Current (post draft) Roster

[Phrazbit]

I hate advanced stats like that. Advanced stats showed Alex Len as one of the best players on the team... Take it with a grain of salt.

Actually, those stats have shown Len to be one of our worst players throughout his career. They ticked up a bit last year but only because his replacements (Bender and Chriss) played so terribly.

What those stats really measure is you vs the guys who replaced you in the lineup. The revolving door of D-League guards preformed significantly better than Payton.

 

[Chaplin]

Actually, those stats have shown Len to be one of our worst players throughout his career. They ticked up a bit last year but only because his replacements (Bender and Chriss) played so terribly.

What those stats really measure is you vs the guys who replaced you in the lineup. The revolving door of D-League guards preformed significantly better than Payton.

WHat you posted aren't the only advanced stats, though. There are numbers out there that are just crazy to think about. And some "pundits" swear by them.

 

[Raze]

Well Payton is gone, so no need to worry about him anymore. Knight isn't ideal but we have some answers at PG next season since Payton isn't getting a qualifying offer.

I mentioned it in another thread. If JJ can work on developing even some mediocre PG skills that will open things up offensively for the Suns. Just knowing how to play the position gives them the ability to sort of switch within possessions to try and find favorable matchups. Booker can play PG and so can Knight. No one will dispute those 2 even though some really don't like Knight. Bender played PG in Summer League last year and sees the court quite well. Provided a PG isn't guarding Dragan then he can put the ball on the floor a little also. I know they aren't all PG's but if they're capable of playing PG in a possession with Ayton inside as the bailout option then that gives them some interesting options and a ton of flexibility.

Knight, Booker, Jackson, Bender, and Ayton. That's our potential starting 5 and they should be capable of spreading the ball around and switching roles offensively.

I'm growing fonder of the Book, Bridges, JJ, Bender (at stretch 4), Ayton line up by the day. This is potentially our future lineup and puts our 5 best players on the floor. (Pending Bender finding his way)

With Book, JJ, and Bender alternating bringing the ball up, we could run PG by committee (like Chicago did with MJ, Kukoc, and Pippen). That allows for only one defensive liability in Book and one 3 pt wing liability in JJ (similar to GS). It relies heavily on Ayton for rebounds, but I think that's what we'll want from him early. They could run the offense like Hakeem and the Scrubs did for their pathetic championships.

Our bench would have instant offensive potential with BK, Warren, and Chriss with a vet in Chandler giving solid back up minutes at the 5.

 

[Hoop Head]

I'm growing fonder of the Book, Bridges, JJ, Bender (at stretch 4), Ayton line up by the day. This is potentially our future lineup and puts our 5 best players on the floor. (Pending Bender finding his way)

With Book, JJ, and Bender alternating bringing the ball up, we could run PG by committee (like Chicago did with MJ, Kukoc, and Pippen). That allows for only one defensive liability in Book and one 3 pt wing liability in JJ (similar to GS). It relies heavily on Ayton for rebounds, but I think that's what we'll want from him early. They could run the offense like Hakeem and the Scrubs did for their pathetic championships.

Our bench would have instant offensive potential with BK, Warren, and Chriss with a vet in Chandler giving solid back up minutes at the 5.

I agree with all of this. I think they can do it also since Jackson is a good rebounder for a SF and perhaps it's easier to teach Bender to box out for others rather than himself, similar to what Adams and the Thunder do for Westbrook.

I also think JJ can develop his 3pt shot within the next year or two. I suspect it'll be north of 30% next year. That's not great if it hovers in that area but it is improved and showing he's putting in the work. Hopefully it all pans out, one way or the other. Developing a consistent 5 man starting lineup could pay dividends, especially since they're so young. Coaching them to cover for each other on the floor both offensively and defensively could help them a lot and make the whole greater than the parts alone.


I know Point-Book has downsides but having him as the only poor defender makes it acceptable. I think we'll see it more than it's being said now. It was said we won't see much of Booker at PG and that's a possibility but I doubt it.

 

[SirStefan32]

I'm growing fonder of the Book, Bridges, JJ, Bender (at stretch 4), Ayton line up by the day. This is potentially our future lineup and puts our 5 best players on the floor. (Pending Bender finding his way)

With Book, JJ, and Bender alternating bringing the ball up, we could run PG by committee (like Chicago did with MJ, Kukoc, and Pippen). That allows for only one defensive liability in Book and one 3 pt wing liability in JJ (similar to GS). It relies heavily on Ayton for rebounds, but I think that's what we'll want from him early. They could run the offense like Hakeem and the Scrubs did for their pathetic championships.

Our bench would have instant offensive potential with BK, Warren, and Chriss with a vet in Chandler giving solid back up minutes at the 5.

I don't remember if it was Igor or Ryan, but one of them flat-out said that Booker will not be playing point.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I don't remember if it was Igor or Ryan, but one of them flat-out said that Booker will not be playing point.

Igor

 

[Mainstreet]

I don't remember if it was Igor or Ryan, but one of them flat-out said that Booker will not be playing point.

It's been repeated more than once for sure although Booker might handle the ball at the end of games.

 

[GatorAZ]

Igor

Music to my ears.

 

[Errntknght]

I'm growing fonder of the Book, Bridges, JJ, Bender (at stretch 4), Ayton line up by the day. This is potentially our future lineup and puts our 5 best players on the floor. (Pending Bender finding his way)

With Book, JJ, and Bender alternating bringing the ball up, we could run PG by committee (like Chicago did with MJ, Kukoc, and Pippen). That allows for only one defensive liability in Book and one 3 pt wing liability in JJ (similar to GS). It relies heavily on Ayton for rebounds, but I think that's what we'll want from him early. They could run the offense like Hakeem and the Scrubs did for their pathetic championships.

Our bench would have instant offensive potential with BK, Warren, and Chriss with a vet in Chandler giving solid back up minutes at the 5.

No doubt we'll see that line up but hopefully not a lot of it as it has tremendous potential for turnovers and few assists. As far as the Bulls are concerned, they had facilatators like Steve Kerr, Ron Harper and Randi Brown (and others whose names I don't recall) consistently getting minutes - not to mention the fact that they were running the triangle offense which definitely didn't feature dribble penetration by the PGs.

Igor may run some sort of 'motion' offense but it's very unlikely he'll opt for something like the complex triangle - which was successfully done by no one except it's inventor Tex Winter. I think we'll have a true PG on the floor most of the time even if we don't pick up a more experienced one than Okobo. They may keep Ulis for a backup but I hope it's Shaq
Harrison who has serious potential and is already a very good defender.

If Alan Williams can return to form he sould be the one backing up Ayton.

 

[sunsfan88]

McDonough has said the Suns look to add a stretch 4 to the team in free agency.

Not sure who it can be but definitely worth mentioning.

 

[sunsfan88]

Well... ball handling and passing to start with. I cringed every time JJ put the ball on the floor last year.

He is also focused on his ball-handling, as he plans on playing some point guard moving forward.

https://www.slamonline.com/nba/on-the-rise-josh-jackson/

 

[sunsfan88]

LOL

100% certainty that Ristic isn't playing because Ayton is on the team.

Ristic didn’t know that Ayton would be on the team when he initially agreed to be on the Suns SL roster?

What planet had he been living in then?

I don’t think that’s it...

 

[sunsfan88]

Also Ristic will not be with the summer Suns.

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I hope they bring in Tryggvi Hlinason then to be the backup C.

Suns worked him out predraft and here’s a very good read on him as well

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...-went-7-foot-farmer-iceland-rare-nba-prospect

 

[Mainstreet]

I hope they bring in Tryggvi Hlinason then to be the backup C.

Suns worked him out predraft and here’s a very good read on him as well

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...-went-7-foot-farmer-iceland-rare-nba-prospect

It's a great story. The young man is new to basketball and moves well. Let's give him the opportunity.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

No doubt we'll see that line up but hopefully not a lot of it as it has tremendous potential for turnovers and few assists. As far as the Bulls are concerned, they had facilatators like Steve Kerr, Ron Harper and Randi Brown (and others whose names I don't recall) consistently getting minutes - not to mention the fact that they were running the triangle offense which definitely didn't feature dribble penetration by the PGs.

Igor may run some sort of 'motion' offense but it's very unlikely he'll opt for something like the complex triangle - which was successfully done by no one except it's inventor Tex Winter. I think we'll have a true PG on the floor most of the time even if we don't pick up a more experienced one than Okobo. They may keep Ulis for a backup but I hope it's Shaq
Harrison who has serious potential and is already a very good defender.

If Alan Williams can return to form he sould be the one backing up Ayton.

None of those guys were “facilitators.” But you hit on the true reason . . . the triangle.

 

[Carolinacacti]

Maybe Bender is playing this summer?

 

[Raze]

I don't remember if it was Igor or Ryan, but one of them flat-out said that Booker will not be playing point.

I get that. But I think it's fair to say Book could play PG about like Steve Kerr did. That is to say he'd be PGINO. Feel free to call JJ the "PG" if you want. All that matters is that we'd have our best team on the floor. And I'm confident that Bridges will make a greater impact on both ends of the floor at SG than BK would at "PG". I also abhor the idea of having a "PG" who doesn't play D next to Book.

Offensively, we're forcing BK into the role which isn't natural either. Since we don't have a natural PG, and we're going to be playing someone there who doesn't belong, why not JJ or Book? I mean, we're just picking our poison at this point.

All this becomes irrelevant if we sign Fleet (which I'm strongly for). Fleet, Book, Bridges, JJ, and Ayton is a crazy talented lineup.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Maybe Bender is playing this summer?

I think that would be a really good idea. I would love to see him working with Ayton to start a rapport and to see how they play together. His plus passing could be a real attribute playing off a down-low force.

 

[pokerface]

I've been thinking too that maybe the suns had some pgs in mind all along in free agency thats why we went Bridges. It's all a part of a master plan.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

I've been thinking too that maybe the suns had some pgs in mind all along in free agency thats why we went Bridges. It's all a part of a master plan.

But who? I just don't see much in the free agent market for PGs.

 

[sunsfan88]

But who? I just don't see much in the free agent market for PGs.

It's not the free agent market but perhaps they can pull off a trade for TJ McConnell? Philly just drafted another PG in Shamet plus they still have Fultz so TJ, who is on the last year of his contract, could be the odd man out.

Just throwing a name out there.

 

[DevonCardsFan]

I've been thinking too that maybe the suns had some pgs in mind all along in free agency thats why we went Bridges. It's all a part of a master plan.

Suns will come like Bridges with somthings out of nowhere, I still say they have a deal to facilitate a trade taking Deng and landing Ball

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

It's not the free agent market but perhaps they can pull off a trade for TJ McConnell? Philly just drafted another PG in Shamet plus they still have Fultz so TJ, who is on the last year of his contract, could be the odd man out.

Just throwing a name out there.

I would be cool with Teodosic as at least a stop gap. There is talk of the clippers possibly waiving him.

 

[AzStevenCal]

It's not the free agent market but perhaps they can pull off a trade for TJ McConnell? Philly just drafted another PG in Shamet plus they still have Fultz so TJ, who is on the last year of his contract, could be the odd man out.

Just throwing a name out there.

I like TJ but he's not a starter, he's the Doug Flutie of point guards. I'd be very interested in acquiring him but we'd still be in need of a regular.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I would be cool with Teodosic as at least a stop gap. There is talk of the clippers possibly waiving him.

I don't know much about him but isn't he labeled as injury prone?