DAntoni on tv tonight

[JCSunsfan]

Mikey D was on TV tonight with some interesting comments (local ch 15).

"New York really wanted #21 and worked it so we had to give it to them."

My take on this. There was a deal worked out and Isiah purposefully leaked it to the press. He knew how bad the Suns wanted KT. He then found a way to balk at the deal knowing full well that there was no way back for the Suns. He then held out for the #21 pick.

"We've wanted Kurt Thomas for several years. We tried to get him last summer but were not able to pull it off."

He went on to say that they knew that they only had a one summer window in free agency (2004), so they went after Q because he was the best value they could find. They did not necessarily get him because he was the best fit with the team. They just needed to take advantage of the opportunity to add an asset when they had the chance.

This means that Q has been trade bait from the moment he signed his name to a Suns contract (or whenever he was first eligible to be traded). He was never really part of the core.

Q shouldn't be bitter though. The Suns rescued him from Sterlingville and sent him to NY where Brandy can "have a career."

Oh, he also said the JJ is not going anywhere. I assume JJ is doing the shopping thing in order to feel wanted and scrounge up another $ or 2.

 

[playstation]

you know, if you went to phoenixsuns.com throughout the year and checkout out the marketing picture, you would see a smiling nash, matrix, amare, and jj. no Q. always thought it was a little odd. guess they just didn't see the need to reshoot the thing in future years lol

 

[playstation]

as a sidenote, KT was on sports tonight (ch 12) tonight, and the interview made me that much more on his band wagon. everything about him just screams dirt worker. bruce cooper asked him what he thinks he'll bring to the team, and if he can live up to the expectations. he says (paraphrased) "I know what I can bring, and I'll bring it. I'm not looking for recognition, I'm not saying i'm a great player, or even a good player, but what this team needs is what i'm going to provide."

talk about humble, talk about the type of answer that'll get you excited

 

[B Rad]

That's good news to hear about JJ. I'm glad he'll be sticking around..

 

[Joe Mama]

My take on this. There was a deal worked out and Isiah purposefully leaked it to the press. He knew how bad the Suns wanted KT. He then found a way to balk at the deal knowing full well that there was no way back for the Suns. He then held out for the #21 pick.

I think you are probably giving Isaiah Thomas too much credit. I figure the deal was all but completed when one of the New York Knicks lawyers found the problem with the insurance. The reception to the trade was lukewarm at best, so Thomas knew he had nothing to lose by stalling or backing out altogether. The public had been informed, the players had been informed, it was going to be difficult for the Phoenix Suns if the deal didn't go through.

Basically I think Isaiah Thomas got lucky and used it to his advantage. It was one of the first good moves he's made as a GM even though I don't believe that makes his team any better.

Joe Mama

 

[devilalum]

I think you are probably giving Isaiah Thomas too much credit. I figure the deal was all but completed when one of the New York Knicks lawyers found the problem with the insurance. The reception to the trade was lukewarm at best, so Thomas knew he had nothing to lose by stalling or backing out altogether. The public had been informed, the players had been informed, it was going to be difficult for the Phoenix Suns if the deal didn't go through.

Basically I think Isaiah Thomas got lucky and used it to his advantage. It was one of the first good moves he's made as a GM even though I don't believe that makes his team any better.

Joe Mama

Isiah had the big advantage right from the start with this trade. Hes' been shopping KT for 3 years. If word leaked out that he was trying to trade KT to the Suns it would have zero negative effect on his franchise.

The Suns on the other hand were trading a guy that they just signed as a free agent less than a year ago and the Suns just won 62 games. When the trade leaked the Suns were screwed. Can you imagine what a distraction it would have been had the deal fallen through and Q had to come back? Especially now that we find out he was difficult in the lockeroom anyway.

 

[sunsfn]

Isiah got Q and Robinson. Two players that I personally would never draft or trade for. Robinson may turn out to be a good player, but the odds on that are quite small. He is fast.........so what, he is also 5' 9" tall and he better be fast because at this time he is not a good shooter. I hope he does well, but if he is anything more than a decent backup I will be surprised.

Q is not an off guard because he can not dribble, handle the ball, or make the mid range shot. He is not a SF because he is about 6' 4" tall and can not guard SF's. Q "is not" a good defender, besides what some of you here think. The articles about the trade have bought this up more than once. He gets an occasional charge, but just as many or more of them go against him when he steps in front of someone. What Q is, is a strong body 6' 4" player that can post up somewhat, (not against taller players though at SF) and can shoot a low% from the 3 point line, and get 5-6 rebounds a game.
I could never understand the suns signing Q and many of you have read my thoughts on that. I did not think he fit what this team needed at that time, and now it comes out that he was the 5th best option for the suns in free agency and they needed to sign an asset. They are lucky that there is an Isiah Thomas to take him off their hands for a big player. This deal is very good for the suns, and it will help them be a better team next year.

The suns received a starting center and a 6' 8" SF in the draft that is supposed to be a shooter. We know the center is going to be a great fit for this team, the 2nd round pick SF we are unsure of at this time. However, if the SF turns out to be a contributor to this team now or in the near future we made a heck of a trade. At the price of the contract the SF is going to recieve, there are absolutely no worries.

Now all they need to do is find a team to take Jake, get a backup center, fill the rest of the roster from the summer league, and be on their way!

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[F-Dog]

The Suns didn't complete the trade until Diogu was taken, though--right? And the Suns had been saying for weeks that they were going to leave their pick in Europe to save salary--it's not like they were desperate to hold onto the pick.

My guess is that D'Antoni is being disingenuous here. I think the Suns held up the trade until draft day by offering Isiah the option of taking this year's pick instead of a future pick--but only if their man (Diogu) was gone.

Not that it matters either way, of course.

 

[newfan101]

Isiah got Q and Robinson. Two players that I personally would never draft or trade for. Robinson may turn out to be a good player, but the odds on that are quite small. He is fast.........so what, he is also 5' 9" tall and he better be fast because at this time he is not a good shooter. I hope he does well, but if he is anything more than a decent backup I will be surprised.

Q is not an off guard because he can not dribble, handle the ball, or make the mid range shot. He is not a SF because he is about 6' 4" tall and can not guard SF's. Q "is not" a good defender, besides what some of you here think. The articles about the trade have bought this up more than once. He gets an occasional charge, but just as many or more of them go against him when he steps in front of someone. What Q is, is a strong body 6' 4" player that can post up somewhat, (not against taller players though at SF) and can shoot a low% from the 3 point line, and get 5-6 rebounds a game.
I could never understand the suns signing Q and many of you have read my thoughts on that. I did not think he fit what this team needed at that time, and now it comes out that he was the 5th best option for the suns in free agency and they needed to sign an asset. They are lucky that there is an Isiah Thomas to take him off their hands for a big player. This deal is very good for the suns, and it will help them be a better team next year.

The suns received a starting center and a 6' 8" SF in the draft that is supposed to be a shooter. We know the center is going to be a great fit for this team, the 2nd round pick SF we are unsure of at this time. However, if the SF turns out to be a contributor to this team now or in the near future we made a heck of a trade. At the price of the contract the SF is going to recieve, there are absolutely no worries.

Now all they need to do is find a team to take Jake, get a backup center, fill the rest of the roster from the summer league, and be on their way!

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Excellent points. It's also interesting also that nobody, even those who like this trade from the Suns perspective, has mentioned how badly Isiah reached for Robinson. The majority of the mocks I saw had him going in the mid 2nd round.

 

[sunsfn]

The Suns didn't complete the trade until Diogu was taken, though--right? And the Suns had been saying for weeks that they were going to leave their pick in Europe to save salary--it's not like they were desperate to hold onto the pick.

My guess is that D'Antoni is being disingenuous here. I think the Suns held up the trade until draft day by offering Isiah the option of taking this year's pick instead of a future pick--but only if their man (Diogu) was gone.

Not that it matters either way, of course.

The suns thought they had a trade with Cleveland a week before the draft, that did not go through after Ferry took over. Their first round pick was part of that. So, they were trying to trade it at that time.

Then Isiah told them he wanted the pick, so they did the deal the way they did.

The announcers were guessing all the way.

The Suns could not complete the trade officially until after the 54th pick was made.

Many have guessed that the suns may have been holding onto the pick to see who dropped before giving it up to NY, but that was not the case, it was going to New York from the start.

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[George O'Brien]

The ways some players were dropping, the Suns were wise to hang on until they knew what they were giving up. I think BC learned his lesson form last season.

In any case, there were not players on the board at #21 that makes me all that upset about giving away this year's pick. If anything, doing the deal for ths year's pick means the Suns have the option of trading future picks if the situation comes up.

 

[sunsfn]

The ways some players were dropping, the Suns were wise to hang on until they knew what they were giving up. I think BC learned his lesson form last season.

In any case, there were not players on the board at #21 that makes me all that upset about giving away this year's pick. If anything, doing the deal for ths year's pick means the Suns have the option of trading future picks if the situation comes up.

George, I do not think the suns had any choice in the matter.

If they wanted to make the trade Isiah told them he wanted the pick!

They did not want to undo the trade, so they gave the pick. They did not wait until they could see who was there.

But yes, now they can use next years pick to trade Jake if they have to.


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