2014 Suns Free Agency

[Covert Rain]

I dont think the Suns ever had any interest in Melo.

Do you pay Lebron the max 4yrs/95M$? Hell yes.

Do you pay Melo the max 4yrs/95M$? Hell no, that is a just a bad contract.

There were multiple reports even locally the Suns had legit interest in him. Personally, I think he is a bit of a cancer.....where there is smoke.

 

[Folster]

I am not sure that we ever had interest in Melo and I am not sure Lebron is all that into playing with Melo.

I think Lebron would rather play with Bosh or Love at the 4 than Melo.

'However I doubt Bosh would follow.Lebron to Phoenix if he leaves him in Miami. Bosh might be angry at James and Dallas, Houston, Lakers will try to recruit him.

I think trading for Love even if it involves Dragic is the most plausible step after hopefully getting Lebron.

It would be a shame to give up Dragic because I think he compliments Lebron much better than Bledsoe. Dragic was one man fastbreak and really pushed the ball when Bledsoe was comtent to slow it down. Also Love and his outlet passes would be awesome with Dragic and Lebron. Too bad there wasn't a way to get Love without giving up Dragic.

 

[KloD]

It would be a shame to give up Dragic because I think he compliments Lebron much better than Bledsoe. Dragic was one man fastbreak and really pushed the ball when Bledsoe was comtent to slow it down. Also Love and his outlet passes would be awesome with Dragic and Lebron. Too bad there wasn't a way to get Love without giving up Dragic.

There is. If Lebron were to come to the Suns and Love really wanted to play with him, he just has to refuse to sign an extension anywhere and make sure he hits the market after this season. But, I'm ok with not getting another Max guy to put with Lebron.. I'd prefer to keep Bledsoe and Dragic and add a good PF through some luck in the draft with the Lakers pick next year or through FA. I think it's important to keep the flexibility and not lose what we've already built.

If we could add someone who's value is around the $8-10m range than we'd have a nice starting 5 and be able to add even more to the bench. I realize Dragic is likely to opt out next offseason, but if we had Lebron and crew, he'd also likely resign at a fair price in that $$10-12m range. I don't think we'd have to overpay him to stay with the club. Nothing I've ever seen with regards to Dragic says he has a Joe Johnson ego that has any problem playing 2nd or 3rd fiddle on a very good team. I also believe Bledsoe would be content to be in the $12m range (Lowry deal) if Lebron were to be on the team. Basically adding Lebron I believe would make sure these guys and others would sign with the Suns at fair market value deals and we would not have to really overpay for anyone.

 

[sunsfan88]

Okay, this is your second comment like this. What exactly are you referring to? I was under the impression that there had been no reports and no leaks suggesting he'd be traded. Just speculation from various sources that he should be traded. What did I miss?

Steve

There was a report out that the Suns were exploring sign and trade options for Bledsoe like a week ago.

 

[KloD]

There was a report out that the Suns were exploring sign and trade options for Bledsoe like a week ago.

There was one rumor that both the Suns and Sac denied were true. Can you show us another rumor that had us trading Bledsoe? Remember, Bledsoe would have to want to go to that team or he doesn't sign a contract.

 

[KloD]

There were multiple reports even locally the Suns had legit interest in him. Personally, I think he is a bit of a cancer.....where there is smoke.

There was the report that the Suns wanted to sell coming here and adding Melo too if that were his preference. Which says they would bring him here if that was what Lebron wanted. What other report supports the Suns wanting Melo? I've seen nothing that suggests they even asked for a sit down.

 

[Mainstreet]

I dont think the Suns ever had any interest in Melo.

Do you pay Lebron the max 4yrs/95M$? Hell yes.

Do you pay Melo the max 4yrs/95M$? Hell no, that is a just a bad contract.

The Knicks have an offer on the table for Melo of 129 million over 5 years. He should grab that offer.

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/11173392/new-york-knicks-meet-carmelo-anthony-la

 

[AzStevenCal]

There was a report out that the Suns were exploring sign and trade options for Bledsoe like a week ago.

Report, rumor and speculation are not interchangeable terms no matter how some of us on the internet use them. I have yet to see a "report" that was anything more than baseless speculation.

Steve

 

[KloD]

Then there's that everyone waiting to see what Lebron and Melo do holding up Miami from making any contract offers. They really can't upgrade Miami without knowing how much they have to spend and when they will know Lebron will have had to commit to staying. So his waiting actually works against their efforts. It a funny position to be in (I doubt Miami's front office agrees with me on the humor aspect). They can't let him know what the team will look like without his agreeing to stay. So how on earth do they sell coming back?

 

[Covert Rain]

There was the report that the Suns wanted to sell coming here and adding Melo too if that were his preference. Which says they would bring him here if that was what Lebron wanted. What other report supports the Suns wanting Melo? I've seen nothing that suggests they even asked for a sit down.

Multiple national radio show talked about the Suns targeting multiple big name free agents to improve the team. It may have just been speculation but they were making statements like "the word is". Have no clue what sources they use.

Besides, that is not far fetched. You would have to assume the Suns have a plan B, plan C if they can't get LeBron. They would be stupid not to.

It just appears that Melo may not be possible if he makes up his mind before Lebron does. They would have to sign him this weekend and Lebron may not want to play with him at all. So the Suns can't jump the gun until LeBron says...yeah...I want Melo or I want Bosh.

 

[KloD]

Multiple national radio show talked about the Suns targeting multiple big name free agents to improve the team. It may have just been speculation but they were making statements like "the word is". Have no clue what sources they use.

Besides, that is not far fetched. You would have to assume the Suns have a plan B, plan C if they can't get LeBron. They would be stupid not to.

It just appears that Melo may not be possible if he makes up his mind before Lebron does. They would have to sign him this weekend and Lebron may not want to play with him at all. So the Suns can't jump the gun until LeBron says...yeah...I want Melo or I want Bosh.

I believe they were all making the comments based on the story that we were willing to bring Melo here if that's what Lebron wanted in order to sign here. The rest is speculation on their part. This news runs 24/7 and they all have to have something to talk about. So one report gets spun in many directions. Just as the Bledsoe to Sac report did. One person reports speculation or bad info and the story blows up to have something for all these media figures to talk about or write about. I've seen nothing valid out there that suggests the Suns have interest in Melo other than to please Lebron should that be his desire.

 

[CardsFan88]

ESPN just did a segment showcasing what Cleveland would have to do to get Lebron cap wise.

Cleveland only has 12.9 mill (so less then the 16+ million spotrac had) in cap space, so they speculated they would have to get rid of Anthony Bennett, Alonzo Gee, Tyler Zeller to make it fit. Maybe some other combination, but it's a significant gap. (and of course who knows what they have to give up for someone to take all that on).

If after that they want Love, they *think* they would have to get rid of Varejao and Wiggins also.

If he wants to go back to CLE for his wife, he can, but if he goes back to CLE, they are losing some of that space, and have no room to add anyone else, unless they make trades. They may have to get rid of some future picks just to open the cap space just to get Lebron.

They also talked about us, and were impressed with all the young talent we had, and still had all that cap space. Of course they forgot the extra picks coming to us, which can help sustain, reload, or trade for a guy we might want.

If Lebron wants to ensure the team he goes to can still have flexibility in years 2-4, only the Suns can legitimately do that.

 

[Cheesebeef]

ESPN just did a segment showcasing what Cleveland would have to do to get Lebron cap wise.

Cleveland only has 12.9 mill (so less then the 16+ million spotrac had) in cap space, so they speculated they would have to get rid of Anthony Bennett, Alonzo Gee, Tyler Zeller to make it fit. Maybe some other combination, but it's a significant gap. (and of course who knows what they have to give up for someone to take all that on).

If after that they want Love, they *think* they would have to get rid of Varejao and Wiggins also.

If he wants to go back to CLE for his wife, he can, but if he goes back to CLE, they are losing some of that space, and have no room to add anyone else, unless they make trades. They may have to get rid of some future picks just to open the cap space just to get Lebron.

They also talked about us, and were impressed with all the young talent we had, and still had all that cap space. Of course they forgot the extra picks coming to us, which can help sustain, reload, or trade for a guy we might want.

If Lebron wants to ensure the team he goes to can still have flexibility in years 2-4, only the Suns can legitimately do that.

pure basketball wise, we make the most sense. our roster is younger then everyone else, we have room to not only sign Bron but another player at 15 million (or two players splitting that money) AND we still have multiple first rounders coming to us in the next couple years. with Bron/Bosh, this team is ready to roll for the entire duration of his prime...and even a little after.

 

[Chaplin]

Can I just say that it's amazing this conversation is going on for this long?

 

[KloD]

Can I just say that it's amazing this conversation is going on for this long?

Funny, just a few minutes ago I was thinking it's amazing we are even in the conversation! I realize the media "experts" aren't mentioning us or when they do it's like it's the most remote chance possible, but the Suns have a very possible and realistic chance of pulling this off. That is just mind blowing to me from where this team stood a year ago.

 

[Jay Cardinal]

Funny, just a few minutes ago I was thinking it's amazing we are even in the conversation! I realize the media "experts" aren't mentioning us or when they do it's like it's the most remote chance possible, but the Suns have a very possible and realistic chance of pulling this off. That is just mind blowing to me from where this team stood a year ago.

Personally I think LeBron is intrigued by the Suns as they stand. He has played most of his career playing slowdown, half-court style basketball.

He is such an explosive player, that it has to have at least some appeal to be running up and down the court with Bledsoe, Dragic, Plumlee, Green, etc. Regardless of historical results, it is an absolute ton of fun to play in a fastbreak offense.

I am not sure the Suns would have to sign another max player. Might be best to hold onto some assets and cap space to allow flexibility in the future. If he is looking at future success critically I think this is at least a possibility.

 

[slinslin]

I have no doubt that Lebron would put up career numbers in our system. Ideally he would drop a few pounds though since I think he beefed up even more on the Heat to defend power forwards.

 

[WuRaider]

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[Mainstreet]

Personally I think LeBron is intrigued by the Suns as they stand. He has played most of his career playing slowdown, half-court style basketball.

He is such an explosive player, that it has to have at least some appeal to be running up and down the court with Bledsoe, Dragic, Plumlee, Green, etc. Regardless of historical results, it is an absolute ton of fun to play in a fastbreak offense.

I am not sure the Suns would have to sign another max player. Might be best to hold onto some assets and cap space to allow flexibility in the future. If he is looking at future success critically I think this is at least a possibility.

Good post.

 

[Mainstreet]

Another free agent, Patrick-Patterson, who I thought was worth the look is off the market agreeing to a 3 year, 18M dollar contract with the Raptors. It was a reasonable contract IMO.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/234124/Patrick-Patterson-Re-Signs-With-Raptors-For-Three-Years-$18M

 

[Covert Rain]

pure basketball wise, we make the most sense. our roster is younger then everyone else, we have room to not only sign Bron but another player at 15 million (or two players splitting that money) AND we still have multiple first rounders coming to us in the next couple years. with Bron/Bosh, this team is ready to roll for the entire duration of his prime...and even a little after.

Maybe. I mean it's very feasible IMO for Miami to get another crack should the big 3 return. However, totally agree with you on the other stuff. We make a hell of alot of sense if he is looking to get another Miami type situation going. Meaning that we sign him and still have room to bring in some major pieces and round out the bench with young talent.

 

[Suns_fan69]

Personally I think LeBron is intrigued by the Suns as they stand. He has played most of his career playing slowdown, half-court style basketball.

He is such an explosive player, that it has to have at least some appeal to be running up and down the court with Bledsoe, Dragic, Plumlee, Green, etc. Regardless of historical results, it is an absolute ton of fun to play in a fastbreak offense.

I am not sure the Suns would have to sign another max player. Might be best to hold onto some assets and cap space to allow flexibility in the future. If he is looking at future success critically I think this is at least a possibility.

That's what makes the Love/Bron pairing so enticing. Imagine the fastbreaks this team would have with a lineup of Dragic/Bledsoe/LBJ/Love/Plum. Of course, it's likely we'd have to give up Dragic + other major pieces to have a shot at landing Love but it's still nice to dream about.

Another factor in the Lebron saga is the vaunted medical staff with Phoenix. If he's looking long term, this should factor in the decision making.

 

[sunsfan88]

There was one rumor that both the Suns and Sac denied were true. Can you show us another rumor that had us trading Bledsoe? Remember, Bledsoe would have to want to go to that team or he doesn't sign a contract.

Report, rumor and speculation are not interchangeable terms no matter how some of us on the internet use them. I have yet to see a "report" that was anything more than baseless speculation.

Steve

Jude LaCava @judefox10
Suns exploring trade value of EB post July1st/As part of a sign-and-trade with a team of BLEDSOE's choosing

https://twitter.com/judefox10/status/482219857836920832

 

[AzStevenCal]

https://twitter.com/judefox10/status/482219857836920832

Rumor or speculation. The Suns repeatedly denied it. Everyone wants to be first. This kind of pretend journalism would have put you on unemployment 20 years ago. Now, it gets called a report. Good find though.

Steve

 

[sunsfan88]

Rumor or speculation. The Suns repeatedly denied it. Everyone wants to be first. This kind of pretend journalism would have put you on unemployment 20 years ago. Now, it gets called a report. Good find though.

Steve

Of course they did. It wouldn't make any sense for them to admit it and lose so much leverage. (if they were indeed looking at trading him).