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

[WeekapaugGroove]

"LeBron James: No Other Team Relies More On Young Players Than Lakers"

This mf so delusional. The real deal is almighty lebron isnt as good as he thinks he is. They actually have a pretty talented young squad but everything gotta be deflected off you. bitch.

Lakers have players like Rondo, Lance and KCP that are core players with veteran experience

The Suns "older players' are Kelly Oubre and Tyler Johnson. I know Crawford plays but come on
thats stupid by Lebron

James had every right to go to LA - and I knew this was a coast year for him. I knew they would probably not make the playoffs. He got what he wanted.

I don't think he expected to miss it. I think he knew it wouldn't be as easy as in the East but I don't think he was going to write off this season. But you're right, he got what he wanted. The West is no joke

With the crew of idiot vets they assembled he should have expected it. And the dumb KCP contract was directly a klutch handout so he is at fault on that one.

They did run into just an insanely deep west, for most of the year the suns were really the only easy win of the whole conference. Not the best conference I remember but definitely the deepest. Hell if the suns played out east they would probably win like 28 games.

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[AtheJ415]

I don't see any way Milwaukee keeps both Brogdon and Middleton with Bled's new deal and guys like Mirotic, etc.

[bwgood77]

I really hope we don't end up with Rozier. I'd rather just role with Tyler Johnson than lock Rozier into an expensive long term deal. Their b-ref comparison...look at their shooting %s...they are not really far off anywhere else. http://bkref.com/tiny/LhmIS

I wish I had a better feel for Garland in the draft....a number of scouts seem to like him better than Ja.

[LukasBMW]

I'm actually excited to see TJ back. I hope to see a starting 5 of:

Tyler/Book/Oubre/TJ/Ayton

[Young gun 6]

I'm actually excited to see TJ back. I hope to see a starting 5 of:

Tyler/Book/Oubre/TJ/Ayton

I reckon with TJ coming in Bridges would be better in the starting lineup for his defense than Oubre for his scoring (as TJ can already do that)

Tyler/Book/Bridges/TJ/Ayton

With a second unit of

Okobo/Crawford/Oubre/JJ/Holmes

[JDJ26]

Should the Suns go after Rondo? I can't see him being on the Lakers next season. He can help take the pressure off of Booker being the primary playmaker and scoring option. He could also help Ayton get easy shots.

I'm not sure he would be invested in a rebuilding project. We've seen him give up on previous teams when things don't go his way.

Fair point. I wonder if TJ McConnell would be available. Sixers may keep him but I think he could be a good starting PG for the Suns.

[DroughtsOverPHX]

I'm actually excited to see TJ back. I hope to see a starting 5 of:

Tyler/Book/Oubre/TJ/Ayton

I reckon with TJ coming in Bridges would be better in the starting lineup for his defense than Oubre for his scoring (as TJ can already do that)

Tyler/Book/Bridges/TJ/Ayton

With a second unit of

Okobo/Crawford/Oubre/JJ/Holmes

Not a Bender fan I see. The best starting lineup we have had this year has Bender at the 4 in my opinion. I'd rather have his defense than TJ's offense at this point but my mind can be changed if we don't get buried in the first quarter with TJ back. Showcasing TJ might not be a bad idea.

[WeekapaugGroove]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26173297/10-things-like-including-chris-paul-swagger

Lowe mentions chriss just not getting it. Not shocking for anyone who's watched him.

The randle defensive stuff is interesting. I'm sure people will bring him up as a possible target this summer but Lowe touches on why I'm skeptical he should be a target. Hard to have a decent D with him having to play the 4.

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[Wilber85]

Do y'all want us to stay bad?

I see people saying "lets get TJ McConnell, Rondo, Rozier, etc."

Those PG's will not make us contend for playoffs at all! They just help us waste money !

We need to either trade for Ball (Pass First , Defensive PG who can play next to Booker), or get one of the following somehow Rubio, Jru Holiday, or someone of that PG caliber.

Rubio is my ideal PG next to Booker. Smart, Defensive, and pass first. If somehow we get Zion, or trade #2,3 and Jackson, Warren, future picks for a PF (even Love) imagine

Rubio
Booker
Oubre
Love or Zion
Ayton

with a bench

Tyler Johnson
Bridges
Melton
Bender
Holmes

[Fo-Real]

I really hope we don't end up with Rozier. I'd rather just role with Tyler Johnson than lock Rozier into an expensive long term deal. Their b-ref comparison...look at their shooting %s...they are not really far off anywhere else. http://bkref.com/tiny/LhmIS

I wish I had a better feel for Garland in the draft....a number of scouts seem to like him better than Ja.

I wonder if during the attempted trade between Mia and T Wolves for Butler, if the Wolves were trying to do a Johnson, Teague swap somewhere in there and if that is still an off season possibility?

[Fo-Real]

I'm actually excited to see TJ back. I hope to see a starting 5 of:

Tyler/Book/Oubre/TJ/Ayton

Yeah, even though I want a real Pf., replacing Tj with Bender could not be worse.

[BobbieL]

I really hope we don't end up with Rozier. I'd rather just role with Tyler Johnson than lock Rozier into an expensive long term deal. Their b-ref comparison...look at their shooting %s...they are not really far off anywhere else. http://bkref.com/tiny/LhmIS

I wish I had a better feel for Garland in the draft....a number of scouts seem to like him better than Ja.

I wonder if during the attempted trade between Mia and T Wolves for Butler, if the Wolves were trying to do a Johnson, Teague swap somewhere in there and if that is still an off season possibility?

I am not sure I like Teague better than JOhnson but if the Twolves fall in love with a player in the top 3 not named Zion (as the Suns would take him) - what about this type of trade

Teague, Saric Minney 1st round pick for Johnson and the Suns pick. But actually, I probably like TylerJ more than Teague

[bwgood77]

Should the Suns go after Rondo? I can't see him being on the Lakers next season. He can help take the pressure off of Booker being the primary playmaker and scoring option. He could also help Ayton get easy shots.

I'm not sure he would be invested in a rebuilding project. We've seen him give up on previous teams when things don't go his way.

Fair point. I wonder if TJ McConnell would be available. Sixers may keep him but I think he could be a good starting PG for the Suns.

I love TJ McConnell being a UA guy having watching him but he's not starting caliber for a good team. I mean sure he would have been a nice starter for the last couple of years for us, but I hope to move forward and not settle for a backup type PG for too much longer...at least long term.

Same reason I don't want Rozier...he's a backup type PG who can step up on occasion in a starting role but you don't want him starting all the time. Same with TJ.

Now if it was between those two I'd certainly take TJ McConnell and I imagine his price tag would be much lower.

[BobbieL]

Do y'all want us to stay bad?

I see people saying "lets get TJ McConnell, Rondo, Rozier, etc."

Those PG's will not make us contend for playoffs at all! They just help us waste money !

We need to either trade for Ball (Pass First , Defensive PG who can play next to Booker), or get one of the following somehow Rubio, Jru Holiday, or someone of that PG caliber.

Rubio is my ideal PG next to Booker. Smart, Defensive, and pass first. If somehow we get Zion, or trade #2,3 and Jackson, Warren, future picks for a PF (even Love) imagine

Rubio
Booker
Oubre
Love or Zion
Ayton

with a bench

Tyler Johnson
Bridges
Melton
Bender
Holmes

We agree about the bench for sure. I might have Warren on the bench instead of Bender - depending on the movies. But its going to be hard to get a PG and PF and still keep Oubre and Tyler Johnson (at his current salary)

What about this deal for Ball: if the Suns do not win the lottery and have the top pick:

Ball and the Lakers pick - if its not the top pick for Jackson and the Suns FRP.

From a cap perspective - a bit of savings but still some cap room to get your PF or use Warren to get your PF

Ideally - I would be pretty happy with Rubio but I am not sure how the Suns get the cap space AND keep Johnson unless the Suns move Jackson for nothing.

[bwgood77]

Do y'all want us to stay bad?

I see people saying "lets get TJ McConnell, Rondo, Rozier, etc."

Those PG's will not make us contend for playoffs at all! They just help us waste money !

We need to either trade for Ball (Pass First , Defensive PG who can play next to Booker), or get one of the following somehow Rubio, Jru Holiday, or someone of that PG caliber.

Rubio is my ideal PG next to Booker. Smart, Defensive, and pass first. If somehow we get Zion, or trade #2,3 and Jackson, Warren, future picks for a PF (even Love) imagine

Rubio
Booker
Oubre
Love or Zion
Ayton

with a bench

Tyler Johnson
Bridges
Melton
Bender
Holmes

We agree about the bench for sure. I might have Warren on the bench instead of Bender - depending on the movies. But its going to be hard to get a PG and PF and still keep Oubre and Tyler Johnson (at his current salary)

What about this deal for Ball: if the Suns do not win the lottery and have the top pick:

Ball and the Lakers pick - if its not the top pick for Jackson and the Suns FRP.

From a cap perspective - a bit of savings but still some cap room to get your PF or use Warren to get your PF

Ideally - I would be pretty happy with Rubio but I am not sure how the Suns get the cap space AND keep Johnson unless the Suns move Jackson for nothing.

Have you heard lately that LeBron is talking about relying on a bunch of young players? I doubt he wants a pick and Jackson. Plus, when him, Ball, Ingram and Kuzma were all healthy, they were pretty good, so if they can't trade those guys for a superstar, they will likely prefer holding onto them...

Read on Twitter

[King4Day]

The Charlotte Hornets resisted trade offers at the 2018 deadline and the subsequent offseason on Kemba Walker and he responded by having an All-Star season. Walker will be a free agent and his future with the Hornets is unclear as they struggle to remain in the playoff picture.

Sam Amick of The Athletic suggested many around the league expect Walker to leave the Hornets.

"At this point, based on scuttlebutt around the league but without direct clarity from his side, it feels like he's more likely to leave than stay," wrote Amick.

Walker figures to receive max contract offers this offseason from multiple teams given the amount of cap space on the open market.

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/252890/Kemba-Walker-Considered-By-Some-Around-NBA-More-Likely-To-Leave-Hornets

Assuming he'd consider us, what would it take for us to make enough room to sign Kemba to a max deal?
IMO, this should be a top priority for us. If we have a strong finish to the season, we could at least get our name in the running.

[BobbieL]

Do y'all want us to stay bad?

I see people saying "lets get TJ McConnell, Rondo, Rozier, etc."

Those PG's will not make us contend for playoffs at all! They just help us waste money !

We need to either trade for Ball (Pass First , Defensive PG who can play next to Booker), or get one of the following somehow Rubio, Jru Holiday, or someone of that PG caliber.

Rubio is my ideal PG next to Booker. Smart, Defensive, and pass first. If somehow we get Zion, or trade #2,3 and Jackson, Warren, future picks for a PF (even Love) imagine

Rubio
Booker
Oubre
Love or Zion
Ayton

with a bench

Tyler Johnson
Bridges
Melton
Bender
Holmes

We agree about the bench for sure. I might have Warren on the bench instead of Bender - depending on the movies. But its going to be hard to get a PG and PF and still keep Oubre and Tyler Johnson (at his current salary)

What about this deal for Ball: if the Suns do not win the lottery and have the top pick:

Ball and the Lakers pick - if its not the top pick for Jackson and the Suns FRP.

From a cap perspective - a bit of savings but still some cap room to get your PF or use Warren to get your PF

Ideally - I would be pretty happy with Rubio but I am not sure how the Suns get the cap space AND keep Johnson unless the Suns move Jackson for nothing.

Have you heard lately that LeBron is talking about relying on a bunch of young players? I doubt he wants a pick and Jackson. Plus, when him, Ball, Ingram and Kuzma were all healthy, they were pretty good, so if they can't trade those guys for a superstar, they will likely prefer holding onto them...

Read on Twitter

Very true - GM Lebron probably wants to revamp the roster.

Just trying to come up with a PG or PF for Warren, Jackson &/or the Pick if not Zion and still have money to sign a PG or PF, bringing back Tyler and Oubre is tricky. But I don;'t want them to stretch Tyler unless its for a max player. But that does limit options. The Suns would have $6m or so - that might get a player.


Maybe Jackson and the Bucks pick could get a player

[LukasBMW]

The Charlotte Hornets resisted trade offers at the 2018 deadline and the subsequent offseason on Kemba Walker and he responded by having an All-Star season. Walker will be a free agent and his future with the Hornets is unclear as they struggle to remain in the playoff picture.

Sam Amick of The Athletic suggested many around the league expect Walker to leave the Hornets.

"At this point, based on scuttlebutt around the league but without direct clarity from his side, it feels like he's more likely to leave than stay," wrote Amick.

Walker figures to receive max contract offers this offseason from multiple teams given the amount of cap space on the open market.

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/252890/Kemba-Walker-Considered-By-Some-Around-NBA-More-Likely-To-Leave-Hornets

Assuming he'd consider us, what would it take for us to make enough room to sign Kemba to a max deal?
IMO, this should be a top priority for us. If we have a strong finish to the season, we could at least get our name in the running.

Sign and trade. Kemba allows the hornets to get some assets. We get our PG. Tyler + Jackson + our 2019 1st round pick (as long as it isn't Zion)

[MathiasPW]

That's the first time I've heard my new favorite word "scuttlebutt"

[LukasBMW]

Have you heard lately that LeBron is talking about relying on a bunch of young players? I doubt he wants a pick and Jackson. Plus, when him, Ball, Ingram and Kuzma were all healthy, they were pretty good, so if they can't trade those guys for a superstar, they will likely prefer holding onto them...

Read on Twitter

Yeah, the Lakers actually looked decent when they were all healthy and before Lebron tampered with the minds of the youngsters.

LOL. Lebron's impatience really blew it.