2021-22 Season/Offseason Speculation

[Saberestar]

Marvin Bagley?

Still has untapped potential and great size. Could thrive with a simplified role.

I am interested in him, but I think his price is gonna be really high.

[AtheJ415]

Crazy how we go right into the draft after a brief lull. I guess it was the longest season we’ve played in a decade, calendar-wise. Jones needs to nail his next moves. Lots can happen. Hoping CP just opts in and then goes yr to yr. he has enough dough. That’s the most flexible team thing to do. Hope no team gets nutty and over bids for CPayne. Same for Craig. There’s just so many twisty turns up ahead, it’s hard to see the path. But one thing bothers me.... I heard Monty said he should have played Shank more... GDit, the Bucks ignore him, he plays 11 decent minutes and likely saves his roster spot.

There can be only one... Frank.

Monty was braindead for not giving him minutes - especially considering that fact he went to Wisconsin (literally less than 1.5 hours away) and if he ever had reason to show out above how he'd normally play it would've been in this series.

He's flaming garbage. A bottom 15 player in all of basketball over the past 2 seasons. I'll criticize Monty for plenty about the finals but this is not one of those. He played 11 good minutes. He has been TERRIBLE for years and was thoroughly abused early on in this series. The Bucks picked on him relentlessly when he played in the first couple games.

[Keith_myath]

Marvin Bagley?

Still has untapped potential and great size. Could thrive with a simplified role.

JJ doesn't target whinny little piss ants.

We don't need a whinner who chucks a tantrum when he doesn't get his own way. Epitome of a millennial.

[enigmatics]

He's flaming garbage. A bottom 15 player in all of basketball over the past 2 seasons. I'll criticize Monty for plenty about the finals but this is not one of those. He played 11 good minutes. He has been TERRIBLE for years and was thoroughly abused early on in this series. The Bucks picked on him relentlessly when he played in the first couple games.

Just a reminder, a series where they needed some size due to the small ball getting destroyed on the interior and to give DA a rest for a couple of minutes

Btw, he barely played in games 1-2. The only other game he logged anything worth talking about was Game 3, but I seem to recall the entire team getting their doors blown off, so "I can't criticize him for it."

[BobbieL]

It's free to dream, but it sounds like Portland is more likely to trade CJ and go all in with Lillard than anything else. I don't think we have the assets to swing it anyways.

But Steven A Smith said what they Lakers should do, is trade Kuzma for Lillard.....while looking at the camera with wide eyes as if this was a crazy good idea that is realistic.

Its this kind of nonsense that has really made ESPN, and other cable shows unwatchable besides live sports and maybe a few minutes of highlights

STephen A thinking a trade centered around Kuzma and KCP gets Dame Lillard

The two reporters on ESPN who said the Saints had interest in Tom Brady -- leaving out the part where the GM said -"well if Brees had retired" - though Brees announced he was coming back a month before NFL Free Agency in teh spring of 2020

Nick Wright on Fox doing his best impersonation of Skip and Stephen A just saying nonsense

[BobbieL]

In 2013/14 Andre Igoudala left the Sixers (where he was the number one option on the team) to come off the bench for Golden State He took a pay cut to play for a championship, and I don't remember if he was traded to GSW or FA. He was 29 or 30 years old and was a major reason GSW had their championship run for a couple of years. Suns need that level of talent coming off their bench, not players like Cam Payne or Torrey Craig,

A player I can see maybe taking that bench role for the Suns could be Demar Derozen. He's 31 and a free agent this year. He has been a number 1 or 2 option his entire career at Toronto and Spurs, but just not quite good enough to fill that role. At 31 still has gas in the tank in a first off the bench role, but the end of his career is approaching. I think we could get his high level talent for a potentially decent salary as he chases a ring.

I am not sure he took a pay cut. The Warriors had to give Utah two draft pick and I think Iggy got like 48/4 and that was 8 years ago. Its above the MLE is now with a higher cap So it wasn't that much of a pay cut for the player off the bench.

The Suns first two players off the bench are Cam Johnson and Cam Payne. You are trying to compare a 30 year old Iggy to two very young NBA players -both in their mid 20's. Thats not a fair comparison for the player and role of the player. Give the Cams a few years of playing time to see what they develop into. That doesn't mean I do not think the bench cannot be improved.

[enigmatics]

It's free to dream, but it sounds like Portland is more likely to trade CJ and go all in with Lillard than anything else. I don't think we have the assets to swing it anyways.

But Steven A Smith said what they Lakers should do, is trade Kuzma for Lillard.....while looking at the camera with wide eyes as if this was a crazy good idea that is realistic.

Its this kind of nonsense that has really made ESPN, and other cable shows unwatchable besides live sports and maybe a few minutes of highlights

STephen A thinking a trade centered around Kuzma and KCP gets Dame Lillard

The two reporters on ESPN who said the Saints had interest in Tom Brady -- leaving out the part where the GM said -"well if Brees had retired" - though Brees announced he was coming back a month before NFL Free Agency in teh spring of 2020

Nick Wright on Fox doing his best impersonation of Skip and Stephen A just saying nonsense

Insane right? I know that's why I don't watch any of them.

[enigmatics]

Read that HoopsHype article about our possible moves. Holy hell that luxury tax number to keep this group together top to bottom.

[BobbieL]

Read that HoopsHype article about our possible moves. Holy hell that luxury tax number to keep this group together top to bottom.

The Suns will have to make a decision in the future on Cam Johnson in two years. But I think Sarver should be okay from the luxury tax - meaning a multiple payer - in two years as Carter, Saric and Crowder will be off the books. I think its really the 2022-2023 season potentially that can be expensive for Sarver as the Ayton extension will kick in - probably Bridges too.

[Slim Charless]

Nerlens Noel as a backup for Ayton would be perfect for this team IMO.

This is the best option I've seen. If we could split mid level on him and a backup guard that would be ideal.

That is a good option but unlike some others on this board I like Javelle McGee as an option as well. He has played on winners and is part of this years Olympic Team. He had that little conversation with CP3 after the Denver series and will be spending the next couple of weeks with Booker. I think he could provide a great practice partner for Ayton as well as being his back up when facing the Bucks in the finals next year or the Lakers in the WCF. We need experienced size in the worst way. I doubt Dario will be back for most of next season. He could be had for the minimum. A good replacement for Craig. I would like to also keep Frank and Nader.

If Smith is not going to be in the picture we will also need a legit PF.

With them being on the Olympics together, I wouldn't be surprised if javale signed up. I wouldn't mind Caruso if we can't afford Payne for whatever reason. Batum and Dwight are my personal favorites tho.

[Slim Charless]

He's flaming garbage. A bottom 15 player in all of basketball over the past 2 seasons. I'll criticize Monty for plenty about the finals but this is not one of those. He played 11 good minutes. He has been TERRIBLE for years and was thoroughly abused early on in this series. The Bucks picked on him relentlessly when he played in the first couple games.

Just a reminder, a series where they needed some size due to the small ball getting destroyed on the interior and to give DA a rest for a couple of minutes

Btw, he barely played in games 1-2. The only other game he logged anything worth talking about was Game 3, but I seem to recall the entire team getting their doors blown off, so "I can't criticize him for it."

Frank sucks and is a coward who doesn't stand up for his own teammates to boot. The sooner he is gone from this team, the better.

[Barkley6]

In 2013/14 Andre Igoudala left the Sixers (where he was the number one option on the team) to come off the bench for Golden State He took a pay cut to play for a championship, and I don't remember if he was traded to GSW or FA. He was 29 or 30 years old and was a major reason GSW had their championship run for a couple of years. Suns need that level of talent coming off their bench, not players like Cam Payne or Torrey Craig,

A player I can see maybe taking that bench role for the Suns could be Demar Derozen. He's 31 and a free agent this year. He has been a number 1 or 2 option his entire career at Toronto and Spurs, but just not quite good enough to fill that role. At 31 still has gas in the tank in a first off the bench role, but the end of his career is approaching. I think we could get his high level talent for a potentially decent salary as he chases a ring.

I put this idea out there before, and apparently DeRozan is being mentioned with the Lakers as a possibility (he's from LA originally and went to USC).

The Lakers can only offer him the MLE, same as Phoenix. I kind of wonder what situation DeRozan might prefer. Obviously the Lakers and LeBron have a certain weight to them, but at the end of it, you're never going to get the credit for winning when LeBron and AD are there, vs in Phoenix, where you could totally spin the narrative that DeRozan would be the guy to get us over the hump. I think that Paul and Book could put together a really attractive recruiting pitch, particularly on system fit, as he would essentially get the same sets run for him as Book does, since his midrange game is so similar and maybe kind of talk to him about how that MLE money will go a lot further in Phoenix than in LA.

I particularly think this could be a possibility because the Lakers are also rumored to be targeting Kyle Lowry and Spencer Dinwiddie, and there's no way they could get likely even two of them to sign for how little they are offering. The Lakers DESPERATELY need a point guard more than they need a midrange scorer like DeRozan, so I think they go after Lowry or Dinwiddie first. In that time, the Suns could make their pitch, offer him the full MLE, and hopefully turn his head.

[Barkley6]

There can be only one... Frank.

Monty was braindead for not giving him minutes - especially considering that fact he went to Wisconsin (literally less than 1.5 hours away) and if he ever had reason to show out above how he'd normally play it would've been in this series.

He's flaming garbage. A bottom 15 player in all of basketball over the past 2 seasons. I'll criticize Monty for plenty about the finals but this is not one of those. He played 11 good minutes. He has been TERRIBLE for years and was thoroughly abused early on in this series. The Bucks picked on him relentlessly when he played in the first couple games.

Frank is fine as a break glass in case of emergency big man. He should not be a regular rotation player. If we bring in a McGee, Noel, Howard big man, and Stix can earn some minutes, I don't mind Frank as a cheerleader and garbage minute guy, unless injury strikes. He's popular in the locker room, is content with his role, and isn't going to upset chemistry.

[Slim Charless]

Read that HoopsHype article about our possible moves. Holy hell that luxury tax number to keep this group together top to bottom.

The Suns will have to make a decision in the future on Cam Johnson in two years. But I think Sarver should be okay from the luxury tax - meaning a multiple payer - in two years as Carter, Saric and Crowder will be off the books. I think its really the 2022-2023 season potentially that can be expensive for Sarver as the Ayton extension will kick in - probably Bridges too.

Holy **** lol. From the article if we resign Payne, CP3 and extend DA and Bridges. Along with grabbing a vet or 2(not expensive ones). This is the number they're throwing around:

This projection would give the Suns a $97 million luxury tax payment and $270 million in combined payroll and tax payments.

https://hoopshype.com/lists/suns-offseason-preview-salaries-chris-paul-2021-22/

Bridges is gone fellas. There's no way on God's Green Earth that Sarver is forking over 100M in luxury tax.

[Desertfox]

Is there any realistic way to get Siakim? I also wouldn't mind taking a flyer on Markannen, he's still young and cheap. Some lowkey veterans I would love on the bench: Daniel Theis, TJ Mconnell (especially if load managing CP3), and Satoranský.

Another potential trade target, Larry Nnce Jr.

[Barkley6]

Read that HoopsHype article about our possible moves. Holy hell that luxury tax number to keep this group together top to bottom.

The Suns will have to make a decision in the future on Cam Johnson in two years. But I think Sarver should be okay from the luxury tax - meaning a multiple payer - in two years as Carter, Saric and Crowder will be off the books. I think its really the 2022-2023 season potentially that can be expensive for Sarver as the Ayton extension will kick in - probably Bridges too.

Holy **** lol. From the article if we resign Payne, CP3 and extend DA and Bridges. Along with grabbing a vet or 2(not expensive ones). This is the number they're throwing around:

This projection would give the Suns a $97 million luxury tax payment and $270 million in combined payroll and tax payments.

https://hoopshype.com/lists/suns-offseason-preview-salaries-chris-paul-2021-22/

Bridges is gone fellas. There's no way on God's Green Earth that Sarver is forking over 100M in luxury tax.

While that's true, there are a number of future moves to be made to lower that hit.
1. This is speculative because the biggest factor, Paul, doesn't have a firm number attached to him yet. If he opted in and then re-signed for 2 years $45 million, that would be about $8m less in salary (I'm too lazy to do the luxury tax math right now)

2. After next season, Saric, Crowder and especially Carter become significantly easier to move as expiring contracts. If Stix and CamJo have progressed well enough at that point, we might sell low on those two and just open up salary cap space. That would free up an additional $24m. In essence, if we moved all three of them a year early, that would wipe out the $68m of the luxury tax the article mentions for 22-23.

3. You could sign guys for 2 years under the MLE (and obviously have to under the BAE) so that they'd be expiring the same time that Crowder, Carter and Saric are. Then you'd have 5 expiring deals (worth aprox. $37m) that will either come off the books the following year, or could be used in a trade for either picks, cash, or possibly to package with Bridges to get a star, depending on where the team stands both basketball wise and financially.

4. You re-sign Bridges now at $18m/per, and if you desperately need to make a move later because of financial issues, you can do so. But you're securing his long term trade value by signing that extension, because if we trade him now, or don't sign him to an extension you're going to get little to nothing for him. (Remember, we traded Jared freaking Dudley to get Eric Bledsoe because he hadn't signed an extension and was going into RFA).

The point being here, that while yeah a near $100m luxury tax bill sounds scary, we have a ton of time to figure out how to reduce that to a much more manageable number while still keeping the core of our team together, AND adding new pieces. Additionally, after the Finals run, revenues are through the roof, I'm sure season tickets will sell out, merchandise is flying off the shelves, etc. So you might look at the numbers and say, yeah, it sucks to take pay a $100m tax,....BUT if we continue to win and sell ourselves as a team, we can make that money back and more...then maybe it's not such a crazy thing to expect Sarver to do.

[BobbieL]

In 2013/14 Andre Igoudala left the Sixers (where he was the number one option on the team) to come off the bench for Golden State He took a pay cut to play for a championship, and I don't remember if he was traded to GSW or FA. He was 29 or 30 years old and was a major reason GSW had their championship run for a couple of years. Suns need that level of talent coming off their bench, not players like Cam Payne or Torrey Craig,

A player I can see maybe taking that bench role for the Suns could be Demar Derozen. He's 31 and a free agent this year. He has been a number 1 or 2 option his entire career at Toronto and Spurs, but just not quite good enough to fill that role. At 31 still has gas in the tank in a first off the bench role, but the end of his career is approaching. I think we could get his high level talent for a potentially decent salary as he chases a ring.

I put this idea out there before, and apparently DeRozan is being mentioned with the Lakers as a possibility (he's from LA originally and went to USC).

The Lakers can only offer him the MLE, same as Phoenix. I kind of wonder what situation DeRozan might prefer. Obviously the Lakers and LeBron have a certain weight to them, but at the end of it, you're never going to get the credit for winning when LeBron and AD are there, vs in Phoenix, where you could totally spin the narrative that DeRozan would be the guy to get us over the hump. I think that Paul and Book could put together a really attractive recruiting pitch, particularly on system fit, as he would essentially get the same sets run for him as Book does, since his midrange game is so similar and maybe kind of talk to him about how that MLE money will go a lot further in Phoenix than in LA.

I particularly think this could be a possibility because the Lakers are also rumored to be targeting Kyle Lowry and Spencer Dinwiddie, and there's no way they could get likely even two of them to sign for how little they are offering. The Lakers DESPERATELY need a point guard more than they need a midrange scorer like DeRozan, so I think they go after Lowry or Dinwiddie first. In that time, the Suns could make their pitch, offer him the full MLE, and hopefully turn his head.

Thats a good strategy. I truly just do not see what say the Raptors would want from the Lakers for Lowry - maybe they sign and trade Shroder, with THT - that might be 20m - add in Caruso

I just do not see a lot of value on the Lakers in terms of players going out and they have limited draft picks to trade because of the NO trade. In fact, not sure when they can trade a draft pick actually. Off the top of my head, maybe 2026 or 2027.

Dinwiddie or DeMar on the MLE - for sure - thats them taking the MLE

Marc Stein again mentioned, or hypothesized "Would Paul take the MLE to play with LeBron?" That seems a reach turning down 45m to make 30m on a three year deal - but I guess we will see about that one

[Barkley6]

In 2013/14 Andre Igoudala left the Sixers (where he was the number one option on the team) to come off the bench for Golden State He took a pay cut to play for a championship, and I don't remember if he was traded to GSW or FA. He was 29 or 30 years old and was a major reason GSW had their championship run for a couple of years. Suns need that level of talent coming off their bench, not players like Cam Payne or Torrey Craig,

A player I can see maybe taking that bench role for the Suns could be Demar Derozen. He's 31 and a free agent this year. He has been a number 1 or 2 option his entire career at Toronto and Spurs, but just not quite good enough to fill that role. At 31 still has gas in the tank in a first off the bench role, but the end of his career is approaching. I think we could get his high level talent for a potentially decent salary as he chases a ring.

I put this idea out there before, and apparently DeRozan is being mentioned with the Lakers as a possibility (he's from LA originally and went to USC).

The Lakers can only offer him the MLE, same as Phoenix. I kind of wonder what situation DeRozan might prefer. Obviously the Lakers and LeBron have a certain weight to them, but at the end of it, you're never going to get the credit for winning when LeBron and AD are there, vs in Phoenix, where you could totally spin the narrative that DeRozan would be the guy to get us over the hump. I think that Paul and Book could put together a really attractive recruiting pitch, particularly on system fit, as he would essentially get the same sets run for him as Book does, since his midrange game is so similar and maybe kind of talk to him about how that MLE money will go a lot further in Phoenix than in LA.

I particularly think this could be a possibility because the Lakers are also rumored to be targeting Kyle Lowry and Spencer Dinwiddie, and there's no way they could get likely even two of them to sign for how little they are offering. The Lakers DESPERATELY need a point guard more than they need a midrange scorer like DeRozan, so I think they go after Lowry or Dinwiddie first. In that time, the Suns could make their pitch, offer him the full MLE, and hopefully turn his head.

Thats a good strategy. I truly just do not see what say the Raptors would want from the Lakers for Lowry - maybe they sign and trade Shroder, with THT - that might be 20m - add in Caruso

I just do not see a lot of value on the Lakers in terms of players going out and they have limited draft picks to trade because of the NO trade. In fact, not sure when they can trade a draft pick actually. Off the top of my head, maybe 2026 or 2027.

Dinwiddie or DeMar on the MLE - for sure - thats them taking the MLE

Marc Stein again mentioned, or hypothesized "Would Paul take the MLE to play with LeBron?" That seems a reach turning down 45m to make 30m on a three year deal - but I guess we will see about that one

Interesting note on the CBA regarding S&T:

From Hoops Rumors:
Any team that acquires a player via sign-and-trade can’t be above the tax apron (a mark about $6MM over the tax line) when the deal is completed — or at any time for the rest of that league year.

So that would mean BOTH Toronto and the Lakers would have to stay below the tax apron (since both Schroeder and Lowry are FA). The Lakers currently have $116m in committed salary (assuming Trez opts in). That would mean the most they could offer in a contract for a S&T would be $22m and then could sign NO ONE else, which would mean they'd only have 8 under contract. So that won't work.

So I think the Lakers would HAVE to convince one of Lowry, Dinwiddie or DeRozan to play for the MLE or less.

[bwgood77]

While that's true, there are a number of future moves to be made to lower that hit.
1. This is speculative because the biggest factor, Paul, doesn't have a firm number attached to him yet. If he opted in and then re-signed for 2 years $45 million, that would be about $8m less in salary (I'm too lazy to do the luxury tax math right now)

2. After next season, Saric, Crowder and especially Carter become significantly easier to move as expiring contracts. If Stix and CamJo have progressed well enough at that point, we might sell low on those two and just open up salary cap space. That would free up an additional $24m. In essence, if we moved all three of them a year early, that would wipe out the $68m of the luxury tax the article mentions for 22-23.

3. You could sign guys for 2 years under the MLE (and obviously have to under the BAE) so that they'd be expiring the same time that Crowder, Carter and Saric are. Then you'd have 5 expiring deals (worth aprox. $37m) that will either come off the books the following year, or could be used in a trade for either picks, cash, or possibly to package with Bridges to get a star, depending on where the team stands both basketball wise and financially.

4. You re-sign Bridges now at $18m/per, and if you desperately need to make a move later because of financial issues, you can do so. But you're securing his long term trade value by signing that extension, because if we trade him now, or don't sign him to an extension you're going to get little to nothing for him. (Remember, we traded Jared freaking Dudley to get Eric Bledsoe because he hadn't signed an extension and was going into RFA).

The point being here, that while yeah a near $100m luxury tax bill sounds scary, we have a ton of time to figure out how to reduce that to a much more manageable number while still keeping the core of our team together, AND adding new pieces. Additionally, after the Finals run, revenues are through the roof, I'm sure season tickets will sell out, merchandise is flying off the shelves, etc. So you might look at the numbers and say, yeah, it sucks to take pay a $100m tax,....BUT if we continue to win and sell ourselves as a team, we can make that money back and more...then maybe it's not such a crazy thing to expect Sarver to do.

Not sure why Slim thinks ownership and the FO would view Crowder/Saric/ a MLE exception guy as more important to keep than Bridges. Move two of those guys, or one and sign the MLE guy to one year while Bridges/Ayton still on rookie deals that is as much as not signing Bridges.

No way Sarver/Jones/Monty view a MLE guy, Crowder and Saric more than Bridges, so like I've said, MLE guy is likely only one year...and then we can trade Crowder and/or Saric before those contracts kick in if Sarver doesn't want a big bill.

Seems Slim wants to trade Bridges though, as much as he brings it up...but he seems the only one, or one of few who think so or want to. You don't see any analyst, beat guy, reporter, etc, even thinking it. Best friends with Cam, big part of team, high character and IQ, etc.

Even if we trade guys, we still have a lot of depth, especially if Smith contributes. So we sign a cheap big and a one year MLE guy...then we have a bench of the Cams or at least one Cam (if one starts the maybe Crowder to bench), Nader and/or Craig, Smith, a rookie this year, Saric (after next year), a cheap big this next year and then the emergency guys after that.

We will have a tax bill for one year, and it will not be nearly what he is saying. But I imagine we will make the most we have made in over a decade the next couple of years in ticket sales and concessions, so a tax bill one or two years will not be a big deal.

Sarver can also sell more ownership stakes too for money since the team value probably went way up while maintaining a similar dollar share with a lower percentage of ownership.

[bwgood77]

One good thing about DeRozan is that he is a very good passer and has a crazy good ast/to ratio, and can get buckets. The bad things are defense and 3pt shooting. He would probably be nice off the bench with guys who can spread the floor and as another ball handler who could start if Booker or Paul are out (though Payne could too).

I'd only do one year MLE though unless we trade Saric and/or Crowder. Like if he can't find a big deal (that we couldn't offer anyway), then give him that year where he would likely look really good.

I am guessing there is little chance he'd want to come off the bench though. Some team wanting to get over the hump will probably sign him.