AZ Rep: "Suns still may add center" MArion trade possibilities. :(

[Yuma]

Suns still may add center

Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 1, 2004 12:00 AM


If Luc Longley was sufficient for three Chicago titles, Suns coach Mike D'Antoni figures Jake Voskuhl, Maciej Lampe and Jackson Vroman could do it for Phoenix.

That qualifying "could" is enough for the Suns to continue to look for a big man upgrade now that they have secured free-agent targets Steve Nash and Quentin Richardson.

Suns roster
POS NAME AGE
G Leandro Barbosa 21
F Zarko Cabarkapa 23
G Howard Eisley 31
G/F Casey Jacobsen 23
G/F Joe Johnson 23
F/C Maciej Lampe 19
F Shawn Marion 26
G Steve Nash 30
G/F Quentin Richardson 24
F Amaré Stoudemire 21
C Jake Voskuhl 26
F Jackson Vroman 23

It goes beyond using the veteran's minimum as the Suns explore possible trades for a front-line center like Cleveland's Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Portland's Theo Ratliff or Golden State's Erick Dampier.

Ilgauskas and Ratliff are in the final years of contracts paying them eight-digit salaries, meaning Shawn Marion could be involved. Marion will make $69.2 million over the next five years.

Dampier, an unrestricted free agent, would have to come in a sign-and-trade, but other teams have more interest than Phoenix.

Ilgauskas, 29, overcame feet injuries to play 81 games in each of the past two seasons. He averaged 16.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks during that span.

Ilgauskas will make $14,625,000 this season, but Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund has said he wants him to finish his career in Cleveland.

"They (the Suns) have interest, but we have not gone farther with anything yet," said Luciano Capicchioni, who represents Ilgauskas along with Herb Rudoy. "A lot of teams have expressed interest in Z. It's a little bit too early."

Ratfliff, 31, is considered one of the league's best shot blockers and could run with the Suns' new look. Since becoming a full-time starter in the 1997-98 season, Ratliff has averaged 3.3 blocks per game. His final contract year will pay him $10,937,000.

Portland traded Dale Davis in the Nick Van Exel deal, leaving the Trail Blazers with Ratliff, Vladimir Stepania and draftee Ha Seung-Jin at center.

Dampier, 30, averaged 12.3 points and 12.0 rebounds last season, far exceeding anything he did in his first six seasons. He opted out of his contract's final two years, worth $15.7 million, and turned down Golden State's extension offers.

If Phoenix grabs a center at the veteran's minimum for one year, the top candidates are New Orleans' Robert Traylor, Dallas' Scott Williams, Toronto's Corie Blount and Atlanta's Zeljko Rebraca. Only Rebraca is a restricted free agent.

Traylor, who met with Phoenix brass in Las Vegas in mid-July, reportedly is leaning toward an offer from Cleveland.

Atlanta's Joel Przybilla, another restricted free agent, is a possibility, but only if he showed he has fully recovered from last season's knee injury.

My preference would be to add a veteran's minimum player. Theo Ratliff is the only guy I would want out of the mix mentioned and he is MUY EXPENSIVO! We also need to let Jake and Lampe try to improve. I would hate to trade Marion, then have one of these guys beat out the center we traded for anyway!

If the Suns were planning on trading Marion to get a center to start with, is this the reason we got Q? If Marion is gone, and you traded for a Theo Ratliff, you could move JJ into a small forward slot, and he and Q could be on the floor at the same time for small lineups. I guess this would mean we are fairly sure Zarko could step up at small forward for us depth wise?

 

[cepstrum]

If the Suns were planning on trading Marion to get a center to start with, is this the reason we got Q? If Marion is gone, and you traded for a Theo Ratliff, you could move JJ into a small forward slot, and he and Q could be on the floor at the same time for small lineups. I guess this would mean we are fairly sure Zarko could step up at small forward for us depth wise?

Everything that they said during the press conference and everything that they have been talking about lately seems to indicate a vet minimum signing and that marion would still remain. There is no way to replace a guy like marion. I hope he stays put.

 

[Joe Mama]

Everything that they said during the press conference and everything that they have been talking about lately seems to indicate a vet minimum signing and that marion would still remain. There is no way to replace a guy like marion. I hope he stays put.

I agree. Unless something comes along that is just too good to pass on this is the team we will see to start the season. That is along with a free-agent signing.

Joe

 

[PhxGametime]

Denver Post mentioned Nuggets searching for SG and Suns surplus of SG's and that Nikoloz Tskitishvili might appeal to Suns for Casey Jacobsen...

Would a Voskuhl, Lampe, Stoudemire, Tskitishvili, Cabarkapa, and Vroman frontline work?

 

[elindholm]

Would a Voskuhl, Lampe, Stoudemire, Tskitishvili, Cabarkapa, and Vroman frontline work?

No. Tskitishvili and Cabarkapa are both SFs. They need to add a center or, at the very least, a true PF.

The Celtics appear to have lost interest in Chris Mihm, but the Suns can't sign him outright, and it's not clear what the Celtics would want in a sign-and-trade, since they already have a zillion players under contract. But how about Jacobsen and Cabarkapa for Mihm? If it's true that the Suns have about $1 million in cap space left, they could start Mihm at $3.4 million, which is probably better than he'd get anywhere else. I don't really like Mihm, but I'm not sure there are better options.

 

[Griffin]

Denver Post mentioned Nuggets searching for SG and Suns surplus of SG's and that Nikoloz Tskitishvili might appeal to Suns for Casey Jacobsen...

Would a Voskuhl, Lampe, Stoudemire, Tskitishvili, Cabarkapa, and Vroman frontline work?

I don't know how much Tskitishvili has improved; he did play well in the summer leagues. I would do this trade in a heartbeat just based on potential, though I think Denver could get a better deal.

Here's the excerpt from the Denver Post:

The Phoenix Suns have a surplus of shooting guards in newcomer Quentin Richardson, Joe Johnson and Casey Jacobsen. An NBA source said the Suns would not trade Johnson, and are impressed with Jacobsen's recent summer league play but would listen to inquiries about him. The 6-foot-6, 215-pound Jacobsen averaged six points last season and was ninth in the NBA in 3-point percentage (.417). Nuggets forward Nikoloz Tskitishvili could be intriguing to the Suns because his former Italy Benneton Treviso coach, Mike D'Antoni, coaches the Suns.

 

[PhxGametime]

East Valley Tribune says Suns are less than $5,000 from cap.

 

[elindholm]

East Valley Tribune says Suns are less than $5,000 from cap.

Hmm. Based on earlier information posted by someone else (sorry that I can't remember who), that would mean that Marion's salary is about $1 million per year higher than what's given on hoopshype.

Guess what? He's overpaid again.

 

[PhxGametime]

It could be East Valley Tribune that mentioned Marion's contract was worth that much - I read that too (the post here), I'm not 100% sure who or where it was mentioned on this board though either. They could be wrong (the newspaper) as well.

 

[Mainstreet]

Originally posted by Griffin

I don't know how much Tskitishvili has improved; he did play well in the summer leagues. I would do this trade in a heartbeat just based on potential, though I think Denver could get a better deal.

BbaLL_31

Denver Post mentioned Nuggets searching for SG and Suns surplus of SG's and that Nikoloz Tskitishvili might appeal to Suns for Casey Jacobsen...

If we can do it for Casey, let's do it. He is as close to a young quality center as we are going to get unless we get lucky in next year's draft. In my opinion he will develop into center much like Divac. Yes I know he is not fully developed as a center but when he does, his value will skyrocket and he will be virtually unobtainable. I say roll the dice.

 

[devilalum]

I don't know how much Tskitishvili has improved; he did play well in the summer leagues. I would do this trade in a heartbeat just based on potential, though I think Denver could get a better deal.

Here's the excerpt from the Denver Post:

The Phoenix Suns have a surplus of shooting guards in newcomer Quentin Richardson, Joe Johnson and Casey Jacobsen. An NBA source said the Suns would not trade Johnson, and are impressed with Jacobsen's recent summer league play but would listen to inquiries about him. The 6-foot-6, 215-pound Jacobsen averaged six points last season and was ninth in the NBA in 3-point percentage (.417). Nuggets forward Nikoloz Tskitishvili could be intriguing to the Suns because his former Italy Benneton Treviso coach, Mike D'Antoni, coaches the Suns.

If Denver made this trade it would mean that they have totally given up on this guy.

If he hasn't shown ANY potential by now its unlikely he'll ever do anything.

Isn't he a Lampe type player?

Only less physical.

 

[Bada0Bing]

Casey is expendable now. The only time he will see major minutes as our #5 guard is in case of injuries. We'll probably lose him for nothing when he becomes a free agent, so I would also say trade him.

 

[Mainstreet]

Originally posted by devilalum
If Denver made this trade it would mean that they have totally given up on this guy.

If he hasn't shown ANY potential by now its unlikely he'll ever do anything.

He is too young and has too much talent to give up on. With Camby and Nene they really don't need him as a center. He is a younger version of Big Jake with athletic ability. The key is that he does have athletic ability, talent and size thus I think he will continue to develop. It's a gamble but how many Shaqs are out there.

 

[Joe Mama]

Again, Tskitishvili is not a Center. He is a small forward. At this point even power forward is a stretch for him. He is a duplicate of Lampe and Cabarkapa. I just don't see him bringing anything new to the table.

Joe Mama

 

[Mainstreet]

Originally posted by Joe Mama

Again, Tskitishvili is not a Center. He is a small forward. At this point even power forward is a stretch for him. He is a duplicate of Lampe and Cabarkapa. I just don't see him bringing anything new to the table.

Joe, he is only 21 and has recently showed his willingness to play inside in the summer leagues. I remember Divac having to learn to play inside when he came to the Lakers (I'm not sure of his age then). I guess I just see Skita wanting to develop into a center/power forward because it seems he is really trying to play inside. I'm not sure if Zarko and Lampe have this desire. But if the Suns could get him for Jacobsen, I view it as a no-brainer

 

[Joe Mama]

Joe, he is only 21 and has recently showed his willingness to play inside in the summer leagues. I remember Divac having to learn to play inside when he came to the Lakers (I'm not sure of his age then). I guess I just see Skita wanting to develop into a center/power forward because it seems he is really trying to play inside. I'm not sure if Zarko and Lampe have this desire. But if the Suns could get him for Jacobsen, I view it as a no-brainer

I watched Denver play two or three games during the summer leagues. He did almost all of his damage from outside were driving to the basket from outside. He is not an inside player. Defensively he is a liability more than an asset. At this point the Phoenix Suns need one or two centers or backup power forwards who can play decent defense.

Joe Mama

 

[Mainstreet]

Originally posted by Joe Mama

I watched Denver play two or three games during the summer leagues. He did almost all of his damage from outside were driving to the basket from outside. He is not an inside player. Defensively he is a liability more than an asset. At this point the Phoenix Suns need one or two centers or backup power forwards who can play decent defense.

I could be wrong and I can clearly see I cannot change your perspective. How about adding a veteran FA center and trade perhaps Casey (I do like Casey's development) for Skita.

 

[sunsfn]

Joe, he is only 21 and has recently showed his willingness to play inside in the summer leagues. I remember Divac having to learn to play inside when he came to the Lakers (I'm not sure of his age then). I guess I just see Skita wanting to develop into a center/power forward because it seems he is really trying to play inside. I'm not sure if Zarko and Lampe have this desire. But if the Suns could get him for Jacobsen, I view it as a no-brainer

Joe is right, Skita is not know and never will be a center in the NBA.
He will always be an outside guy and could develop into a very good one some day.

 

[JS22]

Denver Post mentioned Nuggets searching for SG and Suns surplus of SG's and that Nikoloz Tskitishvili might appeal to Suns for Casey Jacobsen...

Would a Voskuhl, Lampe, Stoudemire, Tskitishvili, Cabarkapa, and Vroman frontline work?

Wow, has his value really gone down that much?

 

[Mainstreet]

Really, there are very few quality centers in the NBA and most of the ones that pass for centers are really power forwards.

My curiosity with Skita is very speculative but at age 21, I think there is a 50/50 chance that he could develop into a center or power forward. I will leave sleeping dogs lie on this issue.

I used to enjoy going to the Suns summer camps years ago (when they were open to the public) and speculate if a Ceballos, Knight, Hornacek or a Brickowski would develop into a quality NBA player.

 

[coloradosun]

Skita is a Raef LaFrentz type player, that should say it all.

 

[sunsfn]

Skita is a Raef LaFrentz type player, that should say it all.

I do not think so.........Skita may never block a shot and LaFrenz can do that, and LaFrenx is probably bigger than Skita will ever be. LaFrenz can play center, Skita can not.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Again, Tskitishvili is not a Center. He is a small forward. At this point even power forward is a stretch for him. Joe Mama

Don't worry Joe, I understand (and feel your pain)

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Skita is a Raef LaFrentz type player, that should say it all.

Where in the world does this stuff come from?!?!

 

[Joe Mama]

Where in the world does this stuff come from?!?!

I know. If Tskitishvili was like Raef LaFrentz we wouldn't even be having this discussion because Denver would not consider letting him go. Some of you will say I'm crazy, but I would rather have Cabarkapa than Tskitishvili.

Joe Mama