Suns Acquire Isaiah Thomas- 4 years, 27 million

Revived · Post #141 » by **Revived** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 7:42 am

The Kings were the the most selfish team in the league statistically (fewest assists).

Their starting PG = Isaiah Thomas

The Suns were the the 2nd most selfish team in the league statistically (2nd fewest assists).

Only team in the NBA to have a dual starting PG lineup = Dragic & Bledsoe

Now we add that same Thomas which led the Kings to the least assists in the NBA to a team that was already among the league worst in assists.

So where will the Suns rank in assists with the trio of Thomas, Dragic & Bledsoe?

RaisingArizona · Post #142 » by **RaisingArizona** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 7:55 am

Our backcourt also averages 60 points a game...

NBA Fiend · Post #143 » by **NBA Fiend** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 7:58 am

Thomas averaged 6.3 APG. http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/6472/isaiah-thomas

The Suns as a team averaged 19.1. http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/team/ ... s-per-game

Using an ancient mathematical theory that puts the Suns at 25.4 APG as a team.
S.A. was at 25.2 APG as a team so according to the wisdom of the ancients the Suns will lead the leauge.

Revived · Post #144 » by **Revived** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 8:05 am

A guy posted this on a Kings board :lol:

since this seems to be the IT thread now i figured i'd post this in here. i can't verify if this is legit or not. i got it from a link on the bee's website. allegedly there was a video recorded in the kings war room during draft prep with vivek, mullin, PDA, and some of the crowd sourcing analytic guys about IT and it was later confiscated by kings brass. it's alleged the video was recorded by grantland who i'd view as credible as they're constantly referenced on the morning show by carmichael dave. it's only a transcript of the contents of the video and again i have no idea if it's legit or not.

D'Alessandro: "Okay, give me everything you guys got on Collison."

Overweight Analytic Guy in Checkered Shirt: "According to my calculations, the guy does really well every two years when the starter goes down for 10 games or less"

Vivek (nodding): "Interesting"

Sad Sack Analytic Nerd: "It's quite extraordinary. Collison is below average for 93 percent of the time, but when he starts, he becomes fairly non-mediocre."

Vivek: "Wow."

Mullin: "But doesn't Isaiah put up great numbers all the time as a starter"

Vivek (glaring at Mullin): "Tell him, Pete"

D'Alessandro: He's short"

Mullin: "Yeah, but-"

Very Skinny Analytic Nerd: "Teams with starting point guards below 5-foot-10 only have a 13.8 percent chance of making the playoffs based on a 25-year rolling average."

Vivek (nodding again): "Plus, Collison will only cost us $5 million a year. Isaiah wants to be paid like he's Carl Landry or something."

D'Allessandro: "And Isaiah is short"

Token Minority Analytic Nerd: "We discovered that although Isaiah had comparable numbers to young superstar point guard Kyrie Irving, we had to adjust Isaiah's numbers downward because he just doesn't make enough plays for his teammates."

Mullin (muttering under his breath): "Maybe his teammates suck."

Vivek: "What?"

Mullin: "I mean, would you pass to Ben McLemore? The guy is more likely to hit the side of the backboard. And Travis Outlaw? Or Jason Thompson? Geez."

D'Allesandro: "We are changing the team's culture. We don't want as many gunners. We need to move the ball."

Mullin: Wait a second. We just drafted Nik Stauskas. Are you telling me we drafted the best shooter in the draft so he could pass more?

Vivek (angrily): "You're excused, Chris."

Mullin stares at Vivek, than tosses a glance at D'Allesandro: "Really?"

D'Allesandro shrugs. Mullin exits.

Hunched-Over Analytic Guy: "We calculate that losing Isaiah Thomas will only cost the Pizza Guys franchises a mere 5 percent loss in total business, mostly affecting their sausage and meat-lovers varieties"

Vivek (now beaming and proud): "I love you guys. This is why we are Kings 3.0."

Mullin pokes his head in the door: "You can't buy heart, *******s. You want Isaiah on the Pistons? Or the Lakers, for God's sakes?"

Vivek: "Somebody lock the door"

now other than the names the author of the article chose to give the analytic guys, i have a hard time believing this based on vivek's comments alone. i've never met the guy, but he doesn't strike me as someone who'd behave that way nor do i get the impression there's any bad blood whatsoever between any of the kings ownership with advisors or coaches. i mean he did hire mullin for his expertise the same way the warriors did.

figured i'd at least pass this along though cause this regime does seem to be SUPER high on analytics, it shows clearly they're thinking going into it, and it was reportedly recorded by grantland who's reputable as far as im concerned. i trust carmichael dave, napear, and jason and deuce. if they vouch for grantland that's good enough for me.

Sun Scorched · Post #145 » by **Sun Scorched** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 2:07 pm

#1 - That's hysterical SF88

#2 - Like this signing. He won't ever be a bad contract, given the way it's structured and he's only 25. You draft for talent and you sign for talent as well - it may seem strange fit-wise for now, but the Suns are (IMHO) now the deepest team at the 1 and 2. Not only is that good for the regular season and playoffs, but it's great for the rookies who will have additional challenges in practice.

JTrain · Post #146 » by **JTrain** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 1:13 am

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JTrainGBR83/status/488847907957641218[/tweet]

spanishninja · Post #147 » by **spanishninja** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 2:19 am

wow how is KJ's number not retired?

spanishninja · Post #148 » by **spanishninja** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 2:20 am

Sun Scorched wrote:#1 - That's hysterical SF88

#2 - Like this signing. He won't ever be a bad contract, given the way it's structured and he's only 25. You draft for talent and you sign for talent as well - it may seem strange fit-wise for now, but the Suns are (IMHO) now the deepest team at the 1 and 2. Not only is that good for the regular season and playoffs, but it's great for the rookies who will have additional challenges in practice.

the more I see other PG signings, the better I feel about the IT2 deal. Mario friggin Chalmers, garb point guard supreme, just got two years at 8+ mill. At least Gabby Vasquez had one good season.

phx#7 · Post #149 » by **phx#7** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 2:26 am

spanishninja wrote:wow how is KJ's number not retired?

Suns don't retire numbers but leave it up to the guys in the Ring of Honor if they'll let players wear their #. My thought is it's just a photoshop though since KJ and Thomas developed a relationship in Sacramento.

Edit- I think 11 would be a good # for Thomas since it is the # KJ first wore.

Marz11 · Post #150 » by **Marz11** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 2:38 am

Wearing number 7 would be cool. He and KJ have a great relationship and KJ is a huge supporter of his.

JTrain · Post #151 » by **JTrain** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 2:56 am

I just picked a low number since his other numbers (11, 2, 22) are taken. Didn't think about retired numbers. Although it would be cool since KJ was somewhat of a mentor for him in Sacramento.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/Isaiah_Thomas2/status/487734755425656832[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/KJ_MayorJohnson/status/487739173697114112[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/KJ_MayorJohnson/status/487739650878873600[/tweet]

phx#7 · Post #152 » by **phx#7** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 3:04 am

Oh yeah, totally forgot that Markeiff is 11.

snowthedirtbub · Post #153 » by **snowthedirtbub** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 3:44 am

Man the more I think about this the more excited I'm getting. IT/Green would be a very solid starting backcourt on their own and could easily combine to average over 35ppg and we have them coming off the bench.

A guard rotation of:
Bledsoe/Thomas
Dragic/Green/Goodwin
Is worth the price of admission alone.

Revived · Post #154 » by **Revived** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 8:07 am

Good read on IT

http://www.sactownroyalty.com/2014/7/13 ... -go-to-die

JMac1 · Post #155 » by **JMac1** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 9:08 am

snowthedirtbub wrote:Man the more I think about this the more excited I'm getting. IT/Green would be a very solid starting backcourt on their own and could easily combine to average over 35ppg and we have them coming off the bench.

A guard rotation of:
Bledsoe/Thomas
Dragic/Green/Goodwin
Is worth the price of admission alone.

I am with you on that one. I am really not getting to crazy about the "we need a center thing." Roll with Kieff, Marcus, Warren, maybe Brown......Play those guys as the stretch 4. Let Len and Plumlee be the dirt workers.

Bledsoe, Dragic, Thomas, Green, Goodwin, Kieff, and Warren can all get theirs; we are starting a new brand of basketball again. Running the offense through a post-up player is boring anyways!

Bledsoe/Thomas/Goodwin
Dragic/Green/Goodwin
Tucker/Warren/Marcus
Kieff/Marcus/Warren/Brown
Plumlee/Len

Kieff=Frye, plus Thomas and Warren, plus a year older Goodwin and Len makes us a better team than last year.

Ennis needs to be traded for a future asset. Although, I like him.

Sign Bledsoe and lets start football season!!

jcsunsfan · Post #156 » by **jcsunsfan** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 4:30 pm

JMac1 wrote:
snowthedirtbub wrote:Man the more I think about this the more excited I'm getting. IT/Green would be a very solid starting backcourt on their own and could easily combine to average over 35ppg and we have them coming off the bench.

A guard rotation of:
Bledsoe/Thomas
Dragic/Green/Goodwin
Is worth the price of admission alone.

I am with you on that one. I am really not getting to crazy about the "we need a center thing." Roll with Kieff, Marcus, Warren, maybe Brown......Play those guys as the stretch 4. Let Len and Plumlee be the dirt workers.

Bledsoe, Dragic, Thomas, Green, Goodwin, Kieff, and Warren can all get theirs; we are starting a new brand of basketball again. Running the offense through a post-up player is boring anyways!

Bledsoe/Thomas/Goodwin
Dragic/Green/Goodwin
Tucker/Warren/Marcus
Kieff/Marcus/Warren/Brown
Plumlee/Len

Kieff=Frye, plus Thomas and Warren, plus a year older Goodwin and Len makes us a better team than last year.

Ennis needs to be traded for a future asset. Although, I like him.

Sign Bledsoe and lets start football season!!

Yes. The backcourt looks great. What we need from Len and Plumlee is quality rim protection and rebounding. On offense, they need to be able to roll to the rim on the p&r and score layups. If Tucker and Green can hit the corner three at a decent clip we should be ok.

This team is not going to rain threes like Suns of the past have done. We will see.

jcsunsfan · Post #157 » by **jcsunsfan** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 4:31 pm

snowthedirtbub wrote:Man the more I think about this the more excited I'm getting. IT/Green would be a very solid starting backcourt on their own and could easily combine to average over 35ppg and we have them coming off the bench.

A guard rotation of:
Bledsoe/Thomas
Dragic/Green/Goodwin
Is worth the price of admission alone.

I am really interested to see a Goodwin/IT combo.

gaspar · Post #158 » by **gaspar** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 5:23 pm

Zach Lowe:

Phoenix straight stole Isaiah Thomas on a four-year, $27 million contract, and it’s probably best to pump the brakes on the idea that they have too many point guards now — assuming they match any offer for Bledsoe. Phoenix starts two of them, which is unusual and requires elite depth at the position, and the Thomas signing gives them leverage navigating Bledsoe’s free agency now and Dragic’s next summer. Tyler Ennis, one of the team’s first-round draft picks, will likely spend a lot of time in the D-League.

All of these guys are trade chips, and the Suns still have their eye on Love — and any other prime star who might become available. The bottom line is that the Suns got a really good player at a really good price, and that’s a smart thing.

WeekapaugGroove · Post #159 » by **WeekapaugGroove** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 5:53 pm

Very good article by Lowe. Seems like he's one of the only national writers who grasps the fact that the Suns start 2 point guards.

IMO Lowe is the best NBA writer out there right now and I don't think it's really close.

thamadkant · Post #160 » by **thamadkant** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 7:25 pm

It's not about starting two PGs...

If a PG who is 6'4+ and with SG skills... Start next to a Traditional PG... Are you really starting two PGs?

The question here is... Can the Suns have a player under 6'4 at SG all season long and not be punished by teams with long SGs?

Sure Suns can punish teams for being "slower" at SG... But a taller SG who can nail jump shots all game in a half court setting would more than neutralise Suns two PG system. In transition Suns definitely have advantage... Get a steal or a long rebound and off you go.

I don't think the Suns can have Thomas and Bledsoe on the court and not be punished on the defensive end though... Dragic is 6'3-6'4 so it doesn't hurt that much...

In any case, let's see how it turns out and hope for the best.