Trade and free agency speculation

[lilfishi22]

Any trade involving JJ *has* to be for a legit piece. It's definitely not for a guy like Lowry, Kemba or someone of that level.

I wouldn’t trade him for Conley either.

These are guys have either hit their peak or their peak was a couple seasons ago. Makes no sense to move a guy on a bargain salary with a ton of potential like JJ especially when you consider that guys like Fred VanVleet could be had for half or a third of the price of those PG's and without giving up anything. Not saying VanVleet is ideal either but he's way better value for money than these $30-35m max money guy.

[Christine-In-AZ]

Sad, Chriss is my favorite Current Sun. Please give Quese a chance.

(not snark)
Interesting choice for a favorite Suns player. Any particular reasons why you could share?

[lilfishi22]

Any trade involving JJ *has* to be for a legit piece. It's definitely not for a guy like Lowry, Kemba or someone of that level.

It would have to be for someone with control too. But I don't know that JJ has a ton of trade value either. He probably has a pretty good amount with the potential upside/rookie deal, long time rights, but I don't imagine he would be a guy that you could use as a headliner for a young proven player with long term rights.

Bridges would probably have more trade value (after all, he just got netted a mid first in a deep draft and future unprotected pick from a mediocre aging team) and he hasn't even played yet.

Maybe not but he could be the dealbreaker when teams call. And if it isn't the ideal guy we want, then I would prefer to break the deal than just throw him in.

[lilfishi22]

Why is Josh Jackson's name being mentioned in trades here...

McD clearly has named him along Booker as two pieces going forward... He also mentioned Warren... But with Bridges and Jackson's versatility.... Warren has become expendable.

He's not. Just reiterating his near untouchable status.

[SuperSunsFan]

Sad, Chriss is my favorite Current Sun. Please give Quese a chance.

(not snark)
Interesting choice for a favorite Suns player. Any particular reasons why you could share?

First he is a bright smart and funny kid, second he reminds me of Mcdyess, third he improved a lot defensively from his first season that tells me he care about his craft, fourth he is passionate, fifth he averaged near double double in the last 10 games or so of the last season which tells me he is on the verge of a third year breakout which is usually the year the light bulb turns on for most young players. Finally, I like the chemistry he has with Lindsey in this video. He has a very beautiful smile.

https://www.nba.com/suns/video/2018/03/07/nba-jam-chriss

[bwgood77]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23938913/zach-lowe-nba-free-agency-preview-lebron-james-paul-george-kawhi-leonard

Yes, good read...you didn't put the Suns part in quotes, so people may have mistaken it as not being from the article, but some interesting thoughts...

I am very glad it mentions we have no interest in Schroder. Glad he mentions VanVleet....and many names tossed around here...Collison, Joseph, Beverley, Lin...and how Beverley is perfect next to Booker.

That last JJ one is tough. I probably wouldn't do it, but I would say we'd certainly be a better team next year with Lowry or Conley, so for those ready to fast track the process, I could understand them wanting it.

But I have always wanted to build through the draft and develop that chemistry. The best thing to happen would be for Okobo to be like KJ or something and win rookie of the year. We KNOW or almost know for sure the others are going to be studs...if Okobo could break out that would be such a blessing...one long needed.

• The easiest call on the board: Phoenix acquiring a point guard, either in free agency (Fred VanVleet is a name to watch) or via trade. The problem for Phoenix is that their best assets -- Booker, Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges -- are untouchable, and their young bigs (Dragan Bender, Marquese Chriss) have limited trade value. Chriss was available on draft night, per league sources.

They can take small swings on guys like Jeremy Lin, Darren Collison, Cory Joseph, and Patrick Beverley -- a perfect fit next to Booker, though he is recovering from microfracture surgery -- packaging Bender and some salary filler (Jared Dudley). That is probably not enough for Rozier, another nice fit. Milos Teodosic is another name to watch -- a playmaker who would make Ayton's life much easier. But in the long run, the Suns need a plus defender next to Booker.

Bigger fish would require Phoenix sliding Josh Jackson into a trade. He is the swing piece, whether the Suns like or not. He puts Kemba Walker in play. Would a rebuilding Raptors team say no to Dudley, Tyson Chandler, and Jackson for Kyle Lowry? (I doubt Phoenix does that, but it makes you pause.) What about Mike Conley if the Grizz pull the plug (and Conley proves healthy)?

Phoenix has shown no interest so far in Dennis Schroder, sources say.

Enjoy the fun!

[bwgood77]

Pacers can still get to about $25M in cap space by waiving Collison and Jefferson's partially guaranteed contracts, so I wouldn't completely rule them out of Aaron Gordon

Best part of that would be Collison hitting the market.

[bwgood77]

Not news but truth

Read on Twitter

It's funny he mentions the showtime lakers since they were fueled by the aquisition of Kareem after he forced his way out of Milwaukee.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using RealGM mobile app

They were not really the showtime Lakers until Magic showed up there though...he was the guy that MADE them the Showtime Lakers.

Edit: For kicks, I just decided to google it to see what they were described as...from wiki...

In basketball, Showtime was an era in Los Angeles Lakers history when the National Basketball Association (NBA) team played an exciting run-and-gun style of basketball. Led by Magic Johnson's passing skills and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's scoring, the team relied on fast breaks and won five NBA championships. Lakers owner Jerry Buss purchased the team in 1979, and he wanted their games to be entertaining. He insisted that the Lakers play an up-tempo style, and the team hired dancers and a live band for their home games at The Forum. The team established a Hollywood-celebrity following.

Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke in 1979 was in the process of selling the team to Jerry Buss. Possessing the first overall pick in the upcoming 1979 NBA Draft, the Lakers narrowed their choice to either Magic Johnson or Sidney Moncrief. Los Angeles already had a fine point guard in Norm Nixon, making Moncrief potentially a wonderful complement at off guard. However, Cooke liked Johnson's smile and playing style. In one of Cooke's last acts as Lakers owner, the Lakers drafted the point guard Johnson.[1]

Buss wanted Lakers games to be entertaining. In the 1960s, Buss was a regular at The Horn, a nightclub in Santa Monica, California that attracted an upscale clientele. Buss loved the excitement of the club's famous opening act, which included a dimming of the lights followed by a dramatic singing of their signature tune, "It's Showtime". After he purchased the Lakers and The Forum from Cooke, Buss embarked on creating a grand-scale version of The Horn.[2][3] Like a night club act, he believed a basketball game should be entertaining.[3][4]

Buss sought to match the excitement of college basketball games between the USC Trojans and the UCLA Bruins during John Wooden's era. The owner insisted the Lakers have a running game. After Jerry West had retired as Lakers head coach, and the team failed to recruit Jerry Tarkanian of the UNLV Runnin' Rebels, Buss hired Jack McKinney to install a running offense.[5]

In Buss' opinion, a theatrical atmosphere paired with the running game would excite the fans and strengthen the Lakers' home-court advantage.[6] He wanted to create a Hollywood atmosphere that would be embraced by the Los Angeles culture even if it was hated by the rest of the country.[7] Buss borrowed the term Showtime from The Horn to describe the Lakers' approach to basketball,[8] and it was embraced by Lakers fans and the Los Angeles media.[9][10]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Showtime_(basketball)

[ruiner]

Any trade involving JJ *has* to be for a legit piece. It's definitely not for a guy like Lowry, Kemba or someone of that level.

TRUTH. Whether he likes it or not. That's a ridiculous insinuation on his part and inflating those kind of talents. JJ is more important piece than that would require a Leonard or the like kind of talent in return.

[darealjuice]

Pacers can still get to about $25M in cap space by waiving Collison and Jefferson's partially guaranteed contracts, so I wouldn't completely rule them out of Aaron Gordon

Best part of that would be Collison hitting the market.

He'd be at the top of my point guard free agent list if the Pacers waive him

[lilfishi22]

Sad, Chriss is my favorite Current Sun. Please give Quese a chance.

(not snark)
Interesting choice for a favorite Suns player. Any particular reasons why you could share?

First he is a bright smart and funny kid, second he reminds me of Mcdyess, third he improved a lot defensively from his first season that tells me he care about his craft, fourth he is passionate, fifth he averaged near double double in the last 10 games or so of the last season which tells me he is on the verge of a third year breakout which is usually the year the light bulb turns on for most young players. Finally, I like the chemistry he has with Lindsey in this video. He has a very beautiful smile.

https://www.nba.com/suns/video/2018/03/07/nba-jam-chriss

Each to their own I suppose

[LukasBMW]

Good read from Lowe - as always. Guy has a lot of information to share, does his homework. The last paragraphs about the Suns and their PG situation. I do not understand Lowe with the Josh to be included for Lowry. In that type of trade - Dudley, Chandler and Josh - the Raptors would be getting JJ and and saving 30m. They win that deal. I have said am interested in Lowry but it has to be Knight Dudley, Chandler type of deal. Not Josh. And to me, Josh should be included with Booker, Bridges Ayton as the core of the team. But glad to read Schroeder is not on the list. Beverly really is the right guy. But Beverly won't cost Dudley - unless its Beverly/Wes J for Bender Dudley type of deal.


http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23938913/zach-lowe-nba-free-agency-preview-lebron-james-paul-george-kawhi-leonard


The easiest call on the board: Phoenix acquiring a point guard, either in free agency (Fred VanVleet is a name to watch) or via trade. The problem for Phoenix is that their best assets -- Booker, Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges -- are untouchable, and their young bigs (Dragan Bender, Marquese Chriss) have limited trade value. Chriss was available on draft night, per league sources.

They can take small swings on guys like Jeremy Lin, Darren Collison, Cory Joseph, and Patrick Beverley -- a perfect fit next to Booker, though he is recovering from microfracture surgery -- packaging Bender and some salary filler (Jared Dudley). That is probably not enough for Rozier, another nice fit. Milos Teodosic is another name to watch -- a playmaker who would make Ayton's life much easier. But in the long run, the Suns need a plus defender next to Booker.

Bigger fish would require Phoenix sliding Josh Jackson into a trade. He is the swing piece, whether the Suns like or not. He puts Kemba Walker in play. Would a rebuilding Raptors team say no to Dudley, Tyson Chandler, and Jackson for Kyle Lowry? (I doubt Phoenix does that, but it makes you pause.) What about Mike Conley if the Grizz pull the plug (and Conley proves healthy)?

Phoenix has shown no interest so far in Dennis Schroder, sources say.

Enjoy the fun!









Comments

Chriss available...I think that he is not gonna be a Sun next season.

Some team is gonna offer us decent value for him, a veteran like Beverley or a sign and trade for VanVleet.

Sad, Chriss is my favorite Current Sun. Please give Quese a chance.

Just speculation, but on draft night, we were trying to move into the top 10. Ryan said he called every team from 3-10.

I'm sure we started negotiations low and were offering #16 + Bucks pick + maybe Chriss to move up to snag Doncic or JJJ or Trae. I would have been fine letting Chriss go for that.

That's a lot of teams that could leak "Chriss was available on draft night".

Perhaps we even initially offered Philly #16 + Chriss (instead of Miami). I would have been OK with that too ... I guess.

I really don't see us trading him for a place holder though...

[lilfishi22]

Pacers can still get to about $25M in cap space by waiving Collison and Jefferson's partially guaranteed contracts, so I wouldn't completely rule them out of Aaron Gordon

Best part of that would be Collison hitting the market.

YES to Collison. He's a small PG but he can shoot, he's efficient and that AST:TO ratio

[Blonde]

Chriss is easily my least favorite current Sun. Would be happy to ship that bum out of here.

[bwgood77]

IIRC, Ryan McDonough is the only GM in NBA history to have not made the playoffs in his first 6 years on the job and not be fired.

If I’m mistaken about this, (which I don’t think I am because I believe I read it in an espn or si article) he must be one of very few to have been afforded this luxury.

It makes you feel bad for guys like Rob Hennigan (who was terrible but never got the leash that McD did) etc.

Except look where the Magic and Suns are today, respectively.

Well, they were a little better than us and didn't have their rookie much of last season and a guy you thought was up there as a potential #1 option (I think based on a few posts) is their guy...so...where are the Magic and Suns?

I like our team better, but, of course, I am a Suns fan.

[SuperSunsFan]

Chriss is easily my least favorite current Sun. Would be happy to ship that bum out of here.

Let's agree to disagree

[Young gun 6]

Sad, Chriss is my favorite Current Sun. Please give Quese a chance.

(not snark)
Interesting choice for a favorite Suns player. Any particular reasons why you could share?

First he is a bright smart and funny kid, second he reminds me of Mcdyess, third he improved a lot defensively from his first season that tells me he care about his craft, fourth he is passionate, fifth he averaged near double double in the last 10 games or so of the last season which tells me he is on the verge of a third year breakout which is usually the year the light bulb turns on for most young players. Finally, I like the chemistry he has with Lindsey in this video. He has a very beautiful smile.

https://www.nba.com/suns/video/2018/03/07/nba-jam-chriss

This word and Chriss don't belong in the same sentence unless it's for a trade of Marcus Smart.

[theSUNalsoRISES]

So the question to me is. Have we already blown our load. We overpaid for Bridges( in terms of moving up, after some thought I’m ok with the move) and we just sign Okobo to a four year deal. Are we potentially done for the offseason? Can we bring Payton back? Do we simply take a swing at a restricted free agent (Marcus smart @ 10 mil/ multiple years) and move on? Do we look to grab assets in a three-way trade? Everyone is assuming we are looking for big trade, maybe we valued Mikal as a top 4 prospect and that’s our move.

[bwgood77]

This is how I see the pieces falling for the big names.

Lakers - Lebron and PG13

Durant stays in GS.

Kawhi to Boston.

I just don't see any team outside of the Lakers going after Kawhi. He already said he only has eyes for the Lakers and maybe the Clippers( but they have nothing to offer) and any team other than the Lakers are just jeopardizing their future if they go after him(Celtics and Sixers). Right now the Spurs are just in a lose-lose situation,they know they have to trade Kawhi to the Lakers and they won't get much in return because Kuzma, Ingram, Hart and whatever else won't be enough

They would need someone else to take Ball and give them an asset back to make it worth it...maybe Orlando? If Orlando would give up a protected first rounder for Ball that goes to SA or something (though they'd probably have to send out salary too...maybe Vucevic or something) that could maybe work.

[Christine-In-AZ]

Sad, Chriss is my favorite Current Sun. Please give Quese a chance.

(not snark)
Interesting choice for a favorite Suns player. Any particular reasons why you could share?

First he is a bright smart and funny kid, second he reminds me of Mcdyess, third he improved a lot defensively from his first season that tells me he care about his craft, fourth he is passionate, fifth he averaged near double double in the last 10 games or so of the last season which tells me he is on the verge of a third year breakout which is usually the year the light bulb turns on for most young players. Finally, I like the chemistry he has with Lindsey in this video. He has a very beautiful smile.

https://www.nba.com/suns/video/2018/03/07/nba-jam-chriss

That's cool.

Yeah, I'm still hopeful he can raise his game. I'll admit he does frustrate me, especially the lack of consistency. I know he has "it" in him, beyond his great physical abilities. I thought he had a great stretch of games in his rookie season (Christmas til about the all-star game). Not simply finishing, but he showed off some good passing wisdom, didn't get lost (much) on defense AND displayed consistency to a good degree. Then he took a couple steps backwards. Just hate it when he goes for the Griffin-esk slam and zoos it, when just putting the ball through the hope would be the better choice...posterizing be damned.

Hopeful, yet frustrated. Never hateful. Playing well at an NBA level isn't easy even if you're physically blessed. Gotta watch that diet though.

You're in a rather exclusive club to be sure. Hey! Just that much more beer and pretzels for you! I'm rooting for your Chriss fan club to grow..trust me!