Official Trade Thread: Two drink minimum

[WeekapaugGroove]

What super star can be had other than Melo? And who the hell wants him?

That's the million dollar question. There no guarantee a harden or love type comes available. But if they do its nice to have the asssets to gwt the deal done. Heck suns are lucky to have been able to grab Bledsoe. I like the accumulate assets type building strategy but like all nba team buidling methods it's not perfect and doesn't guarantee success. But neither does full on tanking or clearing cap space. At least with the current lots of young guys plan you might strike gold with one of those guys and not have to make a trade.

[nevetsov]

Moreover, what exactly do we need?

Goran and Eric cover 90% of the PG minutes and a fair chunk at SG (all star calibre production).
The remainder (bench mins) gets swallowed up by Green (6moty level production) and any residual should go to Ennis/Archie (youth).

Len is a future high-end starting C who if injury free will be an 18/10/3 guy. Plumlee is about as good a bench C (and 8th man) as you will get.

At PF, Markieff I see as a consistent 15/7 guy with a few assists in there, good 4th option.
Marcus mops up decent bench minutes as a bench PF and doubles as a matchup-specific bench SF.

SF is the only position where we lack starting calibre talent right now, but PJ is pretty much the emotional barometer of the team and for $5m per we're certainly better off with him than a max-level replacement . He's the glue guy every team needs.
Behind him, Warren is as nice as a prospect as you will probably find short of a Wiggins/Parker.

So what positions do we upgrade now that won't harm either the short term chemistry or long term development of the guys we already have? Also, do we want a guy that may make it difficult to retain our current crop when they come up for extensions (like Thomas has with Dragic)?

[Sunsdeuce]

Moreover, what exactly do we need?

Goran and Eric cover 90% of the PG minutes and a fair chunk at SG (all star calibre production).
The remainder (bench mins) gets swallowed up by Green (6moty level production) and any residual should go to Ennis/Archie (youth).

Len is a future high-end starting C who if injury free will be an 18/10/3 guy. Plumlee is about as good a bench C (and 8th man) as you will get.

At PF, Markieff I see as a consistent 15/7 guy with a few assists in there, good 4th option.
Marcus mops up decent bench minutes as a bench PF and doubles as a matchup-specific bench SF.

SF is the only position where we lack starting calibre talent right now, but PJ is pretty much the emotional barometer of the team and for $5m per we're certainly better off with him than a max-level replacement . He's the glue guy every team needs.
Behind him, Warren is as nice as a prospect as you will probably find short of a Wiggins/Parker.

So what positions do we upgrade now that won't harm either the short term chemistry or long term development of the guys we already have? Also, do we want a guy that may make it difficult to retain our current crop when they come up for extensions (like Thomas has with Dragic)?

Well this team is two games over 500. The way you put it, we should be contending for the finals. Other than the PG position, it could be argued every position could be upgraded.

At shooting guard you have, the Suns have goran/green. Green is a streaky shooting guard. When he is one he is top notch, when is off, get him off the court. He lacks IQ. But the combo works about half the time.

At small forward, you have Tucker/Marcus. Let's be honest Tucker is not a starting caliber small forward. His numbers are pedestrian even for a bench player. Don't give this argument that he affects the game that stats don't show. The dude has a low BBall IQ with and even worse offensive skill. Can we upgrade? Yes!

Power forward we have keiff. He is an efficient forward but not a next level/all star forward. He is a great role player but sometimes inconsistent. Could this position be upgraded? Yes!

Center position we have len/plumlee. The position is a matter of what you want. Do you want to wait 3-4 years to develop into quality players that len most surely will be or do you want to compete right now? At the current moment len is probably top 25 center in the league.

There are holes on this roster. No doubt! For the right here, right now, only the PG position is top tier.

We have a team full of really good role players (other than goran/bledsoe).

[kennydorglas]

Love experiment in Cleveland is failing. I really doubt he'll sign an extension over there.
Dwight Howard 2.0? Our chance to grab a star in free agency?
I think we dont have cap space for him, but who knows?

[LukasBMW]

We just assigned Archie, TJ, and Ennis to the D-league. Does this create any more room on the roster for a new piece following the Tolliver trade?

[mybloodisorange]

Love experiment in Cleveland is failing. I really doubt he'll sign an extension over there.
Dwight Howard 2.0? Our chance to grab a star in free agency?
I think we dont have cap space for him, but who knows?

Don't forget we got a little cap space back from the Toliver trade and with Green being a FA we would get his cap back too. Even without Bron I can't see us resigning Green with Tucker,Warren&Mook being a lot cheaper. Plus if we aren't going to trade Warren we need to start getting him more burn which means hasta to Gerald.

All that being said Bled and Bron are still buds who share an agent so you never know.

[WeekapaugGroove]

We just assigned Archie, TJ, and Ennis to the D-league. Does this create any more room on the roster for a new piece following the Tolliver trade?

Probably just want to get them some burn and unrelated to a deal but it will leave them with just 11 suited up for a couple games.

It is a little funny they didn't give Tony Mitchell a week or two look before releasing him. That might hint a deal is coming soon.

[Kerrsed]

What super star can be had other than Melo? And who the hell wants him?

I think we are going after Melo. New York blows. They want to start with a clean slate and Jackson wants to build a team. They already have a lot of salary coming off the books in the offseason, but trading Melo could give them even more room, and a few pieces to use in the rebuild (Dragic). Im fine with that. If we are going to do something, we gotta do it big.

As for the youngsters going to the D-league, the reason they are there is to get some playing time and to show prospective teams what they can do (we are trying for the play-offs, so we dont have the time to give them on the court to showcase their ability's). I have a feeling that all of them are available for the right trade (Melo).

[LV-Suns]

Dressing 4 less players on this road trip... I think its brewing of a trade.

[Kerrsed]

I also think where ever the Dragon goes, the other Dragon goes too. Zoran cant be traded until tomorrow (The 26th).

[JDLAW]

We just assigned Archie, TJ, and Ennis to the D-league. Does this create any more room on the roster for a new piece following the Tolliver trade?

No it does not. It is contract not location. The Suns have 14 of 15 roster spots filled Mitchell is waived. It does not matter if Archie, TJ and Ennis are in Bakersfield or Phoenix.

[JDLAW]

Dressing 4 less players on this road trip... I think its brewing of a trade.

Has nothing to do with a trade. Hornacek shortened his rotation to 9 players and TJ, Archie and Ennis had not seen playing time in some time and were not likely to see playing or practice time for the next several games which are on the road. They sent them to Bakersfield to get them some game time.

[Cutter]

Melo has a no trade clause and would have to agree to be traded to the Suns. Seems like culturally he would not like living in the desert. Seems like a big city guy.

[JDLAW]

What super star can be had other than Melo? And who the hell wants him?

I think we are going after Melo. New York blows. They want to start with a clean slate and Jackson wants to build a team. They already have a lot of salary coming off the books in the offseason, but trading Melo could give them even more room, and a few pieces to use in the rebuild (Dragic). Im fine with that. If we are going to do something, we gotta do it big.

As for the youngsters going to the D-league, the reason they are there is to get some playing time and to show prospective teams what they can do (we are trying for the play-offs, so we dont have the time to give them on the court to showcase their ability's). I have a feeling that all of them are available for the right trade (Melo).

They are not going after Melo. There six impediments standing in the way of a Melo trade to the Suns:

1) The Suns had no interest in him in the off-season
2) Melo had no interest in the Suns
3) Melo has a no-trade clause
4) Melo has a trade kicker to add to his ginormous salary
5) Melo has a bad knee and
6) LaLa does not want to leave her gig in NYC

[JDLAW]

Love experiment in Cleveland is failing. I really doubt he'll sign an extension over there.
Dwight Howard 2.0? Our chance to grab a star in free agency?
I think we dont have cap space for him, but who knows?

Love is happy in Cleveland playing with LeBron and Irving. He is on a winning team and will likely be in the playoffs for the first time in his career. He is not coming to Phoenix in the off-season.

[JDLAW]

I also think where ever the Dragon goes, the other Dragon goes too. Zoran cant be traded until tomorrow (The 26th).

It does not matter - neither will be traded.

[carey]

As for the youngsters going to the D-league, the reason they are there is to get some playing time and to show prospective teams what they can do (we are trying for the play-offs, so we dont have the time to give them on the court to showcase their ability's). I have a feeling that all of them are available for the right trade (Melo).

I can't even imagine what a package for Melo would look like from the Suns. I'm guessing it starts at one of Eric or Goran, plus two of Warren/Ennis/Goodwin, Plumlee, the Lakers first rounder and one of our own.

[Kerrsed]

As for the youngsters going to the D-league, the reason they are there is to get some playing time and to show prospective teams what they can do (we are trying for the play-offs, so we dont have the time to give them on the court to showcase their ability's). I have a feeling that all of them are available for the right trade (Melo).

I can't even imagine what a package for Melo would look like from the Suns. I'm guessing it starts at one of Eric or Goran, plus two of Warren/Ennis/Goodwin, Plumlee, the Lakers first rounder and one of our own.

Dragic/Thomas/Dragic/Warren/our 1st for Melo/Shumpert.

Thomas and Dragic would do great playing with each other in the Triangle offense. They then go after FA's to fill out the roster.

Its interesting, you look at the top FA's and the ones ranked better than Dragic wont be leaving their teams anytime soon. http://hoopshype.com/free_agency_2015.htm

Lebron/Love/Aldridge/Kawaii/Gasol/Duncan are going to be back with their teams more likely than not.

Dragic is then next on the list, making him one of the highest (attainable) FA's in 2015.

Next on the list is Rondo and Wade, both are likely to be retained by their teams.

Then you have a rush of bigs that can definitely be acquired. (Jordan/Lopez/Monroe/Jefferson/Milsap/Hibbert/West/Asik).

Look at Jacksons previously built teams (Lakers).

Thomas = Fisher.
Dragic = Kobe.
???? = Radom defensive SF (Barns/Artest). Trade assets to DEN for Chandler. Matthews/Green are also FA fits.
Go after Milsap (in FA) to = Gasol and Hibbert (FA) to = Shaq/Bynum role.

Thomas/Dragic/Chandler/Milsap/Hibbert

[letsgosuns]

If the Suns are going to make a trade, I would stay away from Melo. He is 30 years old, has injury problems, and is an egomaniac to the max. The guy had a chance to go to the Bulls to legitimately compete for a championship and turned it down. He could have gone to the Rockets or Mavericks and said no. He has repeatedly said he decided not to leave New York because he did not feel like building his brand back up somewhere else and had already accomplished so much in New York. What does that even mean? He thinks he is some larger than life personality and New York is obsessed with him or something. I do not want a guy like that anywhere near the Suns. He does not care about winning. If he did, he would have taken a max contract from one of the championship caliber teams that offered it to him. Plus McDonough said that if he is going to make a trade, it will be for players in their early to mid-twenties that fit the core of the team. Melo does not fit that description. Imagine paying him nearly 30 million dollars a year five years from now. That would be terrible. No way would I trade for him.

[Flying Colors]

If the Suns are going to make a trade, I would stay away from Melo. He is 30 years old, has injury problems, and is an egomaniac to the max. The guy had a chance to go to the Bulls to legitimately compete for a championship and turned it down. He could have gone to the Rockets or Mavericks and said no. He has repeatedly said he decided not to leave New York because he did not feel like building his brand back up somewhere else and had already accomplished so much in New York. What does that even mean? He thinks he is some larger than life personality and New York is obsessed with him or something. I do not want a guy like that anywhere near the Suns. He does not care about winning. If he did, he would have taken a max contract from one of the championship caliber teams that offered it to him. Plus McDonough said that if he is going to make a trade, it will be for players in their early to mid-twenties that fit the core of the team. Melo does not fit that description. Imagine paying him nearly 30 million dollars a year five years from now. That would be terrible. No way would I trade for him.

There is also Carmelo's wife, who wants to have a media Career, if Melo gets traded to Phoenix, she will be the first one to complain, and probably wont stop nagging until Melo asks for a trade to LA i bet.