Going shopping: 2012 Free Agency

[ASUCHRIS]

What we saw was a rookie playing a power position who didn't immediately learn how to stay out of foul trouble.

And, so far, he has closed some good games for us, right from the start.

I defer to what his Coach thinks about him.

What his coach thinks about him? Thanks for proving my point, after starting him for a couple games, he went right back to the bench because he was terrible as a starter.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Right on, BC.

Still waiting for you to back up your position. Not holding my breath.

 

[Mainstreet]

I hate to make this comparison, but Markieff Morris' game resembles Channing Frye's game. Nothing wrong with it but they both look like they would be good value if they are backup PFs.

 

[jagu]

Kris Humphries. Dude is a hard working SOB who plays smart and that's the type of talent you want on your team.

 

[slinslin]

Eric Gordon is a borderline allstar player nothing more than that. He will never be worth close to the max considering how many games he is missing every year.

The only reason Eric Gordon gets hype is because the shooting guard position in the NBA is currently very weak.

 

[Mainstreet]

Just reading a tidbit from a Paul Coro article dated 2-22-12 at azcentral. One thing seems to becoming clear. If the Suns do not trade Nash this season he will likely be one of their big name FA signings in the off season and for all the money that entails.

Nash talk

Nash told the Associated Press that he "definitely would re-sign with the Suns," meaning he would consider the possibility after he becomes a free agent in the off-season.

But he said if the Suns do not want to pay his worth, they would be doing so "at their own peril."

On how much longer he will play, Nash said, "When people ask me, I just say I can play a couple more years. I could say three more years. Who knows? Maybe five. I think I could play a long time if I want to."

It may be like the season that the Suns paraded Amare Stoudemire as their draft pick when they had no selection. Major alarm bells should be going off.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/sun...uns-steve-nash-relatively-down-from-line.html

 

[Folster]

"But he said if the Suns do not want to pay his worth, they would be doing so "at their own peril."

That's a very un-Nash-like thing to say.

 

[Mainstreet]

If the Suns plan is to tie up major dollars in Nash for a number of years this alone should prompt the Suns to pursue a trade. I fear this is what Babby has planned. I like Nash but this is a seriously flawed strategy.

 

[Covert Rain]

That's a very un-Nash-like thing to say.

WOW. I agree. Very un-Nash-like. Maybe that is Steve's way of saying right off the bat....I want to play here and be here but don't think your going to underpay what I am worth.

That is a clear message IMO.

 

[BC867]

What his coach thinks about him? Thanks for proving my point, after starting him for a couple games, he went right back to the bench because he was terrible as a starter.

Or did he go back to the second unit because, as a raw rookie, he hadn't mastered the skill of staying out of foul trouble?

Gentry used him as a closer even after he went back to starting Frye. That says a lot about what the Coach thinks of the rookie.

I know we are in the age of instant gratification, but c'mon, Morris is a young, versatile Power Forward who looks to be solid for the future.

We should throw him away because he is not yet All League in the first half of a shortened season (with an almost non-existent pre-season)?

 

[JustWinBaby]

That's a very un-Nash-like thing to say.

I don't think so.

I love Nash like most everyone on the planet.

He has chosen to the highest bidder when given the choice in the past.

He left Dallas for more money and stayed with us for his current contract becuase we offerred the most money.

That does not make him a bad guy. He has done what anyone would do, given the choice.

He gave Cuban and Dallas no hometown discount and did not sign his current contract immediately when given the chance. I expect his agent found out what he was worth from the teams that wanted him and that he would play for. Phoenix offerred the most, so he stayed a Sun.

I expect the same thing will happen this summer. He will go to the highest bidder.

That team will probably be Phoenix.

 

[BC867]

I expect the same thing will happen this summer. He will go to the highest bidder.

That team will probably be Phoenix.

It doesn't matter what the Suns do during the regular season. As long as we put someone in the All Star game.

When I was younger, banks used to give away toasters for opening an account. Financial decisions based on a toaster.

Now the banker is basing everything on one day a year.

 

[Lorenzo]

Should be interesting as far as the big names go. We will see if orlando trades dwight.

 

[Covert Rain]

I don't think so.

I love Nash like most everyone on the planet.

He has chosen to the highest bidder when given the choice in the past.

He left Dallas for more money and stayed with us for his current contract becuase we offerred the most money.

That does not make him a bad guy. He has done what anyone would do, given the choice.

He gave Cuban and Dallas no hometown discount and did not sign his current contract immediately when given the chance. I expect his agent found out what he was worth from the teams that wanted him and that he would play for. Phoenix offerred the most, so he stayed a Sun.

I expect the same thing will happen this summer. He will go to the highest bidder.

That team will probably be Phoenix.

I think you are missing the point. Agree with what your saying above for the most part. Nobody would blame Nash for his stance or disagrees with Nash on the principle of wanting to get paid.

What was being said above is it's very un-Nash like to make statements in the way he did above. Nash is probably one of the most diplomatic players in the NBA. He is usually very careful about comments and they are very rarely confrontational or controversial.

I think what was meant above is the way he said it didn't sound like a typical Nash comment.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I think you are missing the point. Agree with what your saying above for the most part. Nobody would blaming Nash for his stance or disagrees with Nash on the principle of wanting to get paid.

What was being said above is it's very un-Nash like to make statements in the way he did above. Nash is probably one of the most diplomatic players in the NBA. He is usually very careful about comments and they are very rarely confrontational or controversial.

I think what was meant above is the way he said it didn't sound like a typical Nash comment.

I agree. It almost sounds like "so if you traded me to a contender, I would be OK with it."

This little dance the Suns and Nash are doing right now is quite frustrating to watch.

 

[JustWinBaby]

I think you are missing the point. Agree with what your saying above for the most part. Nobody would blame Nash for his stance or disagrees with Nash on the principle of wanting to get paid.

What was being said above is it's very un-Nash like to make statements in the way he did above. Nash is probably one of the most diplomatic players in the NBA. He is usually very careful about comments and they are very rarely confrontational or controversial.

I think what was meant above is the way he said it didn't sound like a typical Nash comment.

You are correct. Steve usually has handled situations is a more diplomatic manner in the past.

What stood out for me was that he is not about to give Sarver a hometown discount.

He shouldn't.

Sarver got rid of his buddies and teammates except one.

I think he is more pissed than anyone knows. I think that he was told that Amare was going nowhere and that they would add to the roster when he signed the most recent extension.

Sarver did not hold up his end of the bargain and left Nash with a team destined for the lottery, 2 years running.

If Nash stays Sarver will overpay or Steve will not find a team that will let him run the show the way he wants to.

I expect him back.

 

[SirStefan32]

I completely understand not trading Nash this year. It is a classy thing to do. Signing him to a new contract next summer is just plain stupid.

 

[BC867]

I completely understand not trading Nash this year. It is a classy thing to do.

I agree. Not only is it classy. It would give the Suns an opportunity to procure a starting Point Guard and have him acclimate from the start of training camp.

 

[hcsilla]

I agree. Not only is it classy. It would give the Suns an opportunity to procure a starting Point Guard and have him acclimate from the start of training camp.

Could you name please one?

 

[hcsilla]

I completely understand not trading Nash this year. It is a classy thing to do. Signing him to a new contract next summer is just plain stupid.

Completely disagree.

Resigning Steve Nash for the next season(s) is a logical consequence of keeping him this season.

Not trading him and letting him go this summer may be a classy move but would leave the Suns with even less future assets to rebuild.

 

[Budden]

I agree. It almost sounds like "so if you traded me to a contender, I would be OK with it."

This little dance the Suns and Nash are doing right now is quite frustrating to watch.

I know! It's disgusting! It's like, Nash is all "I love watching Jeremy Lin," and "I think I can play another 3-5 years in this league because I love the competition" and then reporters are like, "Have you given any thought to what your plans are for this offseason?" and then Nash is basically taunting us by saying, "Honestly, I'm more focused on getting up every making and making sure I'm ready for the day ahead," and then, to REALLY RUB IT IN to us Suns fans, he answers ANOTHER question from the media about how he "isn't satisfied with this team's record" but feels like he "owes it to his teammates to compete every night, but we'll see what happens next summer." We'll see what happens???

I know I'm not alone when I say I wish Nash would just be gone already. Obviously, if he had any decency, he would go into the Suns' front office and demand a trade to any number of teams who want to swap an expiring contract for an expiring contract. I mean, sure, that move would actually hurt the Suns, because Nash' $11mm contract actually counts as $17mm against the Suns salary cap, whereas a similarly paid player would count as $11mm.

It's just so frustrating when I look at all these smart, far-sighted teams like the Rockets, the Wizards, the Bucks, the Bobcats, the Raptors, the Pistons, the Nets, the Kings, the Warriors, and all those other teams that are following the tried-and-true "rebuilding" model.

Somebody mentioned the OKC Thunder as a model of rebuilding the right way. We should probably throw the Bulls into that mix as well. But we gotta act fast! It looks like there are a lot of bottom dwelling teams that have their laser sights on that 2022-2023 conference finals banner. Are we really willing to give up all that glory just because some of the selfish guys like Steve Nash and Grant Hill want to "try"? Like you said, JCSunsfan: so frustrating!!!

 

[AzStevenCal]

I know! It's disgusting! It's like, Nash is all "I love watching Jeremy Lin," and "I think I can play another 3-5 years in this league because I love the competition" and then reporters are like, "Have you given any thought to what your plans are for this offseason?" and then Nash is basically taunting us by saying, "Honestly, I'm more focused on getting up every making and making sure I'm ready for the day ahead," and then, to REALLY RUB IT IN to us Suns fans, he answers ANOTHER question from the media about how he "isn't satisfied with this team's record" but feels like he "owes it to his teammates to compete every night, but we'll see what happens next summer." We'll see what happens???

I know I'm not alone when I say I wish Nash would just be gone already. Obviously, if he had any decency, he would go into the Suns' front office and demand a trade to any number of teams who want to swap an expiring contract for an expiring contract. I mean, sure, that move would actually hurt the Suns, because Nash' $11mm contract actually counts as $17mm against the Suns salary cap, whereas a similarly paid player would count as $11mm.

It's just so frustrating when I look at all these smart, far-sighted teams like the Rockets, the Wizards, the Bucks, the Bobcats, the Raptors, the Pistons, the Nets, the Kings, the Warriors, and all those other teams that are following the tried-and-true "rebuilding" model.

Somebody mentioned the OKC Thunder as a model of rebuilding the right way. We should probably throw the Bulls into that mix as well. But we gotta act fast! It looks like there are a lot of bottom dwelling teams that have their laser sights on that 2022-2023 conference finals banner. Are we really willing to give up all that glory just because some of the selfish guys like Steve Nash and Grant Hill want to "try"? Like you said, JCSunsfan: so frustrating!!!

Although I'm in favor of trading Nash, I am not one of those that fault Steve in any way for having not demanded a trade. I think that responsibility falls to Management and no one else.

I just don't see how a few years of mediocrity are going to benefit this franchise in the long run. To me, bottoming out increases our chances of improving. There are no guarantees and there have been a lot of really bad teams that didn't improve all that much despite frequent trips to the lottery but it still seems a better approach than doing nothing.

Steve

 

[JS22]

The Bulls had, what, almost 15 years of garbage teams before they got lucky with Rose.

I don't think they're a model to follow.

 

[Mainstreet]

"This little dance," as JCSunsfan terms it, is well described in the Paul Coro article at azcentral dated 2-24-12.

"It's up to the team," Nash said. "I'm happy where I am. I'm not happy with our record. I feel like I made a commitment to the fans and my teammates. But at the same time, I'd understand if the team wanted to make a move, so I'm completely open. To be honest, I just occupy myself with trying to prepare to play and play as well as I can."

The Suns have made it clear that he would not be traded unless he asked for it. That is not in Nash's nature.

"I feel like it's a difficult position for me to demand a trade when I've been a part of that community for so long," Nash said in his 10th Suns season. "I really feel like I owe it to my teammates to do the best I can for the group. I don't feel like I should be demanding anything."

Without a dip in performance or passion, Nash has begun to mention playing as many as five more years if he maintains his health and desire.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/sun...nix-suns-steve-nash-nba-all-star-weekend.html

 

[AzStevenCal]

The Bulls had, what, almost 15 years of garbage teams before they got lucky with Rose.

I don't think they're a model to follow.

I don't think there is a perfect model out there to follow (other than Kate Upton). There is more than one way to build a contender but I don't think I've ever seen anyone do it by sitting around and waiting for their assets to fully depreciate. We have a boring "present" and a scary "future" and just hoping it will change because we showed loyalty to a couple of old guys doesn't seem to be the best way to fix it.

Maybe I'm wrong, perhaps their plan will actually work and they will attract quality FA's and the turnaround time will be short. In fact, I really hope I'm wrong. Unfortunately, what I think will happen is something else entirely.

If we keep Nash through the end of this season, the best we may be able to hope for is that he takes a better offer elsewhere and we bottom out next year. If we re-sign Nash during the offseason, we'll get 2 or 3 more years of uneventful basketball and then, we'll bottom out and finally begin a process that should have started no later than the day we said goodbye to Amare.

Steve