Team of the Day: Phoenix Suns Edition

[Smitty731]

I don't want to derail the thread but I will... it is getting old that every single Suns thread is derailed with:

- All Suns are underrated
- You don't know how our team works
- Our GM has done a good job
- Our trash is worth your treasures, but your treasures are barely worth our trash

I think we are all over it. Stop ripping other people's ideas and start adding some of your own. The whole thing is beyond old and we're all tired of locking threads because of it.

You dont know how our team works, maybe we should revisit Markieff Morris threads before you bash Suns fans here.

How many Suns games have you watched? Less than 5, maybe you look at what Suns fans have said in the past which is that we wont just dump Chandler, Tucker or Knight instead of making these salary dump trade suggestions over and over that result in net negative talent.

Dude, watch yourself. You have no idea what you are talking about. I've watched at least 10 entire Suns games and large portions of over 50 others. The timezone lends itself to convenient watching on the East Coast, when the East Coast games are no longer interesting, but the West Coast ones haven't started yet. That much watching of a bad team isn't common for someone who isn't a fan of the team.

In addition, I covered the Suns/Magic in Orlando as a member of the working media, so I was able to talk to the coaches and players about the team. I'm fairly certain you can't say the same. I don't throw this around because, quite frankly, no one cares. But I want you to have an understanding that I do get your team.

Beyond that, everyone here is a pretty passionate basketball fan and all of them have probably watched plenty of your team. They have a pretty good realistic assessment of what the pieces on your roster are worth.

The main point is that you have derailed every single Suns related thread since showing up by overvaluing everyone on the roster and claiming everyone else is wrong and/or stupid when it comes to your team. At this point, we've all gotten several complaints about how no Suns discussion can be had without you jumping in to call everyone wrong and dumb. No one wants to read it. You can argue a point without resorting to that. And, we all need to recognize when we are on an island. Hell, I still think Thomas Robinson can play and he stinks. So, I don't bother bringing it up anymore. When everyone disagrees, please consider you could be wrong, or at least let the point drop and move on.

Further continuation of this is going to end up in us giving you a timeout from the board. No one likes when that has to happen, but to keep the overall harmony, it will be done.

PS: I wasn't bashing Suns fans. I think you have figured out by the tone of your post who it was directed towards.

[jredsaz]

I don't want to derail the thread but I will... it is getting old that every single Suns thread is derailed with:

- All Suns are underrated
- You don't know how our team works
- Our GM has done a good job
- Our trash is worth your treasures, but your treasures are barely worth our trash

I think we are all over it. Stop ripping other people's ideas and start adding some of your own. The whole thing is beyond old and we're all tired of locking threads because of it.

You blasted Suns fans with this in a different thread yesterday. Every fan base on here has the same set of issues regarding their respective teams. I'm sure you have absolute clarity when it comes to player value but for the rest of us it's an inexact science and this board is here to provide us a forum to hash it out.

[Colbinii]

Great post Chuck. I was thinking before clicking on this thread what I would do, and it lines up great with what you are doing.
First off, MDA would be perfect with the bunch of guards they have right now and it would open up things for Booker to hopefully return back to his beginning of the season form where he was lights out.
Second, Harrison Barnes would be great here. I personally want him on my Timberwolves, but if the Suns get him I wouldn't be angry. I think Bender is the guy and I believe from day 1 he would be a better player than Alex Len, who likely isn't going to fit into this core. I would try and move Len for a mid/late lotto pick. 3 Lotto picks this season, along with Booker/Bledsoe/Barnes/Chandler would be a fun team to watch next season.

[Colbinii]

I don't want to derail the thread but I will... it is getting old that every single Suns thread is derailed with:

- All Suns are underrated
- You don't know how our team works
- Our GM has done a good job
- Our trash is worth your treasures, but your treasures are barely worth our trash

I think we are all over it. Stop ripping other people's ideas and start adding some of your own. The whole thing is beyond old and we're all tired of locking threads because of it.

You blasted Suns fans with this in a different thread yesterday. Every fan base on here has the same set of issues regarding their respective teams. I'm sure you have absolute clarity when it comes to player value but for the rest of us it's an inexact science and this board is here to provide us a forum to hash it out.

The point he is trying to make is a lot of Suns fans in recent threads have been acting...a bit...ignorant when fans of the 29 other teams say "This player isn't worth this much" and then they try and refute it as if we have never seen him play. It just seems recently that some fans of an Arizona team have been ignoring facts and it makes them sound childish and it makes having intelligent discussion impossible.

Also, there is no need to come at Smitty with "I'm sure you have absolute clarity when it comes to a players value", you are undermining him as a poster and as a person. This isn't what his post is about and you know that.

[loserX]

Okay, we've all had our say. It doesn't need to be an "us vs them" shoot-em-up!

Let's please get back onto discussing the ideas in Chuck's post, or any alternate suggestions you guys might want to make. If any Suns fan in particular thinks we're all missing the beam (and maybe we are!), I encourage you to post your own ideas so we can see how you value your guys, what pieces you might want to add, what you're willing to discard, etc.

[Texas Chuck]

, or any alternate suggestions you guys might want to make. If any Suns fan in particular thinks we're all missing the beam (and maybe we are!), I encourage you to post your own ideas so we can see how you value your guys, what pieces you might want to add, what you're willing to discard, etc.

yeah loserX and I both agree that while we each enjoy doing this for every team, we really like seeing ideas fleshed out from as many posters as possible and particularly would like to see at least one or two from fans of each team. We have some really smart Suns regulars here and I'd love to see what they would do.


This was my favorite one to do so far and I really thought long and hard about dealing Bledsoe as well.

[R-DAWG]

I look at the the Suns this way. Going into 13-14 they were planning to rebuild/kind of bottom out and prepare for the future. 2013 was a very weak draft and Goran Dragic was considered a nice role player which is why they traded Jarded Dudley for Eric Bledsoe. Because of a career year from Dragic (originally wrote Bledsoe) and outstanding coaching they won 48 games and while Dragic still looks better than a role player it's looking more like both his 13-14 campaign and Pheonix' roster had fluke success winning 48 games. They tried to double down on that success and get over the hump into the playoffs. As we all know, that didn't work out as planned. While the 2 PG mix worked great, adding a 3rd player, Isiaah Thomas, to the mix had an adverse effect on the entire roster. Additionally, Channing Frye was a key part of that team and he wasn't replaced. Obviously there were off court issues with the Morris twins.

All things considered I thought Pheonix did a nice job getting 2 future, unprotected picks from Miami although trading the Lakers pick and Isiah Thomas for Brandon Knight and the CLE pick seems like a mistake. I don't think it's a big enough mistake to cost the GM his job, especially with the Dragic trade (and those MIA picks could easily turn into what Boston's BK picks are today once Wade and Riley are retired and he showed again with the Morris trade this year he can get good value out of bad situations. The final double down with Tyson Chandler to land LMA didn't work, but also didn't kill the Suns long term.

Where Pheonix stands now - there are 3 rookie scale players who are starter caliber in the league (Len, Warren, Booker) but only 1 player has star potential (Booker). Draft pick wise they are still stocked, 2 lotto picks this year and 3 overall, still owning 2 future MIA picks and all their future picks. You can actually make the argument that Pheonix's rebuild is in better shape today than it was 3 years ago.

Right now they need to continue to draft the best available players and be active in the trade market. I'm sure they would be open to cashing out Blesdoe or Knight, but both guys have seen their value decline. Knight is best suited as a combo guard off the bench IMO and while Bledsoe has all the tools to be as good as a Kyle Lowry, health wise he's a major concern. And he's turning 27 in December, not exactly a spring chicken in the NBA. If a star player, like Kevin Love or Blake Griffin, becomes available via trade, Pheonix has a nice stash of young players and picks to go get them. If not, keep building organically.

While they might have the 3rd worst record in the NBA this season, there are much worse future outlooks in this league than the Pheonix Suns.

[bwgood77]

OK, I don't have much time to think about every scenario, and I have kind of mixed feelings on McDonough, but I'll try to outline some sort of plan.

Firstly, I saw Chandler's interview, and it is my personal opinion that his words were taken way out of context. Might he rather be playing for a contender? Sure, I think everyone would, but I don't think he is disgruntled, and I follow the team very closely. He basically insinuated after one game that he's not the type to intentionally lose games.

Anyway, I don't mind having him on the team as a veteran presence. I wouldn't actively try to dump him. Sure, if a team WANTS him, I'll listen. I certainly wouldn't give away assets to get rid of him. Now I understand the Kanter trade isn't doing that, but I don't know that I want Kanter and that contract. I like the veteran presence Chandler provides with all these youngsters, especially with the influx of possibly four more rookies and Bogdan Bogdanovic.

Knight is the one I would love to see what I could get for him. If he has value, I'd like to know what it is. Some Suns fans think a player like him has value, some think he has no value. I think he COULD have some for the right team, but with so many teams having point guards, and him being kind of a combo guard, but short for a shooting guard, he really is best as a sixth man. I imagine his value improves over the next two years as the cap rises, as sixth men might be making that type of money. Some probably already do.

If I was removing McDonough, I would try to do what GS did, and move him into a different position...try not to call it a demotion, but retain him if possible as Director of Scouting and Player Development or something. If bringing in a new GM, Nash has some appeal, but if going with an ex Suns player, I go with Kevin Johnson. He has respect, is a tough negotiator, has plenty of business and political experience, knows basketball....I have a feeling he would be a good communicator with players but also a tough negotiator, and good at building chemistry and talent.

As for the draft, I probably go for Bender and hope that Sabonis is there with the next pick. I also like Chriss, but getting Bender AND Chriss gives you two raw projects and Sabonis is a smart player that could likely start immediately while Bender developed. In any case, I try and get two PFs with those first two picks, perhaps one raw project and one more ready guy, because we have a glaring hole at PF and our at least two deep everywhere else. If we drop to 5th or 6th, maybe either trade down or if not, I still probably grab Sabonis at 6 (I know that's high) and then the project (Chriss or Labissiere) at 12-13...if they are gone, DeVonta Davis.

If Ulis is there with that later (Cleveland) pick, as Chuck stated, that's a fine pick....then I probably try and get Ben Bentil with the 2nd round pick.

Bledsoe/Ulis*
Booker/Jenkins/Bogdanovic*
Tucker/Warren* (try and trade Tucker at deadline or in summer)...if Tucker traded, Booker or Bogdan could slide to 3
Sabonis/Leuer/(Chriss or Labissiere)
Len/Chandler

*Knight can play first pg/sg backup if not traded, but try and trade for a good young defensive wing if possible to play either in front of or behind Warren...with Booker's slowly developing D, a good 3 and d guy like KJ McDaniels would be a good guy to target. Perhaps Knight fits with Harden... a nice floor stretcher...better without the ball in hands...functions as more of a SG but can guard PGs

[NavLDO]

Thanks for posting what I already know.

Now give me an English lesson and tell me where this says that we want Bender.

This is calleddue dilligence.

Due diligence is researching a guy, not this. This is the only front office I've seen doing this for Bender, but hey believe what you'd like.

And Hield hasn't risen nearly that far.

I dunno, I'll bet you a pack of camel turkish silvers that Hield goes top 5

Agreed. He's already risen to #7 on Draftexpress, and #5 on nbadraftnet. A lot can change between March/April and June, but Hield's stock is on the rise.

[bwgood77]

Okay, we've all had our say. It doesn't need to be an "us vs them" shoot-em-up!

Let's please get back onto discussing the ideas in Chuck's post, or any alternate suggestions you guys might want to make. If any Suns fan in particular thinks we're all missing the beam (and maybe we are!), I encourage you to post your own ideas so we can see how you value your guys, what pieces you might want to add, what you're willing to discard, etc.

I linked to it from the Suns forum so maybe you'll get some additional thoughts from Suns fans.

[bwgood77]

Due diligence is researching a guy, not this. This is the only front office I've seen doing this for Bender, but hey believe what you'd like.

And Hield hasn't risen nearly that far.

I dunno, I'll bet you a pack of camel turkish silvers that Hield goes top 5

Agreed. He's already risen to #7 on Draftexpress, and #5 on nbadraftnet. A lot can change between March/April and June, but Hield's stock is on the rise.

Ford says he doesn't think or at least not sure he slides past 4 or 5 also. Minny, one of or worst 3 pt shooting team in league set at FC...not sure there is better fit unless they jump and get Ingram.

[rsavaj]

I don't want to derail the thread but I will... it is getting old that every single Suns thread is derailed with:

- All Suns are underrated
- You don't know how our team works
- Our GM has done a good job
- Our trash is worth your treasures, but your treasures are barely worth our trash

I think we are all over it. Stop ripping other people's ideas and start adding some of your own. The whole thing is beyond old and we're all tired of locking threads because of it.

To be fair, that's pretty much a universal internet sports fan thing. We'll trade you (players who we hate) for (one of the best players in the league), and we'll throw in a top 59 protected 2nd rounder to make it fair....deal?

[rsavaj]

OK, I don't have much time to think about every scenario, and I have kind of mixed feelings on McDonough, but I'll try to outline some sort of plan.

Firstly, I saw Chandler's interview, and it is my personal opinion that his words were taken way out of context. Might he rather be playing for a contender? Sure, I think everyone would, but I don't think he is disgruntled, and I follow the team very closely. He basically insinuated after one game that he's not the type to intentionally lose games.

Anyway, I don't mind having him on the team as a veteran presence. I wouldn't actively try to dump him. Sure, if a team WANTS him, I'll listen. I certainly wouldn't give away assets to get rid of him. Now I understand the Kanter trade isn't doing that, but I don't know that I want Kanter and that contract. I like the veteran presence Chandler provides with all these youngsters, especially with the influx of possibly four more rookies and Bogdan Bogdanovic.

Knight is the one I would love to see what I could get for him. If he has value, I'd like to know what it is. Some Suns fans think a player like him has value, some think he has no value. I think he COULD have some for the right team, but with so many teams having point guards, and him being kind of a combo guard, but short for a shooting guard, he really is best as a sixth man. I imagine his value improves over the next two years as the cap rises, as sixth men might be making that type of money. Some probably already do.

If I was removing McDonough, I would try to do what GS did, and move him into a different position...try not to call it a demotion, but retain him if possible as Director of Scouting and Player Development or something. If bringing in a new GM, Nash has some appeal, but if going with an ex Suns player, I go with Kevin Johnson. He has respect, is a tough negotiator, has plenty of business and political experience, knows basketball....I have a feeling he would be a good communicator with players but also a tough negotiator, and good at building chemistry and talent.

As for the draft, I probably go for Bender and hope that Sabonis is there with the next pick. I also like Chriss, but getting Bender AND Chriss gives you two raw projects and Sabonis is a smart player that could likely start immediately while Bender developed. In any case, I try and get two PFs with those first two picks, perhaps one raw project and one more ready guy, because we have a glaring hole at PF and our at least two deep everywhere else. If we drop to 5th or 6th, maybe either trade down or if not, I still probably grab Sabonis at 6 (I know that's high) and then the project (Chriss or Labissiere) at 12-13...if they are gone, DeVonta Davis.

If Ulis is there with that later (Cleveland) pick, as Chuck stated, that's a fine pick....then I probably try and get Ben Bentil with the 2nd round pick.

Bledsoe/Ulis*
Booker/Jenkins/Bogdanovic*
Tucker/Warren* (try and trade Tucker at deadline or in summer)...if Tucker traded, Booker or Bogdan could slide to 3
Sabonis/Leuer/(Chriss or Labissiere)
Len/Chandler

*Knight can play first pg/sg backup if not traded, but try and trade for a good young defensive wing if possible to play either in front of or behind Warren...with Booker's slowly developing D, a good 3 and d guy like KJ McDaniels would be a good guy to target. Perhaps Knight fits with Harden... a nice floor stretcher...better without the ball in hands...functions as more of a SG but can guard PGs

I was with you until bringing in KJ. Not the guy I'd want associated with my franchise anymore, especially since the accusations against him keep piling up. Dude is not a good human being. Honestly, I think he should be in jail.

[rsavaj]

I like a lot of OP's suggestions(bringing Nash/MDA on board would be great, although I'd keep McDonough in some capacity), but I think that Thunder trade is one I'd turn down if I had veto powers. Kanter doesn't make sense for Phoenix's guard heavy attack, and his defensive shortcomings are not something I want to incorporate into my core going forwards. I think the Suns are pretty happy with Len as their center of the future.

The biggest weakness is at both forward spots. Maybe Warren pans out at SF(he looked promising before his injury), but PF is a gigantic gaping black hole. That's something the Suns need to address.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

1. Trade Chandler. I was behind the Suns bench in the Milwaukee game yesterday, and I don't think his recent taped comments were taken out of context. I think he wants off the team. Not sure what offers would come in, but if we could get a decent return, we take it. Len is outplaying him.

2. Trade Tucker with Chandler. Almost any team that wants to contend would do well to take both of these guys. PJ works his ass off and needs to be in a position to make a difference. Tucker and Chandler for Kanter makes sense in terms of value, but Len's clearly the starter at center due to his rim protection capabilities. Kanter and Knight off the bench would be all offense and no defense. Speaking of...

2. Keep Knight; bring him off the bench. This does two things: (1) improves Knight's performance, and (2) pisses him off. He'll look better to other teams and he'll agitate for a trade. Classic McD.

3. Speaking of McD, keep him. Forever is fine with me, frankly.

4. Coaching - no idea. We could go a number of directions, but one question is, are we a defense-first or an offense-first squad? Hard to tell.

5. Draft. If we're playing this straight, I think there's a good chance we take Bender, but I also think there's a good chance we have our eye on one of Ellenson, Chriss, Sabonis or Johnson. We could take one of these guys with our top pick, but they're all over the board on mock drafts I've seen. So we could also float a trade to Denver, whereby they give us their two top firsts (and maybe something else as well), and we use our abundance of picks to make a bigger deal. Say, Knight and two picks to NY for Melo, who goes to Cleveland, who sends us Love? IDK. So I'll make a conservative assumption that we take Ellenson and Johnson, who should both be available at #5 and #13, respectively. At #28, my best is a draft-and-stash, so I'll disregard for now.

6. Bring in Bogdan. We'll certainly try. In connection therewith...

7. Trade Archie for whatevs. Probably in the deal sending out PJ and Tyson.

8. Free agency: just chill. Re-sign Price. Let Leuer, Budinger and Mirza go.

That's:

Bledsoe/Knight/Price
Booker/Bogdanovic
Warren
Johnson/Ellenson
Len
+ Whatever we get for Tyson, Tucker and Archie.

I'm fine with this.

[OhioKingsFan]

Would the Suns be interested in trading Bledsoe for a top 7-8 draft pick this June? Specifically, would the Kings' pick + Ben McLemore and filler for Bledsoe interest suns fans at all, or is the desire to keep the current young vets on the roster while rebuilding?

[bwgood77]

Spoiler:

OK, I don't have much time to think about every scenario, and I have kind of mixed feelings on McDonough, but I'll try to outline some sort of plan.

Firstly, I saw Chandler's interview, and it is my personal opinion that his words were taken way out of context. Might he rather be playing for a contender? Sure, I think everyone would, but I don't think he is disgruntled, and I follow the team very closely. He basically insinuated after one game that he's not the type to intentionally lose games.

Anyway, I don't mind having him on the team as a veteran presence. I wouldn't actively try to dump him. Sure, if a team WANTS him, I'll listen. I certainly wouldn't give away assets to get rid of him. Now I understand the Kanter trade isn't doing that, but I don't know that I want Kanter and that contract. I like the veteran presence Chandler provides with all these youngsters, especially with the influx of possibly four more rookies and Bogdan Bogdanovic.

Knight is the one I would love to see what I could get for him. If he has value, I'd like to know what it is. Some Suns fans think a player like him has value, some think he has no value. I think he COULD have some for the right team, but with so many teams having point guards, and him being kind of a combo guard, but short for a shooting guard, he really is best as a sixth man. I imagine his value improves over the next two years as the cap rises, as sixth men might be making that type of money. Some probably already do.

If I was removing McDonough, I would try to do what GS did, and move him into a different position...try not to call it a demotion, but retain him if possible as Director of Scouting and Player Development or something. If bringing in a new GM, Nash has some appeal, but if going with an ex Suns player, I go with Kevin Johnson. He has respect, is a tough negotiator, has plenty of business and political experience, knows basketball....I have a feeling he would be a good communicator with players but also a tough negotiator, and good at building chemistry and talent.

As for the draft, I probably go for Bender and hope that Sabonis is there with the next pick. I also like Chriss, but getting Bender AND Chriss gives you two raw projects and Sabonis is a smart player that could likely start immediately while Bender developed. In any case, I try and get two PFs with those first two picks, perhaps one raw project and one more ready guy, because we have a glaring hole at PF and our at least two deep everywhere else. If we drop to 5th or 6th, maybe either trade down or if not, I still probably grab Sabonis at 6 (I know that's high) and then the project (Chriss or Labissiere) at 12-13...if they are gone, DeVonta Davis.

If Ulis is there with that later (Cleveland) pick, as Chuck stated, that's a fine pick....then I probably try and get Ben Bentil with the 2nd round pick.

Bledsoe/Ulis*
Booker/Jenkins/Bogdanovic*
Tucker/Warren* (try and trade Tucker at deadline or in summer)...if Tucker traded, Booker or Bogdan could slide to 3
Sabonis/Leuer/(Chriss or Labissiere)
Len/Chandler

*Knight can play first pg/sg backup if not traded, but try and trade for a good young defensive wing if possible to play either in front of or behind Warren...with Booker's slowly developing D, a good 3 and d guy like KJ McDaniels would be a good guy to target. Perhaps Knight fits with Harden... a nice floor stretcher...better without the ball in hands...functions as more of a SG but can guard PGs

I was with you until bringing in KJ. Not the guy I'd want associated with my franchise anymore, especially since the accusations against him keep piling up. Dude is not a good human being. Honestly, I think he should be in jail.

When I saw the notification you responded to my post, I expected a response in regards to KJ. Fair enough.

[rsavaj]

Spoiler:

OK, I don't have much time to think about every scenario, and I have kind of mixed feelings on McDonough, but I'll try to outline some sort of plan.

Firstly, I saw Chandler's interview, and it is my personal opinion that his words were taken way out of context. Might he rather be playing for a contender? Sure, I think everyone would, but I don't think he is disgruntled, and I follow the team very closely. He basically insinuated after one game that he's not the type to intentionally lose games.

Anyway, I don't mind having him on the team as a veteran presence. I wouldn't actively try to dump him. Sure, if a team WANTS him, I'll listen. I certainly wouldn't give away assets to get rid of him. Now I understand the Kanter trade isn't doing that, but I don't know that I want Kanter and that contract. I like the veteran presence Chandler provides with all these youngsters, especially with the influx of possibly four more rookies and Bogdan Bogdanovic.

Knight is the one I would love to see what I could get for him. If he has value, I'd like to know what it is. Some Suns fans think a player like him has value, some think he has no value. I think he COULD have some for the right team, but with so many teams having point guards, and him being kind of a combo guard, but short for a shooting guard, he really is best as a sixth man. I imagine his value improves over the next two years as the cap rises, as sixth men might be making that type of money. Some probably already do.

If I was removing McDonough, I would try to do what GS did, and move him into a different position...try not to call it a demotion, but retain him if possible as Director of Scouting and Player Development or something. If bringing in a new GM, Nash has some appeal, but if going with an ex Suns player, I go with Kevin Johnson. He has respect, is a tough negotiator, has plenty of business and political experience, knows basketball....I have a feeling he would be a good communicator with players but also a tough negotiator, and good at building chemistry and talent.

As for the draft, I probably go for Bender and hope that Sabonis is there with the next pick. I also like Chriss, but getting Bender AND Chriss gives you two raw projects and Sabonis is a smart player that could likely start immediately while Bender developed. In any case, I try and get two PFs with those first two picks, perhaps one raw project and one more ready guy, because we have a glaring hole at PF and our at least two deep everywhere else. If we drop to 5th or 6th, maybe either trade down or if not, I still probably grab Sabonis at 6 (I know that's high) and then the project (Chriss or Labissiere) at 12-13...if they are gone, DeVonta Davis.

If Ulis is there with that later (Cleveland) pick, as Chuck stated, that's a fine pick....then I probably try and get Ben Bentil with the 2nd round pick.

Bledsoe/Ulis*
Booker/Jenkins/Bogdanovic*
Tucker/Warren* (try and trade Tucker at deadline or in summer)...if Tucker traded, Booker or Bogdan could slide to 3
Sabonis/Leuer/(Chriss or Labissiere)
Len/Chandler

*Knight can play first pg/sg backup if not traded, but try and trade for a good young defensive wing if possible to play either in front of or behind Warren...with Booker's slowly developing D, a good 3 and d guy like KJ McDaniels would be a good guy to target. Perhaps Knight fits with Harden... a nice floor stretcher...better without the ball in hands...functions as more of a SG but can guard PGs

I was with you until bringing in KJ. Not the guy I'd want associated with my franchise anymore, especially since the accusations against him keep piling up. Dude is not a good human being. Honestly, I think he should be in jail.

When I saw the notification you responded to my post, I expected a response in regards to KJ. Fair enough.

Didn't mean to reduce your entire post to that one point, but man...the more I read about KJ, the more I want to throw away my KJ jersey, which is literally the only jersey that I own.

[bwgood77]

Would the Suns be interested in trading Bledsoe for a top 7-8 draft pick this June? Specifically, would the Kings' pick + Ben McLemore and filler for Bledsoe interest suns fans at all, or is the desire to keep the current young vets on the roster while rebuilding?

I doubt it. He is our only pg who is a fairly decent passer a decision maker. Booker is a better passer, but probably not best suited at PG. We'd need to have another plan at PG. Now if we used OUR pick on Dunn, tried to work a deal for Teague somehow and give Atlanta more depth, then trade Bledsoe and take the forward we REALLY want at 7-8 because Chriss, Ellenson and Sabonis could all be gone at 12 and those could be our top 3 prospects at PF.

You get one of those with the Sacramento pick (probably Sabonis then take a project like Skal at 12/13). I don't know if Atlanta would do it, but Knight for Teague...give them a 6th man and they can start Schroeder...if not that, Tucker, Archie and a pick?

Teague/Dunn
Booker/McLemore/Bogdan
Warren/FA or Bogdan or 27th pick
Sabonis/Labissiere (maybe keep Leuer as the starter or immediate backup for a year)
Len/Chandler

[NavLDO]

I look at the the Suns this way. Going into 13-14 they were planning to rebuild/kind of bottom out and prepare for the future. 2013 was a very weak draft and Goran Dragic was considered a nice role player which is why they traded Jarded Dudley for Eric Bledsoe. Because of a career year from Bledsoe and outstanding coaching they won 48 games and while Dragic still looks better than a role player it's looking more like both his 13-14 campaign and Pheonix' roster had fluke success winning 48 games. They tried to double down on that success and get over the hump into the playoffs. As we all know, that didn't work out as planned. While the 2 PG mix worked great, adding a 3rd player, Isiaah Thomas, to the mix had an adverse effect on the entire roster. Additionally, Channing Frye was a key part of that team and he wasn't replaced. Obviously there were off court issues with the Morris twins.

All things considered I thought Pheonix did a nice job getting 2 future, unprotected picks from Miami although trading the Lakers pick and Isiah Thomas for Brandon Knight and the CLE pick seems like a mistake. I don't think it's a big enough mistake to cost the GM his job, especially with the Dragic trade (and those MIA picks could easily turn into what Boston's BK picks are today once Wade and Riley are retired and he showed again with the Morris trade this year he can get good value out of bad situations. The final double down with Tyson Chandler to land LMA didn't work, but also didn't kill the Suns long term.

Where Pheonix stands now - there are 3 rookie scale players who are starter caliber in the league (Len, Warren, Booker) but only 1 player has star potential (Booker). Draft pick wise they are still stocked, 2 lotto picks this year and 3 overall, still owning 2 future MIA picks and all their future picks. You can actually make the argument that Pheonix's rebuild is in better shape today than it was 3 years ago.

Right now they need to continue to draft the best available players and be active in the trade market. I'm sure they would be open to cashing out Blesdoe or Knight, but both guys have seen their value decline. Knight is best suited as a combo guard off the bench IMO and while Bledsoe has all the tools to be as good as a Kyle Lowry, health wise he's a major concern. And he's turning 27 in December, not exactly a spring chicken in the NBA. If a star player, like Kevin Love or Blake Griffin, becomes available via trade, Pheonix has a nice stash of young players and picks to go get them. If not, keep building organically.

While they might have the 3rd worst record in the NBA this season, there are much worse future outlooks in this league than the Pheonix Suns.

Great post! A lot of sound analyses. The Suns have a bright future, but right now, all it is, is speculative and dependent upon sound decisions and draft choices by our GM. Many Suns fans have given up on McD based upon a couple of poor trades, but what many do not take into account is the fact that they were calculated gambles that didn't pan out. Had we secured LMA, the Chandler contract, all of sudden, looks like a decent gamble. Had Bledsoe not gone down this season, Knight would likely have played better, as he did early in the year. Then they choose to blame him for the Morri acting like idiots, soon after they received contracts, and Dragic laying down an ultimatum less than a week before the trade deadline. Never mind the fact McD secured 3 1st Rd picks for Dragic and Kieff, when it was believed by most that Kieff wasn't worth dirt a couple of months ago.

My point is, that it's easy to look at the 'failures', then overlook the 'successes'. I know, as I work in the military intelligence field. How many times have you hard the phrase "intelligence successes" vice "intelligence failures"?? Nope, it's always "operational successes" or "intel failures". Same concept here. McD has done a lot of good for a young, 'up-and-coming' GM, but he's made some mistakes, yet the McD 'haters' will only point to the poor decisions--Knight trade and subsequent contract; Chandler's contract; the 3-headed PG hydra failure; not trading Kieff soon enough, etc. Yet when arguing his successes--Bledsoe trade; Len selection; Warren selection; Booker selection; IT contract, and subsequent trade for a 1st Rd pick; Kieff trade; Dragic trade underpressure, etc., well then, it was either 'luck', or not worthy of mention. But I'll take his 'hoarding' of draft picks over selling picks for cash, that previous GMs preferred to employ in the past. Since he's taken over, we've made 6 1st Rd picks in 3 years, and currently have 10 1st Rd picks in the next 7 drafts, with 3 of those this year.

The Suns are not a good basketball team, and our owner is an idiot. But we do have some pieces to work with, and if McD can hit on just one of his two lotto picks, the Suns could be in contention for a low seed next year. Assuming we keep Knight as a 6th man role, and sign Bogdanovic away from Euro-league:

Bledsoe / Knight
Booker / Bogdanovic / Goodwin
Warren / Tucker
(Draft pick or trade) / (one of Leuer/Teletovic)
Len / Chandler

We'll be weak defensively, and at the PF position, so that, to me, is our biggest concern, but if McD can secure a decent starter this off-season, that's not a bad squad to work with next year, and I don't think I'm being 'overly positive' on our talent.