Go Babby n Blanks!
Great trade for the Suns. I was really (REALLY) worried about what a Babby/Blank FO would bring the team, especially after this summer...and this is a positive first sign. Many more tests to go, but I'm impressed.
Hedo was just a terrible pickup for this team, especially once Amare was gone. He's a talent, but has only blown up playing with a dominant defensive big like Dwight Howard. Otherwise he's an overpaid bench player with a lackadaisical attitude who needs the ball in his hands. Playing with two really good point guards in a PG system. Not a good fit. An NBA.com article on the trade quoted an anonymous Suns source saying that Hedo had started acting like he was already retired, and it was having negative impacts on Goran. Ugh - SO glad he is gone.
Earl Clark has the body to be a really good player. Suns clearly don't think he has the brains and/or the will to live up to that. He might still (he's young), but it won't be in Phoenix. Best for him to get some burn somewhere else before he loses his chance at an NBA career.
JRich has been great for the team the last year or so. Folks forget that he really took awhile to fit in. Many wanted him traded for a bag of peanuts when he first arrived. But he showed his stuff last spring. Fits well with Nash and apparently a great team player. However, he was probably not coming back (will get one more big $$ contract this summer) and was most likely to be traded due to his expiring contract and the glut of wing players. Wish him the very best in Orlando and wherever he goes from there.
We'll see what Gortat, Pietrius and VC bring. Gortat could be what the team needs. The Suns need PF/C size and rebounding badly. Gortat has shown a lot in the past when Howard was injured, but never received starter minutes since then. He could be starting within 5 games. That might actually help Lopez. Robin can still be a really solid starting NBA center on a good team, but needs more time. Centers and PGs take awhile. He's just too young to be thrown into the fire as the team's Obi-Wan Kenobi big man post-Amare.
On paper, Pietrius fits great as an athletic, defensive bench guy who can shoot the 3 (like Duds). However, he may have an attitude as he has moved around a lot of teams. I think he and the rest of the wings not named Grant Hill are all mix-n-match tradebait for a good PF. I sure hope we keep Dudley.
VC? Well...I think he may be traded by the deadline for a PF along with a wing and a draft pick, but who knows. Worst case he's gone by summer or they even buy him out. Best case is he finds the Phx Fountain of Youth and a better attitude running with Nash and Hill and crew. Which is so much better than 4 more years of Hedo phoning it in.
I think Steve Kerr did a really solid job as GM once he figured things out, but it seemed he could not negotiate a trade at all. Good talent evaluator, esp of current players, but not a negotiator. I get the sense from this trade that Babby is a negotiator. If so, thank goodness. Suns have been lacking that in the FO since Jerry stepped away.
I mean, we actually got cash and a 1st round draft pick to pay for Carter's contract buyout this summer! Amazing. That is a new thing for the Sarver years. In the past, we would have given up a few picks in this type of deal.
Be interesting to see how the new pieces gel and if another move is made soon, or waits until the trade deadline.
I hope we can rebuild enough to make another run with Nash and Hill...doubtful, but it would be amazing. Otherwise, I hope they start rebuilding the right way vs the wrong way. It will make all the difference the next decade for this team.