Season Speculation, Trade Ideas & Discussion Pt. 4

[lilfishi22]

I have a question. Can we still pick up Derrick Jones from our gleague team after we waived him? Would like him to get minutes now. He improved his 3pt shooting in the gleague. He is still a 3 and D prospect for me. Or isn't it possible after waiving him?

I'd like him to show some more in the G-league before we touch another ultra raw prospect.

[AtheJ415]

Len is playing really well. Averaging a near double double in 21 minutes a game over the past 10 or so. Too bad his career is already over as he has been written off as a complete bust.

[Hesh]

Heads Up: Bender thread on the GB. Enter at your own risk.

[suns91fan]

Len is leading the team in WS right now:

http://bkref.com/tiny/g4CoN

The fact that he's playing only 22 mpg makes this even more impressive (WS is a cumulative stat). He's fulfilling his role really well right now.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Len is leading the team in WS right now:

http://bkref.com/tiny/g4CoN

The fact that he's playing only 22 mpg makes this even more impressive (WS is a cumulative stat). He's fulfilling his role really well right now.

I'm hoping last night was a big step for Alex, as that passing was great to see. Aside from getting bested by Alan Williams last year (and my own occasional wanderings into the anti-Alex camp after disappointing performances), I've maintained a preference for Alex over our other options at the 5 since his second year with the team. I think he's a better option than Tyson/Moose right now and going forward. He's the only rim protector we have at the 5. Our next best rim protectors are Quese and Dragan.

Unless we use our top pick on Deandre Ayton (or perhaps Wendell Carter or Robert Williams), I think we're better off giving Alex a market extension and jettisoning Tyson. This shift in my own thinking results primarily from the following rationale --- Any other 5 we might draft either won't be able to protect the rim (Bagley) or will be too raw to start at the 5 within the next 2-3 years (Jackson, Bamba, Robinson). There's also a very real risk that several of these guys will never be as solid as Alex is now. Only Ayton and Bamba can match Len's size. And we should know by now that bigs take a while to develop. We simply can't count on a player we draft next year to be ready to succeed Tyson after just 1 year in the league.

Looking at the 2018 free agent landscape (http://www.spotrac.com/nba/cap/2018/), it seems that the only teams who might make Alex a solid offer are ATL, DAL and CHI. One of those teams is likely to draft Ayton. Hopefully Alex has an impressive remainder of the year and justifies a solid contract offer from us. McD has said he would like to be the GM to make that offer, but that Alex has to earn it. I hope he continues to do so.

[bigfoot]

Len is leading the team in WS right now:

http://bkref.com/tiny/g4CoN

The fact that he's playing only 22 mpg makes this even more impressive (WS is a cumulative stat). He's fulfilling his role really well right now.

It has been very slow progress over four and a half seasons. I will say it is nice to see Len is playing better. Looks like Chandler is finally rubbing off on Len. Or could be the fire is lit because Len is playing for a paycheck next year. A lot of his offensive woes can be blamed on the coaches as both Hornacek and Watson tried to get Len to play away from the basket. The decision to simplify the offense for Len has been good. However, for the season his shooting percentage is still poor for a center. He shot abysmally (.475ish) in October and November. He has really stepped up in December and is shooting (.694). This is the number to watch for Len for the rest of the season.

[Qwigglez]

Len has gone stretches in his career where he puts up solid numbers, but then even longer stretches when he just disappears. He needs to be consistent for us to offer him a contract. I think the first step for that to happen is to give him continued minutes in a defined role. I'd like for us to start him and see how he does with that group of players, especially Booker. I know Chandler gets the occasional lob from Booker but I think Len could get some easy put backs or some drop offs (if he doesn't drop the ball), or even some tip outs with the first unit. Let him start and see what he can do, he's only started twice this season and when you aren't in a predefined role I think that affects the outcome of the product.

[gaspar]

Len is leading the team in WS right now:

http://bkref.com/tiny/g4CoN

The fact that he's playing only 22 mpg makes this even more impressive (WS is a cumulative stat). He's fulfilling his role really well right now.

It has been very slow progress over four and a half seasons. I will say it is nice to see Len is playing better. Looks like Chandler is finally rubbing off on Len. Or could be the fire is lit because Len is playing for a paycheck next year. A lot of his offensive woes can be blamed on the coaches as both Hornacek and Watson tried to get Len to play away from the basket. The decision to simplify the offense for Len has been good. However, for the season his shooting percentage is still poor for a center. He shot abysmally (.475ish) in October and November. He has really stepped up in December and is shooting (.694). This is the number to watch for Len for the rest of the season.

Len has been very efficient the whole season long. His TS% by month: 60% in October, 56% in November and 72% December.

[Suns_RoadRunner]

Monroe and Miami pick for Schroder at the trade deadline. Would you do it?

[Saberestar]

Monroe and Miami pick for Schroder at the trade deadline. Would you do it?

I would do it...but I doubt the Hawks would do it.

[Sunsdeuce]

Monroe and Miami pick for Schroder at the trade deadline. Would you do it?

Hell no. For Monroe..yes....for Monroe AND a first...hell to the no. Dennis is not that good, even Atlanta fans don’t like him.

[AtheJ415]

Len is leading the team in WS right now:

http://bkref.com/tiny/g4CoN

The fact that he's playing only 22 mpg makes this even more impressive (WS is a cumulative stat). He's fulfilling his role really well right now.

It has been very slow progress over four and a half seasons. I will say it is nice to see Len is playing better. Looks like Chandler is finally rubbing off on Len. Or could be the fire is lit because Len is playing for a paycheck next year. A lot of his offensive woes can be blamed on the coaches as both Hornacek and Watson tried to get Len to play away from the basket. The decision to simplify the offense for Len has been good. However, for the season his shooting percentage is still poor for a center. He shot abysmally (.475ish) in October and November. He has really stepped up in December and is shooting (.694). This is the number to watch for Len for the rest of the season.

Not really. Maybe overall, or compared to your expectations, but overall bigs take longer to develop. Then you factor in that Len was a raw player, which also takes longer to develop, plus the fact that he was horribly coached, and it isn't that slow. With young bigs you rarely know what you have until 4 years in, and when you factor in the rest, it really isn't as surprising or as slow as you would think.

[jcsunsfan]

Monroe and Miami pick for Schroder at the trade deadline. Would you do it?

Aaaargh! Its probably a trade we should do. But I just don't like Shroder. There is a punkishness about him.

[AtheJ415]

Len is leading the team in WS right now:

http://bkref.com/tiny/g4CoN

The fact that he's playing only 22 mpg makes this even more impressive (WS is a cumulative stat). He's fulfilling his role really well right now.

It has been very slow progress over four and a half seasons. I will say it is nice to see Len is playing better. Looks like Chandler is finally rubbing off on Len. Or could be the fire is lit because Len is playing for a paycheck next year. A lot of his offensive woes can be blamed on the coaches as both Hornacek and Watson tried to get Len to play away from the basket. The decision to simplify the offense for Len has been good. However, for the season his shooting percentage is still poor for a center. He shot abysmally (.475ish) in October and November. He has really stepped up in December and is shooting (.694). This is the number to watch for Len for the rest of the season.

Len has been very efficient the whole season long. His TS% by month: 60% in October, 56% in November and 72% December.

Don't bring stats into this. He didn't average 12 a game by his 2nd season. Therefore, he is already a complete bust who is destined to exit the league any day now. We would be lucky to get some waffle fries for him.

[jcsunsfan]

Len is leading the team in WS right now:

http://bkref.com/tiny/g4CoN

The fact that he's playing only 22 mpg makes this even more impressive (WS is a cumulative stat). He's fulfilling his role really well right now.

It has been very slow progress over four and a half seasons. I will say it is nice to see Len is playing better. Looks like Chandler is finally rubbing off on Len. Or could be the fire is lit because Len is playing for a paycheck next year. A lot of his offensive woes can be blamed on the coaches as both Hornacek and Watson tried to get Len to play away from the basket. The decision to simplify the offense for Len has been good. However, for the season his shooting percentage is still poor for a center. He shot abysmally (.475ish) in October and November. He has really stepped up in December and is shooting (.694). This is the number to watch for Len for the rest of the season.

I think its more than just playing for a paycheck. He has simplified his game. No more top of the key mid-range jumpers. He stays close to the hoop. Rebounds very well. Protects the rim.

We should keep him if we can. Of course, it will depend on the draft. If we draft Ayton or Bamba, I don't think he will stay no matter how much money we throw at him.

[AtheJ415]

Schroder has the same issue we did for Bled. He's good, but not that many teams need PGs. I would take him on the Suns, and maybe for that deal, but I don't think he is going to draw a ton in FA. My worries about him are that he puts up better volume numbers than efficiency numbers, is not a good shooter, and his attitude is a big question mark. He seems to think he's the man, which hurts him with teammates, and might impact his work ethic, limiting his shot improvement, which would limit his ultimate upside. I love his tools and athleticism though, and he is still pretty young and on a reasonable deal.

My hope is that we get Trae Young or Sexton by packaging the Miami and Milwaukee picks to move up a few spots.

[AtheJ415]

Len is leading the team in WS right now:

http://bkref.com/tiny/g4CoN

The fact that he's playing only 22 mpg makes this even more impressive (WS is a cumulative stat). He's fulfilling his role really well right now.

It has been very slow progress over four and a half seasons. I will say it is nice to see Len is playing better. Looks like Chandler is finally rubbing off on Len. Or could be the fire is lit because Len is playing for a paycheck next year. A lot of his offensive woes can be blamed on the coaches as both Hornacek and Watson tried to get Len to play away from the basket. The decision to simplify the offense for Len has been good. However, for the season his shooting percentage is still poor for a center. He shot abysmally (.475ish) in October and November. He has really stepped up in December and is shooting (.694). This is the number to watch for Len for the rest of the season.

I think its more than just playing for a paycheck. He has simplified his game. No more top of the key mid-range jumpers. He stays close to the hoop. Rebounds very well. Protects the rim.

We should keep him if we can. Of course, it will depend on the draft. If we draft Ayton or Bamba, I don't think he will stay no matter how much money we throw at him.

He has protected the rim for years. He was one of the best rim protectors in the entire league for his age just last season. People have just chosen to ignore that since they already wrote him off as a bust.

[jcsunsfan]

It has been very slow progress over four and a half seasons. I will say it is nice to see Len is playing better. Looks like Chandler is finally rubbing off on Len. Or could be the fire is lit because Len is playing for a paycheck next year. A lot of his offensive woes can be blamed on the coaches as both Hornacek and Watson tried to get Len to play away from the basket. The decision to simplify the offense for Len has been good. However, for the season his shooting percentage is still poor for a center. He shot abysmally (.475ish) in October and November. He has really stepped up in December and is shooting (.694). This is the number to watch for Len for the rest of the season.

I think its more than just playing for a paycheck. He has simplified his game. No more top of the key mid-range jumpers. He stays close to the hoop. Rebounds very well. Protects the rim.

We should keep him if we can. Of course, it will depend on the draft. If we draft Ayton or Bamba, I don't think he will stay no matter how much money we throw at him.

He has protected the rim for years. He was one of the best rim protectors in the entire league for his age just last season. People have just chosen to ignore that since they already wrote him off as a bust.

I did not say he didn’t. And there are reasons people had written him off. He signed the qualifying offer. That usually means he is a bust for the team that drafted him. I doubt we will be able to resign him.


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[NavLDO]

Len is playing really well. Averaging a near double double in 21 minutes a game over the past 10 or so. Too bad his career is already over as he has been written off as a complete bust.

I know...Bender's a bust, too. His 5/8 from 3 and 17 Pts last night were horrible. Oh, and JJ's a bust too, with his 13/8 on 22 minutes. But, but, but he had a -21! Well, so did ALL of our starters (have double digit 'minus'...not -21...)

Too bad we didn't have the opportunity to pay Wiggins the Max like the T-Wolves did, and follow their 'blueprint'.

http://bkref.com/tiny/ONz52

Even following Warren's 'mini'-slump as of late, he looks miles better than Wiggins in everything but 3PT% (which is only because Warren is so horrifically bad; has nothing to do with Wiggins being good). PPG, Fg%, 2PT%, TS%, PER, WS...it's not even close.

Funny though...notice that all the players that were NOT with us in preseason, other than,Warren/Bender, had a great game last night...Len, Canaan, Daniels, House...maybe they should be our starters, with Warren...

[jredsaz]

It has been very slow progress over four and a half seasons. I will say it is nice to see Len is playing better. Looks like Chandler is finally rubbing off on Len. Or could be the fire is lit because Len is playing for a paycheck next year. A lot of his offensive woes can be blamed on the coaches as both Hornacek and Watson tried to get Len to play away from the basket. The decision to simplify the offense for Len has been good. However, for the season his shooting percentage is still poor for a center. He shot abysmally (.475ish) in October and November. He has really stepped up in December and is shooting (.694). This is the number to watch for Len for the rest of the season.

Len has been very efficient the whole season long. His TS% by month: 60% in October, 56% in November and 72% December.

Don't bring stats into this. He didn't average 12 a game by his 2nd season. Therefore, he is already a complete bust who is destined to exit the league any day now. We would be lucky to get some waffle fries for him.

I think there is room between a complete bust exiting the league and the missed expectations of a top 5 pick. I think he will end up with a career a lot like former Suns draft pick RoLo. Thats great but a top 5 pick needs to be better than that - even from a bad draft.