SunsRback4Good wrote:bwgood77 wrote:SunsRback4Good wrote:
I read a while back that Westbrook wanted to finish his career with OKC and how did that work out? Cant really take star players word as if they truly mean on sticking around with one franchise their entire career. I respect Lillard for always saying he wont chase championships but we'll see his stance a few years from now.
Oh, I agree...they almost always say something, but usually it's something more generic...I always find it funny when people talk about "demanding out"....players seem non commital and says they will check the market and make it appear they are definitely going to look around giving indication they will very likely leave, but I think it's somewhat rare that the big max names with the huge fan bases demand out...I think Kyrie did...I can't remember if Dwight Howard and Vince Carter did...I just knew their fans were pissed.
But even when they say stuff like "I'm focused on being here" or "my current plan is to be here" I think Giannis phrased it in a way that makes it seem like he really wants to win in Milwaukee.
The scary thing for Milwaukee is, if it were to happen again next summer, and he hasn't signed an extension, would he still feel the same way?
The scary thing for Milwaukee is, if it were to happen again next summer, and he hasn't signed an extension, would he still feel the same way?You know what, if Milwaukee has another lackluster showing next season especially in the playoffs, I see Giannis gone. I'm quite certain FO will sell to him to remain another year and I believe he buys into last chance to at least make the finals.
I think Kyrie did...I can't remember if Dwight Howard and Vince Carter did...I just knew their fans were pissed.As for the Howard & Carter situation, Vince was despised for a good decade it seemed. Not quite certain if he claimed to remain in Toronto for entire career though. Also, with Howard's situation, he was a huge primadonna and frankly the whole sequence in 2013 was hilarious.
Even though I began watching Suns in late 90's and NBA in general, I dont recall star players demanding out as majority seemed to finish with one team and a few here and there like Jordan, Malone, Kemp, Payton, Pippen played few more years on other teams when near retiring. Only Pippen played longer after Bulls were dismantled. Just want to see superstars/allstars remain with one team for 10+ years. Imagine how deadly Suns would've been with J. Johnson for another 5+ years here or Harden remaining put with KD/Ibaka, Westbrook/Green a bit longer. But in the end money talks and Johnson/Harden wanted to be leaders on different teams. :/
Joe Johnson SHOULD have stayed with the team...but that is Sarver's fault. I don't complain about Sarver being cheap any more but back then it was ridiculous. They were haggling over
$5 million over 6 years! He wanted a 6 year extension (through 2011) for $50 million and Sarver would only go to $45.
I know part of his reasoning (and part of this is Bryan Colangelo's fault) is that he just had paid Q. I personally never thought they should have signed Q. But they signed Q for 4/50....so that was more.
I boil the whole debacle of what could have been a long time special team with a champion or two or three to me, comes down to Q. I think had we not sign Q, two things happen: JJ gets extended and we draft Andre Iguodala.
We never have to trade Q for Kurt Thomas and then trade two firsts to get rid of Kurt Thomas.
Iggy's rookie contract give us flexibility with things.
Now, I am not sure if we would have been quite as good that first year..it would depend on whether Iguodala started and how he shot from 3. As a rookie he shot a little over 33% from 3, and Q shot 35.8% from 3. D'Antoni's offense and approach with players (making them fearless shooting 3s because he wouldn't get mad if they took 3s, but mad if they didn't)...I imagine would have increased Iguodala's 3pt FG%. But the defense and ball movement probably improves more.
The next year I still think we sign Raja Bell. I remember when we were signing him we even said "We would sign him whether or not Joe Johnson was staying"....we were obviously trading Q too that summer, but regardless, with a rookie contract instead of Q/Kurt Thomas, etc, and no Q, I still think he gets signed.
So then we could have had Booker/Raja/JJ/Marion/Amare and Iguodala as 6th man....now that is a lineup that can win titles with a couple more role players...ultimately I don't think the Hawks liked or knew what they had with Diaw, so there is probably a good chance we get him anyway...I know D'Antoni liked and wanted him.
