Season Speculation, Trade Ideas & Discussion 3: About Last Knight

[carey]

Sacramento wanted Booker. Not hard to read between the lines there. They did the right thing not trading Booker + the pick.

Kings did not ask for Booker and the pick. You are dreaming my dear friend.

I'd bet you anything they did. They asked for Hield and a 1st it makes sense from their perspective they would have asked for Booker and a 1st. It's not even a logical leap.

[bhawk]

The real story is the Kings FO not paying Boogie the super max when they said they would. Boogie and his agents are PISSED. 40-50M pissed.

I guess he shouldn't have been such a prick then, huh? Losing that money is almost entirely his own fault. Yes, Sacramento's front office is a dumpster fire, but he's been less professional over the course of his career than the Morris twins.

Agreed. It's his fault. He lost 40-50M because of stupid decisions.

[GetYourPHX]

The Suns don’t need to be desperate, they need to be patient.

I think you all need to keep this in mind.

We're bad right now. All-time bad for this franchise. We got here because we were impatient. We traded young prospects to free up cash. We gave up assets to try and sustain a middling squad. We threw cash at vets that didn't fit what we needed.

We need to be patient. If the deal isn't there, it isn't there. We're not one player away right now, we need two guys and a big jump from our young talent to get where we want to be.

Be patient. The Suns can't blow their load just yet.

[TeamTragic]

Sacramento wanted Booker. Not hard to read between the lines there. They did the right thing not trading Booker + the pick.

Kings did not ask for Booker and the pick. You are dreaming my dear friend.

I'd bet you anything they did. They asked for Hield and a 1st it makes sense from their perspective they would have asked for Booker and a 1st. It's not even a logical leap.

I would not trade Booker for Cousins straight up. If they asked for Booker/pick then I can promise you that McD hung up. Then blocked their number and the trade was off the table.

[Zelaznyrules]

Read on Twitter

Young core? Why is Len in that photo?

I don't see Knight in the picture.

Of course not, they're all staring down at his corpse.

[TeamTragic]

Are we going to make any trades before the deadline?

[WeekapaugGroove]

I think Sacramento looks okay. They should have gotten more, but Heild will have a serviceable career. I don't think he projects as Curry, but he doesn't suck. I liked him in the draft, but am happy with Bender and Chris's so far.

Also consider Sac gets the NO pick around 10 or so AND they will tank for the remainder of the season. So two nice picks on a stacked draft. Pretty sure they will go PG and best available.

Well I think you're a little off on the Sacramento assessment. The pick they are getting from NO is currently sitting at 13 and it's not hard to imagine the Pelicans jumping ahead of Devner for the 8 seed which would push that pick to the 15-16 range. They also owe a pick swap with the 76ers so tanking this year isn't as great as it sounds. Even if they would win the lotto they would give that pick up. Lastly they owe the 76ers an unprotected pick in 2019 so they really need this rebuild to happen fast.

That last point is what really confuses me with this whole situation. Since you owe those picks why not just resign Cousins this summer and try to win for two seasons. If the summer of 2019 comes around and you're not where you want to be then trade him then while he has multiple years left on that extension and you don't owe any picks so you can tank to your hearts desire.

[AZWildByNature]

Are we going to make any trades before the deadline?

I, for one, am holding out hope of seeing Butler being traded to the Suns.

[Zelaznyrules]

I think Sacramento looks okay. They should have gotten more, but Heild will have a serviceable career. I don't think he projects as Curry, but he doesn't suck. I liked him in the draft, but am happy with Bender and Chris's so far.

Also consider Sac gets the NO pick around 10 or so AND they will tank for the remainder of the season. So two nice picks on a stacked draft. Pretty sure they will go PG and best available.

Well I think you're a little off on the Sacramento assessment. The pick they are getting from NO is currently sitting at 13 and it's not hard to imagine the Pelicans jumping ahead of Devner for the 8 seed which would push that pick to the 15-16 range. They also owe a pick swap with the 76ers so tanking this year isn't as great as it sounds. Even if they would win the lotto they would give that pick up. Lastly they owe the 76ers an unprotected pick in 2019 so they really need this rebuild to happen fast.

That last point is what really confuses me with this whole situation. Since you owe those picks why not just resign Cousins this summer and try to win for two seasons. If the summer of 2019 comes around and you're not where you want to be then trade him then while he has multiple years left on that extension and you don't owe any picks so you can tank to your hearts desire.

I don't see what the concern is? The Kings will lose the pick if they don't tank and with Cousins gone they'll be in the running for a very high pick. And even if the Philly swap does come into play, it's still going to be a very valuable pick. There's what, 4 teams with worse records than the 76ers?

[WeekapaugGroove]

I think Sacramento looks okay. They should have gotten more, but Heild will have a serviceable career. I don't think he projects as Curry, but he doesn't suck. I liked him in the draft, but am happy with Bender and Chris's so far.

Also consider Sac gets the NO pick around 10 or so AND they will tank for the remainder of the season. So two nice picks on a stacked draft. Pretty sure they will go PG and best available.

Well I think you're a little off on the Sacramento assessment. The pick they are getting from NO is currently sitting at 13 and it's not hard to imagine the Pelicans jumping ahead of Devner for the 8 seed which would push that pick to the 15-16 range. They also owe a pick swap with the 76ers so tanking this year isn't as great as it sounds. Even if they would win the lotto they would give that pick up. Lastly they owe the 76ers an unprotected pick in 2019 so they really need this rebuild to happen fast.

That last point is what really confuses me with this whole situation. Since you owe those picks why not just resign Cousins this summer and try to win for two seasons. If the summer of 2019 comes around and you're not where you want to be then trade him then while he has multiple years left on that extension and you don't owe any picks so you can tank to your hearts desire.

I don't see what the concern is? The Kings will lose the pick if they don't tank and with Cousins gone they'll be in the running for a very high pick. And even if the Philly swap does come into play, it's still going to be a very valuable pick. There's what, 4 teams with worse records than the 76ers?

You are right in the regard that tanking will help them keep the pick from going to Chicago (it's top 10 protected and if it doesn't convey this year it becomes a 2nd rounder). My larger point is it kind of sucks to tank and know you can't get the #1 pick no matter what and your odds of even being top 5 are pretty slim because both Philly and them would need to land up there.

Oh and there is a crazy scenario where say Sacramento isn't that terrible down the stretch and end up with the 11th pick and say NO doesn't make the playoffs and then jumps into the top 3 Sacramento would end up with 0 1st round picks in this draft.

[Scutt]

For all of you who are crying foul over McD not getting Boogie, clearly you guys do not realize who wears the pants in the Suns front office. That would be the owner, Robert Sarver, who is desperate for a star and to make the playoffs again. If he and McD were not on the same page, and Sarver really wanted Boogie, Sarver would have given the Kings whatever they wanted to get it done. He would not lose out on grabbing a star, just because his lame duck general manager didn't like the deal. Lets be logical.

I have to give Sarver some props for demonstrating some self control and not being short sighted, at least for now. Mcd was just on the radio the other day and said something like, " We can go two ways, we can use some of our assets and picks to try and grab a star, or we can have patience and draft another player to add to our developing young core". I think its pretty clear that McD wants that top pick this year. Again, so glad our front office is showing signs of thinking about the long term. I really hope it lasts. This is like when a fat guy is on a diet and has a bunch of sweets or junk food right in front of him, and he has the willpower to walk away.

[LukasBMW]

Given that we seem to be pretty good at drafting the right players, I'm not totally made that we will be keeping our lottery pick in this much hyped 2017 draft AND still have Miami picks on the way.

TJ, Chriss, Bender, Ulis, and Booker all seem to be much more intelligent and well behaved compared to Boogie and Butler. Can't overlook that.

Harden seems to have one of the worst personalities in the NBA. His body language just screams: "I'm better then you and I know it" Harden does not seem like a "like able" guy.

[GotEm]

Sacramento wanted Booker. Not hard to read between the lines there. They did the right thing not trading Booker + the pick.

Kings did not ask for Booker and the pick. You are dreaming my dear friend.

I'd bet you anything they did. They asked for Hield and a 1st it makes sense from their perspective they would have asked for Booker and a 1st. It's not even a logical leap.

I doubt they asked for Booker. They probably asked for someone from this last year's draft class, they wanted Ingram/Hield from Lakers/Pelicans so they likely asked for Bender or Chriss.

[Fo-Real]

Moving on to what's important and relevant to our team NOW, please get rid of Knight!!! Not one more day in a Suns Uni.

[GotEm]

Read on Twitter

Is this a real quote? Any links?

[TeamTragic]

Kings did not ask for Booker and the pick. You are dreaming my dear friend.

I'd bet you anything they did. They asked for Hield and a 1st it makes sense from their perspective they would have asked for Booker and a 1st. It's not even a logical leap.

I doubt they asked for Booker. They probably asked for someone from this last year's draft class, they wanted Ingram/Hield from Lakers/Pelicans so they likely asked for Bender or Chriss.

Booker was untouchable. I don't think we made Chriss/Bender available.

[GotEm]

The Suns don’t need to be desperate, they need to be patient.

I think you all need to keep this in mind.

We're bad right now. All-time bad for this franchise. We got here because we were impatient. We traded young prospects to free up cash. We gave up assets to try and sustain a middling squad. We threw cash at vets that didn't fit what we needed.

We need to be patient. If the deal isn't there, it isn't there. We're not one player away right now, we need two guys and a big jump from our young talent to get where we want to be.

Be patient. The Suns can't blow their load just yet.

Suns fans have been patient for 7 years and running. McDonough has now been at the helm for 4 of those 7 years.

Phoenix has top 5 longest playoff drought in the NBA right now.

I don't think patience is the problem here.

[GotEm]

I'd bet you anything they did. They asked for Hield and a 1st it makes sense from their perspective they would have asked for Booker and a 1st. It's not even a logical leap.

I doubt they asked for Booker. They probably asked for someone from this last year's draft class, they wanted Ingram/Hield from Lakers/Pelicans so they likely asked for Bender or Chriss.

Booker was untouchable. Chriss/Bender were not available.

I would've easily traded Chriss or Bender for a deal for Cousins. Their both PFs anyway so it's not like both will be starting together even once they develop.

Agreed that Booker is untouchable which is why I said I doubt the Pelicans demanded for Booker. It would've been like demanding for Anthony Davis from the Pelicans.

[TeamTragic]

I doubt they asked for Booker. They probably asked for someone from this last year's draft class, they wanted Ingram/Hield from Lakers/Pelicans so they likely asked for Bender or Chriss.

Booker was untouchable. Chriss/Bender were not available.

I would've easily traded Chriss or Bender for a deal for Cousins. Their both PFs anyway so it's not like both will be starting together even once they develop.

Agreed that Booker is untouchable which is why I said I doubt the Pelicans demanded for Booker. It would've been like demanding for Anthony Davis from the Pelicans.

We should not be mortgaging our future/youth for a one year rental. How did that work out when we passed on Rondo/Ibaka/etc?

[GotEm]

Booker was untouchable. Chriss/Bender were not available.

I would've easily traded Chriss or Bender for a deal for Cousins. Their both PFs anyway so it's not like both will be starting together even once they develop.

Agreed that Booker is untouchable which is why I said I doubt the Pelicans demanded for Booker. It would've been like demanding for Anthony Davis from the Pelicans.

Mortgaging our future and youth for a one year rental?

I don't think Cousins is gonna pass on the money to sign elsewhere. He's actually a loyal guy and would've stayed wherever he got traded.

Plus Eric Bledsoe is his best friend so he would want to play with him. He's even been quoted saying that he wanted to play with Bledsoe.