Trade Deadline Countdown....What will we do? What should we do?

[shakendfries]

I dont get it. Nets fan wants our pick (top 3 protected). When we say no, his response is that there is only 2 maybe-all-star-type players in the draft. Well, if that were so, then wouldnt Brooklyn rather take our pick NEXT YEAR, where there might be more, since this is a weak draft and all? Yeah.......


Its like on the trade board how everyone and their mama downplays Morris and what he can do. They say he is a negative value and has sucked balls this season, yet they are constantly coming up with trades to desperately get him on their team and for cheap. If he is that bad and a negative value, then why do you guys keep posting trade after trade after trade trying to get him? Yeah.....

Personally, I'm not looking for the Nets to draft an MVP (Ingram, Simmons, or even Bender) - just a starting PG. Knight is ok, but I like him at SG more, with a traditional PG and mid lotto pick like Dunn. The Suns already have a lottery pick and fans seem to want to tank for as high a pick as possible- the 3 team would give the Suns the higher of either their pick or the Pelicans pick, and would probably give the Nets the Pelicans pick at 7, which given the needs of the other teams (Denver, Minnesota, Boston already have their PG situation set) would probably work. That's the rationale.

PHX- still able to tank and adds role players of Ryan Anderson, Eric Gordon
NOP- Lopez, Morris
BKN- Asik, Knight, NOP 2016 1st
I am even willing to protect NOP's pick so that PHX guarantees it gets the pick if it ends up higher than NOP's

As I expressed earlier, I completely understand why PHX fans wouldn't be interested since you'd be giving up Knight for nothing, and settling for 2 expiring contracts, but it may be worth considering especially if you think you can get Ryan Anderson + Gordon to resign, and given Knight Bledsoe doesn't work and Morris wants out in the grand scheme.

This is what I'd hope for:
1. PHI
2. LAL
3. PHX
4. BOS (via BKN)
5. MIN
6. DEN
7. BKN (via NOP)
with PHX getting a protection to switch with BKN if the NOP pick is higher

Sorry if my language made the pick situation unclear.

[AtheJ415]

I think there is a 0% chance of McD trading Chandler unless he either asks for a trade publicly or is included in a deal for a star. It would look terrible (for the Suns and McD) and would further decrease our chances of signing good FAs if we keep pitching, signing and then shipping them out.
Same for Knight Imo.

All he'd have to do is ask Chandler if he's open to moving to a contender, given the team is not what he or the FO had anticipated. You could give him say on what team, and only trade him if he approves. It's an easy fix that doesn't require Chandler to demand a trade.

I feel like future potential free agents would be perfectly happy to see the team accommodate a vet by trading him to a contender if things don't end up working out.

[AtheJ415]

I dont get it. Nets fan wants our pick (top 3 protected). When we say no, his response is that there is only 2 maybe-all-star-type players in the draft. Well, if that were so, then wouldnt Brooklyn rather take our pick NEXT YEAR, where there might be more, since this is a weak draft and all? Yeah.......


Its like on the trade board how everyone and their mama downplays Morris and what he can do. They say he is a negative value and has sucked balls this season, yet they are constantly coming up with trades to desperately get him on their team and for cheap. If he is that bad and a negative value, then why do you guys keep posting trade after trade after trade trying to get him? Yeah.....

Personally, I'm not looking for the Nets to draft an MVP (Ingram, Simmons, or even Bender) - just a starting PG. Knight is ok, but I like him at SG more, with a traditional PG and mid lotto pick like Dunn. The Suns already have a lottery pick and fans seem to want to tank for as high a pick as possible- the 3 team would give the Suns the higher of either their pick or the Pelicans pick, and would probably give the Nets the Pelicans pick at 7, which given the needs of the other teams (Denver, Minnesota, Boston already have their PG situation set) would probably work. That's the rationale.

PHX- still able to tank and adds role players of Ryan Anderson, Eric Gordon
NOP- Lopez, Morris
BKN- Asik, Knight, NOP 2016 1st
I am even willing to protect NOP's pick so that PHX guarantees it gets the pick if it ends up higher than NOP's

As I expressed earlier, I completely understand why PHX fans wouldn't be interested since you'd be giving up Knight for nothing, and settling for 2 expiring contracts, but it may be worth considering especially if you think you can get Ryan Anderson + Gordon to resign, and given Knight Bledsoe doesn't work and Morris wants out in the grand scheme.

This is what I'd hope for:
1. PHI
2. LAL
3. PHX
4. BOS (via BKN)
5. MIN
6. DEN
7. BKN (via NOP)
with PHX getting a protection to switch with BKN if the NOP pick is higher

Sorry if my language made the pick situation unclear.

The thing is, the role players you added have 0 value to us as a rebuilding team. They are unrestricted FA's, older than our core, which is a 19 year old Booker, 22 year old Warren, 22 year old Len, a 23 year old Bogdan (overseas now, but coming over next year), 24 year old Knight, 21 year old Goodwin, and 26 year old Bledsoe. Bledsoe is probably at the age where he may fall out of that core also, but we'll see.

So we'd essentially be trading for the right to, if we're lucky and both want to stay, pay 2 guys at full market value (or really overpay given how the NBA works and the expected cap space this offseason) who are 27, plus the right to move up maybe 2 spots if NO continues to suck or nothing if Phoenix out-sucks them, while offloading Brandon Knight, who is 24 and a proven good starter at the least.

The Suns want to get younger. We need either guys who are in that 19-24 year old range, preferably big men, or draft picks, or vets in their mid-late 20s on bargain deals who can later be flipped for what we really want (youngsters and picks). Anderson and Gordon are none of those, and once they expire we'd probably just go after younger guys anyways like Barnes or Meyers Leonard or Terrence Jones or DMo or Fournier or something (depending on the Suns's confidence in Warren). So really, how a Suns fan reads that is Knight and Morris for the option of switching picks with NO. That's just not worth Knight except to those who irrationally hate his guts on here because his playing style offends them. The only way I could see this from Phoenix's end is if NO gives us their pick, instead of just the right to trade picks.

[shakendfries]

The thing is, the role players you added have 0 value to us as a rebuilding team. They are unrestricted FA's, older than our core, which is a 19 year old Booker, 22 year old Warren, 22 year old Len, a 23 year old Bogdan (overseas now, but coming over next year), 24 year old Knight, 21 year old Goodwin, and 26 year old Bledsoe. Bledsoe is probably at the age where he may fall out of that core also, but we'll see.

So we'd essentially be trading for the right to, if we're lucky and both want to stay, pay 2 guys at full market value (or really overpay given how the NBA works and the expected cap space this offseason) who are 27, plus the right to move up maybe 2 spots if NO continues to suck or nothing if Phoenix out-sucks them, while offloading Brandon Knight, who is 24 and a proven good starter at the least.

The Suns want to get younger. We need either guys who are in that 19-24 year old range, preferably big men, or draft picks, or vets in their mid-late 20s on bargain deals who can later be flipped for what we really want (youngsters and picks). Anderson and Gordon are none of those, and once they expire we'd probably just go after younger guys anyways like Barnes or Meyers Leonard or Terrence Jones or DMo or Fournier or something (depending on the Suns's confidence in Warren). So really, how a Suns fan reads that is Knight and Morris for the option of switching picks with NO. That's just not worth Knight except to those who irrationally hate his guts on here because his playing style offends them. The only way I could see this from Phoenix's end is if NO gives us their pick, instead of just the right to trade picks.

Yeah, I figured it would be a tough sell. But consider this; is PHX confident it can get any free agents it wants this summer? It might be better suited locking down FAs it can keep- Gordon won't have many suitors so his market value will be reasonable. Anderson would be the toughest sell - but he's a true stretch 4 and gives everything you'd want from a player at that position. Anderson is also the happy medium between the 33yr old Chandler and 22 yr old Len, and should compliment them both pretty neatly. Wasn't Chandler trying to convince Morris to stay in PHX? Would Tyson have a better shot at convincing Anderson? Is the buyers market for Anderson really that big? Its a risk, but Anderson might be worth forking a $15m contract - especially considering the rookie contracts you have are worth peanuts for the next few years. Do the Suns have a rookie right now that they need to clear the books for? You can go the Orlando route of making all of your players super young and having only 1 vet, but isn't a more nuanced approach worth considering?

Even if you draft Draymond, your roster is missing its David Lee. The Warriors signed David Lee to a $15m contract for that very reason. Its a good move both on and off the court. Anderson, 27, is in his prime and there are some pretty interesting options for PFs in the draft.

[Son of Ra]

I think there is a 0% chance of McD trading Chandler unless he either asks for a trade publicly or is included in a deal for a star. It would look terrible (for the Suns and McD) and would further decrease our chances of signing good FAs if we keep pitching, signing and then shipping them out.
Same for Knight Imo.

All he'd have to do is ask Chandler if he's open to moving to a contender, given the team is not what he or the FO had anticipated. You could give him say on what team, and only trade him if he approves. It's an easy fix that doesn't require Chandler to demand a trade.

I feel like future potential free agents would be perfectly happy to see the team accommodate a vet by trading him to a contender if things don't end up working out.

OK, yes I agree with that option. That was in principle my thought process with Chandler demanding/asking for a trade and us looking good by accommodating the wish.

[RaisingArizona]

We have struck out in FA for a long time now. Cap space doesn't mean as much to us as picks and prospects do I would think.

[dremill24]

Cap space helps..but big names clearly don't want to come here. Can't count on that type of thing to rebuild this team at this point. Targeting guys like the ones suggested on this site's Nets article has to be their plan. Younger role players (Festus Ezeli, Terrence Jones, Evan Fournier, Dwight Powell, Courtney Lee)? are more realistic targets that won't really move the needle immediately but can be around if they find a star through the draft.

[King4Day]

Cap space helps when teams look to create space by dealing us a contract and picks. That's where this franchise is at for the next 2 years at least.

[letsgosuns]

I never want Eric Gordon on the Suns. The Suns were so lucky New Orleans matched that offer sheet a few years ago because he has had so many injury problems and is not that good in the first place. Another undersized shooting guard that is unreliable.

And Ryan Anderson is so overrated.

Think about this. Does everyone consider Anthony Davis a top five or so player in the league? Well if the Pelicans have a top five player in basketball, why do they suck so much? Maybe it is because Davis' supporting cast is terrible. There is no other explanation. So therefore I want nothing to do with any players from the Pelicans that might be available.

[Qwigglez]

Thought of a better idea if a Suns fan were to win the powerball. Tell any free agents you like to join the Suns and you'll hook em up with a couple mil tax free

[Mulhollanddrive]

The good news is McDonough did well with his 2 picks in the last 2 seasons, which means conbuilding hasn't hurt us.

In 2014 - I don't think Wiggins or Parker are that much if at all ahead of Warren, when you take away reputation and expectation.

In 2015 - Towns is the only one who is a clear franchise player, and Porzingis is probably considered just ahead of Booker.

So unless we got the no.1 pick in 2015, we've done as well as any team in the draft during our 2 conbuilding years.

Len, Warren, Booker and hopefully 2016 is the year we cash in on our luck for Simmons.

If that happens we achieve as much as we realistically could hope for in 4 years of draft rebuilding.

[bwgood77]

Spoiler:

I must've missed it but what was the Nets deal being proposed?

A poster from the Nets forum (shakes and fries) posted different variations of proposals in the trade thread....start maybe 2-3 pages back and scroll until you see them. It started after I mentioned possibly dealing with them. Start here... viewtopic.php?f=27&t=1419464&start=981#start_here

Cheers

I don't like that deal unless we replace Bledsoe with Knight.

Posted response in the tank thread but then moved to trade thread since that was the tank thread....here it is...

Yeah, you have to scroll a bunch but that was replaced in later variations. I don't like it with Bledsoe in it either. I'd also rather the pick be more heavily protected, but with Knight/Chandler for those two guys and a protected pick it didn't seem totally ludicrous. Many of our own fans post far more ludicrous trade ideas. The thing is, I don't really see the Nets doing that. They need to keep those vets and add more.

They can't really go young because they don't have draft picks for years, so they should add a pg with the Jack problem, which is why I started out with RHJ and Jack to us for another young guy to our core and for them to get someone to help them during the same time frame they have those bigs under contract. Though I guess this discussion should be moved since we are mods talking in the wrong thread about trades (so now it is here).

[bwgood77]

Check please!!!

I've been browsing this board for like 8 and a half years, and the above is the most ludicrous opinion I've ever read. There's not a close second I can remember. I'm not even factoring in the weakness of this upcoming draft.

Wow. Just wow.

Why? The only guy of those five players I like is Chandler but he is too old now to be worth a top ten pick. The other four guys, I cannot express how much I loathe the fact they are on the Suns. I would dump Bledsoe, Knight, Markieff, and Tucker for second round

...yet every time I come here there you are doing it. Over and over and over again.

One of the reason I don't come here often is your ridiculous, mindless blame/hate gaming.

I've never used the ignore option, but your extreme opinions tempt me

Yes, letsgo, you continue to do this and derail threads, and we need it to stop. I think everyone is well aware you want all those guys traded. Some will likely be traded soon...even in your later post talking about liking Booker, etc, you gradually resort right back to the same rhetoric. I have warned the entire board about people not doing this multiple times (and you personally via PM) so please don't do this.

[LukasBMW]

Well, I didn't win the poweball.

I was planning on buying the Warriors and then trading Curry and Green for Keef, Weems, and Knight.

I'd then sell the Warriors at a slight loss and buy the Suns.

[dremill24]

The good news is McDonough did well with his 2 picks in the last 2 seasons, which means conbuilding hasn't hurt us.

In 2014 - I don't think Wiggins or Parker are that much if at all ahead of Warren, when you take away reputation and expectation.

In 2015 - Towns is the only one who is a clear franchise player, and Porzingis is probably considered just ahead of Booker.

So unless we got the no.1 pick in 2015, we've done as well as any team in the draft during our 2 conbuilding years.

Len, Warren, Booker and hopefully 2016 is the year we cash in on our luck for Simmons.

If that happens we achieve as much as we realistically could hope for in 4 years of draft rebuilding.

Dude..lol. I really like Warren, too..but he's no Wiggins, let's Be real.

[getrichordie]

Hey, guys, Thunder fan here. Just popping into ask a few questions. Since Phoenix is having a fire sale, what kind of trade would you guys offer to get Payne & Kanter?

Also, I haven't been able to watch any Phoenix games except the one where you guys played those Thunder guys. How is Jon Leuer looking? Has he improved? How well can he guard 4s and 5s?

Edit: What about Augustin/McGary/Kanter? Singler/Kanter?

[LukasBMW]

The good news is McDonough did well with his 2 picks in the last 2 seasons, which means conbuilding hasn't hurt us.

In 2014 - I don't think Wiggins or Parker are that much if at all ahead of Warren, when you take away reputation and expectation.

In 2015 - Towns is the only one who is a clear franchise player, and Porzingis is probably considered just ahead of Booker.

So unless we got the no.1 pick in 2015, we've done as well as any team in the draft during our 2 conbuilding years.

Len, Warren, Booker and hopefully 2016 is the year we cash in on our luck for Simmons.

If that happens we achieve as much as we realistically could hope for in 4 years of draft rebuilding.

Dude..lol. I really like Warren, too..but he's no Wiggins, let's Be real.

He's saying that we did damn OK with Warren and Booker.

Yeah, I'd rather have Wiggins or Towns, but unless we won the first pick, we weren't getting either.

We did just as well as any other teams selecting 2-5.

[asudevil]

People forget that for the first month or so of the season Knight/Bledsoe were top5 starting backcourts in the NBA.....on offense.

The two of them were great together and were amazing on the offensive end. p/a/r

Bledsoe: 20/6.5/4
Knight: 20/5/3.5

When healthy, both of them have great value for a team looking for offense.

When you look at what they've allowed on D, it's disgusting....and for the most part cancelled out their production on the offensive end. For almost a month straight these two were legit on offense, but in turn made the opposing team's backcourt (starters/bench) look like all-stars. IMO, you cannot have a.) Knight a subpar defender against the PG along with b.) a decent defender in Bledsoe matching up on guys who are 4-5 inches taller. On D, a 2PG system just doesnt work because the matchups dont work.

I think the best course is to trade Knight for someone who can sub in a starter for the rest of the season, and can move back to the backup next year....and either an expiring/pick or a backup something/pick

Suns trade: Knight/Cavs Pick
Knicks trade: Afflalo/Calderon/2017 First

then, talk to Chandler. If he is content on a rebuilding team for the next 2 years, keep him. If not, then find a playoff contender looking to trade for him with an expiring/late first. Package him with Markieff if possible. I saw a trade earlier that i thought was decent.

Suns trade: Chandler/Markieff
Suns get: Noah/Gibson

Just finish out this season.

Len/Noah
Gibson/Tele/Leuer
Warren/Tucker/Weems
Booker/Afflalo/Goodwin
Calderon/Price/Goodwin

This gives our young guys time to develop over the rest of the season, and for the most part they get some good mentoring. And we'll be bad, but arguably more fun to watch. The offseason we go in with:

Len/?
?/Gibson
Warren/?
Booker/Afflalo/Goodwin
Bledsoe/Calderon/Goodwin

The nice thing here is that we have 3 good guys, on expiring contracts, who can help a playoff contender for a year. And if we cannot find suitors, then they are a safe stopgap for a year. IF we were to hold onto them we'd still have $30mil in cap space to spend on FA's or trade.

IF we get lucky....then draft Simmons at #1. That fills the PF slot. If we end up at #2 or #3, use the pick and trade for Cousins. Sac is going to need a PG of the future, and if they get extremely lucky they could end up with Simmons/Dunn.

OR, if all else fails either use a top pick as trade bait for a star, or draft BPA and make a run at a rounding out the roster. IMO, we'd be decently set in the backcourt with a traditional lineup. There are some pretty good names who are FA's at the PF/C slot that we could use.

TLDR: hold onto Bledsoe, keep him the starting PG. He excelled last year there and should return to form. Trade the guys who either dont want to be here or dont fit. Tank the rest of the year, and after trades use picks/cap space to round out the roster.

[LukasBMW]

Lukasbmw prediction:

-100% chance Keef lasts at least a full week past 1/15. We want to squeeze the market and drag our feet. Especially now since we ain't got nothing else to do.

-50% chance we keep Keef until the summer. Why? In the beginning of the season, Keef played bad so we would lose to screw up our playoff hopes. Now we WANT to lose so it is in his best interest to play well to screw up our tank. But this benefits us in the long run as his value will build back up. Plus again, the suns love to drag stuff out.

-90% chance we keep Brandon Knight. We won't quit on him after giving up so much for him. McDonough wants to give it one more year. Especially with the Bledsoe injury.

-100% chance we keep Tyson unless he asks for a trade. We need his leadership and we have to have some salary under the books.

[Mulhollanddrive]

Warren better @ 2pt FG%, 3pt FG%, FT%, Rebounds per 36, O Rebounds per 36, Less Turnovers, O-Rating, D-Rating, TS%, Win Shares.

Wiggins better @ points per 36 (+3 points), D Rebounds per 36 (+0.2), blocks per 36 (+0.3).

Wiggins may be a slightly better prospect because he has age on his side and his reputation has in built potential and expectation of no.1 pick, but take that away, and it is close and you could argue he's even not better than Warren.

I still only see Towns as a candidate for top 50 GOAT, which every championship team needs, so unless we had no.1 pick in 2015, we've done as well as possible despite conbuilding strategic failure.