Official Trade Thread: New Year, New Thread, New Laughs

[kennydorglas]

I'm back on the "Bring Greg Monroe to Phoenix" bandwagon. He put up 27 pts, 18 rebounds and 6 assists vs the Mavs today. His team's won like 6 in a row and he's been playing real well.

If him and Drummond can co-exist, then I think its pretty obvious that him and Len can co-exist.

Len has more range than Drummond. Len actually has a good shot from that 15-18 ft jumper area.

Monroe's just as bad defensively as Kieff but Monroe's a WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYY better rebounder and more consistent than Kieff.

I'd give him the max or close to it especially since it would be the rookie max contract not the big one. Big men like don't grow on trees.

Len + Monroe = no more rebounding problems for the Suns

Drummond and Monroe don't play together really that much.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status/553251980798607361[/tweet]

Yeah, SVG likes 4-wide a lot.

[Sunsdeuce]

In effort to secure the '15 LAL pick, add an effective back-up (play & cost) PF, help grease the re-signing Dragic wheels and open up cap space for free agency this summer (Suns won't have much room as it stands now)....

(near the deadline)

-Isaiah Thomas
-The T-Wolves protected pick (yes...it's two 2nds in all likelihood)

For

-Steve Nash 9.7 million dollar expiring
-Ed Davis (2 years @ 1 million)
-Lakers remove protection on this year's pick

The IT signing ends up getting them Davis, securing the high lotto LAL pick at its highest point and opening up more cap space for a FA season that has more of what this team needs for the long run, unlike last year. I also believe that if the Suns don't get the LAL pick this year, it'll be a middle 1st rounder next year.

This could hurt the Suns chances for a playoff spot this year, but personally I wouldn't mind that...I'm looking more towards the future. I'd also like to see Tyler Ennis get significant and consistent minutes at PG. The way things are looking, Ennis might be the Suns ONLY PG. The current three have hardly looked point guard-ish at all.

The suns can get way more than that for IT! Basically the suns get nothing in return in that scenario.

[Christine-In-AZ]

In effort to secure the '15 LAL pick, add an effective back-up (play & cost) PF, help grease the re-signing Dragic wheels and open up cap space for free agency this summer (Suns won't have much room as it stands now)....

(near the deadline)

-Isaiah Thomas
-The T-Wolves protected pick (yes...it's two 2nds in all likelihood)

For

-Steve Nash 9.7 million dollar expiring
-Ed Davis (2 years @ 1 million)
-Lakers remove protection on this year's pick

The IT signing ends up getting them Davis, securing the high lotto LAL pick at its highest point and opening up more cap space for a FA season that has more of what this team needs for the long run, unlike last year. I also believe that if the Suns don't get the LAL pick this year, it'll be a middle 1st rounder next year.

This could hurt the Suns chances for a playoff spot this year, but personally I wouldn't mind that...I'm looking more towards the future. I'd also like to see Tyler Ennis get significant and consistent minutes at PG. The way things are looking, Ennis might be the Suns ONLY PG. The current three have hardly looked point guard-ish at all.

The suns can get way more than that for IT! Basically the suns get nothing in return in that scenario.

Nothing?

A 10 million dollar expiring
A good, on the cheap PF
A guaranteed top ...9? Pick, that carries with it the good chance of becoming a top 3 pick.

Nothing?

[Bogyo]

Damn.

I just checked the standings and Currently the Lakers are the 4th worst team in the league. Ima be pissed if they end up keeping that pick this season. Knowing them, they will do an on-the-fly rebuild and Julius Randle & Whoever they draft will become beasts, allowing them to make the play-offs next season (giving us a non-lotto pick).

The pessimist in me mentioned the exact same thing in the Playoff Race thread on the 1st of january. Great minds...
Although I did not think that Detroit would be this good this quick. But yeah, unless Sac blows up, or GG gets injured in Utah, the Lakers are a bottom 4 team, no question about it. Which would be a joy in any other situation - but of course we can't enjoy it fully.
Suns luck at it's finest.
They'll probably draft Towns, get Randle back, sign 2 good free agents (at least), and we'll have a pick in the beautiful 12-18 range...

[Qwigglez]

Nothing?

A 10 million dollar expiring
A good, on the cheap PF
A guaranteed top ...9? Pick, that carries with it the good chance of becoming a top 3 pick.

Nothing?

It's not really 10mil in expiring if the outgoing salary is only equal to 7mil. And I don't think the addition of Isaiah Thomas really bolsters the Lakers to being better than a bottom 5 team. Also, they already have Jeremy Lin and Ronnie Price. I don't think they want/need another PG. However, if they were, I'm sure they are looking at better offers for their expiring contracts of Nash/Lin if they were looking to improve their team this year. Probably looking at the Nets for Brook Lopez or the Pacers for Roy Hibbert. The Lakers can also just let Nash/Lin expire and go after someone like Reggie Jackson in free agency.

[Christine-In-AZ]

Nothing?

A 10 million dollar expiring
A good, on the cheap PF
A guaranteed top ...9? Pick, that carries with it the good chance of becoming a top 3 pick.

Nothing?

It's not really 10mil in expiring if the outgoing salary is only equal to 7mil.

And I don't think the addition of Isaiah Thomas really bolsters the Lakers to being better than a bottom 5 team.

I'm certainly not a capologist, but the Suns are looking at a 59m payroll at FA season with IT...9 million for a free agent?
Swap IT's contract (7 million) for Nash's and you're at roughly 61m. Then it "expires" and the Suns are at 51 million when FA season begins. Now instead of looking at an 8 or 9 million dollar player, the Suns could consider 16 or 17 million dollar free agents. Swapping IT's contract for Nash gives the Suns the ability to pursue big name FAs.

Also, with Dragic's raise being at least 7 million dollars, if the Suns sign a (meh) free agent at 9M the payroll would be in the mid 70's...that's before even considering Gerald Green.

I think a Nash expiring would enable the Suns to make a real splash this summer...and they can't as it is now.

But! Just locking up that Laker pick by the removal of the protection is the biggest thing for me. The Suns can't take on more middle of the round picks, at least for a while. Getting a top 4, 5, 6 pick is what they need, and after this opportunity it's probably going to be many, many years before they get this chance.

[Kerrsed]

There is no way the Lakers remove the protection on a top 3 pick. End of story.

[kennydorglas]

I'm all in to get remove this protection for Lakers' pick.
PHI-NYK-MIN are to bottom 3.
LAL-BOS-CHA-ORL, maybe UTA-IND will fight for the other 2 spots.
LAL is the worst team and plays a tougher schedule than all others.

If we REALLY want a high draft pick, now it's the time.

[Christine-In-AZ]

There is no way the Lakers remove the protection on a top 3 pick. End of story.

You're likely right. That also means there's no way in hell they even take a chance at losing the pick via ping pong balls. They'll be 4th or worse record-wise at season's end.

Still, I'm going to face the likely wrath and pose the question over on the Laker board, but I'm going to switch the Minny pick for the Suns '15 #1 (top 13 protected) just for giggles.

[thamadkant]

Suns need to start planning as if that Lakers pick is NOT coming this upcoming draft.

Looking back at the LOSSES this year..
The clearest need is a defensive PF who can stop the mobile/aggressive big men like the Griffins, Bosh's, Drummond's, Randolphs etc.

Tucker is not a PF defender, Kieff also cannot defend bigger athletic Big men.
Len is a paint protector, if he has to guard a big who is quick front on, he would be back pedalling and his paint impact his negated.

Need a PF who can keep these players in front and have Len/Plumlee alter their shots from the weak side. Again Kieff isn't that player, against Dirk, Melo etc Kief is fine... But big bruisers he cannot stop.

Len can maybe play some PF minutes so he can provide the length, but then maybe have Plumlee or another big to defend on the weak side? But Len would probably pick up a lot of fouls that way.


Or

The Suns can counter fire wih fire... Have a bruising Big PF on their side to keep the opposite PF neutralised as they too struggle to defend the Suns PF inside banging them.

[thamadkant]

Also I wonder what's going through McD's mind.

Surely he had a plan to trade for a disgruntled player within their reach.
However so far the only player who has shown frutration happens to be the second most expensive big man on the league in Cousins... Who plays for the kings who would rather trade 50 cents to the dollar to an east team than trade with a division rival.

[NTB]

Suns need to start planning as if that Lakers pick is NOT coming this upcoming draft.

Looking back at the LOSSES this year..
The clearest need is a defensive PF who can stop the mobile/aggressive big men like the Griffins, Bosh's, Drummond's, Randolphs etc.

Tucker is not a PF defender, Kieff also cannot defend bigger athletic Big men.
Len is a paint protector, if he has to guard a big who is quick front on, he would be back pedalling and his paint impact his negated.

Need a PF who can keep these players in front and have Len/Plumlee alter their shots from the weak side. Again Kieff isn't that player, against Dirk, Melo etc Kief is fine... But big bruisers he cannot stop.

Len can maybe play some PF minutes so he can provide the length, but then maybe have Plumlee or another big to defend on the weak side? But Len would probably pick up a lot of fouls that way.


Or

The Suns can counter fire wih fire... Have a bruising Big PF on their side to keep the opposite PF neutralised as they too struggle to defend the Suns PF inside banging them.

You've described Ibaka there. Ibaka - Len would be great.

[Frank Lee]

There is no way the Lakers remove the protection on a top 3 pick. End of story.

You're likely right. That also means there's no way in hell they even take a chance at losing the pick via ping pong balls. They'll be 4th or worse record-wise at season's end.

Still, I'm going to face the likely wrath and pose the question over on the Laker board, but I'm going to switch the Minny pick for the Suns '15 #1 (top 13 protected) just for giggles.

You chicken counters need to let the eggs hatch....

did y'all forget to look at the fLaker roster ? Obvious bottom dweller. Hopes were/are running wild.

[Christine-In-AZ]

There is no way the Lakers remove the protection on a top 3 pick. End of story.

You're likely right. That also means there's no way in hell they even take a chance at losing the pick via ping pong balls. They'll be 4th or worse record-wise at season's end.

Still, I'm going to face the likely wrath and pose the question over on the Laker board, but I'm going to switch the Minny pick for the Suns '15 #1 (top 13 protected) just for giggles.

You chicken counters need to let the eggs hatch....

did y'all forget to look at the fLaker roster ? Obvious bottom dweller. Hopes were/are running wild.

Huh? What?
...Exactly

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

did y'all forget to look at the fLaker roster ? Obvious bottom dweller. Hopes were/are running wild.

Eh I'm not sweating this one. I like the bigs in this draft, but I'm also confident in McD's ability to grab talent in the middle of the first. I thought the Lakers were going to be worse than they are, actually. Makes no difference to me if we get the #6 this year or next. After all, it's not like we have time for the rookies we already have!!

[Christine-In-AZ]

did y'all forget to look at the fLaker roster ? Obvious bottom dweller. Hopes were/are running wild.

Eh I'm not sweating this one. I like the bigs in this draft, but I'm also confident in McD's ability to grab talent in the middle of the first. I thought the Lakers were going to be worse than they are, actually. Makes no difference to me if we get the #6 this year or next. After all, it's not like we have time for the rookies we already have!!

I wish I could be as confident as you, that the Lakers will be a bottom 6 team 3 years in a row.

Hope you're right, but I really doubt it, especially with the Lakers having 32 million freed up this summer. Kupchak's going to have to screw it up for them not to get back to mediocrity next year.

[bigfoot]

Damn.

I just checked the standings and Currently the Lakers are the 4th worst team in the league. Ima be pissed if they end up keeping that pick this season. Knowing them, they will do an on-the-fly rebuild and Julius Randle & Whoever they draft will become beasts, allowing them to make the play-offs next season (giving us a non-lotto pick).

Can't see the Lakers making the playoffs for a while. And given the youth we already have (and can't find minutes for) on our team, I'd be happy to take a top 5 pick next year as opposed to this year.

Not worried. Lakers will be not be able to attract free agents and their youth is just not talented enough right now. Just don't see how they can reload in two years. Fortunately, the pick would only be top 3 protected in 2016/2017 and unprotected after that. We should be just fine.

[NaturalBuns]

Monroe to phx please.
I wanted that to happen in the offseason...

His numbers when he plays C is really good should of went for him

[Jdiddy701]

If healthy and if Knicks are willing to trade, I go get Carmelo. I don't think Suns need to give up much to get him. Big gamble there but I pull the trigger.

We keep thinking of a bigs we need but do we really need one??? Keef and Len holding those spots down. We need a closer.

Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

[JDLAW]

Just to let you guys know what is being reported by our old friend Ric Bucher

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...me-point-guard

Here's the transcription of what he says in the vid:

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been the most aggressive team so far on the trade market, so which team is likely to follow them? Everyone around the league right now is expecting that it’s the Houston Rockets -- no surprise based on their history or the fact that they just went out and got Josh Smith added into their equation in spite of chemistry questions. So Daryl Morey, no doubt is burning up the phones, and the expectation is he’s going to go hot and heavy after a point guard. They love Patrick Beverley, but ideally he is the third guard in that rotation. And to give an indication of just how aggressive they might be, sources around the league are saying don’t count Deron Williams out from the Brooklyn Nets, even though he has that fat contract and right now he has a rib injury. Far more likely is that they go back to a guy they already know, Goran Dragic, who is in a crowded back court with the Phoenix Suns and could be got with that New Orleans #1 pick that the Rockets have right now.


IS THERE A BIGGER IDIOT OUT THERE THAN THIS TOOL?