Season Speculation, Trade Ideas & Discussion 2: End This Knightmare!

[LukasBMW]

- I want nothing to do with Rondo.

- TJ Warren is the only Sun other then Booker to get any kind of praise on the general board of realGM. That shows you that even casual fans of other teams have noticed he is special. I still think he may be our best player and I love what I saw from him before the mystery injury. I hope we keep him. As long as he stays healthy and keeps his legendary passion for the game, I KNOW he will be an allstar. I want him back in the starting lineup asap.

- We need some vets to keep the balance on this team. Barbosa is on a great contract. Dudley signed for the long haul. Chandler is a great leader. I want to keep all of those guys around unless we get a really good offer for them. Late 1st round picks are usually worthless, I'd rather have some solid leadership for our young team.

- I fully expect the Suns to try to make a playoff run. Since we are only 5 games out, Sarver will not let us tank or pull the trade ripcord unless we can get a killer deal. The only way we move Bledsoe or Chandler (both of which are playing very well for us) is if we get back something great in return. The only guy I think we are shopping is Knight because he is just not fitting in and also doesn't seem to play like Watson wants him to play. That said, I think McDonough won't move Knight unless he can get equal value back. Mc Donough must save face and he knows it. Ideally, I'd like to see Knight moved for young talent OR packaged with other vets for someone significant. But I would not be surprised if we ended up moving Knight for a player that Sarver thinks would help us make a playoff run even if that player is older.

- Regarding my above comment, I would not be shocked if we moved Knight and maybe other assets for either a 6th man gunner type (to fill the bench scoring role Knight was supposed to play) OR a starting 4. You gotta figure that Sarver & McDonough know Bledsoe and Chandler have played their part and also realize Booker and TJ are the future. Barbosa and Tucker have been solid for us in limited roles. The missing piece is a starting 4 that can help us get points in the paint OR a gunner off the bench to help us with scoring.

[AtheJ415]

Read on Twitter

I'd trade Barbosa (and Jenkins, if they want him) for Osman (+ Mo and Birdman contracts).

Yeah. Me too. Though I like Jenkins for his 13th man role. Like to have the extra shooter, but I'd trade PJ or others for Ced if needed. He's a solid first round talent.

[thamadkant]

If Sarver thinks making the playoffs with a sub 30 win season is a success... He is worse than I thought.



The Suns are something like 10 wins and 23 losses and have had a relatively easy first schedule so far.

If Suns think making 8th spot with 37 wins and then getting demolished by a 65 win team in Warriors... Then missing out on potential franchise players or assets from a very strong draft class then... I think I'm going to switch off the team for a while for health reasons.

[NavLDO]

I'm sorry, but knowing that GM LeBron runs that team...HOW THE HECK ARE WE NOT OFFERING BLEDSOE!?!?!? We could net Osman, and likely a future pick, while benefitting from 'addition through subtraction'. Bledsoe is not our PG of the future; he just isn't.

http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=hce49on

...plus Osman and an unprotected pick for our troubles (say, 2021, when their 'kingdom' comes falling down round them and we have another unprotected pick waiting for us...I'm patient--I'll wait!), while we likely hand the Cavs their 2nd NBA Championship, B2B.

Come on, Bledsoe has more value than that. Osman is not that good.

I know, but nothing else works, and I'm not smart enough to figure out 3 team trades! So, outside of that...more picks???

[NavLDO]

Once Bender gains strength, I think he's in that category. Would like to see more aggression on offense from Chriss. Would like to see Warren put forth consistent effort. Would like to see Booker focus on being consistent with his jumper - he acts and talks as if his J is a finished product. It was when at the beginning of his rookie season, but as he's diversified his game, that aspect has fallen off. Len needs to find his groove within an offense. Ulis just needs to see the court.

What I'm saying is, we have plenty of potential stars on the roster. Perhaps not superstars, but the right mix of talent can win a championship without an all-time great on the roster. Still, you give a 55 win team a top 3 pick in 2019 and again in 2021 - sheeeit, son. Now you're talking possible dynasty.

Cosmo...I love you man!! You and I are of similar stock, and I hope I'm not insulting you by saying that...

...but yes. I agree. I think we are headed in the right direction, and am willing to wait 5 years to be atop the NBA again, which I wholeheartedly believe we will be a top 5 team again by 2021.

Who would you guess would be the other four? Do you expect teams like the Warriors, Cavs, and Rockets to be top 5 then? Or Bucks, Jazz, Wolves, Nuggets, Sixers?

The latter...Jazz, Wolves, or Nuggets, etc. Not all will pan out, but expect that some franchises refuse to die (Spurs), will be in there as well.

But if we manage our resources properly (yeah, I know, big 'if'), I honestly feel we should be a top 5 overall team by the 2021-22 season (especially with 2-3 1st Rd picks in the draft to use for a trade, etc.).

[OGBAH]

If we were a real team we could use Millsap and Korver

[OGBAH]

Found and stole this from bright side:

Trade proposal from a Celtics fan:
Tyson Chandler + Bender or Chriss (your choice) for Tyler Zeller + Terry Rozier + BOS 2018, MEM 2018, LAC 2019 1sts.

You guys get the picks to build around your players, and some potential talent in Rozier and Zeller. We get a starting Center and another potential type of guy. Thoughts?

[bwgood77]

If Sarver thinks making the playoffs with a sub 30 win season is a success... He is worse than I thought.



The Suns are something like 10 wins and 23 losses and have had a relatively easy first schedule so far.

If Suns think making 8th spot with 37 wins and then getting demolished by a 65 win team in Warriors... Then missing out on potential franchise players or assets from a very strong draft class then... I think I'm going to switch off the team for a while for health reasons.

We are also 11 games behind the 7th seed with 7 others ahead of us. A couple of those teams will likely improve or go on runs and we'd have to gain major ground on all of them. The Pelicans have played much better since getting healthier with Jrue back. Denver will continue to get better and Minnesota.

Sacramento will likely make a trade or two and may get better. Denver should trade for Millsap.

[bwgood77]

I'm sorry, but knowing that GM LeBron runs that team...HOW THE HECK ARE WE NOT OFFERING BLEDSOE!?!?!? We could net Osman, and likely a future pick, while benefitting from 'addition through subtraction'. Bledsoe is not our PG of the future; he just isn't.

http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=hce49on

...plus Osman and an unprotected pick for our troubles (say, 2021, when their 'kingdom' comes falling down round them and we have another unprotected pick waiting for us...I'm patient--I'll wait!), while we likely hand the Cavs their 2nd NBA Championship, B2B.

Come on, Bledsoe has more value than that. Osman is not that good.

I know, but nothing else works, and I'm not smart enough to figure out 3 team trades! So, outside of that...more picks???

How could they absorb Bledsoe? I don't want $14m of crap filler back. Why would they want him? The have two high usage guys and better shooters. He doesn't make their team better.

[bwgood77]

Found and stole this from bright side:

Trade proposal from a Celtics fan:
Tyson Chandler + Bender or Chriss (your choice) for Tyler Zeller + Terry Rozier + BOS 2018, MEM 2018, LAC 2019 1sts.

You guys get the picks to build around your players, and some potential talent in Rozier and Zeller. We get a starting Center and another potential type of guy. Thoughts?

Don't really want to trade young guys for more future picks, esp late first rounders. Rozier I think is a pretty good pg but we have Ulis and the draft. Trading Bender would be insane.

[AtheJ415]

Found and stole this from bright side:

Trade proposal from a Celtics fan:
Tyson Chandler + Bender or Chriss (your choice) for Tyler Zeller + Terry Rozier + BOS 2018, MEM 2018, LAC 2019 1sts.

You guys get the picks to build around your players, and some potential talent in Rozier and Zeller. We get a starting Center and another potential type of guy. Thoughts?

I see absolutely 0 reason to include either of Bender or Chriss here. Those are a bunch of late 1sts in all likelihood, and why would we need yet another PG in Rozier when we already have Bledsoe and Ulis (even if Knight is moved)? Zeller is nice, but he is far from Chriss or Bender in value to a team like Phoenix imo due to upside. Also, since we took Bender and Chriss it stands to reason we probably value them more than any other team, and they were selected to play with each other. Really this seems to me to be a downgrade of a high upside prospect for 2 more sure things who are role players plus a bunch of super late 1sts.

Chandler for 1 of those picks and a protected 2nd would be a better deal imo. Include any salary filler to hit the $12 mil requirement.

[LukasBMW]

I would not be shocked if we went after Milsap.

Knight to Philly
Okafor or Noel to Atl
Milsap to Phx

Who says no?

Atl gets another young big with potentail that is either on a rookie contract or is a RFA. Philly gets a PG. We get a PF to make a playoff run.

Would love love love to snag Korver too. Maybe if we throw in Len or involve a 4th team?

http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=zvjdbxb

Bledsoe/Barbosa/Ulis
Booker/Korver
TJ/PJ/Bender
Milsap/Chriss/Dudley
Chandler/Sauce

[LukasBMW]

Found and stole this from bright side:

Trade proposal from a Celtics fan:
Tyson Chandler + Bender or Chriss (your choice) for Tyler Zeller + Terry Rozier + BOS 2018, MEM 2018, LAC 2019 1sts.

You guys get the picks to build around your players, and some potential talent in Rozier and Zeller. We get a starting Center and another potential type of guy. Thoughts?

Blah.

[bwgood77]

I would not be shocked if we went after Milsap.

Knight to Philly
Okafor or Noel to Atl
Milsap to Phx

Who says no?

Atl gets another young big with potentail that is either on a rookie contract or is a RFA. Philly gets a PG. We get a PF to make a playoff run.

Would love love love to snag Korver too. Maybe if we throw in Len or involve a 4th team?

http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=zvjdbxb

Bledsoe/Barbosa/Ulis
Booker/Korver
TJ/PJ/Bender
Milsap/Chriss/Dudley
Chandler/Sauce

Knight can net us Millsap? Nah.

[DaleyBlind]

I would not be shocked if we went after Milsap.

Knight to Philly
Okafor or Noel to Atl
Milsap to Phx

Who says no?

Atl gets another young big with potentail that is either on a rookie contract or is a RFA. Philly gets a PG. We get a PF to make a playoff run.

Would love love love to snag Korver too. Maybe if we throw in Len or involve a 4th team?

http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=zvjdbxb

Bledsoe/Barbosa/Ulis
Booker/Korver
TJ/PJ/Bender
Milsap/Chriss/Dudley
Chandler/Sauce

Absolutely horrible for PHX, Millsap gets us maybe 6-10 more wins this year. Hurts our pick status and we get Millsap a soon to be 32 year old PF....Horrible

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

We're not a good landing spot for Millsap for the simple reason that he shouldn't want to re-sign here.

[thamadkant]

If Sarver thinks making the playoffs with a sub 30 win season is a success... He is worse than I thought.



The Suns are something like 10 wins and 23 losses and have had a relatively easy first schedule so far.

If Suns think making 8th spot with 37 wins and then getting demolished by a 65 win team in Warriors... Then missing out on potential franchise players or assets from a very strong draft class then... I think I'm going to switch off the team for a while for health reasons.

We are also 11 games behind the 7th seed with 7 others ahead of us. A couple of those teams will likely improve or go on runs and we'd have to gain major ground on all of them. The Pelicans have played much better since getting healthier with Jrue back. Denver will continue to get better and Minnesota.

Sacramento will likely make a trade or two and may get better. Denver should trade for Millsap.

Kings / Hawks

Maybe getting Milsap next to Cousins boost them tremendously against the small ball trend.

Gay for Milsap.

Both teams get to try out new players that may improve them better.




Regarding Nuggets and Hawks for Milsap.. Are Nuggets willing to dump Faried to clear space next season by trading him for Milsap? They are still too far away to be freeing up cap space for FAs.

[thamadkant]

We're not a good landing spot for Millsap for the simple reason that he shouldn't want to re-sign here.

Suns do have benefits by trading for Milsap.

Suns can dump 2 long term contracts for an expiring.


Knight and Tucker for Milsap.

Milsap is an expiring who will opt out... So his value is low to most.

[LukasBMW]

Trading for Milsap would be a total Sarver move. Win now and make the playoffs.

I'd rather see us trade for young talent like Portis or Okafor, but I would not be shocked if we tried to trade Knight + something else either directly to Atlanta for Milsap or involving a 3rd team.

I also wouldn't be that mad as long as we don't trade any picks or youngsters. It hurts our pick position, but I'm sick of losing and so are our players.

[bwgood77]

Regarding Nuggets and Hawks for Milsap.. Are Nuggets willing to dump Faried to clear space next season by trading him for Milsap? They are still too far away to be freeing up cap space for FAs.

Nuggets are closer to the playoffs than us and have some good vets and some good young pieces....and two firsts this year. They could trade or keep Faried, Chandler, Gallinari to give Atlanta a vet but also are loaded with young guys but maybe too many...they have Gary Harris and Jamal Murray, and then also Will Barton. They could also trade Nurkic (doubt they would part with Jokic).

They could easily propose a trade of Faried, Harris, Nurkic and the Memphis first for Millsap and really not deplete their team that much.

They also have Juancho Hernangomez who will likely become good so they can afford to deal and give Millsap a max. They have so many assets and need to consolidate.

That would still leave them with

Mudiay, Nelson, Murray
Barton, Murray
Chandler, Gallinari
Millsap, Gallinari, Hernangomez
Jokic

They could then use their own pick to draft a backup center.

Or, considering Atlanta has Howard they could keep Horford and give them a great win now player like Chandler.