Few things that NEED to be done.

NashtyNas · Post #1 » by **NashtyNas** » Sun Dec 7, 2008 6:11 am

Some very important things that need to be done for this team to succeed.

A) Porter needs to continue doing what he did tonight, which is allowing the team to run and let them do what they want on offense (meaning not make stupid turnovers, but give the ball to the hot hand instead of dumping it into Shaq every time down).

B) Bell needs to be traded. He's grown too old, his defense isn't half of what it used to be, and his shot if too inconsistent to depend on.

C) Hill needs to start consistently. He is clearly not as good a shooter as Barnes, which is a disadvantage, but he is a far superior slasher and can create his shot much better than Barnes can.

D) Dragic needs to go to D-League, and Singletary become the backup. We cannot afford stupid mistakes, and that's all Dragic has been providing. Singletary reminds me of AI, except without the offensive prowess. He is still an excellent passer and can knock down the open shot, and hes EXTREMELY quick, which is what we need. I also like his anticipation on the defensive end, he's not great, but certainly better than Nash.

A couple trades that are possible for Bell.

Bell + 2nd for Warrick + Crittenton

Nash/Critt/Singletary
Barbs/Tucker/Hill
Hill/Barnes/Diaw
Stat/Diaw/Amundson
Shaq/Lopez/Amundson

Bell + Diaw + 2nd for Rush + Tinsley + Foster

Nash/Tinsley/Singletary
Rush/Barbs/Tucker
Hill/Barnes/Rush
Stat/Amundson/Foster
Shaq/Lopez/Foster

Bell + Diaw + 2nd for Larry Hughes + Tyrus Thomas

Nash/Singletary
Hughes/Barbs
Hill/Barnes
Stat/Thomas
Shaq/Lopez

Bell + 2nd for Atkins and Balkman

Nash/Atkins/Singletary
Barbs/Balkman/Tucker
Hill/Barnes/Diaw
Stat/Diaw/Amundson
Shaq/Lopez/Amundson

Anyone got any other ideas?

Post #2 » by **rsavaj** » Sun Dec 7, 2008 7:02 am

I still don't see the reason to trade Bell, as he is one of the emotional leaders of this team. He also has a very friendly contract.

However, if I were to evaluate your trades, I'd like the first one, but Memphis wouldn't do it. I really don't like the 2nd or 3rd ones. I'm lukewarm on the fourth.

NashtyNas · Post #3 » by **NashtyNas** » Sun Dec 7, 2008 7:07 am

Let's face it. Bell has no real value other than "leadership" for us, and as you may have seen, we have a crisis of too many ego's, one less wouldn't hurt.

Post #4 » by **rsavaj** » Sun Dec 7, 2008 7:08 am

sd1306 wrote:Let's face it. Bell has no real value other than "leadership" for us, and as you may have seen, we have a crisis of too many ego's, one less wouldn't hurt.

He's also one of the best 3 pt shooters on this team, and we need to spread the floor, so I wouldn't say that's his "only" value.

High basketball IQ shouldn't be undervalued, and I honestly don't think Raja's ego is the problem if we had to pick one...

NashtyNas · Post #5 » by **NashtyNas** » Sun Dec 7, 2008 7:21 am

I wasn't claiming that it was his ego that was a problem, it would just make things easier if we had one less ego is all I meant. Raja is a thourouugh proffesional, and I love him, and yes, he's one of the "best" 3PT shooters on this team, but his shot is so incosistent, you cant depend on him anymore. I really wouldn't mind the Hughes trade for 2 reasons. A) Dump Diaw B) Solid backup PF and starting SG in return

Post #6 » by **TASTIC** » Sun Dec 7, 2008 7:27 am

Yeah I think he's a guy you want to keep around, his toughness and 3 pt shooting is an asset come playoff time. And the guy has bled for this team...

Unless we upgrade the starting SG spot or get a very nice backup PG/young PG I'm inclined to keep him

What about something like Lou Williams + Speights for Bell + Tucker?
I think Bell would thrive next to Dre and Iggy, and Young has been playing well but might be better suited to a 6th man role...I dunno - Philly fans prove me wrong (I like Young, has some great skills, but seems Iggy is better at SF and Bell at the 2?)

Post #7 » by **rsavaj** » Sun Dec 7, 2008 7:34 am

TASTIC wrote:Yeah I think he's a guy you want to keep around, his toughness and 3 pt shooting is an asset come playoff time. And the guy has bled for this team...

Unless we upgrade the starting SG spot or get a very nice backup PG/young PG I'm inclined to keep him

What about something like Lou Williams + Speights for Bell + Tucker?
I think Bell would thrive next to Dre and Iggy, and Young has been playing well but might be better suited to a 6th man role...I dunno - Philly fans prove me wrong (I like Young, has some great skills, but seems Iggy is better at SF and Bell at the 2?)

That leaves LB our only option at the two, and I think Philly's quite, quite high on both Williams and Speights.

Post #8 » by **rsavaj** » Sun Dec 7, 2008 7:36 am

But yeah, two things that do need to be done:

1)Add an SG that can create their own shot(Tucker?)
2)ADD A BACKUP PG! MARBURY, MILLER, ATKINS, ANYONE!

NashtyNas · Post #9 » by **NashtyNas** » Sun Dec 7, 2008 7:48 am

How about Boris + Bell + 1st rounder for J-Rich & Sean May? Seems they might be up for trading J-Rich (I read something like J-Rich for Kaman + filler earlier this month), and that leaves us perfectly built for a championship, I'd say (other than PG, but we could always pick up Marbury or something).

Nash/Singletary
J-Rich/Barbs
Hill/Barnes
STAT/May
Shaq/Lopez

Maybe pull off a Barbs + Tucker + 2nd for Atkins + Smith after JRich deal. THAT would be AMAZING.

Nash/Atkins
J-Rich/Smith
Hill/Barnes
STAT/May
Shaq/Lopez

Phx4Life08 · Post #10 » by **Phx4Life08** » Sun Dec 7, 2008 10:09 am

I think we need Diaw on this team. He has really grown some cahonas this season and he has been so consistent off the bench. The only reason to trade him is his bad contract.

BurningHeart · Post #11 » by **BurningHeart** » Sun Dec 7, 2008 11:35 am

We already traded the glue of this team, Shawn Marion.

There is absolutely no reason to trade the heart of this team, Raja Bell.

nevetsov · Post #12 » by **nevetsov** » Sun Dec 7, 2008 11:50 am

Yeah lets not trade Raja until after Destination: Phoenix 09, I just shelled out for my Raja jersey and I don't want to be the only one in the group with an outdated jersey.

kthx

DaDragicShow · Post #13 » by **DaDragicShow** » Sun Dec 7, 2008 12:08 pm

lmao nevetsov

Ninjafish · Post #14 » by **Ninjafish** » Sun Dec 7, 2008 3:17 pm

BurningHeart wrote:We already traded the glue of this team, Shawn Marion.

There is absolutely no reason to trade the heart of this team, Raja Bell.

Yes. He's also one of the few players that played real well for us in the playoffs last year, shooting 65% from 3.

I can't believe people would want to give up both Bell and Diaw. That would mean that there was only 2 players left from our wonderful 2006 year. By far my favorite NBA team ever (and I'd think most suns fans favorite in a long time) because of the chemistry and the heart. It would feel really weird to see the team without them. It feels weird enough without Marion.

NashtyNas · Post #15 » by **NashtyNas** » Sun Dec 7, 2008 5:22 pm

I agree with most of what you guys said, but you can't be emotional when making such decisions. If we get a deal like the Tinsley/Rush or the J-Rich deal, I'm sure Kerr pulls the move without hesitating. That makes you instant contenders.

BurningHeart · Post #16 » by **BurningHeart** » Sun Dec 7, 2008 7:09 pm

Our team died the day our identity left in Shawn Marion. The guy was the face and glue of the team. No one can convince me otherwise. I'm simply not in favor of trading Bell. The guy has given everything for this team in the few years he's been here. What would this team look like without his fire? Ugh.

Phx4Life08 · Post #17 » by **Phx4Life08** » Sun Dec 7, 2008 7:21 pm

BurningHeart wrote: I'm simply not in favor of trading Bell. The guy has given everything for this team in the few years he's been here. What would this team look like without his fire? Ugh.

+1

Post #18 » by **rsavaj** » Sun Dec 7, 2008 7:29 pm

BurningHeart wrote:Our team died the day our identity left in Shawn Marion. The guy was the face and glue of the team. No one can convince me otherwise. I'm simply not in favor of trading Bell. The guy has given everything for this team in the few years he's been here. What would this team look like without his fire? Ugh.

+1

Speaking of an SG who can create his own shot....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhGeQWOH ... re=channel

NashtyNas · Post #19 » by **NashtyNas** » Sun Dec 7, 2008 10:12 pm

Burningheart, as right as you are, like I said, just because he brings "fire" doesn't mean anything. It rarely translates to what happens on the court. He just doesn't have the quickness he used to, and his defense is not at all what it used to be. He's getting TORCHED. Yeah, he'll bring SOME energy, but we need to see production, and it's not happening.

Ninjafish · Post #20 » by **Ninjafish** » Mon Dec 8, 2008 12:44 am

sd1306 wrote:I agree with most of what you guys said, but you can't be emotional when making such decisions. If we get a deal like the Tinsley/Rush or the J-Rich deal, I'm sure Kerr pulls the move without hesitating. That makes you instant contenders.

Or maybe it makes the team chemistry even worse since it brings in more guys that are not used to playing with each other. I remember hearing similar comments about the Shaq/Marion trade.