What direction should Suns go?

[Phoenix-Sons]

We need to get a bunch of talented high IQ guys that can play within an offense that we don't have right now. Right now our team isn't close to being there so we need to bottom out and get a point guard who knows when and when not to shoot and figure out the rest from there. Long time lurker by the way happy to finally sign up!

[bwgood77]

I feel that the Suns need to explore trading Bledsoe, because he is the veteran who by far could fetch the most—perhaps another good lottery pick, for instance—and because Phoenix is not good enough to win with him as currently constituted. Plus, the future of his knees remains a concern.

He is easily Phoenix's best player and I would not trade him (or anyone, really) just for the sake of a trade, but he has to be placed on the market, at least.

I guess the big question is, does he have a lot of trade value given his knees? My guess is he doesn't get traded this year, but if he remains healthy, next year around the trade deadline with only a year and a half on his contract which at that time will seem like a great contract is low risk for a team. However, if he really can fetch a lottery pick, I'm all for trading him. I'd love to get back that likely lottery pick this year that became Brandon Knight.

Given how low-energy Warren looked last night and given Devin's struggles, I wouldn't be totally opposed to picking up both a wing and a PG in this draft.

Josh Jackson might be there with our pick. We already used to Laker pick to get our star PG. We're all set!

[bwgood77]

We need to get a bunch of talented high IQ guys that can play within an offense that we don't have right now. Right now our team isn't close to being there so we need to bottom out and get a point guard who knows when and when not to shoot and figure out the rest from there. Long time lurker by the way happy to finally sign up!

Welcome to the forums! Glad to have you.

[Phoenix-Sons]

We need to get a bunch of talented high IQ guys that can play within an offense that we don't have right now. Right now our team isn't close to being there so we need to bottom out and get a point guard who knows when and when not to shoot and figure out the rest from there. Long time lurker by the way happy to finally sign up!

Welcome to the forums! Glad to have you.

Thanks! Glad to be here!

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

I guess the big question is, does he have a lot of trade value given his knees? My guess is he doesn't get traded this year, but if he remains healthy, next year around the trade deadline with only a year and a half on his contract which at that time will seem like a great contract is low risk for a team. However, if he really can fetch a lottery pick, I'm all for trading him. I'd love to get back that likely lottery pick this year that became Brandon Knight.

Given how low-energy Warren looked last night and given Devin's struggles, I wouldn't be totally opposed to picking up both a wing and a PG in this draft.

Josh Jackson might be there with our pick. We already used to Laker pick to get our star PG. We're all set!

Another reason Tyler should get some burn: lets see what we have in our young PG before using our pick on the most loaded position in the NBA.

[bwgood77]

Given how low-energy Warren looked last night and given Devin's struggles, I wouldn't be totally opposed to picking up both a wing and a PG in this draft.

Josh Jackson might be there with our pick. We already used to Laker pick to get our star PG. We're all set!

Another reason Tyler should get some burn: lets see what we have in our young PG before using our pick on the most loaded position in the NBA.

If we end up taking Josh Jackson, my guess is we will stick with Bledsoe for awhile. The good thing about the influx of point guards is that it will be that much easier to trade for one. I still try to see if we can get someone like Tyus Jones for PJ Tucker though. Maybe if Minny feels they have a shot at the playoffs they'd go for something like that. Might not make Ulis and therefore Booker happy though.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Josh Jackson might be there with our pick. We already used to Laker pick to get our star PG. We're all set!

Another reason Tyler should get some burn: lets see what we have in our young PG before using our pick on the most loaded position in the NBA.

If we end up taking Josh Jackson, my guess is we will stick with Bledsoe for awhile. The good thing about the influx of point guards is that it will be that much easier to trade for one. I still try to see if we can get someone like Tyus Jones for PJ Tucker though. Maybe if Minny feels they have a shot at the playoffs they'd go for something like that. Might not make Ulis and therefore Booker happy though.

Booker needs to calm the **** down and focus on doing the thing he's *supposed* to be good at, and that is nailing open threes on kickouts and around screens. Jebus. Your post game doesn't matter AT ALL if you're not hitting those shots.

Since Brandon Knight emerged from his 6-week slumber, he's outperformed Book on a consistent basis.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Josh Jackson might be there with our pick. We already used to Laker pick to get our star PG. We're all set!

Another reason Tyler should get some burn: lets see what we have in our young PG before using our pick on the most loaded position in the NBA.

If we end up taking Josh Jackson, my guess is we will stick with Bledsoe for awhile. The good thing about the influx of point guards is that it will be that much easier to trade for one. I still try to see if we can get someone like Tyus Jones for PJ Tucker though. Maybe if Minny feels they have a shot at the playoffs they'd go for something like that. Might not make Ulis and therefore Booker happy though.

And a second thought. What I hate most hate about Bled is that he's a ballstopper. The best Suns basketball I've ever watched involved quick decisions and quick passes. Every time Bled catches the ball, he needs to think about what he's going to do, and that split second always stops whatever disruption our sets may have caused before he touched it.

And then we setup the iso P&R.

I can't stand it.

Maybe this one *can* be blamed on the coach.

[GMATCallahan]

I guess the big question is, does he have a lot of trade value given his knees? My guess is he doesn't get traded this year, but if he remains healthy, next year around the trade deadline with only a year and a half on his contract which at that time will seem like a great contract is low risk for a team. However, if he really can fetch a lottery pick, I'm all for trading him. I'd love to get back that likely lottery pick this year that became Brandon Knight.

Bledsoe's trade value may never be higher than it is now. A team trading for him now would have him under contract for two and a half more seasons—and potentially three postseasons. Granted, as you said, more years on his contract also mean more of a financial risk, but Bledsoe could need another knee surgery at any time (including during the last one and a half years of his deal), he just turned twenty-seven, and his contract is not onerous given the expanding salary cap. If I were running an NBA team and I wanted Eric Bledsoe, I would want him now. I would want as much of his athletic peak or prime as possible (after all, Bledsoe primarily constitutes an athletic force), and I would want as much of him on his present contract as possible, rendering him less of a rental.

None of those comments mean that the Suns should necessarily trade him now, but an earnest exploration certainly needs to begin now.

By the way, short of the right young player already in the NBA, I want a lottery pick for Bledsoe, but one that figures to be in the top ten—I do not want the thirteenth or fourteenth pick in the draft for Bledsoe. Remember that when the NBA created the draft lottery in 1985, there were seven teams in the lottery; now there are fourteen. So just having any old lottery pick is not nearly as meaningful as once was the case.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

By the way, short of the right young player already in the NBA, I want a lottery pick for Bledsoe, but one that figures to be in the top ten—I do not want the thirteenth or fourteenth pick in the draft for Bledsoe. Remember that when the NBA created the draft lottery in 1985, there were seven teams in the lottery; now there are fourteen. So just having any old lottery pick is not nearly as meaningful as once was the case.

Would you bite on Rondo (waived) + better of SAC or CHI 2017 + CHI 2020 1st (unprotected)?

[GMATCallahan]

By the way, short of the right young player already in the NBA, I want a lottery pick for Bledsoe, but one that figures to be in the top ten—I do not want the thirteenth or fourteenth pick in the draft for Bledsoe. Remember that when the NBA created the draft lottery in 1985, there were seven teams in the lottery; now there are fourteen. So just having any old lottery pick is not nearly as meaningful as once was the case.

Would you bite on Rondo (waived) + better of SAC or CHI 2017 + CHI 2020 1st (unprotected)?

... no. For all that we know, the Kings and Bulls could both make the playoffs this season, and even if they fall short, they probably will land in that "outer lottery" category that I am wary of. That kind of pick represented a terrific return for a toxic asset like Markieff Morris last February, but not for Bledsoe.

[sleepyvato]

If it was up to me, then I would trade all our vets except for Dudley, fire Watson because he's a terrible and stubborn coach that loves to play vets even if it hurts us and finally go full youth mode.

[Damkac]

I wants better coach not to win more games but to teach young players how to share the ball.
It's sad watching how Booker change from high IQ player into a mindless chucker.

[HootieRules]

If Suns can get two top 10 picks in 2017... McD should have a statue erected. He may not be best at putting together a team that fits well together... But he would be one of the best at gathering talent.

LOL