Season Speculation, Free Agency & Trade Ideas: Our Johnson is finally working

[sunskerr]

Brogdon Brogdon Brogdon Brogdon Brogdon

[Blonde]

Very quietly Holmes’ value to this team has plummeted. Still worth keeping around if the $$$ is right, but not a must keep by any means.

[Frank Lee]

Honestly I pay Bender before Holmes

[DirtyDez]

Doesn’t Sarver own the Phoenix Mercury? Haven’t they won a few championships under him? Aren’t they a perennial playoff team with taurasi returning year after year? I don’t believe everything that’s being said about Sarver. I think it all started with the hiring of blanks. Sarver wants to win so bad he’s impatient and is probably easily persuaded by these nba execs that he buys into their plans. That would explain his quick hires. I believe he hired McDonough based off the same logic where he was Danny ainges understudy and the Celtics won a championship so he hired him. McDonough was given full autonomy I believe and blew it head coach after head coach. Traded players for draft picks to eventually turn those picks into a star and kept procrastinating all while veterans like Bledsoe were getting fed up of losing. But Sarver was patient and let McDonough carry out his plan until James Jones or someone told him this summer there was a better plan and the team is not going to win with just young players and also got the heads up from jones that players around the league don’t trust McDonough so they won’t play here. Hence the firing preseason.
I believe Sarver has a short temper and is probably arrogant and tries to be involved in decision making of the roster but I don’t believe he makes all the decisions and it’s his way or nothing at all. All these reports about Sarver are because someone in the media obviously doesn’t like him for personal reasons.

He's not bad because he doesn't care about winning; I'd wager most owners do (good for their image and investment). The problem is he doesn't seem to know basketball, he gets too hands-on in basketball decisions and he makes bad hires which leads to the poor product we have on the floor.

I think for lack of a better word -he is almost ADD or up and down like a yo-yo.

One day he will make a decision to save cash. But than a week later - will make a worse long term move

1) Not signing Amare to the 5/100 with his knees. Smart. Than he signed a bunch of players to long term deals killing all long term cap. BAd

2) Trading Brian Grant and the 17th pick to the Celtics for 3m cash - saving 2m on Grant plus the 3m. (Celtics picked Rondo). Than trading the 18th pick to the Blazers for 3m and they drafted Sergio Rodriguez. So SArver got 8m bucks - yeah!! Than he signed Marcus Banks 21/5, I get Mike D didn't like rookies but again, longer term, drafting a PG like even Sergio would have saved him money


If Sarver just gave the GM a budget, had his foam finger and stayed away - his team probably would win more

Sergio would’ve been solid in a very limited backup role under D’Antoni. It’s just a shame the summer of 07’ came down to a choice between Grant Hill and KT.

Hill was a big upgrade over James Jones and that team would’ve suddenly become deep...

Nash
Bell
Hill
Marion
Amare
-
Sergio
LB
Diaw
KT

I remember them going after Brent Barry midway thru the 07/08’ season after his buyout but he went back to San Antonio and we ended up Gordon Girecek.

[alamin330]

Honestly I pay Bender before Holmes

Wait is this someone agreeing with me about Holmes?

[Bogyo]

Honestly I pay Bender before Holmes

Wait is this someone agreeing with me about Holmes?

I guess a lot. Burly 6'10 hustle types are relatively easy to find, even for the vet min. Some of them better, and for a bit more money, some are just what they are and it depends how much FO likes them and the payroll situation... Holmes/Sauce, Lou from our recent teams, but there is literally 1-2 on every team... O'Quinn's of the world... and they are useful players, good bodies at practice going hard all the time... sometimes one of them becomes a Harrell, of a Favors, which is not bad at all.

As for Len (didn't want to make a seperate post about it), I was one who felt we could re-sign him to a small deal, as he will improve a bit and become a servicable big off the bench. Kinda like the RoLo situation all over again.
This is partially why I feel like we should try to re sign Bender to a friendly 2-3 year contract (with player and team option on the 3rd year).

[sunsbum]

I'd like to see tyler johnson in jamal crawfords role next year. I think the suns have overwhelming ly won both of their trades this year.

btw I said this before eddie johnson started talking about it on the broadcast.. I'm not trying to toot my own horn, more just saying im not a copycat ass ****.

[AtheJ415]

Very quietly Holmes’ value to this team has plummeted. Still worth keeping around if the $$$ is right, but not a must keep by any means.

His overall numbers are still some of the best on the team. I think, like any role player, it depends on cost.

If we are trying to be big players in FA, it might be worthwhile to draft a C in the 2nd (Gafford and Bassey are dropping in mocks so if one of those slipped it would be tempting) and let Holmes walk. Bitadze probably is gone by then but who knows.

Either way, I'd be surprised if we didn't keep him. His numbers are really good, which is hard to do on this team, and if he can add a better jumper he could work well. We really need a strong rebounder at the 4 next to him.

I'm not a fan of Mirotic like some others. He's clearly good but I'd much prefer Kleber's skill set if we can get it. I also think if you have Melton, Bridges, Holmes, Oubre, Jackson who put forth a lot of energy on D, that Kleber will fit in quite well.

Bender is only 21. I really wish we hadn't denied his option. I just hate to give up on a young project big at that age with his tools which happen to complement our franchise cornerstone center really well if he ever reaches half of his potential.

[AtheJ415]

What do you guys think will happen with Tyler Johnson in the off-season?

Try and trade him.

This has to be the priority. Even if you like his fit on the team, freeing up $20 mil can get you a much better quality starter or 2 equally qualified role players.

[Frank Lee]

You won’t be freeing up 20 mil... you’ll be swapping it out. Johnson and our pick is what you dangle for Holiday, Conley, or Love May be.

But there’s no harm in keeping an expiring productive player.

[Qwigglez]

Honestly I pay Bender before Holmes

I'm surprised so many people agree with this. I for one, thought most people despised Bender, probably because where we took him in the draft (no 4). I still think he can be a very good versatile big man. He is still very young, and his defense has been very welcoming. I was in shock that Igor didn't start utilizing Bender a lot earlier in the season, and instead went with old man Anderson. If Bender could just shoot unconsciously like Anderson was doing, I think he'd be a bigger part of the rotation (I know he isn't shooting well form 3PT% this year).

[sunsbum]

i see bender being one of those milwaukee buck shooting bigs in a few years if he can put some arc under his shot one day.

[stoo]

Rajon rondo?

[Frank Lee]

We very well could be looking at a roster with an over paid Booker, over paid Oubre, and an over paid Rozier.

Play ball!

[Saberestar]

Honestly I pay Bender before Holmes

I'm surprised so many people agree with this. I for one, thought most people despised Bender, probably because where we took him in the draft (no 4). I still think he can be a very good versatile big man. He is still very young, and his defense has been very welcoming. I was in shock that Igor didn't start utilizing Bender a lot earlier in the season, and instead went with old man Anderson. If Bender could just shoot unconsciously like Anderson was doing, I think he'd be a bigger part of the rotation (I know he isn't shooting well form 3PT% this year).

It's all about adjusting expectations for Bender.

As a #4 pick and franchise cornerstone he is a big time fail... but if you think about him as a backup PF/C who can be serviceable he is a better option than Holmes for next season in my book.

[BobbieL]

You won’t be freeing up 20 mil... you’ll be swapping it out. Johnson and our pick is what you dangle for Holiday, Conley, or Love May be.

But there’s no harm in keeping an expiring productive player.

And even if you stretch Tyler Johnson, there is still a 6.4m cap hit. Johnson is actually a very serviceable player - at his salary of the first two years of this four year deal, which was 6m or so. But at 19.4, hard to keep him..

I can see him going to like you mention Memphis for Conley with Jackson and the Bucks pick; possibly to the Pelicans with Jackson and the Suns non-Zion pick.

Bender has been playing well -- at this point I would see what it takes to bring him back - cheaply

[BobbieL]

We very well could be looking at a roster with an over paid Booker, over paid Oubre, and an over paid Rozier.

Play ball!

I think the Suns need to be very careful with Oubre - last nights game notwithstanding. But he is a 7-8m guy, not 12m guy to me.

[Saberestar]

Honestly I pay Bender before Holmes

Wait is this someone agreeing with me about Holmes?

I agree with you partially.

I think Holmes can be easily be replaced as a energy backup C...but if we have the opportunity to sign him on a cheap contract I would like to get him back (and his parents )

Read on Twitter

[hollywood6964]

Honestly I pay Bender before Holmes

I'm surprised so many people agree with this. I for one, thought most people despised Bender, probably because where we took him in the draft (no 4). I still think he can be a very good versatile big man. He is still very young, and his defense has been very welcoming. I was in shock that Igor didn't start utilizing Bender a lot earlier in the season, and instead went with old man Anderson. If Bender could just shoot unconsciously like Anderson was doing, I think he'd be a bigger part of the rotation (I know he isn't shooting well form 3PT% this year).

Igor is just a lost coach with crap rotations. I've been saying he should've been getting minutes since the beginning of the season.

[Frank Lee]

We very well could be looking at a roster with an over paid Booker, over paid Oubre, and an over paid Rozier.

Play ball!

I think the Suns need to be very careful with Oubre - last nights game notwithstanding. But he is a 7-8m guy, not 12m guy to me.

I think you are underestimating today's paydays. A productive role player gets 7-8... Oubre is banging for starter minutes and is getting 25+ a night. Does that continue when TJ returns ? IDK... but this team is not in any position to quibble over a few mil when it comes to a player like Oubre. He's bought in, is a team leader, and at times a game changer. plus a clear fan fav. just accept his price tag and move on. We cant continue to let talent walk... and he clearly wants to be here