Official Free Agent Thread: What to do with our cap space

[GrantHill]

P.J. Tucket out? I think that they are too similar at this point of their careers. Iguodala is a better ball handler and better passer, but Tucker is a better rebounder and even shooter (incredible ) right now.

I think you can keep Tucker as a bench guy and even play him with Iguodala on the wings if you need wing defense. Other than that, I assume the Warriors would be interested in him as a cheaper replacement. I simply believe that Andre would add another dimension to our play on the court. Tucker's best role is as an energy guy off the bench.

PG: Eric Bledsoe / ?
SG: Brandon Knight / Archie Goodwin
SF: Andre Iguodala / T.J Warren / Danny Granger

Looks good to me

BTW: I'm done with the Morris twins

[Saberestar]

P.J. Tucket out? I think that they are too similar at this point of their careers. Iguodala is a better ball handler and better passer, but Tucker is a better rebounder and even shooter (incredible ) right now.

I think you can keep Tucker as a bench guy and even play him with Iguodala on the wings if you need wing defense. Other than that, I assume the Warriors would be interested in him as a cheaper replacement. I simply believe that Andre would add another dimension to our play on the court. Tucker's best role is as an energy guy off the bench.

PG: Eric Bledsoe / ?
SG: Brandon Knight / Archie Goodwin
SF: Andre Iguodala / T.J Warren / Danny Granger

Looks good to me

BTW: I'm done with the Morris twins

Not a bad idea.
Like a backup PG, I want a veteran with pedegree and a real floor general. Someone like Andre Miller would be amazing for our young guys. Goodwin, Warren and Len need a good passer next to them.

[Mulhollanddrive]

If Iguodala is our centre piece trade, we are conbuilding for real.

[thamadkant]

If Iguodala is our centre piece trade, we are conbuilding for real.

impatience is bad.

[jcsunsfan]

Adding a vet presence to improve the locker room will tend to look like that. But its really about trying to help the young guys mature. I am all for giving Danny Granger that type of role. He is already on the roster.

[KLEON]

I don't think I'll watch the Suns play next season if Bledsoe is still the PG.

[jcsunsfan]

I don't think I'll watch the Suns play next season if Bledsoe is still the PG.

Well, start making other plans, because he is not going anywhere.

[RaisingArizona]

I don't think I'll watch the Suns play next season if Bledsoe is still the PG.

Bye, Felicia.

[Kyler Murray]

Our guard rotation is pretty solid, we also need to have some room when Bogdan comes over. Our SF position is covered with T.J. and P.J, really hopeful that T.J. is gonna rise to the occasion. We need to strengthen our frontlive, would love to get a solid young big via draft or trade, I believe Markieff is better suited for a 6th man role who provides instant scoring.

[thamadkant]

Simply, Suns need to start expediting the development of Warren, Goodwin and Len.

Just like Celtics got Rondo, Spur with Kawhi, Pacera with George etc... How they inserted these guys into the main rotation even starting lineup, allow them to grow and learn from their mistakes on the court.

Warren won't out-hustle a 29 year old bullog in Tucker, but he can surpass him by end of the year as a overall player... Goodwin won't out shoot any of the guards on the Suns, but by end of the season he can be a pesky defender who can slash with the top players in his spot. It's all about having them dropped in the deep end and told to swim or die.

It's not their rookie season, they will also have another off season to get bigger and stronger... But they need to be burned by the best players in the world in order for them to learn and adapt to those players whilst they are young and hungry.

Bogdanovic is getting great experience in Europe, and I'm confident he will be ready to put up minutes also when comes over. But suns need to make the decision to lay the responsibilities on the youth's hands.

Train them now and develop then now... So in 1-2 years time they are in a better position to contend long term.

The Morrii, Tucker's etc have shown their cards and clearly are not stars. Markieff is not a star no matter how much you want him to be... He is a support player that has a bad attitude that may be rubbing off on the youth. Tucker too... Even though you love him crashing the boards and hustling... His demeanour on the court isn't ideal... Maybe if he can swap personalities with Bledsoe, then I think he can stay.

Speaking of Bledsoe... The guy is a stud... Unfortunately in an era where the upper echelon of PGs are good shooters a well as play makers, he'd be twice more valuable back a few years when the NBA lacked star PGs. Bledsoe's defense is still good .. But his leadership is non-existent... For a guy with an intimidating body and abilities... His passive nature and quiet self is not ideal as the team's leader.

Knight is very flawed... Can't defend as good as Bledsoe but can shoot the outside shot... Funnily if you combine both players strengths into one PG, you get the ideal PG for the Suns...

No matter...
Suns need to make changes and decide I either go all in for star players or do what I implied above... Give the keys to the youth and let them explode. See what they have sooner than later... The west is still out of reach... Why not see what you have (again) with the youth to give the team a better direction in the near future.

[sunskerr]

Why can't PJ Tucker play the "4"? And by play the 4 I mean we'd really just be playing two small forwards and PJ would just do what he regularly does which is shoot 3s. The only difference would be perhaps guarding the opposing power forward.

Is he simply not strong/big enough? I really feel like a front court of (assuming they develop) Warren/Tucker/Len is better than Morris/Len.

Honestly I'd rather he start at power forward (again, in name only) than either of the Morris bros. Infact, I dont even want them on the team. I never could stand their slow iso-based play, and between the whole confrontation with Hornacek and the assault charges they're really not worth the hassle. I really dont see the value of passing to Markieff in the post so he can fade away. Tucker brings better floor spacing and is probably a better rebounder too. Such a change in the lineup might allow him to do what he does best better. Len might appreciate it as well.

[jcsunsfan]

This team needs better shooting, ball movement, and rebounding--in that order.

I love Archie, but until his shot becomes excellent (not average) he is not going to see consistent minutes on this team. Knight has shown glimpses of being a decent shooter, he will get a chance to show its not a fluke. We need a 3 and D shooting guard. We need a true stretch 4 or 5. What would be great is a pick and pop and pick and roll pf/c. Markieff wants to go one on one, and Wright and Len do not have the outside shot. We need a rebounder (hopefully Len can help there).

Bledsoe could be really good with the right players around him. He is not versatile enough to make just any set of decent players better. He has to have shooters around him. Bledsoe could be a top level pg if he could shoot 40% from the three.

As much as we like Archie's potential, trading him has to be a consideration. Its really difficult. If he developed his outside shooting, he is all-star material. But who knows if he will.

[MathiasPW]

Why can't PJ Tucker play the "4"? And by play the 4 I mean we'd really just be playing two small forwards and PJ would just do what he regularly does which is shoot 3s. The only difference would be perhaps guarding the opposing power forward.

Is he simply not strong/big enough? I really feel like a front court of (assuming they develop) Warren/Tucker/Len is better than Morris/Len.

Honestly I'd rather he start at power forward (again, in name only) than either of the Morris bros. Infact, I dont even want them on the team. I never could stand their slow iso-based play, and between the whole confrontation with Hornacek and the assault charges they're really not worth the hassle. I really dont see the value of passing to Markieff in the post so he can fade away. Tucker brings better floor spacing and is probably a better rebounder too. Such a change in the lineup might allow him to do what he does best better. Len might appreciate it as well.

I wrote a long answer and then noticed I didn't agree to myself. PJ could play the 4 on offense with pure spacing and rebounding (he even has a little of back-to-basket game). On defense he is not a liability, although we wouldn't be maxing his strenght by making him defend in the paint. But thinking on him spacing and forcing the defense to spread opening space for Bledsoe and Knight to drive would work closely to what Frye used to add to the team. Less shot-blocking, but better at blocking passing lanes into the paint, with Len covering up. There are some really strong and/or long PF's that PJ wouldn't be able to match, though (Randolph, Aldridge, Favors, Monroe, AD...)

[jcsunsfan]

PJ was actually quite effective at the 2. I would prefer that over him playing the 4.

[Saberestar]

P.J. can play SG, SF and PF... BUT coming of the bench. He can be an starter too, but he need All Star talents around him if we are gonna be a contender with him like starter.

[Mulhollanddrive]

We'll have an expensive bench if its:

Goodwin 2
Tucker 5
Morris 5
Morris 8
Wright 5

Plus 5m for the 11-15 on our roster. If we spend 65m, that means 30m on the bench and 35m on starters.

[AtheJ415]

We'll have an expensive bench if its:

Goodwin 2
Tucker 5
Morris 5
Morris 8
Wright 5

Plus 5m for the 11-15 on our roster. If we spend 65m, that means 30m on the bench and 35m on starters.

No we won't. All that means is we have an inexpensive starting lineup. With the new cap, this is nothing. It's the equivalent of 0, 3, 3, 6, 3.

[Scutt]

This team needs better shooting, ball movement, and rebounding--in that order.

I love Archie, but until his shot becomes excellent (not average) he is not going to see consistent minutes on this team. Knight has shown glimpses of being a decent shooter, he will get a chance to show its not a fluke. We need a 3 and D shooting guard. We need a true stretch 4 or 5. What would be great is a pick and pop and pick and roll pf/c. Markieff wants to go one on one, and Wright and Len do not have the outside shot. We need a rebounder (hopefully Len can help there).

Bledsoe could be really good with the right players around him. He is not versatile enough to make just any set of decent players better. He has to have shooters around him. Bledsoe could be a top level pg if he could shoot 40% from the three.

As much as we like Archie's potential, trading him has to be a consideration. Its really difficult. If he developed his outside shooting, he is all-star material. But who knows if he will.

So Goodwin has to be an all-star just to crack the Suns rotation?

He is on a rookie contract and is 20 years old, furthermore he is one of the few young guys with potential that the Suns have. You want to trade a 20 year old away because he isn't a great shooter yet? That seems kind of short sighted to me...

[Scutt]

Double post

[thamadkant]

Goodwin with 30+ minutes against the Clippers scored 18 points... last season against Kings he scored 29.

In several games this season with 20+ minutes he has put up stats... as a 20 year old who is still in terms of understanding of the game and developing a shot... thats pretty good.

People focus on the negative too much, when they should be looking at the things he does well.