2014 Suns Free Agency

[JCSunsfan]

I watch the Suns a lot less than I used to. But I am still a fan of the league, and the Suns are my team, so it is what it is.



I (stupidly) feel some connection to some people on this board. I've been posting for a long time. I have a stronger connection to this board than I do to the Suns specifically.

Ahh. Eric! I didn't know you cared!

 

[elindholm]

Ahh. Eric! I didn't know you cared!

I just said "some" posters. Buzz off.

 

[JS22]

The people that complain about the Suns not making any big moves are the same people that would complain about the Suns overpaying for above average talent. Some people just like to complain.

Me? I like to sit back, trust that the FO has a plan, THEN complain if it doesn't work out. Although I had a LOT less faith in Blanks. McD and Hornacek seem to have a pretty decent idea of what they're doing. So I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

 

[BC867]

It must really suck to be a Suns fan for you. I fail to see why you and some others here bother? Is this really entertaining for you? I'm not trying to be an ass, I probably am, but it isn't my intent. I honestly don't understand what fans such as yourself get out of it?

KloD, your perspective and mine are totally different. I spent the first half of my life in the New Jersey suburbs. With the sweltering, dripping wet summers. And the blizzards of winter. And the constant rain. And gray skies. And, ultimately, a 5-hour per day round-trip commute to work in New York City.

I was a devoted Knicks fan. They were our local team, long before the NY Nets moved from Long Island to New Jersey (and had to sell Dr. J to afford joining the NBA).

Convincing my (former) wife and two young sons to move to Phoenix was a labor of love. Part of that love was embracing everything Phoenix represented. Including the Suns. I even rooted for the Phoenix Giants and I despised the parent New York/San Francisco Giants.

I have loved living in the Valley for decades . . . and the Suns are part of the package. Whether they were known as the "finesse" team of the NBA 45 years ago or the "4 Point Guard small ball" team now, it frustrates me that the team to whom I have given my heart settles for a legacy of having sand kicked in their face every one of its years, one way or the other.

Maybe now you will understand why Suns fans "bother". I mean that seriously.

And, I have to say, it is not fair of you to take personal shots at us from the Pacific Northwest. I hope you now have a better understanding.

Everything Phoenix, pal, it means the world to me!

 

[devilalum]

We need a "Buzzkill" avatar for threads like this.

 

[sunsfan88]

Lance Stephenson Agrees To Three-Year, $27.5M Deal With Hornets


Free agent shooting guard Lance Stephenson has agreed to a three-year, $27.5 million contract with the Charlotte Hornets, a league source told RealGM.

Stephenson met with Michael Jordan, Rich Cho, Steve Clifford and other team officials in Las Vegas on Tuesday night, when the Hornets delivered him a contract offer. Stephenson’s contract will have the annual salary structure of $9 million in Years 1 and 2 and $9.5 million in Year 3, a source said. The third season is a team option.

With the Indiana Pacers, Stephenson blossomed into an effective all-around player and provided an ideal complement to Paul George, Roy Hibbert and David West. His suitors came and went throughout free agency and his dialogue with the Pacers’ front office diminished, leaving an uncertainty about whether their five-year, $44 million deal was still available.

Stephenson heard pitches from the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks early in free agency and held fluctuating conversations with the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls. Stephenson had been in the process of finalizing a possible deal with the Mavericks before the Houston Rockets decided to allow Chandler Parsons to follow through on his offer sheet in Dallas, sources told RealGM.

The Charlotte Observer first reported that Stephenson reached an agreement with the Hornets.

In his meeting with Charlotte, Stephenson became impressed by the organization’s direction and intrigued about a pitch on his offensive role. The Hornets have searched for an infusion of talent and emerged as a viable option once Gordon Hayward remained with the Utah Jazz.

Stephenson, 23, averaged 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Pacers in 2013-14 and his loss damages their ability to recover from a staggering close to the season. He had been part of distracting on-court antics in the playoffs, but had remained productive and had Larry Bird willing to accept a larger role in his growth.

For Stephenson, the Year 1 salary played a major role between the Hornets and Pacers offers, a difference of nearly $1.5 million. Now, he’ll face the challenge of fitting in a fresh locker room and blending within a diverse talent group.

Indiana chose Stephenson with the 40th overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft. In four seasons, he averaged 9.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists.

http://t.co/f2MorTEed9

Headcase and all that's quite a steal for the Hornets. $9M/yr for a guy with his talent.

If he does turn out to be a headcase, then only suffer him for 2 seasons cause 3rd season is a team option.

Looks like Jordan finally figured it out.

I wonder if this will somehow help set the price tag on Bledsoe a little bit.

 

[Covert Rain]

The people that complain about the Suns not making any big moves are the same people that would complain about the Suns overpaying for above average talent. Some people just like to complain.

Me? I like to sit back, trust that the FO has a plan, THEN complain if it doesn't work out. Although I had a LOT less faith in Blanks. McD and Hornacek seem to have a pretty decent idea of what they're doing. So I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

Are you saying Suns fans should cheer making no big moves or overpaying for talent? I could understand your examples if they were things they shouldn't complain about. Seems like those are legit reasons?!?

I agree with you though. Willing to give the FO the benefit of the doubt for now. I still think some of these recent moves possibly point to another move they are trying to make.

 

[Mainstreet]

Are you saying Suns fans should cheer making no big moves or overpaying for talent? I could understand your examples if they were things they shouldn't complain about. Seem like those are legit reasons?!?

I agree with you thought. Willing to give the FO the benefit of the doubt for now. I still think some of these recent moves possibly point to another move they are trying to make.

I do not want the Suns to overpay for players that are not stars, so I am pleased thus far with the signing of Tucker and Tolliver for more than reasonable contracts. Maybe Frye is worth the 32 million the Magic paid him but I am just as happy with Tolliver for the 3.4 million guaranteed money the Suns are obligated. I was especially pleased with the contract the Suns payed Isiah Thomas. What I want to have happen though, if a top player becomes available, then I want the Suns to pay what it takes to get him even if they overpay.

 

[KloD]

KloD, your perspective and mine are totally different. I spent the first half of my life in the New Jersey suburbs. With the sweltering, dripping wet summers. And the blizzards of winter. And the constant rain. And gray skies. And, ultimately, a 5-hour per day round-trip commute to work in New York City.

I was a devoted Knicks fan. They were our local team, long before the NY Nets moved from Long Island to New Jersey (and had to sell Dr. J to afford joining the NBA).

Convincing my (former) wife and two young sons to move to Phoenix was a labor of love. Part of that love was embracing everything Phoenix represented. Including the Suns. I even rooted for the Phoenix Giants and I despised the parent New York/San Francisco Giants.

I have loved living in the Valley for decades . . . and the Suns are part of the package. Whether they were known as the "finesse" team of the NBA 45 years ago or the "4 Point Guard small ball" team now, it frustrates me that the team to whom I have given my heart settles for a legacy of having sand kicked in their face every one of its years, one way or the other.

Maybe now you will understand why Suns fans "bother". I mean that seriously.

And, I have to say, it is not fair of you to take personal shots at us from the Pacific Northwest. I hope you now have a better understanding.

Everything Phoenix, pal, it means the world to me!

I was going to walk away and drop it until I saw your post. So I'll reply and than I am done with it and will never say another word on the issue. Fair?

You just made some outlandish assumptions about me. You don't know me and you know no details of my life other than what is listed under my name, that I am 45 and currently live in Portland. That and now over the past week I've made it clear that I detest complaining. You're right, our perspectives are very different and you've made it clear that perspectives are not the only thing we don't share.

I asked an honest, perhaps personal, but no less valid question and you and others have turned it into something else. I never called anyone out. You interjected yourself and made assumptions all over the place. I made an observation based on what I saw and I was clear that he was welcome to tell me to F off if he felt I overstepped my bounds. He answered honestly of which he had no obligation and was respectful of which I appreciate. In his few words he managed to give me a better understanding, I thank him for that.

I'll leave it with this, I find it ridiculous this notion that yours or anyone else's love or passion for the team is somehow greater than the next persons and therefore others are expected to accept the constant complaining and insults because of this assumed greater level of passion and/or frustration. This idea that if they were as passionate as me they would show their frustration as I do or their not because they don't. That's a false assumption.

 

[3rdside]

Well said sir


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Chaplin]

ESPN says that we are "far apart" in contract negotiations with Bledsoe, according to "sources". Which of course, by sources they mean Bledsoe's agent. One of the most obvious ploys I've ever seen, the agent leaks this "rumor" and makes other teams start thinking we won't match so he gets a larger offer that we match. Either way, Bledsoe wins just by the agent saying that.

 

[elindholm]

I wonder whether the Suns drafted Ennis and signed Thomas partly because they thought it would make them look stronger in the Bledsoe contract negotiations. I'm thinking they might let him go if the price gets beyond their comfort zone.

 

[AzStevenCal]

ESPN says that we are "far apart" in contract negotiations with Bledsoe, according to "sources". Which of course, by sources they mean Bledsoe's agent. One of the most obvious ploys I've ever seen, the agent leaks this "rumor" and makes other teams start thinking we won't match so he gets a larger offer that we match. Either way, Bledsoe wins just by the agent saying that.

We probably should be far apart. I'd rather have Bledsoe than Lowry but I can't see how his agent could justify a contract at or above Kyle's. The small sample size and the injury concerns should keep him to 11 or 12 per at the most IMO. Two months ago I would have expected him to get more but I also expected Lowry and Thomas to get more. I think his range has been established but his agent is probably looking for something closer to Irving money. I don't want to lose him but I don't want to make that mistake. There's dumb and then there's Cleveland dumb. They'll be trying to unload Kyrie within a year or two as soon as Lebron realizes just what he's paired up with.

Steve

 

[Chaplin]

We probably should be far apart. I'd rather have Bledsoe than Lowry but I can't see how his agent could justify a contract at or above Kyle's. The small sample size and the injury concerns should keep him to 11 or 12 per at the most IMO. Two months ago I would have expected him to get more but I also expected Lowry and Thomas to get more. I think his range has been established but his agent is probably looking for something closer to Irving money. I don't want to lose him but I don't want to make that mistake. There's dumb and then there's Cleveland dumb. They'll be trying to unload Kyrie within a year or two as soon as Lebron realizes just what he's paired up with.

Steve

They're hoping for a max offer, that much is obvious. But nobody is biting, mostly because he's simply not worth a max offer. Maybe GMs are starting to wise up about offering ridiculous amounts of money to unproven talent.

Rumor was that our first offer to him was 4/44. Not sure what to make of that offer and why we didn't offer 5 years, but there you go. Certainly comparable to what another team could offer.

 

[Covert Rain]

We probably should be far apart. I'd rather have Bledsoe than Lowry but I can't see how his agent could justify a contract at or above Kyle's. The small sample size and the injury concerns should keep him to 11 or 12 per at the most IMO. Two months ago I would have expected him to get more but I also expected Lowry and Thomas to get more. I think his range has been established but his agent is probably looking for something closer to Irving money. I don't want to lose him but I don't want to make that mistake. There's dumb and then there's Cleveland dumb. They'll be trying to unload Kyrie within a year or two as soon as Lebron realizes just what he's paired up with.

Steve

Good point. Bledoe's health has to have some teams hesitating to throw crazy money at him. The Suns recent guard "build up" could have been for insurance in the event someone offers up crazy money for Bledsoe and they let him walk. You never know in the NBA market and teams do some crazy things but I definitely don't want the Suns to be that crazy team.

 

[SO91]

They're hoping for a max offer, that much is obvious. But nobody is biting, mostly because he's simply not worth a max offer. Maybe GMs are starting to wise up about offering ridiculous amounts of money to unproven talent.

Rumor was that our first offer to him was 4/44. Not sure what to make of that offer and why we didn't offer 5 years, but there you go. Certainly comparable to what another team could offer.

It's the NBA. There will always be dumb GM's throwing around ridiculous contracts. I haven't looked at the rest of the league in about a week or so, but I imagine the dumb GM's blew their load early on with the stupid contracts.

Players have been seeking 2-3 year deals to be able to cash in with the new, much larger cap that is supposedly coming after the TV deal. The increased cap, along with possibly a new CBA is going to make Free Agency in a couple of years a total cluster****.

 

[mojorizen7]

I wish the NBA would completely overhaul the bargaining/contract structure. IMO it sucks.

 

[slinslin]

They're hoping for a max offer, that much is obvious. But nobody is biting, mostly because he's simply not worth a max offer. Maybe GMs are starting to wise up about offering ridiculous amounts of money to unproven talent.

Rumor was that our first offer to him was 4/44. Not sure what to make of that offer and why we didn't offer 5 years, but there you go. Certainly comparable to what another team could offer.

Philly is the only other team out there that could even offer the max. All the other teams have less than 12M$ caproom.

 

[mojorizen7]

Maybe we can coax Rasheed Wallace out of retirement at the age of 39

 

[AzStevenCal]

Maybe we can coax Rasheed Wallace out of retirement at the age of 39

I think I'd call Kareem first. If someone would give him a piggy back ride from end to end he'd probably be our best center ever.

Steve

 

[mojorizen7]

I think I'd call Kareem first. If someone would give him a piggy back ride from end to end he'd probably be our best center ever.

Steve

Nah, Kareem would just clog the lane for our guards. He doesn't fit the system here.

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[AzStevenCal]

Nah, Kareem would just clog the lane for our guards. He doesn't fit the system here.

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He has range on that sky hook but yeah, he might not be able to take it all the way to the arc. But you only really need to pull one of the big men out of the key to make our system work.

Steve

 

[mojorizen7]

He has range on that sky hook but yeah, he might not be able to take it all the way to the arc.

Steve

 

[Mulli]

I think I'd call Kareem first. If someone would give him a piggy back ride from end to end he'd probably be our best center ever.

Steve

Why not Magic Johnson? He played BOTH point guard AND center.

 

[mojorizen7]

Why not Magic Johnson? He played BOTH point guard AND center.

Magic would clog his own lane here. Plus he couldn't stroke the 3ball. Wouldn't work.