I did not have a problem with the deal, but the Phoenix Suns maybe kicking themselves if Andre Iguodala slips to #7. Of course even if he is there at #7 there really is no way of knowing if he would have been there if they had not traded. In the end I think they made the right move, especially if they are still considering acquiring Tracy McGrady.
I'm beginning to wonder whether the Phoenix Suns ever really did offer JJ in the deal.
Joe
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/0624nbadraft0624.html
T-Mac talks stall; Suns trade down
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 24, 2004 12:00 AM
In the end, the Suns did exactly what was initially expected.
Phoenix, which had appeared close to pulling off a trade for Orlando guard Tracy McGrady, gave today's No. 7 draft pick to Chicago for a second-round pick and a future first-rounder, positioning itself for a shopping spree in the free-agent market.
Phoenix gave the pick to the Bulls on Wednesday in exchange for today's No. 31 draft pick (a second-round choice), a conditional future first-round pick and $3 million, according to several people close to the deal.
Phoenix still will announce the No. 7 pick but then will deal it to Chicago because of league rules
The $3 million replaces the amount Phoenix gave Charlotte to entice the Bobcats to take Jahidi White and his salary in Tuesday's expansion draft.
The agreement with the Bulls came Wednesday after the Suns' talks with Orlando stalled. A trade for McGrady would have sent Olympic-bound forward Shawn Marion, the No. 7 pick and another Suns player to Orlando.
The Magic wanted budding guard Joe Johnson, but Phoenix was unwilling to part with him and offered swingman Casey Jacobsen instead.
When Orlando General Manager John Weisbrod announced that a predraft trade of McGrady was unlikely, Phoenix closed the deal with Chicago.
The Suns will continue to talk with Orlando about McGrady, a league official said. Weisbrod said seven teams' offers are being considered.
ESPN reported that McGrady, last season's NBA scoring champion and an All-Star in each of his four seasons in Orlando, was willing to sign a long-term contract extension only with Houston. McGrady can opt out of his seven-year, $93 million contract after next season.
The Suns decided that last season's youngest team did not need another player in today's draft who could not make an immediate impact. The team's need for leadership, toughness and rebounding may be better filled through free agency, where Steve Nash of Dallas and Mehmet Okur of Detroit are expected to be among the targets.
The Suns dropped out of the first round, where picks are guaranteed three-year contracts, and bumped up their salary-cap room to $16.3 million. The increased financial flexibility will help them in the free-agency period that begins in a week.
The 31st pick will be the Suns' only draft choice today.
The first-rounder that Phoenix acquired from Chicago could be a high one, barring a Bulls turnaround from a 23-59 season. Phoenix will get the pick next June unless it falls in the top three. Chicago would keep the pick in 2006 only if it were the No. 1 choice. It is unprotected beyond that.
The Suns' hope at No. 7 would have been that Arizona swingman Andre Iguodala, Connecticut point guard Ben Gordon or Peoria (Ill.) Central High point guard Shaun Livingston fell to the seventh pick. That appeared doubtful.
Chicago is said to be targeting Iguodala or Oregon's Luke Jackson at No. 7. The Bulls also may trade the pick.
This will be the first time the Suns will be first-round spectators since 2001. The No. 7 choice would have been Phoenix's highest in 16 years.
Orlando's choice atop the draft seemed to be leaning toward Atlanta high school star Dwight Howard over Connecticut center Emeka Okafor, a stellar defender with questions about his back and his offensive skills.
Charlotte, with the second pick, would take the big man Orlando does not. From there, Iguodala, Livingston and Gordon figure to go next.
The stock of Duke's Luol Deng seems to be slipping over his questioned athleticism.
I'm beginning to wonder whether the Phoenix Suns ever really did offer JJ in the deal.
Joe
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/0624nbadraft0624.html
T-Mac talks stall; Suns trade down
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 24, 2004 12:00 AM
In the end, the Suns did exactly what was initially expected.
Phoenix, which had appeared close to pulling off a trade for Orlando guard Tracy McGrady, gave today's No. 7 draft pick to Chicago for a second-round pick and a future first-rounder, positioning itself for a shopping spree in the free-agent market.
Phoenix gave the pick to the Bulls on Wednesday in exchange for today's No. 31 draft pick (a second-round choice), a conditional future first-round pick and $3 million, according to several people close to the deal.
Phoenix still will announce the No. 7 pick but then will deal it to Chicago because of league rules
The $3 million replaces the amount Phoenix gave Charlotte to entice the Bobcats to take Jahidi White and his salary in Tuesday's expansion draft.
The agreement with the Bulls came Wednesday after the Suns' talks with Orlando stalled. A trade for McGrady would have sent Olympic-bound forward Shawn Marion, the No. 7 pick and another Suns player to Orlando.
The Magic wanted budding guard Joe Johnson, but Phoenix was unwilling to part with him and offered swingman Casey Jacobsen instead.
When Orlando General Manager John Weisbrod announced that a predraft trade of McGrady was unlikely, Phoenix closed the deal with Chicago.
The Suns will continue to talk with Orlando about McGrady, a league official said. Weisbrod said seven teams' offers are being considered.
ESPN reported that McGrady, last season's NBA scoring champion and an All-Star in each of his four seasons in Orlando, was willing to sign a long-term contract extension only with Houston. McGrady can opt out of his seven-year, $93 million contract after next season.
The Suns decided that last season's youngest team did not need another player in today's draft who could not make an immediate impact. The team's need for leadership, toughness and rebounding may be better filled through free agency, where Steve Nash of Dallas and Mehmet Okur of Detroit are expected to be among the targets.
The Suns dropped out of the first round, where picks are guaranteed three-year contracts, and bumped up their salary-cap room to $16.3 million. The increased financial flexibility will help them in the free-agency period that begins in a week.
The 31st pick will be the Suns' only draft choice today.
The first-rounder that Phoenix acquired from Chicago could be a high one, barring a Bulls turnaround from a 23-59 season. Phoenix will get the pick next June unless it falls in the top three. Chicago would keep the pick in 2006 only if it were the No. 1 choice. It is unprotected beyond that.
The Suns' hope at No. 7 would have been that Arizona swingman Andre Iguodala, Connecticut point guard Ben Gordon or Peoria (Ill.) Central High point guard Shaun Livingston fell to the seventh pick. That appeared doubtful.
Chicago is said to be targeting Iguodala or Oregon's Luke Jackson at No. 7. The Bulls also may trade the pick.
This will be the first time the Suns will be first-round spectators since 2001. The No. 7 choice would have been Phoenix's highest in 16 years.
Orlando's choice atop the draft seemed to be leaning toward Atlanta high school star Dwight Howard over Connecticut center Emeka Okafor, a stellar defender with questions about his back and his offensive skills.
Charlotte, with the second pick, would take the big man Orlando does not. From there, Iguodala, Livingston and Gordon figure to go next.
The stock of Duke's Luol Deng seems to be slipping over his questioned athleticism.
