Barkley6 wrote:ImNotMcDiSwear wrote:Barkley6 wrote:
I think the Suns, all things being equal, preferred Craig to Nader, but at the price point, Nader is the better deal and not a terribly dissimilar player. He's long, athletic, a plus on defense, solid shooter, decent cutter. And Nader is actually beefier at 6'5'' 225 to Craig at 6'7'' 221.
I think Jones has at least one more move in him before the season starts to get a PF. I mean, look at last offseason, he signed Galloway, Carter, Moore and exercised the option on Payne in hopes that one of them could be a decent 3rd guard. I can't imagine he won't add another big man after being that cautious last year.
He already did add another big man, assuming Saric returns by the playoffs or Jalen Smith joins the conversation. If both, he's effectively added two. I don't see the need to add another big unless and until an injury occurs.
We're thinner at the wings, in my opinion. I agree that Nader's a better deal at the price point. I was very impressed with him last year. The primary issue was, of course, the injury. I think right now, he's our 10th man:
Paul/Booker/Bridges/Crowder/Ayton
6-7: Cam Payne, Cam Johnson
8-9: Shamet, McGee
10: Nader
11: Smith
12-13: Payton, Kaminsky
Put Saric in there and we're actually pretty thick up front. That 15th roster spot goes to a 2 or a 3, I have no doubt.
I see what you're saying, but Saric COULD be out longer, its way too early to know. He might be out until midway through the playoffs, and would we want to throw him in at that point? If that happens and Smith is in over his head, we suddenly become one injury away from having big Frank minutes.
I DO think we can solve that issue by adding a backup 3 that would allow us to play Cam more time at the 4, but that's kind of why I like Nance Jr because he can float a little between the 3, 4 and 5, similar to Craig, but better overall.
I'm down with Nance because he provides a skillset we particularly lack. And you proposed a very good trade the other day using Saric and 2 2nds to get him - that would be great. It wouldn't be an "additional" big per se, just replacing an injured one for a better, healthy one (for now! Nance has been pretty injury-prone the last few seasons).
I really do view Cam as more of a 4 and thought he rebounded pretty well in the finals (though I haven't checked to see whether the stats back that up). Crowder's also much better suited to the 4 at this point in his career. Then you have Smith and, in a pinch, Nader, or even Saric or Kaminsky - though admittedly, they're even more of a stretch at the 4 than Cam or Crowder is at the 3. I just want to see more agility and creation from my small forwards than those two provide.
The 1 and 5 are more than covered (especially the 5 - Ayton, McGee, Kaminsky, Saric, Smith... even Crowder or Cam in a pinch). So in my view, the 2/3 is clearly where we're most in need of depth. If Booker or Bridges goes down, we are reeeeally thin at the 2/3 spots. You start Shamet or Cam and Nader steps into the rotation, and behind them is no one. Payne can play some 2, but after that it's Bridges (not ideal) or Payton (ugh). Booker can play the 3, so there's a little flexibility there, and Crowder can play some 3, but then who's at the 4 in that lineup? Smith?
I fully expect that last roster spot will go to a 2/3. Count on it.
