27 isn't exactly young, he is a player in his prime, I wouldn't expect much development. He is the kind of player he is.
He will be in his prime for at least another 5 years or so and I completely disagree he is who he is. His extended playing time with the Suns have already proven he has more room to improve. He is doing things he didn't get a chance to do in Orlando. With experience he will continue to develop.
Gortat isn't a typical example of a player who has started his entire career and you know what he is. Gortat is the opposite. He has had very little playing time and very little wear and tear on his body. He has not even come into his own IMO. He will improve.
Without Nash his offense will likely become much less effective and his value drops. Also right now he is signed for 3 years at a very affordable 7M$ per season that is a valueable contract for the price another reason why his value should be peaking right now.
That is true of every player on this team in this system. The Suns would use a different system without Nash. Gortat, like any other player will have to adjust. Remember that he showed potential under the Magic system and they don't have a Nash. That tells me Gortat can play in other systems.
Having a real center in the NBA is a commodity not something to be taken lightly. Look at how many trades, draft and other moves the Suns have made to get real centers that never panned out.
Gortat is proven and you want to trade him for players that are NOT proven commodities that might not work out? That is ridiculous.
The Suns would be smart to really think this through because Gortat isn't exactly a proven commodity yet either and who knows really how effective he would be without Nash and in a slower pace.
He is not a proven commodity? In what sense? His primary focus on this team was to provide some rebounding and defense. He is absolutely a commodity in that area. His scoring was a bonus and something the Suns hoped he could do.
Even if he becomes a less valuable offensive center, his most valuable traits (playing defense and rebounding) are the most important.
The Suns would be incredibly stupid to give up on a player that improves the team in those two areas considering it's been a Suns weakness....FOREVER.
This makes zero sense. You aboslutely keep Gortat unless your getting a Howard type player in return. PERIOD. Legit Centers are hard to come by in the NBA unless you have not been paying attention.
Anyway my point is even if Gortat is a really good player. He is definately not going to carry us. We need 2-3 years rebuilding. We are probably at least 4-5 years away from being a possible contender at which point Gortat might have left in FA or is not as good a player at 32 years old.
We don't need him to carry us. We need him to be a major part of what we do. Also, the Suns have never waited 4 to 5 years to rebuild. This team will makes moves now versus building through the draft over a 4 to 5 year period. This team doesn't stand pat.
If hypothetically we could probably get top 7 picks for Nash or Gortat
Look at those scenarios..
C- Robin Lopez
PF - Perry Jones
SF - Derrick Williams
SG - Alec Burks
PG - Aaron Brooks
C- Robin Lopez
PF- Channing Frye
SF- Derrick Williams
SG- Harrison Barnes
PG- Brandon Knight
I see a horrible team if Lopez is all you have on your roster to play Center. I see a team that is back to giving up record points in the paint, record rebounds and having zero production at the Center position.
That is also assuming that some of the players you mention above even pan out. Not to mention that everyone has been preaching get away from finesse and offense as this teams focus. This team needs to get tougher in the paint and build around defense. That will never happen without a legit center.
You can't get past Lopez is not starting material. Amazing.
