2014-2015 roster as it stands

[Superbone]

I'd rather draft a guy who you know is a good player than a guy who you know is simply a big player. Drafting for size turns into drafting for busts about 90% of the time I feel like. That the league only took 8 straight up "bigs" during the first round tells me that teams are getting smarter, not that the league is changing. Crappy players end up on the bench regardless of draft position.

You'd better be careful with that strategy. You might miss out on a William Bedford or Robert Swift.

 

[KloD]

No sorry, he posted that last part on Instagram (not Twitter) after he deleted his Twitter account. The hashtags in particular were #July1st #FreeAgent #ImOutchea

Yes, and than he posted that it doesn't mean he's leaving, wants to leave, or I'm gone.

 

[95pro]

Suns put in offers for tucker and Bledsoe to retain their rights. Smart moves to keep as players or possible sign and trades.

 

[leclerc]

C Plum Dog/Len/Alec Brown
PF Frye/Keef
SF Tucker/Warren/Marcus
SG Dragic/Green/Goodwin/Christmas
PG Bledsoe/Ennis/Ish

I hope Bledsoe, Tucker and Frye come back. Christmas and Ish as well. We need to do something to get us into the playoffs though.

Come back Tucker!

Flipping Bledsoe for a big like Monroe or Love could do the trick. This would also free up space for Goodwin and Ennis. Hopefully it would make us better so we can compete with the Rockets and the Blazers etc.

 

[elindholm]

Suns put in offers for tucker and Bledsoe to retain their rights. Smart moves to keep as players or possible sign and trades.

It was a no-brainer for Bledsoe, but I don't know what you mean about Tucker. He's unrestricted.

 

[Mainstreet]

It was a no-brainer for Bledsoe, but I don't know what you mean about Tucker. He's unrestricted.

A bit perplexing. Maybe there is something more that we do not know about. Could he be a restricted FA?

Paul Coro @paulcoro · 20h

The #Suns extended qualifying offers to Bledsoe & Tucker to have RFA matching rights. Neither returns for the QOs (Bled $3.7M, Tuck $1.1M).

https://twitter.com/paulcoro

 

[elindholm]

A bit perplexing. Maybe there is something more that we do not know about. Could he be a restricted FA?

I don't see how he could be, given that he came over as a free agent in the first place. I see two possibilities:

1. There is some nuance in the new CBA that I'm not familiar with, in which the cap holds for UFA's have to be retained by qualifying offers under some circumstances,

or

2. Coro is simply wrong.

 

[slinslin]

Tucker is restricted.

 

[Mainstreet]

Tucker is restricted.

Thanks, although I don't think it matters too much if he is offered a fat contract by another team. It would be nice to keep him on a reasonable contract though.

 

[elindholm]

Tucker is restricted.

How? There must be a rule I don't know.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I don't see how he could be, given that he came over as a free agent in the first place. I see two possibilities:

1. There is some nuance in the new CBA that I'm not familiar with, in which the cap holds for UFA's have to be retained by qualifying offers under some circumstances,

or

2. Coro is simply wrong.

Don't you have to extend a qualifying offer (which becomes the cap hold) in order to retain Bird rights. Or is Tucker on some sort of opt out clause?

 

[elindholm]

Don't you have to extend a qualifying offer (which becomes the cap hold) in order to retain Bird rights.

I thought that was only for former first-round picks coming off of their fourth years. But apparently I'm wrong.

 

[95pro]

It was a no-brainer for Bledsoe, but I don't know what you mean about Tucker. He's unrestricted.

http://www.nba.com/suns/news/suns-extend-qualifying-offers-bledsoe-tucker

 

[SunsTzu]

I don't see how he could be, given that he came over as a free agent in the first place. I see two possibilities:

1. There is some nuance in the new CBA that I'm not familiar with, in which the cap holds for UFA's have to be retained by qualifying offers under some circumstances,

or

2. Coro is simply wrong.

It was in the previous CBA as well(but not the one before that). It allows teams to match contracts for their Early Bird free agents. It's known as the Gilbert Arenas rule because the Warriors were unable to match more than the MLE when he was a free agent and lost him.

It's also what allowed for the balloon payment structure for Lin and Asik due to how Early Bird contracts now work with the matching component.

 

[AzStevenCal]

It was in the previous CBA as well(but not the one before that). It allows teams to match contracts for their Early Bird free agents. It's known as the Gilbert Arenas rule because the Warriors were unable to match more than the MLE when he was a free agent and lost him.

It's also what allowed for the balloon payment structure for Lin and Asik due to how Early Bird contracts now work with the matching component.

Thanks for the explanation.

Steve

 

[slinslin]

Yes I believe some team could in theory sign Tucker with that poison pill in his contract.

 

[SunsTzu]

Yes I believe some team could in theory sign Tucker with that poison pill in his contract.

Only if they sign him to a deal greater than the MLE Which seems highly unlikely, and if he does get that kind of deal there is no chance he'll be back.

 

[BC867]

C Plum Dog/Len
PF Frye/Keef
SF Tucker
SG Dragic/Green/Goodwin/Christmas
PG Bledsoe

So you're proposing the same ol'/same ol'.

When you overachieve while you're under the radar (as the Suns did last season), it is a step backward to not take a step forward the following season.

I can't believe you are advocating the same two lead Centers (who don't finish games), the same two lead Power Forwards, the same lead Small Forward, the same four Shooting Guards and the same lead Point Guard. In its entirety.

But then, the Suns FO didn't make headlines in the draft, either.

Hopefully, we won't be saying the same thing about free agent signings and trades by the time next season starts.

Nothing personal, leclerc, but I could almost hear you snoring as you posted your hopes for next season.

 

[overseascardfan]

I am just speculating but what I think is happening is PHX is going to end up trading Bledsoe for a PF in a S&T (Greg Monroe for example). Dragic will slide back to the starting PG spot and either Goodwin or Green will start at SG or Green starts at SF. Another possibility is they sign a guy like Gordon Hayward or Evan Turner. The Euro guy they drafted will stay overseas until next year if Dragic opts out and doesn't re-sign with PHX, he could play either guard spot as a back up and Ennis & Goodwin could be the starters if Green leaves. The bench will consist of Len, Morris twins, Warren, Ennis and a couple of spot fillers.

I think the draft was in preparation for after this season in which if Dragic opts out that gives PHX $7M+ more in cap space for FA next year plus another $3.5M if Green doesn't come back.

Also worth noting, a lot of hype was given to the 2014 NBA draft class but 2015 looks to be even better with guys like Jahlil Okafor, Cliff Alexander, Myles Turner, Emmanuel Mudiay, Trey Lyles, Stanley Johnson, Carl Towns, etc. So if PHX ends up with more than the possible 2 1st rounders next year they could be sitting even prettier.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

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.

 

[leclerc]

So you're proposing the same ol'/same ol'.

When you overachieve while you're under the radar (as the Suns did last season), it is a step backward to not take a step forward the following season.

Hopefully, we won't be saying the same thing about free agent signings and trades by the time next season starts.

Nothing personal, leclerc, but I could almost hear you snoring as you posted your hopes for next season.

LOL. Well the thread title is "the roster as it stands"

I would like to get something for Bledsoe so that's why included him. I also feel Frye is important for our style and success. I don't think Warren is good enough to start and I like what Tucker brings to the team. So currently I want them resigned and hopefully McD can pull some moves and land us a star in the front court.

Overachieve was not what we did last year. We played a third of the year without our second best player (okay maybe you're right). Noone knew how good these guys where so we surprised the whole league. This year I think we know we are good and most of the guys will only get better. I think we'll make the playoffs without a trade, but again I hope one is made so we can get into the top 4-5 teams in the league again.

 

[BC867]

LOL. Well the thread title is "the roster as it stands"

I would like to get something for Bledsoe so that's why included him. I also feel Frye is important for our style and success. I don't think Warren is good enough to start and I like what Tucker brings to the team. So currently I want them resigned and hopefully McD can pull some moves and land us a star in the front court.

Overachieve was not what we did last year. We played a third of the year without our second best player (okay maybe you're right). Noone knew how good these guys where so we surprised the whole league. This year I think we know we are good and most of the guys will only get better. I think we'll make the playoffs without a trade, but again I hope one is made so we can get into the top 4-5 teams in the league again.

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

And sign-and-trade Bledsoe in order to afford Dragic's next contract, while clearly making the Suns his team. 3rd team -- all league -- one of the 15 best players in the NBA. It fits.

The element of surprise you referred to is gone. We'll have to be better just to stay even. And even that was not quite good enough to make the playoffs. If Bledsoe's injury was the reason, that's even more reason to not lean on the status quo.

 

[Mainstreet]

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

And sign-and-trade Bledsoe in order to afford Dragic's next contract, while clearly making the Suns his team. 3rd team -- all league -- one of the 15 best players in the NBA. It fits.

The element of surprise you referred to is gone. We'll have to be better just to stay even. And even that was not quite good enough to make the playoffs. If Bledsoe's injury was the reason, that's even more reason to not lean on the status quo.

I do not see the Suns letting Dragic walk nor Dragic wanting to walk unless they sign Bledsoe to a max contract. I'd prefer to keep Dragic and do a sign and trade with Bledsoe if the Suns can get a significant return. Yes, a PF would be nice although I like what Markieff brings to the table. However, the Suns need a stronger frontline.

 

[SirStefan32]

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.

 

[Superbone]

I really believe that Ryan McDonough is going to bring in a strong Power Forward...

That would be the cherry on top to this off-season. Here's hoping.