Alonzo Mourning

[elindholm]

What kind of contract do you think Mourning is going to get? Obviously he's a huge risk, but if any team should take the gamble, it seems like Phoenix (or Boston) is the one.

A lineup of Mourning/Stoudemire/Marion/Hardaway/Marbury seems worth some additional luxury tax, wouldn't you think?

 

[Chaplin]

I was going to mention that the other day--as long as it isn't for more then 3 or 4 million, it just might be worth the chance.

 

[SirStefan32]

I'd love to see "Evil Zo" on the Suns roster.

One of my favorite players, and a very nice guy.

Marbury, Hardaway, Marion, Stoudemire, Mourning.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Originally posted by Chaplin
I was going to mention that the other day--as long as it isn't for more then 3 or 4 million, it just might be worth the chance.

I agree wholeheartedly - I was actually going to start this thread today - if Zo can be even 70 percent of the player he was, he could play defense, do a little rebounding and actually hit the fifteen footer - while being a good mentor for the Monster. I'll be interested to see if the Suns persue him in the offseason.

 

[JS22]

hate to burst everyones bubble..but the suns probably wont be pursuing anyone this offseason

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by WastedFate
hate to burst everyones bubble..but the suns probably wont be pursuing anyone this offseason

Wow, where's your crystal ball?? Does it actually work??

 

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by Chaplin
Wow, where's your crystal ball?? Does it actually work??

It sucks, but he's probably right. I saw Bryan Colangelo last night on Suns jam session. When he was asked about Marbury's comments regarding Elton Campbell he quickly brought up the luxury tax. He mentioned that it would be focusing on the draft, developing their current players, getting healthy, re-signing guys like Jake Voskuhl, and the slight possibility of a trade.

I don't think it's totally out of the realm of possibilities that they would sign someone with their mid-level exception. I just think it's very unlikely unless they somehow shed a lot of salary. That said someone like Alonzo Mourning might be one of those "too good to pass up" scenarios.

Joe Mama

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by Joe Mama
It sucks, but he's probably right.

Cripes! I was just kidding! Lighten up people!!!

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by Joe Mama

I don't think it's totally out of the realm of possibilities that they would sign someone with their mid-level exception. I just think it's very unlikely unless they somehow shed a lot of salary. That said someone like Alonzo Mourning might be one of those "too good to pass up" scenarios.

Joe Mama

Something else that nobody has mentioned, is whether the luxury tax will kick in or not--haven't we been "expecting" it to kick in for something like 2 or 3 years now? The problem is nobody knows WHEN it'll start, or if it will even start at all. It's actually not a good way to run a business.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Originally posted by Chaplin
Wow, where's your crystal ball?? Does it actually work??

I kind of agree - I think maybe we use our one mill exepmtion, but everything lese I want to happen is likely a pipe-dream -it's just the feeling I get from the organization right now.

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by cheesebeef
I kind of agree - I think maybe we use our one mill exepmtion, but everything lese I want to happen is likely a pipe-dream -it's just the feeling I get from the organization right now.

Again, what's the use of smiley-faces if nobody understands what the hell they're there for??

 

[jbeecham]

I can't even see smiley faces......I just get the box with the X in it.

 

[SweetD]

That sucks the smilies are what it is all about.

 

[jbeecham]

I just changed my forum display type so they show up now.

 

[JS22]

hey chap! i said "probably wont be."

...that gives me room for error.

 

[elindholm]

For what it's worth, I do think that the Suns will pick up one or two inexpensive free agents this summer. Langhi is likely gone. Ford is gone. Brown is gone. Williams is gone if the Suns can find a better option, which I hope they can, because Williams can't get it done anymore.

I'd like to see the Suns draft either a PF or a swingman. All of the decent center prospects will be gone by the time the Suns pick. The Suns need a backup PG, but they've done a good job finding free agent PGs on the cheap in recent years. It's harder to find backups at PF or SF/SG. Right now, Stoudemire is basically backed up by Outlaw, but Outlaw has only two more years on his contract and will soon be trade bait (if he isn't already). Similarly, Marion has really no backup at all, unless you count Johnson, who is still supposed to be the starting SG of the future. A combo forward might be the best option of all.

So I see, hopefully, this kind of team next year:

C - Tsakalidis (if he plays)/Voskuhl/Williams-Campbell-(Outlaw)-FA?
PF - Stoudemire/Outlaw/#17
SF - Marion/Johnson/#17
SG - Hardaway/Johnson/Jacobsen (I guess)
PG - Marbury/Hardaway/FA

Unless I've miscounted, that's twelve players. Oh, I left out Gugliotta. I guess that one of the guards (Jacobsen or the third PG) will have back spasms until someone gets genuinely hurt.

I'm guessing that the Suns will still try to find a way to buy out Gugliotta's contract. Even if they have to pay him $10 million, it's probably worth it. (What is he going to make next season, something like $11.5 million?) The contribution he makes will be so close to zero, it's worth saving any amount of money not to have to worry about him anymore.

 

[JCSunsfan]

That is interesting about buying out Googs contract. If you pay him 8-9 million to excercize his option, then he can be free to sign elsewhere or retire if he wants. No obligations to the team.

I'm not sure how that affects the cap. Would a buyout somehow count against next year's cap, even if he is not under contract?

If it doesn't count, then anything saved is a 2 for 1 savings because of the luxury tax.

 

[slinslin]

Hopefully Googs can make a contribution next season.

Is Jerome Moiso FA? I'd sign him for the right price and Campbell for the veteran minimum. I'd also try to make a run at Alonzo Mourning, maybe Dan Majerle could convince him to retire in Phoenix.

I somehow doubt that we will resign Voshkul because some teams will offer him more than we are willing to and more than he is proabably worth. At the price we have to pay for Voshkul, Mourning might be a better option.

Mourning/Campbell/Tsakalidis
Amare/Moiso/Outlaw
Marion/Johnson
Penny/Jacobsen
Marbury/#17

Of course I'd bet that Colangelo makes at least a minor trade since last year was pretty quite.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I am pretty sure buyouts still count for the cap for a year, but not the tax. I think that at least, I would have to look it up.

The real trick is just have him not take his option ( which I dont think he has officially done yet) and offer him a front office position paying very well. The only problem is someone would have to convince HIM that he cannot play anymore. Which would be hard. I do not think Jerry can just write him a check for not taking the option, that has to be against some sort of rule.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Originally posted by slinslin

I somehow doubt that we will resign Voshkul because some teams will offer him more than we are willing to and more than he is proabably worth. At the price we have to pay for Voshkul, Mourning might be a better option.

I think he will be back. This guy comes off as a loyal, team player. If it was a difference between a million or so a year (the most he would get is half of the mid level exception, like 2.5, lets be real here) he would stay IMO.

The suns gave him a chance, and he has said how thankful he is.

He appears to have a good friendship with Steph, and all the other players, which is also a big factor.

Anyways, he is back, unless some team offers the full exception. Then maybe he leaves. The chance of him getting the full exception is like 1%.

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by slinslin
Hopefully Googs can make a contribution next season.

Is Jerome Moiso FA? I'd sign him for the right price and Campbell for the veteran minimum. I'd also try to make a run at Alonzo Mourning, maybe Dan Majerle could convince him to retire in Phoenix.

I somehow doubt that we will resign Voshkul because some teams will offer him more than we are willing to and more than he is proabably worth. At the price we have to pay for Voshkul, Mourning might be a better option.

Mourning/Campbell/Tsakalidis
Amare/Moiso/Outlaw
Marion/Johnson
Penny/Jacobsen
Marbury/#17

Of course I'd bet that Colangelo makes at least a minor trade since last year was pretty quite.

So you want to get Moiso, Campbell AND Mourning?? Talk about a pipe dream...

 

[elindholm]

No one will give Voskuhl the full exception, but if it's a difference of $1 million a year for two or three years, he'd definitely have to think about it. The consensus of this board -- which turned out to be correct -- was that there was no way Gugliotta would turn down his $11 million (or whatever) option. Well, $2 or $3 million is worth more to Voskuhl than $11 million is worth to Gugliotta. Money talks, and I agree with slinslin that the Suns will have to make sure that they are competitive for Voskuhl's services if they are serious about keeping him.

 

[notakiddfan1]

You guys understand that if we did sign Mourning it would transform us into legitamate title contendors overnight. It's kinda funny to use the phrase but, in reality, all our problems would be solved. Everything we struggled with - rebounding, consistent scoring, being able to guard Tim Duncan straight up at least some of the time, protecting the hoop, energy - would be fixed. Even with a 70% Alonzo Mourning, the Spurs wouldn't have had a Polar Bear's chance in hell against us this playoffs.

But, for 4.5 Million, I couldn't see it happening. Do we really have our mid-level exception open this offseason though? You hate to waste it, especially if you could get a guy like Zo. I don't know if he'd be that cheap though. Even with the risk, he's a perrenial all-star, so the reward seems pretty steep.

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by notakiddfan1


But, for 4.5 Million, I couldn't see it happening. Do we really have our mid-level exception open this offseason though? You hate to waste it, especially if you could get a guy like Zo. I don't know if he'd be that cheap though. Even with the risk, he's a perrenial all-star, so the reward seems pretty steep.

We have both exceptions available. Geez, I can't even remember the last time we even used that exception... Rodney Rogers, I guess.

 

[elindholm]

You guys understand that if we did sign Mourning it would transform us into legitamate title contendors overnight.

Only if he can play. That would be the risk. But if he's healthy, yes, I agree that he could make the Suns dramatically better. They'd have All-Star caliber players (or at least former ones) at every position.