Free agency and trade ideas: Which wings do we go after this summer?

[bwoolf2]

My top 10 PG wish list (in order of most desirable to least desirable acquisition)

1. Malcolm Brogdon
2. Patrick Beverly
3. Mike Conley
4. Ricky Rubio
5. D’Angelo Russel
6. Ja Morant
7. Corey Joseph
8. Lonzo Ball
9. Kyle Lowry (if Kawhi leaves)
10. Darren Collison

....

927. Terry Rozier

I hope you meant "attainable" rather than desirable.

Jrue Holiday should be in that list, nevertheless.

I would actually move Rubio to 928, Utah can not move forward with that guy, he cant shoot, and I mean at all, you are playing 4 on 5 on offense, Utah could have won that series with a halfway decent shooting pg.

[BobbieL]

My top 10 PG wish list (in order of most desirable to least desirable acquisition)

1. Malcolm Brogdon
2. Patrick Beverly
3. Mike Conley
4. Ricky Rubio
5. D’Angelo Russel
6. Ja Morant
7. Corey Joseph
8. Lonzo Ball
9. Kyle Lowry (if Kawhi leaves)
10. Darren Collison

....

927. Terry Rozier

I hope you meant "attainable" rather than desirable.

Jrue Holiday should be in that list, nevertheless.

I would actually move Rubio to 928, Utah can not move forward with that guy, he cant shoot, and I mean at all, you are playing 4 on 5 on offense, Utah could have won that series with a halfway decent shooting pg.

I have been a Rubio-backer for some time. I have thought he was a good solid PG plus the Igor connection. But without Igor AND the fact his shooting is problematic (on a team that already has problematic shooting) - I am moving on to players like Collison or Beverley at the PG. Jrue of course is ideal but he is probably not going anywhere.

[Ghost of Kleine]

My top 10 PG wish list (in order of most desirable to least desirable acquisition)

1. Malcolm Brogdon
2. Patrick Beverly
3. Mike Conley
4. Ricky Rubio
5. D’Angelo Russel
6. Ja Morant
7. Corey Joseph
8. Lonzo Ball
9. Kyle Lowry (if Kawhi leaves)
10. Darren Collison

....

927. Terry Rozier

I like the list. Especially 927!

Interesting to see who is traded - Josh for nothing but basically cap space; or TJ Warren for probably a player of value -- or maybe a three team deal to get cap space.

Agreed, good list!

[sunsbum]

If Rubio could learn to shoot he would be a great choice. But he can't and his inability to knock down 3pters, just like westbrook is a huge liability against playoff teams. We HAVE get to more shooters.

[alamin330]

My top 10 PG wish list (in order of most desirable to least desirable acquisition)

1. Malcolm Brogdon
2. Patrick Beverly
3. Mike Conley
4. Ricky Rubio
5. D’Angelo Russel
6. Ja Morant
7. Corey Joseph
8. Lonzo Ball
9. Kyle Lowry (if Kawhi leaves)
10. Darren Collison

....

927. Terry Rozier

I like the list. Especially 927!

Interesting to see who is traded - Josh for nothing but basically cap space; or TJ Warren for probably a player of value -- or maybe a three team deal to get cap space.

Agreed, good list!

Are you sure you’d rather have Ricky Rubio and pat Beverley over Ja Morant? Looks like you’re sleeping on Ja. His potential is dame lillard/Westbrook. He should be number 1 on that list. He’s number 1 on mine

[Blonde]

I like the list. Especially 927!

Interesting to see who is traded - Josh for nothing but basically cap space; or TJ Warren for probably a player of value -- or maybe a three team deal to get cap space.

Agreed, good list!

Are you sure you’d rather have Ricky Rubio and pat Beverley over Ja Morant? Looks like you’re sleeping on Ja. His potential is dame lillard/Westbrook. He should be number 1 on that list. He’s number 1 on mine

Yeah that’s kind of insane to have Ja below those guys. Ignoring how likely it would be to add them, my list would go:

Kyrie
Jrue
Brogdon
Russell
Kemba
Morant
Conley

(Big gap)

Beverly
Lowry
Satoransky
Lonzo
Garland
Delon Wright
Dragic
Collison
Joseph
Rubio
Tyus Jones
Lin
Rozier

[Ghost of Kleine]

I like the list. Especially 927!

Interesting to see who is traded - Josh for nothing but basically cap space; or TJ Warren for probably a player of value -- or maybe a three team deal to get cap space.

Agreed, good list!

Are you sure you’d rather have Ricky Rubio and pat Beverley over Ja Morant? Looks like you’re sleeping on Ja. His potential is dame lillard/Westbrook. He should be number 1 on that list. He’s number 1 on mine

You know me man, I want Morant more than any of those other guys easily. And I should have elaborated, I expect us to take Ja (If possible) in the draft as long as we land in the top 3.


And IF not, I really think that we will absolutely exhaust every reasonable resource available to trade back into the top 2-3 in order to get him. Possible trade partners being Atlanta/ Cavs etc.


And worst case scenario, Should we fall out of the top 3, And can in no way trade back up for him( I'll be very disappointed) but at that point, I'd most likely go for:

1- Coby White. For his size and smooth scoring and playmaking potential. He's like a 6'5 Jamal Murray with passing potential for me.

Watch on YouTube

2- Darius Garland. For his shooting and ball handling potential. The curry and tre young effect gives him value.

Watch on YouTube

3- Miye Oni ( Relatively an unknown, plays for Yale. With supreme athleticism and talent, also has size at 6'6 and I have him pretty close behind Morant actually in talent and potential.

I think he's a huge sleeper prospect personally. Right now he's ranked 56 or so. But I'd love to grab in even in the late 20s' or early 2nd round possibly.

Watch on YouTube

4- Nickiel Alexander Walker. For his size at 6'5, and his smooth game, and defensive potential.

Watch on YouTube

5- Ty Jerome. I like him for his size at 6'5, his advanced playmaking, and his good shooting. He's what Rubio should have become, if he could shoot well.

Watch on YouTube

.


But to be clear, I totally agree with you man, that Morant is the clear and away future star we need. And in that list, For me, Those are the top 3 vets that I'd choose to mentor him for a season or two until he's ready to take the reigns.

I'll even go a bit further and say that I do believe we will try and find a trade using Warren and our Milwaukee pick( or future first possibly) IF we need to, in order to move back up and secure a top 2 pick for Morant.

I just fully expect us to draft Morant, but that list looks good for me in who I'd try to sign or trade for once we draft Morant obviously.


By the way, who do you have on your big board for best guards after Morant?

[bwgood77]

You know me man, I want Morant more than any of those other guys easily. And I should have elaborated, I expect us to take Ja (If possible) in the draft as long as we land in the top 3.

You take him over Zion?

[Ghost of Kleine]

You know me man, I want Morant more than any of those other guys easily. And I should have elaborated, I expect us to take Ja (If possible) in the draft as long as we land in the top 3.

You take him over Zion?

Over Zion, of course not. That's why I mentioned trading back up in the top 2. But as far as the list goes, Yes, He's easily the guard that I want most.

But to me, Zion would have a similar effect to what Charles Barkley had for the 92-93 suns in terms of making us tougher, play better, and with more intensity.

Also, I think no one would pass on Zion if they landed at #1. And I think it's very obvious that Sarver would be loving the revenue and marketing draw that Zion would bring to our team. Just from a profit perspective, as we know that it what matters most to him anyways.

But in terms of that list, I like that Beverly, Conley, and Brogdon ( even though I don't see any way we'd be able to afford him) AS MENTORS TO JA for a season or two, Once we draft him, Or trade back up to #2 for him IF NECESSARY. But Morant is my first choice for guards in this draft.

Coby White is 2nd for his size, shooting and playmaking potential next to Booker ( I pray he could develop into a Jamal Murray/ Cuttino Mobley hybrid guard) for us.

Darius Garland is at 3 on my big board for guards only due to his lack of size, strength, and Athleticism. But it would be awesome if he could develop into a tre young/curry/ irving hybrid for us.

As far as guards go, I do think that Miye Oni is going to end up a total steal if drafted, Especially in the 2nd round.

And of course I then have Nickiel Alexander Walker and Tyler Jerome rounding out my top 5.

What are your thoughts man on guards outside of the Morant and Garland, should we end up trading back in the draft?

Also, what are your thoughts on Power forwards outside of Clarke in the draft man?

[bwgood77]

You know me man, I want Morant more than any of those other guys easily. And I should have elaborated, I expect us to take Ja (If possible) in the draft as long as we land in the top 3.

You take him over Zion?

Over Zion, of course not. That's why I mentioned trading back up in the top 2. But as far as the list goes, Yes, He's easily the guard that I want most.

But to me, Zion would have a similar effect to what Charles Barkley had for the 92-93 suns in terms of making us tougher, play better, and with more intensity.

Also, I think no one would pass on Zion if they landed at #1. And I think it's very obvious that Sarver would be loving the revenue and marketing draw that Zion would bring to our team. Just from a profit perspective, as we know that it what matters most to him anyways.

But in terms of that list, I like that Beverly, Conley, and Brogdon ( even though I don't see any way we'd be able to afford him) AS MENTORS TO JA for a season or two, Once we draft him, Or trade back up to #2 for him IF NECESSARY. But Morant is my first choice for guards in this draft.

Coby White is 2nd for his size, shooting and playmaking potential next to Booker ( I pray he could develop into a Jamal Murray/ Cuttino Mobley hybrid guard) for us.

Darius Garland is at 3 on my big board for guards only due to his lack of size, strength, and Athleticism. But it would be awesome if he could develop into a tre young/curry/ irving hybrid for us.

As far as guards go, I do think that Miye Oni is going to end up a total steal if drafted, Especially in the 2nd round.

And of course I then have Nickiel Alexander Walker and Tyler Jerome rounding out my top 5.

What are your thoughts man on guards outside of the Morant and Garland, should we end up trading back in the draft?

Also, what are your thoughts on Power forwards outside of Clarke in the draft man?

I am not looking too deep since I know we have a top 7 pick and that we are unlikely to add more than 2 rookies. If we don't take a PG with our pick, and I imagine if we don't get Zion we will try to trade up to take Ja, I don't imagine we would take one in the 2nd round since we have 2 2nd round PGs from last year who were likely higher rated than anyone you would find in the second round (and probably anyone outside of the lottery or so). Plus, next year's PG group is supposed to be strong.

I don't care too much to get a PG in the draft since we need a vet, have two 2nd year PGs next year and the next draft class is a lot stronger there anyway, and by then we might have a better idea of what Melton and/or Okobo will be for us.

I'm not focusing on this draft too much given how weak it seems to be. Even most of the guys in the lottery I'm not too excited about so I doubt I'd be too excited about anyone below them. They certainly are unlikely to be people who make an impact on our team. I basically would like us to get Zion, Ja, Clarke or Garland. If not them I'd probably be ok with Culver....most of the other guys up there are not really PGs.

The only other PF I really like is Grant Williams. I would probably put him in my top 7...especially for the Suns...maybe as high as 5 given all the wings in there. I think he will probably be a solid player.

[Revived]

I like the list. Especially 927!

Interesting to see who is traded - Josh for nothing but basically cap space; or TJ Warren for probably a player of value -- or maybe a three team deal to get cap space.

Agreed, good list!

Are you sure you’d rather have Ricky Rubio and pat Beverley over Ja Morant? Looks like you’re sleeping on Ja. His potential is dame lillard/Westbrook. He should be number 1 on that list. He’s number 1 on mine

Dame Lillard can shoot. Morant doesn’t have half the athleticism that prime Westbrook had (2nd most athletic PG of all time).

[sunskerr]

I think Ja is the most skilled player in the draft. For me it's hard to look past him at #1.

[RunDogGun]

I think Ja is the most skilled player in the draft. For me it's hard to look past him at #1.

In that case, depending on where ATL lands, You make a deal with them and get more assets for the #1 pick. They have no need for Ja.It would be a bold move, and I am sure we would be hearing about it all season if Zion does what we think he will.

Overall, we need a floor general.

Side note: looks like I need to change my avatar from HOPE to NOPE.

[BobbieL]

Jones keeps talking about getting older players, veteran players. AS the below quote shows - and he has been pretty consistent, he wants more veteran players. I don't think Ja Morant will be a Sun. I don't think they will trade up to get Ja Morant. I don't think Garland, Barrett will be Suns either If anything, if they get the #2 pick they will trade out , leverage that pick to get more veteran players. Might even attach a Josh Jackson or a TJ Warren to maximize cap space. Suns need about 20-25m to sign a veteran PG and PF one would surmise. Trading back, trading Josh or TJ could get them upwards of 12m more of cap space.


https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2019/04/25/suns-owner-robert-sarver-background-james-jones-runs-show/3568184002/

James Jones is even quietly letting you know exactly what he thinks of McDonough’s long-term development strategy, which came to be known as #TheTimeline.

“We need to add guys in their prime,” Jones said. “We need to raise the floor of our team. You only do that with NBA players. Not prospects, but NBA players. So, we’ll focus on acquiring those guys via all the channels we can.”

[toucansma]

[[Marc Stein @TheSteinLine
Among the initial moves new GM David Griffin is attempting to make in New Orleans: League sources say he has secured permission to make a run at Aaron Nelson ... longtime point man of the Phoenix Suns' vaunted athletic training staff]]


Ugh, no, no, no!!! Hahaha

[Ghost of Kleine]

Agreed, good list! :thumbsup:

Are you sure you’d rather have Ricky Rubio and pat Beverley over Ja Morant? Looks like you’re sleeping on Ja. His potential is dame lillard/Westbrook. He should be number 1 on that list. He’s number 1 on mine

Dame Lillard can shoot. Morant doesn’t have half the athleticism that prime Westbrook had (2nd most athletic PG of all time).

It's kind of a weird trade off with both stars in contrast to Morant really, I mean yes Lillard is a better shooter than Morant, but not as athletic. And Westbrook is more athletic, But not as good of a shooter as Morant.


So in a way, he possesses traits and skillsets of both players to a point. And they just need to be developed really.

Also, Factoring in that the's still young, and his skillset is still a perfect fit for what we need at the guard position, given his maturity and poise in his game, for a player so young.

But most importantly, His unbelievable vision and passing ability.

For the longest time we've needed someone who could orchestrate the offence and get everyone involved. And Ja excels at that.

So we can develop his shooting, and as he gets on a proper professional high level training regimen, he'll of course get stronger( and thusly more athletic) and IF our front office can only find a way to actually develop their players adequately,

He'll be fine in my opinion.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Jones keeps talking about getting older players, veteran players. AS the below quote shows - and he has been pretty consistent, he wants more veteran players. I don't think Ja Morant will be a Sun. I don't think they will trade up to get Ja Morant. I don't think Garland, Barrett will be Suns either If anything, if they get the #2 pick they will trade out , leverage that pick to get more veteran players. Might even attach a Josh Jackson or a TJ Warren to maximize cap space. Suns need about 20-25m to sign a veteran PG and PF one would surmise. Trading back, trading Josh or TJ could get them upwards of 12m more of cap space.


https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2019/04/25/suns-owner-robert-sarver-background-james-jones-runs-show/3568184002/

James Jones is even quietly letting you know exactly what he thinks of McDonough’s long-term development strategy, which came to be known as #TheTimeline.

“We need to add guys in their prime,” Jones said. “We need to raise the floor of our team. You only do that with NBA players. Not prospects, but NBA players. So, we’ll focus on acquiring those guys via all the channels we can.”

While you are absolutely right that he's said that, And I Do absolutely agree with you in that we need veteran players or players in their primes, I still personally think that the Suns will target Morant and IF necessary and possible, trade up to get him.

I think that his skillset, given his mature game, poise, passing, and potential as a floor general is simply to enticing for them to pass up.

Now that's not to say that they won't still add veterans in free agency. I do think they'll look to target a veteran to guide and mentor Ja and our young team, until he's ready to take over.

I personally think that they'll target players like Beverly and Aminu or young, or Gibson. Players with toughness and a tenacity really.


Although I don't know how successful they will be in obtaining these players, should their teams continue to do well in the playoffs. Especially Aminu, If he continues to contribute well, I think they'll do everything to retain him.

Given our severely limited cap space, Our best Avenue of success will most likely be through a trade. Again bolstering my belief that Warren will be moved.

So whether that is through free agency using our cap space, Or through a trade, The Suns will accomplish this by utilizing one of Warren or Jackson or both.


Again, I personally just think it's going to be Warren, due to our congestion at the wing position, and given the fact that he's currently our best trade chip.

I just find it strange that he was kept out so very long for his injury, and believe that it's really just to protect his trade value, prior to a potential trade in the works.

Again, that's just my opinion. But I guess we'll see how it plays out. Come draft night.

[Walt_Uoob]

Jones keeps talking about getting older players, veteran players. AS the below quote shows - and he has been pretty consistent, he wants more veteran players. I don't think Ja Morant will be a Sun. I don't think they will trade up to get Ja Morant. I don't think Garland, Barrett will be Suns either If anything, if they get the #2 pick they will trade out , leverage that pick to get more veteran players. Might even attach a Josh Jackson or a TJ Warren to maximize cap space. Suns need about 20-25m to sign a veteran PG and PF one would surmise. Trading back, trading Josh or TJ could get them upwards of 12m more of cap space.


https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2019/04/25/suns-owner-robert-sarver-background-james-jones-runs-show/3568184002/

James Jones is even quietly letting you know exactly what he thinks of McDonough’s long-term development strategy, which came to be known as #TheTimeline.

“We need to add guys in their prime,” Jones said. “We need to raise the floor of our team. You only do that with NBA players. Not prospects, but NBA players. So, we’ll focus on acquiring those guys via all the channels we can.”

I think Jones operates differently from McD but I still remember McD saying similar things, including (paraphrasing) "It's not like we're going to be the youngest team in the league" going into the season in which we eventually famously started a lineup younger than most NCAA teams. So just saying, I'll believe it when I see it.

Sent from my moto x4 using RealGM mobile app

[darmani]

[[Marc Stein @TheSteinLine
Among the initial moves new GM David Griffin is attempting to make in New Orleans: League sources say he has secured permission to make a run at Aaron Nelson ... longtime point man of the Phoenix Suns' vaunted athletic training staff]]


Ugh, no, no, no!!! Hahaha

Is he even good anymore? Over the last 5 years we've had one of the worst injury records in the league, with the youngest team in the NBA. Perhaps he was among the best 10-15 years ago, but now it looks like the rest of the league has caught up.

[wheezy]

[[Marc Stein @TheSteinLine
Among the initial moves new GM David Griffin is attempting to make in New Orleans: League sources say he has secured permission to make a run at Aaron Nelson ... longtime point man of the Phoenix Suns' vaunted athletic training staff]]


Ugh, no, no, no!!! Hahaha

Is he even good anymore? Over the last 5 years we've had one of the worst injury records in the league, with the youngest team in the NBA. Perhaps he was among the best 10-15 years ago, but now it looks like the rest of the league has caught up.

I think it could be the funding he's given, whether it's for equipment, the facilities, or staff.