The Official 2025 Offseason Thread Part 2

[Saberestar]

If Spurs are including Sochan, then Suns should offload him to another team for a future top 10 protected pick or similar.

He's OK, but Suns need a proper defensive front court who will impact even without scoring.

I mean...thats kinda all he is at this point. Solid defender who is kind of a negative on offense

I'm thinking more like Ausar Thompson or Amen Thompson potential forward. A game changer defender, not an average to above average tweener playing four. Need a rim protector.... Marion version 2

Sochan is a great defender already and he is just 22 years old.

He isn't Marion. No one is Matrix, but Sochan is actually a game changer defender.

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[bullsaficianado]

Probably but #2 is also an overpay for a 37 year old. A 2-3 year window that isn't a guaranteed contender is not worth the #2 in most drafts.

Yeah, I get that the #2 is an overpay for a 37-year-old. But trading KD for the #14th pick isn't the answer either if you are trying to retool around Booker.

The right price can be somewhat in the middle ground.

They don't want to trade any of Wemby, Fox, Castle and Harper...OK, we can accept it IF they give us future picks.

Two options for them:

1) Vassell, Barnes, #14 and 3 unprotected FRPs.

2) Vassell, Barnes, Sochan, #14 and 2 unprotected FRPs.

There are too many teams interested in KD and there are gonna be a bidding war in the next 2 weeks. It seems that KD is OK going to different places so that give us some leverage.

I think they will do deal #2. Suns have every right to ask for that. Even if he's going to be 37 it's KD he ain't gonna be that cheap. That's a pretty good haul for Durant. We get younger. KD attracts free agents so Spurs can make up for letting Sochan go. Ishbia better not trade those 2 unprotected future 1st's.

[Ryu]

I'd definitely prefer claxton over Vassell

Claxton isn't very good at anything and he has been a bit of a hothead at times. Thrre in NO offense in him and he is too thin to bang with anyone who has any size. He is just long and kinda athletic, again a guy who would need a great Pg to make him seem serviceable.

Suns fans are not used to good centers so Claxton would fit right in.

Actually, we had one good but half the fanbase wanted him gone just to watch scrubs like Nurkic, Richards or Claxton.

[bullsaficianado]

I'd definitely prefer claxton over Vassell

Claxton isn't very good at anything and he has been a bit of a hothead at times. Thrre in NO offense in him and he is too thin to bang with anyone who has any size. He is just long and kinda athletic, again a guy who would need a great Pg to make him seem serviceable.

Suns fans are not used to good centers so Claxton would fit right in.

Actually, we had one good but half the fanbase wanted him gone just to watch scrubs like Nurkic, Richards or Claxton.

Haha, Ayton sounds like a dream right now. Your spot on.

[Ghost of Kleine]

I mean...thats kinda all he is at this point. Solid defender who is kind of a negative on offense

I'm thinking more like Ausar Thompson or Amen Thompson potential forward. A game changer defender, not an average to above average tweener playing four. Need a rim protector.... Marion version 2

Sochan is a great defender already and he is just 22 years old.

He isn't Marion. No one is Matrix, but Sochan is actually a game changer defender.

Watch on YouTube

This 1000000%

Sochan at 6'9 230 lbs with a 7 + ft wingspan and really good foot speed and defensive versatility is a low key steal for us.

And his physicality and motor at rebounding/ rim protection is another reason why he's occasionally compared to Dennis Rodman archetype. But hopefully his shooting comes along so that portion of his game doesn't remain comparable for too long.

Either way he'll be an incredibly dynamic switchable perimeter wing defender with a nonstop motor and intruiging developing ballhandling abilities.

[Mulhollanddrive]

Can you play Dunn and Sochan together if neither has much offense / shooting?

What would Mikal Bridges be worth without offense?

[Saberestar]

Can you play Dunn and Sochan together if neither has much offense / shooting?

What would Mikal Bridges be worth without offense?

They can share the court some minutes per game, we are talking about better offensive players than Okogie (specially Sochan).

Sochan is a good ball handler and passer. Some similarities with Draymond Green and that's a good comparison for a non good shooting player.

He always finds a way to contribute on offense with his cutting, slashing and offensive rebounds and like I said he is a solid playmaker and good passer.

[Frank Lee]

Yall need to pump the brakes on this free agent/cap space extravaganza

Go take a look at 2027 FAs. Old guys with big names. Most of the good youngsters will be retained/extended or at least sign and trades….and half the league will have more or as much space.
https://www.spotrac.com/nba/free-agents/_/year/2027


This strategy of sucking the next two yrs just to have shopping space is risky. It not only will be detrimental in attracting FAs but frankly, very unlikely to happen… regardless of your wishbone snapping prayers. You are going to run Book off too, but some of you draft pick fanatics will applaud that.

It’s bird in the hand time. You need real bonafide NBA players, not a roster full of minimum wagers and GLeaguers on one yr deals. We are largely in this pickle because of that..

It’s just not in the cards for the Wishbia run front office to sit on their hands with a ‘wait’ll next yr’ game plan.
Furthermore, expect any draft capital gleaned in a KD trade to be trade capital. You aren’t going to get squat by offering up just Allen or O’Neal. Certainly not upgrades.

The focus should be to get under these aprons, may be both, as it can be done…. Then go from there. We are hamstrung until that…. That’s IF you want to be anything but a complete doormat for the next two, hoping to then snag a free agent or two who will turn this around.

That’s a flawed strategy. Find a compromise at least.

[Rebound Mound]

If we send KD to the SAS for that package, then I prefer to keep him.
If we trade with the SAS for those players, then we will not be competitive in a few years, while still keeping Booker and Beal, probably.
If we trade with the SAS for those players, I believe I a going to find a new team to cheer for.
If we trade with the SAS, I am out. This would not be the Phoenix Suns, this would be Ishbia's company and hobbie, not an NBA team (which probably already is).

[bullsaficianado]

Durant can dictate where he wants to be traded. No team is going to give up significant assets for a 1 year rental of a soon to be 37 year old Durant. If he wants the Spurs he will get the Spurs as he will agree to extend with them.

[Rebound Mound]

Durant can dictate where he wants to be traded. No team is going to give up significant assets for a 1 year rental of a soon to be 37 year old Durant. If he wants the Spurs he will get the Spurs as he will agree to extend with them.

In that case. KD's output is far superior than what those three players are going to give us next season and we do not need draft picks right now as we have two rookies, we can have one more and we could get 2/3 second rounders with Allen and Oneale.

I really do not understand how we talk soooo much about this: it is complete incoherence to trade KD for assets or young players when Booker is going to stay, Beal is going to stay and is 31, Allen is 31, Oneale is 32, and we have holes at the PF, C and PG positions and are getting nobody back in those positions. It is completely nonsense. If the SAS are offering GSs and SFs and picks, then keeping KD now is the right thing to do, unless someone else offers a better package and KD wants to go there.

[dremill24]

If we send KD to the SAS for that package, then I prefer to keep him.
If we trade with the SAS for those players, then we will not be competitive in a few years, while still keeping Booker and Beal, probably.
If we trade with the SAS for those players, I believe I a going to find a new team to cheer for.
If we trade with the SAS, I am out. This would not be the Phoenix Suns, this would be Ishbia's company and hobbie, not an NBA team (which probably already is).

Hate to break it to you, but this is the world we're looking at whether KD is dealt or not. Its going to take some time to turn things around. And they suck with KD on the roster too.

[Ghost of Kleine]

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[Ghost of Kleine]

Durant can dictate where he wants to be traded. No team is going to give up significant assets for a 1 year rental of a soon to be 37 year old Durant. If he wants the Spurs he will get the Spurs as he will agree to extend with them.

Due to the new CBA and cap situation, some will though. That's why you're seeing/ hearing about multiple interested bidders for him. They all understand hos contract situation well. And understand that if he's sent to a destination of his choosing, he'd likely resign. But also, if that team has a solid chance of contending, he's also likely to resign there too.

Now they additionally understand that if he doesn't choose to resign there, that recieving team would still reap the benefits of at minimum a 54 million cap reduction under the new CBA, whilst still getting a generational talent that would boost their competitive floor for a stopgap option.

That's still an extremely rare value situation that would require a solid value exchange because it rarely if ever happens in the NBA.

[m1chal]

I want Sochan on the Suns badly. You see, there have been four Polish players in the NBA so far: Cezary Trybański, Maciej Lampe and Marcin Gortat are all former Suns, and now Jeremy Sochan (his dad was American, mom is Polish, he was raised in the UK by his mom and Polish stepdad, he has Polish citizenship and plays for our national team). We need Jeremy to keep the tradition of Poles playing for the Suns Besides, he's a good player. A very capable defender with good ball handling and court vision, gritty and tenacious on the court. His weaknesses are 3PT shooting and minor injuries from time to time.

[BobbieL]

If we send KD to the SAS for that package, then I prefer to keep him.
If we trade with the SAS for those players, then we will not be competitive in a few years, while still keeping Booker and Beal, probably.
If we trade with the SAS for those players, I believe I a going to find a new team to cheer for.
If we trade with the SAS, I am out. This would not be the Phoenix Suns, this would be Ishbia's company and hobbie, not an NBA team (which probably already is).

Hate to break it to you, but this is the world we're looking at whether KD is dealt or not. Its going to take some time to turn things around. And they suck with KD on the roster too.

The Suns aren't going anywhere with Booker and Durant together. It just isn't a good mix. And Durant will not get better. Sure, he will still score but how will that help the overall goal of winning

And maybe the trading of Barnes, Sochan Vassell, and a couple FRPs isn't enough. But its a start. Granted, part of the reason I am trading Booker as to just gut it and rebuild. But thats not the case -- but this trade has to be the start.

The key is - do Ishbia and Gregory have the vision to build a team. As maybe this is the first trade, and than you make another trade and y ou might even flip VAssell at some point for a better fit. This won't be the end product - its just the beginning

I doubt Ish and Gregory have the vision to build this thing but we shall see

[Fo-Real]

Can you play Dunn and Sochan together if neither has much offense / shooting?

What would Mikal Bridges be worth without offense?

To do it, you would need a scoring threat slash post threat center, like a Vuevic or Sabonis type.

[Mulhollanddrive]

Why do Spurs need 4 PGs

[Ghost of Kleine]

Yall need to pump the brakes on this free agent/cap space extravaganza

Go take a look at 2027 FAs. Old guys with big names. Most of the good youngsters will be retained/extended or at least sign and trades….and half the league will have more or as much space.
https://www.spotrac.com/nba/free-agents/_/year/2027


This strategy of sucking the next two yrs just to have shopping space is risky. It not only will be detrimental in attracting FAs but frankly, very unlikely to happen… regardless of your wishbone snapping prayers. You are going to run Book off too, but some of you draft pick fanatics will applaud that.

It’s bird in the hand time. You need real bonafide NBA players, not a roster full of minimum wagers and GLeaguers on one yr deals. We are largely in this pickle because of that..

It’s just not in the cards for the Wishbia run front office to sit on their hands with a ‘wait’ll next yr’ game plan.
Furthermore, expect any draft capital gleaned in a KD trade to be trade capital. You aren’t going to get squat by offering up just Allen or O’Neal. Certainly not upgrades.

The focus should be to get under these aprons, may be both, as it can be done…. Then go from there. We are hamstrung until that…. That’s IF you want to be anything but a complete doormat for the next two, hoping to then snag a free agent or two who will turn this around.

That’s a flawed strategy. Find a compromise at least.

I'm sorry man, but calling the overall 27' free agency class old is a bit disingenuous or a mischaracterization of the grouping with close to 41 available free agents under 30 yrs old. And honestly, if the strategy of our front office is to truly maximize the window competitively around Booker, then our front office's not likely to go full on rebuild with mostly young under 25 rookies.

I'm of the mind to have a equitable mix of both with maybe a few tenured vets scattered throughout positionally to mentor at those specific positions in general.

But also, generating significant cap space (if possible) is very beneficial as early as this summer or by 26' because even though we're not seriously contending, we need to at at least try and he competitive as possible and make the playoffs due to Houston having our 27' and 29' picks and no KD trade in the works to get them back.

My interests are to at least try and make the playoffs to begin mitigating that 27 pick value as much as possible. And generate more flexibility towards a major roster upgrade from the 27' free agency pool. And of course targeting some of the younger names on there like:

Isiah Hartenstein, Miles Bridges, DeAndre Hunter, CAM JOHNSON, Dillon Brooks, LOU DORT, HERB JONES, AUSTIN REEVES, Jacob Poetl, Josh Green, Brandon Clarke, Donte Di Vincenzo, Aaron Nesmith, LONZO BALL, Naji Marshall, GOGA BIDATZE, Kenrich Williams, John Konchar, Kris Dunn, TOUMANI CAMARA, GG JACKSON, ANDRE JACKSON, Miles McBride, Trace Jackson Davis, Keon Ellis.

Many of these names are still much better than what we feature on our current roster. And would be significant upgrades for us. 26' free agency has some potential too! Our goal up to 27' should be to make the playoffs and build off if that through free agency and prospect development while creating some flexibility.

[Ghost of Kleine]

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