Do They Have A Plan?

[George O'Brien]

For months the Suns people have said they needed a veteran point guard and to get bigger. They have done the first part.

There are a lot of rumors about them talking to guards, but I don't take these ideas seriously. They said they wanted to go big and I have no reason to disbelieve them.

We don't know exactly where the cap will be set, but I'm guessing it will give the Suns just a little more than the space they gained when they moved White. It doesn't look like the Suns did more than make a courtesy call to Kobe, so the cap space was not necessary to get Nash. Since they currently have only Stoudemire, Voskuhl, Lampe, and Vroman - it seems unreasonable that they wouldn't be going after inside help.

One of the ideas that has been floated is that he the Suns will trade Marion for a center. The only center who is even conceivably on the market is Ilgauskas. But the Cavs just picked up two SF's over the past few weeks and I'm not sure they are prepared to make Battie or Diop their starting center.

I'm would also wonder if Ilgauskas would make sense to the Suns. He has been healthy for the past two years, but prior to that he had three years that were marred by injuries. Big men with bad feet are terrible injury risks.

But if not Ilgauskas, who else is there? I don't see any reasonable trade opportunities for centers that would justify trading either Marion or JJ. Signing a wing replacement makes sense only if their is a reasonable opportunity to get a quality center in trade - which I seriously doubt.

I do think the Suns have a plan, but I have no clue what it is. The signing of Nash was widely anticipated by local sources. Gambo says they have "cooled" toward Okur (I sure hope so), but there is no one else out there worth then entire remaining cap space.

 

[elindholm]

I suppose it's remotely possible they could be thinking about a sign-and-trade for Dampier. Probably a third team would be involved, since it's not clear why the Warriors would want Marion.

 

[George O'Brien]

One of the things about developing trade options is to start by looking at other team's needs rather than starting with who they have you might want. Of course on the problems the Suns have is that the teams that need someone like Marion don't have anyone you'd want.

 

[slinslin]

I suppose it's remotely possible they could be thinking about a sign-and-trade for Dampier. Probably a third team would be involved, since it's not clear why the Warriors would want Marion.

Golden State has some capspace. If we got Jason Richardson and Dampier for Marion and a pick or so I would go for it.

 

[elindholm]

Golden State has some capspace. If we got Jason Richardson and Dampier for Marion and a pick or so I would go for it.

I think the Suns might consider that possibility. But do you think Dunleavy can play SG?

 

[slinslin]

Yes because Marion could guard the SG and Dunleavy offensively has the passing skills to complement Marion.

IF they even plan to start Dunleavy.

Based on last seasons play Pietrus would start at SG and Marion at SF.

 

[elindholm]

Ah, I forgot about Pietrus.

I think the Suns would have to include the CHI pick for Golden State to consider it. Even if they don't want Richardson, he has high trade value.