2014 Official FA Thread 2

[drewsprocket]

Thomas is a total joke...talk about a downgrade for us. The guy just hogs the ball. Every highlight of his looks likes he's just playing 21 in the park.

[bwgood77]

Getting Melo would feel very similar to getting Barkley back in the day to me...

"He's selfish. A ball-hog. Don't want him here even though he's good."

I think people would love him before the season is over, especially when we are a legit contender. He's never had a TEAM like the suns to play with, except for when he was at Syracuse and for team USA. He fit in fine at both those places, and they won.

His game actually kind of reminds me of Barkley too, offensively at least. They just back guys down and turn around and shoot. They'll go by their guy and throw it down because they are stronger. They can step out and hit the 3. Heck, he is even 2nd fiddle compared to LeBron/Jordan!

At first, I didn't want him. But now, I think he could be our version of Barkley... And I'm on board! (Not likely to happen).


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I liked Barkley, and I thought we were the best team in the NBA in 95, but what I hated the most about him playing on the Suns was that KJ was always my favorite player, and when Barkley got there, KJ got out of his groove quite a bit. They were no longer the run-n-gun Suns like the previous four years but played half court a lot. They also won the same number of games the four years preceding Barkley as they did WITH Barkley and made the WCF twice (and only once with Barkley).

We did need Barkley by the time those preceding four years were up, because Chambers had regressed and we needed a little toughness and I was all for the trade. I wasn't a big fan of him slowly backing it down to the basket though. It took a lot of excitement out of the way they played when KJ ran the team.

[RunDogGun]

If McD pulls this off, he should receive a 10 year contract extension, a raise, and a spot in the ring of honor during the season opener. He'd took a team that was suppose to begin its tenure in the bottom for few years, to a team arguably the favorite to come out of the west. all in the span of a year

"This"? There seems to be so many rumors, could you be a bit more specific? Lebron deal? Lebron/Melo?

[King4Day]

Is it true that LeBron will be waiting to meet with teams until this weekend? That's quite some time to wait.

I haven't seen anything to that effect, link?

I have to dig and find it. I've been on so many boards and rumor sites I can't remember. I think they referenced his agent waiting until the weekend. Which would be worse. If it's LeBron, at least you know your team has a real chance. But to wait 5 days just to pitch to his agent could cost teams their offseason.

EDIT:

"LeBron James' agent will meet with prospective suitors this weekend, but James will not attend the meetings himself.

James is taking steps to avoid the circus from last free agency period and the Heat's Big Three are giving Pat Riley time to organize his pitch. This will be one of many updates on James in the next few weeks."

http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/nba/ ... -Headlines

EDIT 2: When I click the source link within that article, it goes to Gary Washburn on twitter and he mentions:

"Teams interested in LeBron James will meet w agent Rich Paul this week in Cleveland, according to NBA source. James will not attend meetings"

Who knows....

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Is it true that LeBron will be waiting to meet with teams until this weekend? That's quite some time to wait.

I haven't seen anything to that effect, link?

I have to dig and find it. I've been on so many boards and rumor sites I can't remember. I think they referenced his agent waiting until the weekend. Which would be worse. If it's LeBron, at least you know your team has a real chance. But to wait 5 days just to pitch to his agent could cost teams their offseason.

I'm cool with losing this offseason. Honestly, I will watch every minute of Suns basketball this year if we're playing Archie, TJ, Alex, and Tyler. Their development piques my interest more than ho-hum Deng and Pau. Our window is waxing.

That's the thing - there are guys out there who could help us win a couple more games. But the opportunity cost is high. More flexibility in the years to come is valuable and we shouldn't forget that. Absent the arrival of a James, Love, or Anthony, I just don't think it's worth it to sign one of these vaunted free agents.

Bledsoe/Ennis
Dragic/Goodwin
Green/TJ
Markieff/Marcus
Plumlee/Len

If we don't add salary to that squad, we'll have a truckload of cash to spend next summer as well, with Gerald, Dragic, and the Morrises coming off the books. Love and Aldridge would be available. Granted, not much beyond that. Plus, 2-3 picks next summer. Think Love would choose LA over our squad once he's free?

[RunDogGun]

I think we all want our rookies and newbies to be good enough to get many minutes, but they could also learn from seasoned vets, no? While one could see a cost, another might see an asset.

[King4Day]

I really hope we don't go after Love. If we can't get LeBron or Melo, I'll pass.
Love's a great player but I don't feel like we can win a title with him. Not in the West especially.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

I think we all want our rookies and newbies to be good enough to get many minutes, but they could also learn from seasoned vets, no? While one could see a cost, another might see an asset.

Plenty of vets to learn from who don't cost $10 million a year. Deng, Gasol, Ariza - any of these guys would be next-to-impossible to move in a year, and we'd wish their contracts weren't on the books. Teaching you can get for $1 million, not $10.

I really hope we don't go after Love. If we can't get LeBron or Melo, I'll pass.
Love's a great player but I don't feel like we can win a title with him. Not in the West especially.

Oh I disagree with that. I think we'd very well rounded if we snagged Love for, say, the Morrises and our first rounders next year. I'd also be much more interested in Ariza especially, if Love was on board.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

And there goes the guy who would have helped the Heat the most: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2106 ... agent-star

[enigmatics]

I've always had a distaste for LeBron and Melo.

The flipside of the coin though is that if guys like that were to sign with PHX, it legitimizes this franchise is ways not seen before. So while I personally wouldn't be running out to buy their jerseys, I do understand the ramifications.

[matt131]

And there goes the guy who would have helped the Heat the most: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2106 ... agent-star

Now let's just hope Lowry signs with Toronto (heck, with anyone other than Miami).
Riley's options would be pretty slim. Would LeBron find Deng and Gasol enough of an improvement to stay with the Heat?

[Cutter]

OT: Alex Len posted on Instagram after a workout.

[Saberestar]

Channing Frye would be open to returning to the Blazers, writes Joe Freeman of The Oregonian. “Of course coming back would be an option,” Frye wrote in an e-mail. “I love the city, the fans, and the players they have are top notch.”

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

If Frye wants to go back to Portland, and we're not getting LeBron, then give me Thomas Robinson and I'll be happy. Robinson + Wright works. Heck, wouldn't be too surprised if they were willing to throw in a draft pick, considering Wright's headed out of the league and Robinson's a bit player.

[spanishninja]

I've always had a distaste for LeBron and Melo.

The flipside of the coin though is that if guys like that were to sign with PHX, it legitimizes this franchise is ways not seen before. So while I personally wouldn't be running out to buy their jerseys, I do understand the ramifications.

not as much legitimize as much as it would repair the reputation Sarver ruined for the Suns in the late 00s. Phoenix had historically been a great destination for star FAs prior to that.

[enigmatics]

not as much legitimize as much as it would repair the reputation Sarver ruined for the Suns in the late 00s. Phoenix had historically been a great destination for star FAs prior to that.

They've never signed a FA like either of those two. Signing a LeBron or a Melo is something you'd see with a franchise like the Lakers.

But yes, it also would repair the damage Sarver inflicted with how he handled that Nash/Amare/JJ/Marion core.

[Qwigglez]

Cutter what is Alex Lens IG? I hope dude puts on 25lbs of muscle in his legs.

[bwgood77]

I'm cool with losing this offseason. Honestly, I will watch every minute of Suns basketball this year if we're playing Archie, TJ, Alex, and Tyler. Their development piques my interest more than ho-hum Deng and Pau. Our window is waxing.

That's the thing - there are guys out there who could help us win a couple more games. But the opportunity cost is high. More flexibility in the years to come is valuable and we shouldn't forget that. Absent the arrival of a James, Love, or Anthony, I just don't think it's worth it to sign one of these vaunted free agents.

Bledsoe/Ennis
Dragic/Goodwin
Green/TJ
Markieff/Marcus
Plumlee/Len

If we don't add salary to that squad, we'll have a truckload of cash to spend next summer as well, with Gerald, Dragic, and the Morrises coming off the books. Love and Aldridge would be available. Granted, not much beyond that. Plus, 2-3 picks next summer. Think Love would choose LA over our squad once he's free?

I agree. There is a very good chance we don't get anyone anyway. LeBron probably stays in Miami. Melo goes to Chicago or stays in NY. Deng signs in Miami, LA. or Dallas. Pau isn't even looking at us anyway, but there are many other places he could go, including staying in LA. Then who does that leave. In that case we could give the RFA's big deals but they could get matched.

I definitely think Love would consider us. I don't know if he'd want to go to LA, especially if they suck, but many people think they are going to sign a bunch of people to 2 year deals and go after Durant in 2016. They may not have the cap space. They may sign people to one year deals. They also drafted Randle, but I suppose they could trade them. I think there would be a very good chance he goes to NY if Melo stays though.

[Qwigglez]

If Frye wants to go back to Portland, and we're not getting LeBron, then give me Thomas Robinson and I'll be happy. Robinson + Wright works. Heck, wouldn't be too surprised if they were willing to throw in a draft pick, considering Wright's headed out of the league and Robinson's a bit player.

Would be happy with just a pick and a TPE.

[Cutter]

Cutter what is Alex Lens IG? I hope dude puts on 25lbs of muscle in his legs.

Alex Len @alexlen_21 on Instagram.

He has several pics posted, and a nice video posted of him doing a dribbling exercise which looks cool.