a Baron deal which I believe may have legs. It's certainly something we would do (imo) and I think it's something they should do. Baron, Amare and Shaq would give Phoenix a formidable 3-some and I believe could give San Antonio problems. Let's face it, Parker owns Nash at this point in their respective careers wheras a combination of Baron/Barbosa gives them a much better presence in the backcourt and I think would fare much better against San Antone, especially with Amare and Shaq backing up Baron on the inside, it would allow him to play his "laissez-faire" type defense and succeed at it much more. Barbosa would have the speed to handle the speedier guards like Parker as well.

Nash + Filler for Baron (trade could be further expanded as well). A hungry Baron in Phoenix might prove interesting (there he'd have no excuse and it would certainly give him the exposure and opportunity to get on the big stage he desires so much). I don't think that Phoenix would have much to lose here, especially if he's willing to go there on a 1 year deal. Maybe he opts in and then we pull the trigger. I'm not sur how we'd do with a Nash/Monta backcourt, but I'd sure be interested in checking it out.

[FNQ]

Nuggets / Dallas / Phoenix

And now the Warriors....

Hope the kool-aiders are paying attention here...

These teams are already imploding.... finally a year where gimmicks completely fail in the face of overwhelming team basketball... there really shouldn't be any doubt how ineffective playing this style is. What's even funnier is that all 3 "small-running" teams have coaches about to be sacked... sacked for making the playoffs.

Our management? We couldnt pick up Nellie's option fast enough... Cohan your money.

[Sid the Squid]

I disagree with lumping Phoenix in with those 3 teams..Suns are hell of a team right now..They got beat by the champs..That simple..Suns are getting the heat right now, but that's just typical post-playoff panic..This team is solid...Old? Sure..but the suns are rigth there and theyve barely had time to gell.

[GswStorm3]

A Nash lead team will never win a championship, he's just too much of a defensive liability. On top of that they owe Shaq 40 mil the next two years.

[Sid the Squid]

A Nash lead team will never win a championship, he's just too much of a defensive liability. On top of that they owe Shaq 40 mil the next two years.

Bob Cousey will never win a championship, he's just too much of a defensive liability..Sh*t..Nash would had one last year except Stern screwed them over..Everybody who watch that series knows that.

[FNQ]

I disagree with lumping Phoenix in with those 3 teams..Suns are hell of a team right now..They got beat by the champs..That simple..Suns are getting the heat right now, but that's just typical post-playoff panic..This team is solid...Old? Sure..but the suns are rigth there and theyve barely had time to gell.

I don't see a gelling coming... yes, they got Shaq, but what have they done to really take advantage of it? They'd still rather outgun a team and look to Shaq as if he were a stiff only capable of catching and dunking... it baffled me why they didnt have Shaq/Amare go to town on the inside and then setup the outside instead of vice versa...

Talent's there... coach D'Antoni doesn't deserve that team.

EDIT: If Kerr has huge, grapefruit sized balls then maybe he axes Coach D and gets himself someone who knows what to do with that roster... Coach Nash isn't working out.

[turk3d]

Nash has already reached his peak as a player and is on his way downhill. He had his chance to get a ring (as did Phoenix) but with an older Nash, and older Shaq and without Marion they are not as good as they were even last year (within some terrible officiating of getting past San Antonio). Nash won 2 MVPs but will no longer be the dominating player that he has been in the past. He no longer can keep up with the new young speedsters who are all over the league right now. This happens to all players. Does that mean that he cannot be productive for another 4 or 5 seasons if he chooses? Absolutely not. But he will not be the dominant player that he once was and the standard that he has established for himself will no longer be attainable. I think that it may be time for him to move on if he can find the right team to go to. The Warriors would be a good next stop for him I believe, particular if Nellie is with us next season (which I'm afraid he will be).

[Sleepy51]

-= original quote snipped =-

Bob Cousey will never win a championship, he's just too much of a defensive liability..Sh*t..Nash would had one last year except Stern screwed them over..Everybody who watch that series knows that.

Agree 100% that the Suns outplayed the Spurs last year, small ball, no D at the point and all. Whatever style of play you go with, the point is to make it EXCELLENT. (We were excellent for maybe 80 minutes this season - NO & BOS games.)

But I disagree 100% that Cousy was anywhere near the defensive liability that Nash is. No one other than Damon Jones has ever been the defensive liability that Nash is. Of course no player like Nash/Cousy has ever been saddled with a defensively averse franchise big man like Amare has been (last night's game aside.)

[kevin44]

The Suns are worse off than most think. First they only have 6 guys signed up for next season and they are over the cap. Shaq's play has no where to go but down and how many games will he play next yr? Nash didn't look anything like a back to back MVP winner this season and against the Spurs he looked like a different player. They are stuck unless they can unload Shaq or Nash contracts.

[turk3d]

They have a way better chance of moving Nash than Shaq (who has practically no value at his current salary and limitations). Nash still has value for a veteran team with hopes of making a playoff run. The problem is what you can get that would improve your chances (you still will have Shaq) and Amare is going to want to be in a winning environment. I still say Baron is a guy who can get you guys back in it, at least for a year or two until you can lose Shaq's contract. You have to give up Nash but you might be able to get Baron to play for his last year on contract which at least gives you the flexibility to let him go if he does not produce for you. The Ws have to take on Nash's salary (which is a year longer) but significantly less money.

[GSWhoopfan]

funny thing about run-and-gun.

ATL and PHI are doing it and causing fits for the elite in the east. (dont expect them to win a series but it can be effective)

[turk3d]

funny thing about run-and-gun.

ATL and PHI are doing it and causing fits for the elite in the east. (dont expect them to win a series but it can be effective)

Yeah true but look who they have on their front lines, Dalembert has been tearing it up for Philly and so have Josh Smith (a real power forward playing power forward) and Horoford who's been playing great as well.

Smoove >>> Bukie/Pietrus/Barnes

Also Williams and Childress are not chopped liver either and certainly have size but your point is well taken. This just proves what many have been saying here: small ball with the right mix can be very effective. What can also be said however is that "Small ball with the wrong mix can absolutely suck".

[Left*My*Heart]

By Johnny Ludden, Yahoo! Sports

Even before Tuesday

[Left*My*Heart]

Avery is only the beginning in Dallas. I see more changes taking place, possible Donnie Nelson in the front office and I believe that every Maverick player is available too.

There are a lot of people close to the organization who think that losing 3 seasons ago to the Heat in the finals, completely drained the team of any confidence. A one hit wonder that needs to be bled.

The Kidd trade was a poor one for the Mavs and I'm not so sure who in the organization sold him, to you know who and if it wasn't Cuban himself...they are gone. I'm not saying Kidd is done, but when your team has problems with quick strong PGs, Kidd isn't the answer.

You can go ask Paul or Parker who they would rather play against, Kidd or Harris? They both would take Kidd.

[FGump]

The Suns are worse off than most think. First they only have 6 guys signed up for next season and they are over the cap. .

The Suns have their entire roster under contract for next year, except
Piatkowski
Marks
Skinner
L Johnson

If they lose all of those scrubs, they still have the same team.

And since they could EASILY replace the talent of each of those with a minimum salary free agent, they have the potential to actually increase their talent base if they want to.

Age is a problem for them with Nash-Shaq-Hill. But they aren't going to be in a mad scramble to fill their roster in any way.