just curious

[elindholm]

Let's say the Knicks have decided their season is lost, and Carmelo Anthony makes it known that he's planning to opt out and jump ship this summer. Somehow his agent lets it be known that Anthony would be amenable to signing an extension in Phoenix. Do you make this trade?

Phoenix gets
Carmelo Anthony (21.5, player option 2015)

New York gets
Emeka Okafor (14.5, 2014)
Markieff Morris (2.2, RFA 2015)
Marcus Morris (2.1, RFA 2015)
PHO first-round pick 2014
another future (2015 or 16) mid- to late-first-round pick

 

[JCSunsfan]

I want no part if Carmelo Anthony regardless of the cost. This team has great chemistry now. We need to add a player that fits in to that chemistry. It is not Carmelo.

I would not take him for free.

 

[95pro]

Heck no.

 

[Suns_fan69]

I'm a solid no to Anthony as well. The biggest reason is that his play style really doesn't fit into what the Suns have going on currently, and defensively is another big minus. He needs the ball to be effective, and with Bledsoe and Dragic handling so much, I'm not sure it'll work.

Also, he's 29 already, and is going to have a contract starting at 24 million a year. Yeesh.

 

[devilalum]

Carmelo is a top 10 talent with the emotional IQ of a 5 year old.
I don't think he's capable of changing his attitude.

Right now the Suns are very similar to the Knicks team that was on a roll before they traded for Melo and started their decline.

 

[Chaz]

I would not pursue him in FA much less give up assets to acquire him.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'd be interested in Tyson Chandler for Okafor and a couple of draft picks but not Anthony. I'm not a fan of him but even if I were, I don't think he'd be a good addition to this team. He needs the ball in his hands and far too often that ball never leaves his possession until he's ready to shoot. His rebounding would be nice but otherwise he's a bad fit and that's before you throw in his contract.

In addition to the above, I'd be strongly opposed to this deal because of what we'd lose. I just don't think people are giving the Morris brothers enough credit for our current success. They have improved dramatically in such a short period of time and I see no reason to not expect continued improvement. The two of them together are such a unique weapon and pose all kinds of problems for their opponents. Giving them away for a possible one year rental might go down in the books as our biggest blunder.

Steve

 

[devilalum]

I'd be interested in Tyson Chandler for Okafor and a couple of draft picks but not Anthony.

I was thinkin about something like this too. IMO if the Suns don't trade a pick or two they're going to end up selling them this summer. Every player on the team doesn't have to fit into the long term plan. Part of the long term plan has to be finding rent-a-players to fill rolls on a yearly basis.

 

[Zobaczcie suki]

Let's say the Knicks have decided their season is lost, and Carmelo Anthony makes it known that he's planning to opt out and jump ship this summer. Somehow his agent lets it be known that Anthony would be amenable to signing an extension in Phoenix. Do you make this trade?

Phoenix gets
Carmelo Anthony (21.5, player option 2015)

New York gets
Emeka Okafor (14.5, 2014)
Markieff Morris (2.2, RFA 2015)
Marcus Morris (2.1, RFA 2015)
PHO first-round pick 2014
another future (2015 or 16) mid- to late-first-round pick

No and Hell no.

 

[elindholm]

Well I was expecting a negative reaction, but the intensity of it is a surprise. I guess Anthony's reputation is even worse than I thought.

 

[elindholm]

I'd be interested in Tyson Chandler for Okafor and a couple of draft picks but not Anthony.

So, the Suns give up an aging, usually injured, defense-only center, plus picks, for an aging, usually injured, defense-only center? Sign me up!

 

[zett]

I have to agree with everyone else on this one, melo is just not a team player.

 

[Sunburn]

Carmelo is what he is at this point. He is an exceptional offensive talent but not an NBA championship caliber franchise player. Defense, defense, defense...

 

[Errntknght]

I like to go against the crowd but in this case I'll just add my voice to theirs... no and Hell no! Now if they needed a third party to facilitate a trade I'd be glad for us to help... at the price of, say, Hardaway. I like Prigioni but I don't think he's a fit for our team... could be wrong about that. He's very efficient offensively so he'd be an upgrade on Ish if he can push the ball. Shumpert would be another possibility.

 

[Superbone]

I'm curious why you're asking the question. Do YOU think Carmelo is worth acquiring? I'm with the others in that I want no part of him and that he is the antithesis of the type of players we (McDonough/Hornacek) are looking for.

 

[elindholm]

I'm curious why you're asking the question. Do YOU think Carmelo is worth acquiring?

No, it just occurred to me that the Knicks are imploding and that it was a possible scenario. The Suns are loading up on medium-value assets for a potential situation in which a big name becomes available. I was wondering what kinds of possibilities might be out there. Superficially, the circumstances are similar to when the Suns acquired Barkley in 1992.

 

[devilalum]

No, it just occurred to me that the Knicks are imploding and that it was a possible scenario. The Suns are loading up on medium-value assets for a potential situation in which a big name becomes available. I was wondering what kinds of possibilities might be out there. Superficially, the circumstances are similar to when the Suns acquired Barkley in 1992.

Melo ain't no Barkley. Barkley was one of the 3 best players in the league. If we could trade for Durant that would be the rough equivalent of Barkley circa 1992.

 

[AzStevenCal]

So, the Suns give up an aging, usually injured, defense-only center, plus picks, for an aging, usually injured, defense-only center? Sign me up!

Tyson is 7 million cheaper this year and 9 million cheaper next season. My deal wouldn't cause us to give up a pair of players that I believe are critical to our success. On top of that, Tyson fills a real need and adds championship experience to our locker room. I would prefer to get him for less but I doubt that happens. We'd be giving up a player that has never suited up for us plus two of our less valuable picks, assuming the training staff has interest.

I'd make a similar kind of offer to try and get Noah if Chicago decides to blow it up, although his playing status and contract likely puts him out of our reach. I wouldn't move any of our core players this season. I would loosely define core players as Dragic, Bledsoe, Plumlee, Morris, Morris & Tucker. I wouldn't put Green in that group just yet but I certainly wouldn't give him up as filler for a trade.

Steve

 

[Suns_fan69]

In addition to the above, I'd be strongly opposed to this deal because of what we'd lose. I just don't think people are giving the Morris brothers enough credit for our current success. They have improved dramatically in such a short period of time and I see no reason to not expect continued improvement. The two of them together are such a unique weapon and pose all kinds of problems for their opponents. Giving them away for a possible one year rental might go down in the books as our biggest blunder.

I totally agree on the take about the Morris brothers, but, this is precisely the reason the Suns will likely have to give him up in any deal for a 'star'; they're young, on rookie contracts, and improving.

If we consider both Dragic and Bledsoe to be untouchable, they're the most coveted players on the team. I guess you could make a case for Frye, but it'd have to be for the right team.

 

[Mainstreet]

Tyson is 7 million cheaper this year and 9 million cheaper next season. My deal wouldn't cause us to give up a pair of players that I believe are critical to our success. On top of that, Tyson fills a real need and adds championship experience to our locker room. I would prefer to get him for less but I doubt that happens. We'd be giving up a player that has never suited up for us plus two of our less valuable picks, assuming the training staff has interest.

I'd make a similar kind of offer to try and get Noah if Chicago decides to blow it up, although his playing status and contract likely puts him out of our reach. I wouldn't move any of our core players this season. I would loosely define core players as Dragic, Bledsoe, Plumlee, Morris, Morris & Tucker. I wouldn't put Green in that group just yet but I certainly wouldn't give him up as filler for a trade.

Steve

Maybe I'm missing something but the salaries of Okafor and Chandler are near identical 14M + this season. However, Chandler is on a two year contract and Okafor is an expiring contract. So I'm not seeing Chandler as being so much cheaper. Actually the Suns could possibly sign Okafor to a much cheaper contract next season if he were healthy. I'm not saying I don't like the idea of adding Chandler but I think the Suns can find a better bargain for 14M.

Also, I vote a definite no for going after Carmelo Anthony.

In regards to selling picks as devilalum mentioned, the Suns as a general rule should never sell picks. If they don't want to use them, trade them for a future pick(s).

 

[Cheesebeef]

nada for me.

it's too bad Portland's playing so well. Rumors were swirling in the off-season that Alridge wasn't happy there. If they were middling like they have been the last couple years, he would have been the perfect piece to go after IMO.

 

[devilalum]

If they don't want to use them, trade them for a future pick(s).

Agreed but I read somewhere that a couple of the picks the Suns sold because they didn't like any players left and nobody wanted to give up a future pick.

Hypothetically, what do you do with 4 late round picks in 2 years? You definitely don't want 4 late round guaranteed projects on your roster. Two tops but no way you draft 4! Of course these picks might end up spread out over several years but still its more likely that the Suns use these as trade chips.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Maybe I'm missing something but the salaries of Okafor and Chandler are near identical 14M + this season. However, Chandler is on a two year contract and Okafor is an expiring contract. So I'm not seeing Chandler as being so much cheaper. Actually the Suns could possibly sign Okafor to a much cheaper contract next season if he were healthy. I'm not saying I don't like the idea of adding Chandler but I think the Suns can find a better bargain for 14M.

Also, I vote a definite no for going after Carmelo Anthony.

In regards to selling picks as devilalum mentioned, the Suns as a general rule should never sell picks. If they don't want to use them, trade them for a future pick(s).

Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't make that point clear I guess. I was comparing my preference for Tyson over Eric's proposal regarding Carmelo. One of the advantages of pursuing Tyson instead of Anthony is that his contract is much better.

I have confidence in our front office (feels good to say that) so I wouldn't be surprised to see them avoid any deal that costs us one of our core players. We were just dismantled by a Spurs team and some people pointed to coaching experience as the difference and perhaps that's the case but there is no substitute for simply playing together as a unit. I really think we are on the path to contender status without making any huge moves. Keep this exact team together for two or three more years and I think they are legitimate championship contenders just from growth within. And with our picks we have a pretty fair chance of finding a Reggie Jackson or a Paul George or an Andre Drummond or an Isaiah Thomas along the way.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

Agreed but I read somewhere that a couple of the picks the Suns sold because they didn't like any players left and nobody wanted to give up a future pick.

Hypothetically, what do you do with 4 late round picks in 2 years? You definitely don't want 4 late round guaranteed projects on your roster. Two tops but no way you draft 4! Of course these picks might end up spread out over several years but still its more likely that the Suns use these as trade chips.

I expect the Suns to use some of their picks in a trade. We agree the Suns are unlikely to keep all these picks. However, I can't imagine another team not wanting to trade for a first round pick. The fact that a team can sell a first round pick proves there is a market for it. It may not be the market one would want, but there is a market. I think selling picks are generally a cop out for bad business decisions or a need for cash.

 

[Battle of Evermore]

I also say hell no to Anthony. He is an over rated team cancer. I would keep their nucleus of Dragic, Bledsoe and Plumlee together. In 1992 I hated to see Hornacek go but to get Barkley I was fine with that. I would make that trade for Kevin Love if he became available. I think he would fit in well with this team