ESPN Insider: Suns hot for Rubio

[slinslin]

Kind of what I suggested with Minny.

More rumors from ESPN:

Could Rubio be Nash's successor?

12:21PM ET
Ricky Rubio



We told you earlier today that the Timberwolves are interested in trading for Amare Stoudemire. ESPN's Chad Ford tweets today that it's a "strong" interest.

Stoudemire would likely have to agree to re-sign with a team in the offseason before a trade happened.
But we'll throw this one out there: The Suns should inquire about receiving Ricky Rubio in any trade talks with the Wolves. Minnesota GM David Kahn has been reluctant to trade Rubio's rights in the past.
And for now, Rubio is playing for FC Barcelona, and as reported by ESPN this past summer, it's likely the earliest he'd come play in the NBA would be 2011.

And that's why he could be a perfect fit for the Suns. Steve Nash will turn 37 in the 2011-2012 season, his last season under contract with the Suns. He could play a mentor to Rubio, a talent who'd be an ideal fit for the Suns' uptempo brand of basketball. He's a playmaker and sees the floor extremely well.
The Suns would probably want to find out if Rubio had interest in playing for them before they made such a deal, and again, Kahn might have Rubio off limits. But at only 19 years of age right now, Rubio has plenty of years left in which to grow into a star point guard in the NBA.
And Nash could certainly help him along with that.

 

[Gaddabout]

I guess I could something like this. Rubio at point and move Dragic to SG? Dragic is already playing some there and could get the Jeff Hornacek treatment.

 

[devilalum]

Hollinger

"The best alternative for such a deal to work would probably be a three-way deal, as Stoudemire would be unlikely to re-sign with the Timberwolves and Minnesota doesn't have a great need for him with two offensive-minded, poor-defending big men already in Kevin Love and Al Jefferson. Presumably the Timberwolves would want a quality wing player in the exchange."

 

[elindholm]

"The best alternative for such a deal to work would probably be a three-way deal, as Stoudemire would be unlikely to re-sign with the Timberwolves and Minnesota doesn't have a great need for him with two offensive-minded, poor-defending big men already in Kevin Love and Al Jefferson. Presumably the Timberwolves would want a quality wing player in the exchange."

Translation: This rumor is DOA unless the Wolves are willing to part with Love, because the Suns don't want Jefferson and finding a third team will be nearly impossible.

 

[Cheesewater]

Garbage.

Is there more to this story that wasn't posted? Because I don't see anything in the story as quoted to indicate that "Suns hot for Rubio"

The Suns have a young point guard for the future and his name is Goran Dragic.

 

[slinslin]

Yes I misinterpreted it, just speculation by Ford but it would make sense.

Dragic isnt even 1/4 the prospect Rubio is. Seriously Rubio is a 6'4 Steve Nash type passer and creator with better defense and worse shooting and 19 years old.

 

[devilalum]

Garbage.

Is there more to this story that wasn't posted? Because I don't see anything in the story as quoted to indicate that "Suns hot for Rubio"

The Suns have a young point guard for the future and his name is Goran Dragic.

No, but the Suns were really hot for Rubio before the draft.

IMO the Suns need to get a good young player or 2 and or picks for Amare. Maxed out players that other teams want to unload won't do.

 

[Covert Rain]

Not a chance of this deal happening. Amare has already stated his #1 preference is to stay here. His 2nd is to play for a contender.

So ,NIX out all trades to craptastic teams.

 

[tobiazz]

Not a chance of this deal happening. Amare has already stated his #1 preference is to stay here. His 2nd is to play for a contender.

So ,NIX out all trades to craptastic teams.

Who cares what Amare wants? We could sign him to a high extension if the other team is willing to pay it and then ship him off. This is the guy who waited until two days after signing a huge extension to mention his knee was damaged.

Also, Amare says lots of things. I wouldn't pay much attention to it. I'm sure he would be open to a max sign-and-trade. Most players cave and take money over free agency. He knows his eye or knee could blow out any time. Hell, he said he would consider the Nets, though, that was probably a veiled "if LeBron is there" comment though.

 

[Yuma]

The Suns were hot for Rubio BEFORE the draft, meaning before the season, and I am willing to bet they are happy how Dragic is playing. I'm thinking this article is based on a supposition of how things WERE at a certain point in the past, but are no longer the same now. This sounds like another article by someone who doesn't watch the Suns.

 

[Covert Rain]

Who cares what Amare wants? We could sign him to a high extension if the other team is willing to pay it and then ship him off. This is the guy who waited until two days after signing a huge extension to mention his knee was damaged.

Also, Amare says lots of things. I wouldn't pay much attention to it. I'm sure he would be open to a max sign-and-trade. Most players cave and take money over free agency. He knows his eye or knee could blow out any time. Hell, he said he would consider the Nets, though, that was probably a veiled "if LeBron is there" comment though.

No we couldn't. Do you think for one second Amare is going to sign an extension without knowing if he is going to be traded? If so, to whom. Dude, that is pipe dream.

Amare is no Joe Johnson and IMO doesn't want to go to a team to be "the man" like Joe. I honestly believe he wants to win and play for a contender.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

Am I the only one who:

a) Wants to leave well enough alone as it relates to Dragic being the PGOF

b) Is sick and tired of the Suns idea of building a team from the PG up

I mean, seriously! Let's let Dragic be the man. He may never be the best of the best, but I can assure you he'll be top 8-10 very soon. So, why would we lock up assets (ie, cap space and forfeited players and draft picks) to get a PG who may project to top 4? I'd rather have a top 10 PG with the assets (ie, cap space, draft picks and players) to build a stronger frontcourt rather than have a top 3 PG who straps our ability to build the rest of the team.

This (if it's true) is the same sad ass formula the Suns have followed for 20 years....

 

[tobiazz]

No we couldn't. Do you think for one second Amare is going to sign an extension without knowing if he is going to be traded? If so, to whom. Dude, that is pipe dream.

Amare is no Joe Johnson and IMO doesn't want to go to a team to be "the man" like Joe. I honestly believe he wants to win and play for a contender.

Well, If I were in Amare's position, knowing I'm supposed to need another microfracture soon, I would like to lock in for Max money today, rather than wait until the off-season. I suppose he does have the benefit of being able to exercise his option for one final year of big money if his knee explodes during this season.

 

[tobiazz]

Am I the only one who:

a) Wants to leave well enough alone as it relates to Dragic being the PGOF

b) Is sick and tired of the Suns idea of building a team from the PG up

I mean, seriously! Let's let Dragic be the man. He may never be the best of the best, but I can assure you he'll be top 8-10 very soon. So, why would we lock up assets (ie, cap space and forfeited players and draft picks) to get a PG who may project to top 4? I'd rather have a top 10 PG with the assets (ie, cap space, draft picks and players) to build a stronger frontcourt rather than have a top 3 PG who straps our ability to build the rest of the team.

This (if it's true) is the same sad ass formula the Suns have followed for 20 years....

I'm down with that plan. At this point Dragic looks more like a Ginobili-esque SG rather than a true PG, but maybe that's okay.

I would like to see the Suns actually *start* with defense and rebounding, rather than tack it on later. I don't know that that's a great approach, but I want their best player to also be their best defender. We would be hard-pressed to create a team with better offense than the '06 and '92 Suns, and those teams didn't even win a title.

Rather than one great passer and a bunch of players that stand around, I would like to see a collection of players with high IQ, that spread the ball around and have a concept of team defense with no "weak link" in the starting lineup. Easier said than done.

I envision a lineup something like: Lopez, A. Randolph, Clark, Curry, Dragic. I don't know if Randolph and Curry are decent defenders and that team would definitely suck right now but it is the gist of what I would like to see.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

That's a pretty horrific starting lineup. I'm all the way down for Dragic as our future starting 1 and I still envision Clark moving into a starting 3 role within 2 years. I can't get my head around the other 3. I see Curry as a better Barbosa. Randolph is looking like Odom and I love Lopez as a rotation guy, but not a starter.

I'm not saying I have the answer, but I am saying that lineup certainly ain't it....

 

[Divide Et Impera]

PS - If you had Curry and Lopez as your 6th and 7th with a Camby-type starting at 5 and a Joe Johnson-type at 2, you'd have a better team. The question then is which young players in the league are due to become the next Camby and Johnson?

For example, I'd settle for Randolph at 4 if we had Roy-type at 2 and Camby-type at 5....

 

[tobiazz]

Via trading Nash + Stat + JRich, hopefully you have more than just Randolph + Curry at the end of that. Those two players are just examples. Maybe it's Love at PF and someone else at G. After that starting lineup sucks for a year or two, you have your MVP through the draft. Then you wait and hope some of the guys become great complementary players. Lots of luck involved but that is always the case in the NBA.

EDIT: By the way, it's a moot point unless your owner is willing to go over the cap to retain the players once they are very good..

 

[Divide Et Impera]

Well, if you read some of my pots over the last couple seasons, you'll know I'm down for slogging through some crappy years. We have to do that to break the chain. Otherwise, we will continue to sustain mediocrity. I'm down with your starting lineup if we pick up extra picks, keep our picks, reduce our payroll and put ourselves in a position to sign good FAs. I took your first post to mean that was the starting lineup you had in mind for the long run. I just want Dragic to be our starting 1 and then work on all that other stuff I just mentioned. I think, for once, the Suns just need to leave the 1 alone. That's my point. We can't keep being enamored as fans or as a franchise with the idea that we need an All-World 1 to get us a ring. It just don't work that way. It's OK to have 'just' a very good PG and have our power at other positions....

 

[SunsStatFan]

who can Dragic guard as SG?

 

[tobiazz]

Also, this is a bad time to try to build through PG because we can't get Deron, Paul, Wall, so we wouldn't have a top-tier, young PG even if we mortgaged the rest of our team. Might as well go with a good enough PG, which we already have.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

That and Williams, Paul and Wall ain't gonna win a ring. Love Williams and Paul, but the truth is the truth. PG ain't the way to build a team....

 

[mojorizen7]

Am I the only one who:

a) Wants to leave well enough alone as it relates to Dragic being the PGOF

b) Is sick and tired of the Suns idea of building a team from the PG up

I mean, seriously! Let's let Dragic be the man. He may never be the best of the best, but I can assure you he'll be top 8-10 very soon. So, why would we lock up assets (ie, cap space and forfeited players and draft picks) to get a PG who may project to top 4? I'd rather have a top 10 PG with the assets (ie, cap space, draft picks and players) to build a stronger frontcourt rather than have a top 3 PG who straps our ability to build the rest of the team.

This (if it's true) is the same sad ass formula the Suns have followed for 20 years....

No, you aren't the only one. If the plan is to find a younger Nash clone and put a bunch of skinny shooters and an undersized center around him who can't play any defense then I'm as good as done as a SUNS fan....20 years of my loyalty.....kaput.

 

[HooverDam]

So Im trying to process all the various Amare rumors and figure out something that makes sense. Amare isn't going to a team he doesn't want to go to, since you've gotta have him agreeing to an extension. The Suns would ideally like him out of the West too. There's been rumors the Suns are interested in Ricky Rubio (who isn't?) and that one of Amare's preferred possible destinations would be Chicago.

So here's an idea that I haven't really thought through, constructive criticism welcome:

Phx sends:
Amar'e Stoudemire
Robin Lopez

Phx recieves:
Kevin Love
rights to Ricky Rubio
Mark Blount (expiring)
Aaron Gray (expiring)
Jerome James (expiring)

Minnesota sends:
Kevin Love
rights to Ricky Rubio
Ryan Gomes

Minnesota recieves:
Loul Deng
Robin Lopez
Chicago 2010 1st rounder
Janero Pargo (expiring)
Lindsay Hunter (expiring)

Chicago sends:
Loul Deng
2010 1st rounder

Chicago recieves:
Amare Stoudemire
Ryan Gomes

Chicago finally gets an interior scoring presence. Id imagine Amare would love to play in a big market like Chicago, and him and Derrick Rose would be a heck of a combo. Getting Gomes helps them cope w/ the loss of Deng and they can slide Tyrus Thomas to the SF, with Gomes being a 6th man.

Minnesota clears up their awkward all offense, no defense front court. They get a potentially defensive talented Center to pair with Big Al and get a goofy white guy to replace the one they lose. They also get a talented wing player in Deng which it seems to me they need. Plus they get Chicago's 1st to help them find a shooting guard or whatever they need.

Phoenix gets rid of Amare which they seem desperate to do and clear up a bunch of money. They get Rubios rights and potentially continue their embarrassment of riches at the PG spot. Perhaps they can convince Rubio to come over sooner rather than later to learn under Nash.

Its probably way unbalanced, I imagine I have the Suns receiving way too much and the Wolves not getting enough back but who knows.

 

[Sunburn]

There is a high premium for good point guards in the nba. Stockpiling them is not a bad idea. You can often get quite a deal exchanging them with other teams, which is what I think Minnesota was up to drafting the way they did. It's all about stockpiling, young talented assets. It's what Boston did and delivered them Allen, Garnett, and a ring. It's what Oklahoma City has done and they look set for the next ten years. Portland has done a great job with this. Screw free agency. That's not where it's at. Look at the Sixers, Clippers, Warriors, Pistons with their pricey, new free agent acquisitions. Not the way to go. It's a get rich quick scheme. Cept the only one that gets rich is the free agent signee. And then your franchise is strapped. Screw that. You gotta build it from the ground up through the draft and savvy moves. Stockpile young athletic talent. Unfortunately, the Suns are one of if not THE team farthest from this approach.