The TJ Warren Thread!

[bwgood77]

The question is TJ Warren a $22M man this summer or a $24M man next summer? That would probably be the max salary he could be offered.

Should we be paying TJ Warren 25% of our cap? Is he one of our "three stars" for a championship run? I don't think so. He is a great starter level/depth level player. Its with players like TJ that most teams get themselves into cap hell.

TJ might be one of the players on this roster most likely to be traded this summer. He is a young player with promise. He has good trade value. For a team looking for a package of players for a star, or for more of a sure thing than a pick, TJ would be a good option. If the Suns draft Jackson, he should be traded.

Just to be clear I was pointing out what it would cost the Suns to pay TJ max. I think we should try to extend him this summer for less than max if he will take it. How much should we offer him ... way more than Len for sure. I think Warren is much like the Joe Johnson we got from Boston. I would hate to see us move TJ and then have him explode onto the NBA scene next year.

http://bkref.com/tiny/u9P5r

Yeah, you just can't keep letting guys go...oh, "we'll find someone better, he might cost too much" makes no sense. Extend him to a good deal for both him and us and get past us...then he will be tradeable. He obviously has a premier talent in scoring, and he will always have trade value.

[PackSuns]

Trade him

I agree but for different reasons. Plenty of folks are interested. Back channel convos are always happening. Can we trade you?

[DaleyBlind]

Trade him

I agree but for different reasons. Plenty of folks are interested. Back channel convos are always happening. Can we trade you?

Id cost too much, so I doubt it

[PackSuns]

The question is TJ Warren a $22M man this summer or a $24M man next summer? That would probably be the max salary he could be offered.

Should we be paying TJ Warren 25% of our cap? Is he one of our "three stars" for a championship run? I don't think so. He is a great starter level/depth level player. Its with players like TJ that most teams get themselves into cap hell.

TJ might be one of the players on this roster most likely to be traded this summer. He is a young player with promise. He has good trade value. For a team looking for a package of players for a star, or for more of a sure thing than a pick, TJ would be a good option. If the Suns draft Jackson, he should be traded.

Just to be clear I was pointing out what it would cost the Suns to pay TJ max. I think we should try to extend him this summer for less than max if he will take it. How much should we offer him ... way more than Len for sure. I think Warren is much like the Joe Johnson we got from Boston. I would hate to see us move TJ and then have him explode onto the NBA scene next year.

http://bkref.com/tiny/u9P5r

Correct. He will continue improving. I have been around this sport for many years and have yet to see someone with his work ethic. Not for a photo op but when no one is watching. Shooting shots in a wheelchair etc. Every year his coaches say improve at this aspect and he usually does. The 3's need to fall though.

[PackSuns]

Trade him

I agree but for different reasons. Plenty of folks are interested. Back channel convos are always happening. Can we trade you?

Id cost too much, so I doubt it

What reasons do you have for wanting TJ traded?

[DaleyBlind]

I agree but for different reasons. Plenty of folks are interested. Back channel convos are always happening. Can we trade you?

Id cost too much, so I doubt it

What reasons do you have for wanting TJ traded?

His fit with Booker is the main reason. Id be ok with him as the 6th man.
I believe we need a good defensive SF who can shoot the 3 at a respectable/good clip on the perimeter to pair with Booker. We cant have 2 bad perimeter defenders if we want to be a great team going forward.

[itlnsunsfan]

Id cost too much, so I doubt it

What reasons do you have for wanting TJ traded?

His fit with Booker is the main reason. Id be ok with him as the 6th man.
I believe we need a good defensive SF who can shoot the 3 at a respectable/good clip on the perimeter to pair with Booker. We cant have 2 bad perimeter defenders if we want to be a great team going forward.

If folks think TJ Warren is a bad fit next to Booker, maybe we need to define a good fit next to Booker.

[DaleyBlind]

What reasons do you have for wanting TJ traded?

His fit with Booker is the main reason. Id be ok with him as the 6th man.
I believe we need a good defensive SF who can shoot the 3 at a respectable/good clip on the perimeter to pair with Booker. We cant have 2 bad perimeter defenders if we want to be a great team going forward.

If folks think TJ Warren is a bad fit next to Booker, maybe we need to define a good fit next to Booker.

Not everyone thinks he is a bad fit, some think he is actually good fit.

Josh Jackson would be perfect if he could improve his jump shot. good defender, rebounder, passer, athletic, high motor, Just needs a consistent jump shot.

[lilfishi22]

But if he's worth that then why do it this year? Unless I'm missing something, the whole point of doing it this summer is to lock him in at a somewhat lower pay grade than he might eventually be worth. Otherwise, why not just let him court offers the next year and match whatever he's offered?

The question is TJ Warren a $22M man this summer or a $24M man next summer? That would probably be the max salary he could be offered.

Should we be paying TJ Warren 25% of our cap? Is he one of our "three stars" for a championship run? I don't think so. He is a great starter level/depth level player. Its with players like TJ that most teams get themselves into cap hell.

TJ might be one of the players on this roster most likely to be traded this summer. He is a young player with promise. He has good trade value. For a team looking for a package of players for a star, or for more of a sure thing than a pick, TJ would be a good option. If the Suns draft Jackson, he should be traded.

Is an 18/8 player who's 24 years olds and shoots 50% from the field the kind of disgruntled young star McD would be targeting in a trade? Because if so, then we already have him.

[jcsunsfan]

The question is TJ Warren a $22M man this summer or a $24M man next summer? That would probably be the max salary he could be offered.

Should we be paying TJ Warren 25% of our cap? Is he one of our "three stars" for a championship run? I don't think so. He is a great starter level/depth level player. Its with players like TJ that most teams get themselves into cap hell.

TJ might be one of the players on this roster most likely to be traded this summer. He is a young player with promise. He has good trade value. For a team looking for a package of players for a star, or for more of a sure thing than a pick, TJ would be a good option. If the Suns draft Jackson, he should be traded.

Is an 18/8 player who's 24 years olds and shoots 50% AND 26% FROM THE THREE from the field the kind of disgruntled young star McD would be targeting in a trade? Because if so, then we already have him.

Just added one more thing to your case for TJ.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Should we be paying TJ Warren 25% of our cap? Is he one of our "three stars" for a championship run? I don't think so. He is a great starter level/depth level player. Its with players like TJ that most teams get themselves into cap hell.

TJ might be one of the players on this roster most likely to be traded this summer. He is a young player with promise. He has good trade value. For a team looking for a package of players for a star, or for more of a sure thing than a pick, TJ would be a good option. If the Suns draft Jackson, he should be traded.

Is an 18/8 player who's 24 years olds and shoots 50% AND 26% FROM THE THREE from the field the kind of disgruntled young star McD would be targeting in a trade? Because if so, then we already have him.

Just added one more thing to your case for TJ.

I agree that in theory - Warren as well as Bled is a plausible trade candidate, given our uncertain draft position. The problem, though, is finding a player worth trading either for. Our only true long-term vacancy, as of the day after the draft, will be at C.

Valanciunas? Aldridge? Myles Turner?

My guess is we'd be looking for the "Dragic special". The thing about draft picks is - they're cheapest on draft day. If you need to make Bled or TJ to make room for our new draftee, that's when you do it.

I feel like the FO's preferred scenario is to draft Ball, trade Bled for the Dragic Special, deal Knight for a future first that blows up into two seconds, and grab a new Project 5 to learn under Chandler.

Ball/Ulis
Booker/Barbosa/Millsap
Warren/DJJ
Chriss/Bender/Dudley
Chandler/Williams/Jeanne

Pretty sure that's what the FO envisions as Option #1. That, with an extra first owed us from Bledsoe/Dragic/Knight deals in each of years 2018-22. With that group, I try to see if I can one-up D'Antoni and just be as swarming and disruptive as possible on defense.

As a front row fan, that lineup just got me to agree to a 10% increase in my ticket price. Hot damn!

[Saberestar]

“I’ve got this talent and I want to take advantage of everything I can do,” Warren said. “I want to stay consistent with that. I know the type of scorer I can be in this league. I feel like I showed a glimpse of what kind of rebounder I can be and that I can do other things too.”

“You see him growing a lot in self-confidence as far as being a player and being a young adult and just evolving all around from talking to wearing earrings in his ears,” the Suns coach said. “You can just see the confidence come in. Hopefully, we can continue to build on that.”

Watson referred to Warren as “a throwback player” who he compared favorably to future Hall of Famer Paul Pierce.

“I feel like I’m making a name for myself,” Warren said. “I feel like I have a lot more work to do and I want to continue to be that player I know I can be in this league.

“I feel like the game was really slowing down. I’m picking my spots. I know my strengths. I know where I can be effective. I’m going to continue to be efficient, I’m going to continue to play good defense and continue to prove myself. The best is yet to come.”

As he has the past two years, Warren plans to return home to Raleigh to do his offseason work amid friends and familiar surroundings.

Not everything is the same as the last time he left, though, thanks to a shakeup that saw NC State fire his college coach Mark Gottfried and replace him with UNC Wilmington’s Kevin Keatts.

It’s a situation Warren said he followed from afar with both interest and sadness.

“It was tough, because Gottfried had a great run,” the Wolfpack alumnus said. “The time I was there was great and unbelievable. It was sad to see my coach get fired, but I understand it’s a business and it’s tough sometimes. I’m happy for Coach Keatts. I’ve known him from when he was recruiting me at Louisville and when he was at Hargrave. I know him a little bit and I’m happy for him and where the program is headed.”

Warren is even more excited about the direction of his current team. Despite finishing with a 24-58 record, the Suns have build a solid young nucleus of first, second and third-year players such as Warren, Devin Booker, Tyler Ullis and Dragan Bender.

They’ll also have a high pick in this year’s draft.

But with high-profile small forwards Jason Tatum and Josh Jackson likely to be available and Warren’s rookie contract now eligible to be renegotiated or extended, the possibility exists that he could get moved to another team before the start of next season.

Warren said he’d understand if that happens because like Gottfried’s firing, basketball at the highest level is a business. But he’d prefer to stay right where he is.

“I’ll just wait and see right now,” he said. “I want to be in Phoenix and build with this young core. I feel like I’m a part of that core and I want to continue to move forward.”

http://www.nsjonline.com/article/2017/04/warrens-star-rising-with-phoenix-suns

[Zelaznyrules]

Watson sounded like he was proud his little girl was growing up? Or am I so old I missed out on the fact that getting his ears pierced is a special step for little boys growing into manhood?

"You see him growing a lot in self-confidence as far as being a player and being a young adult and just evolving all around from talking to wearing earrings in his ears"

[Frank Lee]

Haha... i was cracking up on the 'ear ring / maturity' link as well.
We have no pressures to do anything with Warren this year, right? And I doubt his starting role is in jeopardy whoever we pick. He only goes if he is part of a bigger deal, but as I have said before, if I was out looking in, I'd want him in any trade package Phnx offers. He is no secret anymore.

[Zelaznyrules]

Haha... i was cracking up on the 'ear ring / maturity' link as well.
We have no pressures to do anything with Warren this year, right? And I doubt his starting role is in jeopardy whoever we pick. He only goes if he is part of a bigger deal, but as I have said before, if I was out looking in, I'd want him in any trade package Phnx offers. He is no secret anymore.

I would too. I think some fans are still sleeping on TJ but the league isn't. As long as the front office is comfortable with whatever that "head injury" was, I can't see them trading Warren for anything but a star.

[darealjuice]

Lol TJ wears earrings? Definitely can't picture that with how awkward he can be during interviews Anecdotally, back when I was still hooping it felt like the guys that wore earrings were the more cocky/confident type, so maybe Watson sees it as a sign of building confidence or something lol? Funny to pick that out of any other signs of confidence building though.

Anyways, I see TJ as part of the young core we're building right now even though he's ~3 years older than most of those guys. I'm not sure if I see him being the starter if we go SF this draft, but if he continues scoring as efficiently as he was at the end of the season and improving on the defensive end, then it'll be tough to keep him off the floor. I'd definitely like the Suns to reach out to him this Summer and see if we can get a mutually beneficial contract extension in the works.

[Zelaznyrules]

It's not that he wears earrings, AFAIC he can wear dresses and makeup it means little to me. But the idea that it's a rite of passage for a male, to grow from talking to finally getting your ears pierced? What's next, is someone going to start calling the pretty-boy knot a man bun?

[darealjuice]

It's not that he wears earrings, AFAIC he can wear dresses and makeup it means little to me. But the idea that it's a rite of passage for a male, to grow from talking to finally getting your ears pierced? What's next, is someone going to start calling the pretty-boy knot a man bun?

He never said it was a rite of passage for a male lol... all he's saying is that he's become more confident going from the awkward, quiet TJ Warren to a more confident, talkative one that does stuff like pierce his ears to stand out.

[Zelaznyrules]

It's not that he wears earrings, AFAIC he can wear dresses and makeup it means little to me. But the idea that it's a rite of passage for a male, to grow from talking to finally getting your ears pierced? What's next, is someone going to start calling the pretty-boy knot a man bun?

He never said it was a rite of passage for a male lol... all he's saying is that he's become more confident going from the awkward, quiet TJ Warren to a more confident, talkative one that does stuff like pierce his ears to stand out.

Maybe you're interpreting it correctly but that isn't exactly what he said. He said "evolving all around from talking to wearing earrings in his ears" which does describe a female rite of passage in U.S. culture. A lot of guys wear earrings so it didn't cross by mind that he was saying TJ was trying to "stand out" by wearing earrings. But, regardless, that brings up another question. When did he get them pierced and did he perhaps get a severe infection from it, hence the "minor head injury"? Just a thought but I know I'd feel a little better about all things TJ related if that proved to be the case.

[lilfishi22]

It's not that he wears earrings, AFAIC he can wear dresses and makeup it means little to me. But the idea that it's a rite of passage for a male, to grow from talking to finally getting your ears pierced? What's next, is someone going to start calling the pretty-boy knot a man bun?

He never said it was a rite of passage for a male lol... all he's saying is that he's become more confident going from the awkward, quiet TJ Warren to a more confident, talkative one that does stuff like pierce his ears to stand out.

Maybe you're interpreting it correctly but that isn't exactly what he said. He said "evolving all around from talking to wearing earrings in his ears" which does describe a female rite of passage in U.S. culture. A lot of guys wear earrings so it didn't cross by mind that he was saying TJ was trying to "stand out" by wearing earrings. But, regardless, that brings up another question. When did he get them pierced and did he perhaps get a severe infection from it, hence the "minor head injury"? Just a thought but I know I'd feel a little better about all things TJ related if that proved to be the case.

That's how I read it. But I can see DRJ's point of TJ being more confident in self-expression.