Jason Richardson MVP/Extension/No trade bandwagon

[mybloodisorange]

We we need to work hard to extend JRich for 4 years for an amount that is fair for both parties. Maybe $42 mil. Keep in mind hes not only our best scorer at the rim and from 3, hes also a decent rebounder and defender and can post people up in a mismatch. The best thing about him is his consistancy, seems like his shot is rarely off.

[RaisingArizona]

He's our only trade chip besides Nash. We got to deal him if we want to improve our pf position. Dragic could step in and start with more minutes to Childress/Dudley.

[JohnVancouver]

He's our only trade chip besides Nash. We got to deal him if we want to improve our pf position. Dragic could step in and start with more minutes to Childress/Dudley.

Agree completely - I love JR's game these days, but he's a very talented guy with a BIG contract that's expiring. That looks awfully good to some GMs - see how much he can help this year, and lots of salary room in the summer.

Who really has trade value? Lopez? Not the way he's played lately - I can't figure out what his problem is but he's regressed horrible
Dragic of course - but he's the future. We'd have to get something awfully good to deal him.
Duds? As has been discussed, he's a guy who gives you tons of stuff that isn't in the stat sheet, and he's not a big contract. Who could we get back at that price that would help us as much?
GHill is a bargain, still playing at a high level and a coach/mentor to the young guys
Nash? well, conceivably Goran could start and we could deal Nash but it would have to be something he was on board with. Anything else would leave a shameful taste in the mouth
Lawal/Clark/Siler - haven't established any value. They'd be fill-ins for salary matching
Frye? I don't think he'd bring much back, which is no disrespect to his current play. He would need to go somewhere that plays like us to play to his maximum value - who would that be? Back to NYC?
Warrick and Childress look like they should be part of what we build to follow the Stat/Steve era -
Hedo? That salary isn't easy to move, and 18 points or no, he busted in TOR and he's not looking incredible here.


So .... JRich is what we have to deal with.

[Frank Lee]

You guys really are over-valuing JRich's expiring deal.

There is only a handful of teams over the cap, none of which need JRich...

GMs over the past couple of yrs have trimmed their payrolls anticipating the new CBA. There are several teams with less than half their rosters inked up through next yr. There is not the same demand for expiring contracts as there was the past few yrs.

Unless we give contract relief to a team ie... absorb longer often bad deals... his expiring means doodly. (Elton Brand doesnt look too bad ... or does he?)

JRich is not the only expiring deal out there.... AK, TMurphy, KMart, VCarter... etc... there are more.

$14.4 million is a lot.



His expiring deal allows Phnx to have some play next yr. And don't forget, we will have to re-sign Dragic and probably Lopez, making the thought of assuming a long term deal or two less likely. Jeezuz... dont you think the front office will feel the sting of having Hedu in a couple yrs ?

Go to Hoopshype salaries and look around. You guys need to bring something to this picnic other than just 'Trade JRich for a starting PF'

It is much easier said than done.

I'd like him to be re-signed... but we wont get into a bidding war as we have insured this roster for his departure.

[Mr. Sun]

Jason and the Suns don't have to do anything until June. JRich will get extended b/c suns will only have $47 mil payroll.

[ma_falaa_50]

I would wait till the end of the season to revisit a contract extension. He is doing great and I hope he continues this play. I think the suns really need a PF more than J-rich.

[garrick]

If you trade JRich our offense will die, he's leading the team in scoring and if you plug Dudley or Childress into his slot there will be much less offensive production.
I say keep him and extend him to a reasonable contract.

[Purple Palace]

I don't know if we should extend him..I do love him, though. But we need to find a star to put with all of these role players we have tied up in contracts.

[Kerrsed]

If you trade JRich our offense will die, he's leading the team in scoring and if you plug Dudley or Childress into his slot there will be much less offensive production.
I say keep him and extend him to a reasonable contract.

But who says we wont get a SG (or a player at any position) back that has high offensive production?

[DRK]

I would rather keep J-Rich and resign him during the offseason. We will use the draft and free agency to pick up a good young power forward, not through trades.

[JohnVancouver]

If you trade JRich our offense will die, he's leading the team in scoring and if you plug Dudley or Childress into his slot there will be much less offensive production.
I say keep him and extend him to a reasonable contract.

But who says we wont get a SG (or a player at any position) back that has high offensive production?

The only way we get a PF back who's a rebounder and a scorer is ... Z-Bo, back when no-one wanted him. I dont see a PF out there who fits the bill as a defensive presence, rebounding machine and scores a lot, and is available (that we know of. Let's not kid ourselves that we are privy to what the actual NBA management and personnel people know)
If we get a SG back who scores, rebounds and plays defense ... then why are we trading JRich?

I think Frank is correct that there are not many teams looking for a big expiring contract in a 2 and that JRich is likely not going anywhere. I do think that NY is a possibility but that's about it.
He's a popular guy with his teammates and , after his early f***ups here has become a favourite, so it would need to be a pretty good deal for us to unload him.

Now, all that said - and Frank, I'm looking at you .... he' still all we really have that's tradeable so what's wrong with wasting some bandwidth on what the team could possible do to get the big we need, or arguing that we ought to keep him?

Yeeesh ...

for the record, much as I want a PF here to address our biggest flaw, I think we're keeping JR and that won't break my heart at all. This truly is a rebuilding year - half of the rebuild has gone on already , and we call it our bench - and I'm going to be watching college games pretty close to see who we might be able to get

All I ask of the team this year is to play hard and do their best - I don't expect anything else, really