Official Trade Thread: Kind of a Drag...ic

[bwgood77]

Let me remind you guys about the Len pick. Everyone hated that at the time and look now. Just give it some freaking time before you start complaining. The Lakers are doubtful to tank on Kobe's last year-- meaning the pick will probably be in the mid teens at best. Don't get so worked up over it. The Heat picks we have coming back to us have minimal and no protection. Just because they're years away doesn't mean they can't be used in other deals as well.

Thank you

2014 draft

6 Marcus Smart
7 Julius Randle
8 Nik Stauskas
9 Noah Vonleh
10 Elfrid Payton
11 Doug McDermott
12 Dario Saric
13 Zach LaVine

2013 draft

6 Nerlens Noel C
7 Ben McLemore SG
8 Kentavious Caldwell-Pope SG
9 Trey Burke PG
10 C.J. McCollum PG/SG
11 Michael Carter-Williams
13 Kelly Olynyk C

2012 Draft

6 Damian Lillard* PG
7 Harrison Barnes SF
8 Terrence Ross SG
9 Andre Drummond C
10 Austin Rivers SG
11 Meyers Leonard C
12 Jeremy Lamb SG
13 Kendall Marshall PG


So lets say the suns keep the pick and the lakers end up getting 6th which in turn makes it ours obviously.

Out of the last 3 drafts between 6th-13th picks
(24 players), there is exactly 2 players I would take above Brandon Knight. 1 in 12 odds of finding a player better than brandon knight at that bracket.

I think there are more than two, but that's a great way to put it. Also, we can count #14 in each draft (Henson, Shabazz, Warren).

And another take from everyone's favorite espn writer, Mr. Chad Ford, and how valuable that pick may be (fan writing in how they can't believe Hinkie got that pick for MCW)....

Two things. No one is sure exactly what Hinkie got for him. If he gets the pick this year (highly unlikely) and it's a pick at No. 6 -- I'd say he got good value. I like this draft and there are several interesting players there at 6 (but no point guards really). If he gets a pick between 4-8 in next year's draft -- we'll see. The high school class of 2016 is one of the weaker ones in the last decade. After Ben Simmons and Jaylen Brown (who should be picks 1-2 in some order) the talent level drops. If the Lakers improve over the summer and that pick falls in the 9 to 15 range, I say they got poor value for Carter-Williams. If it moves all the way to 2017, they probably got poor value as well as I'd be shocked if the Lakers were still awful by then given their proven ability to lure free agents. Second, I think it's impossible to totally judge Carter-Williams. He's played 1.5 seasons, was on an awful, awful team that asked him to be the primary scorer even though that's not his forte. He took a ton of bad shots in Philly, in part, because he had to. That will change in Milwaukee and until we see him for a full season with that roster under the tutelage of Jason Kidd, it's tough to know what he really could be. All in all, it's too early on both sides to judge this trade, but I think right now, I'd lean toward Milwaukee winning it. (And remember, Milwaukee could've just gotten that pick from the Suns straight up for Knight if they had wanted it ... they clearly judged MCW as more valuable).

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/51618/

[denial]

I'm fine with the moves. I think we did a decent job of making a bad situation better. We're super young. And Len is looking really impressive.

My problem is with the demeanor and attitude of our front office post-trade. They're acting like a bunch of insecure little girls who are completely unwilling to admit any fault. If we never admit to making any mistakes, it's doubtful that we'll ever fix them. Also I think it makes us look unappealing to FA's.

I'm in the boat that wishes we had just taken the high-road. Thanked Goran for his contributions and moved on.

If I were going to address the "I don't trust them anymore" comment, I would do it with facts, not with defensive name-calling.

[sunsbum]

Let me remind you guys about the Len pick. Everyone hated that at the time and look now. Just give it some freaking time before you start complaining. The Lakers are doubtful to tank on Kobe's last year-- meaning the pick will probably be in the mid teens at best. Don't get so worked up over it. The Heat picks we have coming back to us have minimal and no protection. Just because they're years away doesn't mean they can't be used in other deals as well.

Thank you

2014 draft

6 Marcus Smart
7 Julius Randle
8 Nik Stauskas
9 Noah Vonleh
10 Elfrid Payton
11 Doug McDermott
12 Dario Saric
13 Zach LaVine

2013 draft

6 Nerlens Noel C
7 Ben McLemore SG
8 Kentavious Caldwell-Pope SG
9 Trey Burke PG
10 C.J. McCollum PG/SG
11 Michael Carter-Williams
13 Kelly Olynyk C

2012 Draft

6 Damian Lillard* PG
7 Harrison Barnes SF
8 Terrence Ross SG
9 Andre Drummond C
10 Austin Rivers SG
11 Meyers Leonard C
12 Jeremy Lamb SG
13 Kendall Marshall PG


So lets say the suns keep the pick and the lakers end up getting 6th which in turn makes it ours obviously.

Out of the last 3 drafts between 6th-13th picks
(24 players), there is exactly 2 players I would take above Brandon Knight. 1 in 12 odds of finding a player better than brandon knight at that bracket.

I think there are more than two, but that's a great way to put it. Also, we can count #14 in each draft (Henson, Shabazz, Warren).

My bad. For some reason I thought the lottery ended at 13.
Even if people disagree with the players I would take over knight vs the players they would the point is still very valid that chances are you won't be getting a player thats better than knight by keeping that pick.

I wasnt happy about getting rid of it either initialy. Realisticly though, odds are we turned that into a much better asset than what it would have been.

[jcsunsfan]

2014 draft

6 Marcus Smart
7 Julius Randle
8 Nik Stauskas
9 Noah Vonleh
10 Elfrid Payton
11 Doug McDermott
12 Dario Saric
13 Zach LaVine

2013 draft

6 Nerlens Noel C
7 Ben McLemore SG
8 Kentavious Caldwell-Pope SG
9 Trey Burke PG
10 C.J. McCollum PG/SG
11 Michael Carter-Williams
13 Kelly Olynyk C

2012 Draft

6 Damian Lillard* PG
7 Harrison Barnes SF
8 Terrence Ross SG
9 Andre Drummond C
10 Austin Rivers SG
11 Meyers Leonard C
12 Jeremy Lamb SG
13 Kendall Marshall PG


So lets say the suns keep the pick and the lakers end up getting 6th which in turn makes it ours obviously.

Out of the last 3 drafts between 6th-13th picks
(24 players), there is exactly 2 players I would take above Brandon Knight. 1 in 12 odds of finding a player better than brandon knight at that bracket.

And your two would be Lillard and Drummond? Its a fair argument, even if some like other players a little more.

[sunsbum]

2014 draft

6 Marcus Smart
7 Julius Randle
8 Nik Stauskas
9 Noah Vonleh
10 Elfrid Payton
11 Doug McDermott
12 Dario Saric
13 Zach LaVine

2013 draft

6 Nerlens Noel C
7 Ben McLemore SG
8 Kentavious Caldwell-Pope SG
9 Trey Burke PG
10 C.J. McCollum PG/SG
11 Michael Carter-Williams
13 Kelly Olynyk C

2012 Draft

6 Damian Lillard* PG
7 Harrison Barnes SF
8 Terrence Ross SG
9 Andre Drummond C
10 Austin Rivers SG
11 Meyers Leonard C
12 Jeremy Lamb SG
13 Kendall Marshall PG


So lets say the suns keep the pick and the lakers end up getting 6th which in turn makes it ours obviously.

Out of the last 3 drafts between 6th-13th picks
(24 players), there is exactly 2 players I would take above Brandon Knight. 1 in 12 odds of finding a player better than brandon knight at that bracket.

And your two would be Lillard and Drummond? Its a fair argument, even if some like other players a little more.

You got it.

[Frank Lee]

So we discuss the drafting of Len as an assurance of the future ???? The Oh-So-Smart McDuh made a good pick....Thats all you got ? Are you diminishing the value of that fLaker pick. by looking at past drafts ??? .. or ... heck , I don't know wtf you are trying to say. What the GD point is to discuss past drafts ??? Is it to lessen the sting of losing a lotto ? You guys are buttering a burnt biscuit.
Really guys... come on. Knight will cost us 10-12 mil easy and there is no guarantee he stays.

Here... I am officially turning these in

I'd recommend it for some of you

[Kjdills13]

Alright Boys I got our move.

We Max Out Jimmy Butler
Then Resign B Knight we have his rights so we can go over the cap to do so.

Then Trade

Tucker
Morris
Morris
1st round pick
1st round pick
For a maxed out kevin love


Bledsoe
B. Knight / Goodwin
Butler/ Warren
Love/ Wright
Len/

Fill the other 2 with MLE or draft picks. But this team is YOUNG YOUNG YOUNG!!! and could be ELITE.

It is a PIPE DREAM THO.

[RaisingArizona]

So we discuss the drafting of Len as an assurance of the future ???? The Oh-So-Smart McDuh made a good pick....Thats all you got ? Are you diminishing the value of that fLaker pick... or ... heck , I don't know wtf you are trying to say. What the GD point is to discuss past drafts ??? Is it to lessen the sting of losing a lotto ? You guys are buttering a burnt biscuit.
Really guys... come on.

Here... I am officially turning these in

I'd recommend it for some of you

My point is that he's a great evaluator of talent. If he thought next years draft had a gem in the teens, I doubt it gets traded. Bottom line is the Knight trade outcome is unknown until we A) sign Knight and B) see what the Lakers pick ends up at. All we're doing now is speculating about the future.

[phrazbit]

The Lakers pick is a boom or bust asset, he took that calculated risk that its going to be a bust and cashed it in for a really good young player. I have a hard time seeing a pick that will likely land in the mid teens in a year and a half being traded for a talented 23 year old as a reason to jump over board on the front office.

If the Lakers have crap luck in THIS year's lotto and that pick ends up 6th... that stings, but if they retain it this year and it rolls over to next, then I expect down the road this will look like a really savvy trade.

[phrazbit]

Also, we're not getting Jimmy Butler. The Bulls will match any offer he gets, no question.

[bigfoot]

So we discuss the drafting of Len as an assurance of the future ???? The Oh-So-Smart McDuh made a good pick....Thats all you got ? Are you diminishing the value of that fLaker pick. by looking at past drafts ??? .. or ... heck , I don't know wtf you are trying to say. What the GD point is to discuss past drafts ??? Is it to lessen the sting of losing a lotto ? You guys are buttering a burnt biscuit.
Really guys... come on. Knight will cost us 10-12 mil easy and there is no guarantee he stays.

Here... I am officially turning these in

I'd recommend it for some of you

No, no Frank. I think he is saying what you have always said in the past. The draft is a crap shoot. I've seen you post that dozens of time when arguing about tanking for draft picks. I don't think I'm wrong on this point.

What we MAY have got from the Lakers this year had to be worse than the fifth pick for us to even be selecting. That seems like a very unlikely scenario with the LA in full tank mode. Don't you agree with this point? So it is a very high probability we wouldn't see that pick until 2016.

Now think about this. Say we kept that pick and got it in 2016. I'll even suggest we lucked out and got the #5 pick because Kobe and free agents couldn't bring LaL far enough out of the hole.

So is Bledsoe, Len, and #5 pick 2016 better than Bledsoe, Len, and Knight? Remember its a crap shoot. Chances are the #5 pick isn't nearly is good as Knight. But let's say I give that to you. That in a few years that pick will be better than Knight. Say three years to develop to Knight's level or beyond.

So come 2019/2020 we have a pick that has exceeded Knight's talent and training. Because we all know it takes a few years for a draft pick to develop. What do we have ... Bledsoe 29 years old and up for free agency, Len 26 years old, and a 22-23 year old finally ready to help the Suns win. A very short window with Bledsoe ... even if he wants to stay.

Trading for Knight was the right thing to do. The Suns have a large window with Knight, Bledsoe, and Len. Much larger than with Dragic or the future and uncertain LaL draft pick.

[sunsfever68]

I just want to reiterate how great Alex Len could be.

If he stays healthy (PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE SPORTS GODS PLEASE ONE TIME) he will be a top 3 center with potential to be the best in the game.

I watch his free throw motion and his emerging mid range game. He has a silky smooth shot. He obviously can block shots well and he's not really even that athletic when he goes up to block shots he doesn't sky up he's just so damn long and lanky he alters so many shots at the rim too which is MORE IMPORTANT than blocks I believe. Having a presence down low with a little guard driving going OH NO LEN IS THERE NO SHOT is way better than blocks bc that's an impact every defensive possession.

Len is not perfect he needs some work on his D in space 15 feet out, he'll get better at that.

But I think for the first time (knock on a forest full of oak trees knock on wood) we have a dominant center for years to come.

[DaleyBlind]

So we discuss the drafting of Len as an assurance of the future ???? The Oh-So-Smart McDuh made a good pick....Thats all you got ? Are you diminishing the value of that fLaker pick. by looking at past drafts ??? .. or ... heck , I don't know wtf you are trying to say. What the GD point is to discuss past drafts ??? Is it to lessen the sting of losing a lotto ? You guys are buttering a burnt biscuit.
Really guys... come on. Knight will cost us 10-12 mil easy and there is no guarantee he stays.

Here... I am officially turning these in

I'd recommend it for some of you

No, no Frank. I think he is saying what you have always said in the past. The draft is a crap shoot. I've seen you post that dozens of time when arguing about tanking for draft picks. I don't think I'm wrong on this point.

What we MAY have got from the Lakers this year had to be worse than the fifth pick for us to even be selecting. That seems like a very unlikely scenario with the LA in full tank mode. Don't you agree with this point? So it is a very high probability we wouldn't see that pick until 2016.

Now think about this. Say we kept that pick and got it in 2016. I'll even suggest we lucked out and got the #5 pick because Kobe and free agents couldn't bring LaL far enough out of the hole.

So is Bledsoe, Len, and #5 pick 2016 better than Bledsoe, Len, and Knight? Remember its a crap shoot. Chances are the #5 pick isn't nearly is good as Knight. But let's say I give that to you. That in a few years that pick will be better than Knight. Say three years to develop to Knight's level or beyond.

So come 2019/2020 we have a pick that has exceeded Knight's talent and training. Because we all know it takes a few years for a draft pick to develop. What do we have ... Bledsoe 29 years old and up for free agency, Len 26 years old, and a 22-23 year old finally ready to help the Suns win. A very short window with Bledsoe ... even if he wants to stay.

Trading for Knight was the right thing to do. The Suns have a large window with Knight, Bledsoe, and Len. Much larger than with Dragic or the future and uncertain LaL draft pick.

We could also just singed Knight in FA and kept the pick. Bucks clearly weren't high on Knight at all.
All we could have kept the pick and use the cash we are about to pay Knight, to sign a guy like Monroe, Harris, Butler, Jordan etc.

Everyone seems fine that we are about to have 30 mill plus locked into our back court, neither all star players both undersized combo guards. I dont get it.

[AtheJ415]

So we discuss the drafting of Len as an assurance of the future ???? The Oh-So-Smart McDuh made a good pick....Thats all you got ? Are you diminishing the value of that fLaker pick. by looking at past drafts ??? .. or ... heck , I don't know wtf you are trying to say. What the GD point is to discuss past drafts ??? Is it to lessen the sting of losing a lotto ? You guys are buttering a burnt biscuit.
Really guys... come on. Knight will cost us 10-12 mil easy and there is no guarantee he stays.

Here... I am officially turning these in

I'd recommend it for some of you

You think it's somehow unreasonable to use past drafts to evaluate the value of a pick within a given range? Holy ****.

Omg. Tired of reading this drivel. How do you block people on here?

[thamadkant]

The Lakers pick is a boom or bust asset, he took that calculated risk that its going to be a bust and cashed it in for a really good young player. I have a hard time seeing a pick that will likely land in the mid teens in a year and a half being traded for a talented 23 year old as a reason to jump over board on the front office.

If the Lakers have crap luck in THIS year's lotto and that pick ends up 6th... that stings, but if they retain it this year and it rolls over to next, then I expect down the road this will look like a really savvy trade.

+1

I've always been a HUGE pusher for top lottery picks... but the Lakers pick being Top 6 and Top 3 protected (given the Lakers ability to improve and the weak draft in 2016), creates a scenario where had the Suns kept the pick... they will be stuck with a lesser player than what Brandon Knight is and can be.

McD gets feedbacks on available talent for the next 2-3 drafts.... as mentioned, Celtics were scouting Len when he was 16 years old apparently.

If the next 2 drafts had a Paul Pierce-level player at around Pick 10... I doubt McD would of traded that pick... chances are he has inside knowledge that where the Suns pick this year (2015), they can nab the player they want anyways.

[bigfoot]

So we discuss the drafting of Len as an assurance of the future ???? The Oh-So-Smart McDuh made a good pick....Thats all you got ? Are you diminishing the value of that fLaker pick. by looking at past drafts ??? .. or ... heck , I don't know wtf you are trying to say. What the GD point is to discuss past drafts ??? Is it to lessen the sting of losing a lotto ? You guys are buttering a burnt biscuit.
Really guys... come on. Knight will cost us 10-12 mil easy and there is no guarantee he stays.

Here... I am officially turning these in

I'd recommend it for some of you

No, no Frank. I think he is saying what you have always said in the past. The draft is a crap shoot. I've seen you post that dozens of time when arguing about tanking for draft picks. I don't think I'm wrong on this point.

What we MAY have got from the Lakers this year had to be worse than the fifth pick for us to even be selecting. That seems like a very unlikely scenario with the LA in full tank mode. Don't you agree with this point? So it is a very high probability we wouldn't see that pick until 2016.

Now think about this. Say we kept that pick and got it in 2016. I'll even suggest we lucked out and got the #5 pick because Kobe and free agents couldn't bring LaL far enough out of the hole.

So is Bledsoe, Len, and #5 pick 2016 better than Bledsoe, Len, and Knight? Remember its a crap shoot. Chances are the #5 pick isn't nearly is good as Knight. But let's say I give that to you. That in a few years that pick will be better than Knight. Say three years to develop to Knight's level or beyond.

So come 2019/2020 we have a pick that has exceeded Knight's talent and training. Because we all know it takes a few years for a draft pick to develop. What do we have ... Bledsoe 29 years old and up for free agency, Len 26 years old, and a 22-23 year old finally ready to help the Suns win. A very short window with Bledsoe ... even if he wants to stay.

Trading for Knight was the right thing to do. The Suns have a large window with Knight, Bledsoe, and Len. Much larger than with Dragic or the future and uncertain LaL draft pick.

We could also just singed Knight in FA and kept the pick. Bucks clearly weren't high on Knight at all.
All we could have kept the pick and use the cash we are about to pay Knight, to sign a guy like Monroe, Harris, Butler, Jordan etc.

Everyone seems fine that we are about to have 30 mill plus locked into our back court, neither all star players both undersized combo guards. I dont get it.

No we couldn't just sign Knight. What people don't see is the Suns have limited options for getting free agents. Here is why

1) Most star level unrestricted free agents want to be on a winning team or a big market. Nash was the last star level unrestricted we signed. It was a star-studded courting of Nash to get him to Phoenix. He saw we had young talent in Amare and Marion. He was a special case because he was older and a big injury risk that Cuban didn't want to re-sign. Before Nash can you think of a star UFA that came to Phoenix. Yeah ... Tom Chambers ... the original unrestricted free agent. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1715 ... ns-history

2) Go hard after a restricted free agent offering a max deal. Two problems with that. First the player has to want to sign with your team. If not forget it. Second, the team owning the players rights can match. Tried it with Eric Gordon ... got matched. Others tried it with Gordon Hayward and it got matched. A really good player is likely to be matched. Also, next year, the Knicks and Lakers will be prowling the free agent list for max players. Would we really be able to sign a RFA over the Lakers or Knicks. No way. Unlikely.

3) Go at it McD's way. You trade assets for a up and coming RFA. Bledsoe for Dudley and a 2nd round pick or Knight for a 1st round draft pick, Ennis, and Plumlee. Now your team is in the drivers seat. You get to match any offer to keep a star player. You've told the player you want them by trading for them. Then you tell the RFA and their agent you will beat any offer made by any team. We will pay you more dollars and offer a longer contract ... just bring an offer to the table.

Otherwise the only other option is we hope we can add enough star players through the draft. That means you need a lot of high picks and a lot of luck drafting (#1 Oden versus #2Durant) and (#2 Beasley versus #5 Westbrook) and (#2 Hasheem Thabeet versus #3 Harden) and (#24 Ibaka). Still you haven't won a chip.

Finally you need to recognize that when we re-sign Knight that if by some luck of nature we find a star UFA or RFA we can get to come to Phoenix then we can still sign them to a max this summer. Otherwise stay under the cap and trade players (Morri, Tucker) and draft picks for other up and coming RFAs. Its a good front office management tool when you are not a large market.

[RunDogGun]

Grant Hill signed here, and he was still a big name UFA. Besides this last offseason, we never had the cash to sign a huge UFA.

[bigfoot]

Grant Hill signed here, and he was still a big name UFA. Besides this last offseason, we never had the cash to sign a huge UFA.

No he was older (35) and looking for a ring. He signed during the Amare, Marion, Nash heyday and was only paid the biannual exception for a two year contract ($1.83 million/ $2 million). So see point #1 ... star UFA will not sign with Suns unless they are competing for a championship. Edit: Hill is still one of my Fav Suns players ... just not star level anymore when we got him.

[DaleyBlind]

No, no Frank. I think he is saying what you have always said in the past. The draft is a crap shoot. I've seen you post that dozens of time when arguing about tanking for draft picks. I don't think I'm wrong on this point.

What we MAY have got from the Lakers this year had to be worse than the fifth pick for us to even be selecting. That seems like a very unlikely scenario with the LA in full tank mode. Don't you agree with this point? So it is a very high probability we wouldn't see that pick until 2016.

Now think about this. Say we kept that pick and got it in 2016. I'll even suggest we lucked out and got the #5 pick because Kobe and free agents couldn't bring LaL far enough out of the hole.

So is Bledsoe, Len, and #5 pick 2016 better than Bledsoe, Len, and Knight? Remember its a crap shoot. Chances are the #5 pick isn't nearly is good as Knight. But let's say I give that to you. That in a few years that pick will be better than Knight. Say three years to develop to Knight's level or beyond.

So come 2019/2020 we have a pick that has exceeded Knight's talent and training. Because we all know it takes a few years for a draft pick to develop. What do we have ... Bledsoe 29 years old and up for free agency, Len 26 years old, and a 22-23 year old finally ready to help the Suns win. A very short window with Bledsoe ... even if he wants to stay.

Trading for Knight was the right thing to do. The Suns have a large window with Knight, Bledsoe, and Len. Much larger than with Dragic or the future and uncertain LaL draft pick.

We could also just singed Knight in FA and kept the pick. Bucks clearly weren't high on Knight at all.
All we could have kept the pick and use the cash we are about to pay Knight, to sign a guy like Monroe, Harris, Butler, Jordan etc.

Everyone seems fine that we are about to have 30 mill plus locked into our back court, neither all star players both undersized combo guards. I dont get it.

No we couldn't just sign Knight. What people don't see is the Suns have limited options for getting free agents. Here is why

1) Most star level unrestricted free agents want to be on a winning team or a big market. Nash was the last star level unrestricted we signed. It was a star-studded courting of Nash to get him to Phoenix. He saw we had young talent in Amare and Marion. He was a special case because he was older and a big injury risk that Cuban didn't want to re-sign. Before Nash can you think of a star UFA that came to Phoenix. Yeah ... Tom Chambers ... the original unrestricted free agent. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1715 ... ns-history

2) Go hard after a restricted free agent offering a max deal. Two problems with that. First the player has to want to sign with your team. If not forget it. Second, the team owning the players rights can match. Tried it with Eric Gordon ... got matched. Others tried it with Gordon Hayward and it got matched. A really good player is likely to be matched. Also, next year, the Knicks and Lakers will be prowling the free agent list for max players. Would we really be able to sign a RFA over the Lakers or Knicks. No way. Unlikely.

3) Go at it McD's way. You trade assets for a up and coming RFA. Bledsoe for Dudley and a 2nd round pick or Knight for a 1st round draft pick, Ennis, and Plumlee. Now your team is in the drivers seat. You get to match any offer to keep a star player. You've told the player you want them by trading for them. Then you tell the RFA and their agent you will beat any offer made by any team. We will pay you more dollars and offer a longer contract ... just bring an offer to the table.

Otherwise the only other option is we hope we can add enough star players through the draft. That means you need a lot of high picks and a lot of luck drafting (#1 Oden versus #2Durant) and (#2 Beasley versus #5 Westbrook) and (#2 Hasheem Thabeet versus #3 Harden) and (#24 Ibaka). Still you haven't won a chip.

Finally you need to recognize that when we re-sign Knight that if by some luck of nature we find a star UFA or RFA we can get to come to Phoenix then we can still sign them to a max this summer. Otherwise stay under the cap and trade players (Morri, Tucker) and draft picks for other up and coming RFAs. Its a good front office management tool when you are not a large market.

1) Phoenix hasn't really had alot of chances to sign MAX level FA's in the lsat 10 years either. I can think of last year and the year Eric Gordon signed with us and of course Nash. So i dont buy the notion that Max level FA's wont sign in Phoenix.

2)I agree with everything you said. But the thing is I don't like the fact we are about to be paying 30 mill plus to 2 combo guards.Im saying id rather have the Lakers pick and 15 mill to spend on a FA, than paying Knight 14/15 mill.

3)Again I agree, i just hate the fact than Knight is the player we are doing this with.

[bigfoot]

2)I agree with everything you said. But the thing is I don't like the fact we are about to be paying 30 mill plus to 2 combo guards.Im saying id rather have the Lakers pick and 15 mill to spend on a FA, than paying Knight 14/15 mill.

So let's say that happened. Didn't sign Knight and kept the draft pick. We couldn't get a free agent to come last year (Bosh, Lebron, Love, etc) when we had Dragic and Bledsoe, and a decent record. We would have Bledsoe, Len, and a so-so record trying to attract 2015 free agents. I don't think we would get anything. Basically 2016 would be nearly the same team as we have now plus some new bench scrubs. That LaL pick would be coming in 2017 and probably be around #16. No we are in a much better position because even if we had to, Bledsoe could be easily traded.