Irrational Rant/Panic Thread

[DRK]

My main frustration comes from the fact that we will not let ourselves be bad. For a long time now we get a solid team together and get to be the 2nd or 4th best team in the West. Then we lose pieces and end up being 7th-9th in the West. But THEN we start throwing pieces together to try to STAY where we are so we don't lose ground.

Theres no money to be made by Sarver if we go for a full rebuild. Saver will keep adding pieces to this team so that we will be stuck in mediocrity, which is a 7-8th seed in the West. When Amare left for New York, IMO there was no better time to start the rebuild. We had just lost the Robin to our Batman.

The FO and the ownership must've KNOWN that there would be NO WAY we could compete without our best scorer in Amare. That was the perfect time for the rebuild. Amare leaving left us a massive TPE that would've helped enormously with our rebuild. We should've traded everyone away, run the hell away from long, expensive contracts, and begin the rebuild through the draft and through our young players such as Clark, Dragic, Lawal, Lopez, Dwayne Collins, and Dudley.

Instead Sarver used the TPE to gain long contracts for average players. I would've been fine with watching our team go through a losing season to get good draft picks. Honestly, it would've been more fun to watch a young team suck, than and old mediocre team suck.

I would've been MORE than happy to go for a full rebuild and go and play this season with a lineup of

Lopez/Siler
Lawal/Collins
Clark/Dudley
J-Rich/Barbosa
Dragic/Janning

That team would've been very interesting to watch play, and although we wouldn't be winning many games at all, we would watch that team with intent, knowning that they would get better and become our future.

[JohnVancouver]

We should have resigned Amare. Letting him go was ridiculous. He put us in a hole on every aspect. Scoring in the paint, giving height and at least a presence in the post, the PnR, etc.

When I heard we traded for Hedo, I was furious. I understand getting rid of Barbosa, but I would have MUCH rather picked up Reggie Evans

Ahhh -- but the money needs to match, and TO wanted to unload Hedo. Barbs makes $2mk more than Reggie

But in retrospect I would as soon have just lived with barbs contract for its last year while looking for a different deal.

[BurningHeart]

It is MUCH better to retool than to rebuild. There is no problem with retooling while staying competitive. We've done it for so long already. What, we've missed the playoffs like 4 seasons out of the last 20?

This is the way to go.

[Miklo]

It is MUCH better to retool than to rebuild. There is no problem with retooling while staying competitive. We've done it for so long already. What, we've missed the playoffs like 4 seasons out of the last 20?

This is the way to go.

The Thunder are a lot closer to a championship than we are, because they rebuilt and we keep trying to retool with too little. It's one thing to keep retooling if you're the Lakers or a team that's in contention every year. That, I'll sign off on. But to retool just to MAKE the playoffs as you suggest...it's a good model economically yes because of revenue from playoffs. But fans don't want to watch their team bounce between a 3 seed and a 10 seed forever. At least I don't.

[BurningHeart]

It is MUCH better to retool than to rebuild. There is no problem with retooling while staying competitive. We've done it for so long already. What, we've missed the playoffs like 4 seasons out of the last 20?

This is the way to go.

The Thunder are a lot closer to a championship than we are, because they rebuilt and we keep trying to retool with too little. It's one thing to keep retooling if you're the Lakers or a team that's in contention every year. That, I'll sign off on. But to retool just to MAKE the playoffs as you suggest...it's a good model economically yes because of revenue from playoffs. But fans don't want to watch their team bounce between a 3 seed and a 10 seed forever. At least I don't.

Eh, I'd rather be competitive in some capacity every year with some years being (much) better, than blowing my load once then being mired in the depths of hell for an extended period of time. Like said above, too many people get really low in the name of "rebuilding" and never get back up again.

[Nando88]

if the suns rebuild soon... sarver will lose $$$$$$... hopefully he'll sell the team

[eastsidecrossover]

My main frustration comes from the fact that we will not let ourselves be bad. For a long time now we get a solid team together and get to be the 2nd or 4th best team in the West. Then we lose pieces and end up being 7th-9th in the West. But THEN we start throwing pieces together to try to STAY where we are so we don't lose ground.

Theres no money to be made by Sarver if we go for a full rebuild. Saver will keep adding pieces to this team so that we will be stuck in mediocrity, which is a 7-8th seed in the West. When Amare left for New York, IMO there was no better time to start the rebuild. We had just lost the Robin to our Batman.

The FO and the ownership must've KNOWN that there would be NO WAY we could compete without our best scorer in Amare. That was the perfect time for the rebuild. Amare leaving left us a massive TPE that would've helped enormously with our rebuild. We should've traded everyone away, run the hell away from long, expensive contracts, and begin the rebuild through the draft and through our young players such as Clark, Dragic, Lawal, Lopez, Dwayne Collins, and Dudley.

Instead Sarver used the TPE to gain long contracts for average players. I would've been fine with watching our team go through a losing season to get good draft picks. Honestly, it would've been more fun to watch a young team suck, than and old mediocre team suck.

I would've been MORE than happy to go for a full rebuild and go and play this season with a lineup of

Lopez/Siler
Lawal/Collins
Clark/Dudley
J-Rich/Barbosa
Dragic/Janning

That team would've been very interesting to watch play, and although we wouldn't be winning many games at all, we would watch that team with intent, knowning that they would get better and become our future.

agree, but would hate to see that team play.

[eastsidecrossover]

some interesting things said in this thread as of late. It is true that if we go into full rebuild mode, it is a very risky move that keeps you down for man years. Rebuilding is luck.......especially when it comes to the draft. The blazers look solid, but they cant stay healthy. Im not a fan of mediocrity like some have suggested because that is what we got from the Colangelo. We got one team that was close, but the rest of the time, it was a first or second rd exit in the playoffs. we were close and we had to screw it up. (ie, coaches, players, stern, sarver etc).

That is why I feel looking at this team you have to rebuild and start over. Get some picks and young talent and see what you get. Take your chance and see if you can get a top pick for once. I dont think you can trade hedo as of now, but can trade nash, jrich and hill. I hate to see them go, but I honestly dont see any change when you go off and sign all of these players this past season to make up for our best player who walked. Poor move by sarver and gent, we are not flexible anymore as a team.

So get used to sucking guys. I honestly dont see any bright spots on this team due to the contracts and pieces we have at this time. I hate it, but I think when we lost Amare, we are facing a long rebuilding process.

[BurningHeart]

The process started when we traded away our heart and soul, Shawn Marion.

[lilfishi22]

Rebuilding is risky and teams like the Wolves and Nets are still stuck in mediocrity. But had the Wolves not had Khan as their GM, I think they would have a decent roster now rather than just a collection of talent. That said, the only time we've retooled and have been successful was last season but that was with Kerr/Griff still in the front office and they had a clear idea of where they wanted to take the team. Our latest attempt to retool added Hakim Warrick, Hedo Turkoglu, Josh Childress and Garret Siler. Long term deals to average talent that won't put us over the top any time in the near future (before Nash retires). I don't know if David Lee was the answer by himself, but adding Lee would've made us competitive enough such that the addition of Childress or Warrick or even Hedo (!) would have made *some* sense.

I have no faith in our new FO in retooling us to make us competitive. Sarver just wants to keep us competitive enough to get his playoff money but that sense of competitiveness rest solely on Steve Nash still being able to play at a high level. Basically, this team is a rebuilding waiting to happen because Nash can't do this forever and once he's done with basketball, what's Sarver going to do? All I see right now is Sarver trying to milk as much money off Nashball until he's forced to rebuild.

[lilfishi22]

The process started when we traded away our heart and soul, Shawn Marion.

I agree. I thought the plan was to have Shaq, Bell, Amare and Nash come off the books at the same time, resign Amare and Nash and Bell to a smaller contract and add pieces with the cap space we had.

[DRK]

Well that plan obviously didnt work did it?

I don't understand why we bought out Ben Wallace. Buying out Sasha was a no-brainer, but Big Ben? Why?

Big Ben is exactly what we need right now.

[Kerrsed]

All I see right now is Sarver trying to milk as much money off Nashball until he's forced to rebuild.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YxxVhrjRXE&feature=related[/youtube]

[DRK]

agree, but would hate to see that team play.

It would've beenmroe fun to watch that team lose, than our team from the other night against Charlotte lose.

The only thing that gives me more enjoyment than winning, is watching development of our young players through playing time.

[lilfishi22]

Well that plan obviously didnt work did it?

I don't understand why we bought out Ben Wallace. Buying out Sasha was a no-brainer, but Big Ben? Why?

Big Ben is exactly what we need right now.

Well without Wallace being bought out, we wouldn't have signed Frye because we would've been over the LT. Without Frye we wouldn't have this year's amazing season. Also I think Wallace was going to "retire" anyway. Either way, I didn't think he wanted to be on the Suns.

[aIvin adams]

The Thunder are a lot closer to a championship than we are, because they rebuilt and we keep trying to retool with too little. It's one thing to keep retooling if you're the Lakers or a team that's in contention every year. That, I'll sign off on. But to retool just to MAKE the playoffs as you suggest...it's a good model economically yes because of revenue from playoffs. But fans don't want to watch their team bounce between a 3 seed and a 10 seed forever. At least I don't.

what irrational panic!

the thunder are a pretty good franchise. they're especially good at the 'did-you-pick-a-transcendent-superstar-right-after-portland-blew-a-pick-on-an-injury-prone-big-man'' quiz. so far i only know of two teams that have gotten that question right. the right answer is 'yes' btw.

[DRK]

Well that plan obviously didnt work did it?

I don't understand why we bought out Ben Wallace. Buying out Sasha was a no-brainer, but Big Ben? Why?

Big Ben is exactly what we need right now.

Well without Wallace being bought out, we wouldn't have signed Frye because we would've been over the LT. Without Frye we wouldn't have this year's amazing season. Also I think Wallace was going to "retire" anyway. Either way, I didn't think he wanted to be on the Suns.

Hmm. Okay. Cheers for clearing that up.

[DRK]

The Thunder are a lot closer to a championship than we are, because they rebuilt and we keep trying to retool with too little. It's one thing to keep retooling if you're the Lakers or a team that's in contention every year. That, I'll sign off on. But to retool just to MAKE the playoffs as you suggest...it's a good model economically yes because of revenue from playoffs. But fans don't want to watch their team bounce between a 3 seed and a 10 seed forever. At least I don't.

what irrational panic!

the thunder are a pretty good franchise. they're especially good at the 'did-you-pick-a-transcendent-superstar-right-after-portland-blew-a-pick-on-an-injury-prone-big-man'' quiz. so far i only know of two teams that have gotten that question right. the right answer is 'yes' btw.

If Oden had turned out to be what he was projected to be, and didn't get injured, Portland would be right up where OKC is right now, closer than us to a championship. Injuries have plagued Portland's path there, which has made it terribly difficult for them.

If things are not looking up by the trade dealine, we need to completely rebuild this roster. Steve Nash will be the Ray Allen of the Supersonics, and Jason Richardson will be Rashard Lewis. Both will be traded/signed to a contending team where they would a better chance of success.

There is no point to continue retooling the roster if you cannot contend for a championship. (Insert intelligent metaphor/simile/idioum here)

It lead to no where, and the fans are left disappointed every single season. After a few more years, some fans may start to wonder why the hell they still are supporting this team.

[lilfishi22]

I think if Oden didn't get injured and reached even 60% of his projected potential, POR would be much closer to a title than OKC. OKC still don't have the big man they need to get them easy points and defend the post. POR is just really unlucky because they would be legit contenders the last few seasons had they stayed healthy.

Also, I agree that you cannot contend if the owner of your team is satisfied with just playoffs. If contention is not really a priority then retooling is just delaying the inevitable rebuild. I love Dragic, JChill, Dudley, Lawal, Lopez, EC and our young guys, but I have to admit that if Nash retired at the end of this season, our future is pretty bleak. I think at some point, we are going to realise if we want to help our future, we're going to have to trade Nash. It's like a single mother working 3 jobs being given a Ferrari, she'll look good in it but there will be a time (very soon) when she can no longer afford to put gas in it and pay the insurance and it'll just be left in the garage. She'll be must better off selling the car when it's still in excellent working condition.