2014 Official FA Thread

[WeekapaugGroove]

Agreed with those who say that Tucker, while solid on defense, is definitely replaceable and makes some boneheaded plays on the other end of the court.

I've liked Aminu since he entered the league, he'd be great on this team. Thabo Sefolosha is garbage though.

Have to disagree about Thabo, in my opinion he's a better overall defender than Aminu or Tucker (Aminu could get there) - and may even come cheaper. I believe that he has always been undervalued by some due to his inconsistency with "conventional stats", and I can't even say that I'm basing this argument on anything statistical, but just having watched him over the years I've always wanted him in a Suns jersey. Incredible defender and higher basketball IQ than your PJ Tuckers for sure.

the problem with Thabo is the only thing he has in his offensive arsenal is the 3pt shot and his release is so slow and mechanical he wastes a lot of good looks. I guess I would be OK signing him as a cheap 1 yr stop gap if tucker gets a contract they don't want to match and if they draft a sf that needs a yr to develop. But I don't see him as a long term answer on the wing.

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[lilfishi22]

I'd sign Thabo to a short cheap deal. He's better defensively but his shot is equally inconsistent.

[Qwigglez]

Thabo would only help us if we had some kind of superstar or a couple of all-stars on our squad. I find him to be too inconsistent, and doesn't possess the intangibles that I look for in a quality role players.
I look at a team like the Spurs, and notice their role players such as Danny Green, Patty Mills, Boris Diaw, Marco Belinelli who all know their respective roles and also have the ability to light up the scoreboard on any given night. I think we have such role players in Gerald Green/Markieff Morris/Channing Frye. Thabo doesn't have that quality.

My free agent pick is still Pau Gasol. Has Spurs style of play, is unselfish, can rebound, and most importantly he can score on the block. Tim Duncan-esque IMO. Bring him in, Luol Deng as well and we have the making of a very good title contender if the team chemistry is there. Deng has a high IQ, and would be brilliant within our system. Excellent cutter, decent spot up shooter, good passing ability, and above all his defensive mindset. Let our prospects continue growing on the team (Len/Goodwin/Markieff) and our potential upcoming rookies.

On paper we match up well against the champion Spurs.
Parker/Green/Leonard/Duncan/Splitter +Gino/Diaw/Mills/Belinelli
Dragic/Bledsoe/Deng/Pau/Len +Green/Markieff/Frye/Goodwin/Plumlee/Marcus

I think our bigs wouldn't be an issue with a five man rotation(Pau/Plumlee/Kieff/Frye/Len)

[PhxSunsFan1234]

I suspect Pau Gasol may entertain taking a big paycut to play with the Spurs next season. My god, they would be absolutely unreal if they could get Gasol for cheap and have him come off the bench for 25mins a game.

[WeekapaugGroove]

I suspect Pau Gasol may entertain taking a big paycut to play with the Spurs next season. My god, they would be absolutely unreal if they could get Gasol for cheap and have him come off the bench for 25mins a game.

it's a possibility but if he's willing to take less to go anywhere I would guess he goes to Memphis and plays with his brother.

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[BobbieL]

I suspect Pau Gasol may entertain taking a big paycut to play with the Spurs next season. My god, they would be absolutely unreal if they could get Gasol for cheap and have him come off the bench for 25mins a game.

If Love falls through - and reading it looks like the Celtics have the picks; and if Carmelo falls through - I think Gasol for two years to the Suns would be a nice signing. Granted, I am still on the Melo train as a realistic player to talk too. I didn't say sign -but talk too.

[BobbieL]

I'd sign Thabo to a short cheap deal. He's better defensively but his shot is equally inconsistent.

One year deal - nominal cash to replace Tucker. As I think Tucker is going to get the MLE from somebody - just not the Suns. And I am okay with that.

[letsgosuns]

I would be happy if the Suns signed any of the following free agents: Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Pau Gasol, and Paul Pierce. Other free agents such as Gordon Hayward or Trevor Ariza are okay but I think they are going to get overpaid and I am not interested in them. I would sooner draft a swingman and/or re-sign Tucker over them. I am sure Ryan Mcdonough is only considering signing players that can be part of a legitimate championship contender and is not going to give out contracts to players that do not fit that mold. There are really no free agents besides the ones I mentioned that I find interesting.

[PhxSunsFan1234]

I suspect Pau Gasol may entertain taking a big paycut to play with the Spurs next season. My god, they would be absolutely unreal if they could get Gasol for cheap and have him come off the bench for 25mins a game.

it's a possibility but if he's willing to take less to go anywhere I would guess he goes to Memphis and plays with his brother.

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It's setting up perfectly for the Spurs. Duncan/Parker/Ginobli return one more season, win a championsip. Duncan/Ginobli retire. Parker goes re-signs. Dragic and Marc Gasol sign.

Parker
Dragic
Leonard
Gasol
Gasol

Splitter

[PhxSunsFan1234]

I would be happy if the Suns signed any of the following free agents: Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Pau Gasol, and Paul Pierce. Other free agents such as Gordon Hayward or Trevor Ariza are okay but I think they are going to get overpaid and I am not interested in them. I would sooner draft a swingman and/or re-sign Tucker over them. I am sure Ryan Mcdonough is only considering signing players that can be part of a legitimate championship contender and is not going to give out contracts to players that do not fit that mold. There are really no free agents besides the ones I mentioned that I find interesting.

You'd be happy if the Suns signed LeBron James? Color me shocked.

[letsgosuns]

I would be happy if the Suns signed any of the following free agents: Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Pau Gasol, and Paul Pierce. Other free agents such as Gordon Hayward or Trevor Ariza are okay but I think they are going to get overpaid and I am not interested in them. I would sooner draft a swingman and/or re-sign Tucker over them. I am sure Ryan Mcdonough is only considering signing players that can be part of a legitimate championship contender and is not going to give out contracts to players that do not fit that mold. There are really no free agents besides the ones I mentioned that I find interesting.

You'd be happy if the Suns signed LeBron James? Color me shocked.

Okay whatever.

[MrMiyagi]

I suspect Pau Gasol may entertain taking a big paycut to play with the Spurs next season. My god, they would be absolutely unreal if they could get Gasol for cheap and have him come off the bench for 25mins a game.

it's a possibility but if he's willing to take less to go anywhere I would guess he goes to Memphis and plays with his brother.

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It's setting up perfectly for the Spurs. Duncan/Parker/Ginobli return one more season, win a championsip. Duncan/Ginobli retire. Parker goes re-signs. Dragic and Marc Gasol sign.

Parker
Dragic
Leonard
Gasol
Gasol

Splitter

What is with you and wanting the Spurs to steal Dragic away from us and sign the Gasol bros? Are you really a Spurs fan trying to troll us?

[McStunna]

Tucker could be replaced by Gerald Green in the rotation and Green by Goodwin.

[King4Day]

Tucker could be replaced by Gerald Green in the rotation and Green by Goodwin.

This is what I'd expect to happen if Tucker goes. Then we have whomever we draft be a backup somewhere.
Did we ever have Dragic/Bledsoe/Green on the floor at the same time consistently at any point?

While I have no doubts we'll pickup Ish Smith's option, I still think he'll be the odd man out. He can be a good piece to add in a trade somewhere.

[Qwigglez]

I hope the Suns use their cap space before signing Eric Bledsoe. If not, the Suns will have to rely on internal team development to improve the team, as our cap space would be crippled afterwards. I could also see Frye opting out to negotiate a longer-term contract with us. Possibly, 4 years $18mil, with the final year being a player option. If this were to happen, we'd be able to acquire two players worth about 9-10mil a year (Pau and Deng).

[gaspar]

Tucker could be replaced by Gerald Green in the rotation and Green by Goodwin.

This is what I'd expect to happen if Tucker goes. Then we have whomever we draft be a backup somewhere.
Did we ever have Dragic/Bledsoe/Green on the floor at the same time consistently at any point?

While I have no doubts we'll pickup Ish Smith's option, I still think he'll be the odd man out. He can be a good piece to add in a trade somewhere.

Last year Dragic/Bledsoe/Green lineup was significantly worse than lineups with Tucker and Marcus Morris.

Dragic/Bledsoe/Tucker 107.5 OffRtg, 94.6 DefRtg, 13.0 NetRtg in 706 minutes
Dragic/Bledsoe/Marcus 114.8 OffRtg, 100.8 DefRtg, 14.0 NetRtg in 186 minutes
Dragic/Bledsoe/Green 106.6 OffRtg, 105.8 DefRtg, 0.8 NetRtg in 157 minutes

[bwgood77]

I hope the Suns use their cap space before signing Eric Bledsoe. If not, the Suns will have to rely on internal team development to improve the team, as our cap space would be crippled afterwards. I could also see Frye opting out to negotiate a longer-term contract with us. Possibly, 4 years $18mil, with the final year being a player option. If this were to happen, we'd be able to acquire two players worth about 9-10mil a year (Pau and Deng).

Those guys don't make us elite though, and unless we can use them as trade bait later, it hampers us financially. If you just use cap space to use it, because you have it, then you pigeon hole yourself into a corner.

I know that it looks like we wouldn't have cap space NEXT summer if we re-sign guys, etc anyway, and that is why people want to go on a spending frenzy now, but there is a difference between being a little over the cap and well over the cap.

Not only do you have to think about luxury tax, or not being able to use the mid level exception, but it makes it much harder to try and carve out cap space by trading a player or two to give you flexibility.

Unless we can sign a MAJOR upgrade somewhere, I wouldn't sign anyone like Deng or Pau for more than one year. But I really think Tucker is much better than people give him credit for, and that the difference in a guy like him and Deng is not worth the extra money to give to him.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

I hope the Suns use their cap space before signing Eric Bledsoe. If not, the Suns will have to rely on internal team development to improve the team, as our cap space would be crippled afterwards. I could also see Frye opting out to negotiate a longer-term contract with us. Possibly, 4 years $18mil, with the final year being a player option. If this were to happen, we'd be able to acquire two players worth about 9-10mil a year (Pau and Deng).

Those guys don't make us elite though, and unless we can use them as trade bait later, it hampers us financially. If you just use cap space to use it, because you have it, then you pigeon hole yourself into a corner.

I know that it looks like we wouldn't have cap space NEXT summer if we re-sign guys, etc anyway, and that is why people want to go on a spending frenzy now, but there is a difference between being a little over the cap and well over the cap.

Not only do you have to think about luxury tax, or not being able to use the mid level exception, but it makes it much harder to try and carve out cap space by trading a player or two to give you flexibility.

Unless we can sign a MAJOR upgrade somewhere, I wouldn't sign anyone like Deng or Pau for more than one year. But I really think Tucker is much better than people give him credit for, and that the difference in a guy like him and Deng is not worth the extra money to give to him.

Not interested in Pau. Only mildly interested in Deng. Tucker's skillset isn't that easy to replicate. An iron man, elite defender, great rebounder for position. Not a good offensive player, but not terrible. Better than Thabo, that's for sure.

[BobbieL]

I hope the Suns use their cap space before signing Eric Bledsoe. If not, the Suns will have to rely on internal team development to improve the team, as our cap space would be crippled afterwards. I could also see Frye opting out to negotiate a longer-term contract with us. Possibly, 4 years $18mil, with the final year being a player option. If this were to happen, we'd be able to acquire two players worth about 9-10mil a year (Pau and Deng).

I don't think its worth a new thread so maybe somebody can answer - like JDLAW is good with the cap. Now the Suns are projected to be under the cap with Okafor off plus they were under when they traded Butler. So, I know since they are under, they cannot use their MLE - but can the Suns go OVER the cap.

Meaning - they get far enough under; Frye opts out; they cap hold Bledsoe - sign Melo and than sign Bledsoe - so they might go over - can they do that if they go in the "right order". Or if they were to trade for Love and take back a contract - that might fit them under the cap but giving Blesoe 12m puts them over the cap but with Bird Rights - I think that is okay

[PhxSunsFan1234]

I hope the Suns use their cap space before signing Eric Bledsoe. If not, the Suns will have to rely on internal team development to improve the team, as our cap space would be crippled afterwards. I could also see Frye opting out to negotiate a longer-term contract with us. Possibly, 4 years $18mil, with the final year being a player option. If this were to happen, we'd be able to acquire two players worth about 9-10mil a year (Pau and Deng).

I don't think its worth a new thread so maybe somebody can answer - like JDLAW is good with the cap. Now the Suns are projected to be under the cap with Okafor off plus they were under when they traded Butler. So, I know since they are under, they cannot use their MLE - but can the Suns go OVER the cap.

Meaning - they get far enough under; Frye opts out; they cap hold Bledsoe - sign Melo and than sign Bledsoe - so they might go over - can they do that if they go in the "right order". Or if they were to trade for Love and take back a contract - that might fit them under the cap but giving Blesoe 12m puts them over the cap but with Bird Rights - I think that is okay

You can go over the cap when signing a player with bird rights (IE: Sign Melo, then sign Bledsoe using Bird Rights putting the team over the cap, or trading for Love and then signing Bledsoe).

They cannot sign Bledsoe first, then go over the cap trading or signing a player from free agency. Teams are usually pretty good and smart about this tactic i'd assume and communicate with said player to hold off as long as possible if the chances of landing a FA or trade is in the picture. Bledsoe wouldn't mind it as long as he's getting paid!