2021-22 Season Discussion and Speculation

[Mulhollanddrive]

Win tomorrow and we're 3 games clear in the top 3.

None of Dallas, Denver, Clippers, Memphis as the chasing pack who are above .500 scare me either.

[Sunsdeuce]

Ayton and KAT played well yesterday. There’s a big difference in their games though. KAT doesn’t rely on players to spoon feed him in open spots to score, Ayton does. When CP3 retires, we will need someone other than Booker who can score/make plays for others. Our current team, without CP3, would be way too predictable. Can’t wait to see what James Jones does.


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Aytons numbers went down when CP came here. He literally sacrificed his numbers for CP. Team went 8-0 in the bubble WITHOUT CP. CP didn’t improve Aytons game nor help it. Let’s be real other than maybe 3 or 4 games total, CP failed in the playoffs but I don’t see that brought up much here.

But please continue to spoon feed nonsense for whatever narrative you are attempting to sling about how CP carrying Ayton!

[SSOL]

Ayton and KAT played well yesterday. There’s a big difference in their games though. KAT doesn’t rely on players to spoon feed him in open spots to score, Ayton does. When CP3 retires, we will need someone other than Booker who can score/make plays for others. Our current team, without CP3, would be way too predictable. Can’t wait to see what James Jones does.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Aytons numbers went down when CP came here. He literally sacrificed his numbers for CP. Team went 8-0 in the bubble WITHOUT CP. CP didn’t improve Aytons game nor help it. Let’s be real other than maybe 3 or 4 games total, CP failed in the playoffs but I don’t see that brought up much here.

But please continue to spoon feed nonsense for whatever narrative you are attempting to sling about how CP carrying Ayton!

What an absolute garbage can of a take. You really took the time to write this? Also, you do realize “improve” and “help” are synonyms, right? Anyways, I’ll just leave this right here, smh:

“Ayton credits Paul for changing his career.

“I love CP, man. Like I said, that’s really the only teammate that really push me. Like big bro type push. Knowing what I got and that I ain’t never thought that I had,” Ayton said of CP3.”

[Sunsdeuce]

Ayton and KAT played well yesterday. There’s a big difference in their games though. KAT doesn’t rely on players to spoon feed him in open spots to score, Ayton does. When CP3 retires, we will need someone other than Booker who can score/make plays for others. Our current team, without CP3, would be way too predictable. Can’t wait to see what James Jones does.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Aytons numbers went down when CP came here. He literally sacrificed his numbers for CP. Team went 8-0 in the bubble WITHOUT CP. CP didn’t improve Aytons game nor help it. Let’s be real other than maybe 3 or 4 games total, CP failed in the playoffs but I don’t see that brought up much here.

But please continue to spoon feed nonsense for whatever narrative you are attempting to sling about how CP carrying Ayton!

What an absolute garbage can of a take. You really took the time to write this? Also, you do realize “improve” and “help” are synonyms, right? Anyways, I’ll just leave this right here, smh:

“Ayton credits Paul for changing his career.

“I love CP, man. Like I said, that’s really the only teammate that really push me. Like big bro type push. Knowing what I got and that I ain’t never thought that I had,” Ayton said of CP3.”

Yeah the same guy who said Ayton was going to get a “bag” after the playoffs. Then CP gets his bag and when it comes to Ayton getting paid, complete silence from CP.

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Some of you make CP out to be some type of hero but completely ignore everything else about CP.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Mike Vigil (@protectedpick) Tweeted:
Chris Paul’s stats in this current Suns 10 game win streak vs Steve Nash’s stats in the last Suns 10 game win streak:

CP3: 15 pts, 10 ast, 4 rebs
Steve Nash: 14.8 pts, 10 ast, 4 rebs https://t.co/Xgv5txldEX

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[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Aytons numbers went down when CP came here. He literally sacrificed his numbers for CP. Team went 8-0 in the bubble WITHOUT CP. CP didn’t improve Aytons game nor help it. Let’s be real other than maybe 3 or 4 games total, CP failed in the playoffs but I don’t see that brought up much here.

But please continue to spoon feed nonsense for whatever narrative you are attempting to sling about how CP carrying Ayton!

What an absolute garbage can of a take. You really took the time to write this? Also, you do realize “improve” and “help” are synonyms, right? Anyways, I’ll just leave this right here, smh:

“Ayton credits Paul for changing his career.

“I love CP, man. Like I said, that’s really the only teammate that really push me. Like big bro type push. Knowing what I got and that I ain’t never thought that I had,” Ayton said of CP3.”

Yeah the same guy who said Ayton was going to get a “bag” after the playoffs. Then CP gets his bag and when it comes to Ayton getting paid, complete silence from CP.

Read on Twitter

Some of you make CP out to be some type of hero but completely ignore everything else about CP.

Strange take. Obviously Paul was advocating for Ayton to get paid. He's not going to get involved in negotiations or trash management with public comments, stirring controversy. What good would that do? It would create a narrative of turmoil between the team and the FO, and I have a hard time believing that such comments would have caused the Suns to give into Deandre's contract demands. Like anyone with three brain cells, he understands that the best ways for him to help Deandre get his are to help him on the court and, if any advocacy's to take place, say it to management directly, behind the scenes.

If Paul had said anything publicly - especially after the fact - that would have been a boneheaded move. And before that, how could he have known how negotiations were proceeding? He's a player, not the GM, not the owner. He can only do so much.

I expect the team to continue giving Deandre more opportunities on offense. Paul is the biggest part of that. That's what he can actually do to improve Ayton's chances at getting the 5 year max I'm still hoping he gets.

[sundevil1999]

Hey there guys , I just wanted to get some clarification.

I know it's months away and we were all worried about it this offseason, but with Deandre Ayton, is it believed that we would have made an offer for four years at Max money and that Ayton's camp wanted the 5th Year no matter what?

I ask because when Ayton becomes a restricted free agent, no team can give him that 5 year right?

So basically if a team gives him four years Max money, we would match that anyway cuz that's what we were going to offer him originally I'm assuming? Am I correct? I mean do you think the damage is done where he will just sign a qualifying offer? I just don't see it. But please let me know if you think I'm wrong. Let's go

[Ghost of Kleine]

Hey there guys , I just wanted to get some clarification.

I know it's months away and we were all worried about it this offseason, but with Deandre Ayton, is it believed that we would have made an offer for four years at Max money and that Ayton's camp wanted the 5th Year no matter what?

I ask because when Ayton becomes a restricted free agent, no team can give him that 5 year right?

So basically if a team gives him four years Max money, we would match that anyway cuz that's what we were going to offer him originally I'm assuming? Am I correct? I mean do you think the damage is done where he will just sign a qualifying offer? I just don't see it. But please let me know if you think I'm wrong. Let's go

You're correct in that we're the only team that can offer him the 5th year ( additional year). All other teams in free agency can only offer him the 4 yr max. You're also correct in that we'll likely sit back and let the market determine his value, looking to match the 4 yr offer sheet at most. With hope of securing a discount in the process. I'm still curious however, As to what will happen if one of the max cap space teams decides to offer Ayton a front loaded max deal , or perhaps a poison pill provision included in order to dissuade Saver from allowing us to match! Counting on Savers' frugal reputation to let him walk to their benefit. And if we do match, then we'll be really severely constrained with our cap flexibility for awhile. Could teams such as San Antonio see this a a potential win/ win scenario. IF we don't match due to Savers' fiscal impotence, They get Ayton, Whom they could covet as their next big man ( big fundamental 2.0) defensive project before pop retires! I mean how appealing would it be to have Ayton mentored by coach pop and Duncan himself!

And if we actually do match, then we'd be hamstrung somewhat financially. This is to San Antonio's benefit regardless as it weakens a conference rival. There's really little downside for San Antonio to consider this strategy honestly, as aside from a possible Simmons trade, Ayton would easily be the biggest get for them in free agency. Similiar premise for Detroit. Could Detroit view Ayton as their key big man piece? Robin to Cades' batman?
Of the teams with max cap space in 22' :
San Antonio, Detroit , Orlando, maybe Memphis ( possibly up to $ 25 million cap flexibility) All could have legitimate interest in Ayton for their roster, either as a key big man piece, Or as a longterm high upside upgrade to what's currently on their roster. It'll definitely be interesting to see how things play out.

[Slim Charless]

Not to further inflame or trigger anyone here, But in reading through the trade board, Philly has a list of 30 players that they'd be willing to trade Simmons for. On that list (around 10) is Chris Paul. Now IF for whatever reason, We don't meet expectations, flame out early or simply decide to move on from Paul after this season, AND if we manage to either resign Ayton for below the max ( or sign 'n' trade him for a cheaper comparable option) such as Vucevic or Valuncias ( both solid double/ double floor spacing bigs. Could we possibly be considering Simmons for our post Paul all star max replacement option?

- Monty's coached him for a season in Philly before becoming our coach. So he's familiar with him and may know how to help him become better?

- Jones has connections to Klutch, Simmons agent, So we would have a potentially good connection. Also ( regardless of the Kendall Jenner situation) Book and Simmons are friends, So that's a mild bonus.

- Adding Simmons would give us an All NBA defender in the backcourt with Booker and IF Bridges takes that leap to All NBA as well, Then we'd have two All NBA defenders anchoring our defense. Our perimeter defense would be suffocating.

- Again, IF we can resign Ayton at less than the max, along with Bridges signing for less than his market value, and IF we can sign Johnson conservatively too, That should leave us some wiggle room to fill out the roster with additional shooters/ floor spacers? Otherwise we could look to trade Ayton ( sign 'n' trade) for a cheaper comparable double/ double option in either Valuncias or Vucevic (unrestricted free agent in 2023).

- Playing out this season with Paul and letting the situation/ chaos between Simmons and the 76ers play out whilst his trade value plummets, Allows us to still compete this season, and then make a trade of less assets (perhaps even a basic swap of Paul for Simmons) wherein we retain our core assets and build long term around a core of:

Simmons/ Booker/ Bridges/ Johnson/ Ayton
Or
Simmons/ Booker/ Bridges/ Johnson/ Valuncias.
Or
Simmons/ Booker/ Bridges/ Johnson/ Vucevic.

And then sign more sharpshooters on the cheap to fill out our roster. So again, I'm just wondering IF Simmons, as his value decreases in this current situation would be a possibility on their minds for a post Paul solution whose an established all star and all NBA level defender with star power ( to an extent) towards attracting potential free agents as well?

CP3 and Ayton for Simmons and Val?


I will respectfully decline that offer.

[Slim Charless]

Hey there guys , I just wanted to get some clarification.

I know it's months away and we were all worried about it this offseason, but with Deandre Ayton, is it believed that we would have made an offer for four years at Max money and that Ayton's camp wanted the 5th Year no matter what?

I ask because when Ayton becomes a restricted free agent, no team can give him that 5 year right?

So basically if a team gives him four years Max money, we would match that anyway cuz that's what we were going to offer him originally I'm assuming? Am I correct? I mean do you think the damage is done where he will just sign a qualifying offer? I just don't see it. But please let me know if you think I'm wrong. Let's go

$arver's plan was to just match or get DA on a discount some other way. I think that Ayton could absolutely sign the QO and that having $arver out of the picture and not owning this team will help.

[bwgood77]

Hey there guys , I just wanted to get some clarification.

I know it's months away and we were all worried about it this offseason, but with Deandre Ayton, is it believed that we would have made an offer for four years at Max money and that Ayton's camp wanted the 5th Year no matter what?

I ask because when Ayton becomes a restricted free agent, no team can give him that 5 year right?

So basically if a team gives him four years Max money, we would match that anyway cuz that's what we were going to offer him originally I'm assuming? Am I correct? I mean do you think the damage is done where he will just sign a qualifying offer? I just don't see it. But please let me know if you think I'm wrong. Let's go

All James Jones really said was that we "were open to discussing a 3 or 4 year max deal" which made little sense. I wouldn't read into it. I think they basically just wanted to avoid giving him the type of deal that could trigger into a bigger deal (30% of cap instead of 25% of cap) and I also think they were probably just generally unsure if they wanted to pay him the max and knew they still had a year to decide, and at worst, they would have the option to match someone else's deal if they couldn't iron one out.

I don't think it's a huge deal. I used to be a proponent in always waiting..primarily to use your cap space because rookie scale cap holds are lower than max cap holds but in this case we were over the cap anyway so we can't sign someone else before signing him anyway (with cap space because we won't have any).

No team can give him a 5th year. We can also give him 5 years at less than max money, something we didn't have the option of before.

[Slim Charless]

Not sure where to put this but......go Suns!


Enjoy that whoopin Dallas

[Mjee]

11 in a row !!!! Let’s gooo

[bwgood77]

Best trait of this team so far is that we play best in 4th quarters. That wasn't necessarily the case a lot of last year.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Suns this season

[Slim Charless]

This next 10 days will finally shut the haters up. I'm am very much looking forward to our game vs the Dubs...and NYK and our Denver rematch. I want a healthy Joker for that game.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) Tweeted:
The question was for Devin Booker about Mikal Bridges, but Chris Paul had something to say.

"I don't care if Mikal don't play another game this season, he better be on that all-defensive team this year. Every night. Every night." https://t.co/WdjdNFbxnt

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[Ghost of Kleine]

Phoenix Suns (@Suns) Tweeted:
That's 1️⃣ 1️⃣ https://t.co/Hgw7v0RBmj

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11 games in a row!!

[Ghost of Kleine]

Evan Sidery (@esidery) Tweeted:
Only two starters in the NBA (min. 30 minutes per game) are carrying a +60 TS% and sub-40 DFG%:

Rudy Gobert
Mikal Bridges

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NBA ALL DEFENSE................. DUH!!!

[Ghost of Kleine]

Xin Varlock (@XinNBA) Tweeted:
Keep an eye on Torrey Craig if you’re a Suns fan

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