Interesting BSOTS Article: Rebuilding, or something bigger?

[rsavaj]

Kerrsed has hit on similar themes in the past week:

http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2013/ ... ing-bigger

....
I think we're well positioned to strike if and when the next disgruntled superstar becomes available," McDonough recently said in a 620 KTAR Radio Interview.

The current roster is a list of assets at this point.

Here is the list: Eric Bledsoe (No. 18 Overall, 2010), Markieff Morris (No. 13 Overall, 2011), Marcus Morris (No. 14 Overall, 2011), Kendall Marshall (No. 13 Overall, 2012), Alex Len (No. 5 Overall, 2013), and Archie Goodwin (No. 29 Overall, 2013). Mix in the future picks for 2014 (three first round picks) and 2015 (two first round picks) giving this team ample assets to rebuild through themselves methodically or with a dramatic, league altering move.

Add in veterans with value such as Marcin Gortat, P.J. Tucker, and Channing Frye and the Suns are in a position to make a big splash for an impact player.

If a package of Jefferson, Gomes, Green, Ratliff, Telfair, and two future picks were worth a superstar why can't a package of current Suns do the same thing? The Celtics were able to keep Tony Allen, Kendrick Perkins, and Rajon Rondo in their trade as well to make the team a legitimate contender. That was an afterthought in the trade, but in building the assets to make a major move it is pivotal to gain more than you need to make the move. This way you do not bring in the stars to an empty roster and become the New York Knicks or Brooklyn Nets, good, but not Championship material.

Could a package of a few young prospects, a few veterans, and picks sway a team to part with a "disgruntled" superstar talent?

The element the Suns are missing is that "Paul Pierce level talent" that attracts others to the team like Garnett and Allen while gluing together a high profile trio or ensemble. This is just a theory, but looking at the current make-up of the roster it is clear that some pieces fit while others do not. Having luck and circumstance has to play into the teams favor for any of this to work, but the assets acquired are similar, if not better, than the package that brought together a trio that won a Championship just a few years ago.

Will that situation manifest for the Suns in the near future?

Maybe and then again maybe not, but one thing is for certain. The team has the pieces and just the right man to pull the trigger on a bold decision that would alter the basketball world. After all, he was already a part of it once before.

It's very unlikely we use all of our picks(5 firsts in the next 2 years) on rookies. Instead, we've built a war-chest of assets.

What can we use these assets on? Who do we pursue? Who do you guys think the next "disgruntled superstar" is going to be?

[Miklo]

So, my instinct here is that just because we have the assets to get a superstar who diminishes his value to his current team by becoming disgruntled, doesn't mean we'd be the team that would make the superstar happy (I briefly considered coining the term "gruntled", as in "the team that would make the superstar gruntled again"). The article expresses doubts as to whether we'd have the "Paul Pierce-like" talent that would convince a superstar that we'd be a title contender should he jump ship and come to AZ, and that's my main concern too. There are other concerns, like our market compared to major markets, and Florida with those damn tax breaks, as well as what our FO would be allowed to offer monetarily. But the main issue for me is, "I'm fed up with my current team, so where can I go to have a better shot at a title/better team chemistry/etc". Phoenix just isn't up there right now.

I haven't looked at dozens of different options so I'm sure we could make moves to bolster the roster before/during our acquisition of a superstar, but superstars are expensive and we'd be blowing lots of valuable assets to land one. It won't be all the time that you have a situation like Miami where players agree to take pay cuts to fit others under the cap, either.

So that's a "Debbie downer" response, but to put a more positive spin, I think our proactive approach is to leverage our assets into stars instead of superstars. I don't think in today's league that not having a top-level superstar necessarily prevents a team from title contention. The Spurs teams of late have shown examples of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts.

As far as who will be disgruntled next, it's a great question. I'm guessing Dwight will get dissatisfied with a new team yet again in the next couple years, but he's becoming quite the cancer so I'd be extremely wary there. I'd honestly think that some of the young guys who haven't quite become superstars yet could be the next group to start getting restless. I mean look at today's high school kids trying to force entire rosters of themselves onto the same college teams. I'll have to give some more thought as to who those could be.

[DRK]

If we deplete our roster by trading all our assets, that wont be a smart move either. Look what happened to the Knicks when they went all in for Carmelo with a deal of basically their whole roster and all their talent. Even they had two "Superstars" in Amare and Melo, and still couldnt get make it past the first round. So going "all in" for one Superstar isn't such a great move either, if we don't crunch the numbers properly.

Who are some (potential) disgruntled stars? A; Horford may be one. LaMarcus Aldridge may be too, but will they be enough to attract a marquee Free Agent in 2014? They're not exactly "young" either, and if we cant sign a Top level Free Agent they will be a lone star on a depleted roster - sounds familiar? (cough) Canadian (cough)

[bwgood77]

I think we are better positioned to possibly build the OKC way, IF we can nail all of our picks (including Len and Goodwin). It's a crapshoot, but the Celtics had an all star vet (Pierce) AND they gave away the #5 pick for Ray Allen and then still had a solid young veteran pf to be the centerpiece in the Garnett trade.

We just don't have enough yet. The west is so deep that trading a bunch of our assets for one really good player wouldn't put us any closer to the playoffs than Dallas is with Dirk.

We need to BUILD a team piece by piece. If somehow Bledsoe, Goodwin and Len become immediate studs and then we add Wiggins and another rookie or two next year that blossom quickly (all of this is a stretch considering it takes young guys time to develop) THEN we could potentially trade our picks in 2015 and maybe a player or two for a star to add, but it might be better to just build our team from the ground up through the draft if we truly have one of the best scouts as our gm.

I think a more likely type of trade is something like the Harden trade....take a team that is already near the tax line that will have more extensions to have to pay after rookie contracts are up (GS for example with Thompson and Barnes) and trade a younger guy for one of them, but that wouldn't likely happen for a couple of years.

[MathiasPW]

It''s not OKC-mode OR Boston-mode, it's all a matter of what becomes available. If nothing does, then we follow a draft-based rebuild. If something does, then we sit and discuss a trade. It is pretty clear by now that Ryan McDonut has a good sense of value and is not overpaying for assets in a Knicks-Carmelo kind of way.

On the disgruntled player idea, it's not so much (or only) about the guy willing or not to come to Phoenix, but more on what can we offer to the team that currently holds his contract in return. So you have to:

1) offer a better deal than other teams to their current team

AND then

2) still keep a good competitive team that attracts the player towards Phoenix.

Houston with Harden is a great example on such a move.

On potential targets, I'd go with Love, Wall, Monroe, Irving, Rondo, Aldridge, and Brook Lopez, all of which already spent some time in the league and are in situations where they tend to be frustrated with the lack of championship chances sooner or later (yeah, I am not really considering the Nets as contenders)

[Fo-Real]

If we deplete our roster by trading all our assets, that wont be a smart move either. Look what happened to the Knicks when they went all in for Carmelo with a deal of basically their whole roster and all their talent. Even they had two "Superstars" in Amare and Melo, and still couldnt get make it past the first round. So going "all in" for one Superstar isn't such a great move either, if we don't crunch the numbers properly.

Who are some (potential) disgruntled stars? A; Horford may be one. LaMarcus Aldridge may be too, but will they be enough to attract a marquee Free Agent in 2014? They're not exactly "young" either, and if we cant sign a Top level Free Agent they will be a lone star on a depleted roster - sounds familiar? (cough) Canadian (cough)

LMA, and Rondo come to mind as the next disgrutled stars.

[thamadkant]

The suns have two options..

1. deplete the roster's assets through a trade.

2. outright (try) sign FA stars, whilst maintaining assets as much as possible.



Imagine a team with 2-3 potential star youth PLUS star FA or two....

[Revived]

Man, I just WISH that James Harden had another year on his contract and that he was being traded this summer not last.

I have heard that Durant isn't real excited with OKC....I know it's a long shot but worth mentioning imo. Kevin Love could be an option too if they don't improve soon.

Durant and Love are said to be best friends so if we can pry Love here somehow, then maybe Durant could be next.

[Sun Scorched]

In my opinion, LMA is a great target.

People say, "Well if he's not happy in POR, why would he be happy in PHX?"

The answer should be, "Because PHX is capable of putting a playoff team around him."

PG - Bledsoe
SG - Dragic
SF - Butler
PF - Aldridge
C - Gortat

That team can make the playoffs. Don't care what anyone else says. Especially if Hornaceck gets em firing on all cylinders.

[bwgood77]

In my opinion, LMA is a great target.

People say, "Well if he's not happy in POR, why would he be happy in PHX?"

The answer should be, "Because PHX is capable of putting a playoff team around him."

PG - Bledsoe
SG - Dragic
SF - Butler
PF - Aldridge
C - Gortat

That team can make the playoffs. Don't care what anyone else says. Especially if Hornaceck gets em firing on all cylinders.

So I guess what you are saying is that we should offer Beasley, Brown and the Morris twins? Hmmmm.....Portland would have to think long and hard about that offer. Honestly I don't think they'd even take that plus an unprotected 2014 and 2016.

[Kerrsed]

So, my instinct here is that just because we have the assets to get a superstar who diminishes his value to his current team by becoming disgruntled, doesn't mean we'd be the team that would make the superstar happy (I briefly considered coining the term "gruntled", as in "the team that would make the superstar gruntled again"). The article expresses doubts as to whether we'd have the "Paul Pierce-like" talent that would convince a superstar that we'd be a title contender should he jump ship and come to AZ, and that's my main concern too. There are other concerns, like our market compared to major markets, and Florida with those damn tax breaks, as well as what our FO would be allowed to offer monetarily. But the main issue for me is, "I'm fed up with my current team, so where can I go to have a better shot at a title/better team chemistry/etc". Phoenix just isn't up there right now.

Yes, i have been talking about this for a few weeks. That "Paul Pierce-like" Talent isnt currently on this team, but will be next season after we obtain a great player via top 3 pick. If we could end up with Wiggins in the draft, we could then trade our other 2 2014 1st round picks and players for a disgruntled player or two. In all the scenarios that i have been talking about doing this, it all starts next season, after the draft. The key is Wiggins (or Randle/Parker) 1st. Then trade assets for a disgruntled (Allstar) superstar. Having both Wiggins and an Allstar will boost our status with obtaining a big name FA or obtaining a not to disgruntled star to switch up and want to join us.

I would still hold onto Bledsoe and Goodwin, but make all other players/picks available (besides our own 2014 1st). Just like how Boston did, and kept Rondo as their PG.

[Frank Lee]

The key is Wiggins (or Randle/Parker) 1st.

and there you have it folks.... the secret to our success in the future is failure today. You can't sneak a tank into the room without a few noticing.

[MathiasPW]

And any drafted player next year will be a project, not a "Pierce-like talent"

Sent from my GT-S5830C using RealGM Forums mobile app

[Kerrsed]

The key is Wiggins (or Randle/Parker) 1st.

and there you have it folks.... the secret to our success in the future is failure today.

That is exactly right. Glad to see you are finally catching on Frank!

[E-Buck]

I've been thinking about this for a while now. Landing any of the top 3 picks in this coming draft is a success. Obviously we want the #1 for Wiggins, but #2 and #3 won't be that much of a difference as Randle and Parker are both great prospects. If we somehow (idk how, but somehow) are better than 3 other teams, then I'd rather make trades to build a team. Our two positions of need at this point (this is assuming Bledsoe, Goodwin, and Len all pan out at the 1, 2, and 5) then we just need a 3 and a 4. Parker/Wiggins would fill our need at the 3 and Randle would fill our need at the 4, so regardless, we'll fill a position of need, and then we'll need to make trades. My own personal preference would be obviously Wiggins and then making a move to get LMA or Love. Best of both worlds (draft/trades).

[RunSunRun]

LMA has established value and if Portland does shop him, it will undoubtedly drive up his value. Why wouldn't Portland demand Bledsoe, Dragic, or Gortat or even our 2014 first? We'd more than likely end up gutting our team to get LMA and surround him with...who knows what.

In my opinion, we are NOT going to go after established big-name guys like Love, LMA, Rondo, etc. etc.

I think if we are looking to get a potential future franchise player, it will be a young guy who is under-the-radar and is showing the potential to be something special. Possibly a bench/rotation guy like Harden as well who might need to be given the opportunity as a starter to show that they are a franchise piece.

We just got a guy who matches that description in Bledsoe and I think McD is going to try to make other future trades for other guys like him as well.

[Kerrsed]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/nba-am-suns-l ... -for-stars

[Superhuman]

I say we should just play out the season, get our 2014 pick, and then consider our options on any major trades we can do at that time. We shouldn't throw all our eggs in one basket right now. I feel the Pelicans rebuilt too fast, and that's something we should avoid. Patience guys.

[BurningHeart]

I say we should just play out the season, get our 2014 pick, and then consider our options on any major trades we can do at that time. We shouldn't throw all our eggs in one basket right now. I feel the Pelicans rebuilt too fast, and that's something we should avoid. Patience guys.

Why wait? If the right situation is available, then do it. The less time we suck, the better. No need to be patient if there's no need to be patient.

[LukasBMW]

Unless the deal of the century comes along, I want our picks next year.

Let's see how Beldsoe, Dragic, Goodwin, and Len develop

Let's see who we pickup in the draft

Let's see who is available in free agency

Then, we can start looking at superstars to trade for. As it currently stands, I'm not sure any of the top 15 NBA players (see link below) are disgruntled nor do I expect them to become disgruntled anytime soon:

http://www.nba.com/2013/news/05/23/lebr ... index.html