2014-2015 roster as it stands

[AzStevenCal]

Suns don't have the ability to "not let Dragic walk." Dragic is going to be an unrestricted free agent. As long as Bledsoe is not on the roster, he's not going to leave. He seems like a good kid who really wants to be here.

Now, if he is forced to play second fiddle to Bledsoe again next year, I don't think he will have any interest in coming back.

I didn't see this at all. And Dragic repeatedly talked about how much he loved playing with Bledsoe. You can't always trust what they say in interviews especially with "nice guys" like Goran but he sure seemed sincere to me. What led you to this "second fiddle" conclusion?

Steve

 

[tobiazz]

I really believe that Ryan McDonough is going to bring in a strong Power Forward, to which you referred, in place of Frye.

They want to run more pick and rolls and their most effective PnR combination, by far, was Dragic + Frye. That doesn't mean they won't make changes (I feel like there will be at least one), but don't be too surprised if Frye is back.

 

[Chaplin]

I didn't see this at all. And Dragic repeatedly talked about how much he loved playing with Bledsoe. You can't always trust what they say in interviews especially with "nice guys" like Goran but he sure seemed sincere to me. What led you to this "second fiddle" conclusion?

Steve

Yeah, that confused me as well. Neither Bledsoe nor Dragic were ever second fiddles when playing together.

 

[BC867]

I didn't see this at all. And Dragic repeatedly talked about how much he loved playing with Bledsoe. You can't always trust what they say in interviews especially with "nice guys" like Goran but he sure seemed sincere to me. What led you to this "second fiddle" conclusion?

Steve

For example, sharing the lead Point Guard role with Bledsoe and moving to Shooting Guard when they are both on the floor.

Plus, sharing what he has earned, namely All Star consideration, if they are both our Point Guards. Dragic was named one of the best 15 players in the NBA (3rd team) and he'd be taking a step back.

And, lastly, taking a back seat to Bledsoe's next contract when it is his turn to be compensated properly.

You're right! If Goran said he loved playing with Bledsoe, it might just be diplomacy.

 

[AzStevenCal]

For example, sharing the lead Point Guard role with Bledsoe and moving to Shooting Guard when they are both on the floor.

Plus, sharing what he has earned, namely All Star consideration, if they are both our Point Guards. Dragic was named one of the best 15 players in the NBA (3rd team) and he'd be taking a step back.

And, lastly, taking a back seat to Bledsoe's next contract when it is his turn to be compensated properly.

You're right! If Goran said he loved playing with Bledsoe, it might just be diplomacy.

He talked about how much easier it was to play alongside Eric and how he loved knowing they couldn't double him when Bledsoe was there. His face lit up. Seriously. I don't think it was diplomacy. Eric said similar things but I can't read Eric. He might be plotting to overthrow the world's leaders for all I can tell. But Goran, he's pretty easy to read. He likes Eric and he likes playing next to him.

Steve

 

[Covert Rain]

He talked about how much easier it was to play alongside Eric and how he loved knowing they couldn't double him when Bledsoe was there. His face lit up. Seriously. I don't think it was diplomacy. Eric said similar things but I can't read Eric. He might be plotting to overthrow the world's leaders for all I can tell. But Goran, he's pretty easy to read. He likes Eric and he likes playing next to him.

Steve

I am with you two. I never took it as him feeling like anything other than it helped his game to have both out there.

 

[Joe Mama]

Unless we get a hell of an offer, not sure how we trade Bledsoe. We were quite clearly a much better player when he was on the court. I'm leery of paying him a max deal, but don't really know what other option we have.

I know I'd be more comfortable paying him a max deal than Monroe.

As long as the medical staff doesn't have major concerns about Bledsoe's knees I agree. I would not give Monroe a maximum deal and I really don't have much interest in him at all.

I keep going back and forth on Bledsoe. Even though I lost some faith in our medical staff first signing off on Eric Gordon I would have to trust their judgment here. If we let him walk I'm almost certain it will be because of uncertainty regarding his health. Although some people on this message board tend to get stuck in their ways about what players should look like and play like at each position general managers/coaches have evolved. I think Goran Dragic and Bledsoe complement each other very well, and I would love to see them play together again next season.

They want to run more pick and rolls and their most effective PnR combination, by far, was Dragic + Frye. That doesn't mean they won't make changes (I feel like there will be at least one), but don't be too surprised if Frye is back.

this is where I wouldn't mind seeing Ed Davis signed to a reasonable contract. He's very good at rolling to the basket and finishing and also defending the pick and roll. I just don't want to see he and Plumlee on the court together since neither of them has an offensive game outside of 10 feet from the basket.

He talked about how much easier it was to play alongside Eric and how he loved knowing they couldn't double him when Bledsoe was there. His face lit up. Seriously. I don't think it was diplomacy. Eric said similar things but I can't read Eric. He might be plotting to overthrow the world's leaders for all I can tell. But Goran, he's pretty easy to read. He likes Eric and he likes playing next to him.

Steve

yeah, I've seen the same thing from Goran Dragic. I've also seen an interview with Eric Bledsoe after a game I believe where he talked about how he really likes playing with this team and they just want to win and don't care as much about getting enough touches. I just don't think we can take anything any of the staff, management, or players have said and assume it's a firm indicator of what's going to happen.

Joe

 

[Folster]

PG: Dragic, Thomas, Ennis
SG: Green, Goodwin
SF: Tucker, Morris, Warren
PF: Morris,
C: Plumlee, Len

Team Option: Smith, Randolph
RFA's: Bledsoe,
UFA's: Barbosa, Christmas, Kravtsov
Overseas: Bogdanovic, Brown

I could probably pencil in Bledsoe which puts our roster at 12. You gotta think that Ish and Christmas are gonzo for sure now. Hopefully we can find better big man depth besides Randolph and Kravtsov. We need some front court help badly.

 

[leclerc]

Would love to have Christmas as our 12th man again. Team guy, shooter amd decent defender. I'm rooting for him!

Off course we need big man depth more. I'm just being sentimental.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Would love to have Christmas as our 12th man again. Team guy, shooter amd decent defender. I'm rooting for him!

Off course we need big man depth more. I'm just being sentimental.

He didn't help much on the court last season but he was our number one cheerleader. That has to be worth something, maybe not enough if we have a real player that needs that spot but it's rare to go 12 deep.

Steve

 

[Folster]

PG: Dragic, Thomas, Ennis
SG: Green, Goodwin
SF: Tucker, Morris, Warren
PF: Morris, Tolliver
C: Plumlee, Len

That's 12, 13 with Bledsoe.

 

[leclerc]

Has Alec Brown signed overseas? What's his status?

 

[sunsfan88]

Has Alec Brown signed overseas? What's his status?

Isn't he playing on the summer league team?

 

[Phrazbit]

Man, if the Morri don't continue in their development that front line is going to be horrific.

That said... until you've got a core in place I am absolutely a proponent of loading up on talent and assets, regardless of position, and that appears to be the path we're following, and I didnt see many opportunities to get talent up front. Still, good god. If Plumlee plays like he did in the 2nd half of last season we're going to see a ton of career games from opposing front court players.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Man, if the Morri don't continue in their development that front line is going to be horrific.

That said... until you've got a core in place I am absolutely a proponent of loading up on talent and assets, regardless of position, and that appears to be the path we're following, and I didnt see many opportunities to get talent up front. Still, good god. If Plumlee plays like he did in the 2nd half of last season we're going to see a ton of career games from opposing front court players.

Here's to hoping he was just a little worn down due to not being used to the big minutes. He was a pretty darn good rim protector for the first month or two of last season.

 

[slinslin]

Plumlee/Len
Morris/Tolliver/Morris
Tucker/Warren
Dragic/Green/Goodwin
Bledsoe/Thomas/Ennis

Center depth is still a need.

 

[SirStefan32]

Man, if the Morri don't continue in their development that front line is going to be horrific.

That said... until you've got a core in place I am absolutely a proponent of loading up on talent and assets, regardless of position, and that appears to be the path we're following, and I didnt see many opportunities to get talent up front. Still, good god. If Plumlee plays like he did in the 2nd half of last season we're going to see a ton of career games from opposing front court players.

What's really impressive is that the Suns don't have a single bad contract right now.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Plumlee/Len
Morris/Tolliver/Morris
Tucker/Warren
Dragic/Green/Goodwin
Bledsoe/Thomas/Ennis

Center depth is still a need.

With players in multiple useful positions (we really do not have pg's and sg's, they are all just g's)

Plumlee/Len
Morris/Tolliver/Morris/Warren/Tucker
Tucker/Warren/Morris/Green/Goodwin
Dragic/Green/Goodwin
Bledsoe/Thomas/Ennis

All that to say, we need a center. Preferably a f/c because we are thin at pf too. I guess Alec Brown has a chance to make this roster, at least the slot is there.

 

[slinslin]

I don't think we are that thin at PF actually.

We are fine with Markieff as a starter and I think you can get away with small power forwards against the backup PFs in this league.

I mean I expect someone like TJ Warren to really punish the Kris Humphries of this league.

I look at OKC's roster and who really is their backup PF even? Perry Jones or Nick Collison? Clippers - Glen Davis?
Teams don't just have these super backup power forwards. We should be fine as long as Markieff keeps getting better.

I think we need another center because I don't trust Len to play regular minutes or stay healthy.

Call Brooklyn to see if they want to get out of luxury tax nightmare and get Mason Plumlee.

 

[PDXChris]

Call Brooklyn to see if they want to get out of luxury tax nightmare and get Mason Plumlee.

Thier owner used 100 dollar bills to wipe his behind, they don't care about luxuar tax issues.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Thier owner used 100 dollar bills to wipe his behind, they don't care about luxuar tax issues.

The Nets are paying $90 million in LUX TAX alone! That's over and above their regular payroll. I don't care how expensive your toilet paper is, you cannot afford to do that for very long, especially give the results on the court this year.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11196384/brooklyn-nets-pay-record-luxury-tax-salary-cap-set

I think the player the Nets would consider dumping is Brook Lopez. There is a level of temptation there. Could our training staff keep him healthy?

 

[Covert Rain]

The Nets are paying $90 million in LUX TAX alone! That's over and above their regular payroll. I don't care how expensive your toilet paper is, you cannot afford to do that for very long, especially give the results on the court this year.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11196384/brooklyn-nets-pay-record-luxury-tax-salary-cap-set

I think the player the Nets would consider dumping is Brook Lopez. There is a level of temptation there. Could our training staff keep him healthy?

How ironic would it be if the Suns get the Lopez brother they thought was the inferior brother and he comes here and does some good things (provided he was healthy)?

 

[PDXChris]

The Nets are paying $90 million in LUX TAX alone! That's over and above their regular payroll. I don't care how expensive your toilet paper is, you cannot afford to do that for very long, especially give the results on the court this year.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11196384/brooklyn-nets-pay-record-luxury-tax-salary-cap-set

I think the player the Nets would consider dumping is Brook Lopez. There is a level of temptation there. Could our training staff keep him healthy?

You are correct that if they are not winning he will not want to pay it, but he is not going get rid of young players in the process. He is worth $11 billion and that is the money he declares. Rumors are he has a lot more that is not accounted for.

BTW, his Yacht has a pool.

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