What is the Phoenix FO thinking?

[OkcSinceSGA]

Blake would actually be a phenomenal fit there. As the point forward and a primary playmaker he would dominate. Booker is the go to player, but he's not good at creating for himself and playmaking so much. Having Blake in the Draymond role of initiating offense while he's flanked by a shooter like Booker+a bunch of young, hyperathletic rim runners for lob passes would be insane. He's one of the best passers in the league.

[Hesh]

1. Some weeks back, Blake said that he would love to play in Phoenix
2. He the one who reached out to Phoenix for a meeting and wanted to schedule it for the first day of FA, not the other way round
3. It's been said by both media and Clipper's fans that he's not one for putting on a big show and would rather make a deal asap.

If number 3 is true, he could be using 1-2 to gain leverage and get a deal made in LA asap like others here have mentioned. Who know's.

[Cactus Jack]

Simple answer: Their GM Ryan McDonough is on the last year of his contract and his tenure with the Suns has been very uneven. He's under pressure to show results (translation: make the playoffs or at least get close) or he'll be fired.

I think this is the most reasonable answer. Thnak you.

This is a big factor. McDonough hasn't been great (IT trade was a huge failure). His draft picks have been decent for the most part. Booker, Chriss & Jackson could all be good to great picks. Bender is still an unknown. He's also had a couple of misses. If the team has another bottom 3 finish, he could easily be on his way out.

[SlowPaced]

Millsap doesn't make sense, Griffin might. He's 28, if the young players develop quickly they could make some noise.

Personally I would keep the tank going though.

[510TWSS]

Well, Tyson is old and not good anymore and Len is young and not ever good so there's that problem there.

I don't mind them going after Blake, although they better be right if they're signing him to 4 years. They could add Blake for just $$$, then turn around and package Eric Bledsoe's contract with say one of Bender/Chriss and get an intriguing perimeter player. ****, maybe they have plans to go after PG for the year and do it big by offering Indy EB + Chriss/Bender maybe a future 1st.

Still have Booker and one of Chriss/Bender, Blake and PG. I'd turn around and then maybe see if I could get Rubio from Minny with Warren/Ulliss. First I'd see if they'd take knight's contract 1st in a simple swap, but obviously Minny either would ask for more value or just say no.

Still have the rookie Josh Jackson, but still need to sign a stretch 5 to play with Blake and help protect the rim.

[Chinook]

Signing Millsap or trading for Aldridge at this point doesn't make sense though, they are too old and having them around in 3 years is going to be a problem.

Not a problem with LMA and his 1-and1, though.

[NTB]

Blake makes some sense, he's still only 28 and will be in his prime for the next 2-3 years at least. A 4-year max contract should be decent value for the money, while the youngsters develop in a winning envirnoment. When Booker, Jackson and Chriss will be ready to compete, Blake will still be a decent player.

Signing Millsap or trading for Aldridge at this point doesn't make sense though, they are too old and having them around in 3 years is going to be a problem.

I just dont see how Blake turns a 24-58 team into a playoff contender in the west. If the point is to get the youngsters to develop then wouldnt the best option be to give them all the minutes possible. I think Chriss/Bender playing 24-32 minutes a night will do alot more for their development then backing up Blake on a slightly better team that may have a shot at the 8th seed.

Chriss and Bender can still get 24-32 minutes alongside Griffin and they can taste the playoff atmosphere at the same time. Also even we finished with 24 wins I don't think we were a 24-win team if you know what I mean.

[ProfessorJM]

I'm not sure if I would take Blake if I am Phoenix, there might be some value in just tanking another year or two to build more assets, but not sure on the patience of the fan base and owner. However, Blake if healthy seems like a pretty good fit there, and you would have a fun and athletic team overall with also Jackson coming as well. I'd want to watch that team so from the marketing and brand perspective, not the worst deal for Phoenix (except injury risk) and even in four years most of their other players are still pretty young.

[OrlandoHouston]

They're probably thinking that they've been trash for a while now and don't want to be trash anymore....

not everyone looks at their teams as championship or bust

[whatisacenter]

It is a win/win for both parties. Phoenix gets to look like a landing spot for top free agents and the player gets to look at multiple organizations and gain some leverage with their current team. And you never what might happen when you get in a meeting, there could be good chemistry and a player might see themselves thriving in a new system with a new team.

[Ballerhogger]

I would say take blake if you can get him for 3-4 years. If they want to push to the playoffs try to obtain Paul Millsap for 2 year PO. Lots other parts will haver to be moved.

[DusterBuster]

Phoenix's FO hasn't done much thinking in a long long time.

They're quite literally just throwing darts at a wall with roster construction out there in the desert.

[udfa]

I just read some article saying that Phoenix is looking to sign Blake Griffin or Paul Milsap. Why would they do this? They just drafted two PF's in the top 8 last year. Chriss looks like he has some potential. Let them play. This team is young and the addition of Milsap or Griffin will do nothing to make them relevant. I don't get this. It seems to be the Tyson Chandler/Alex Len thing all over again. Can anyone explain to me what their FO is thinking?

I agree. I think Phoenix should continue to look at themselves as being in rebuilding mode this season. Dump Chandler and Dudley (should be practicable since they're still viable rotation players under not-awful contracts), sign some stop gap players to short term contracts and give all the minutes they can handle to Bledsoe, Booker, Jackson, Warren, Chriss, Jones, Bender, Ulis. They are not one big FA away from being a contender (or on track to contention). I'm not even confident that Griffin or Millsap gets them into the playoffs next year. Focus on developing the young guys.

[SK21209]

Is the mystical Suns training staff still a thing? If so that might be a real plus for Griffin. I'd like to see Griffin back in LA with more freedom now that Paul is gone but I'd also like to see him in PHX with these young guys. It's nice to see some new blood in the West

[sh0ck]

I wonder if the Clippers/Suns would be able to do a sign-and-trade with Blake Griffin and say like Dragan Bender + Tyson Chandler's deal + Brandon Knight so that the Suns would be able to go out and get another FA.

[Capn'O]

"Let's put together a really fun team and try to make the playoffs" is my guess.

[Up-And-Coming]

I have to disagree. Adding a star like Blake Griffin and to a lesser extent, Paul Millsap would be a solid move. I think fans in general become too attached to their young players and overrate their potential. Odds are that player will never be a star (a slight chance they will be).

[baldur]

Are we sure that Chriss can play center? He seems too skinny and undersized for that position to me.

[Young_Star11]

They've been wanting to do something for a while. Remember how they signed Chandler THEN used him to try to lure LMA?

They had a similar situation with Amar'e in 2010 and let him go to New York. It was the right move and Amar'e gave the Knicks 1.5 good years and 3.5 of being a horrible contract.

[bwgood77]

Phoenix's FO hasn't done much thinking in a long long time.

They're quite literally just throwing darts at a wall with roster construction out there in the desert.

Pretty much. GM just said last week that they wouldn't sign anyone that would take away minutes from Bender/Chriss, and coach said right now we are in development mode, winning will come later (or something like that). But Sarver gets impatient. Blake reached out to the Suns too...kind of hard to turn down I guess.

But if felt like they were finally committed to the rebuild after all the back and forth, and then this happens..not surprising though.