If Q Gone, what about . . .

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

If the clips match Q, what about his good banging the forehead buddy . . . miles? the talk on the other thread about the trades w/ portland got me thinking about this. miles is still very young at 23, and extremely athletic, is a good ball handler and passer, and IS 6'9. he's an excellent perimeter defender too. i think he'd be a pretty good consolation if we lose Q.

does anyone know what miles is asking for? could we sign to a contract less than Q's? who else is pursuing him? i know the nugs were interested, but they've gotta be out now that the martin thing has gone down.

anyone have any feelings on this?

 

[wsupkid]

Miles has a lot of potential but if he doesnt grow up soon nobody will want him.

He isnt worth Qs money at all.

 

[elindholm]

Another possible backup plan is Stromile Swift, although Memphis would probably match and it would waste another two weeks to find out.

 

[coloradosun]

I would only take Miles if we have Q. They want to play together and I think they can keep each other in check.

If Q is retained by the Suns, I guarentee that Miles will threaten Portland with not signing an offer sheet with any team and opting out next summer. So the Blazers will be put in a postion to trade him and getting Marion in return will offset the loss.

 

[Dave64]

Are you suggrsting a Miles for Marion straight up trade? If you are, that would be really bad for the Suns. Marion is tons better than Miles. Now, Marion and fillers for Miles and Ratliff, then I would be interested.

 

[coloradosun]

Are you suggrsting a Miles for Marion straight up trade? If you are, that would be really bad for the Suns. Marion is tons better than Miles. Now, Marion and fillers for Miles and Ratliff, then I would be interested.

No, just Marion as a replacement for Miles, again my original thread included Theo.

 

[Yuma]

More like Miles for Zarko would be a better exchange.

However, I think Q NOT coming to Phoenix is a real tragedy!! I want to see Brandy at the Suns games!!

 

[coloradosun]

Just went to the Oregonian website and hooked up on the Blazerblog

Blazers have found the market soft for SAR and probably retain him for the season.

Miles is unhappy with negotiations and will probably sign the qualifying offer of 5.4 M for next year.

So if they can't find a taker for SAR and Miles will probably leave next year as an UFA what are they going to do? They have to do something if Miles signs a one year and becomes UFA, that would be 6 expiring contracts next summer. Mid season trade will only help later on in the season.

 

[George O'Brien]

I think the Blazers will be a team to contend with this season even if they don't make any major moves. They have a solid though not outstanding starting lineup:

C - Ratliff
PF - Randolph
SF - SAR/Miles
SG - Anderson
PG - Stoudamire

Anderson was injured a lot and had a bad year, but otherwise they look pretty good and have some depth. They came on strong late in the season and should be better.

One guy the Suns might get cheap is Stephania. He actually showed some promise in 2003-03 in Miami when he averaged 7 rpg in only 20 minutes, but did not play much with the Blazers (just over 10 minutes a game in 42 games). He only makes $1.1 million.

 

[coloradosun]

I just think that the Blazers would be happy with Davis and Stepania. Theo is the only tradeable commodity. SAR market has been soft an

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Colorado, why do you think the Blazers are freaking out about having 6 expiring deals?

They planned it that way. Next summer they will have the most cap room out of any team. The Suns did the same thing for this past year, and it worked out pretty good.

 

[slinslin]

If we get Q and Miles gets the qualifying offer we would surely get Miles for the MLE next year to join Q so we would easily afford to trade Marion this year.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

If we get Q and Miles gets the qualifying offer we would surely get Miles for the MLE next year to join Q so we would easily afford to trade Marion this year.

There is a good chance of that. Unless of course Miles continues his play from late last year through next season. He could easily get his value to skyrocket if he cebomes 3/4 the player people thought he would be........

 

[coloradosun]

If we get Q and Miles gets the qualifying offer we would surely get Miles for the MLE next year to join Q so we would easily afford to trade Marion this year.

The Oregonian said that is what Miles will most likely do, he has been offered the qualifying offer and will return for one more year. That leads me to believe he wants to be traded this season to join Q or next year sign with the team that has Q. If he signs that deal, we won't have to worry about a sign and trade deal.

I just see a great rotation of Miles (6th man), Q, and JJ. If JJ is on the bench, Q and Miles are on the floor. If Q is on the bench JJ and Miles are on the floor. If we are behind put CJ out there and let him toss up some 3's.

 

[George O'Brien]

Right now Miles will get the same amount on the last year of his contract as Q on the first of his. Next year he will either get a lot more or a lot less, depending on how well he plays. If he plays like he did in Cleveland, then it will be a lot less.

I find it odd that Miles should be so popular in that his period of good play is shorter than JJ's. With JJ, his problems have been entirely his shooting - he has always played very good defense, rebounded, passed the ball, and played hard. In a high energy offense, JJ should thrive and put up some very good numbers. Yet there are people who think JJ is certain to revert to his poor play of early last season.

By contrast, Miles has always been accused of not playing hard for his entire career. What makes anyone think he will keep playing hard once he gets a long term contract?

 

[elindholm]

I am definitely not in favor of getting Miles.

 

[panfolk]

I am definitely not in favor of getting Miles.

you especially gotta wonder if the C's and Sarver would want him after the strip club fight in Portland (cleared of charges) and getting pulled over in a car with the driver carrying weed and a gun

 

[Gaddabout]

I'm wondering, if the Clips retain Q, if the Suns shouldn't bow out of the free-agent market and simply start negotiating with JJ. Throwing a medium-sized bone now might be better than waiting to see if he's going to raise his game for a bigger-sized contract next year.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I'm wondering, if the Clips retain Q, if the Suns shouldn't bow out of the free-agent market and simply start negotiating with JJ. Throwing a medium-sized bone now might be better than waiting to see if he's going to raise his game for a bigger-sized contract next year.

It is possible, but unlikely. Negotiating with JJ now (and signing an extension) will not have an effect on our cap situation this summer. JJ is already under contract for next season on his team option off his rookie deal. If an extension is signed (now or later) it will go on 2005's salary structure.

I am pretty sure the suns want to give JJ some time next season to show if he is worth it.

 

[George O'Brien]

If the Clippers match, I can see several scenerios:

1. Sign a center like Ostertag to a short term deal. His price may have gone down since Utah has signed Collins as well as Okur.

2. Wait for a trade possibility in a three way deal using the cap space.

3. Look to deal with a team that wants to unload a guy with an expiring contract that wants to get under the luxury tax limit (such as what happened with Googs being traded to the Jazz). This could be a straight deal for a guy making $6 million or someone making up to $12 million if they take back Eisley in the deal in the way the Jazz unloaded Keon Clark.

On this last option, there are only a few teams in position to make this work. Dale Davis in Portland ($9 million), Nick Van Exel in GS ($11.6 million), and Glen Robinson in Philadelphia ($12 million). NVE and the Big Dog are not attractive for innumerable reasons.

Dale Davis in this context is very attractive to Phoenix, but the price difference between him and Eisley is not enough. It would only give Portland just $2.6 million in cap relief. They could probably get the full $9 million in a deal with the Clippers or Hawks.

 

[PhxGametime]

How much would Phoenix have left in caproom, if Clippers match? New Jersey has been interested in sending Ason Kidd to a team with capspace, perhaps a 3-way: sending Kidd to ____ and Suns trading parts (capspace, Eisley, Draft rights to Vujanic, Chicago Draft pick, Cabarkapa, Lampe, or Voskuhl etc.) Not sure what Kidd would fetch though in a trade??

 

[George O'Brien]

How much would Phoenix have left in caproom, if Clippers match? New Jersey has been interested in sending Ason Kidd to a team with capspace, perhaps a 3-way: sending Kidd to ____ and Suns trading parts (capspace, Eisley, Draft rights to Vujanic, Chicago Draft pick, Cabarkapa, Lampe, or Voskuhl etc.) Not sure what Kidd would fetch though in a trade??

Until Kidd is proven healthy, no one will touch him. In any case, he has an impossibly large contract no matter how someone deals with it.

That being said, there are going to be some cap moves. Some of the teams that are over $55 million (per Hoopshype) include:

Boston - $55.8 million
Dallas - $88.7 million
Indiana - $57.1 million
Lakers - $57.3 million
Memphis - $57.9 million
Minnesota - $58.1 million
New Jersey - $58.0 million
New York - $97.1 million
Philadelphia - $68.1 million
Portland - $73.0 million

 

[The Commish]

Im glad people are starting to realize what an idiot Isiah Thomas is. Everyone was praising him in NY when he made the Marbury trade, yet now all he has is a bunch of overpaid stiffs with very little flexibility.

 

[Joe Mama]

Im glad people are starting to realize what an idiot Isiah Thomas is. Everyone was praising him in NY when he made the Marbury trade, yet now all he has is a bunch of overpaid stiffs with very little flexibility.

I have been criticizing Isaiah Thomas from the get-go. I do believe they are overpaying Erick Dampier, but at this point it doesn't matter for the New York Knicks. They are so far over the salary cap and luxury tax and locked into horrible contracts it doesn't matter. If they are healthy I think New York will actually have good team. However for $100 million they really ought to have two very good teams.

Joe Mama

 

[George O'Brien]

I have been criticizing Isaiah Thomas from the get-go. I do believe they are overpaying Erick Dampier, but at this point it doesn't matter for the New York Knicks. They are so far over the salary cap and luxury tax and locked into horrible contracts it doesn't matter. If they are healthy I think New York will actually have good team. However for $100 million they really ought to have two very good teams.

Joe Mama

It may even get worse. They are now talking about trading Hardaway to the Bulls and taking back even longer deals from Chicago as part of the Crawford deal.