Gary Payton

[Dr. Dumas]

There was a small blurb in the AZcentral paper this morning that talked about Paytons interview on the BEST Damn Sports Show. I guess that Payton mentioned that one of the teams he would like to play for would be the Suns.

I think that Payton would be a great backup to Nash. He still can run and play half way descent defense.

I would like to know others feelings on signing Payton.

 

[corrado]

Haven't you guys learned yet? The Colangelo's would NEVER pick up Payton whose reputation as a disruptive force in the locker room and his abrasive attitude don't mesh with the Colangelo's 'character' guys. It ain't going to happen.

 

[Phill11]

There was a small blurb in the AZcentral paper this morning that talked about Paytons interview on the BEST Damn Sports Show. I guess that Payton mentioned that one of the teams he would like to play for would be the Suns.

I think that Payton would be a great backup to Nash. He still can run and play half way descent defense.

I would like to know others feelings on signing Payton.

I would kill to see him in a Suns uni, but can we offer him enough playing time? The only way would be to have him and Nash be on the court at the same time every once in a while.

Here's a rotation I'm thinking:
PG- Nash (35), Payton (13)
SG- Johnson (33), Payton (15)
SF- Marion (41), Johnson (7)
PF- Amare (35), Diogu (13)
C- Thomas (38), Amare (5), Voshkul (3), Diogu(2)

It gives these minutes to these players:
Nash- 35
Payton- 28
Johnson- 40
Marion- 41
Amare- 40
Diogu- 15
Thomas- 38
Voshkul- 3

With these minutes, this would allow us to trade: Barbosa and Jackson. Trading up could be a possibility to get Ike?

Would Payton be fine with 28 minutes?

 

[Chaplin]

Haven't you guys learned yet? The Colangelo's would NEVER pick up Payton whose reputation as a disruptive force in the locker room and his abrasive attitude don't mesh with the Colangelo's 'character' guys. It ain't going to happen.

Disagree somewhat with that...

But the reason why he won't come here is simple, we're not going to use our MLE on him.

 

[Dr. Dumas]

Something else that I left out of the article. Gary did say that he knows that Nash is the man, and he doesn't want to disrupt that. the article goes on to say that he would have no problem being a backup.

Maybe its just me, but I have never really heard that Payton was a bad teammate. He had taken a pay cut to play in LA to win a ring. Maybe one of the LA fans on this board can clue me in on what he was like in LA.

I still like the idea of him as being a backup pg.

 

[Chaplin]

I love the idea of Payton as Nash's backup. He's old, but he does still have some of that old athleticism. He's not as good a defender, but he's still twice the defender that Nash is.

The problem is that he'll be too expensive.

 

[Joe Mama]

I got the chance to closely watch several Boston Celtics games last year. On the court Gary Payton would be a perfect backup for Steve Nash. He is still very good at pushing the ball up the court.

I like that break down with the minutes. If Gary Payton was the backup I would have no problem with limiting Steve Nash to just over 30 minutes per game. I also think Shawn Marion could get cut down to about 35 minutes per game. The Phoenix Suns will obviously bring in some more free agents who could use a few minutes.

Joe Mama

 

[elindholm]

With these minutes, this would allow us to trade: Barbosa and Jackson.

Wait a minute. You want to trade Jackson in order to free up minutes for Payton? I just can't agree with that.

I doubt the Suns have any interest in Payton. Payton might be interested in the Suns, but that's not the same thing. He can still play, but he's not an accurate enough shooter.

 

[Joe Mama]

With these minutes, this would allow us to trade: Barbosa and Jackson.

Wait a minute. You want to trade Jackson in order to free up minutes for Payton? I just can't agree with that.

I doubt the Suns have any interest in Payton. Payton might be interested in the Suns, but that's not the same thing. He can still play, but he's not an accurate enough shooter.

I can't believe I didn't notice that Jim Jackson didn't get any minutes in that scenario. Forget that. I really like Jackson. Given the choice between Gary Payton and Jim Jackson I think I would rather have the latter.

Joe Mama

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Haven't you guys learned yet? The Colangelo's would NEVER pick up Payton whose reputation as a disruptive force in the locker room and his abrasive attitude don't mesh with the Colangelo's 'character' guys. It ain't going to happen.

Haven't you paid attention yet? The Suns heavily recruited Payton when he was released from the Hawks, as did the Heat.

They wanted him last season for a title run, I can see them wanting him now.

The only thing that worries me is that I would need 100% assurance he would be fine with his role for 100 games - and I don't think that would happen.

 

[corrado]

Hey Grahamcracker

I don't know where you got that they recruited Payton. I don't have any knowledge of that either way so I won't dispute it. I'm just telling you it ain't going to happen.

Payton beats to his own drummer and he IS devisive. They ain't going to risk team chemistry when there are guys out there less expensive that can give Nash 10/12 minutes a game and are not locker room distractions. Whether you believe that or not is your choice.

 

[Dr. Dumas]

I think Payton understands his role. He knows that he is older and is not going to come into many situations where a title contending team doesn't already have a starting pg. In the article, he specifically said that he wouldn't mind being a backup pg. He mentioned the Suns because of the run and gun system, which is the same style as he would like to play.

 

[Amare32]

Haven't you guys learned yet? The Colangelo's would NEVER pick up Payton whose reputation as a disruptive force in the locker room and his abrasive attitude don't mesh with the Colangelo's 'character' guys. It ain't going to happen.

If that was the case why did they try and sign him when he got released by Atlanta?

 

[HooverDam]

I agree that the Suns normally try to only bring in "character" guys. But sometimes, if they think the guy will help them win, they over look that. Maybe you remember this fellow named Barkley. Had a big mouth, threw people out of bar windows, etc.

 

[asudevil83]

i'd offer Payton the LLE, or MAYBE half the MLE. we would then either trade Barbosa, or slide him to the SG slot. JJax would then be moved to backup SF.

Thomas/
Amare/
Marion/JJax
JJ/Barbs
Nash/Payton

we'd have some play around with the other part of the MLE and the LLE or the full MLE depending on what we'd offer. sounds decent to me.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I don't know where you got that they recruited Payton. I don't have any knowledge of that either way so I won't dispute it. I'm just telling you it ain't going to happen.

Payton beats to his own drummer and he IS devisive. They ain't going to risk team chemistry when there are guys out there less expensive that can give Nash 10/12 minutes a game and are not locker room distractions. Whether you believe that or not is your choice.

I'm pretty sure everyone herre but you remembers the Suns heavily going after Payton and not getting him after he was waived. As far as the Suns never going after guys with dubious character - what do you call Charles Barkley after he spit on a little girl? Or Jason Kidd who had a histoyr of being devisive in Dallas AND had a prior history of domestic abuse (or was it a hit and run in college?).

That being said - I don't think it will happen - but not because of the reason you stated.

 

[Yuma]

Haven't you guys learned yet? The Colangelo's would NEVER pick up Payton whose reputation as a disruptive force in the locker room and his abrasive attitude don't mesh with the Colangelo's 'character' guys. It ain't going to happen.

Maybe the Sarver's and Kerr's would?