IF Mike leaves, who do you want to see coaching this team?

[FullBony]

You do know that Marion was essentially a one year rental at the time of the trade, right?

I do. But we would have been better suited either trading for a viable, younger option (eg Gasol!) or just riding out Marion's contract. I was not wholly against trading Marion, just who we got in return.

I have been a suns fan for thirty years, twenty of them die hard. I am so angry at management. They managed to take our team, one of the most exciting and loved in NBA history, and flush them down the toilet. In one fell swoop we changed our philosophy, added $40 million for a bench player, and lost a coach. Good work Kerr. I even knew Gasol was on the block from Texas. Who didn't? The dream team of Kerr and Sarver apparently.

But that's all in the past. I just hope they realize that they're not a coach or a player away from a championship, but two or three players (plus) a great coach away. We need a talented, intelligent, European coach in here to right the ship and set the franchise up for years to come. We all know it won't happen though.

 

[Chaplin]

I do. But we would have been better suited either trading for a viable, younger option (eg Gasol!) or just riding out Marion's contract. I was not wholly against trading Marion, just who we got in return.

It was generally known around the league that Marion would NOT opt out of his contract. That was a given considering nobody would give him his asking price instead. That is not something Memphis was prepared to accept for Gasol. Instead, they got an expensive player who gets off the books this summer. I wish people would stop deluding themselves thinking that we could have gotten Pau Gasol for Shawn Marion.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

It was generally known around the league that Marion would NOT opt out of his contract. That was a given considering nobody would give him his asking price instead. That is not something Memphis was prepared to accept for Gasol. Instead, they got an expensive player who gets off the books this summer. I wish people would stop deluding themselves thinking that we could have gotten Pau Gasol for Shawn Marion.

A better question is why did we end up with an even worse contract for a washed up player? Marion's contract may have not been expiering but it should had gotten us something better than a player 2 years past his prime with 40 million left on his deal.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

The most prevalent defense for Sarver and Kerr is "I hope", that's where it is and those people that have hope will tear your threads apart, if anything to justify to themselves, that the Suns have the best owner possible right now.

It would be funny to see the massive exodus from Sarver if he ever sells the team, I am willing to bet the former Sarver defenders will be leading the charge against Sarver and even accusing fans like me and Chris of not going at Sarver hard enough and questioning if we are real fans or not! It happens all the time here, stating with Frank Johnson.

 

[elindholm]

How do you all feel about EJ he seems very knowledgable about the game

I'm not saying Johnson isn't knowledgable, but has anyone here ever found his comments actually insightful? All he does is say the same things that many of the more knowledgeable posters on this board say. Aside from his experience as a player, what makes him a more qualified coach than one of us? I mean, sure, once in a while he says something intelligent on the air, but I have never once thought to myself, "Wow, that's really a good point, I sure didn't notice that."

 

[mojorizen7]

I'm not saying Johnson isn't knowledgable, but has anyone here ever found his comments actually insightful? All he does is say the same things that many of the more knowledgeable posters on this board say. Aside from his experience as a player, what makes him a more qualified coach than one of us? I mean, sure, once in a while he says something intelligent on the air, but I have never once thought to myself, "Wow, that's really a good point, I sure didn't notice that."

Actually yes...example would be something as simple as when on defense against a Ginobli, Finley,or a Derek Fisher EJ will point out the obvious(like you said)and point out that whomevers guarding these guys should force them to drive left...or drive right because they can't go the other way.
Well my point is that these are BASIC defensive preperations that D'Antoni and co obviously either didn't address, or didn't stress enough.
EJ's been running basketball camps for kids & teens for years so the desire to teach is there.
Also, i find EJ's apparent philosophy of going with what's working until it's not working anymore efficiently brilliant. Many of the great coaches will go to the well until its dry and be ready for plan B.
Look....we're gonna suck for 2 yrs anyway so why not go with a fresh face and and an guy who has made it clear(to me) that he understands the importance of guys having roles on a team...and that Amare is our go-to-guy, so always sharing the ball and spreading the wealth isn't always a good thing.
Just sayin' EJ intrigues me. If this team had a chance to re-tool this summer for another championship run then i'd feel differently about it.

 

[sly fly]

Actually yes...example would be something as simple as when on defense against a Ginobli, Finley,or a Derek Fisher EJ will point out the obvious(like you said)and point out that whomevers guarding these guys should force them to drive left...or drive right because they can't go the other way.
Well my point is that these are BASIC defensive preperations that D'Antoni and co obviously either didn't address, or didn't stress enough.
EJ's been running basketball camps for kids & teens for years so the desire to teach is there.
Also, i find EJ's apparent philosophy of going with what's working until it's not working anymore efficiently brilliant. Many of the great coaches will go to the well until its dry and be ready for plan B.
Look....we're gonna suck for 2 yrs anyway so why not go with a fresh face and and an guy who has made it clear(to me) that he understands the importance of guys having roles on a team...and that Amare is our go-to-guy, so always sharing the ball and spreading the wealth isn't always a good thing.
Just sayin' EJ intrigues me. If this team had a chance to re-tool this summer for another championship run then i'd feel differently about it.

EJ is going to be one helluva coach. He understands NBA players.

Provided with the right supporting cast of assistants, I think Eddie would flourish.

 

[Bufalay]

It was generally known around the league that Marion would NOT opt out of his contract. That was a given considering nobody would give him his asking price instead. That is not something Memphis was prepared to accept for Gasol. Instead, they got an expensive player who gets off the books this summer. I wish people would stop deluding themselves thinking that we could have gotten Pau Gasol for Shawn Marion.

how about for Kurt Thomas?

 

[TheKid_1]

Barkley...anyone...anyone...Barkley....anyone...anyone?

 

[Chaplin]

how about for Kurt Thomas?

Gasol certainly wasn't as available when we had Kurt Thomas. But I would say that Memphis would have jumped on that this season. Unfortunately, we had already traded him to Seattle before Gasol was truly available for peanuts.

 

[Rekindled]

would be nice if we can get pat riley to come out of retirement but the shaq problem..

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Gasol certainly wasn't as available when we had Kurt Thomas. But I would say that Memphis would have jumped on that this season. Unfortunately, we had already traded him to Seattle before Gasol was truly available for peanuts.

If we would have kept KT until the trade deadline, as his salary wouldnt have affected the tax until then, we could have not only used him in the regular season but also given Memphis a more attractive offer of KT, ATL 08(which looked like a lottery pick in January) and our 2010, all while keeping our 08 and could still do Marion+Banks for something.

I just cant think of another situation where you have to give away an expiring contract with picks and only get cash in return.