2008-2009 Roster

[Griffin]

With the Barnes signing, and barring any trades, our roster for 2008-2009 is almost complete:

01. Steve Nash
02. Amare Stoudemire
03. Shaquille O'Neal
04. Raja Bell
05. Grant Hill
06. Leandro Barbosa
07. Boris Diaw
08. Matt Barnes
09. Robin Lopez
10. Goran Dragic
11. Alando Tucker
12. Sean Singletary
13. Louis Amundson

Assuming we retain Strawberry, we only have one spot left to fill on the active (12-men) roster, unless Tucker again spends most of the year in D-League. That spot will most likely (and hopefully) go to a backup point guard. It could still be Dragic, but at this point I think those chances are slim. Then the Suns still have to sign at least one more player to meet the league-mandated roster minimum. Skinner and Marks are still candidates to return. I don't think the Suns will add anyone from the summer league roster.

 

[Mainstreet]

Add Dragic and Skinner and all is right with the world.

 

[shazaam6]

Add Dragic and Skinner and all is right with the world.

If Kerr can get that done, he will have had a great off season. Fills all the holes with everyone at their natural positions. Youth and experience, it will be fun watching the young guys improve this year. Also see how Porter and crew changes things. Actually it might be Sarver that stops Kerr who is basically using food stamps to sign guys.

 

[shazaam6]

What Kerr says to lure free agents:
"Peanuts here! Come get your peanuts. You're too proud to play for peanuts? Grant Hill plays for peanuts. What, You think you are better than he is?"


btw peanuts for NBA players for 1 year would take 20 years to equal for someone making $50,000 per year.

Shaq makes 20 times that per year. Equivalent to $50,000 per year x 400 years. or $100,000 per year for 200 years. or $54,794 per day or $2,283 per hour 24/7

Knowwhatimsayin makes more than $46,500 each day.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Even if Dragic comes, there is a need for a pg.

The only one left that looks interesting to me is Jason Williams. Would Porter put up with a player like him?

 

[Mainstreet]

Even if Dragic comes, there is a need for a pg.

The only one left that looks interesting to me is Jason Williams. Would Porter put up with a player like him?

I wouldn't argue the Suns need to add a veteran PG. They have really needed a backup PG for the past four years. However, if the Suns have to choose between a veteran PG or Dragic, I'd choose Dragic especially looking to the future. The Suns would have all season to groom him and perhaps Strawberry might help as well. I do not want to chance losing Dragic long term to a European team.

Of course in a perfect world I would like to add a veteran PG like Jason Williams to the mix and have Dragic too. Sadly, I think money will play a factor.

 

[Irish]

This might be the first Suns team in this decade where more than 8 guys play more than 800 minutes. I expect there may be a lot more guys getting minutes each game and fewer games of 8 played and 4 DNP.

D'Antoni did not believe in using pure role players. He'd just switch around the same 7 or 8 guys. This team will have guys who can be used in situations.

Barnes - High energy guy from the three who can shoot the three. If the team is behind and needs to press and shoot, he could be very valuable.

Tucker - Athletic SG who can score and play defense. Lacks the three point range and raw speed of Barbosa, but has more size and defense.

Strawberry - Defensive stopper who can run the offense in a pinch.

Diaw - Has similar skills to those of Hill at SF as a mid range shooter and passer. Not as good at going to the basket but better posting up. He's also capable of being a high post center who can beat most bigs off the dribble. Capable defender against smallish bigs and the bigger SF's.

Barbosa - Extremely fast going down the court on the dribble and very good catch and shoot three point shooter. Very good as a cutter. Brilliant instant offensive threat.

Lopez - Looks to be the primary inside guy off the bench. Very tall and fairly quick defender. Situations where he'd be most importance is for his shot blocking and quickness in stopping the pick and roll. His ability to tip in shots will be important to support guys like Barbosa, Hill, Tucker, and Barnes when they go to the basket.

Skinner - Brian fell out of the rotation after Shaq was acquired. He's a defensive specialist who can run, rebound, and make put backs. He's being targeted as a possible replacement for Shaq if he gets injured.

 

[mojorizen7]

I would actually prefer......

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1st Unit

NASH
BARBOSA
BARNES
STAT
SHAQ
I would like to see Barbosa play alongside Nash more to keep his decision making to a minimum and let him spot up & do his thing from the perimeter or create during the fast break. If Barbs can show any defensive improvement this summer & with Barnes starting the defense could be adequate despite Nash.
Also ,assuming Porter is going to go to the post up game w/STAT/SHAQ i like having 3 guys on the floor who can hit the 3pt shot as well as slash.

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2nd Unit

(PG)/DJ
BELL
HILL
DIAW
LOPEZ
The Dragic/FA PG situation is still in question but Nash starts obviously. I really like having veterans come off the bench ala J.Stackhouse so having BELL & HILL leading the 2nd unit would be ideal IMO. You can run the offense thru DIAW much like the 1st unit but when the offense begins to break down you've got Grant Hill who can create something as well as a legit 3 pt threat in BELL.
Lopez would only be asked to hustle,defend & rebound....If he gets into serious foul trouble(which is prob gonna happen often)you can either go small with DIAW at the 5 or go deeper into the bench w/a SKINNER.

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Reserves

TUCKER
SKINNER
I prefer SKINNER over MARKS but i think most of us do...however if LOPEZ developes quickly it may be better to have MARKS' ability to produce some offense over SKINNERS more defensive presence.
I'd give TUCKER 7-8 minutes a night.
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I just think that HILL would be willing to be the "captain" of the 2nd unit if asked to do so. I ljust like the mix of vet's and young legs on the floor at once.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

I would actually prefer......

1st Unit

NASH
BARBOSA
BARNES
STAT
SHAQ

That would be my preferred starting lineup as well. Hill's outside shooting makes it harder for Shaq and Amare to work.

 

[elindholm]

I'm excited about the Barnes signing, but no way is he a starter on a good team. I don't know where everyone came up with this idea that he's a viable outside shooter. He'll help and does several things well, but outside shooting is not one of them.

 

[hsandhu]

Does anyone know what happened to barnes last year? The only time I consistently saw him was w/ gs two years ago in the playoffs.

That barnes is good enough to start on a good team. Not only did he play great but had huge balls as well. I remember posting during one of the dallas games where did all this come from?

 

[mojorizen7]

I'm excited about the Barnes signing, but no way is he a starter on a good team. I don't know where everyone came up with this idea that he's a viable outside shooter. He'll help and does several things well, but outside shooting is not one of them.

I'm of the opinion that you shouldn't put all your best eggs in one basket necessarily(starting lineup).
I don't like the idea of having a bench unit consisting of a rookie big man(Lopez),a one dimensional speed guy(Barbosa),an unproven combo guard(DJ),a new addition(Barnes),and Diaw.
I like the balance that you get with my scenario.
Why can't Barnes start here? If Barbosa/Bell can start then Barnes can too. I believe his time has come but thats just me....

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns cannot ignore the backup PG position if Dragic does not make it over. DJ has not proven that he is capable of playing the PG position (at least at this stage in his career) and LB is a smaller SG. The PG position cannot continually be ignored like previous seasons and hope something magically good happens.

Everyone knows what happens when Nash goes to the bench without a capable backup.

 

[mojorizen7]

The Suns cannot ignore the backup PG position if Dragic does not make it over. DJ has not proven that he is capable of playing the PG position (at least at this stage in his career) and LB is a smaller SG. The PG position cannot continually be ignored like previous seasons and hope something magically good happens.

Everyone knows what happens when Nash goes to the bench without a capable backup.

I agree completely. However, if the SUNS are unable to get that veteran backup PG wouldn't you rather have Hill,Bell and Diaw on the floor WITH DJ when Nash sits rather than Barbosa?

 

[Mainstreet]

I agree completely. However, if the SUNS are unable to get that veteran backup PG wouldn't you rather have Hill,Bell and Diaw on the floor WITH DJ when Nash sits rather than Barbosa?

I really don't think it will matter much if the Suns do not have a capable backup PG to run the offense. If I have learned one thing over the past several years this is it. It is Kerr's job to get it done. Other teams can get backup PGs. So can the Suns. It may take a trade or biting the bullet on some LT but there is no escaping reality if the Suns want to be contenders.

 

[mojorizen7]

Well we can agree that DJ isn't the answer at the backup PG.
However i do think it's very important who you put on the floor with him coming off the bench and Barbosa isn't that guy.

 

[overseascardfan]

Quich question for anyone in the know. I saw on the FSN website that the Knicks are without a 1st rounder next year and the article mentioned it was involved in the Marbury trade. So does that mean we have 2 first rounders next year as our '08 and '10 went to SEA in the KT giveaway, right.

 

[Irish]

Quich question for anyone in the know. I saw on the FSN website that the Knicks are without a 1st rounder next year and the article mentioned it was involved in the Marbury trade. So does that mean we have 2 first rounders next year as our '08 and '10 went to SEA in the KT giveaway, right.

Another sore subject. They went in the salary dump of Googs.

 

[scXfreakX]

I think if we can re-sign Skinner and a backup PG, it will be a solid offseason. Like the signing of Barnes. Not sure if I want him to start. Would like Hill or Diaw to start. Although Diaw at the 4 backing Amare is preferred.

 

[elindholm]

I'm of the opinion that you shouldn't put all your best eggs in one basket necessarily(starting lineup).
I don't like the idea of having a bench unit consisting of a rookie big man(Lopez),a one dimensional speed guy(Barbosa),an unproven combo guard(DJ),a new addition(Barnes),and Diaw.

Yes, but you almost never have five bench players on the floor at once, or even four. The true rotation goes only eight or nine deep.

Why can't Barnes start here? If Barbosa/Bell can start then Barnes can too.

Barbosa and Bell are both much better than Barnes.

 

[Irish]

Barbosa and Bell are both much better than Barnes.

I agree. The only place where Barnes is superior to Bell is in rebounding and getting to the basket. Bell has become a very good shooter and is a better defender.

Leandro is a classic "instant offense" guy who can get by almost every defneder in the NBA and is a very good three point shooter. I expect Barnes is a better defender (hardly surprising); but Leandro is a major threat.

In any case, Barnes looks like a guy who can give energy off the bench and is a streaky three point shooter who can win some games for us.

 

[mojorizen7]

Dirty Socks:Just some guy's
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[Mainstreet]

Here is an interesting tidbit from a Jerry Brown article from the East Valley Tribune dated July 23rd, 2008.

BONUS SHOTS: Kerr said because Barnes can play so many positions, the Suns now have the luxury of using their 13th and final roster spot on any type of player instead of a backup post player as assumed. If Goran Dragic winds up in Phoenix this season, that spot will almost certainly be used on a veteran with point guard experience.…

See link:http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/121419

So maybe the Suns might look for a veteran PG or even a combo guard with PG skills even if Dragic comes over. I like this flexibility. Perhaps Nash, Dragic and a player like Cassell (or whoever fits the bill). I like. Perhaps even Jason Williams if he is still available.

 

[Irish]

I'm not much of a Jason Williams fan. The term "bad decision maker" follows him like a dark cloud.

Cassell had some bizarre stats last season.

Clippers 38 games and 25.7 minutes per - 12.8 ppg, 45.5% and 25.9% for three plus 4.7 assists per game.

Celtics 17 games and 17.6 minutes per - 7.6 ppg 38.5% and 40.9% for three and 2.1 assists per game.

Playoffs 21 games and 12.6 minutes per - 4.5 ppg 33.3% and 21.4% for three and 1.2 assists per game.

Except for shooting three pointers, everything else in his game went down when he went to the Celtics. I have no idea why.

 

[BC867]

Cassell had some bizarre stats last season.

Clippers 38 games and 25.7 minutes per - 12.8 ppg, 45.5% and 25.9% for three plus 4.7 assists per game.

Celtics 17 games and 17.6 minutes per - 7.6 ppg 38.5% and 40.9% for three and 2.1 assists per game.

Playoffs 21 games and 12.6 minutes per - 4.5 ppg 33.3% and 21.4% for three and 1.2 assists per game.

Except for shooting three pointers, everything else in his game went down when he went to the Celtics. I have no idea why.

Because a mediocre player does better on a mediocre team than on a Championship caliber team.

Decades ago, Bob MacAdoo was the NBA scoring leader three years in a row with the Buffalo Braves (now the Clippers).

On the Lakers, he was a role player.

Sam Cassell was never a team leader, so he started lower and ended lower, going from the Clippers to the Celtics.