Offseason Report Card

[Qwigglez]

Grade the Suns Offseason so far.

Free Agency-
Signing Hakim Warrick: B-
I think the Suns went trigger happy too early. They probably could have waited a couple of weeks before signing this guy. However, it's still a good signing for what he will bring off the bench. An Amare-lite so to speak (very, very, very lite).
Signing Josh Childress: A+
Love this signing. This guy reminds me of poor man's Shawn Marion but with slightly better ball-handling skills. Even off the bench I think this guy is gonna average at least one steal a game. Great pick-up.
Re-signing Channing Frye: B+
Although his price tag was a little steep for my taste, I'm excited to bring Frye back. His ability to spread the floor for Nash was huge last year. He was a big reason why the Suns went 14-3 in the beginning of last season.
Overall Grade: B+
The Suns get a good mixture of athleticism and explosiveness from Warrick and Childress, and I think Phoenix is trying to revolutionize the game of basketball yet again with running a 10-man deep roster.

Trades-
Amare for S&T: A+
We all pretty much knew Amare was gone. I wish him luck in New York, and I'm happy he was nice enough to give the Suns a S&T. Losing him sucks, but it was time for him and the Suns to go separate ways.
Barbosa for Turkoglu: B+
I would give an A+ grade if it wasn't for Hedo's contract. Barbosa was a luxury for the team and was expendable due to Dragic's emergence off the bench. Any trade that gives you a starter for a sixth man should be a good one. The Suns are going in an entirely different direction than what I expected (thought they would go for a traditional PF). Risky move (only because of the contract), but I'd rather the Suns make this move than standing pat with just Hakim Warrick.
Overall Grade: B+

I'd make a draft grading, but I'm not too big on second round picks (disliked Dragic until Gentry took over). I haven't been paying attention to summer league either.
All in all, I'm happy that Robert Sarver was willing to make a couple of moves, even if I don't entirely agree with em. I doubt the Suns are making any more moves this off-season.

[BurningHeart]

I'll give it a B for now. No resigning Lou, no Amare.....but the moves are interesting.

[Stix]

Incomplete.... the semester isnt over yet.

[Nando88]

i think the suns are gonna make one more move, so i'll wait to give my grade

[MrMiyagi]

As of right now I'll give them a B, I like the players the brought in/back but I don't like the contracts especially Hedo and Frye.

[KJ7]

Free Agents

Signing Warrick: B+

I like the contract we gave him. At that price I don't think we couldve got a better PF who fits into our system. Sure we couldve spent more but if things don't work out he has a very moveable contract and if things go well he'll be a bargain. So low risk, high reward move.

Re-sign Frye: C+

I thought he was worth about what we gave Warrick so feel we overpaid. But I still wanted him around and as I've said before if he improves in one or two area it will end up being a pretty good contract.

Trades

Childress for TPE: B-

Yep, don't forget this was actually a S+T. He's exactly what we needed but I just question whether we overpaid for him. He didn't hit that many 3 pointers when he was a Hawk and didn't set the World on fire in Europe. He has never been my fave player but as I said he's exactly what we needed on the wings.

TPE for Amare: B

The S+T just allowed us to regroup straight away rather than waiting a year and then only being able to go after free agents.

Barbosa/Collins for Turkoglu: B

If it wasn't for Turkoglu's contract I would love this move. I think Barbosa will come good this season but I really think Turkoglu gives us a bigger/better shooting Diaw. Nash plays his best when he doesn't have to create on *every* possession. We've seen him do more things like screen off the ball etc. I think he's gonna love being able to play PnR with Turk who can switch and then dominate his player.

Overall

B

I think we got good players but with the exception of Warrick I think we paid a bit of a premium for the players we got. In Turk/Frye/Childress I would have been happy paying each of those guys about 1.5-2m less a season. But having said that I really like our team both skill-wise and contract-wise.

Our biggest contract is an expiring and we have heaps of players who earn 4-10m which means they are very moveable contracts. We are so deep at the moment I hope the next trade we make is a Charles Barkley-like one where we use our depth to obtain a superstar (or at least an All-Star).

[Mr. Sun]

I'll go along with Qwigglez's grades. I also would give an A for Sarver doing something.

[Wormwood74]

My Grades so Far:

Lawal: A

The draft is a very inexact science, but so far it looks like we picked the best guy on the board at 46, which is tough to do so deep in the draft. Getting a servicable NBA player at 46 is very tough to do, and it looks like we did just that.

Dwayne Collins: INC

I'll have to see him play, first. No lower than a C, since he's an intriguing athlete, and it's the 60th pick.

Warrick: D-

Doesn't defend, doesn't rebound, black hole with the ball, mediocre mid-range game, no 3 point game, low basketball IQ, questionable motor, posted God-awful net +/- per 48 numbers everywhere he's been (basically, he kills his own team while he's on the court, regardless of who he's played for). We're stuck with him for 4 years. We have 3 other, probably better, people contending for time at the 4 spot with him (Frye, Lawal, Hedo). But hey, he can dunk! Of yeah, and we used a lot of our precious TPE on him. Only reason it's not an F is because it's only a 4 year deal, unlike most of the other obscene contracts out there.

Frye: B+

We got back a player who was by some statistical measurements our MVP. (Led team in net +/- per 48, first time someone other than Nash has done that since 2004). Got him for slightly less than the going market rate. (5/32 instead of 5/34). Only legit PF on the roster besides Lawal.

Amare S&T: C

We did the minimum expected, and we get the gentleman's C for not completely frakking up the situation. Could have done worse, but we did the minimum expected by getting the TPE.

Childress: A-

We got a very good, high efficiency SG/SF for the mid-level exception. It only goes until he's 32. Lots of teams wanted the guy, and we landed him. Childress is one of those Shane Battier guys: does everything well, but no one area is spectacular. He won't hurt you one the court in basically any situation.

Hedo Trurkoglu: F

We took on one of the worst contracts in the NBA, and we don't even get a pick or two out of the deal? He's a natural 3, and we want to play him at the 4. He does nothing to address our weaknesses at the 4 spot with defense or rebounding, but he did bring our SF total up to 8. Hedo's posted good net +/- per 48 numbers at his other stops, except Toronto. He's 31, his contract lasts another 4 years, and his stats (and performance) have been in free fall for the past two years. However, in Toronto they brutally mis-used his talents, and we're about to do the same by sticking him in at the 4 spot and playing him alongside Nash. Geez...could we do Truck Robinson for Steve Nash while we're at it?

Current Grade: D-

We've created a frankensteinian moster of a team, made of mis-matched re-cycled parts that don't fit all that well. Oh, and we're overpaying a lot of those parts. We have no GM and no VP of operations, and it shows. I can't see how we're going to outscore other teams consistently when we can't defend anyone, and we're setting a record for futility on the defensive glass. There were plenty of opportunities to acquire players that fit our needs better (Lee, Scola), but we instead chose players who will do nothing to create a balanced team (Warrick and Hedo are lousy excuses for PFs). When we lose, it's going to be painfull to watch, because teams will be getting so many easy shots in the paint, and they'll get to keep shooting until they score because our defensive rebounding is so awful.

This is not how you design a team. This is not the NFL. You don't create champions by building teams with lots of above average players and very few stars. The Suns this year are in for a long season, since the team composition appears to have such poor balance that the value of the whole is almost certain to be less than the sum of its parts.

Note: FInal Grade is subject to change if additional moves are made.

[Frank Lee]

you Worm.... it takes too much thought to issue a 'refute'.... since when did logic get so much credibility around here?

Hopefully, we can pull the GPA up some by acing the final exam.... who ever that may be.

[Wormwood74]

:upset: you Worm.... it takes too much thought to issue a 'refute'.... since when did logic get so much credibility around here?

Hopefully, we can pull the GPA up some by acing the final exam.... who ever that may be.

I'm not sure if you're agreeing with me, or callimg me a f***wit.

[Sun Scorched]

:upset: you Worm.... it takes too much thought to issue a 'refute'.... since when did logic get so much credibility around here?

Hopefully, we can pull the GPA up some by acing the final exam.... who ever that may be.

I'm not sure if you're agreeing with me, or callimg me a f***wit.

Oh... you guys are a riot...

Still, I'm going to try and use the word f***wit in a conversation today. Sheer awesomeness.

[Wormwood74]

I got that term from a discussion with a retired British Rear Admiral. I'll NEVER forget the quote. We were discussing NATO relationships with the local fishermen and short range cargo drivers in the Arabian Gulf, espescially in context of establishing relationships with them that could be used to better guage what's really going on in the area.

"Our biggest mistake as analysts is that we assume the locals are a bunch of f***wits."

The use of the term f***wits by such an august individual caught me totally off guard. It was hilarious. He was, in fact, outside of his job, just about the funniest person I've met.

[DRK]

Mine... (Although I may be wasting my time posting this as no one would bother to read it. )

Warrick= B

I like the addition of Warrick to help boost our offence. I'm guessing Warrick will play off the bench to add some inside scoring off the bench, something we missed last year. His defence and rebounding is questionable, but his amazing athletic ability is something we will love.

Turk: C+

I cant grade Turk accurately just yet as I (as well as many other posters) really dont know where he will fit in the team. I cant see him starting at the 4, but I cant see him replacing J-Rich at the 2. Once we find out what role he will be playing in the Suns, I'll give him a more accurate grade.

Childress A-

Childress is someone we have needed in a long time, a player that can really defend the perimeter well. he has a very well rounded game, and has a pretty decent basketball I.Q. Most importantly, he plays hard on every possession and hustles very well. A great pickup for the Suns.

Amare Stoudemire S&T B-

Im giving this a B- not because of the trade itself, but the fact that we lost Amare Stoudemire. I peesonally felt we should've offered the full max at 5 years, as Amare's departure would leave a big hole in the team.

PICKS:

Gani Lawal= A

Gani Lawal has played well consistently during the Summer League. he has scored, rebounded and played great defence, but most iomportant, his stats have been consistent. I love the drafting of Gani and really hope he is given minutes this season. His personality will fit right in with the Suns. he seems like a great lock room guy and will immediatly form a bond.

Dwayne Collins= B

After watching a few college tapes of this guy, I feel the Suns would be really missing out if we dont sign him. He has a good arsenal of post moves, such as the hook shot with either hand, and has a monsterous dunk on him. he plays hard and seems like a good locker room guy. It was a massive blow for him to miss the Summer League, but if he had played, I feel he would have done very well.

[john85020]

Free Agents

Signing Warrick: B

We lost Amare but Warrick gives us a very good pick and roll finisher on a reasonal contract. Look for Dragic's assist numbers to rise with Warrick running the break as opposed to Lou. That said, given our current rotation, I would have rather given that contract to a defender/ rebounder. I also feel the Suns rushed the signing a bit due to the loss of Amare.

Re-sign Frye: C

Overpaid but a lot of players got overpaid this offseason. I'm not a huge Fry fan but our FO def likes him so it was a solid signing for them I guess.

Trades

Childress for TPE: A

My favorite signing of the season. His contract isn't bad consistering it's the same deal he turned down from Alt to goto Europe for more money. He could be our leading rebounder next season, LOL. Gambo compared him to a Matrix Lite which can't be a bad thing to have.

TPE for Amare: C

We got a TPE for our 20/9 PF. That's not exactly good value but better than Amare for 100/5. Still look what NY managed to get for Lee who was also a UFA.

Barbosa for Turkoglu: B

Barbs hasn't been productive in a few years and I didn't expect us to be able to move him for an impact player. Well, we did but it came at the cost of taking on a "bad contact."

[MaryvalesFinest]

As of now? B +

Could change though

[bimmer_class]

As of now? B +

Could change though

why?

[MaryvalesFinest]

As of now? B +

Could change though

why?

If they make another trade or signing

[grumpysaddle]

bimmer_class = lebronjames6(ihg)??

Soiled that name and made a new one to soil all over... that's my guess.

[Sun Scorched]

I got that term from a discussion with a retired British Rear Admiral. I'll NEVER forget the quote. We were discussing NATO relationships with the local fishermen and short range cargo drivers in the Arabian Gulf, espescially in context of establishing relationships with them that could be used to better guage what's really going on in the area.

"Our biggest mistake as analysts is that we assume the locals are a bunch of f***wits."

The use of the term f***wits by such an august individual caught me totally off guard. It was hilarious. He was, in fact, outside of his job, just about the funniest person I've met.

That's priceless.

I may never call someone that outloud, but I'll definately be thinking it in my head about most everyone I meet.

I have this bleak outlook, as it pertains to individual intelligence, that runs counter to our glorious legal system; essentially:

I assume people are stupid until proven otherwise.

[DaDragicShow]

Was a C- before but after getting Childrish and Hedo id give the Suns a B+