Would PHX trade Lopez for Speights?

[JohnVancouver]

I don't want to just crap on Lopez because he had a bad year but even when he was playing his best, he was a terrible rebounder and a for a guy who was the strong defensive player of the brothers, he never looked particularly tough to me. At his best he was getting very good at the pick and roll with Nash, and he's developed a nice little set shot from the elbow, but defensively I've never bought the claim that he was anything much. His "show" defending the P'n'R is brutal - he flaps out there like Big Bird and then retreats again without ever really harassing the offensive player, as if he's doing what he's told but doesn't really understand why

[Miklo]

Yeah that's the thing I can't argue against, he really isn't as good of a rebounder or defender as my ideal prospect center would be. I do think he's shown flashes of shot blocking ability and he's pretty mobile for a big. He's also shown flashes of competency on the boards but admittedly that's been super inconsistent. He was a great fit for that team last year, but now that I've seen Gortat in a Suns uni I will admit it's hard to think of Lopez as a true legit center.

But, it's just one of those things where again with him at 23, I'm not ready to say he won't develop those skills. I just think it's a big leap from a third-year center having a bad year to all of a sudden having a dire need to trade him for whatever we can get.

[JohnVancouver]

Yeah that's the thing I can't argue against, he really isn't as good of a rebounder or defender as my ideal prospect center would be. I do think he's shown flashes of shot blocking ability and he's pretty mobile for a big. He's also shown flashes of competency on the boards but admittedly that's been super inconsistent. He was a great fit for that team last year, but now that I've seen Gortat in a Suns uni I will admit it's hard to think of Lopez as a true legit center.

But, it's just one of those things where again with him at 23, I'm not ready to say he won't develop those skills. I just think it's a big leap from a third-year center having a bad year to all of a sudden having a dire need to trade him for whatever we can get.

Nope - don't throw the guy away, but at the same time, with Gortat, Siler and Frye, if someone really wants Lopez and has what we need ..... well, we can survive the loss nicely

Ideally he comes back and becomes more valuable to us, and to the other teams

[DRK]

Last season, Lopez was the best center of the WCF's. IMO, if Lopez was 100% throughout the whole WCF's, we probably would've won that series. he played hard defence, was decent on the boards, and well... did everything we asked of him playing with a dodgey back.

This season... it's like he's a different player. It's jsut mind-boggling to think that he could be this bad this season, but so good last season. I havent given up on Lopez, as he is only 22, and played injured this season. I have confidence that he can bounce back next season and become close to, if now better than the player he was for us in 2010.

[DRK]

To answer the question.... No. Speights plays no D, doesnt give a **** about rebounding, and has attitude problems.

[JohnVancouver]

To answer the question.... No. Speights plays no D, doesnt give a **** about rebounding, and has attitude problems.

But he likes animals .....

[DRK]

To answer the question.... No. Speights plays no D, doesnt give a **** about rebounding, and has attitude problems.

But he likes animals .....

Which is great.... But he also likes himself a bit too much too.

[rsavaj]

From 09/10:



http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/33141 ... ntials.JPG

[BobbieL]

Speights sucks and wouldn't even get minutes over Warrick.

Robin Lopez is our backup center and much better than what he was last year. We would get nothing for him and create a hole at the center spot.

I think this is a good point. The Suns will need a backup center if Lopez is traded. Now, I am not against including Lopez in a trade and picking up a veteran back up center. But, I don't want to just dump Lopez over a bad year. At his salary of under $2m, or close to it, that is fine for a back up center.

Granted though, if the right trade presents itself, then include him in the deal of course. But I hope Sarver isn't such a dill weed to say "dump for a future 2" because he was bad this year".

I do not think I would trade Lopez for Speights. Lopez needs to figure out his role and go from there . He has some skills - we saw it two years ago. Work hard this summer, put the time in, and be a valuable asset off the bench for Gortat.

[Fo-Real]

I also thought early on after we got Gortat, Gentry didnt use Robin correctly. There were games that Lopez started great, scoring at a pretty good clip running with Nash. But Gentry would still take him out, even though he wasnt tired, or in foul trouble and he wouldnt see the court again until the start of the 3rd for a short stint, or only if Gortat got into foul trouble. That has to be discouraging to Robin, he could do no right, no matter what kind of game he was having, he couldnt earn extended time on the court. He started to tank shortly there after. I blame Gentry for some of his tail spin and am excited to see what a healthy Robin comes back with, not to mention what the new defensive coach can get out of him. No trade unless it is worth it, and Speights isnt.

[JohnVancouver]

Coming into the league this is what nba.com had to say about him - "Strengths: Extremely big and strong but surprisingly quick and athletic. Has great hands and some effective go-to moves on offense. Competes hard on the boards and on the defensive end, using his long wingspan to block shots."

Weaknesses were passion and intensity, which ain't what we like to hear. But Philly seemed real pleased with him early on - how did he get in Coach Doug's doghouse? Low IQ? That was another knock on him early

[SunsRback4Good]

I agree with qwigglez, Lopez gonna beast it up next season. I mean it does make sense, he plays horrible his rookie year then follows it up with a monster season then sucks balls this year. Next year= MVP lol

[SUN]

I agree with qwigglez, Lopez gonna beast it up next season. I mean it does make sense, he plays horrible his rookie year then follows it up with a monster season then sucks balls this year. Next year= MVP lol

He wasn't bad because he had a slump, I'm starting to feel he was bag because of his nagging back injury.

[DarenG]

Last season, Lopez was the best center of the WCF's. IMO, if Lopez was 100% throughout the whole WCF's, we probably would've won that series. he played hard defence, was decent on the boards, and well... did everything we asked of him playing with a dodgey back.

Bynum was not 100% either so that is not an excuse. Also, both Odom and Paul were getting minutes at Center and pushing Robin around like a rag doll.

The Lakers owned the paint and the boards against us. Your saying because Lopez had 2 good scoring games meant he was good. I don't. People get excited about him scoring on an offensively talented team. That is not what we need him to do. Lopez was drafted to rebound and give us an interior presence. The exact reasons why we lost that series. His whopping 4 rebounds per game and his inside presence was horrible in that series. Lopez didn't play defense. Nobody on the Suns played defense that entire series. Before we get excited about a player scoring, shouldn't we make sure he is doing his everyday job (defense and rebounding)?

Lopez is absolutely replaceable. He is currently one of the worst rebounding centers in the entire NBA. He is also one of the least efficient. This is a guy who was healthy last season posted a whopping 4 double doubles the entire season. He had 2 all this season despite getting half a season as our starter. He had double digit rounds 4 times all last year despite being healthy. A healthy Lopez averaged 8.4 PPG and 4.9 rebounds. I won't mention his awful numbers this year.

Do you realize how many centers put up at least 4.9 rebounds? There are 22. If you count the teams that use a PF/C that number balloons to 38.

So, if we gave up on Lopez....what exactly are we giving up on?

[nevetsov]

Coming into the league this is what nba.com had to say about him - "Strengths: Extremely big and strong but surprisingly quick and athletic. Has great hands and some effective go-to moves on offense. Competes hard on the boards and on the defensive end, using his long wingspan to block shots."

Weaknesses were passion and intensity, which ain't what we like to hear. But Philly seemed real pleased with him early on - how did he get in Coach Doug's doghouse? Low IQ? That was another knock on him early

Sounds like he is their Earl Clark..

[JohnVancouver]

Coming into the league this is what nba.com had to say about him - "Strengths: Extremely big and strong but surprisingly quick and athletic. Has great hands and some effective go-to moves on offense. Competes hard on the boards and on the defensive end, using his long wingspan to block shots."

Weaknesses were passion and intensity, which ain't what we like to hear. But Philly seemed real pleased with him early on - how did he get in Coach Doug's doghouse? Low IQ? That was another knock on him early

Sounds like he is their Earl Clark..

went back and read some interviews with EC- he never seemed concerned about playing time or what he needed to do, always said "it's their decision, whatever they decide"

wonder if he sticks in ORL?