Season Speculation, Trade Ideas and Discussion

[nashrambler13]

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2016/10/27/suns-insert-tyler-ulis-dragan-bender-into-rotation/92820030/

Suns rookies Tyler Ulis and Dragan Bender will replace Leandro Barbosa and P.J. Tucker in the bench unit that will keep Brandon Knight, Marquese Chriss and Alex Len.

“To me, they play with the most heart,” Watson said. “Heart gets rewarded.”

Ulis, 20, and Bender, 18, were rare bright spots in a game that the Suns trailed by as much as 26 and lost by 19, the largest season-opening margin of defeat in Suns franchise history.

Ulis was aggressive defensively with ball pressure to be part of a 20-4 run that included eight of Bender’s 10 points in 12 minutes.

“We need that energy,” Watson said. “We need those steals, deflections and we need that purpose. So those guys kind of earned minutes now.”

Earl "The Human Knee-Jerk" Watson with the quick moves.

(I am on board with this decision. I just fear such tendencies in a coach.)

[kennydorglas]

I certainly respect this decision.
Better than ride all our vets until they cant play anymore (Horny with Plumlee)

[King4Day]

I'm surprised he's making the change this quick, but, my guess is, they made the decision on what the rotation would look like long ago, and things changed over the weeks since then.
I'm fine with it.
If we start the season slow (very possible we start 0-5 or worse given who we play and that 11 of the first 15 games are on the road), I could see McD begin focusing on finding suitors for Tucker and Knight. Maybe let them play more to build their value.

[Blackification]

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2016/10/27/suns-insert-tyler-ulis-dragan-bender-into-rotation/92820030/

Suns rookies Tyler Ulis and Dragan Bender will replace Leandro Barbosia and P.J. Tucker in the bench unit that will keep Brandon Knight, Marquese Chriss and Alex Len.

“To me, they play with the most heart,” Watson said. “Heart gets rewarded.”

Ulis, 20, and Bender, 18, were rare bright spots in a game that the Suns trailed by as much as 26 and lost by 19, the largest season-opening margin of defeat in Suns franchise history.

Ulis was aggressive defensively with ball pressure to be part of a 20-4 run that included eight of Bender’s 10 points in 12 minutes.

“We need that energy,” Watson said. “We need those steals, deflections and we need that purpose. So those guys kind of earned minutes now.”

Earl "The Human Knee-Jerk" Watson with the quick moves.

(I am on board with this decision. I just fear such tendencies in a coach.)

Fully on board with this decision. No bull just play who wants to be on the court and produce. The only issue I have is with McD and signings like Barbosa which were unnecessary. Watson is working with what he has and who is on the court making it happen. Plus the development of the rooks is way more important so its a no brainer if they are producing at the same time

[RaisingArizona]

If Len can't even get it together on a contract year, I want nothing to do with his contract extension.

[MrMiyagi]

If Len can't even get it together on a contract year, I want nothing to do with his contract extension.

Yep. This is his make or break year for him. I don't think he's a bad player, but there's a good chance he gets a dump truck of money to Scrooge McDuck in and I don't think he's worth it.

[LukasBMW]

If I was a betting man, I'd bet on:

-Suns are below .500 by January 1st.
-Bledsoe is putting up numbers but getting frustrated.
-PJ is playing more minutes due to injuries. He's playing like PJ, hustle but no skill.
-Len is still inconsistent.
-Knight has lost all confidence and is playing like trash


Strategy:

If Bledsoe is putting up numbers and is healthy, with 2 years left on his (now bargain) contract, he will never have higher trade value. We should move him for youth or a pick but spin it to make him want to be traded so he can win. Act like we did it for him and make sure he is on board. With his injury history, who knows if he will last through another losing season and with 2 years left on his deal, his value starts to decrease.

PJ is as good as gone at the end of the year. We don't need him now that we have JD and he probably will want to go somewhere he can win. I'd love to move him to a contender for a super late 1st round pick. It's not that I expect a late first round pick to be valuable, but it gives us another pick to "throw in" for a future deal or another pick to package so we can move up on draft day.

If we can find a good return for Len or include him in another deal, I hope we do it. I don't want to pay him the money he will get on the open market. He's not worth it. If the Warriors are still in need of a center that is not completely horrible, they may be an ideal trade partner since Len's salary is low enough for them to acquire him with spare parts plus future picks. Then they can sign him in the summer and go way over the cap.

Give Knight the keys. Let him start but limit his minutes so the youth doesn't get frustrated. Let him boost his confidence and boost his stats. Then trade him over the summer or early next year. But no way do I sell low on him.


Chandler, Dudley, and Barbosa still hold down the locker room with Pastor Watson.

[MrMiyagi]

It's been 1 game, guys. Let's hold off on the trade Bledsoe and Knight talk.

[sunshoopjunky]

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2016/10/27/suns-insert-tyler-ulis-dragan-bender-into-rotation/92820030/

Suns rookies Tyler Ulis and Dragan Bender will replace Leandro Barbosa and P.J. Tucker in the bench unit that will keep Brandon Knight, Marquese Chriss and Alex Len.

“To me, they play with the most heart,” Watson said. “Heart gets rewarded.”

Ulis, 20, and Bender, 18, were rare bright spots in a game that the Suns trailed by as much as 26 and lost by 19, the largest season-opening margin of defeat in Suns franchise history.

Ulis was aggressive defensively with ball pressure to be part of a 20-4 run that included eight of Bender’s 10 points in 12 minutes.

“We need that energy,” Watson said. “We need those steals, deflections and we need that purpose. So those guys kind of earned minutes now.”

Earl "The Human Knee-Jerk" Watson with the quick moves.

(I am on board with this decision. I just fear such tendencies in a coach.)

Agreed.

[lilfishi22]

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2016/10/27/suns-insert-tyler-ulis-dragan-bender-into-rotation/92820030/

Suns rookies Tyler Ulis and Dragan Bender will replace Leandro Barbosa and P.J. Tucker in the bench unit that will keep Brandon Knight, Marquese Chriss and Alex Len.

“To me, they play with the most heart,” Watson said. “Heart gets rewarded.”

Ulis, 20, and Bender, 18, were rare bright spots in a game that the Suns trailed by as much as 26 and lost by 19, the largest season-opening margin of defeat in Suns franchise history.

Ulis was aggressive defensively with ball pressure to be part of a 20-4 run that included eight of Bender’s 10 points in 12 minutes.

“We need that energy,” Watson said. “We need those steals, deflections and we need that purpose. So those guys kind of earned minutes now.”

Earl "The Human Knee-Jerk" Watson with the quick moves.

(I am on board with this decision. I just fear such tendencies in a coach.)

Agreed.

+1

You'd have to consider the possibility he'll give Ulis 20min in one game for a good showing and then yank him out after 3 in the next if he makes one momentum changing blunder. I like the idea of consistency and fighting through adversity, especially for the younger guys

[sunshoopjunky]

In fact in example of the quick moves would be in the game last night when we tried to go into Alex a couple times when boogie was out. If i remember correctly we had a couple turn overs trying to feed the post. Then we went to the high screen dribble hand offs. In my opinion that played to the Kings strengths and was one of the first reactionary moves by the team of the game. It also sparked the 10 to 12 point run they had after. I would have rather lost those 10 or 12 points continuing to feed Alex so worse case he gets reps and continues to play like a player that does not belong there, or best case he has a good game and starts building some confidence.

[Saberestar]

We need to win against the Thunder tomorrow. I would LOVE to have this new rotation for a long time, it's perfect at least on the paper and we would play all of our youngsters. Around 20 minutes per game for our rookies and we are only at the second game of the season...great.

A win at Oklahoma would give big confidence in the system and rotation.

Ulis is better than Barbosa and he is a better fit next to Knight. Barbosa is a good guy amd he is not gonna give us problems for not getting playing time.

On the other hand, I would like to insert Tucker in the rotation someday in the next few weeks if he is absolutely 100% healthy. Only a few minutes per game but with some consistency.

[DRK]

Good to see Earl is holding people accountable for their terrible play.
Let hope that its consistent.

[kennydorglas]

Good to see Earl is holding people accountable for their terrible play.
Let hope that its consistent.

I love it.

[blacksun]

Good to see Earl is holding people accountable for their terrible play.
Let hope that its consistent.

I just hope he doesnt do the same to Ulis and Dragan if they f up, but otherwise i love it.

[gaspar]

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2016/10/27/suns-insert-tyler-ulis-dragan-bender-into-rotation/92820030/



Earl "The Human Knee-Jerk" Watson with the quick moves.

(I am on board with this decision. I just fear such tendencies in a coach.)

Agreed.

+1

You'd have to consider the possibility he'll give Ulis 20min in one game for a good showing and then yank him out after 3 in the next if he makes one momentum changing blunder. I like the idea of consistency and fighting through adversity, especially for the younger guys

Earl made it clear that he's rewarding their effort. I think he'll keep them in the rotation as long as they play hard, even if they make some mistakes.

[WeekapaugGroove]

I like him playing the young guy simply because it goes against the charade that this team can do anything this season. This season should be about developing the young talent. Period.

I dont mind tucker, chandler, bledsoe, and knight getting minutes to improve thwor trade value but if there is a reasonable deal to be had for any of them over the next six months they should be traded.

Tucker is a free agent after this year and shouldnt be in the plans. Id take a flyer type deep bench prospect for him.


Chandler is too old to be useful by the time this team can be relevant so its best for both sides to part ways. Id take an expiring and late 1st or deep bench flyer for him.

I tried to keep an open mind with knight after that idiotic trade but im losing my patience and id be fine never watching him again. I have no clue if he has any value right now so i guess i hope he gets hot and someone gives up anything for him.

I like bledsoe but with his injury history and my fear of giving him another contract in a couple years id cash him in soon if some team will give up a good young piece. Id call the sixers and see if they would have interest in some kind of deal with bledsoe and okafor as the main pieces. Seems to make sense for both teams. Orlando is the other spot i could see having some interest in bledsoe and they have some interesting young players.

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[Jdiddy701]

Archie Goodwin drawing interest from Phila, Boston and Atlanta. Would be shocked if Phila didn't sign him.


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[TeamTragic]

Archie Goodwin drawing interest from Phila, Boston and Atlanta. Would be shocked if Phila didn't sign him.


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No doubt Goodwin will go to the Sixers. He will be perfect there as the tank commander.

[DaleyBlind]

Archie Goodwin drawing interest from Phila, Boston and Atlanta. Would be shocked if Phila didn't sign him.


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He will be out the league soon, just a horrible basketball player.