2022-23 Off-Season Discussion and Speculation

[Blonde]

I’m not sure why the front office has been so silent on the Ayton front. We really have no idea what they’re thinking - everything has come from outside sources and allowed a narrative to form that hurts our bargaining position. Whether we intend to do so or not, Phoenix should be leaking that they will match any offer so they can delay Ayton signing a sheet, and hopefully arrange the best possible sign and trade. If he goes out and signs a sheet at midnight with Detroit we’ll just match and be stuck with him for a year potentially, or acquire a trade exception and smaller assets. And maybe that’s exactly what the front office wanted all along - to keep Ayton at the lower 4 year max that other teams can offer, but not at the full 5 year max. Either way - the optics are bad. Time will tell. I’m constantly nervous Jones is going to do something asinine.

[WeekapaugGroove]

My take away on that Jones interview.

The suns are a weird organization, that's not nessesarily bad but when you do things differently and it doesn't work you will get killed for it. I don't think Jones gives a damn about public opinion of his moves or how he runs his group, there's a admirable aspect to that but again you set yourself to be killed if things don't go well. On the flip side I think some GMs worry about winning the news cycle too much.

As far as not valuing the draft and trading your picks for proven vets, it's not a bad strategy when your good. And not particularly unqie, plenty of good teams do that. But why the hell didn't they trade that Smith pick then???

On running a 'lean' group. At least some of that is Sarver being cheap.





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[BobbieL]

I’m not sure why the front office has been so silent on the Ayton front. We really have no idea what they’re thinking - everything has come from outside sources and allowed a narrative to form that hurts our bargaining position. Whether we intend to do so or not, Phoenix should be leaking that they will match any offer so they can delay Ayton signing a sheet, and hopefully arrange the best possible sign and trade. If he goes out and signs a sheet at midnight with Detroit we’ll just match and be stuck with him for a year potentially, or acquire a trade exception and smaller assets. And maybe that’s exactly what the front office wanted all along - to keep Ayton at the lower 4 year max that other teams can offer, but not at the full 5 year max. Either way - the optics are bad. Time will tell. I’m constantly nervous Jones is going to do something asinine.

I am not worried about Jones

I am more concerned with the person who allots what the salary budget will be and is that interfering with the process of building the best possible team.

And if Sarver was so worried about the lux tax this summer - why the hell did they sign Landry Shamet - last summer?

The Shamet move- as DavidIVPoint play points out - is a move made by a team operating as an over the cap team willing to pay some luxury tax..

Until I see the Suns do something stupid with Ayton - I will believe they have a plan

[WeekapaugGroove]

I’m not sure why the front office has been so silent on the Ayton front. We really have no idea what they’re thinking - everything has come from outside sources and allowed a narrative to form that hurts our bargaining position. Whether we intend to do so or not, Phoenix should be leaking that they will match any offer so they can delay Ayton signing a sheet, and hopefully arrange the best possible sign and trade. If he goes out and signs a sheet at midnight with Detroit we’ll just match and be stuck with him for a year potentially, or acquire a trade exception and smaller assets. And maybe that’s exactly what the front office wanted all along - to keep Ayton at the lower 4 year max that other teams can offer, but not at the full 5 year max. Either way - the optics are bad. Time will tell. I’m constantly nervous Jones is going to do something asinine.

I think it's what I just posted. I truly don't think Jones gives one **** about public perception and I don't think he plays the media leak game. It can be frustrating as a fan but it's not necessarily a bad thing.

I have some experience with this as a Green Bay Packers fan. Their old GM Ted Thompson wouldn't even talk to the media other than once a year when they made him and didn't give a **** about public perception. He was also extremely rigid in his draft and develop philosophy. It worked well until he missed on a couple of draft classes then the knives were out because he hadn't garnered any favor in the media

Now I do believe he communicates with other GMs and they probably have a good idea what they want to do with Ayton.

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[sunsbg]

I’m not sure why the front office has been so silent on the Ayton front. We really have no idea what they’re thinking - everything has come from outside sources and allowed a narrative to form that hurts our bargaining position. Whether we intend to do so or not, Phoenix should be leaking that they will match any offer so they can delay Ayton signing a sheet, and hopefully arrange the best possible sign and trade. If he goes out and signs a sheet at midnight with Detroit we’ll just match and be stuck with him for a year potentially, or acquire a trade exception and smaller assets. And maybe that’s exactly what the front office wanted all along - to keep Ayton at the lower 4 year max that other teams can offer, but not at the full 5 year max. Either way - the optics are bad. Time will tell. I’m constantly nervous Jones is going to do something asinine.

That's such a short-sighted decision because of the increasing cap space pointed out by many. Also would someone give it all in their job after being treated like that and forced to stay. At this point I would like to see Ayton - Murray trade when that's possible. There are news about Spurs willing to trade Murray. Suns would like a PG to replace CP3. Popovich may also be high on DA. It could work for both teams.

[phnart]

Nothing will happen today on the Suns front. That's my prediction. I'm also way less convinced Ayton is going anywhere now because of how quiet the team has been. Back to being on vacation.

[Saberestar]

Shamet plus an expiring contract and a first would make sense if Gordon wanted to come here.

Read on Twitter

Eric Gordon for Shamet, Craig and a future FRP (lottery protected) looks good to me.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Couple things:
1- Not a given Saver matches the poisonous contract from DET. Lot of people say here "If it's about winning, we will match" but what makes you think Ayton is going to make you win? Got eaten up by Giannis and then flopped against Mavs the following year. The dude has zero heart, plays for money (unless it's video games), and doesn't have that "it factor." If your recipe FAILED two years in a row, why repeat again and give him a long term deal esp when he don't wanna be here? You like locker room cancers? I'd happily let him walk without matching!

2- I'm in the camp of not needing an expensive center. Work on your wings. Just look at Warriors title with Looney in the middle. And Blelijca off the bench as their only bigs aside from Draymond. Get a legit PF leader. And bring back Biz / McGee or something cheap. Go look at the Clippers forum. They covet McGee. Saying "aside from age" I'd rather have McGee than Zubac.

Get over this Ayton BS. And use the money for wings and PF and backup PG.

Sounds like a solid plan! So which one of our players is going to produce at an elite level on par with what the Warriors have in Steph and Klay for that to be successful? Which of our current players is going to provide HOF level elite defense like what Draymond gives them for Aytons' role as our defensive anchor to be legitimately minimized? Which of our bench bigs is going to be able to CONSISTENTLY provide double/ double type rebounding and very switchable defense in the pick n roll and on the perimeter on switches? And please don't suggest McGee, because as much as I like him, he gets worn out to fast and also gets killed on the perimeter due to his lack of mobility/ lateral quickness. Is there someone in free agency that we could add ( for the taxpayer MLE) to cover that role for us?

When our shooters in Paul, Booker and Johnson struggle, whose going to be that elite offensive weapon to get easy high percentage buckets for us so we don't get run off the court if the opposition finds a good rythym? IF we have the answers to these questions covered, then yes, it absolutely makes sense!

[Saberestar]

Sources: Kevin Durant is monitoring the Brooklyn Nets’ situation and considering options with his future.

This now opens the path for Kyrie Irving to proceed on finding a new home via opt-in and trade.

Via Shams.

[RaisingArizona]

Read on Twitter

?s=20&t=Tku9Um99AdQgY0rASKBUjw

8 to 10 players?!?!? DAAAAAYYUUMMMM go crazy Jones! Wow must have been scouting for days! I hope it wasn't too confusing discussing those 10 players with your 5 employees. It's so hard being organized and compiling and synthesizing data for like you know...YOUR JOB.

Lol this feels like my alt account.

[BobbieL]

Shamet plus an expiring contract and a first would make sense if Gordon wanted to come here.

Read on Twitter

Eric Gordon for Shamet, Craig and a future FRP (lottery protected) looks good to me.

Why would the Rockets want Shamet when Payne is cheaper and expires quicker?

Granted, on July 1: you can use Shamet and not Dario or Jake Rowder

[BobbieL]

Sources: Kevin Durant is monitoring the Brooklyn Nets’ situation and considering options with his future.

This now opens the path for Kyrie Irving to proceed on finding a new home via opt-in and trade.

Via Shams.

Monday: 0-5%
Shams had a tweet that pushed it to 10%

today, I am up to 25% -if the trade can be figured out

[RaisingArizona]

My take away on that Jones interview.

The suns are a weird organization, that's not nessesarily bad but when you do things differently and it doesn't work you will get killed for it. I don't think Jones gives a damn about public opinion of his moves or how he runs his group, there's a admirable aspect to that but again you set yourself to be killed if things don't go well. On the flip side I think some GMs worry about winning the news cycle too much.

As far as not valuing the draft and trading your picks for proven vets, it's not a bad strategy when your good. And not particularly unqie, plenty of good teams do that. But why the hell didn't they trade that Smith pick then???

On running a 'lean' group. At least some of that is Sarver being cheap.





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Bickley and Marotta were discussing this a few weeks ago. It's like he acts like the smartest guy in the room by drafting players way above where they're projected and not worrying about the draft too much in general.

[Saberestar]

Shamet plus an expiring contract and a first would make sense if Gordon wanted to come here.

Read on Twitter

Eric Gordon for Shamet, Craig and a future FRP (lottery protected) looks good to me.

Why would the Rockets want Shamet when Payne is cheaper and expires quicker?

Granted, on July 1: you can use Shamet and not Dario or Jake Rowder

We need Shamet's contract to match salaries.

[BobbieL]

Read on Twitter

Eric Gordon for Shamet, Craig and a future FRP (lottery protected) looks good to me.

Why would the Rockets want Shamet when Payne is cheaper and expires quicker?

Granted, on July 1: you can use Shamet and not Dario or Jake Rowder

We need Shamet's contract to match salaries.

Payne and Crowder
Payne and Dario
I think Crowder and Craig work

all three of these don't have the second year commitment Shamet brings - unless the Rockets want him

[Blonde]

Ship has sailed on Gordon. He would have been a huge help in the playoffs this last year but I have no interest in giving up a first round pick for him at this time.

[Saberestar]

Why would the Rockets want Shamet when Payne is cheaper and expires quicker?

Granted, on July 1: you can use Shamet and not Dario or Jake Rowder

We need Shamet's contract to match salaries.

Payne and Crowder
Payne and Dario
I think Crowder and Craig work

all three of these don't have the second year commitment Shamet brings - unless the Rockets want him

Well, yeah, there are other players available to match salaries with Gordon but Shamet would be perfect because he plays exactly the same position and the Rockets are under the cap for next year and they need to spend money on players no matter what.

I would prefer to send a pick with worse protection rather than Crowder or Payne in that trade. And Craig needs to go.

[WeekapaugGroove]

My take away on that Jones interview.

The suns are a weird organization, that's not nessesarily bad but when you do things differently and it doesn't work you will get killed for it. I don't think Jones gives a damn about public opinion of his moves or how he runs his group, there's a admirable aspect to that but again you set yourself to be killed if things don't go well. On the flip side I think some GMs worry about winning the news cycle too much.

As far as not valuing the draft and trading your picks for proven vets, it's not a bad strategy when your good. And not particularly unqie, plenty of good teams do that. But why the hell didn't they trade that Smith pick then???

On running a 'lean' group. At least some of that is Sarver being cheap.





Sent from my SM-G986U using RealGM mobile app

Bickley and Marotta were discussing this a few weeks ago. It's like he acts like the smartest guy in the room by drafting players way above where they're projected and not worrying about the draft too much in general.

As I was saying I do admire this to a point. The reality is most guys only get one shot at being an NBA GM so should do what they believe is right not what will be received the best by media and fans. Because at the end of the day the results are all that matter. **** the vast majority of McDs draft picks were widely praised when he made them, in the end that didn't matter.

But when you get cute and it doesn't work out you should and will get extra killed for it.

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[dremill24]

Nothing will happen today on the Suns front. That's my prediction. I'm also way less convinced Ayton is going anywhere now because of how quiet the team has been. Back to being on vacation.

Suns have no picks and free agency doesnt start until next week so thats a safe prediction lol

[BobbieL]

We need Shamet's contract to match salaries.

Payne and Crowder
Payne and Dario
I think Crowder and Craig work

all three of these don't have the second year commitment Shamet brings - unless the Rockets want him

Well, yeah, there are other players available to match salaries with Gordon but Shamet would be perfect because he plays exactly the same position and the Rockets are under the cap for next year and they need to spend money on players no matter what.

I would prefer to send a pick with worse protection rather than Crowder or Payne in that trade. And Craig needs to go.

Good points and yes, that would make sense. And I would prefer to move Shamet as well.

Suns have these contracts to use - hopefully they can use them