Alex Len...LET HIM GO!

[JCSunsfan]

I don't want to belabor the point, but that generalization might apply to a starter who gets demoted and remains in the rotation.

Proposing that Len be dropped from his current starting spot out of the rotation to 3rd Center is not the same. Which is why I said it would be better for the team and him to be traded.

It is difficult to believe that he wouldn't make his displeasure known. Then this predominantly young team (sticking together) would pick up on it. And be another excuse for the Suns failures to take steps forward.

Why ask for trouble?

It happens all the time. Its about being a professional.

 

[JCSunsfan]

He will get a contract but I think he's looking at like 2 years 16 million, no one is going to throw starter's money at him.

There isn't that much money to go around. hoophype doesn't even list him in the top 50 free agents this summer--the top 50. He is just not going to get much money. What does that mean? It means that if he does get signed, it could likely be by a team that has already signed two free agents. Many teams will not have the money to sign one. Mid-level is the best possible scenario for him and I doubt many teams will waste their mid level exception on Len. He could sign for the minimum somewhere.

 

[Errntknght]

Some team that looks at stats will pick him up at a bargain price. There are 39 Cs that have 800+ minutes and rating them per 36 minutes. Len is 8th in rebounding, 23rd scoring, 4th in FTA, 6th in offensive efficiency, blocks 1.5 a game, the group average. He's dead center in TO and only 14th worst in PF. In short, statistically he's an average C.

My guess is that he will leave Phoenix, even if we give him the best offer. We could overwhelm him to get to stay but I don't see that happening.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Some team that looks at stats will pick him up at a bargain price. There are 39 Cs that have 800+ minutes and rating them per 36 minutes. Len is 8th in rebounding, 23rd scoring, 4th in FTA, 6th in offensive efficiency, blocks 1.5 a game, the group average. He's dead center in TO and only 14th worst in PF. In short, statistically he's an average C.

My guess is that he will leave Phoenix, even if we give him the best offer. We could overwhelm him to get to stay but I don't see that happening.

Yeah I think we consider him a bust because of where he was drafted. If he was taken mid first round we would probably be bummed he’s not a great pick but maybe satisfied with what we got.

 

[Carolinacacti]

Looks like he has 20 games to change peoples minds. Go Alex...

 

[pokerface]

If we draft a center we'll forget all about Len. He's only a backup plan to a backup plan.

 

[JCSunsfan]

If we draft a center we'll forget all about Len. He's only a backup plan to a backup plan.

We still have Sauce who is a fine backup. I have a hunch Chandler might retire this summer. So if we draft a center AND signed Len it would be to battle Sauce for the back up role. If someone offers Len a starting slot, he will take it regardless of the money.

 

[95pro]

We still have Sauce who is a fine backup. I have a hunch Chandler might retire this summer. So if we draft a center AND signed Len it would be to battle Sauce for the back up role. If someone offers Len a starting slot, he will take it regardless of the money.

No way Chandler retires with that much left on the table.

 

[JCSunsfan]

No way Chandler retires with that much left on the table.

Sure he does. He just recently had an MRI on his neck. If he can make the case that medically he cannot play, he gets to retire AND get his money. Happens all the time in the NBA. In fact, retiring and leaving money on the table is very rare.

 

[Mainstreet]

Sure he does. He just recently had an MRI on his neck. If he can make the case that medically he cannot play, he gets to retire AND get his money. Happens all the time in the NBA. In fact, retiring and leaving money on the table is very rare.

This may be true but I don't think it is something that would immediately provide the Suns cap relief next season. There are a lot of moving parts.

Here is a link to the Chriss Bosh situation with the Heat.

http://heatzone.blog.palmbeachpost....-now-eligible-to-apply-for-salary-cap-relief/

 

[JCSunsfan]

This may be true but I don't think it is something that would immediately provide the Suns cap relief next season. There are a lot of moving parts.

Here is a link to the Chriss Bosh situation with the Heat.

http://heatzone.blog.palmbeachpost....-now-eligible-to-apply-for-salary-cap-relief/

It would not provide cap relief until maybe half way through the year next year. But it would open up a roster spot. I am pretty sure that Chandler is done.

 

[Mainstreet]

It would not provide cap relief until maybe half way through the year next year. But it would open up a roster spot. I am pretty sure that Chandler is done.

I don't see Chandler voluntarily retiring unless he is medically declared unable to play. Too much money on the table.

 

[Carolinacacti]

Give him 13 mill to be assistant coach.

 

[Bada0Bing]

Yeah I think we consider him a bust because of where he was drafted. If he was taken mid first round we would probably be bummed he’s not a great pick but maybe satisfied with what we got.

I think the only reason he's still on the roster is because of where he was drafted.

People can toss out all the stats they want, but if you watch the games it's obvious he has no hope to contribute on a good team. We all just hope he will some day "get it", which he never will.

 

[Ronin]

scott bordow‏Verified account@sbordow 2m2 minutes ago
Writing Alex Len story, was struck by this quote: "The last few years we’ve had three different coaches, the roster was changing every year. There was never really any consistency. It was like starting over every year."

Might that perception deter free agents from signing here?

 

[Mainstreet]

scott bordow‏Verified account@sbordow 2m2 minutes ago
Writing Alex Len story, was struck by this quote: "The last few years we’ve had three different coaches, the roster was changing every year. There was never really any consistency. It was like starting over every year."

Might that perception deter free agents from signing here?

I do think Len would be a better player today if the Suns had made him their starting center and stuck with him. There were moments I thought Len was starting to turn the corner before the Suns invariably went back to Chandler or Monroe while he was here.

IMO, Len will be a better player with a more consistent coach.

So yes, I think the coaching shuffle might deter some free agents but money does talk to a degree. Only a handful of teams (six or so) have money to spend in free agency with the Suns as one of them.

 

[Hoop Head]

I don't think we'll be big players in free agency this year anyways so I don't think a coaching change will be that much of an issue. We'll probably go after a role player or two, and those sorts of players don't generally hesitate to sign somewhere if the money is right. There's also the possibility we hire a coach who has NBA experience and every coach with NBA experience has ties to certain players that may want to come play for them.

Len feeling like we've started over every year shouldn't be an issue, he's only been in the league for 5 years so far himself. A lot of players at that stage have played for 2 or 3 teams and a few different coaches that have done much better than he has. Giannis has had 3 different coaches in that same time period and he was super raw coming into the league. If Len was capable of stringing together more than 2 quality games back to back then he may have reason to complain but he hasn't. He's incredibly inconsistent and he's in his 5th season. At some point he needs to take responsibility for himself. If he was able to do that then he would have a bigger role right now but he hasn't. Every coach has used him in their rotation and this is the first year he's fallen out of the rotation entirely. He played 2 1/2 years under Hornacek, a year and half under Watson, and almost a full season under Triano now. Each of those coaches were the previous coaches assistant so the coaching staff as a whole hasn't changed all that much. Watson was Hornacek's assistant and Triano was Watson's assistant. He didn't receive an offer last year in free agency and the Suns didn't scare anyone away from signing him to an offer sheet, they said nothing about matching any of his offers. After they signed Alan Williams it was clear that Len's days were numbered and he could have been had by anyone who could get him to sign on the dotted line.

 

[Errntknght]

I don't think we'll be big players in free agency this year anyways so I don't think a coaching change will be that much of an issue. We'll probably go after a role player or two, and those sorts of players don't generally hesitate to sign somewhere if the money is right. There's also the possibility we hire a coach who has NBA experience and every coach with NBA experience has ties to certain players that may want to come play for them.

Len feeling like we've started over every year shouldn't be an issue, he's only been in the league for 5 years so far himself. A lot of players at that stage have played for 2 or 3 teams and a few different coaches that have done much better than he has. Giannis has had 3 different coaches in that same time period and he was super raw coming into the league. If Len was capable of stringing together more than 2 quality games back to back then he may have reason to complain but he hasn't. He's incredibly inconsistent and he's in his 5th season. At some point he needs to take responsibility for himself. If he was able to do that then he would have a bigger role right now but he hasn't. Every coach has used him in their rotation and this is the first year he's fallen out of the rotation entirely. He played 2 1/2 years under Hornacek, a year and half under Watson, and almost a full season under Triano now. Each of those coaches were the previous coaches assistant so the coaching staff as a whole hasn't changed all that much. Watson was Hornacek's assistant and Triano was Watson's assistant. He didn't receive an offer last year in free agency and the Suns didn't scare anyone away from signing him to an offer sheet, they said nothing about matching any of his offers. After they signed Alan Williams it was clear that Len's days were numbered and he could have been had by anyone who could get him to sign on the dotted line.

That's a fair assessment.
Triano has done the best job of handling Len, assuming it wasn't Len working out for himself what he should do on the floor. I've long said that Len needs a strong hand - and one that keeps him in his comfort zone. Yes he needs to be 'babied' - he shouldn't, perhaps, but he does. In particular, keep his defensive assignments simple - and protecting the paint is not a simple assignment. Let him get comfortable then add on more, bit by bit.
We constantly remarked on him looking bewildered out there, which is a definite sign that he wasn't comfortable. It still happened this year but much less than before and he's done a creditable job of protecting the paint - in fact his rim protection stats have been better than average among all centers the last three years. (This year is a guess on my part since I can't locate the tracking data stats I used before.)
As inconsistent as he's been some team will pay him more than minimum wage because he's quite a reliable rebounder and rim protector - it's mainly on offense he's so erratic. If they eventually install him as the starter on a loose leash he may live up to it - and maybe he won't. I won't be shocked either way.