Official Trade Thread: Two drink minimum

[thamadkant]

Trading Bledsoe for another "non-allstar" in Afflalo is NOT ideal.

if Bledsoe OR Dragic goes out.. a legit cornerstone player is coming back.

Hibbert is a cornerstone...
Horford is a cornerstone...
Ibaka is a cornerstone...
M.Gasol is a cornerstone...

Because Dragic and Bledsoe are cornerstone players themselves.

Hibbert is a cornerstone?

He is a game changer on the defensive end but he's so inconsistent, I don't think he can be considered a cornerstone.

I think if you are looking for a center who will be a rim protector, need attention from defense, a legit starter, under 30 years old... he is a corner stone in many team's standard. Can you imagine how good he would be in a system that utilizes his strengths, like under Popovic or Thibedeau.

Inconsistent? maybe or maybe he needs a coach that can bring the best out of him every night. In any case when he is playing within his standards.. he is a corner stone.

[JTrain]

I'd rather not make any trades involving our top 5 or 6 guys unless we can net a true difference maker at the 4 or 5.

I think we have a great future core with Bledsoe, Dragic, Len.

Morri, Tucker and Green can be part of a great bench-- one of the top two or three in the league.

TJ is the wild card. Can he develop into a great starting SF? If so, we are close.

Perhaps we use IT, Plumlee and draft picks to get a great PF. That would set us up to be a contender in a year or two if Len and Warren continue to build off what they have shown.

[Barkley_34]

I'd rather not make any trades involving our top 5 or 6 guys unless we can net a true difference maker at the 4 or 5.

I think we have a great future core with Bledsoe, Dragic, Len.

Morri, Tucker and Green can be part of a great bench-- one of the top two or three in the league.

TJ is the wild card. Can he develop into a great starting SF? If so, we are close.

Perhaps we use IT, Plumlee and draft picks to get a great PF. That would set us up to be a contender in a year or two if Len and Warren continue to build off what they have shown.

Excellent post. People here have to stop thinking about trade bledsoe and len, they are the future of this franchise and has long contracts. The game yesterday showed that we need a lot of Bledsoe.

[Qwigglez]

I think we just need to go with a traditional lineup and trade one of our guards for a big. Bledsoe for Horford/Ibaka, if either team would go for it. We could give them the Lakers pick and the craptastic 2nd rounders from Minny.
I'd like to see the Dragon run the show by himself, with Green as his backcourt buddy.
Dragic/Green/Warren/Horford/Len
IT/Tucker/Morris/Morris/Plumlee
All kinds of scoring in both units, and just enough versatility to bang in the post or run the floor. We don't really have a backup SG, but the Morris bros shoot enough from the wing, and Tucker can guard most SG's anyway.

[Barkley_34]

I think we just need to go with a traditional lineup and trade one of our guards for a big. Bledsoe for Horford/Ibaka, if either team would go for it. We could give them the Lakers pick and the craptastic 2nd rounders from Minny.
I'd like to see the Dragon run the show by himself, with Green as his backcourt buddy.
Dragic/Green/Warren/Horford/Len
IT/Tucker/Morris/Morris/Plumlee
All kinds of scoring in both units, and just enough versatility to bang in the post or run the floor. We don't really have a backup SG, but the Morris bros shoot enough from the wing, and Tucker can guard most SG's anyway.

Why Atlanta trade Bledsoe by Horford with Teague pg? The Suns will have to trade green and i.thomas to renew with dragig safely and not compromise the cap. I think its the better choice for us

[Dr Manute]

I'm all for trading Bledsoe for Horford - I guess I still have a sour taste in my mouth from his hold out and I don't like all his TOs.

But Bedsoe can't be traded until after Dec. 24th.

I do think something must be done - something is broke with the Suns. I see it even in the games we win.

[lilfishi22]

I think if you are looking for a center who will be a rim protector, need attention from defense, a legit starter, under 30 years old... he is a corner stone in many team's standard. Can you imagine how good he would be in a system that utilizes his strengths, like under Popovic or Thibedeau.

Inconsistent? maybe or maybe he needs a coach that can bring the best out of him every night. In any case when he is playing within his standards.. he is a corner stone.

When you list names like Horford, Ibaka and M Gasol, I just find it very hard to apply the cornerstone label to Hibbert

[thamadkant]

Hibbert is beasting with 12/9/3 per game...

so thats definitely cornerstone BIG MAN production... sure rebounding could be 10+ but the rim protection is good.

Cornerstone DOESNT MEAN MVP or ALL-STAR candidate.. its a type of player you can contend with... And Hibbert with the right players and system you can contend with. As Pacers have shown 2 seasons ago... last season was an anomaly as Pacers obviously had chemistry or on/off court issues in the second half.

Horford has been average as of late and you dont seem phased by it..

I think its your perspective of players that affects your definition of cornerstone... which is same with me, but I look at their production foremost.

[lilfishi22]

There's not denying Hibbert is a good defender but he's still far too inconsistent. The 2nd half of last season and the playoffs left a real sour taste and until he can show more consistency, I don't consider him a cornerstone guy.

As for Horford, he's coming back from a long lay off, so I'll give him a pass until ASW for him to find his groove but I haven't been all that impressed with him this season.

[Kerrsed]

I still cant believe Dragic is bitching.

He started off the season horrible. It wasnt due to the fact that we have 3 PG's, it was due to the fact that he couldnt hit a damn shot. 6 games in he finally hits a 3 pointer. Horny was doing the correct thing in playing the hot hand (Giving Thomas more minutes at the end of games), because he was actually producing for us. I see Thomas as a Jamal Crawford type. He comes off the bench and if he is doing well, he gets more minutes in crunch time. To whine about the 3 PG system not working (11 games into the season) is asinine.

Dragic is still getting over 30 minutes a game. He still has the ball in his hands quite a bit during the game, he is just being out preformed by Bledsoe. Both Bledsoe and Thomas are shooting on average 3 less shots than Dragic, and both are averaging more assists than Dragic. Bledsoes defense blows Dragic's out of the water, and i have to say that Thomas has been doing pretty well in that area as well.

To me, i have seen Dragic look kinda "not interested" in some of the games. The same thing that Bledsoe was getting bashed for, i havent heard a peep about Dragic.

[Zelaznyrules]

I'm all for trading Bledsoe for Horford - I guess I still have a sour taste in my mouth from his hold out and I don't like all his TOs.

But Bedsoe can't be traded until after Dec. 24th.

I do think something must be done - something is broke with the Suns. I see it even in the games we win.

What holdout? As a Free Agent he had a specific time available for him to negotiate a new contract and he did just that. As for his turnovers, he's averaged 2.5 per over the last 4 games so hopefully he's adjusted to the crowded lanes.

[lilfishi22]

Quick stats

Goran Dragic
1st 6 games: 13.7/4/2.5 - 41fg%, 8% 3P%, 91FT% - 12FGA, 0.5FGA3, 3.8FTA
Last 6 games: 17/3/4 - 54FG%, 44% 3P%, 71FT% - 13FGA, 2.6FGA3, 1FTA

Isaiah Thomas:
1st 6 games: 16/2/4 - 50fg%, 38% 3P%, 72FT% - 11.5FGA, 2.4FGA3, 3.6FTA
Last 6 games: 13.5/3/4 - 29FG%, 23.5% 3P%, 97FT% - 10FGA, 2.8FGA3, 7FTA

Eric Bledsoe
1st 6 games: 15/5/5.5 - 45.5fg%, 30% 3P%, 81.5FT% - 11.3FGA, 2.3FGA3, 4.5FTA
Last 6 games: 12.6/5/5.3 - 54FG%, 44% 3P%, 71FF% - 9.5FGA, 1.8FGA3, 4.5FTA

Bledsoe's PPG in the last 6 is hurt by his 1PT showing against the Clips.

Feel free to correct my stats if you find a mistake

[WeekapaugGroove]

I love Goran but I think it could make sense to deal him. Chicago seems like a decent trade partner because he could put them over the top. I'd love butler but doubt the bulls would part with him. I'd be intrigued with a deal centered around Nikola Mirotic. He hasn't done much but is only 23 and could be a nice building block.

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[JDLAW]

I still cant believe Dragic is bitching.

He started off the season horrible. It wasnt due to the fact that we have 3 PG's, it was due to the fact that he couldnt hit a damn shot. 6 games in he finally hits a 3 pointer. Horny was doing the correct thing in playing the hot hand (Giving Thomas more minutes at the end of games), because he was actually producing for us. I see Thomas as a Jamal Crawford type. He comes off the bench and if he is doing well, he gets more minutes in crunch time. To whine about the 3 PG system not working (11 games into the season) is asinine.

Dragic is still getting over 30 minutes a game. He still has the ball in his hands quite a bit during the game, he is just being out preformed by Bledsoe. Both Bledsoe and Thomas are shooting on average 3 less shots than Dragic, and both are averaging more assists than Dragic. Bledsoes defense blows Dragic's out of the water, and i have to say that Thomas has been doing pretty well in that area as well.

To me, i have seen Dragic look kinda "not interested" in some of the games. The same thing that Bledsoe was getting bashed for, i havent heard a peep about Dragic.

I read the quote - did not see it as bitching at all. He answered a question and stated what is obvious- all three players are point guards and everyone is trying to mesh. It is not always easy to incorporate a third player of level of Thomas. We all have a tendency to read too much into comments made to media in response to questions.

Unfortunately, this statement prompted the silly-ass speculation by Devaney of SI and has got the fans of the Rockets and Lakers salivating and believing we are going to trade Dragic to them for the garbage on the end of their benches.

The fact is that the Suns have every intention of re-signing Dragic and keeping their backcourt intact.

[Qwigglez]

Hibbert is beasting with 12/9/3 per game...

so thats definitely cornerstone BIG MAN production... sure rebounding could be 10+ but the rim protection is good.

Cornerstone DOESNT MEAN MVP or ALL-STAR candidate.. its a type of player you can contend with... And Hibbert with the right players and system you can contend with. As Pacers have shown 2 seasons ago... last season was an anomaly as Pacers obviously had chemistry or on/off court issues in the second half.

Horford has been average as of late and you dont seem phased by it..

I think its your perspective of players that affects your definition of cornerstone... which is same with me, but I look at their production foremost.

Actually feel like he has been playing better than Horford so far this year.

[WeekapaugGroove]

I was leading the trade for horford bandwagon this summer but he doesn't look right so far this season. Might just be rust but he would be off my trade radar right now.

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[lilfishi22]

I'd say is rust for now and I'll give him another 20 or so games to get back into it.

[WeekapaugGroove]

I'd say is rust for now and I'll give him another 20 or so games to get back into it.

hope so, like big als game. He'd be a great fit with len and keif.

Realistically no big deals getting done for a couple months until teams have a feel for where their season is headed and who's the real buyers and sellers. Suns feel like they are set up for a "consolidation" type trade if a difference maker type comes available. But if they struggle and are sitting in the 10th spot come the deadline I hope mcd and Sarver take the long term approach and become sellers at the deadline.

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[mybloodisorange]

The fact that he hasn't played well this year is helping us by lowering his trade value even if only slightly.
I wouldn't worry about Al. I have seen player after player come to Phoenix and get re-energized by our awesome weather, city and fans!

[letsgosuns]

Suns just eked out wins against two of the worst teams in the league. Good teams would have beat the hell out of them. I know the Suns have beaten the Spurs and Warriors this year, but they have lost to teams they should have beaten and also got handled easily by the Grizzlies. I am not a fan of the way the Suns are constructed. I also do not like Bledsoe opening his mouth saying the Kentucky Wildcats can beat the 76ers or Markieff Morris saying that Caldwell-Pope has no heart after the Pistons game. Bledsoe and Markieff basically have not done anything in their careers and should not be talking trash like that for no reason. In addition, Tucker is always running his mouth at people and acting like he is so great and he has done nothing in his career.

Now I would be open to trading anyone except Alex Len. He has to be untouchable. 7'1", 21 year old center with real offensive skills and making major improvements every game. People forget last year he was injured throughout the year and was not ready. Everyone can already see how much better he looks in the past several games. His presence changes the entire team when he is out there. He is the type of player you build around.

I really think the Suns need to make a trade to make room for Warren also. I am fine with trading any combination of the Morris Brothers, Isaiah Thomas, Plumlee, even Tucker for a real power forward. I do not picture the team trading Bledsoe or Dragic unless a superstar is coming back, and I do not see a team trading a superstar for either one of them. Like many posters have said, Isaiah Thomas has totally screwed up the guard rotation. It should be Green coming in as the first guard off the bench and Archie Goodwin or Tyler Ennis coming in for about 5-8 minutes per half to play backup point guard.

Trade Thomas and the Morris Brothers for Horford or Greg Monroe and the new lineup is:

Bledsoe/Goodwin/Ennis
Dragic/Green
Tucker/Warren
Monroe or Horford/Randolph/Tolliver
Len/Plumlee

No more 5'9" point guard running around shooting terrible shots. No more Morris Brothers taking up minutes that can be given to Warren. Suns need to develop their young guys and get out the burden from the contracts they just gave to Thomas and the Morris Brothers.