Season Speculation, Trade Ideas & Discussion Pt. 3

[Mulhollanddrive]

What does Conley do at $30m that Bledsoe couldn't at $14m?

Also Dinwiddie and McConnell are available for $1m.

[Qwigglez]

Schroder kind of reminds me of Bledsoe, except Bledsoe has never averaged over 6 assists a game. Schroder is doing that with a roster that I can't even name more than two other players. If the Hawks are truly shopping him, I would be interested in trading for him, only if it doesn't cost us cap space for this summer. I'd offer up Chriss/Dudley and the Heat/Bucks 1st. I don't think the Hawks need cap space this summer anyway since they are in complete tank mode. I believe Schroder fits the mold of an ideal defender at PG since he was measured to have a 6'7 wingspan during his draft combine in 2013. Schroder's contract is very fair at $15.5mil per year til 2020/21. I think Sarver would love this contract.

This was also said about him during the Nike Summit

His biggest strength on paper, which lines up with what we saw at the Nike Hoop Summit, is his prolific ability creating for others on the pick and roll, as he ranks second in pass outs resulting in possessions per-game. His catch and shoot jump shot also warrants noting, as he knocked it down at a phenomenal 52.6% clip, albeit on 1.6 attempts per-game.

Goes hand in hand with what we are looking for from a PG, though he does turn the ball over 3 times a game (slightly less than what Bledsoe has done for us). If we can get him without giving up cap space for the summer, or even without giving up any long term prospects than it's an easy win for us. However, I can't imagine Hawks would be willing without at least one of Chriss/Bender. Schroder is also 10 days younger than TJ Warren so he fits our range of players for the timeline. The Hawks also rank 4th in passes per game at 327.7, while the Suns rank 8th worst with 281 passes per game. Though that is more correlated with coaching and system as opposed to who is running the team at PG. Interesting though that the Blazers, Rockets, Thunder, Wizards, Bucks actually give less passes per game than the Suns. I think that has to do also with the star power they have on their team.

Here is a good article on Schroder from last January
https://sports.vice.com/en_ca/article/kbdqwe/dennis-schrders-odd-future-and-atlantas-point-guard-quandary

Another article from over a month ago talks about how the Nets should go after Schroder. Funny, that article, coupled with the Hawks fans trade proposal, makes be believe we can get Schroder for far less than what I was willing to trade for him.
http://hoopshype.com/2017/10/19/hawks-dennis-schroder-could-be-a-perfect-trade-candidate-for-the-nets/

Lastly, I think I would even consider trading our pick on draft day if we ended up outside of the top 5 and there wasn't any players that the front office liked enough.

[Qwigglez]

wait till memphis implodes.... sneak in a snag Conley for Monroe/chris/pick/pick. PG prob solved for the next 3 years

I doubt we would even consider Conley since he is 30 years old and gets 30mil next season, 32.5mil the next, and 34.5mil in 202/21. I'd easily pass and wouldn't even want him for that kind of money.

[Mulhollanddrive]

Dennis Schroder has never been close to having a league average O-Rating in any season.

His career O-Rating is worse than Brandon Knight.

[Qwigglez]

Dennis Schroder has never been close to having a league average O-Rating in any season.

His career O-Rating is worse than Brandon Knight.

Not very fair since his rookie year he had an abysmal O-Rating of 82, likely having to adjust to how fast-paced the NBA is coming from overseas. He's still only 24 so he still has room to grow. And his 105 O-Rating this season is still better than our overall team's rating of 103.2 O-Rating. Alex Len actually has a 119 O-Rating but I don't see many people saying we should keep him around past this season.

[Saberestar]

What does Conley do at $30m that Bledsoe couldn't at $14m?

Also Dinwiddie and McConnell are available for $1m.

Conley is and he always has been a way better player than Bledsoe.

Conley would be amazing for this team. He is not an "stats player", he is all about winning and make the right play. Smart player, great shooter and good defender. Perfect fit next to Booker/TJ.

It is better to have a really good player at $30M rather than two "not so good" players at $15M.
Quality over Quantity.

Regarding Dinwiddie and McConell....they are probably out of the market. I like both.

[Frank Lee]

What does Conley do at $30m that Bledsoe couldn't at $14m?

Also Dinwiddie and McConnell are available for $1m.

Seriously ? Exactly what did Bledsoe do ???? That said, I now see Conley has shut down with Achilles probs.

but you a piping to think either Dinw or McC are 'available' . Those are guys we may be could have targeted earlier, but both are solid contributors at PG.... unlike the ones on our roster. Where is that "draft genius' again?



Conley is pricey, but there comes a time when we are going to have to pony up. You want to stay mediocre and hope some PG kid falls in our lap ? Outside of making Booker a PG, there are so few options that do not involve either paying for a proven commodity (which Schroeder isn't) or sinking 2-3 years of hopeful development. I suppose we could pay Jeramy Lin 15-20 mil.

I think we agree that the sticker shock of some of these salaries, current and up coming are beyond reasonable. And it seems like they just blew up so fast. Cats out of the bag now

[Frank Lee]

anyone beginning to see why Brandon Knight is soon to be McD's PG savior? He'll be rim lipping BK to us before long. Economically he makes sense .... but there had better be a back up plan more than James and Ulis.

[King4Day]

Colangelo resisted any trade proposal that cut into the Sixers' $15.1 million in salary-cap space prior to Nov. 15, because he planned to use that as part of his contract extension and renegotiation offer to forward Robert Covington. That limited the Sixers to trades that would bring back only the equivalent of Okafor's $5 million salary, or less.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/21581687/jahlil-okafor-philadelphia-76ers-limbo-hoping-resolution

Not sure if the 76ers would have room to play him (who is their backup center?) but assuming he could be a backup to Embiid, and start for him on the days he is sitting, seems like a no brainer.

EDIT: I meant we should trade Len for him but not sure if the 76ers could have user for him.

[AtheJ415]

What does Conley do at $30m that Bledsoe couldn't at $14m?

Also Dinwiddie and McConnell are available for $1m.

Neither are likely available at all.

[Qwigglez]

Just to expand a little further on Dennis Schroder, if we were to get him we'd have a very solid 3rd and 4th option with him and TJ Warren. Booker would be part of a 1-2 punch, and then we'd have Bender as the glue guy and Jackson as the perimeter defender until he develops further. Knight and Daniels as the scorers off the bench. This would be a enticing core group of players we have to try and lure Boogie here this off-season. A lot more capable than AD/Jrue and then a bunch of scrubs.

[AtheJ415]

What does Conley do at $30m that Bledsoe couldn't at $14m?

Also Dinwiddie and McConnell are available for $1m.

Conley is and he always has been a way better player than Bledsoe.

Conley would be amazing for this team. He is not an "stats player", he is all about winning and make the right play. Smart player, great shooter and good defender. Perfect fit next to Booker/TJ.

It is better to have a really good player at $30M rather than two "not so good" players at $15M.
Quality over Quantity.

Regarding Dinwiddie and McConell....they are probably out of the market. I like both.

Sorry, but when you have to go to the "he's a winner" argument, it really just means there aren't stats to back up the subjective opinion of him. When you are paying somebody $30+ mil of your cap, there better be more than that. The Grizzlies paid him that because he has been a hometown hero for them for a decade. That doesn't mean we should volunteer to take on that deal. He is super old and solves none of the real problems this team has imo. I wouldn't take his deal for free.

This team isn't trying to win now. It doesn't need to win now. So why on earth is everybody trying to concoct trades that sacrifice players who might be good and still young in 3-4 years for a guy on the edge of retirement who is overpaid and is at best a temporary solution to a problem that doesn't need immediate fixing?

Booker needs to play some 1 regardless this season. This team needs to lose to get a high pick. Lean into that instead of jumping into "let's grab the 8 seed" mode, which isn't even remotely possible this season to begin with.

[WeekapaugGroove]

We're easily bottom 5 talent wise. Especially if Booker or TJ sits for an extended period.

I'm down to tank one more year while the draft still favors tanking, but after this year we better at least offer nice 1 year deals to some quality vets to fill in holes in our lineup.

These guys want to win and they are getting frustrated.

It feels like never-ending cycle. If we whiff on this draft and grab this draft's version of Len (probably won't but...), we might be 2-3 seasons away from having this conversation again of "let's tank one more year". Even if the draft no longer favors tanking as much, tanking will still be your best opportunity to get a high pick and I think they would still be enticing if we're not where we need to be.

I get this feeling and tanking and drafting certainly isn't some sure fire bet. But on the bright side IF you can get lucky and land a true difference maker like simmons or porzingis things can change in hurry. Say that bagley, anyton, or donic are what they could be and become true number 1 guys on a good team then all the sudden booker as a 2nd option and warren as the 3 along with at least some of the other young guys panning out the core starts to make more sense.

Unrelated note if Memphis made Conley available and the suns wouldn't need to include their own top 5 pick to get it done I'd have no problem with his crazy salary. He's a really good player who does more for winning than his box score indicates.

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[Wilber85]

Why are we trying to get Conley, Shroder, etc.

Let's just get Doncic and call is a day .

Future Backcourt Booker and Doncic. Fill the other Gaps with Free Agency or 2019 draft.

[Qwigglez]

Why are we trying to get Conley, Shroder, etc.

Let's just get Doncic and call is a day .

Future Backcourt Booker and Doncic. Fill the other Gaps with Free Agency or 2019 draft.

I don't understand the Conley thing as he is 30 years old already. Should have just kept Bledsoe and gave him an extension if we wanted an older PG.

Schroder makes sense as he fits our timeline and he also has a team friendly contract. He is already putting up 20 and 7 while his shooting is about average for a PG IMO. I'd rather take the sure thing In Schroder than hoping we land a top 3 pick. I don't see us losing more than the Bulls/Hawks/Kings/Mavs so it's almost a guarantee we pick 5-8 and quite frankly there aren't any intriguing PG's outside of Doncic.

[bwgood77]

Draft Ayton and hire Budenholzer.
Talent wise doesnt matter if we let Hornacek, Watson and Triano coach them.

Just look at the Celtics.
Imagine Jaylen Brown playing for anyone else but Stevens.

So is Atlanta just going to get rid of Budenholzer? I saw it was rumored that he wasn't the right coach for a rebuilding team. If that's the case, if he was available, would he be right for us? Obviously he's a better option that what we have. Would we just be saying Atlanta is wrong? I wonder if he was perhaps on his way out if it had anything to do with him not wanting to be part of a rebuild.

Budenholzer is a mini Popovic... when he had the players (Teague, Korver, Milsap, Horford and Carroll) they were so fun to watch. Very tactical, good ball movement, CLEAR roles for players.

Thats what Suns needs... a structure that maximises a player's strengths and minimizes his weaknesses. The Suns current offense and defense rely heavily on one on one and individuals creating and hitting tough shots.


I'd want him as Suns coach for sure.... but Suns must make moves to push for playoffs next season (I think its better to get a top 5 pick this season).... Go for Cousins, George, package some of the picks for future picks and veteran help)

I know what Budenholzer is...an ex Pop assistant and he was very good with a lineup perfectly suited for that with solid vets and shooters, as well as depth...Teague/Korver/Carroll/Millsap/Horford with a bench of Schroeder/Sefolosha/Bazemore

Atlanta would be dumb to let him go. Not sure why he'd leave for the Suns. There are no indications he wants to leave or they want to get rid of him. Clearly they know he's not the reason they are bad after they got rid of that entire starting team.

I know someone posted here otherwise but there is nothing in any news that I've seen about it.

[bwgood77]

Schroder might be the sexier high potential option but I think Dinwiddie or McConnell would make the team and our star players better.

Career Averages:

Assist to Turnover Ratio
Dinwiddie 3.4 to 1
McConnell 2.9 to 1
Schroder 2.0 to 1

3 Point %
Dinwiddie 33%
Schroder 33%
McConnell 31%

Steals Per 36
McConnell 1.9
Dinwiddie 1.4
Schroder 1.4

O-Rating
Dinwiddie 111
McConnell 105
Schroder 100

Also Schroder is likely to cost about $10m more.

I'm sure many of us would prefer TJ or SD but those guys are not going anywhere. The team has their control and they are cheap and productive.

[jcsunsfan]

I have a feeling that McD is going to be fielding a LOT of calls during this draft. There are a lot of interesting players that will be available in the late lottery. This will be the summer to finalize the young core. Then next summer we can add the free agent that puts us over.

Look for teams that have star level depth at one position. Teams like Boston at SF.

[LukasBMW]

The Okafor situation is interesting. A buyout is coming, but if it happens at the deadline we have time to try to move Monroe for an asset.

That's the best case scenario:
-Monroe for an asset
-Sign Okafor to a nice 2 year deal. Overpay a bit, but then we have his bird rights and still have flexibility in 2019.

We can also promise Okafor a starting spot and move Tyson to the bench.

2nd best case scenario:
-We buy out Monroe at the deadline
-We sign Okafor (Essentially we end up trading Bledsoe for Okafor, a 1st and a 2nd).

[jcsunsfan]

The Okafor situation is interesting. A buyout is coming, but if it happens at the deadline we have time to try to move Monroe for an asset.

That's the best case scenario:
-Monroe for an asset
-Sign Okafor to a nice 2 year deal. Overpay a bit, but then we have his bird rights and still have flexibility in 2019.

We can also promise Okafor a starting spot and move Tyson to the bench.

2nd best case scenario:
-We buy out Monroe at the deadline
-We sign Okafor (Essentially we end up trading Bledsoe for Okafor, a 1st and a 2nd).

If we do that, then we should probably buy out Len.