The 2016 Offseason Thread

[Walt_Uoob]

The Suns have too many guards. There are six guards that need to play. Look at the rotation (Gambo said Knight will backup Bledsoe):

PG: Bledsoe/Knight/Ulis
SG: Booker/Barbosa/Goodwin

How can you please all of them with sufficient minutes. You cannot. There is no way the Suns signed Barbosa for 4 million a year to keep him on the bench. Booker and Bledsoe are the clear starters and will get at least 30 minutes per game. I also do not see Booker playing small forward and going with a Bledsoe/Knight/Booker lineup. Not with Warren and Tucker still on the team. And do not forget Dudley plays small forward too. Even Bender looks like he can play small forward. When you have so much talent, length, and versatility, you do not play a small dual point guard lineup. Knight is the guy that needs to go. There is no point in having a player on the team that wants to be the main ball handler and play at least 30 minutes a game when the team already has players that do that. Knight needs to be on a team where he is the starting point guard and not fighting for minutes.

Everyone seems to think that Booker is not going to play the three. Well I think you are completely wrong in that belief. This will surely happen after the trade for LB, unless Knight is traded.

I foresee our starting lineup on opening to be as follows:

C - Chandler or Len (This is the only position of question)
PF - Dudley
SF - Booker - (maybe Warren but my money is on Booker starting)
SG - Knight
PG - Bledsoe

It surely could be our best lineup at crunch time, unless one of the rookies step up, which likely will not happen early in the year.

The writing has been on the wall since Watson was hired on as coach. He said he saw Booker at the three as viable, as I remember.

Anyone know if they played Booker at 3 at all in the Summer League game? That would be an indication that they're really considering it for the season.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

The Suns have too many guards. There are six guards that need to play. Look at the rotation (Gambo said Knight will backup Bledsoe):

PG: Bledsoe/Knight/Ulis
SG: Booker/Barbosa/Goodwin

How can you please all of them with sufficient minutes. You cannot. There is no way the Suns signed Barbosa for 4 million a year to keep him on the bench. Booker and Bledsoe are the clear starters and will get at least 30 minutes per game. I also do not see Booker playing small forward and going with a Bledsoe/Knight/Booker lineup. Not with Warren and Tucker still on the team. And do not forget Dudley plays small forward too. Even Bender looks like he can play small forward. When you have so much talent, length, and versatility, you do not play a small dual point guard lineup. Knight is the guy that needs to go. There is no point in having a player on the team that wants to be the main ball handler and play at least 30 minutes a game when the team already has players that do that. Knight needs to be on a team where he is the starting point guard and not fighting for minutes.

Everyone seems to think that Booker is not going to play the three. Well I think you are completely wrong in that belief. This will surely happen after the trade for LB, unless Knight is traded.

I foresee our starting lineup on opening to be as follows:

C - Chandler or Len (This is the only position of question)
PF - Dudley
SF - Booker - (maybe Warren but my money is on Booker starting)
SG - Knight
PG - Bledsoe

It surely could be our best lineup at crunch time, unless one of the rookies step up, which likely will not happen early in the year.

The writing has been on the wall since Watson was hired on as coach. He said he saw Booker at the three as viable, as I remember.

Anyone know if they played Booker at 3 at all in the Summer League game? That would be an indication that they're really considering it for the season.

Not at all, I don't think. I know he played next to Kuric some, but I think he was PG during that time. Booker won't be able to work on his post game as a SF, fwiw.

So no, I don't think Knight starts. It's TJ. It upsets me every time I read about someone else starting.

[MrMiyagi]

Anyone know if they played Booker at 3 at all in the Summer League game? That would be an indication that they're really considering it for the season.

Well, he started at the 2. I can't remember if Ulis/Askia Booker, Kuric and Devin were on the floor at the same time.

[letsgosuns]

The Suns have too many guards. There are six guards that need to play. Look at the rotation (Gambo said Knight will backup Bledsoe):

PG: Bledsoe/Knight/Ulis
SG: Booker/Barbosa/Goodwin

How can you please all of them with sufficient minutes. You cannot. There is no way the Suns signed Barbosa for 4 million a year to keep him on the bench. Booker and Bledsoe are the clear starters and will get at least 30 minutes per game. I also do not see Booker playing small forward and going with a Bledsoe/Knight/Booker lineup. Not with Warren and Tucker still on the team. And do not forget Dudley plays small forward too. Even Bender looks like he can play small forward. When you have so much talent, length, and versatility, you do not play a small dual point guard lineup. Knight is the guy that needs to go. There is no point in having a player on the team that wants to be the main ball handler and play at least 30 minutes a game when the team already has players that do that. Knight needs to be on a team where he is the starting point guard and not fighting for minutes.

Everyone seems to think that Booker is not going to play the three. Well I think you are completely wrong in that belief. This will surely happen after the trade for LB, unless Knight is traded.

I foresee our starting lineup on opening to be as follows:

C - Chandler or Len (This is the only position of question)
PF - Dudley
SF - Booker - (maybe Warren but my money is on Booker starting)
SG - Knight
PG - Bledsoe

It surely could be our best lineup at crunch time, unless one of the rookies step up, which likely will not happen early in the year.

The writing has been on the wall since Watson was hired on as coach. He said he saw Booker at the three as viable, as I remember.

If that is the Suns starting lineup or best lineup in crunch time, I expect them to lose every night. They would be the worst team in basketball. That lineup would be 6'1", 6'3", 6'6, and 6'7" at positions 1-4. How are they supposed to defend? They would get destroyed. How could that team defend Curry at 6'3", Thompson at 6'7", and Durant at almost 7'. You want Booker guarding Durant?

If I had to choose, I would trade Knight and Tucker and start Bledsoe, Booker, Warren, Bender, and Len. Ulis, Barbosa, Dudley, Chriss, and Chandler would be my second team. Goodwin and Williams can round out the bench or Goodwin can play more if he shoots better.

I also find this Dudley at the four spot hilarious. Does anybody realize that with Dudley playing power forward, the Wizards knew they were not going anywhere and traded for Markieff. That team was 24-28 in the East with Dudley playing power forward. This is a team that made the second round of the playoffs two years in a row prior to Dudley going there. With Dudley and then Markieff playing power forward, they did not even make the playoffs. They got worse with Dudley on the team. Do people not remember that? If the Suns play Dudley at the four spot, they will suck. I do not care about Bender or Chriss' ages. Talent is what matters. I would play them immediately and let them develop rather than suck with mediocre players playing just because they are veterans.

[NTB]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/WojVerticalNBA/status/752247796263055360[/tweet]

[letsgosuns]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/WojVerticalNBA/status/752247796263055360[/tweet]

Wow!

[MrMiyagi]

If that is the Suns starting lineup or best lineup in crunch time, I expect them to lose every night. They would be the worst team in basketball. That lineup would be 6'1", 6'3", 6'6, and 6'7" at positions 1-4. How are they supposed to defend? They would get destroyed. How could that team defend Curry at 6'3", Thompson at 6'7", and Durant at almost 7'. You want Booker guarding Durant?

If I had to choose, I would trade Knight and Tucker and start Bledsoe, Booker, Warren, Bender, and Len. Ulis, Barbosa, Dudley, Chriss, and Chandler would be my second team. Goodwin and Williams can round out the bench or Goodwin can play more if he shoots better.

I also find this Dudley at the four spot hilarious. Does anybody realize that with Dudley playing power forward, the Wizards knew they were not going anywhere and traded for Markieff. That team was 24-28 in the East with Dudley playing power forward. This is a team that made the second round of the playoffs two years in a row prior to Dudley going there. With Dudley and then Markieff playing power forward, they did not even make the playoffs. They got worse with Dudley on the team. Do people not remember that? If the Suns play Dudley at the four spot, they will suck. I do not care about Bender or Chriss' ages. Talent is what matters. I would play them immediately and let them develop rather than suck with mediocre players playing just because they are veterans.

Um, how does anyone guard that lineup?

It's probably not best to use the most insane lineup ever assembled in NBA history as the benchmark for whether a lineup is good or bad, because until Russel Westbrook, Paul George, and Jimmy Butler join Kawhi Leonard in San Antonio, ain't no one going to be able to effectively guard the GSW.

[darealjuice]

$145 million for 4 years of Evan Turner and Allen Crabbe? I can't say I understand that.

Nets probably missing out on Tyler Johnson too, but at least they're making the Heat and Blazers overpay for these bench guys.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

I'd be ticked if I were a Blazers fan. They don't have a core worth building upon - they're still rebuilding in my book. But they're making investments as if they're ready to move up the standings. Maybe they simply didn't have a great alternative. They would have been better off losing a bunch of games last year. Not everyone can be the Sixers, I guess.

[thamadkant]

If that is the Suns starting lineup or best lineup in crunch time, I expect them to lose every night. They would be the worst team in basketball. That lineup would be 6'1", 6'3", 6'6, and 6'7" at positions 1-4. How are they supposed to defend? They would get destroyed. How could that team defend Curry at 6'3", Thompson at 6'7", and Durant at almost 7'. You want Booker guarding Durant?

If I had to choose, I would trade Knight and Tucker and start Bledsoe, Booker, Warren, Bender, and Len. Ulis, Barbosa, Dudley, Chriss, and Chandler would be my second team. Goodwin and Williams can round out the bench or Goodwin can play more if he shoots better.

I also find this Dudley at the four spot hilarious. Does anybody realize that with Dudley playing power forward, the Wizards knew they were not going anywhere and traded for Markieff. That team was 24-28 in the East with Dudley playing power forward. This is a team that made the second round of the playoffs two years in a row prior to Dudley going there. With Dudley and then Markieff playing power forward, they did not even make the playoffs. They got worse with Dudley on the team. Do people not remember that? If the Suns play Dudley at the four spot, they will suck. I do not care about Bender or Chriss' ages. Talent is what matters. I would play them immediately and let them develop rather than suck with mediocre players playing just because they are veterans.

Um, how does anyone guard that lineup?

It's probably not best to use the most insane lineup ever assembled in NBA history as the benchmark for whether a lineup is good or bad, because until Russel Westbrook, Paul George, and Jimmy Butler join Kawhi Leonard in San Antonio, ain't no one going to be able to effectively guard the GSW.

You cam guard the Warriors by letting players ISO... Curry, Green and Durant needs the ball in their hands to do damage....

[thamadkant]

$145 million for 4 years of Evan Turner and Allen Crabbe? I can't say I understand that.

Nets probably missing out on Tyler Johnson too, but at least they're making the Heat and Blazers overpay for these bench guys.

Yup.. 145 million for players that are supporting role players... They dont move the needle nor they can carry the team even as 3rd options....



Bad bad very very bad signings... GMs listening too much to analytics without context...

Crabbe is not a Klay Thompson who will hit 3s even when defended... He is a spot up shooter...

Steve Novak, Tim Legler, Steve Kerr would be getting 20 million a year these days lol

[Years90Suns]

Has anyone heard rumors about a trade mainly involving Bledsoe and Westbrook?????????

[letsgosuns]

Has anyone heard rumors about a trade mainly involving Bledsoe and Westbrook?????????

No, where did you hear that?

[sunsbum]

I'd be ticked if I were a Blazers fan. They don't have a core worth building upon - they're still rebuilding in my book. But they're making investments as if they're ready to move up the standings. Maybe they simply didn't have a great alternative. They would have been better off losing a bunch of games last year. Not everyone can be the Sixers, I guess.

I just dont get the ET signing. Crabbe would have been fine alone even with the overpay. I guess the Blazers are content with being 7-8 seed.

[NavLDO]

Everyone seems to think that Booker is not going to play the three. Well I think you are completely wrong in that belief. This will surely happen after the trade for LB, unless Knight is traded.

I foresee our starting lineup on opening to be as follows:

C - Chandler or Len (This is the only position of question)
PF - Dudley
SF - Booker - (maybe Warren but my money is on Booker starting)
SG - Knight
PG - Bledsoe

It surely could be our best lineup at crunch time, unless one of the rookies step up, which likely will not happen early in the year.

The writing has been on the wall since Watson was hired on as coach. He said he saw Booker at the three as viable, as I remember.

Anyone know if they played Booker at 3 at all in the Summer League game? That would be an indication that they're really considering it for the season.

Not at all, I don't think. I know he played next to Kuric some, but I think he was PG during that time. Booker won't be able to work on his post game as a SF, fwiw.

So no, I don't think Knight starts. It's TJ. It upsets me every time I read about someone else starting.

I agree. I think Warren has earned the right to start at SF, and is the better SF than Booker. Now, I said "better SF"...NOT..."better player"...there's a difference, and I think a lineup of 6' 1" Bledsoe/6' 7" Booker/6' 8.25" Warren is a much better defensively-capable unit from positions 1-3 than 6' 1" Bledsoe/6' 3.25" Knight/6' 7" Booker...especially if we are starting 6' 7.25" Dudley at the 4. IF/WHEN we want to go 'small-ball', then fine, start the latter, with 6' 5.5" Tucker at the 4. But unless Warren starts the season and he's not "fully-recovered", I see no reason why he wouldn't start, and even if he hasn't 'earned' the start, they would start EB/Booker/Tucker/Duds/Len or Chandler, IMO, before they went with an EB/Knight/Booker lineup.

[saintEscaton]

Yeah lol Olshey should just give up and gut that team, Dame/CJ are taking them nowhere. We are in a much better position because we had the "unknown" intrigue factor on our sides. We had foresight when we made our own treadmill moves /s You guys realize that marquee FAs don't fall for the Cinderella Story right, Rip City isn't a premiere destination yet

[8on]

one last thought:

y'all are lemmings.

here's the deal: you heap unlimited praise onto Booker because the media does. you give Brandon Knight unlimited scrutiny not because he's the worst player in the league, but because the media has no confidence in him. you think Booker is better than Warren at this point because the media hypes 19 year olds more than 23 year olds.

you're desperate for answers. I get that. we have the third longest playoff drought in the league. (however, we have the 10th longest drought since we won a playoff series. that should be more important. who cares about losing in the first round? not me.)

no one will argue with the fact that putting the entire franchise on Booker's back right now, despite his maturity, is a bad idea. he's 19 years old. LeBron wasn't ready, and neither will Devin Booker be, at least not for another 3 or 4 years. he looked great against the Blazers, but it's Summer League.

let's keep Brandon Knight. let's trust Earl to put the best lineup on the floor. let's give B. Knight the benefit of the doubt, and say that he was a bit messed up on account of injuries. let's see what happens when he steps on the floor. let's appreciate the fact that we can start either Booker or Warren, or bring one or both of them off the bench. we've got great depth.

in the last couple of days, Jared Dudley and Ryan McDonough have both echoed my long-standing sentiment: that despite external expectations, the Suns believe they will contend for a playoff spot this season.

let's try that. you'll see. if you can't, then you're a blind lemming. there are way too many of those in this world.....use your head, and you'll see that there are reasons, not excuses, for last season. there is a very clear explanation as to why we'll be better next season. don't fight it. just wait and see.

[darealjuice]

Yeah lol Olshey should just give up and gut that team, Dame/CJ are taking them nowhere. We are in a much better position because we had the "unknown" intrigue factor on our sides. We had foresight when we made our own treadmill moves /s You guys realize that marquee FAs don't fall for the Cinderella Story right, Rip City isn't a premiere destination yet

Lol yeah well they just played themselves out of being significant players in FA for the next couple years after making these ridiculous deals, considering they're at $103 million on the salary table and haven't even brought back Harkless yet. They've had to over pay just to bring their own guys back after making the playoffs last year with a young team, what makes you think that they'll become any more attractive of a FA destination than now?

[BobbieL]

$145 million for 4 years of Evan Turner and Allen Crabbe? I can't say I understand that.

Nets probably missing out on Tyler Johnson too, but at least they're making the Heat and Blazers overpay for these bench guys.

good for the players
but those are , in my opinion, two horrible moves long term for the Blazers
they signed Meyers Leonard to a four year deal today too - at least it seems like a good one 41/4
But Turner and Crabbe have just killed your cap space.
Hello 7th seed forever

[BobbieL]

Has anyone heard rumors about a trade mainly involving Bledsoe and Westbrook?????????

No, where did you hear that?

I have not and I will not believe this trade happens until I see it. Westbrook can opt out after a year. Plus, not sure I want him. Tremendous talent, plays his backside off like nobody else but also takes bad shots and turns it over too much.