Alex Len...LET HIM GO!

[Mainstreet]

I recall a few people thinking we'd have to lump an asset with Thomas just to be rid of him.

I don't remember this. IT was on a low salary contract and a steal for a trade.

 

[Chaplin]

It's his job to know that. He's supposed to use all the data and he fact that he sees IT in person at the practice gym to see his work ethic and determine how much he can advance his game.

That's like saying OKC wasnt dumb for trading away Harden since Harden wasn't an All Star with OKC during that time.

Except there was no way to know whether Harden would have become the player he is now had he stayed with OKC. Hindsight is 20/20 and is a convenient way to try to make yourself look smart.

At the time, IT was generally a good player, but an All Star? In the West? Come on now. It would have been nice to keep him, but he was a problem at the time. His ability to be a superstar on the Suns has nothing to do with the trade itself and what he brought back for us.

 

[sunsfan88]

Except there was no way to know whether Harden would have become the player he is now had he stayed with OKC. Hindsight is 20/20 and is a convenient way to try to make yourself look smart.

At the time, IT was generally a good player, but an All Star? In the West? Come on now. It would have been nice to keep him, but he was a problem at the time. His ability to be a superstar on the Suns has nothing to do with the trade itself and what he brought back for us.

That's not what I'm trying to do. Let me actually say that I supported trading IT. I thought that if we went back to just Dragic/Bledsoe, we could recreate or build on the success from the 48 win team with just them 2.

Then again, I'm not an NBA GM. My life isn't NBA basketball and I don't put food on the table for my family by making smart NBA decisions and knowing which players will breakout and which players won't.

Sure McDonough's human so let's say he made a mistake. But that doesn't excuse him from the criticism even if it was a mistake. It's his job to know if IT would break into a superstar later or not.

And quite frankly, even today despite IT turning into a superstar, I don't hate the IT trade as much as I hate the Knight trade. If Ryan just traded Dragic & IT and stayed PAT, this team would be in much better position.

Our +/- without Knight on the floor ranks with some of the best teams in the league so imagine STILL having the Lakers pick while also competing for homecourt in the playoffs right now because of how much the team is without Knight.

 

[Phrazbit]

I don't remember this. IT was on a low salary contract and a steal for a trade.

Someone else already bumped a thread that brought up much of what I was referring to. I agree, he was on a bargain of a contract, much of the board didn't see it that way. There were a lot of posters who, prior to the trade, thought he was the biggest problem on the roster and a cancer and that we'd be lucky to get anything for him.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Someone else already bumped a thread that brought up much of what I was referring to. I agree, he was on a bargain of a contract, much of the board didn't see it that way. There were a lot of posters who, prior to the trade, thought he was the biggest problem on the roster and a cancer and that we'd be lucky to get anything for him.

People wanted him gone, board posters hardly peeped about the trade. They did not care about IT. All they cared about was the Lakers pick.

 

[Phrazbit]

People wanted him gone, board posters hardly peeped about the trade. They did not care about IT. All they cared about was the Lakers pick.

Yeah, the Knight (turned out terrible) and Dragic (IMO was great for us) trade debates made the Thomas one get lost in the noise.

 

[pokerface]

This thread proves Len should go..Ppl would rather talk about Knight than Letdown Len.

 

[JCSunsfan]

This thread proves Len should go..Ppl would rather talk about Knight than Letdown Len.

Touche

It really depends on the money, doesn't it. I would not be surprised to see Len part of a trade here at the deadline. If the Suns have decided they do not want to pay what they believe the market will be, it makes sense to move him. From another team's perspective, if they really want him, trading for him now puts them in complete control. In fact, actively shopping Len right now would be a good way of determining what the market will actually be for him. If no one is interested, we probably will be able to sign him relatively cheaply.

This is the same circumstance in which the Suns traded for Bledsoe and Knight.

 

[pokerface]

Touche

It really depends on the money, doesn't it. I would not be surprised to see Len part of a trade here at the deadline. If the Suns have decided they do not want to pay what they believe the market will be, it makes sense to move him. From another team's perspective, if they really want him, trading for him now puts them in complete control. In fact, actively shopping Len right now would be a good way of determining what the market will actually be for him. If no one is interested, we probably will be able to sign him relatively cheaply.

This is the same circumstance in which the Suns traded for Bledsoe and Knight.

I agree. It's about money mostly with Len and the Suns are playing it right...Let the market decide and see if they want to match. Or shop him now like you said... Maybe package him and ship him out. He's a chip we have to play... Which is better than nothing!

 

[AzStevenCal]

We need to start Len the rest of this season whether we trade Chandler or not. And we need to just let him play through his fouls and if he fouls out, he fouls out. Of course, trading Chandler would be my first choice because that lets us get significant minutes for Williams too.

 

[pokerface]

We need to start Len the rest of this season whether we trade Chandler or not. And we need to just let him play through his fouls and if he fouls out, he fouls out. Of course, trading Chandler would be my first choice because that lets us get significant minutes for Williams too.

I wish I could hit "like" three times because I'm all over that idea. Play the heck out of Len (and Knight). Force them to show their stuff once and for all.

Trade Chandler too...Another good idea.

 

[pokerface]

http://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/phoenix-suns-the-alex-len-dilemma-021617

Interesting read on Len...My original take on Len is still intact. Despite his flashes the only one on the team with a worse plus/minus is Brandon Knight. That plus Lens style of game is not in vogue in today's NBA...He's a dinosaur.

 

[AzStevenCal]

http://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/phoenix-suns-the-alex-len-dilemma-021617

Interesting read on Len...My original take on Len is still intact. Despite his flashes the only one on the team with a worse plus/minus is Brandon Knight. That plus Lens style of game is not in vogue in today's NBA...He's a dinosaur.

I don't think it's all that revealing. He got some starting opportunities early in the season when both Bledsoe and Booker were struggling most nights. He'd started playing better once he got used to starting every night but then he was quickly replaced by Chandler's return. After that start, almost all of his minutes came while playing next to Brandon Knight, probably the worst +/- in the league.

It's tough to say what to do with him but if we don't want him as our longterm starter, we ought to bench him completely and just give Williams those minutes. I think it makes far more sense to trade Chandler and then use the last 24 games to improve our understanding of what we have in Len and Williams but I'm okay with the other approach too. The only thing I'd hate is continuing on as it is.

 

[Mainstreet]

I can't help but think the Suns have already made up their mind about Len unless the Suns are thinking about trading Chandler. If Len can't beat out Chandler at this stage of his career he is likely on the way out. I'm not say the Suns wouldn't resign Len on the cheap but this is unlikely to happen.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I can't help but think the Suns have already made up their mind about Len unless the Suns are thinking about trading Chandler. If Len can't beat out Chandler at this stage of his career he is likely on the way out. I'm not say the Suns wouldn't resign Len on the cheap but this is unlikely to happen.

I think they are being patient.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think they are being patient.

However, what kind of message does that send to Len if another team paints a more rosy picture for his future?

 

[JCSunsfan]

However, what kind of message does that send to Len if another team paints a more rosy picture for his future?

He is restricted. The only way another team is getting Len is to offer him significantly more than the Suns think he is worth.

Len has to beat out Chandler. He has the potential to do so. But his foul rate and mental lapses have kept him from it.

 

[Mainstreet]

He is restricted. The only way another team is getting Len is to offer him significantly more than the Suns think he is worth.

Len has to beat out Chandler. He has the potential to do so. But his foul rate and mental lapses have kept him from it.

There is no question Len is a RFA. However, the Suns should want him to stay in Phoenix by playing him if they want to keep him. If he wants to move on, he may not want to compromise or negotiate on a new contract. Also, there are poison pills that other teams can put in a new contract. Although Len is nowhere near the player Joe Johnson or Goran Dragic were, we have seen what can happen if a player wants out. I would be surprised if another team wants to send a first round pick or other quality assets for him in a trade once he hits free agency.

 

[pokerface]

When things start getting too complicated thats when you let a player walk. He better be awfully cheap to stay but we know that won't be the case because there is always a team more desperate and stupid than ourselves willing to throw crazy money around.

 

[pokerface]

Len just doesn't give enough consistency in multiple areas for my tastes...This is his fourth year and he's had his chance. I don't want us to settle on him unless he's dirt cheap and even then I'm not totally happy about it because I dont want us locked in years with him.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Len just doesn't give enough consistency in multiple areas for my tastes...This is his fourth year and he's had his chance. I don't want us to settle on him unless he's dirt cheap and even then I'm not totally happy about it because I dont want us locked in years with him.

That's a very common complaint about most players when a critical eye is applied. Most of Len's inconsistency comes from foul problems, solve that and you have an above average center IMO.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

That's a very common complaint about most players when a critical eye is applied. Most of Len's inconsistency comes from foul problems, solve that and you have an above average center IMO.

The last thing you want to do is give up too early on a 23 year old because of "inconsistency". I say we wait it out and see what the market sets for him and if it is a number that the Suns feel is worth the gamble of matching, than do it.

 

[pokerface]

That's a very common complaint about most players when a critical eye is applied. Most of Len's inconsistency comes from foul problems, solve that and you have an above average center IMO.

Len is always a riddle that needs to be solved. Maybe he fouls because his reflexes are slower than average or his basketball IQ is lower. How does that get fixed?

 

[AzStevenCal]

Len is always a riddle that needs to be solved. Maybe he fouls because his reflexes are slower than average or his basketball IQ is lower. How does that get fixed?

I don't know how you fix it but I know that it's also a pretty common problem for young big men. His BBIQ is definitely below average, he came to the game late and all too often that shows. And some players just catch on quicker than others, clearly he's been in that second group.

But, low BBIQ or not, he's still not as bad as he's made out to be here. Much of his poor play has to do with being paired with Knight who has successfully dragged down the numbers for a lot of players here.

 

[pokerface]

The last thing you want to do is give up too early on a 23 year old because of "inconsistency". I say we wait it out and see what the market sets for him and if it is a number that the Suns feel is worth the gamble of matching, than do it.

So what...Give him a long contract and hope he fixes himself? I think he's already peaked...The Len you're seeing is the one you're getting..Accept it guys.