2014 Suns Free Agency

[KloD]

I wish I could have recorded the Sarver interview at the Suns summer league game tonight. He gave me the impression the Suns were now content to be patient after going after a couple of stars (I guess Lebron and whoever) in free agency. It sounds like the Suns chose not to make other moves. Did anyone catch it or record it. I'd like to hear another take.

I do not share your take on what he said. We did not leave with the same understanding. I'll leave it at that.

 

[Joe Mama]

Unfortunately, that's true. That would have gone for Frye as well.

I'm sorry. You are just wrong. Last year one of those two was our best frontcourt player and we didn't suck at all. If Bledsoe stays healthy all year we are easily in the playoffs probably somewhere in the 5-6 range. I'll say it again. The frontcourt problem with last year's team was not the power forwards. It was the center. You add a good defensive center to last year's team and we are fighting for home record in the Western Conference.

You know why Channing Frye was playing center late in the games last year? Because Alex Len was not close to ready and Miles Plumlee is just not a starting quality center.

I'm not the biggest Monroe fan especially with a max contract, but if we had Channing Frye, signed Monroe, and then re-signed Bledsoe we would be great shape right now. Someone can help me here, but we still would have had money to sign Isaiah Thomas if we wanted I would think.

Joe

 

[Mainstreet]

I didn't get that sense from his interview tonight. I think he was more pleasantly surprised by this team's success last year which "fast forwarded the clock for this team" which led to taking some home run shots this offseason.

I would take this laid back version of Sarver over the foam finger waving fanatic who spent a whole bunch of money on "Childress and company" as you stated any day of the week. I think he's matured enough as a owner to let McDonough create the opportunities for this team to land a big time player and put us in contention for a championship

Hopefully I just suffered a flashback.

Never can be too cautious.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm sorry. You are just wrong. Last year one of those two was our best frontcourt player and we didn't suck at all. If Bledsoe stays healthy all year we are easily in the playoffs probably somewhere in the 5-6 range. I'll say it again. The frontcourt problem with last year's team was not the power forwards. It was the center. You add a good defensive center to last year's team and we are fighting for home record in the Western Conference.

You know why Channing Frye was playing center late in the games last year? Because Alex Len was not close to ready and Miles Plumlee is just not a starting quality center.

I'm not the biggest Monroe fan especially with a max contract, but if we had Channing Frye, signed Monroe, and then re-signed Bledsoe we would be great shape right now. Someone can help me here, but we still would have had money to sign Isaiah Thomas if we wanted I would think.

Joe

If it were all doable, it's hard to argue with your plan. My problem with Frye was the salary. Maybe he proves he is worth it after all. I'm giving McDonough the benefit of the doubt at he moment. I hope he has control of the ship.

 

[Covert Rain]

Then you wait for the right opportunity but stay aggressive. Never spend just to spend like Sarver did with Childress and company. However, Sarver was too laid back tonight for my comfort. I hope the Suns continue to look at depth FCs that do not hurt the Suns long term.

Exactly. I got the well gee shucks we gave it the good old college try....oh well next time vibe. It just didn't sit well with me. Maybe that's how he just came off but not his intention at all. Let's hope so I would have just like to hear him say something to the effect we are not satisfied and still going to figure a way to get guys in here....or something to that effect.

What good does it do to "go for" the big name free agents if you never get one? This offseason was the once big chance the Suns had to make a drastic difference in the endless crappy mediocrity they've made us suffer through for years. They cleared the stars out, they had the cap room, they were supposed to lose last year but couldn't get that right, and once again were 9th in conference, just ****ty enough to miss the playoffs and just stupid enough to get the last lottery pick.

Now we have.......nothing. We lost Frye, we resigned Tucker and that's it. Maybe we'll grossly overpay to keep Bledsoe just to say we did something. We need a frontline scorer in the worst way. Plumlee can rebound and defend a little. Tucker can defend and score once in a while. We need a forward who is a go to offensive machine. That, in combo with the ball handling guards, is what will take this team from so so to someone. Lebron would have been perfect, but he missed his Mommy. Melo even would have been perfect. People say he's a black hole, all he does is score. I say, hallelujah. Right now we have.....nothing. A bunch of point guards with no one to dish the ball to. If Markeiff Morris is your best frontcourt player, you suck. We've got room for two max players. Great. Who's left who deserves that? Even flippin Kevin Love is going to go to Cleveland.

Well we definitely can't spend cap to spend it but this is exactly what I have been saying and some Sarver defenders here didn't like it. I say give him credit for changing the FO...give him credit for not wasting cap. However, his inability to bring major FA in from the outside when we have major cap space is disturbing. This is the second time we have had enough cap space for two max players and twice we have struck out.

We don't draft high enough for a shot at a franchise changing player, Sarver can't attract a franchise level player for whatever reason which only leaves trades to truly get us back in contention.

Let's hope our GM has some moves up his sleeve because outside of trades I don't see how anybody can see anything besides continued mediocrity and early playoff exits. I have to believe the long term plan is to stockpile assets for trades.

 

[hcsilla]

I
You know why Channing Frye was playing center late in the games last year?

The problem wasn't him playing center. It was doing it poorly.

Post All-Star Frye had 9 PPG on 40% FG and 31% 3P.

I'm not the biggest Monroe fan especially with a max contract, but if we had Channing Frye, signed Monroe, and then re-signed Bledsoe we would be great shape right now. Someone can help me here, but we still would have had money to sign Isaiah Thomas if we wanted I would think.
Joe

Yes, but after that we would have given up all future flexibility by massively overpaying Frye and Monroe.

It would have resembled summer of 2010.

 

[Mainstreet]

Exactly. I got the well gee shucks we gave it the good old college try....oh well next time vibe. It just didn't sit well with me. Maybe that's how he just came off but not his intention at all. Let's hope so I would have just like to hear him say something to the effect we are not satisfied and still going to figure a way to get guys in here....or something to that effect.

You summarized my feelings well. Hopefully we are both wrong.

 

[Joe Mama]

The problem wasn't him playing center. It was doing it poorly.

Post All-Star Frye had 9 PPG on 40% FG and 31% 3P.



Yes, but after that we would have given up all future flexibility by massively overpaying Frye and Monroe.

It would have resembled summer of 2010.

I've already said I think Channing Frye may have hit the wall later in the year. He did miss the entire previous season with his heart problem. I also think the still was doing the most important part of his job as a stretch 4 which is pull his defender out of the paint. I know there were claims that his defenders were staying in the paint and leaving him wide open on the perimeter. I would love a couple of examples of that because I really don't remember that happening… at least not with any frequency.

I mean I think that is a team that would be right there knocking. We would also have young, developing players and a handful of draft picks. Besides, the point is that we would have Channing Frye and Morris as our power forwards and we would not suck like BC says. Even without Monroe we didn't suck last year with those guys as our power forwards.

Anyways, I'm calling it a night. Done arguing with people about Channing Frye.

Have a great night,
Joe

 

[desertdawg]

I've already said I think Channing Frye may have hit the wall later in the year. He did miss the entire previous season with his heart problem. I also think the still was doing the most important part of his job as a stretch 4 which is pull his defender out of the paint. I know there were claims that his defenders were staying in the paint and leaving him wide open on the perimeter. I would love a couple of examples of that because I really don't remember that happening… at least not with any frequency.

I mean I think that is a team that would be right there knocking. We would also have young, developing players and a handful of draft picks. Besides, the point is that we would have Channing Frye and Morris as our power forwards and we would not suck like BC says. Even without Monroe we didn't suck last year with those guys as our power forwards.

Anyways, I'm calling it a night. Done arguing with people about Channing Frye.

Have a great night,
Joe

I also love the way Channing can disrupt passing lanes. His length, shot, and ability does give him that hybrid style he just cashed in on.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I've already said I think Channing Frye may have hit the wall later in the year. He did miss the entire previous season with his heart problem. I also think the still was doing the most important part of his job as a stretch 4 which is pull his defender out of the paint. I know there were claims that his defenders were staying in the paint and leaving him wide open on the perimeter. I would love a couple of examples of that because I really don't remember that happening… at least not with any frequency.

I mean I think that is a team that would be right there knocking. We would also have young, developing players and a handful of draft picks. Besides, the point is that we would have Channing Frye and Morris as our power forwards and we would not suck like BC says. Even without Monroe we didn't suck last year with those guys as our power forwards.

Anyways, I'm calling it a night. Done arguing with people about Channing Frye.

Have a great night,
Joe

I can give you one example and to the best of my knowledge, it was the only time it happened other than the occasional missed assignment. Mike D had his big guys stay home and the Lakers, who couldn't beat anybody, destroyed us as a result.

Steve

 

[Errntknght]

I'm not disputing what Joe said about Frye - this year he was a plus for the team. But I do remember the Lakers game Steve talked about and burned into my mind is the playoff series against the Lakers three years back when Frye bricked 3 after 3 - he went something like 1 for 23 for the series. I would just hate to have to depend on him in the playoffs or down the stretch. I think its likely the team will suffer in the short run for his absence but I think letting him walk was the right long term move.

The pundits who make the team rankings agree that we'll miss him badly - we finished with about the thirteenth best record last year and they have us ranked 20th for next season. Of course we might not resign Bledsoe but that wasn't mentioned - just the loss of Frye.

Dammit all, I wish I was more hyped about Monroe. I've been thinking that he might well not want to even come here to play PF but what if we brought him in to play center and brought in, say, Ed Davis at PF. Brought them both in on three year contracts, Monroe for 48 mil(what appears it will take) and Davis for 12, totals. We'd figure to be much better than last year and should breeze into the playoffs. The riskiest contract would be Monroe (except for Bledsoe) but if he doesn't go in the crapper everyone would be quite moveable.

 

[Griffin]

As has been reported, the Suns are/were making an attempt to sign Luol Deng, although reportedly Miami is now favorite to land him. So it appears the Suns top free agent targets, after James, were Thomas and Deng.

Or perhaps something has changed in the Suns' summer plans, Suns the news of the Suns pursuing Deng came quite late.

 

[Mainstreet]

As has been reported, the Suns are/were making an attempt to sign Luol Deng, although reportedly Miami is now favorite to land him. So it appears the Suns top free agent targets, after James, were Thomas and Deng.

Or perhaps something has changed in the Suns' summer plans, Suns the news of the Suns pursuing Deng came quite late.

Paul Coro at azcentral in an article dated 7-12-14 does not think signing Deng seems likely as the Suns have the SF position covered well. I agree. See link below.

Also it appears the Morris twins will be our stretch fours.

Reports again surfaced that the Suns are pursuing free agent Luol Deng, but that does not seem likely for a roster that already has P.J. Tucker, Marcus Morris and T.J. Warren at small forward. Gerald Green could also go back to more time at small forward to open up backcourt time for the point guards and Archie Goodwin.

It would be hard for the Suns to replace the stretch big-man element of Channing Frye, who departed for Orlando in free agency. That could happen internally.

"Markieff (Morris) has worked on his range," McDonough said. "Markieff is a good player and scores in a different way than Channing most of the time. We see Marcus Morris in that role some as a stretch four who can spread the floor. He shot a great percentage from 3-point range last year. We think he'll play some small forward and power forward."

I would be more comfortable if the Suns added another FC at least for depth.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...any-point-guards-just-fine-suns-say/12590713/

 

[Griffin]

Paul Coro at azcentral in an article dated 7-12-14 does not think signing Deng seems likely as the Suns have the SF position covered well. I agree.

Which makes you wonder why they would be pursuing him at all, unless the rumors were false. Of course, as we have witnessed, having depth at a certain position does not appear to discourage Suns from purusing other players at the same position should an opportunity arise.

I would be more comfortable if the Suns added another FC at least for depth.

Yes, a big should be a top priority now. Of course, that always seems to be a need on this team.

 

[Chaz]

It may not be the name that many are going for but I suspect they will add someone at least for training camp.

There are always bodies out there for depth especially when they probably will not play many minutes anyway.

I really think we are a year away from adding any significant talent at the power forward position.

 

[FutureSuperstar]

The Suns will definitely sign another big guy, probably 2 actually (a 3rd center and another PF) - The time to do that is not NOW though (Although I do think a trade is coming ...) ... There aren't any significant PF's/C's left that are much better than minimum salary guys - Let other teams go after guys now; the Suns would be better to wait a few weeks when guys who maybe are commanding 5 million now will settle for 2 million ... There's no rush really, unless the Suns want to overpay for a Kris Humphries / Ed Davis

I'm sure the Suns are watching Summer League closely - There's a good chance I think they'll sign a big guy who impresses during SL.

 

[az jam]

IMO the last key signing for the Suns will be Bledsoe. It think it will happen this coming week. I also agree with FuturesSuperStar that the Suns will pick up a player at a bargain after the rush is over for the named players.

 

[Mainstreet]

IMO the last key signing for the Suns will be Bledsoe. It think it will happen this coming week. I also agree with FuturesSuperStar that the Suns will pick up a player at a bargain after the rush is over for the named players.

As I mentioned in another post, I think Bledsoe and agent are looking for a sign and trade. IMO, the Suns are waiting to see if there is something out there that makes sense. Maybe it could be a part of a larger trade like for Kevin Love without the Suns getting Love but some spinoff assets.

 

[az jam]

As I mentioned in another post, I think Bledsoe and agent are looking for a sign and trade. IMO, the Suns are waiting to see if there is something out there that makes sense. Maybe it could be a part of a larger trade like for Kevin Love without the Suns getting Love but some spinoff assets.

You could be right. It just seems so quiet on anything really going on with Bledsoe especially since he is now the top free agent available even if an RFA.

 

[Joe Mama]

I'm not disputing what Joe said about Frye - this year he was a plus for the team. But I do remember the Lakers game Steve talked about and burned into my mind is the playoff series against the Lakers three years back when Frye bricked 3 after 3 - he went something like 1 for 23 for the series. I would just hate to have to depend on him in the playoffs or down the stretch. I think its likely the team will suffer in the short run for his absence but I think letting him walk was the right long term move.

The pundits who make the team rankings agree that we'll miss him badly - we finished with about the thirteenth best record last year and they have us ranked 20th for next season. Of course we might not resign Bledsoe but that wasn't mentioned - just the loss of Frye.

Dammit all, I wish I was more hyped about Monroe. I've been thinking that he might well not want to even come here to play PF but what if we brought him in to play center and brought in, say, Ed Davis at PF. Brought them both in on three year contracts, Monroe for 48 mil(what appears it will take) and Davis for 12, totals. We'd figure to be much better than last year and should breeze into the playoffs. The riskiest contract would be Monroe (except for Bledsoe) but if he doesn't go in the crapper everyone would be quite moveable.

okay, at some point I'll pop up that game and check it out. I didn't remember that the Lakers necessarily made it difficult for us to score. All I remember about that game is Bledsoe constantly chasing Marshall over the screen and the big staying home instead of jumping out to slow him down. Marshall/Kaman absolutely killed us with the pick and roll that game.

Joe

 

[AzStevenCal]

okay, at some point I'll pop up that game and check it out. I didn't remember that the Lakers necessarily made it difficult for us to score. All I remember about that game is Bledsoe constantly chasing Marshall over the screen and the big staying home instead of jumping out to slow him down. Marshall/Kaman absolutely killed us with the pick and roll that game.

Joe

Keep in mind, even if you see what we saw, it was only one game. I hadn't seen anyone else try it before nor did I see it happen again afterwards. And that game came after Frye appeared to hit the wall.

I understand anyone's concerns about Frye's history. He clearly disappeared at some of the worst times for us. But this year's version of Channing seemed to be a different player. He played with far more confidence and even when his shot wasn't falling he contributed in many other ways.

I've come to believe we didn't let Channing go because of money or because we lacked faith in him. Looking at some of the other contracts I think 8 million isn't as out of line as I first thought. We let him go because to do otherwise might have hampered our ability to re-sign Markieff. He was dominant at times and while he still wasn't mister consistency, he was getting closer to it. If Len and Plumlee can nail down the center spot (big if), I think the twins can adequately fill our power forward needs. And hopefully Thomas and Warren can replace that second unit spark that Keef gave us so often.

Steve

 

[Folster]

I wonder if we have any interest in Jason Smith?

 

[sunsfan88]

I've already said I think Channing Frye may have hit the wall later in the year. He did miss the entire previous season with his heart problem. I also think the still was doing the most important part of his job as a stretch 4 which is pull his defender out of the paint. I know there were claims that his defenders were staying in the paint and leaving him wide open on the perimeter. I would love a couple of examples of that because I really don't remember that happening… at least not with any frequency.

I mean I think that is a team that would be right there knocking. We would also have young, developing players and a handful of draft picks. Besides, the point is that we would have Channing Frye and Morris as our power forwards and we would not suck like BC says. Even without Monroe we didn't suck last year with those guys as our power forwards.

Anyways, I'm calling it a night. Done arguing with people about Channing Frye.

Have a great night,
Joe

Rewatch the Lakers game, you'll see more than just a couple of examples.

After the game there was even a tweet that someone said they saw D'Antoni go up to Sarver and say "How you like my defense now" or something to that effect.

 

[Errntknght]

Steve,

If Len and Plumlee can nail down the center spot (big if), I think the twins can adequately fill our power forward needs.

I don't have great concern about Markieff holding his own but Marcus is another story. He's not a bad defender against SFs but PFs will feast on him. His defense at the rim was the worst of any big on the team and that was defending SFs, who don't get close to the hoop nearly as much as PFs. On a positive note his rebounding isn't much worse than Frye's...

 

[leclerc]

And when Kieff draws some stupid fouls... fun time. Going to cost us many games.