2014 Official FA Thread

[Qwigglez]

Beating a dead horse (nothing else to talk about it too), but Pau Gasol is the best answer for us. I'm not sure what his personal record is, but I remember him taking a depleted Grizzlies team to the playoffs a couple years in a row before getting traded to the Lakers. I know that was years ago, but he still has that same skill set, he has the type of game that he can continue playing despite his age (Dirk and Duncan are two others) because he doesn't require that much athleticism to create shot opportunities. His basketball IQ is absolutely off the charts as well.
Get Pau, see if another veteran wants to tag along. Shawn Marion please come back, I'd like him to finish his career with the Suns.

Dragic/Goodwin
Bledsoe/Green
Marion/Marcus
Pau/Keiff
Plumlee/Frye/Len

[Scutt]

Dragic/Goodwin
Bledsoe/Green
Marion/Marcus
Pau/Keiff
Plumlee/Frye/Len

That lineup is not a contender and has mediocre written all over it. Sure bringing in an over the hill Pau Gasol might guarantee us a playoff spot IF he is healthy and motivated, but why do you simply want to make the playoff's? I hope the Suns are smart and don't waste their money on some old washed up vet. I'd like to see them hold on to their cap space, let Len and Goodwin develop, and draft a star or get one in a trade if possible, but this team needs a superstar, not former all-stars that fans can hope our medical staff can revive. A team with Bledsoe, Dragic, and Pau Gasol are your best players isn't winning any titles soon, and it is not even close. Pau is not the missing piece that will turn us into contenders. Fans should realize that we overachieved last year, and its possible this team will be worse next year, regardless of moves they make. There a no guarantee's in the NBA. We didn't even make the playoffs this year, and fans think inserting Pau will suddenly make us contenders. Lets mortgage the future and ruin the development of Len for a 34 year old who has health problems and a bad attitude, all so we can possibly make the playoffs. Reminds me of when we gave up Dragic and a 1st, just so we could try for the 8th seed and not make it. We gave up on a great young player because we were hell bent on being mediocre, and I get the feeling this is where the Suns are headed once again, but that's ok because it is suppose to fun watching a bunch of guys like PJ and Green in our gimmick run and gun system.

[SunsFan1234]

Dragic/Goodwin
Bledsoe/Green
Marion/Marcus
Pau/Keiff
Plumlee/Frye/Len

That lineup is not a contender and has mediocre written all over it. Sure bringing in an over the hill Pau Gasol might guarantee us a playoff spot IF he is healthy and motivated, but why do you simply want to make the playoff's? I hope the Suns are smart and don't waste their money on some old washed up vet. I'd like to see them hold on to their cap space, let Len and Goodwin develop, and draft a star or get one in a trade if possible, but this team needs a superstar, not former all-stars that fans can hope our medical staff can revive. A team with Bledsoe, Dragic, and Pau Gasol are your best players isn't winning any titles soon, and it is not even close. Pau is not the missing piece that will turn us into contenders. Fans should realize that we overachieved last year, and its possible this team will be worse next year, regardless of moves they make. There a no guarantee's in the NBA. We didn't even make the playoffs this year, and fans think inserting Pau will suddenly make us contenders. Lets mortgage the future and ruin the development of Len for a 34 year old who has health problems and a bad attitude, all so we can possibly make the playoffs. Reminds me of when we gave up Dragic and a 1st, just so we could try for the 8th seed and not make it. We gave up on a great young player because we were hell bent on being mediocre, and I get the feeling this is where the Suns are headed once again, but that's ok because it is suppose to fun watching a bunch of guys like PJ and Green in our gimmick run and gun system.

Len isn't anywhere near playing significant minutes. Unless he just magically develops a skill set this summer, he's only going to play about 8-12 mpg. Plumlee is a role player not a starter. We need bigs. How does adding a skilled, fundamentally sound big man make us worse? Does it make us a championship contender? No. But I'd rather make the playoffs than hope Len and Goodwin pan out in the future and make the playoffs.

Either thru trades of free agency, but we need help in the front court. Bad. I want Hawes.

[Scutt]

It would hurt us in the sense we would be wasting our cap space on a over the hill veteran. We would lose the flexibility to pull off a trade or sign a max guy. The money you would have to pay Gasol has to come from somewhere, and that means less to spend on a player that really fits this teams need. We need a good defensive big who can rebound, and I have more faith in Alex Len filling that role than porous Pau...

[SunsFan1234]

It would hurt us in the sense we would be wasting our cap space on a over the hill veteran. We would lose the flexibility to pull off a trade or sign a max guy. The money you would have to pay Gasol has to come from somewhere, and that means less to spend on a player that really fits this teams need. We need a good defensive big who can rebound, and I have more faith in Alex Len filling that role than porous Pau...

You're one of those delusional "we can get LeBron or Melo or Kevin Love" type fans aren't you. It's not gonna happen. There won't be much cap space for next season. So why not use it on a big to help up and help Len develop.

[Bogyo]

It would hurt us in the sense we would be wasting our cap space on a over the hill veteran. We would lose the flexibility to pull off a trade or sign a max guy. The money you would have to pay Gasol has to come from somewhere, and that means less to spend on a player that really fits this teams need. We need a good defensive big who can rebound, and I have more faith in Alex Len filling that role than porous Pau...

You're one of those delusional "we can get LeBron or Melo or Kevin Love" type fans aren't you. It's not gonna happen. There won't be much cap space for next season. So why not use it on a big to help up and help Len develop.

Just becouse he sees that we need an all star type big to be contenders it doesnt mean he thinks we can get Lebron. On the other hand I dont understand why so many ppl are saying we cant get Love. He plays on a crappy team eversince he got drafted, and he is a top 10 player in the league. He is disgruntled, and I m pretty sure he is moving on one way or the other. We have a good team, with buttload of draftpicks, some good veterans, and some promising youngs. Plus capspace if we dont blow it on the Paus, Dengs, Dirks of the world who dont make us anything but short of money. If he agrees to an extension, you try to trade for him. If he hits freeagency you put yourself in a position to be able to throw a max contract at him. If he takes it good. If not, you can still get one of those medicore vets you keep mentioning.

Or if you really want that medicore big - Chicago is trying to get rid of Boozer at any cost and he is an expirig... So we take him their draftpick for the 27. Even this makes more sense than getting Pau for more than a year.

[gaspar]

You guys haven't seen Pau play in a while, have you? He's not what the Suns need at all.

[Qwigglez]

Pau Gasol averaged 17, 10, and 1.5 blocks a game this year for the Lakers. He's disgruntled because he wants to be on a winning team. Boozer's contract next season is 16.8mil. He isn't someone defenses worry about in the playoffs either. Plus he's undersized for the PF position.
If we waited until 2015 to make a splash in free agency, we'd be losing Dragic/Green/Frye. I'm assuming we are gonna negotiate contract extensions for the Morris bros during next season too, so there's their cap hit, along with Bledsoe's new contract. Not only are we most likely losing 3 key players in our rotation, but we'd have the same lineup as we did this year, except now Bledsoe and the Morris bros are getting paid more. Tell me how we are gonna be able to afford our own free agents, plus any top 10 player?
This is the offseason to make a splash in free agency, as we'll be able to afford better quality players. Adding someone like Pau would put us right there with Blazers/Rockets/Clippers at the very least.

[NaturalBuns]

Pau Gasol averaged 17, 10, and 1.5 blocks a game this year for the Lakers. He's disgruntled because he wants to be on a winning team. Boozer's contract next season is 16.8mil. He isn't someone defenses worry about in the playoffs either. Plus he's undersized for the PF position.
If we waited until 2015 to make a splash in free agency, we'd be losing Dragic/Green/Frye. I'm assuming we are gonna negotiate contract extensions for the Morris bros during next season too, so there's their cap hit, along with Bledsoe's new contract. Not only are we most likely losing 3 key players in our rotation, but we'd have the same lineup as we did this year, except now Bledsoe and the Morris bros are getting paid more. Tell me how we are gonna be able to afford our own free agents, plus any top 10 player?
This is the offseason to make a splash in free agency, as we'll be able to afford better quality players. Adding someone like Pau would put us right there with Blazers/Rockets/Clippers at the very least.

The Suns don't have to or need to be aggressive in free agency.
48 wins while missing Bledsoe for near half a season.
They are fine if healthy and are in the relm of those 3 teams if healthy.

If you can make a splash for a legit star without touching the core go for it but if you can't just make a few minor moves 1-2 year deals. Frye and Green are very replaceable they are role players. You let them play out the contracts, not really worried about dragic if he puts together back to back allstar type years management should have no issue paying him .

[Scutt]

This is the offseason to make a splash in free agency, as we'll be able to afford better quality players. Adding someone like Pau would put us right there with Blazers/Rockets/Clippers at the very least.

I guess we are going to have to disagree. Our team won 48 games this year because we played a up tempo style that is cohesive to winning regular season games and lets face, we took the league by surprise. Adding Gasol next year is no guarantee to increase that win total, besides the playoffs are a whole different ballgame. Im sorry, but a core of Dragic, Bledsoe, and Gasol is nowhere near the same as a Chris Paul/ Blake Griffin, Harden/ Howard, or even Aldridge/ Lillard. We were surprisingly good this year, but your acting as if we are one piece away from a being contenders, and you think that one piece is an old unhealthy Pau Gasol. I just don't see it...

[JDLAW]

Pau Gasol averaged 17, 10, and 1.5 blocks a game this year for the Lakers. He's disgruntled because he wants to be on a winning team. Boozer's contract next season is 16.8mil. He isn't someone defenses worry about in the playoffs either. Plus he's undersized for the PF position.
If we waited until 2015 to make a splash in free agency, we'd be losing Dragic/Green/Frye. I'm assuming we are gonna negotiate contract extensions for the Morris bros during next season too, so there's their cap hit, along with Bledsoe's new contract. Not only are we most likely losing 3 key players in our rotation, but we'd have the same lineup as we did this year, except now Bledsoe and the Morris bros are getting paid more. Tell me how we are gonna be able to afford our own free agents, plus any top 10 player?
This is the offseason to make a splash in free agency, as we'll be able to afford better quality players. Adding someone like Pau would put us right there with Blazers/Rockets/Clippers at the very least.

Making some giant leaps here. First, I do not see the Suns "most likely" losing Dragic, Frye and Green. All three players have expressed their affinity for the Suns and that they want play here. I also see the Suns wanting them here - they were a key part of the Suns success this last season they organization speaks highly of all three.

Second, as to Pau, his disgruntlement is not an explanation for his declining play. If it is, all you're telling me is that he is not professional. We already know he whines a lot, but to hold back his play or not play when he has minor injuries because he is disgruntled is the epitome of a player that lacks professionalism. I do not think Gasol is necessarily that kind of player, but if he has turned into one, I would not want him anywhere near this team.

[JDLAW]

This is the offseason to make a splash in free agency, as we'll be able to afford better quality players. Adding someone like Pau would put us right there with Blazers/Rockets/Clippers at the very least.

I guess we are going to have to disagree. Our team won 48 games this year because we played a up tempo style that is cohesive to winning regular season games and lets face, we took the league by surprise. Adding Gasol next year is no guarantee to increase that win total, besides the playoffs are a whole different ballgame. Im sorry, but a core of Dragic, Bledsoe, and Gasol is nowhere near the same as a Chris Paul/ Blake Griffin, Harden/ Howard, or even Aldridge/ Lillard. We were surprisingly good this year, but your acting as if we are one piece away from a being contenders, and you think that one piece is an old unhealthy Pau Gasol. I just don't see it...

I tend to agree with you about Gasol to a limited extent. I think his declining play is caused by his having lost some foot quickness either from injury or aging. I do not see him as a forward any longer and have not seen him as a forward for several years now. As to your evaluation of the cores of players you cite, Paul and Griffin are definitely the class of this group. I have not been impressed with the other two so much. Both are showing inconsistency and Liliard is perhaps the worst defensive player I have seen among the western conference teams. Harden seems disengaged at times and Aldridge who looked all world after the first two games, has steadily declined culminating with a clunker in the last one. Howard impresses at times and at times looks as boneheaded as ever at other times. He really makes some silly fouls at times.

The one guy that has really impressed me has been DeAndre Jordan. He brings defense and rebounding every night and adds in some opportunistic offense and he seems to stay out of foul trouble. I never thought I'd say this about any player much less than Jordan, but he is reminding more and more of Bill Russell.

[E-Buck]

This Pau Gasol obsession is sickening. I don't want that piece anywhere near the Suns. Would rather keep Frye and Morris.

[RunDogGun]

I am going to trust McD and Horny for now. If they decide Gasol is one of the missing pieces, then let's see if it works. But I really think Gasol either stays put in LA depending on who they get as head coach, or he goes to NY or Memphis.

[NTB]

I think we are gonna try to get Zach Randolph.

[JTrain]

Lets mortgage the future and ruin the development of Len for a 34 year old who has health problems and a bad attitude, all so we can possibly make the playoffs. Reminds me of when we gave up Dragic and a 1st, just so we could try for the 8th seed and not make it.

That analogy is seriously stretching. Sacrificing 5 mpg of complete unknown commodity Len versus trading away Dragic?

[thamadkant]

Sunsfan1234
Sounds familiar, like that guy who was here during trade deadline who wanted Pau Gasol so bad, and started trolling suns fans by seriously disrespecting Len and Suns youth.


Anyways THANK GOODNESS McD is the GM and wouldn't do stupid moves as well as give up on a 20 year old big man and a 19 year old guard.

[Mjee]

I think we are gonna try to get Zach Randolph.

. I know many people would disagree, but I would love zbo here!!! I think McDo has some interest as well. We will see what happens

[Scutt]

That analogy is seriously stretching. Sacrificing 5 mpg of complete unknown commodity Len versus trading away Dragic?

Is it really a stretch? I do not consider Len an "unknown commodity". He is 20 years old, 7'1 and has plenty of potential. We haven't had a top 5 pick on this team in years, so sorry if I want to see the guy get a chance. I don't want to see Len rot on the bench next year. He deserves a chance to be apart of the rotation.

[bwgood77]

I wonder if Bledsoe hadn't played for our team this year, and Dragic had the year he had, if people would be saying "We should go out and offer Bledsoe a $12-$14 million per year contract!"