jcsunsfan wrote:PhxLax wrote:Frank Lee wrote:Seems our biggest weakness/need is at PF, assuming we overlook the huge pg question mark that is Brandon Knight.
Right now, we have PF by committee, with the main board members being SFs. I’m guessing we see what and if Chriss and Bender can contribute as we forge ahead with our not so powerful SFs getting the important minutes.
I’ll bet McDeal is working on improving PF position, as he has already placed a 15 mill bandaid on it thus far. Mid Season move coming up ?
Fully agree. The whole Ariza thing was knee-jerk signing at the spur of the moment. There's no effing way they gonna be successful or try to build any consistency/progress if they gonna roll out skinny Jackson and skinny Ariza as your forwards.
I happen to think SOMETHING gonna happen in the next 60 days w/ regards to Dudley-Warren-Chandler-Bender-Chriss. We need clarity and I would love to have a legit PF on this team. Not a superstar taking away cap space, but a legit somewhat young PF that is a starter next to Ayton.
Totally disagree about Ariza being a spur of the moment signing. When you call a guy immediately upon the free agent market opening and offer him that kind of contract--that was a very deliberate plan. There were lots of other free agents they could have gone after and Ariza is the one they called immediately and they made him an offer they knew he would accept. I can see how some fans might disagree with Ariza being an effective PF, but it is clear that the Suns think he can be and that they did their own research to come to that conclusion.
Coach wanted Ariza and the rumor is he likes Knight.
I think McDonough realized that the big name guys were not coming here and he was smart enough not to try to max a RFA like Smart/Gordon/LaVine, so he punted until next year and used the opportunity to make coach happy with Ariza.
I think McDonough also realized that he may as well showcase Knight and either get him to fit, or boost his value enough to trade him.
I'm kinda surprised we didn't pay Payton the MLE as insurance...must have been some behind the scenes stuff with him we don't know about. Poor work ethic? Poor hygiene? Both?