Disgruntled star watch

[JCSunsfan]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/nba-am-su...mpaign=nba-am-suns-looking-to-trade-for-stars

McDonough's comments here are refreshingly candid. Its what we all knew they should do, and have done, but rarely does anyone talk about it so plainly. Take all those draft picks and try to get lucky in the draft, or use them to package for a star player who wants out of his present situation (ala Charles Barkley, Kevin Garnett, Gasol, Carmelo, etc).

While no one is exactly in that category yet, it seemed good to have a thread that can talk about the possibilities as they come up. To me, here are some potential candidates:

1. Eric Gordon. He has already expressed he wants to be here, and relations with the Pels seem strained.

2. LaMarcus Alderidge. There already have been rumblings about his wanting to move.

3. Rajon Rondo. I don't know if I categorize him as a star, and I don't want him here, but he could change teams.

4. Kobe Bryant. If Steve Nash goes down and the Lakers go south, I can see the Lakers going into full tank mode. I don't want Kobe, he is just too old for any plans we might have.

5. Kevin Love. Yep. That is the one everyone is after. He is a great rebounder, but for a pf shoots a high volume of shots without a very high percentage.

This discussion will end up focusing on who reaches the level of "star" and who might realistically be available.

Well. That's enough to get things started.

 

[Griffin]

1. Eric Gordon. He has already expressed he wants to be here, and relations with the Pels seem strained.

Not eligible to be traded to Phoenix for the duration of his contract. And that's probably a good thing, too.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Uggh, what a list. Aldridge is the clear winner with Love being the only other player I'd consider.

Steve

 

[JCSunsfan]

Uggh, what a list. Aldridge is the clear winner with Love being the only other player I'd consider.

Steve

Waiting for something better certainly looks like the best option to me.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Not eligible to be traded to Phoenix for the duration of his contract. And that's probably a good thing, too.

Really? I thought it was only a year. Am I reading this right?

This is from Larry Coon:

If a team matches an offer sheet and retains its free agent, then for one year they cannot trade him without his consent, and during that year cannot trade him at all to the team that signed him to the offer sheet. They also can't trade the player in a sign-and-trade transaction (see question number 89). A restricted free agent's resulting contract (whether with the new team or the contract is matched by the player's prior team) cannot be amended in any manner for one year.

http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm#Q43

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Not eligible to be traded to Phoenix for the duration of his contract. And that's probably a good thing, too.

No kidding. Can we PLEASE stop talking about Eric Gordon? We've already dodged that bullet once, McD is certainly not as stupid as Blanks.

Rondo is definitely a star, but his attitude issues scare me.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Can we PLEASE stop talking about Eric Gordon? We've already dodged that bullet once, McD is certainly not as stupid as Blanks.

I think Bledsoe's presence pretty much takes care of that.

 

[elindholm]

Rondo is definitely a star

I'm not so sure. We'll see what happens when he doesn't have star teammates to hide his liabilities.

Aldridge would be great, and at 28, he should have several good years left. But if he goes on the market, I don't see the Suns as being competitive. Someone will be able to offer quality young talent that surpasses anything the Suns have, aside from their 2014 pick, which we can assume they won't part with.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

I'm not so sure. We'll see what happens when he doesn't have star teammates to hide his liabilities.

Aldridge would be great, and at 28, he should have several good years left. But if he goes on the market, I don't see the Suns as being competitive. Someone will be able to quality young talent that surpasses anything the Suns have, aside from their 2014 pick, which we can assume they won't part with.

Rondo's issue is he's moody and doesn't always play 100%. When he's focused and on, he's definitely a star, but I'd be extremely leery of building around him.

Choosing between Love and Aldridge would be tough, but I'd probably take Love, as he is younger and not yet in his prime years, so a better candidate to grow with the rest of our roster.

 

[Griffin]

Really? I thought it was only a year. Am I reading this right?

This is from Larry Coon:

If a team matches an offer sheet and retains its free agent, then for one year they cannot trade him without his consent, and during that year cannot trade him at all to the team that signed him to the offer sheet. They also can't trade the player in a sign-and-trade transaction (see question number 89). A restricted free agent's resulting contract (whether with the new team or the contract is matched by the player's prior team) cannot be amended in any manner for one year.

http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm#Q43

Interesting. I remember reading last summer that it was for the duration of contract. But perhaps that was misinformation. I guess the door is still open, but I think the Suns had moved on. Best opportunity to pick up a star wing player will be next year's draft.

 

[SweetD]

I can see Cousins being on this list soon. I wouldn't mind trading for a good PF or SF, unless they can get one of the top picks next year.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I can see Cousins being on this list soon. I wouldn't mind trading for a good PF or SF, unless they can get one of the top picks next year.

I just flashed on the possibility of adding Cousins and trading for Rondo. The trio of Rondo, Cousins and Beasley would be something special. I bet coaches would be standing in line for a chance to work with that group.

Steve

 

[Phrazbit]

Can we edit Eric Gordon off of the "star" list... I think the rest of the guys there are mildly offended.

And I might be alone on this one, but Aldridge just does not do it for me... a big who does not defend and relies almost exclusively on the mid-range game. Reminds me of Amare... minus the ability to attack the rim.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

This sounds familiar. Sounds like McD and I share an agent

Aldridge is the most likely. Love is who I want the most. The hate for Love is crazy. Top 3 PF easy. Rebounding machine and literally the best big you could have on a running team with the way he outlets the ball.

Love me some Love

 

[ASUCHRIS]

This sounds familiar. Sounds like McD and I share an agent

Aldridge is the most likely. Love is who I want the most. The hate for Love is crazy. Top 3 PF easy. Rebounding machine and literally the best big you could have on a running team with the way he outlets the ball.

Love me some Love

Agreed with all of this. NBA is a star league, something our previous GM never learned. Although the Len pick scares me, and I would probably have taken a chance on Noel, I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt as the rest of his moves are pretty much exactly what I'd do.

 

[HooverDam]

I just flashed on the possibility of adding Cousins and trading for Rondo. The trio of Rondo, Cousins and Beasley would be something special. I bet coaches would be standing in line for a chance to work with that group.

Steve

this is a joke.....right?

 

[Superbone]

this is a joke.....right?

Obviously.

 

[sunsfan88]

Kevin Durant apparently isn't too happy in OKC either.

 

[Mainstreet]

It doesn't have to be a disgruntled star. It could be a team that realizes that they are not going to make it to the next level and decides it is better to trade a star player early for maximum value. Or it can be a team that already will have a high payroll and does not have enough money to keep all their star (key) players. I believe Harden fell in this category.

 

[sunsfan88]

Harrison Barnes could be another possibility if they think Bogut won't last the whole season (which he usually doesn't)

 

[Covert Rain]

This sounds familiar. Sounds like McD and I share an agent

Aldridge is the most likely. Love is who I want the most. The hate for Love is crazy. Top 3 PF easy. Rebounding machine and literally the best big you could have on a running team with the way he outlets the ball.

Love me some Love

IF...and this is a big IF....if the Suns are going to use him as a PF. They would probably shoehorn him in as our starting Center with this teams track record. Either that or they would trade Gortat, Len would be physically unable to perform and he would end up as our Center.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

To anyone who thinks Love isn't a star. In the 2011-12 season he was 5th in the league in PER and 1st amongst PFs. He was also 4th in the league in WS that year.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Gaddabout]

Aldridge doesn't fit Hornacek's style.

Horny probably looks at Love and sees Tom Chambers without the athleticism.

 

[elindholm]

Aldridge doesn't fit Hornacek's style.

I hope Hornacek isn't this stupid. Your style should fit your best players, not the other way around. There may be plenty of good reasons not to go after Aldridge if the possibility is there, but saying that he's incompatible with the "style" of a 25-win team isn't one of them.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Kevin Durant apparently isn't too happy in OKC either.

Really? Hadn't heard that one. Durant would obviously be the top choice to pursue.