Blurb on three centers we are looking at.

[Yuma]

The Suns' weak spot is at the center position and the team may look to upgrade in that area, according to the Arizona Republic. Three centers the team may have its eye on include Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Erick Dampier and Theo Ratliff. Ilgauskas and Ratliff are in the final year of their deals. Dampier is a free agent.

Quote from CBS Rumor Mill.

Kinda a no brainer conjecture-wise. These are almost the only big names left to be traded or signed.

 

[Joe Mama]

Yuma, this is from an Arizona Republic article that is about a week old. IMO none of these guys, especially Ratliff, are real possibilities for the Suns.

Joe Mama

 

[elindholm]

Incidentally, I heard that Stoudemire is going to be on this summer's Olympic team!

 

[Yuma]

Yuma, this is from an Arizona Republic article that is about a week old. IMO none of these guys, especially Ratliff, are real possibilities for the Suns.

Joe Mama

CBS just put this on their site. They haven't had ANY Suns rumors for a LONG time. Like I said, I am just passing on what CBS SPortsline considers "NEW" info. I even downgraded it when I posted it.

 

[slinslin]

Yuma, this is from an Arizona Republic article that is about a week old. IMO none of these guys, especially Ratliff, are real possibilities for the Suns.

Joe Mama

I don't really think the Suns would be interessted in a Marion for Ratliff swap.

Ratliff is physically even less of a center than Amare. He averages a lot of blocks but is a bad rebounder for his position, very skinny, fragile and old.

I'd rather trade Marion, Eisley and Chicagos pick for Antonio Davis and Tyson Chandler or something like that.

I don't understand the fascination with Ratliff at all especially when a lot of guys didn't want Camby who is much better than Ratliff.

 

[George O'Brien]

The Cavs received a number of inquires about Zydrunas Ilgauskas after Boozer left. However, once they traded away Battie, it was clear that they have no intention of getting rid of him.

I can't see any reason to bother discussing Dampier since he has been the most overanalyzed player in the NBA on this board since Kobe.

 

[Gaddabout]

I don't understand the fascination with Ratliff at all especially when a lot of guys didn't want Camby who is much better than Ratliff.

Ratliff is the best shot blocker in the league. Not the best defender, but the best shot blocker. He's improved his offensive game where he's not a major liability. I can't think of a better fit for this team.

But, then, I'd love to have Camby, and lobbied hard for the Suns to acquire him two years ago when the Nugs didn't know what to do with him because he was injured all the time. I'd take Camby and his 55 games per year anyday. Of course, the only caveat is he'd have to be healthy by playoff season.

 

[George O'Brien]

The problem isn't that Ratliff might not be nice. The problem is that the Blazers aren't going to trade him and certainly not for a small forward.

I don't spend enough time on other team's boards to know if there are people who are making hundreds of posts about them getting Stoudemire. Somehow there is an illusion that if only you throw in enough "stuff" it is possible to make a deal.

Ratliff is not as untouchable as Stoudemire, but close enough. Ditto for Dalembert and Magloire. Teams don't trade away their centers if they are good, healthy, and affordable - especially if they don't have a high quality backup.

 

[Joe Mama]

Ratliff is not as untouchable as Stoudemire, but close enough. Ditto for Dalembert and Magloire. Teams don't trade away their centers if they are good, healthy, and affordable - especially if they don't have a high quality backup.

Amen. I'm not sure I would put Ratliff in the same class of "untouchability" as the other two because of his age, injury problems, and contract situation, but he certainly isn't going to be traded for Shawn Marion.

Joe Mama

 

[Gaddabout]

Ratliff is not as untouchable as Stoudemire, but close enough.

Agreed. Just didn't understand Slin Slin's lack of appreciation for what Ratliff could bring to the Suns.