Offseason Thread 7: A Tale Of Two Dragons

[Moochthemonkey]

Have him shoot a three at the top of the key and you have a better chance of winning the Arizona state lottery than tucker has at hitting a three. And don't confuse hustle with "lockdown" defense. Tucker is hustle not lockdown defense.

Well in that case hopefully Tucker takes far fewer shots than he does at nightclubs #rekt

TJ Warren...Marcus Morris...Gerald Green...PJ Tucker. Include the wing defense of Eric Bledsoe and perhaps at some point Archie Goodwin, Tucker is now the most expendable player at his position on this team.

[Sunsss]

you can only suit up 12. Ennis will spend most of the year in the D-League and Warren will likely spend a couple of weeks in Bakersfield as well.

You can suit up 13. I agree about Ennis, but it will be interesting to see the second inactive guy after PJ gets back from suspension.

[jredsaz]

you can only suit up 12. Ennis will spend most of the year in the D-League and Warren will likely spend a couple of weeks in Bakersfield as well.

You can suit up 13. I agree about Ennis, but it will be interesting to see the second inactive guy after PJ gets back from suspension.

I think that is what they will start working out tomorrow in Flagstaff!

[nevetsov]

Tucker and Gerald are the incumbents on the perimeter and I think they stick until one of the young guys can prove they deserve their minutes.

For example, I don't see Green getting moved until:

1) Warren proves he can be a consistent bench scorer at the SF spot, and
2) One of Archie/ Zoran can consistently fill the backup SG minutes as a defensive slasher alongside IT.

Then, and only then, could I see Green and Tucker flipped for an upgrade at SF. Have to be an comparable wing defender with slightly better offense. Or a younger guy with upside.

[wheezy]

you can only suit up 12. Ennis will spend most of the year in the D-League and Warren will likely spend a couple of weeks in Bakersfield as well.

You can suit up 13. I agree about Ennis, but it will be interesting to see the second inactive guy after PJ gets back from suspension.

While Len is healthy I'd suspect Shavlik will be the first person on the inactive list, then our 4th pg.

[nevetsov]

First month I expect to see the minutes look like this (post-Tucker suspension):

G Bledsoe (32), Thomas (16)
G Goran (32), Thomas (14), Green (2)
F Tucker (22), Green (26)
F Markieff (24), Marcus (15), Tolliver (9)
C Plumlee (25), Markieff (8), Len (15)

32 - Bledsoe, Goran, Markieff
30 - Thomas
28 - Green
25 - Plumlee
22 - Tucker
15 - Marcus, Len
9 - Tolliver
DNP - Zoran, Archie, Warren
INA - Shavlik
JAM - Ennis

[RunDogGun]

Tucker and Gerald are the incumbents on the perimeter and I think they stick until one of the young guys can prove they deserve their minutes.

For example, I don't see Green getting moved until:

1) Warren proves he can be a consistent bench scorer at the SF spot, and
2) One of Archie/ Zoran can consistently fill the backup SG minutes as a defensive slasher alongside IT.

Then, and only then, could I see Green and Tucker flipped for an upgrade at SF. Have to be an comparable wing defender with slightly better offense. Or a younger guy with upside.

If one and two happen, and we felt that moving both of those guys (I would hope that at that point Warren was considered a good to great defensive player), I would rather upgrade one of our bigs, maybe starting center, or even starting PF, having the Mo Bros come off the bench together again.

[RunDogGun]

First month I expect to see the minutes look like this (post-Tucker suspension):

G Bledsoe (32), Thomas (16)
G Goran (32), Thomas (14), Green (2)
F Tucker (22), Green (26)
F Markieff (24), Marcus (15), Tolliver (9)
C Plumlee (25), Markieff (8), Len (15)

32 - Bledsoe, Goran, Markieff
30 - Thomas
28 - Green
25 - Plumlee
22 - Tucker
15 - Marcus, Len
9 - Tolliver
DNP - Zoran, Archie, Warren
INA - Shavlik
JAM - Ennis

I could also see all of the DNP guys spending some time with the Jam. Maybe a rotation of two each week.

But overall, I could see Jeff rotating guys into and out of the lineups, maybe depending on who we play, and who plays best. It will be interesting, and hopefully guys will be hungry enough, that when they go in, it will be a tough choice to take them out again.

[nevetsov]

If one and two happen, and we felt that moving both of those guys (I would hope that at that point Warren was considered a good to great defensive player), I would rather upgrade one of our bigs, maybe starting center, or even starting PF, having the Mo Bros come off the bench together again.

If Warren becomes a good/great defensive player then yeah, all bets are off and he'd definitely be considered starting material. If he's purely an offensive player then I would say that one-dimensionality relegates him to a bench role, which overlaps with what Gerald currently brings.

I think we're putting all our quality bigman eggs in the Len basket this season, at least until the all star break. If he doesn't improve, or he suffers another setback, and rest of the team are loaded up for a playoff run, things may change.

[JTrain]

Interesting that several think Zoran will be a significant contributor. I think he's mostly a project to keep Goran happy and provide a hustle spark occasionally as the 13th man, like Shavlik did a few times last year. Unless I'm really underestimating his ability, I don't see him taking away any significant minutes from our core guys.

[JTrain]

If Len's play is improving as much as they're saying, it would be fun to run with this lineup:

Dragic
Bledsoe
Green
Len
Plumlee

[Revived]

Eric Bledsoe, "I want to give a shout out to Doo Doo".

We gave this guy $70 million.

[DRK]

That thread on the GB about Bledsoe is pure gold.

This is where my experience trying to get what I want comes in. Let's say if I got a job and we were talking about how much I would get paid, I would always ask for more than I really want. Like if I want $20/hour, I would ask for $25/hour. If the compromise is $21/hour, I win because I got more than really wanted. That way the when you meet in the middle on the other side (which they think), I win.

In this case you have to look at the fact that the Suns can offer more than any team in the NBA. That offer they agreed is bigger than any other team can offer. No team legally can guarantee an average of $14 million-a-year for 5 years and Bledsoe and his agent knew this. Bledsoe and his agent won the battle, not the Suns. This offer was open soon after the Wolves showed interest. Before that, the Suns weren't backing down from their 4 year $48 million contract.

**EDITED BY KERRSED

[batsmasher]

I don't think I've ever seen this team happier than they are right now.

[lilfishi22]

That thread on the GB about Bledsoe is pure gold.

This is where my experience trying to get what I want comes in. Let's say if I got a job and we were talking about how much I would get paid, I would always ask for more than I really want. Like if I want $20/hour, I would ask for $25/hour. If the compromise is $21/hour, I win because I got more than really wanted. That way the when you meet in the middle on the other side (which they think), I win.

In this case you have to look at the fact that the Suns can offer more than any team in the NBA. That offer they agreed is bigger than any other team can offer. No team legally can guarantee an average of $14 million-a-year for 5 years and Bledsoe and his agent knew this. Bledsoe and his agent won the battle, not the Suns. This offer was open soon after the Wolves showed interest. Before that, the Suns weren't backing down from their 4 year $48 million contract.

Basically the moment he replied to Kerrsed with this

Not only did you not read my other posts, you insult me (saying I can't read is an personal insult) in the process and you're a moderator on top of it. You're getting reported. I know most likely nothing will happen, but if you have done it now, you've probably done it before. And if someone has reported you before, then maybe something will happen. If not, then look out the next time you decide to pop off and someone like me reports you. They'll keep logs as you know they do.

It made me upset.

**EDITED BY KERRSED

[Revived]

If Len starts to play well and builds some trade value, I can see us trading him plus picks & maybe Green to BKY for Mason Plumlee.

Suns get to reunite another set of brothers and the Nets Russian owner gets a proud Ukrainian player on the team.

Win-Win?

[gaspar]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/EricPincus/status/516797220113219584[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/EricPincus/status/516797418319253505[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/EricPincus/status/516796985479680000[/tweet]

[RunDogGun]

Interesting that several think Zoran will be a significant contributor. I think he's mostly a project to keep Goran happy and provide a hustle spark occasionally as the 13th man, like Shavlik did a few times last year. Unless I'm really underestimating his ability, I don't see him taking away any significant minutes from our core guys.

To me Zoran is an ideal player for a coach like Hornacek. I think Zoran impressed the staff, from last year's summer euro play.

I'm not sure if he play a lot this year, but if Jeff feels that Zoran's play is worthy, he may push guys out of the rotation.

[lilfishi22]

Weird salary structure...

[Blackification]

Espo is so **** lame lol jeez dude some of those attempts at humor were so awkward..