2020 Preseason Speculation - Lineup battles underway

Blackification · Post #3441 » by **Blackification** » Tue Nov 24, 2020 12:08 am

It's becoming quite clear that James Jones doesn't see much value in drafting rookies to play significant roles, I guess it's a luxury for him to have inherited the Ayton, Booker, Bridges trio, but so far he seems like he prefers to build through free agency and trades rather than through picks. McD did that Ainge style of pick and draft asset management, whereas Jones is following Riley's method of trading for the guys he wants or signing them in free agency.

Just an interesting juxtaposition on their philosophies as GM's and building a team.

Desertfox · Post #3442 » by **Desertfox** » Tue Nov 24, 2020 12:15 am

The irony is that 2 of the 3 best players on the team when JJ became GM where rookies, and the 3 cornerstones of the team going forward where drafted by the suns.

WeekapaugGroove · Post #3443 » by **WeekapaugGroove** » Tue Nov 24, 2020 12:16 am

LukasBMW wrote:I don't get it. I'd rather have Baynes over Saric. Especially with the draft of Jalen Smith and pickup of Crowder.

Saric is soft and sucked big time early this year.

Saric is not soft. He's more versitle, younger, can play with Ayton and is a much better fit with Smith on the second unit. Plus Baynes was a UFA and Saric a RFA it wasn't really a choice whether Baynes left or not.

I wish there was a negative 1 button for this post.

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Cutter · Post #3444 » by **Cutter** » Tue Nov 24, 2020 12:21 am

I think we are going to see a Lob City 2.0 between Chris Paul and DeAndre Ayton. Clippers center DeAndre Jordan had a FG% of over 70% for 3 straight years with Paul feeding him lobs. Jordan is nowhere near as offensively gifted as Ayton, so DA should really be able to benefit playing with Paul. Surrounding them with all of the 3 point shooters the Suns now have on the roster is extremely exciting.

BobbieL · Post #3445 » by **BobbieL** » Tue Nov 24, 2020 12:24 am

Saberestar wrote:
lilfishi22 wrote:
Saberestar wrote:

Read on Twitter

NTB wrote:

Read on Twitter

Is he talking calendar year?

First tweet he is talking about using BAE potentially later in this season (2020/21).

Second tweet he talks about using BAE next season (2021/22). BAE can't be used in consecutive seasons.

So I like the idea of holding the BAE for next year... unless a player is bought out and that player makes sense

jcsunsfan · Post #3446 » by **jcsunsfan** » Tue Nov 24, 2020 12:28 am

If Dedmon has not been cut already, Detroit plans to waive and stretch him soon.

He would be a nice addition here.

Saberestar · Post #3447 » by **Saberestar** » Tue Nov 24, 2020 12:32 am

Read on Twitter

BobbieL · Post #3448 » by **BobbieL** » Tue Nov 24, 2020 12:38 am

Saberestar wrote:

Read on Twitter

Good luck to Elie. Maybe back to France or across the pond

Blackification · Post #3449 » by **Blackification** » Tue Nov 24, 2020 12:42 am

[instagram] https://instagram.com/stories/dbook/2449114662273387690?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&igshid=1sxb7zempvili[/instagram]

Read on Twitter

Love it

Bolorini · Post #3450 » by **Bolorini** » Tue Nov 24, 2020 12:43 am

Spoiler:

I'm in favor of keeping Okobo at this point. He's cheap, has familiarity with the guys and the system, and I feel like this is his make or break year with us.

I'll admit I don't know a thing about Nader. In fact, I didn't know there was a player in the NBA named Abdel Nader until he was included in this trade.

I believe he had many oportunities to prove himself, but I just can't see a NBA caliber player in him. Nor even in garbage time. I haven't seen much of Abel also, but I like the fit and depth Korkmaz/GR3 brings to this team, so I'm cool with letting him go.

Regarding PG, I believe Napier and McLaughlin showed much more promise last year, and I would be ok giving them a vet minimum to see if they belong in the league. Fits the timeline too.

spanishninja · Post #3451 » by **spanishninja** » Tue Nov 24, 2020 12:43 am

Plus, unlike Baynes, Saric was relatively healthy.

jcsunsfan wrote:
LukasBMW wrote:I don't get it. I'd rather have Baynes over Saric. Especially with the draft of Jalen Smith and pickup of Crowder.

Saric is soft and sucked big time early this year.

Baynes is 34 and declining.
Saric is 26 and improving.

He also really performed well in the bubble.

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Post #3452 » by **lilfishi22** » Tue Nov 24, 2020 12:59 am

Blackification wrote:It's becoming quite clear that James Jones doesn't see much value in drafting rookies to play significant roles, I guess it's a luxury for him to have inherited the Ayton, Booker, Bridges trio, but so far he seems like he prefers to build through free agency and trades rather than through picks. McD did that Ainge style of pick and draft asset management, whereas Jones is following Riley's method of trading for the guys he wants or signing them in free agency.

Just an interesting juxtaposition on their philosophies as GM's and building a team.

Cam did play fairly significant role last season considering many thought he would barely crack the 1st round in the draft. Last season he played 22min and was a starter during the bubble.

Tough to project the same for Smith but rather than saying that JJ doesn't see value in drafting rookies to play big roles, I think it's more of a meritocracy than top picks = big minutes. Cam showed last season what he's expected to contribute and that's 3PT shooting, stretching the floor and he did that and a bit more. He gained the confidence of Monty and JJ through his play and was rewarded with a major role during our most successful 8 game run in the last decade. I think this works for a team that's coming out of the rebuilding process and into a competing phase. McD's approach works better when you're just trying to pick up as much talent and play them as much as you can to see what you got. Unfortunately for McD (and the Suns), he picked a ton of crap, most of which didn't stick.

bigfoot · Post #3453 » by **bigfoot** » Tue Nov 24, 2020 1:15 am

Saberestar wrote:

Read on Twitter

Not really all that surprising. He did look so very lost on the floor. I don't think he has the type of killer mentality that JJ wants in a player. Ayton doesn't have it either but has skills that translate. I could however see JJ move Ayton in the future.

TeamTragic · Post #3454 » by **TeamTragic** » Tue Nov 24, 2020 1:16 am

Blonde wrote:Replacing Jerome, Okobo, Leque, Diallo, and Frank with.... Payne, Galloway, Moore, Crowder, and Smith.

Talk about some upgrades around the margins.

We will miss Baynes and Kelly (and Ricky of course) but this is a much deeper and more talented team across the board than last year.

How about that haul my dudes?

LukasBMW wrote:I don't get it. I'd rather have Baynes over Saric. Especially with the draft of Jalen Smith and pickup of Crowder.

Saric is soft and sucked big time early this year.

Clearly Booker wanted Saric and Baynes wanted to get paid.

bigfoot · Post #3455 » by **bigfoot** » Tue Nov 24, 2020 1:29 am

Blackification wrote:It's becoming quite clear that James Jones doesn't see much value in drafting rookies to play significant roles, I guess it's a luxury for him to have inherited the Ayton, Booker, Bridges trio, but so far he seems like he prefers to build through free agency and trades rather than through picks. McD did that Ainge style of pick and draft asset management, whereas Jones is following Riley's method of trading for the guys he wants or signing them in free agency.

Just an interesting juxtaposition on their philosophies as GM's and building a team.

Riley has managed to find decent rookies. I just think their philosophy is rookies have to earn time. I don't recall the Suns ever gifting rookies minutes except during the McD era. JJ was been forced to build a veteran culture that should always exist on a team after McD dismantled ours. You will always be in the hunt for the playoffs like the 2010-2015 Suns if that culture exists. Sadly, the cries for tanking to get top picks were so piercing nobody could hear the rational talk for maintaining a winning culture.

SuperSunsFan · Post #3456 » by **SuperSunsFan** » Tue Nov 24, 2020 1:32 am

James Jones is now my idol.

Mr Puddles · Post #3457 » by **Mr Puddles** » Tue Nov 24, 2020 1:34 am

We haven't had an offseason this good for a looooong time. Solid signing across the board to complement the Chris Paul trade.

bigfoot · Post #3458 » by **bigfoot** » Tue Nov 24, 2020 1:34 am

Waiting to see JJ's replacement for Okobo ...

phx#7 · Post #3459 » by **phx#7** » Tue Nov 24, 2020 2:10 am

bigfoot wrote:Waiting to see JJ's replacement for Okobo ...

Moore, Galloway, and Alexander. Take your pick.

If the Suns add anything of significance hopefully it's another playmaker. Pretty thin in that regard especially if Booker or Paul miss any appreciable amount of time.

LukasBMW · Post #3460 » by **LukasBMW** » Tue Nov 24, 2020 2:25 am

Paul/Payne
Book
Bridges/Cam
Crowder/Saric
Ayton/

So this is our top 8. Basically we're baking on Paul not getting hurt, Ayton not getting hurt, and Bridges continuing his bubble performance.

I'm not hating it, but we're thin at PG and C still. Ayton is really the only guy who can defend a big 5. Crowder is the next best option. Saric is too soft.