Another offseason thought

[Travis Bickle]

My "trade picks to dump salary to sign veteran free agents" thread yesterday wasn't met too warmly, so here's another thought. There are certain players who broke out after four or five or six mediocre years, but who were signed early to long term, somewhat reasonable contracts (i.e., Al Harrington, Larry Hughes, Sam Cassel to some extent, Corlis (sp?) Williamson, etc...) Should the Suns travel down that path? If we have, say, $8 million to spend in free agency when all is said and done, how about trying to lock up Marcus Fizer for 5 yrs and 25 million to be Amare's primary backup, and DeShawn Stevenson for 5 yrs and $15 million to be the third or fourth guard? I've always liked Fizer's game (although he doesn't have the size to be a starting 4 imo), and Stevenson is having a pretty good year and would be better served in an offense less structured than Jerry Sloan's (and better served not having sex w/ 14 year old girls anymore, by the way). If they continue to develop--as they probably will--$8 million total for both of them three or four years from now might be a bargain, and their contracts would be reasonable enough that we could still pay Amare and JJ the big bucks that are coming to them.

 

[scotsman13]

forget about signing anyone this off season that isnt what is important or what this team needs. this team needs time. dont trying to bring in some player that wont be here when the rest of the team develops or may slow down the development of the team.

 

[Travis Bickle]

forget about signing anyone this off season that isnt what is important or what this team needs. this team needs time. dont trying to bring in some player that wont be here when the rest of the team develops or may slow down the development of the team.
_________

There is no way Colangelo sits on his hands. One of the motivating factors in trading Stephon and Penny was to have the ability to actually do something positive in terms of signing free agents. The only way the Suns don't make a move in the fa market is if they are looking to the summer of 2005, when Eisley's contract comes off the books, but I don't see it. If they have a chance to grab a guy or two this offseason who fits into their long term plans, they'll sign him.

That, and I don't know how interesting a "let's not do anything for the next two years" thread might be.

 

[Joe Mama]

I agree. I would be absolutely shocked if the Phoenix Suns sit on their hands all summer long. I think they will definitely do everything in their power to get Vujanic over here. That is unless they honestly think they can get Kobe Bryant. In that case I'm not sure they can afford it, and they're really wouldn't be any playing time for him anyhow.

Joe Mama

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by Joe Mama
I agree. I would be absolutely shocked if the Phoenix Suns sit on their hands all summer long. I think they will definitely do everything in their power to get Vujanic over here. That is unless they honestly think they can get Kobe Bryant. In that case I'm not sure they can afford it, and they're really wouldn't be any playing time for him anyhow.

Joe Mama

No playing time for Kobe Bryant?? Or does that last sentence refer to Milos?

 

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by Chaplin
No playing time for Kobe Bryant?? Or does that last sentence refer to Milos?

How is Kobe Bryant going to get any playing time? JJ, CJ, Barbosa, and Howard Eiseley have I got to get theirs first.

Joe Mama

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by scotsman13
forget about signing anyone this off season that isnt what is important or what this team needs. this team needs time. dont trying to bring in some player that wont be here when the rest of the team develops or may slow down the development of the team.

Eisley's contract is up in the summer of 2006. He might get moved in the summer of 2005 as part of trade, but at this point he is very hard to move.

White's contract is up in the summer of 2005. It is possible the Suns would try to re-sign him for less money, but it all depends on other moves.

 

[slinslin]

Someone on the espn board said that there were rumors on the radio about Marion and Casey going to LA for Kobe.

Of course Googs or something would have to go to Utah or so in the process to compensate Marion's byc in any trade.

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by slinslin
Someone on the espn board said that there were rumors on the radio about Marion and Casey going to LA for Kobe.

Of course Googs or something would have to go to Utah or so in the process to compensate Marion's byc in any trade.

Our front office has made some blunders, but I find it hard to believe that they would trade for Kobe without an agreement that he signs an extension as soon as he gets to Phoenix.

I still find it hard to believe that we'd do that. But, it IS the ESPN board, after all...

And would Utah trade for Googs just so that we could get Kobe Bryant?

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by Chaplin

And would Utah trade for Googs just so that we could get Kobe Bryant?

Sure. They love us don't they.

I would imagine that Utah would do a Googs deal if there was a draft pick thrown in.

This does sound like an ESPN deal , but it is not impossible if the Lakers are really convinced that Kobe is going to walk or get convicted.

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by George O'Brien


This does sound like an ESPN deal , but it is not impossible if the Lakers are really convinced that Kobe is going to walk or get convicted.

The conviction thing is the main reason I'd think we WOULDN'T trade for him right now. I don't really see Kobe having a problem signing an extension with us, but with that trial hanging over his head, it's a major risk.

 

[scotsman13]

Originally posted by Joe Mama
I think they will definitely do everything in their power to get Vujanic over here
Joe Mama

i believe that they will do everything that they can to get vujanic over here, but i dont think go out and even trying to get kobe, divac or even camby would be a wise move for this team. kobe would slow down the develop of players, divac wouldnt be here long term and camby whos injuries may limited how long this team can use him.

so i think that next years team will be something like

barbosa
milos
jj
casey
marion
zarko
jake
amare
lampe
white or eisley
and 2 draft picks
and resign a role player like harvey.

 

[Joe Mama]

I'm sorry, but I think the Lakers could do a lot better than Shawn Marion and Casey Jacobsen for Kobe Bryant. The most part the Lakers have been one of the more salary conscious teams in the NBA. They have almost all of their money sunk into their two superstars. George's contract no longer looks like a mistake. He also plays small forward like Shawn Marion.

Joe Mama

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by Joe Mama
I'm sorry, but I think the Lakers could do a lot better than Shawn Marion and Casey Jacobsen for Kobe Bryant. The most part the Lakers have been one of the more salary conscious teams in the NBA. They have almost all of their money sunk into their two superstars. George's contract no longer looks like a mistake. He also plays small forward like Shawn Marion.

Joe Mama

Actually, Devean George hasn't been playing well lately at all. Maybe he'll be better when he isn't counted on as much like he has been with malone and Kobe out.

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by Chaplin
Actually, Devean George hasn't been playing well lately at all. Maybe he'll be better when he isn't counted on as much like he has been with malone and Kobe out.

I don't think that Devean George is anywhere near as good as Marion, but he is a decent player. The problem is that neither George nor Marion would replace Kobe as a first option offensive player.

As I said before, this trade happens only if the Lakers are completely convinced that Kobe is going to leave anyway. This seems unlikely.