Suns Offseason Thread 4: Where's Terrence Williams?

[Hesh]

who really cares. Suns have more leverage here. He's under contract. He can sook as much as he wants and if he doesn't shape up well he's only hurting his own stock.

[aIvin adams]

[plonden]

I imagine a few of you listen to the Lowe Post. Dudley was on the most recent episode and he absolutely hates on Lindsey Hunter at about 45 minutes. The one coach he mentioned that he "wouldn't play for". Oh well... we got Alex Len out of it

He also says he wants to play stretch-4 this year a la Paul Pierce in the playoffs.

Oh... and that he was interested in coming back to Phoenix this off-season (it looks like we chose Mirza instead).

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnradio/podcast/archive?id=10528553

Dudley wrecked Hunter. That was great. Lowe gave him an out too. He wasn't even asking Dudley to name names.

[plonden]

Here's a good SI piece discussing the Suns offseason with McDonough.

Here's an interesting nugget about Tyson Chandler:

"As with any draft pick or free-agent negotiation, you do a lot of projection," McDonough said. "Tyson’s a very lean, naturally athletic guy at 7-1. Our studies show that those guys age pretty well. I was part of the Celtics team with Kevin Garnett, who was then in his mid-30s and is now in his late 30s getting close to 40 and still playing at a pretty high level. I think of Dirk Nowitzki—a different player, obviously, but a long, lean body. Tim Duncan comes to mind. Those guys tend to age pretty well. So in a few years, Tyson will still be in his mid-30s, (will) still be 7-1.

About the Marcus Morris trade:

"We decided it was a deal we would have done independently of whether we got LaMarcus or not, just for roster balance and future flexibility reasons," McDonough said.

Built into that trade calculus was the opportunity cost of keeping the Suns' better prospects buried in the playing rotation. Second-year forward T.J. Warren—who dominated in a short D-League stint and was one of the top scorers at the Las Vegas Summer League for two years running—played all of 614 minutes for Phoenix last season to Marcus Morris's 2,045. A trade would cleanly create opportunities for Warren without sacrificing any crucial players while clearing salary for Aldridge in an especially volatile market.

About the Mirza Teletovic signing:

"That made it a lot easier to negotiate a deal," McDonough said. "We’ve been looking for a stretch big ever since Channing Frye left to go to the Orlando Magic. Mirza’s a guy who had a hip injury this past season and had the scary incident with the blood clots but if you look the year before that he shot 39% from three on a high volume of attempts. That’s kind of how we play in Phoenix. We try to get up and down and score a lot in transition. Then if we can’t do that, we try to space the floor and shoot a lot of threes and we feel like Mirza checked a lot of boxes for us."

That Teletovic does so at no long-term cost whatsoever fits the team's build. Phoenix is in a position, cap-wise, to be as pliable as ever: Flexible enough to make a deadline move to enhance its playoff contention, able to play the long game with developing players, and set to make significant moves next summer without giving up many (or any, if preferred) of its projected rotation players. Even as the roster improves, the Suns' capacity to surprise endures.

[NTB]

Aw i was gonna post the same article You got me this time.

[NTB]

http://www.nba.com/suns/one-one-ryan-mcdonough

Nice interview with McD that sums up the off-season moves and roster balance/shape. We've heard or read these sentences but its still nice to hear it again.

[bwgood77]

It doesn't matter really. The point is he could say something positive after his last tweet to make things clear.

I'm sure if they can win a trade by shipping him out, they will do it. But they won't trade him because of a tweet.

I'm not saying "trade Kieff immediately" or "get rid of him ASAP". I just don't want to see any problems unrelated to basketball anymore and I want all of our players to focus on basketball.

I think we can all agree on that (the second sentence).

[RaisingArizona]

People.

Marcus IS.GONE.

HE.WAS.THE.MAIN.REASON.KIEFF.ACTED.UP.


KIEFF IS GOOD. FOR 8M A YEAR HE'S REALLY GOOD.


Is this really hard to understand?

the guy at the least is a super sub off the bench who knows he may improve with a big C like Chandler now.

Kieff at 8M or your boy Danilo Gallinari for 17M idk tough call.

I guess Markieff is still acting up. Hasn't met with GM or coach.

You went full letsgosuns. Never go full letsgosuns.

[LukasBMW]

I wonder if on some level Keef will be relieved that his brother is gone? Maybe not now, but when camp starts and he can focus on being his own person?

I know they are twins, I know they are close, but Keef is the older one, Keef is the better ball player, and Keef was the one dragged into the fight.

Maybe Keef feels like he has to go along with his younger brother actions and "baby" him and "support" him.

And yes, I know they are essentially the exact same age, but anyone who knows twin physiology will tell you that the older one is ALWAYS the older one regardless of if it is 5 minutes or 5 years apart.

[carey]

I wonder if on some level Keef will be relieved that his brother is gone? Maybe not now, but when camp starts and he can focus on being his own person?

I know they are twins, I know they are close, but Keef is the older one, Keef is the better ball player, and Keef was the one dragged into the fight.

Maybe Keef feels like he has to go along with his younger brother actions and "baby" him and "support" him.

And yes, I know they are essentially the exact same age, but anyone who knows twin physiology will tell you that the older one is ALWAYS the older one regardless of if it is 5 minutes or 5 years apart.

I highly doubt any of that is true.

[bwgood77]

I wonder if on some level Keef will be relieved that his brother is gone? Maybe not now, but when camp starts and he can focus on being his own person?

I know they are twins, I know they are close, but Keef is the older one, Keef is the better ball player, and Keef was the one dragged into the fight.

Maybe Keef feels like he has to go along with his younger brother actions and "baby" him and "support" him.

And yes, I know they are essentially the exact same age, but anyone who knows twin physiology will tell you that the older one is ALWAYS the older one regardless of if it is 5 minutes or 5 years apart.

I think some part of him might be relieved. He was progressing fairly well in Phoenix before Marcus showed up, but Marcus was struggling in Houston. Part of that may have been due to being split from his brother for the first time. Since he was in the worse situation basketball wise, as far as playing time goes, he was probably more unhappy.

But even when they were together, Markieff was ALWAYS the more cool headed and respectful one. Just the way things come across and they way he phrases things is a far different way than the way Marcus did. He is just more of a professional.

[SideSwipe]

Anyone else think one player on our roster could make a difference. I know there has been some debate before, but it seems like now more than ever a push to get Pau Gasol would be smart.

PHX/TOR/CHI trade:

PHX trades: Tucker, Morris, Cavs #1, receives: Gasol, Caboclo
TOR trades: Nogueira, Caboclo, Ross receives: Morris, Bairstow
CHI trades: Gasol, Bairstow receives: Tucker, Nogueira, Ross, Cavs #1

Bledsoe/ Goodwin/ Price
Knight/ Booker
Warren/ Weems/ Caboclo
Gasol/ Mirza/ Leuer
Chandler/ Len

I think that team would have a great chance to end in the 4-6 range in the playoff hunt, possibly higher even. Great defense at two positions, scoring at three-four positions, rebounding, passing and bench wing players that could rotate in and really pick up the pace.

[AtheJ415]

I'd much rather have a 25 year old Markieff for the next 5 seasons at his contract than Pau Gasol at his age, who while an upgrade, wouldn't come close to making us a real title contender.

[SideSwipe]

I'd much rather have a 25 year old Markieff for the next 5 seasons at his contract than Pau Gasol at his age, who while an upgrade, wouldn't come close to making us a real title contender.

To attract FA's that make a difference we have to be relevant. That's what has changed over the years. Weather and quality of living are great, but a team that has little prospect of winning will have a tough time attracting FA's. Gasol can help us win now, fits in well with his skillset and brings championship experience. Give me that for 2-3 years while the other young guys come along and we have the beginning of another long run in the playoffs.

[bwgood77]

I'd much rather have a 25 year old Markieff for the next 5 seasons at his contract than Pau Gasol at his age, who while an upgrade, wouldn't come close to making us a real title contender.

To attract FA's that make a difference we have to be relevant. That's what has changed over the years. Weather and quality of living are great, but a team that has little prospect of winning will have a tough time attracting FA's. Gasol can help us win now, fits in well with his skillset and brings championship experience. Give me that for 2-3 years while the other young guys come along and we have the beginning of another long run in the playoffs.

I think Gasol is great, but with our team right now, we need a PF who can hit the 3. We have floor spacing problems that I hope we have addressed to some extent, but we would have no chance in the west with Pau on OUR team.

[AtheJ415]

I'd much rather have a 25 year old Markieff for the next 5 seasons at his contract than Pau Gasol at his age, who while an upgrade, wouldn't come close to making us a real title contender.

To attract FA's that make a difference we have to be relevant. That's what has changed over the years. Weather and quality of living are great, but a team that has little prospect of winning will have a tough time attracting FA's. Gasol can help us win now, fits in well with his skillset and brings championship experience. Give me that for 2-3 years while the other young guys come along and we have the beginning of another long run in the playoffs.

Our team's chances of winning over a future FA's time with the team is enhanced with Markieff at PF moreso than Gasol. Their respective ages matter a lot in this regard.

The only thing Gasol provides for us going forward is a bigger name. You don't half-ass a rebuild by giving up to go "relevant" by trading the young guys who are proven for over the hill vets. That's literally the worst thing we could do. I'd be almost as open to Joe Johnson.

[SideSwipe]

I'd much rather have a 25 year old Markieff for the next 5 seasons at his contract than Pau Gasol at his age, who while an upgrade, wouldn't come close to making us a real title contender.

To attract FA's that make a difference we have to be relevant. That's what has changed over the years. Weather and quality of living are great, but a team that has little prospect of winning will have a tough time attracting FA's. Gasol can help us win now, fits in well with his skillset and brings championship experience. Give me that for 2-3 years while the other young guys come along and we have the beginning of another long run in the playoffs.

I think Gasol is great, but with our team right now, we need a PF who can hit the 3. We have floor spacing problems that I hope we have addressed to some extent, but we would have no chance in the west with Pau on OUR team.

We have Mirza, and Pau is great at spacing with his baseline jumpers, I think fit wise he would do great in that regard. I think if anything its the running that would hold him back.

[SideSwipe]

I'd much rather have a 25 year old Markieff for the next 5 seasons at his contract than Pau Gasol at his age, who while an upgrade, wouldn't come close to making us a real title contender.

To attract FA's that make a difference we have to be relevant. That's what has changed over the years. Weather and quality of living are great, but a team that has little prospect of winning will have a tough time attracting FA's. Gasol can help us win now, fits in well with his skillset and brings championship experience. Give me that for 2-3 years while the other young guys come along and we have the beginning of another long run in the playoffs.

Our team's chances of winning over a future FA's time with the team is enhanced with Markieff at PF moreso than Gasol. Their respective ages matter a lot in this regard.

The only thing Gasol provides for us going forward is a bigger name. You don't half-ass a rebuild by giving up to go "relevant" by trading the young guys who are proven for over the hill vets. That's literally the worst thing we could do. I'd be almost as open to Joe Johnson.

Pau is not just a bigger name, he's a proven performer that scores better than Markieff, rebounds better than Markieff and passes better than Markieff. Winning means capitalizing on wins sooner rather than later. Unless Kieff takes a big jump, he will not match what Gasol does for the next two years. McDonough's reference to tall lean players able to play basketball longer applies to Gasol. Also Gasol hit the three ball at a .462 rate last year

[BobbieL]

I'd much rather have a 25 year old Markieff for the next 5 seasons at his contract than Pau Gasol at his age, who while an upgrade, wouldn't come close to making us a real title contender.

To attract FA's that make a difference we have to be relevant. That's what has changed over the years. Weather and quality of living are great, but a team that has little prospect of winning will have a tough time attracting FA's. Gasol can help us win now, fits in well with his skillset and brings championship experience. Give me that for 2-3 years while the other young guys come along and we have the beginning of another long run in the playoffs.

I think Gasol is great, but with our team right now, we need a PF who can hit the 3. We have floor spacing problems that I hope we have addressed to some extent, but we would have no chance in the west with Pau on OUR team.

Markieff isn't a great at the three ball. His brother was better. Markieff was pretty good with that mid range shot -.

If Markieff doesn't want to be in Phoenix, I like the move. Gasol still has pretty good moves and he can pass and probably has a better low post game than Markieff. Moving Tucker also opens up a spot for Warren and the Suns would then go find another small forward I would guess to replace Tucker (and that wouldn't be hard if the plays like he did last year).

I know its just a good idea trade with probably little basis for happening but especially if Markieff doesn't want to be in Phoenix, would like it.

Is Pau even on the market? Is there rumors of the Bulls putting Pau on the market?

[Puff]

To attract FA's that make a difference we have to be relevant. That's what has changed over the years. Weather and quality of living are great, but a team that has little prospect of winning will have a tough time attracting FA's. Gasol can help us win now, fits in well with his skillset and brings championship experience. Give me that for 2-3 years while the other young guys come along and we have the beginning of another long run in the playoffs.

Our team's chances of winning over a future FA's time with the team is enhanced with Markieff at PF moreso than Gasol. Their respective ages matter a lot in this regard.

The only thing Gasol provides for us going forward is a bigger name. You don't half-ass a rebuild by giving up to go "relevant" by trading the young guys who are proven for over the hill vets. That's literally the worst thing we could do. I'd be almost as open to Joe Johnson.

Pau is not just a bigger name, he's a proven performer that scores better than Markieff, rebounds better than Markieff and passes better than Markieff. Winning means capitalizing on wins sooner rather than later. Unless Kieff takes a big jump, he will not match what Gasol does for the next two years. McDonough's reference to tall lean players able to play basketball longer applies to Gasol. Also Gasol hit the three ball at a .462 rate last year ;)

Who will the great Pau Gasol guard at crunch time when we play teams like Golden State?