PMOTT3 and Chuck Texas Early Off-Season Review: Phoenix Suns

[Damkac]

B+
Booker looked very promising in Summer League so I like this pick so far.
I got opposite feelings about Chandler than PMOTT3. Hated this signing at first but now I like it very much. Contract might be too big and too long but I belive Suns will keep Chandler healthy. He brings defense, rebounds and leadership and is excelent mentor for Alex Len. It's exciting to have two very good centers in the team that was always very weak at that position.
I don't think Knight contract is so bad in comparision with other contracts this offseason.
Trading Marcus Morris is great move. Hopefully this will heal team chemistry.
I like getting Teletovic and Leur. They are not hot names but Suns need shooting PF badly.

Overall it was very good off-season imo. Only bad thing is not getting Aldridge

[NavLDO]

Steak or hamburger ? Easy choice

Would you be eating one of these options while 'jogging on the treadmill'? Sorry, Frank, I couldn't resist, but this does provide an opportunity to get input from 'non-Suns' fans as to whether they believe the Suns are 'treadmilling' or not.

And for anyone reading this, my viewpoint was:

2015--39 - 43 .476
2014--48 - 34 .585
2013--25 - 57 .305
2012--33 - 33 .500
2011--40 - 42 .488
2010--54 - 28 .659
2010--46 - 36 .561
2009--55 - 27 .671

I don't consider those two years "mediocre". Would you consider the 2014 season mediocre if we were in the East and were the 5th seed? Not a single person here can honestly say that they would, but because we missed the playoffs by a game in the West, all of a sudden that's mediocrity?

And the 2013 season was even more so 'not mediocre'--we were flat out bad. So I argue that we have not been mediocre the past 5 years--only three, and they aren't even the most consecutive three--in fact, the most consecutive three seasons are quite different from each other, so no, we aren't on a treadmill--the ONLY treadmill we are on is the 'non-playoff treadmill', but that in and of itself is not 'treadmilling'.

Couple that with the fact we have a whopping 1 player from the 2012-2013 season that was, and is still starting for us. So with all the turnover, and the fact that McD and Hornacek have been on staff just 2 seasons now, that we are not a 'treadmill' team, just inconsistently mediocre for the 2011, 2012, and 2015 season, flat out bad in 2013, and good in 2014.

Other Suns' fans use the fact that we've drafted late lottery (or more specifically, 13th, 14th, or 15th) in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2015 as evidence that the Suns are a treadmill team. My argument is that basing the characterization on draft position is short-sided. Especially if one looks at the dichotomy between the records from 2013 to 2015--.476, .585, .305--those are not insignificant differences.

Anyway, what say you all? Am I wrong in my belief that the Suns are not a 'treadmill' team? If they end up anywhere between 39 and 48 wins this season, while not making the playoffs, then I'd likely begin to believe it might be the case, but not until this next season is complete, and depending on WHY we fell there. Was it injures to multiple key starters for an extended period of time that caused the record, or was it just simply mediocre play?

[bondom34]

Anyway, what say you all? Am I wrong in my belief that the Suns are not a 'treadmill' team? If they end up anywhere between 39 and 48 wins this season, while not making the playoffs, then I'd likely begin to believe it might be the case, but not until this next season is complete, and depending on WHY we fell there. Was it injures to multiple key starters for an extended period of time that caused the record, or was it just simply mediocre play?

Nope, not a treadmill. Too young, too good, too many picks, too much internal improvement.

[Phystic]

As I said over on the Suns board, I simply view a treadmill team as neither progressing or regressing. I don't look at our record as that can be impacted by any number of situations. I look at the fact that we are the bottom part of the lottery every year and have failed to make a significant improvement to either really get into the playoff picture or admitted defeat and go for a rebuild (vs retool) and try to land one high pick(not saying tanking).

As for our offseason...

Don't follow college ball so didn't learn much about Booker until after we drafted him(nor do I know much about the players we passed on for him) but I like what I've seen/read. Good shooter. Not a liability on defense(which isn't bad for a college player). Not sure if we will actually give him minutes but I'm hoping we do.

Chandler signing I understand, and can respect. The contract, however, isn't quite as nice. But I'm of the opinion that he will be a good starter for at least the first two years(assuming our training staff can keep him right) and then a very solid backup for Len the final year or two. If that happens then the contract won't be so bad.

Knight signing I'm indifferent on. It seems like an overpay but based on other contracts handed out it really isn't. He's a talented kid, seems like a genuine nice/intelligent guy. And he wants to be here(based on the few excerpts I've read). Now, I'm not sure how much I like him and Bledsoe together as neither seems to be an ideal PG(Knight being the better option there I think). But we didn't get much time to see them together. But they will get a full training camp together so we will see how they do the first month or two of the season.

I think McD is trying to walk a fine line because Sarver is pressuring to make the playoffs as he always does. But I think McD is trying to set up our future while appeasing our owner. I'm perfectly happy with the moves he's made but I'm thrilled with his aggressiveness in both free agency and trade talks. It's been a long long time(ever?) since the Suns have had a GM like this.

All in all, I'm happy with our offseason and our team. But I really REALLY want our team to actually play our young guys. You don't build players solely on practice. They need to get real NBA experience. Even if it impacts our W/L I'd like to see Goodwin and Booker as our main guard rotation off the bench. I'd like TJ starting with PJ backing him up. Len starting with Chandler backing him up.

As for Keiff, his brother is a joke. Keiff hasn't come out and said a whole lot so it remains to be seen how he feels about staying here. But honestly, I think once his criminal case gets settled and he doesn't get jail time I think the Suns move him immediately. Regardless of his wishes. And honestly, screw him trade his butt as far from his brother as you can.

[RealityIsDemar]

C. I liked Booker, but really didn't like Chandler or loosing Green & Wright too. I didn't like the Morris trade much, but it made some sense. I liked Weems and Teletavic though.