Season Speculation, Trade Ideas and Discussion

[bwgood77]

From Marc Stein's column today:

7. Three established names we expect to be dealt are …

Rudy Gay.

Nerlens Noel.

Ricky Rubio.

http://www.espn.com/blog/marc-stein/post/_/id/4633/will-boogie-be-traded-this-year-is-harden-going-to-make-history

Wouldn't mind having a pass first PG here.

Knight and Len to the Wolves for Rubio and Dieng
Wolves get a back up 2 guard which they don't have on their roster and an expiring contract

Suns finally gets a pass first PG and also an expiring contract

LOL that trade would be highway robbery.

I still don't think the Wolves are looking to trade Rubio. I think they want to make the playoffs. I'd prefer him to our guards though easily because all he really cares about is getting others involved on offense which is what we need, and he is among the best defensive pgs in the league.

They are probably ready to compete for a playoff spot, but not with Dunn. I wouldn't mind dealing for Tyus Jones though, and letting him and Ulis compete to be our future starting point guard if we don't get one in the next draft.

[kennydorglas]

I'd say trade the farm for Favors.

I know Okafor sounds enticing, but u're not going anywhere with him as your starting C.
We already demand TOO MUCH PNR DEFENSE from our bigs, imagine with Okafor getting picked every single time.

Nah, thanks.

[NTB]

“(The Thunder) have got the experience. They’ve been there before,” Suns coach Earl Watson said. “But for us as a family, we’re not far away.”

“The first game, I couldn’t really sleep on,” Suns point guard Eric Bledsoe said. “But, this game, we made great strides.”

The Suns looked more like the team Watson envisioned two days after being unrecognizable to him in Wednesday's 19-point home loss to Sacramento.

“There’s a reason why I love those guys in that locker room – the way they compete, the way they battle,” Watson said. “That’s the team I know.”

“T.J. is a hell of an offensive player,” Chandler said. “One-on-one, he can get his shot off against anybody.”

“I wouldn’t call that a foul either that late in the game,” Booker said. “A game shouldn’t be decided by a foul.”

“We’ll win our fair share of games as long as we play like that,” Chandler said. “Mentally, when we’re in those kind of positions next time, we’ll make the right plays, I’m sure of it.”

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2016/10/28/phoenix-suns-drop-wild-overtime-loss-russell-westbrook-oklahoma-city-thunder/92926442/?hootPostID=ddbd54370109f0b00d3b217bc275daf6

[Villalobos]

I'd say trade the farm for Favors.

I know Okafor sounds enticing, but u're not going anywhere with him as your starting C.
We already demand TOO MUCH PNR DEFENSE from our bigs, imagine with Okafor getting picked every single time.

Nah, thanks.

The Jazz are finally good again, so I don't see them trading either of their two best players (or anyone who matters on that team, really) unless they're convinced that they'll leave in free agency. It seems like a pretty good situation so I'd assume both re-sign. Boston is tempting for Hayward though. Bigger market, great coach etc.

The Pelicans have their pick, right? AD needs help. I can't name anyone on that team off the top of my head except him, Jrue, and Buddy Hield because he was just picked.

AD needs some Brandon Knight in his life.

They have Jrue Holiday, but right now while he is out Tim Frazier is a stud passer racking up assists. Then yes they have Hield but they also have Tyreke Evans out right now. I doubt they need another guy to handle the ball and shoot.

I think they'd consider it. Tyreke is injury prone and he may leave at the end of the year anyways and Knight is probably a much cheaper option on a long deal. Hield isn't ready to compete and may never be. Jrue is always hurt and now has this horrible family situation and who knows what happens with him since he's an expiring too. If Hield pans out in a big way then Knight can move to the bench for a sixth man role which is currently held by... Lance Stephenson. Yikes.

[letsgosuns]

I do not believe these quotes by the Suns. I have heard the same stuff from Bledsoe specifically for years now. All this team does is talk such a big game and they flat out do not back it up. Do they really expect the fans to believe what they say? Oh yeah, we sucked this game when it mattered most, but next game, we are going to be different, trust us. Yeah right. Even though it is the same story every game, the team will supposedly finally make big improvements because the point guards and a 34 year old center are going to miraculously turn it around. Give me a break. These point guards suck and everybody knows it.

Since the Suns acquired Knight, when I watch games with other people, the most commonly yelled out phrase is "What the hell is Bledsoe/Knight/Tucker doing?!? That ain't just me talking. That is literally everybody I know that watches Suns games.

[bwgood77]

I'd say trade the farm for Favors.

I know Okafor sounds enticing, but u're not going anywhere with him as your starting C.
We already demand TOO MUCH PNR DEFENSE from our bigs, imagine with Okafor getting picked every single time.

Nah, thanks.

The Jazz are finally good again, so I don't see them trading either of their two best players (or anyone who matters on that team, really) unless they're convinced that they'll leave in free agency. It seems like a pretty good situation so I'd assume both re-sign. Boston is tempting for Hayward though. Bigger market, great coach etc.

The Pelicans have their pick, right? AD needs help. I can't name anyone on that team off the top of my head except him, Jrue, and Buddy Hield because he was just picked.

AD needs some Brandon Knight in his life.

They have Jrue Holiday, but right now while he is out Tim Frazier is a stud passer racking up assists. Then yes they have Hield but they also have Tyreke Evans out right now. I doubt they need another guy to handle the ball and shoot.

I think they'd consider it. Tyreke is always hurt and he may leave at the end of the year anyways and Knight is probably a much cheaper option on a long deal. Hield isn't ready to compete and may never be. Jrue is always hurt and now has this horrible family situation and who knows what happens with him since he's an expiring too. If Hield pans out in a big way then Knight can move to the bench for a sixth man role which is currently held by... Lance Stephenson. Yikes.

They'd probably be worse with Knight though. Tim Frazier is such a great passer who had 10 assists, along with 21 points on 10/18 shooting with 6 boards last night, and 11 assists (and only 1 turnover), 15 points on 6-10 shooting, 5 rebounds and 2 steals.

Through 2 games he has over a 5-1 ast/to ratio. He also REALLY feeds AD to get him going.

All Knight would do, if he played the 2 next to him his take away shots from both AD and Frazier and likely shoot less efficiently and turn the ball over.

I guess they might be game if they don't watch Knight, but if they do it doesn't seem like they'd want him. Gentry would not be a fan as he obviously likes pass first point guards.

[Blackification]

“(The Thunder) have got the experience. They’ve been there before,” Suns coach Earl Watson said. “But for us as a family, we’re not far away.”

“The first game, I couldn’t really sleep on,” Suns point guard Eric Bledsoe said. “But, this game, we made great strides.”

The Suns looked more like the team Watson envisioned two days after being unrecognizable to him in Wednesday's 19-point home loss to Sacramento.

“There’s a reason why I love those guys in that locker room – the way they compete, the way they battle,” Watson said. “That’s the team I know.”

“T.J. is a hell of an offensive player,” Chandler said. “One-on-one, he can get his shot off against anybody.”

“I wouldn’t call that a foul either that late in the game,” Booker said. “A game shouldn’t be decided by a foul.”

“We’ll win our fair share of games as long as we play like that,” Chandler said. “Mentally, when we’re in those kind of positions next time, we’ll make the right plays, I’m sure of it.”

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2016/10/28/phoenix-suns-drop-wild-overtime-loss-russell-westbrook-oklahoma-city-thunder/92926442/?hootPostID=ddbd54370109f0b00d3b217bc275daf6

Love how real Booker keeps it, doesn't bull or whine about the lack of a call. Old school mentality

[NTB]

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2016/10/29/tony-buckets-living-up-name-new-suns-starter/92972630/

“He gets buckets; ‘Tony Buckets’ is his name,” Suns point guard Eric Bledsoe said. “He played not only great offense but great defense too. He carried us.”

Watson said he quickly called Price to make the standing offer again.

The position?

“I don’t care,” Watson said. “That’s the position. Whatever it is. Just come, just come. Just be a part of it. We just need your presence. The same thing with (Suns player development assistant) Mehmet Okur. We were all teammates in Utah. Just come. We need your presence. You want to do front office work. You want to do scouting. You want to work with a player. Just take a trip. Come have dinner with me one time. I’ll never let you leave.”

Price declined for now, holding out hope of continuing to play at age 33.

“I figure I’ll call him every Sunday,” Watson said.

Price tied with Suns forward Jared Dudley for second in this year’s nba.com GM survey for the question, “Which active player will make the best head coach someday?” Clippers point guard Chris Paul was first.

“I think it’s my media stuff,” Dudley said. “They see me talk and see I’m proper. It’s a compliment. Either the analysis or coaching is something I’ll do afterward. I’m coming for someone’s job.”

The Suns have made 9 of 44 3-point shots (20.5 percent) in the first two games with their star guard trio struggling the most. Bledsoe (2 for 12), Devin Booker (2 for 11) and Brandon Knight (1 for 9) are 5 for 32 while their teammates are 4 for 12. Bledsoe missed all seven 3-point tries Friday, including six after halftime.

“The 3s will fall but we have to shoot them,” Watson said. “Our 3-point shooters cannot pass up shots. Once you get it, you have to let it fly. That’s our motto. Our guys have to get used to that mindset. You can’t shoot for percentages. Guys realize that. Have fun, shoot it, hold your follow-through. Whatever happens is supposed to happen but have an aggressive, positive attitude.”

On the upside, the Suns have defended 3s well with opponents going 11 for 42 (26.2 percent).

[sunsbum]

I dont think we neeed a guy like jah. We have enough ball stoppers and not enough touches as it is. I wouldnt be dissapointed if we traded for him but with chriss turning into an offensive weapon in a few years where do you find balls for all those little hogs? I actually like miles plumlee, super athletic, unselfish, with some solid defense, best of all you dont have to worry about running him any plays except for a few TC lobs.

[thamadkant]

In any trades for Cousins or Okafor

Im expecting breaking up the current Bledsoe and Knight combo because both are ball stoppers.


Even Booker has shown he is more of trigger puller .

Then you have Warren and Chriss who also likes scoring.


The Suns have a heck of a lot score first mentality players. Sad thing is when they are off offensively... They dont provide other things.


So definitely.. If Suns trade for a scoring big... You trade one of Bledsoe or Knight and maybe even one of Tucker, Len etc. Then have Chriss come off the bench for good for the next couple of seasons.

[thamadkant]

I like John Henson still...
Would trade a combo of Len, Tucker, Knight and a non lotto pick for him.

[blacksun]

I like John Henson still...
Would trade a combo of Len, Tucker, Knight and a non lotto pick for him.

Thats too much for Henson i think.

How about Bledsoe to the Kings for WCS and SAC 2nd, then Len and Knight for NOP 1st? Then start Ulis the rest of the year. Just so we can get one of Fultz, Smith or Ntilikina beside Booker on the backcourt.

[Fo-Real]

I dont think we neeed a guy like jah. We have enough ball stoppers and not enough touches as it is. I wouldnt be dissapointed if we traded for him but with chriss turning into an offensive weapon in a few years where do you find balls for all those little hogs? I actually like miles plumlee, super athletic, unselfish, with some solid defense, best of all you dont have to worry about running him any plays except for a few TC lobs.

I could get behind that too.

[Fo-Real]

Was actually impressed with the direction of the sixes bench big Rachaun Holmes, he has some Whiteside in him. Really long, ultra athletic, shot blocker and changer with good hands who finishes well. Youtube that guys preseason and early couple games.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Len > Henson

[sunsbum]

Shoot i meant mason plumlee, not miles.

[Zelaznyrules]

Shoot i meant mason plumlee, not miles.

Okay, that makes more sense. I like Mason too and wouldn't mind making an effort to sign him in FA, if not trade for him earlier.

[LukasBMW]

Monroe is an interesting option. His contract isn't horrible given the new scale. He has a post range. He just sucks on defense.

I'd rather have Jah.

[Barkley_34]

Monroe is an interesting option. His contract isn't horrible given the new scale. He has a post range. He just sucks on defense.

I'd rather have Jah.

Me too

[Villalobos]

Jah may just be a slightly better or worse version of Monroe. Here's their rookie years:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&hint=Greg+Monroe&player_id1_select=Greg+Monroe&y1=2011&player_id1=monrogr01&hint=Jahlil+Okafor&player_id2_select=Jahlil+Okafor&y2=2016&player_id2=okafoja01

Obviously Jah got tons of FGA on that turrible Philly team so he has more points, but the rest looks pretty similar. even says he's a worse defender at least stats-wise