Season Speculation, Trade Ideas & Discussion Pt. 1

[enigmatics]

Ainge got robbed. lol

No he didn't. He managed to keep most of their young core guys (Tatum, Brown, and Smart). All he did was get rid of someone they weren't gonna pay the max, an aging vet, and a draft pick that won't be in the Top 5 next year after the Nets improvement this offseason.

Kudos to Ainge. He had the better bargaining chips with IT > Bledsoe.

I agree with most of that but I am not sure IT is greater than Bledsoe. I certainly could be wrong and IT had a hell of a year but Bledsoe may have been a better fit in Cleveland.

It appears to me that it came down to the unprotected pick from Brooklyn.

I am curious to know exactly what we actually offered. Everything is all speculation at this point.

I didn't even include Marcus Smart whom they still have. IMO they are going to be a lot of fun to watch.

That Nets pick isn't going to be as good as it could've been. They've improved quite a bit with the additions of Russell/Crabbe and that's why Ainge chose to move it now. Granted that probably shifts them more towards the 7-10 slot.

[AtheJ415]

I think we should ensure we have max cap space in 4 years in case AD wants to come here, but I just don't see a way NO trades him. Guys like him don't get traded at his age and with that many years left on his deal unless AD demands it, and he seems to have a good relationship with the FO there. They haven't done the best job, but they have swung for the fences to get him guys to play with between Holiday and Cousins.

I think Porzingis is just slightly more likely due to his frustrations and vocal disapproval with the franchise (even though it was mostly Phil, if ownership's new GM also has issues with Porzingis, he will probably lose faith in ownership, which won't be so easily fixed).

[AtheJ415]

No he didn't. He managed to keep most of their young core guys (Tatum, Brown, and Smart). All he did was get rid of someone they weren't gonna pay the max, an aging vet, and a draft pick that won't be in the Top 5 next year after the Nets improvement this offseason.

Kudos to Ainge. He had the better bargaining chips with IT > Bledsoe.

I agree with most of that but I am not sure IT is greater than Bledsoe. I certainly could be wrong and IT had a hell of a year but Bledsoe may have been a better fit in Cleveland.

It appears to me that it came down to the unprotected pick from Brooklyn.

I am curious to know exactly what we actually offered. Everything is all speculation at this point.

I didn't even include Marcus Smart whom they still have. IMO they are going to be a lot of fun to watch.

That Nets pick isn't going to be as good as it could've been. They've improved quite a bit with the additions of Russell/Crabbe and that's why Ainge chose to move it now. Granted that probably shifts them more towards the 7-10 slot.

Are you under the impression that Smart is a positive player? He simply isn't good.

[LukasBMW]

If Irving was traded for IT, Crowder, and a likely high lottery pick, I wonder what the price on KP would be?

Bledsoe, Warren, and an unprotected 2018 pick?

I'd do that in a heartbeat.

Actually, I'd try to include Chriss or Bender instead of Bledsoe so we could win NOW

Bledsoe
Booker
Jackson
KP
Tyson

[Kerrsed]

If Irving was traded for IT, Crowder, and a likely high lottery pick, I wonder what the price on KP would be?

Bledsoe, Warren, and an unprotected 2018 pick?

I'd do that in a heartbeat.

Actually, I'd try to include Chriss or Bender instead of Bledsoe so we could win NOW

Bledsoe
Booker
Jackson
KP
Tyson

LOL!

It would be way way way way way higher. Good point guards (Near All-star caliber) are a dime a dozen in this league. Big men who can play both sides of the court and shoot/score at a high clip are a rarity. There is a reason he is called The Unicorn. Honestly, i dont think Booker/Jackson/Unprotected 1st would even get it done now. Hell, throw in Bledsoe and they would still want more.

[Damkac]

Please not another KP discussion! We had hundreds of pages about this already and it's enough.

[sunsbum]

Please not another KP discussion! We had hundreds of pages about this already and it's enough.

KP, KAT, AD, Irving....youre all out. get out.

[King4Day]

If Irving was traded for IT, Crowder, and a likely high lottery pick, I wonder what the price on KP would be?

Bledsoe, Warren, and an unprotected 2018 pick?

I'd do that in a heartbeat.

Actually, I'd try to include Chriss or Bender instead of Bledsoe so we could win NOW

Bledsoe
Booker
Jackson
KP
Tyson

LOL!

It would be way way way way way higher. Good point guards (Near All-star caliber) are a dime a dozen in this league. Big men who can play both sides of the court and shoot/score at a high clip are a rarity. There is a reason he is called The Unicorn. Honestly, i dont think Booker/Jackson/Unprotected 1st would even get it done now. Hell, throw in Bledsoe and they would still want more.

Booker, Jackson and a 2018 unprotected is likely plenty. No chance I'd do it, nor would the Suns, but that's a boatload that the Knicks could build around.

[Frank Lee]

But in more Sunshiney News... we got Peter Jok ! Did you hear me ? ... Peter F-n Jok *

This has to be McD's tamest off season yet



(I actually like the kid, followed him some at Iowa, via distant corn roots. he has a compelling story getting out of Africa...but needs to stay away from mopeds. Hope he enjoys Prescott)

[BobbieL]

But in more Sunshiney News... we got Peter Jok ! Did you hear me ? ... Peter F-n Jok *

This has to be McD's tamest off season yet



(I actually like the kid, followed him some at Iowa, via distant corn roots. he has a compelling story getting out of Africa...but needs to stay away from mopeds. Hope he enjoys Prescott)

It was a pretty tame off season but nothing wrong with that. Better than doing something stupid for the sake of doing something. Sure, I would have likedKyrie for the right trade. But I also know he and Booker - probably not the right match so just move forward - just play it through, keep your cap space - maybe take on a contract at some point for an asset and see what happens

[MilotheSlayer]

I do like this trade long term for the Celtics. I think Kyrie does stay with Bos past his 2yrs. A core of Kyrie, Hayward, and Horford is really good, especially in the East. Now in 2yrs when the core changes to Kyrie, Hayward, and (Tatum/Brown) I think they become even better. They still have an awesome pick for next year and now they don't have to pay IT (scares the hell out of me).

We'll see, but I wouldn't necessarily bank on Tatum/Brown becoming core members. Ainge's draft history is absolutely terrible. The best player they have drafted in a decade is arguably Smart, who has a 12 PER. The other side of that coin is that those picks are becoming FAs, and other teams are signing them hoping they can develop into more than the role players they are (Olynyk, Bradley). I think Stevens makes all of their players seem better than they are. For instance, Smart is a key guy for them and the numbers don't support him actually helping you win. I think Stevens can make Irving much better--same with Hayways, but I don't buy that core being as great as it appears. Tatum looked great in summer league, but that has proven to be an absolutely horrendous predictor of future performance (Josh Selby is a hall of fame SL player, Jerryd Bayless, Nick Johnson, etc.. Even on the other side of the coin Brogdon was horrible in SL but much better in the real NBA).

I think both Brown and Tatum have promise, but I don't think they are likely to become stars. It is going to be a gamble, like it is with most young players. To me, Tatum is still an inefficient volume scorer, similar to a poor man's Melo, and so he has to improve his efficiency a ton and get better at some other aspect of the game. In college he was nowhere near as efficient as he was in SL, so the real question is whether he actually improved that much in training for the draft or if he was just hot for 4 games. Brown has the athleticism and defensive will but is not particularly skilled at anything on the offensive end at this point. Point being, both have a long ways to go.

That's the beauty of the NBA. Not knowing how a 20yr old will be playing in 5 years. I do think that one of them pans out to be the 3rd star in Boston. Even if its who they pick this upcoming year with the Lakers pick. I do agree that history isn't on Ainges side but he has to hit one eventually!

[SideSwipe]

But in more Sunshiney News... we got Peter Jok ! Did you hear me ? ... Peter F-n Jok *

This has to be McD's tamest off season yet



(I actually like the kid, followed him some at Iowa, via distant corn roots. he has a compelling story getting out of Africa...but needs to stay away from mopeds. Hope he enjoys Prescott)

It was a pretty tame off season but nothing wrong with that. Better than doing something stupid for the sake of doing something. Sure, I would have likedKyrie for the right trade. But I also know he and Booker - probably not the right match so just move forward - just play it through, keep your cap space - maybe take on a contract at some point for an asset and see what happens

Looks like Jok he might get Davon Reeds minutes...so half Prescott, half PHX then.

[Mjee]

Devon Reed out 4-6 months

[Sreister]

But in more Sunshiney News... we got Peter Jok ! Did you hear me ? ... Peter F-n Jok *

This has to be McD's tamest off season yet



(I actually like the kid, followed him some at Iowa, via distant corn roots. he has a compelling story getting out of Africa...but needs to stay away from mopeds. Hope he enjoys Prescott)

It was a pretty tame off season but nothing wrong with that. Better than doing something stupid for the sake of doing something. Sure, I would have likedKyrie for the right trade. But I also know he and Booker - probably not the right match so just move forward - just play it through, keep your cap space - maybe take on a contract at some point for an asset and see what happens

Looks like Jok he might get Davon Reeds minutes...so half Prescott, half PHX then.

Sucks for Reed, but I'd love to see Jok get some burn and see what he can do, being an Iowa homer supporting the Suns. Too bad though, he definitely is more of a D guy than Jok, but I can see Jok's 3 point shooting find a niche on our bench.

[Saberestar]

Read on Twitter

[Saberestar]

Reed’s absence – coupled with the absence of Brandon Knight (torn ACL, likely out for the year) – leaves the Suns thin at guard.

Rookie Josh Jackson and T.J. Warren could slide over to shooting guard but Warren made just 26.5 percent of his 3-point attempts last year and Jackson is a natural small forward.

One possibility is former Iowa star Peter Jok, who recently signed a partially guaranteed contract with the Suns. The 6-6 Jok, who went undrafted in June and then played for the New Orleans Pelicans Summer League team, averaged 19.9 points per game as a senior at Iowa and shot 38 percent from 3-point range.

Phoenix also signed veteran shooting guard/small forward Elijah Millsap in April; Millsap averaged 4.2 points and 2.8 rebounds over the last two seasons with Utah.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2017/08/25/phoenix-suns-davon-reed-miami-knee-injury/601544001/

[Saberestar]

So...

Knight OUT.
Reed OUT.
Dudley probably OUT the first month of the season.

Hopefully Ulis and Chriss are completely healthy for training camp.

[kennydorglas]

This will probably free up even more playing time for JJ.
His ROY campaign just got more relevant now.

[bwgood77]

This will probably free up even more playing time for JJ.
His ROY campaign just got more relevant now.

Yes, he can play backup 2, particularly if he shoots well with range.

[8on]

Archie Goodwin's available