2024-25 Season Discussion and Speculation Part IV

[Slim Charless]

We never would have gotten that, and if we could, they wouldn't not do it because KD "shot it down".

Reading comprehension my dear mod friend. KD shot it down to golden state and made it known that he didn't wanna be there.....so they pivoted to Miami.

Thanks a lot man. I appreciate it.

That was more sarcastic then I wanted it to be but my point is and no offense here, I think the NBA reporter with legit connections has more insight then you or I.

I mean that report wasn't just said by that dude, it was other reporters as well.

Durant for Jimmy, Kuminga and picks......makes sense to me.

[Calvin Klein]

Just trade him. Why does he get the privilege of choosing when mostly everybody else doesnt?

[Slim Charless]

I have value in Booker. Durant is what 36 or 37 and towards the end of his career. His value goes down every day from here forth

Booker - that is another story. Booker is in the prime of his career so should get what the Suns gave up for Durant

This pipe dream that Durant is going to get 75% of what they paid for him - is just that, a pipe dream.

I look at them differently. Durant is towards the end of his career - -just get a good solid trade as the alternative is doing nothing, letting him expire in 2026 and getting even less.

Booker - totally expect a very good return.

Define "very good". By your standards.

Weren't you trading him to Houston for like 2 of our picks back and Steven Adams? Plus Reed Sheppard.

Durant to Houston

At the trade deadline or last summer

Trade deadline: yes a couple of the picks Adams Smith and Jeff green


Booker to Houston - much more

You said Booker to Houston for Adams and picks and Jeff Green. I thought....

Your valuations are off on these dudes.

[Qwigglez]

Reading comprehension my dear mod friend. KD shot it down to golden state and made it known that he didn't wanna be there.....so they pivoted to Miami.

Thanks a lot man. I appreciate it.

That was more sarcastic then I wanted it to be but my point is and no offense here, I think the NBA reporter with legit connections has more insight then you or I.

I mean that report wasn't just said by that dude, it was other reporters as well.

Durant for Jimmy, Kuminga and picks......makes sense to me.

Did they divulge the entirety of the trade?

I imagine it would have included Nurkic going probably still to the Hornets because Suns wouldn't be able to acquire Butler AND Kuminga straight up for KD because of salary implications. Though I assume it would have been worked out that the Suns would just get probably Cody Martin and NOT include Micic.

[Qwigglez]

Just trade him. Why does he get the privilege of choosing when mostly everybody else doesnt?

The MAIN reason I believe the front office did this is to have full transparency with players and so other players around the league see the way Ishbia treats his players and it could incentivize them to wanting to play for the Suns. My best guess.

[Slim Charless]

Thanks a lot man. I appreciate it.

That was more sarcastic then I wanted it to be but my point is and no offense here, I think the NBA reporter with legit connections has more insight then you or I.

I mean that report wasn't just said by that dude, it was other reporters as well.

Durant for Jimmy, Kuminga and picks......makes sense to me.

Did they divulge the entirety of the trade?

I imagine it would have included Nurkic going probably still to the Hornets because Suns wouldn't be able to acquire Butler AND Kuminga straight up for KD because of salary implications. Though I assume it would have been worked out that the Suns would just get probably Cody Martin and NOT include Micic.

Well someone either here or on the Miami forum said that the trade could be done via 2 separate transactions.

[Calvin Klein]

Just trade him. Why does he get the privilege of choosing when mostly everybody else doesnt?

The MAIN reason I believe the front office did this is to have full transparency with players and so other players around the league see the way Ishbia treats his players and it could incentivize them to wanting to play for the Suns. My best guess.

I understand that for booker only. He’s the only one who should get that type of treatment.

They didn’t treat CP the same way and he did much more than Durant for Phoenix.

[BobbieL]

Define "very good". By your standards.

Weren't you trading him to Houston for like 2 of our picks back and Steven Adams? Plus Reed Sheppard.

Durant to Houston

At the trade deadline or last summer

Trade deadline: yes a couple of the picks Adams Smith and Jeff green


Booker to Houston - much more

You said Booker to Houston for Adams and picks and Jeff Green. I thought....

Your valuations are off on these dudes.

Booker trade would have included the other Green but with his poison pill - tough to trade

Durant has less valuation

What’s you wager on what Durant will bring back

[Saberestar]

Read on Twitter

This was a MUCH NEEDED trade and a successful trade IMO.

1) Gambo said that Nurkic was a problem in the locker room. You know that is true just hearing an interview with him. He couldn't be on the team anymore. Period.

2) Trading Nurkic with $19.4M guaranteed next year was a tough task to do for any FO.

His value was meh a year ago but with his terrible playing on the court (not Budenholzer's fault, not Suns fault, he is responsible) he was a negative asset. Then you need to add his non positive behavior on the locker room and you have a really tough trade to do without giving up mayor assets.

We did a nice job getting back two decent players who can fight for rotation minutes and both have non guaranteed deals for next year. We decide now. And a superlow FRP for a low 2nd.

3) OUT of the 2nd apron. This move make us a 1st apron team if we want to apply it next sumer. Much more flexibility going forward.

It would have been great to get a PF who could help us on the boards and play bigger but pretty sure that we tried but we couldn't get anyone good enough to deserve the asking price.

That's not what Gambo said.

When I listened to the live broadcast of their coverage of the final day before the deadline he mentioned Nurk was a locker room favorite and the schism between he and the head coach was posing a problem. In order to rectify it they shipped him away.

I am talking about yesterday's show and he said that Nurkic was a problem in the locker room and we need it to trade him. I don’t know what he said on a different day.

Listen to Hour 1: What the Phoenix Suns look like after the trade deadline at https://pds.cdnstream1.com/p/bonneville/burns-gambo-show/hour-1-what-the-phoenix-dc6ccf/audio.mp3

[schnakenpopanz]

Give Micic a chance. I have watched him for years in Europe. If utilized right he could be a spark from the bench.

[BurningHeart]

Per Windy KD unhappy and frustrated with being in trade talks and will not stay with Suns.

I don't know how to feel about this.

Kobe would never pull that ****. Just go out there and score 60.

Kobe? That guy was fragile as ****.

I'm sick of this revisionist history about this **** guy and his legacy.

Kobe was one of the most insecure, insufferable athletes in sports history.

[bullsaficianado]

Just trade him. Why does he get the privilege of choosing when mostly everybody else doesnt?

There is no rush that's why. Durant will likely be traded this summer. Suns can work with KD and find the best package available to them that makes the Suns better long term and makes Durant happy. Booker stays and we go back to building around Booker.

Or maybe we keep Durant and Bradley Beal waives his NTC. One has to give.

Suns are paying around $150 million for just three players on this roster and the team is hovering around .500.

No owner is going to want to keep paying that for a team that is under performing like that.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Chris Paul has to get bought out after they acquired De'Aaron Fox right?

Unlikely. Pretty sure he signed there to come off the bench anyways and teach Wemby.

Fox can learn a thing or two from CP3 as well... I think he did it to put his foot in the door to become part of the FO or management. Learn from Pop amd all.

They're actually talking about starting him alongside of Fox in the backcourt for a unique 1-2 punch. Lol.

[Mr Puddles]

Kobe would never pull that ****. Just go out there and score 60.

Kobe? That guy was fragile as ****.

I'm sick of this revisionist history about this **** guy and his legacy.

Kobe was one of the most insecure, insufferable athletes in sports history.

Kobe not only requested a trade from the Lakers, Lal was ready to trade him to his preferred destination (Chicago) but the Bulls didn't want to include up and coming super star Loul Deng. Time will tell if that was the right decision.

Kobe also threatened to leave LA if the Lakers didn't get rid of Shaq.

So... there's that.

[BobbieL]

Just trade him. Why does he get the privilege of choosing when mostly everybody else doesnt?

There is no rush that's why. Durant will likely be traded this summer. Suns can work with KD and find the best package available to them that makes the Suns better long term and makes Durant happy. Booker stays and we go back to building around Booker.

Or maybe we keep Durant and Bradley Beal waives his NTC. One has to give.

Suns are paying around $150 million for just three players on this roster and the team is hovering around .500.

No owner is going to want to keep paying that for a team that is under performing like that.

Beal won’t have much value - and what will you have to add to move him. Two years left. If one year, maybe. Probably add a FRP which they don’t have for less value

So that leaves Durant or Booker or both. Durant is the best option to trade between Beal or KD

Start working the phones now

[SunsRback4Good]

Kobe would never pull that ****. Just go out there and score 60.

Kobe? That guy was fragile as ****.

I'm sick of this revisionist history about this **** guy and his legacy.

Kobe was one of the most insecure, insufferable athletes in sports history.

Kobe not only requested a trade from the Lakers, Lal was ready to trade him to his preferred destination (Chicago) but the Bulls didn't want to include up and coming super star Loul Deng. Time will tell if that was the right decision.

Kobe also threatened to leave LA is the Lakers didn't get rid of Shaq.

So... there's that.

Can we mention Kobe’s incident in Colorado or is that in bad taste considering he passed away recently??

[BurningHeart]

Kobe would never pull that ****. Just go out there and score 60.

Kobe? That guy was fragile as ****.

I'm sick of this revisionist history about this **** guy and his legacy.

Kobe was one of the most insecure, insufferable athletes in sports history.

Kobe not only requested a trade from the Lakers, Lal was ready to trade him to his preferred destination (Chicago) but the Bulls didn't want to include up and coming super star Loul Deng. Time will tell if that was the right decision.

Kobe also threatened to leave LA is the Lakers didn't get rid of Shaq.

So... there's that.

Uh, yeah. For starters.

Kobe was a bitchmade loser his entire **** career.

[sunskerr]

Qwigglez mentioned something interesting. That it's amazing we traded Ayton essentially for Grayson Allen, Cody Martin, and Micic.

Though I guess it was actually Ayton, Camara and a first for Grayson Allen, Cody Martin, Micic and a 2nd.

Hard to type that.

Lord that's brutal...I always have been of the position that, well, he asked out, so it couldn't have been helped (kinda).

What happened to the Myles Turner/Indy situation? Was that ever in the cards? I don't remember.

Just trade him. Why does he get the privilege of choosing when mostly everybody else doesnt?

The MAIN reason I believe the front office did this is to have full transparency with players and so other players around the league see the way Ishbia treats his players and it could incentivize them to wanting to play for the Suns. My best guess.

Funny thing is, and you may very well be right, is that I'm not sure being a nice FO and working with your players for trade destinations impacts players decisions that much.

When Boston double crossed Isaiah (on his health status and contract...even worse than just a trade) back in 2017 it didn't really have much of a negative effect despite all the press. I suppose one could argue Boston had so many assets in the draft they could just trade for the finishing touches but they came out of that off-season with Gordon Hayward and Kyrie.

Of course the Luka situation could change some things. And being transparent at a time so soon after the Mavs burned Luka could definitely contrast well.

We'll see.

[enigmatics]

This was a MUCH NEEDED trade and a successful trade IMO.

1) Gambo said that Nurkic was a problem in the locker room. You know that is true just hearing an interview with him. He couldn't be on the team anymore. Period.

2) Trading Nurkic with $19.4M guaranteed next year was a tough task to do for any FO.

His value was meh a year ago but with his terrible playing on the court (not Budenholzer's fault, not Suns fault, he is responsible) he was a negative asset. Then you need to add his non positive behavior on the locker room and you have a really tough trade to do without giving up mayor assets.

We did a nice job getting back two decent players who can fight for rotation minutes and both have non guaranteed deals for next year. We decide now. And a superlow FRP for a low 2nd.

3) OUT of the 2nd apron. This move make us a 1st apron team if we want to apply it next sumer. Much more flexibility going forward.

It would have been great to get a PF who could help us on the boards and play bigger but pretty sure that we tried but we couldn't get anyone good enough to deserve the asking price.

That's not what Gambo said.

When I listened to the live broadcast of their coverage of the final day before the deadline he mentioned Nurk was a locker room favorite and the schism between he and the head coach was posing a problem. In order to rectify it they shipped him away.

I am talking about yesterday's show and he said that Nurkic was a problem in the locker room and we need it to trade him. I don’t know what he said on a different day.

Listen to Hour 1: What the Phoenix Suns look like after the trade deadline at https://pds.cdnstream1.com/p/bonneville/burns-gambo-show/hour-1-what-the-phoenix-dc6ccf/audio.mp3

Yes he was a problem "in the locker room" because he was close with the players, but Bud was freezing him out. We know this because he openly told reporters a few weeks ago that that's what was going on.

Naturally - if you want control over a locker room (or at least an attempt at it) you can't have that in the midst. It's really not rocket science here.

We are about to find out a lot more whether in the next few weeks or in the offseason. From the surface this beef is one of the more bizarre things Bud has chosen and a distraction from the trash job he's done as HC.

Suns are going to end up eating yet another bad HC contract. It's an inevitability.

[Ghost of Kleine]

We should have shipped out Tyus who is likely gone next season and we should have been able to get a 2nd rounder from a contending team now we likely lose him next season for nothing.

Also surprised we did not try to ship out Grayson either so Ishbia must be pretty in love with him to hold on to him.

Pretty disastrous trade deadline but hey at the very least we didn't get Butler so that's the one positive for me.

Don't guys on 1 year min deals have no trade clauses? At this point I rather just keep him otherwise you're playing rest of the season with Gillespie as backup PG and that's not a serious position for the team with the highest payroll to be in. At least this way you can say we're trying to win, it just didn't work out.

Disastrous deadline, but not unexpected since we have no assets and disappointment was set in stone once Beal showed he wasnt interested in leaving.

Depending on who we get for KD and Booker (JDub/Amen) we might need Greyson's shooting. I'm happy we kept him. Shooters are always needed and he also is the only guy on the team with a little grit.

Shouldn't really surprise anyone....lol. But I have a couple of prospects in this upcoming draft that will embody BOTH of those traits.

Shooters: (2nd rounders)
Tucker Devries, Peyton Sandfort, Milan Momcilovic, Chaz Lanier.

Gritty tough, athletic defensive players: ( late first through 2nd round options)

Johni Broome, JO JO Tugler, Trevon Brazile, JT Toppin.

Also, two prospects with star potential ( IF THEY ACTUALLY DECLARE FOR THIS DRAFT??
1- Koby Brea- Klay Thompson/ Devin Booker 2.0!
2- Isiah Evans- A 6'7- 6'8 clone of Brandon Ingram. Very smooth scorer.

Also Trevon Brazile is a slightly skinnier ( not yet fully muscularly developed version of Amare Stoudemire). Just needs more muscle / weight added. And JoJo Tugler is a 6'8 230 lb elite multipositional gritty non stop motor big forward version of Robert Williams! ( 7'6 wingspan) and the most elite defender in the entire draft.

We could really walk away with an even stronger core of young talent if our scouts are paying attention to any of these names, just as they did with Dunn.