I'm not prepared to do a three- or four-year rebuilding period and win 25 or 30 games

[Roca Dolla]

Does he still expect Gentry to be the coach moving forward?
"I'm hopeful he will be," Sarver responded. "But there are no guarantees."
"We're not going to do something to save us a bunch of money if it causes us problems on the court going forward," Sarver said. "At this stage, I'm prepared to play with what I have. I'd rather pay the luxury tax than make a bad decision. We've paid the tax the last two years, so I'm used to it."
"I didn't get into this business to make money or sit and watch my team lose," Sarver said. "I'm not prepared to do a three- or four-year rebuilding period and win 25 or 30 games a year. I feel I'd be letting the community down. Plus, I like to win. Losing would be too difficult for me."

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/138506
​

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Much better to continue to delude ourselves into thinking if this factor or the other goes our way, we'll be right back in the mix. Time to put this group out of it's misery, if neither Shaq nor Nash is traded this offseason expect more of the same tired quotes next year about "giving the team time to gel".

 

[goldseraph]

We just have to pray Amare returns to form and stays here and stays uninjured. Then we have a SHOT at relevance over the next 5 years. If any of those conditions fails we will be the next Sacramento Kings, a bunch of young drafted players and cast-offs, and eventually a second or third-tier FA trying to make the 8 seed. However, if Amare works out great, and we get a good FA when shaq comes off the cap, good things could happen.

 

[Ninjafish]

I hope it's true, but he hasn't shown the slightest bit of committment to winning yet, selling and trading away all of our draft picks, and making dumb decision after dumb decision. He hasn't shown that he prefers to win over making money. I don't think he ever will.

 

[Chaplin]

I don't care how bad the team is, Phoenix will NEVER be as bad a market as Sacramento. No offense to people from Sacramento.

 

[Ryanwb]

We just have to pray Amare returns to form and stays here and stays uninjured. Then we have a SHOT at relevance over the next 5 years. If any of those conditions fails we will be the next Sacramento Kings, a bunch of young drafted players and cast-offs, and eventually a second or third-tier FA trying to make the 8 seed. However, if Amare works out great, and we get a good FA when shaq comes off the cap, good things could happen.

Isn't this essencially what they have done?

 

[goldseraph]

Are you referring to the Suns? What 2nd-3rd tier FA did they sign? Nash was close to a 1st tier as evidenced by his 2 MVPs, they signed him to compete for a title. It is hard to see the Suns luring a 1st tier again, they'd have to get really lucky and have cap space.

 

[Ryanwb]

Are you referring to the Suns? What 2nd-3rd tier FA did they sign? Nash was close to a 1st tier as evidenced by his 2 MVPs, they signed him to compete for a title. It is hard to see the Suns luring a 1st tier again, they'd have to get really lucky and have cap space.

in recent years?

Matt Barnes
Grant Hill
Brian Skinner
Marcus Banks
James Jones

 

[jandaman]

Pretty much... pick lesser of 2 evils.

Keep the core and entertain fans and contend for playoffs, pay luxury tax.
Hopefully, keep fans coming, keep merchandise flowing, ratings etc.


Or


Be a bottom dwelling team, 20-25 wins. With the core being shipped out for expirings.
Guaranteed to take a hit on the ratings, the fan attendance, the merchandise... etc.
Suns become irrelevant etc. Save on the luxury tax, but lose fans, lose out marketing opportunities, business potentials etc.



I know which one I will pick.


Phoenix isnt the size of LA nor New York, where even if those teams are bad or mediocre, people attend games and the team(s) still pull in marketing/business opportunities.



So signing Nash is actually a business "deal" as he is marketable for the Phoenix community, canada, etc.

Losing O'Neal or Stoudemire is more affordable...
hence If both or one goes...
I really want a decent big man like an Okafor, T.Thomas etc coming back here.
Because with Nash you know they will contribute offensively as finishers... and be handy in the defensive end...

Maybe trade for Okafor or T.Thomas.... offer Marion a 2 year contract. (Stoudemire trade).

Then trade O'Neal for Chandler + 2010 pick + filler.


You have,

C: Chandler
PF: Okafor or T.Thomas
SF: Marion
SG: Richardson
PG: Nash

as your starters.... SSOL back in motion with versatile defenders... looks very good on paper.

Then you have Barbosa, Lopez, Dragic, Hill (hopefully), Barnes (might leave), Tucker + filler that comes with the O'Neal and Stoudemire trades...


Looks good?

 

[carey]

C: Chandler
PF: Okafor or T.Thomas
SF: Marion
SG: Richardson
PG: Nash

No.

 

[elindholm]

Everyone understands that you can't be a good team just by wanting to, right? There are 29 other teams in the league trying to be good too. Well, okay, a few are just trying to make payroll, but at least 25 are trying to be good.

 

[Covert Rain]

I would rather of 3 years of bad basketball if that foundation gives us a good defensive team for years to come after that. Without that we are not going to win a title anyway. Scoring 120+ points a night and retooling year after year around that philosophy would be even more torture.

 

[TBaslim]

I hope it's true, but he hasn't shown the slightest bit of committment to winning yet, selling and trading away all of our draft picks, and making dumb decision after dumb decision. He hasn't shown that he prefers to win over making money. I don't think he ever will.

Piffle. This is not true.

Look - I'm not a huge Sarver fan, but he has shown a commitment to winning. He spent money to build and keep the current team. He took on payroll for Shaq.

Now, it was pound foolish to trade away draft picks, and hopefully they learned their lesson.

But to call him totally cheap with zero commitment to winning is ludicrous. He's not Donald Sterling...

 

[Mulli]

I don't care how bad the team is, Phoenix will NEVER be as bad a market as Sacramento. No offense to people from Sacramento.

Phoenix will need way more cowbell to be as bad as Sactown

 

[lou_skywalker]

Oh yes, Mr. Sarver, a master of good words

 

[devilalum]

Pretty much... pick lesser of 2 evils.

Keep the core and entertain fans and contend for playoffs, pay luxury tax.
Hopefully, keep fans coming, keep merchandise flowing, ratings etc.


Or


Be a bottom dwelling team, 20-25 wins. With the core being shipped out for expirings.
Guaranteed to take a hit on the ratings, the fan attendance, the merchandise... etc.
Suns become irrelevant etc. Save on the luxury tax, but lose fans, lose out marketing opportunities, business potentials etc.

Option #3

Keep the core and win 20-25 games.
Don't laugh, it could happen.

 

[elindholm]

...

Or


Be a bottom dwelling team, 20-25 wins. With the core being shipped out for expirings.

What planet are you on? The Suns' core is already expiring contracts. Nash is expiring, O'Neal is expiring, and Stoudemire is a free agent in two years at the most. If the Suns make a major trade, they'll get back exactly what any team wants to exchange for expiring contracts: long-term deals of questionable value for unwanted players.

 

[Mainstreet]

What planet are you on? The Suns' core is already expiring contracts. Nash is expiring, O'Neal is expiring, and Stoudemire is a free agent in two years at the most. If the Suns make a major trade, they'll get back exactly what any team wants to exchange for expiring contracts: long-term deals of questionable value for unwanted players.

IMO, the key to taking on some unwanted contracts is to get some players that still have some value (although probably over-paid with longer contracts), especially get some picks to go with it, nurture the young players under contract and to have solid drafts. I think the reason the Suns keep Nash, is that he can still lead the Suns to winning records or at least provide entertainment value until the Suns can hopefully restock the team with some young talent.

I think the key domino is if the Suns can move Shaq (an expiring contract) and get some overpaid talent in return plus a pick. I'm thinking of Tyson Chandler + filler + a first round pick. There is not any guarantee even if the Suns totally wanted to rebuild now they would be any better in 3-5 years. I guess if I were going to list players that I would try to move to get better it would start with Shaq, then look at the market for Stoudemire and Jason Richardson.


___________________________________

 

[ASUCHRIS]

A Chandler deal seems like a much more likely possibility with his performance during the Nuggets series. Clearly he was injured, but if our training staff signed off on it, I'd be more than willing to have him as their next reclamation project.

 

[Folster]

I am.

I'd rather pull the band-aid off quickly. This team as presently constituted is going nowhere. We must rebuild!

 

[jandaman]

What planet are you on? The Suns' core is already expiring contracts. Nash is expiring, O'Neal is expiring, and Stoudemire is a free agent in two years at the most. If the Suns make a major trade, they'll get back exactly what any team wants to exchange for expiring contracts: long-term deals of questionable value for unwanted players.

Mainstreet elaborated further on what i meant.

Take in players with 2-3 year contracts (smaller than the Sun's outgoing contracts) however add in expirings with those contracts coming in.

The Chandler + Daniels for O'neal is a good example.

Chandler has 2 more seasons, but Daniels expires.

That way the Suns have some valuable assets for 2011 or 2012... more expirings.

 

[SirStefan32]

Mainstreet elaborated further on what i meant.

Take in players with 2-3 year contracts (smaller than the Sun's outgoing contracts) however add in expirings with those contracts coming in.

The Chandler + Daniels for O'neal is a good example.

Chandler has 2 more seasons, but Daniels expires.

That way the Suns have some valuable assets for 2011 or 2012... more expirings.

But what exactly is the point of expiring contracts in 2011/2012 when you can have expiring contracts in 2009 and 2010?

 

[jandaman]

Just in case the Suns need picks, or fillers to complement the team. Expirings every seasons are handy... I think it is anyways.. unless its your best players...

 

[Ninjafish]

I am.

I'd rather pull the band-aid off quickly. This team as presently constituted is going nowhere. We must rebuild!

You'd rather pull the band aid off of a little scratch and then cut your arm off?

 

[KloD]

Name me a team that has gone deep in the playoffs after a 3 to 4 year rebuild. I can't think of one, not in that short of time. Not that I'm against rebuilding, but it would certainly lead to Amare leaving either on his own without anything in return, or a lousy trade since nobody offered much when he was on the block. No player of top value is going to sign without a foundation. The Suns have to choose between starting over and giving it several years, not 3 or 4 or retooling with a trade or two and hoping they can get more than they give. This team is in a hole, a deep one.