Gambo on Kobe, TMac, Nash, Josh Smith and Iguodala

[slinslin]

Just how will the next version of Phoenix Suns basketball look? Will a superstar like Kobe Bryant or Tracy McGrady be donning the new orange uniforms? Will an old friend like Steve Nash return home and lead the Suns back to the playoffs. Will free agent Manu Ginobili leave the river walk for the desert? And could Arizona’s Andre Iguodala be playing basketball just a few hours from the McKale Center? So many questions and so few answers right now.

The Suns are in their best position in years to make the moves necessary to again challenge for superiority in the West. They have the money available to be a big players in free agency, the players available to be a big player in trades and the draft pick available to add a significant piece to the organizations future.

So where to start. Of course Plan A is all about Bryant and many people in the business feel that the Lakers superstar will either stay in Los Angeles or sign with Phoenix. Just what the odds are nobody really knows for sure.

Bryant’s mind apparently changes daily. And Lakers owner Jerry Buss is putting a full-court press on Bryant to make sure that he never wears another uniform.

For the first time in his career, Bryant is feeling wanted, appreciated by the Lakers. They are giving him the keys to the team. To keep Bryant, Buss will gladly rid himself of Phil Jackson and his outrageous contract demands. And while that will tick Shaquille O’Neal off to no end, it is just too darn bad.

O’Neal is scheduled to make almost $30 million dollars next season. If Bryant leaves via free agency the Lakers are still over the cap, which is expected to be at $46 million, and can not be a significant player in free agency. It is likely Shaq will have to accept a new coach and a new system if Bryant decides to stay or he himself can demand a trade. Because if it comes down to Kobe or Shaq right now, it’s see ya big man.

While the Suns are still in the hunt for Bryant, they have cooled somewhat on McGrady. The Orlando superstar had comments in this past week’s USA Today saying that San Antonio or the Lakers are teams he would like to go to. Secretly he has been telling people for months now that Phoenix was a prime destination and that he wanted to play here. But McGrady’s recent comments about Orlando’s situation may be showing the Suns brass what a selfish individual he is.

Clearly McGrady’s main priority is to lead the league in scoring, not lead a team to a championship. He is a superb talent, a great player and he would help fill America West Arena night after night. But the Suns will not give up Shawn Marion, Joe Johnson, Jake Voskuhl and the seventh pick in the draft for McGrady. It’s just too rich of a deal. Orlando would have to take less to make something with Phoenix happen.

What will not happen is having Bryant and McGrady together in a Suns uniform. It will either be one or the other or neither. Having both on the same court together could be a recipe for disaster and there are those close to the situation who doubt that they could exist together. Because while McGrady wants to lead the league in scoring, so does Kobe. The differences between the two is simply Bryant is tougher, a better defender and has more leadership skills.

If the Suns fail to land Bryant or McGrady they could make a serious play at Ginobili, the impressive two-guard from the San Antonio Spurs. Ginobili could get a very rich offer in the neighborhood of $10 million a season from some team and there is a chance that the Spurs may let him go if the price is too high. Ginobili is a sparkplug who would fit in great in Coach Mike D’Antoni’s up tempo system.

And while the Suns have a few point guard possibilities in Joe Johnson, Howard Eisley, Leandro Barbosa and Milos Vujanic, sources say they have their sites set on Nash and that he would like to come back to Phoenix, the team that drafted him out of Santa Clara University in 1996.

Just where the Suns are in free agency will depend on what happens with the expansion draft and the NBA draft. The Suns are trying to move Howard Eisley or Jahidi White to Charlotte along with a first-round pick for a bag of balls. If the Suns move White or Eisley they could get to around $14 million under the salary cap.

The carrot they could dangle at Charlotte is the first-round pick that is owed to the Suns by the Cleveland Cavaliers, which they will get the next time the Cavs make the playoffs. They could also get to around $17 million under the cap if they include the teams’ first-round pick this year, which would count $2.4 million on the cap if they keep it. Charlotte, which apparently wants Stanford’s Josh Childress with its fourth pick, could be interested in the seventh pick to use on St. Joseph point guard Jameer Nelson.

The only reason Phoenix would move the seventh pick is to free up more salary cap room to lure in veteran free agents. There are several teams interested in the seventh pick besides Charlotte. Already a young team, Phoenix could determine that it is better suited adding veterans through free agency then projects through the draft.

More than likely the Suns will keep the pick, because of the potential that a player drafted seventh could have on an organization. The Suns are hoping that either high school sensation Josh Smith or Iguodala fall to them at #7. Smith, the 6-foot-8 small forward from Oak Hill Academy is considered the best pure athlete in the draft. Iguodala, at 6-foot-6, is a better basketball player than Smith now and could help a team like the Suns right away.

There is no truth to all the rumors that the Suns have a deal in place with 7-foot-3 18-year old Martynas Andriuskevicius of Lithuania. Andriuskevicius wants to stay in Europe for another year and his agent is saying that he has to be a top-five pick to stay in the draft. Plus he is too much of a project and the Suns just don’t need that right now.

Diana Taurasi didn’t bring the Suns any luck in the draft lottery, but luck is not what the Suns need. They need better players and the Suns finally have the means to add them. It should be an interesting fast-moving off-season.

Can't find the direct link to www.azcentral.com but it is on www.hoopshype.com/rumors.htm

 

[elindholm]

1. Wasn't this guy the one who started all of the rumors about both Bryant and McGrady coming to Phoenix? Now he says it's impossible, which most of us knew all along. Way to backtrack.

2. There is absolutely no way that Ginobili will get anywhere near $10 million per season. That is laughable. I'll be surprised if he gets much more than the MLE.

 

[Goldfield]

1. Wasn't this guy the one who started all of the rumors about both Bryant and McGrady coming to Phoenix? Now he says it's impossible, which most of us knew all along. Way to backtrack.

2. There is absolutely no way that Ginobili will get anywhere near $10 million per season. That is laughable. I'll be surprised if he gets much more than the MLE.

I for one am glad to hear people are forgetting the idea of Kobe & TMac on the same team. That would not work at all.

I am holdingout hope the Suns somehow do land KOBE. I have NO interest in TMac unless it is to unload Marions conract & then maybe use TMac as trade bait to get a center & other role players.

I dont think Ginobili will get 10 mill. But I do think he will get more than the MLE, his skillz are very good.

 

[F-Dog]

There is no truth to all the rumors that the Suns have a deal in place with 7-foot-3 18-year old Martynas Andriuskevicius of Lithuania. Andriuskevicius wants to stay in Europe for another year and his agent is saying that he has to be a top-five pick to stay in the draft. Plus he is too much of a project and the Suns just don’t need that right now.

I've been assuming that some other team was backing Andriuskevicius, but now that Gambo has shot down the rumors, I'm starting to think that maybe it's the Suns after all...

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Since sunsfn hasn't posted the insider, Chad Ford had a totally new way for the suns to clear cap space.

He brought up that the word is now Kobe is deciding between the Suns and Spurs. However, he also mentioned that the Spurs would have to loose Manu and Hedo, which they would do, but would become very thin.

For the Suns, he of course first said the pick and White to the bobcats. However, listen to this idea:

A Sign and Trade with Detoit, Marion for Okur. That is all he says, but my view is it would allow Detroit to resign Sheed, and still get something for Okur. If they dont care about the contract that much, Marion is a great Pistons player. He is unselfish, will play defense, and fill what ever role he needs to. It would create an interesting problem with Prince, but whatever.

The Suns and Okur supposedly have a mutual interest. If they could get him to sign a deal starting around 7 million, it would clear an additional 4 + from our books. I am pretty sure that should be enough to guarantee our ability to offer a max contract. Then we slide either JJ or Kobe to the 3, and start Barbosa or Milos at PG.

 

[Goldfield]

Since sunsfn hasn't posted the insider, Chad Ford had a totally new way for the suns to clear cap space.

He brought up that the word is now Kobe is deciding between the Suns and Spurs. However, he also mentioned that the Spurs would have to loose Manu and Hedo, which they would do, but would become very thin.

For the Suns, he of course first said the pick and White to the bobcats. However, listen to this idea:

A Sign and Trade with Detoit, Marion for Okur. That is all he says, but my view is it would allow Detroit to resign Sheed, and still get something for Okur. If they dont care about the contract that much, Marion is a great Pistons player. He is unselfish, will play defense, and fill what ever role he needs to. It would create an interesting problem with Prince, but whatever.

The Suns and Okur supposedly have a mutual interest. If they could get him to sign a deal starting around 7 million, it would clear an additional 4 + from our books. I am pretty sure that should be enough to guarantee our ability to offer a max contract. Then we slide either JJ or Kobe to the 3, and start Barbosa or Milos at PG.

That is an interesting idea. But does the money work?

For some reason I think Marion has more value that Okur.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I guess in the Okur-Marion swap - assuming we got Kobe our team would look like JJ, Kobe, Amare, Okur, Whoever (I assume someone like a Steve Kerr or marksman three point shooter) - that team would rock as far as I was concerned - it'd would be a miracle if it happened though.

 

[scudney]

I don't think I would sign & trade Marion for Okur.

If we need to clear capspace for Kobe, it wouldn't be hard to unload White with a draft pick.

Also, I wouldn't like the idea of either Kobe or JJ playing the 3.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I don't think I would sign & trade Marion for Okur.

If we need to clear capspace for Kobe, it wouldn't be hard to unload White with a draft pick.

Also, I wouldn't like the idea of either Kobe or JJ playing the 3.

Kobe has started playing the 3 this round in the playoffs, sicne Jackson opts for a Fish/Payton backcourt sometimes now. JJ used to back up Shawn before he started. I mean it wouldn't be the greatest, but I dont think it would matter much.

Also, I am pretty sure Okur could play the 3 if needed. We could throw Lampe, Jake or possibly DIce back as a starting center. That would certainly add some height.

I agree that it shouldnt be done unless we know we are getting Kobe, but it does have some advantages. I mean we could keep the pick, and there is a good chance we could grab a great prospect from it.

I personally love Marion, but I think I am starting to sway with the crowd his contract hurts us, and will hurt alot more down the road. I am not really a big fan of signing Okur, but this is a deal that I could deal with. Plus, I think there is actually some merit to it. If Detoit decides they want Sheed, which it looks like they will, then they luck out with this deal.

 

[Chaplin]

Count me as one intrigued by the Marion for Okur sign-and-trade. While I still believe 7 million is too much for Okur, I suppose we have to face reality and know that he'll get at least that. Larry Brown would love Shawn Marion, but do the Pistons really have enough room for Marion financially? I thought the problem with signing Okur was that they weren't going to be able to afford him--how can they afford Marion, who will be like 4 million dollars more? I suppose they'd have to throw in another player or two. Milicic? LOL (Perhaps their first rounder as well?)

If we did get Kobe, I would have no problem having JJ at the 3--he played it before when he was on the floor with Stephon and Penny, and it would never hurt to have a playmaker in the frontcourt.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Well, depending on what they sign Sheed to, it is possibly they will be below the cap. In the Insider article, it said that by not resigning both Okur and Sheed, they would have 15 million in cap room. So I guess if they sign Sheed to a contract less than 11 million, they could just absorb the difference.

The problem with resigning Okur was they do not own his Bird Rights since he was a 2nd round pick with a 2 year deal. So they could only match up to the MLE if they resign Sheed. Financially speaking, they are in great position. Think of them as the Eastern version of the Spurs. That is the only thing I think would hamper this deal. By trading for Marion, while it wouldn't make them have a high payroll, it would prevent them from having cap space for quite a while. However, they have their foundation built already, and some young players who should be very good, so maybe they aren't worried that much about it.

 

[Goldfield]

Count me as one intrigued by the Marion for Okur sign-and-trade. While I still believe 7 million is too much for Okur, I suppose we have to face reality and know that he'll get at least that. Larry Brown would love Shawn Marion, but do the Pistons really have enough room for Marion financially? I thought the problem with signing Okur was that they weren't going to be able to afford him--how can they afford Marion, who will be like 4 million dollars more? I suppose they'd have to throw in another player or two. Milicic? LOL (Perhaps their first rounder as well?)

If we did get Kobe, I would have no problem having JJ at the 3--he played it before when he was on the floor with Stephon and Penny, and it would never hurt to have a playmaker in the frontcourt.

I agree...

I think Marion is a better player than Okur, but I havent seen Okur play much.

Detroit would do this deal I think.

We would save money & gain a solid center, which is more valuable that a SF.


KOBE is the key to any of our moves. But JJ at the 3 would be fine, not to mention I really think Zarko will be the future 3 for us. I love the instincs he has for the game...

 

[Joe Mama]

I do think Chad Ford and ESPN Insider provides some good, interesting information, but his trade ideas stink for the most part. There is absolutely no way the Detroit Pistons would make bad deal. It doesn't even make sense. Joe Dumars is known for getting good talent at a reasonable rate. Shawn Marion is a good talent, but he is not being paid at a reasonable rate.

Besides, the Detroit Pistons already have Tayshaun Prince, who they like very much, at small forward. Prince is already a better defender than Shawn Marion, and he's about $9 million less expensive. How, if it were possible I would give the Detroit Pistons Shawn Marion straight out for Tayshaun Prince. We would unload Marion's contract and get back a starter at the 3.

I guarantee that back in Detroit Joe Dumars is just laughing about this idea.

A team like Utah might be willing to give Ginobili a contract starting at $7-8 million. There's no way he's going to get $10 million though. Corey Maggette contract started at $5.5 million. I just don't think he's going to get a whole lot more than that.

Joe Mama

 

[Goldfield]

Well, depending on what they sign Sheed to, it is possibly they will be below the cap. In the Insider article, it said that by not resigning both Okur and Sheed, they would have 15 million in cap room. So I guess if they sign Sheed to a contract less than 11 million, they could just absorb the difference.

The problem with resigning Okur was they do not own his Bird Rights since he was a 2nd round pick with a 2 year deal. So they could only match up to the MLE if they resign Sheed. Financially speaking, they are in great position. Think of them as the Eastern version of the Spurs. That is the only thing I think would hamper this deal. By trading for Marion, while it wouldn't make them have a high payroll, it would prevent them from having cap space for quite a while. However, they have their foundation built already, and some young players who should be very good, so maybe they aren't worried that much about it.

Larry Brown is about winning NOW. Wallace/Sheed/Marion is one heck of a front lineup...

 

[Chaplin]

Besides, the Detroit Pistons already have Tayshaun Prince, who they like very much, at small forward. Prince is already a better defender than Shawn Marion, and he's about $9 million less expensive. How, if it were possible I would give the Detroit Pistons Shawn Marion straight out for Tayshaun Prince. We would unload Marion's contract and get back a starter at the 3.

Joe Mama

Marion is much better than Prince. But is he 9 million dollars better? Probably not.

 

[Joe Mama]

Marion is much better than Prince. But is he 9 million dollars better? Probably not.

I love Tayshaun Prince. Shawn Marion is better on the boards, but I doubt the difference is as great as their numbers would indicate. Even with Amare Stoudemire the Phoenix Suns are a pretty poor rebounding team from the center and power forward positions. Shawn Marion also played 8 minutes more per game.

Defensively I like Prince quite a bit better than Shawn Marion. Offensively I would say they are about even.

IMO Shawn Marion is only worth maybe a few million dollars more than Tayshaun Prince right now. In another year or two Prince may be better.

Joe Mama

 

[Chaplin]

You really have a major problem with Shawn, don't you? It is true, I guess--when Penny left, someone had to take all the flak--you've obviously picked Shawn. It's bordering on ridiculous now.

In two years, Prince may be better? How do you figure that?

 

[elindholm]

I don't think that Marion and Prince are anywhere close offensively. Prince is a lanky role player who gets offensive opportunities in the playoffs when opposing teams clamp down on the primary options. In the regular season, he barely cracked double figures. Marion has his limitations, but he's at least twice the scorer that Prince is.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I agree Eric. Especially with Delfino apparently having reservations on joining the team this year, the Pistons could shore up their backcourt by letting Marion start, and Prince still getting 25 minutes relieve at the 2 and the 3.

You are right about the contract situation Joe, but I think that has to stop at some point. You can build a solid team while being financially responsible, but I don't think you can building a championship team without overpaying somebody in today's NBA. I don't really count the Spurs last year, since their cap space had to do with Robinson retiring, not signing bargain players.

Plus, it wouldn't kill them financially. I would bet their payroll would be low enough that they could still throw the MLE out quite often. You cannot always be under the cap, so why not make a move that would prevent loosing Okur for nothing. I mean they do get back an allstar (for sure in the East too. Dont forget he made it as a forward in the West, arguably the hardest place to earn the spot), and someone Larry Brown would love.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

The marginalization of Marion's abilities gets more rediculous by the day.

I bet Tayshaun Prince is wondering how Marion got his spot in the Olympics.

 

[slinslin]

Shawn Marion for Okur has to be a total creation of Ford's fantasy. I can't imagine that happening unless Detroit also took Eisley for a shorter contract and/or gives up Darko to us as well.

 

[sunsfn]

The marginalization of Marion's abilities gets more rediculous by the day.

I bet Tayshaun Prince is wondering how Marion got his spot in the Olympics.

Absolutely, and also got his spot on the all-star team!!!!!

 

[Yuma]

"If the Suns fail to land Bryant or McGrady they could make a serious play at Ginobili, the impressive two-guard from the San Antonio Spurs. Ginobili could get a very rich offer in the neighborhood of $10 million a season from some team and there is a chance that the Spurs may let him go if the price is too high. Ginobili is a sparkplug who would fit in great in Coach Mike D’Antoni’s up tempo system."-Gambadoro

$10 Million?? I would rather have a worn down Dampier, or other big man for $10 million. Everyone drools over Manu, but he only has big games like 1 out of every 5. Then everyone says how great he is. His averages don't even say he's a $10 million a year guy. That's a lot of jack for an inconsistent player, IMHO!

 

[hcsilla]

A Sign and Trade with Detoit, Marion for Okur. That is all he says, but my view is it would allow Detroit to resign Sheed.

No, it would not.

For getting enough cap space to make a Marion-Okur deal DET would have to renounce Wallace what means they can't resign him after.

 

[hcsilla]

Also, I am pretty sure Okur could play the 3 if needed.

There is no way that Okur could play SF. He is a quick C, would be a so-so PF (concerning athleticism) and a very slow SF.