Knicks @ Suns Friday game thread 1-3-20

[Hoop Head]

Since the Suns have a team option on Kaminsky for next season hopefully they let him walk after the season or use him in a trade.

I hope the Suns got creative with Kaminsky's team option. It would be nice if we had one of those contracts that are often viewed as assets because the team option/guarantee date is later than usual so it can be included in a trade as an asset for the other team to take on and then exercise the option. JR Smith had one last year, I believe, where his guarantee date was in mid-July so the Cav's could have dealt him and $15 million dollar salary somewhere but the other team would really be acquiring him to waive him since his guarantee was only like $3-4 million. So he was a way for someone to shed $11-12 million in salary. I'm surprised they didn't end up trading him. I know I had a little hope that the Suns could try to swap Tyler Johnson and a 2nd rounder or something for him but that didn't happen, obviously.

I tried looking up information on Kaminsky's option but couldn't find anything. I imagine it's pretty standard. There seems to be one or two of those contracts every offseason though. It would be a nice thing to have.

 

[BC867]

You play to player's skills. And guess what, as much as BC and others don't want it to, one of Devin Booker's skills is PLAYMAKING. It's a fact and the numbers bear that out. I think it's more crazy that armchair fans think they know more about players than their coaches or they themselves do.

Devin Booker is an exceptional playmaker, and has been for a couple years. It would be foolish to take a strength away from a player. If he scores 30 points and has 10 assists, he's responsible for at least 50 points -- and probably more based on 3-point shooting. You take the assists away and you think he will score over 50 points himself? That would be incredibly rare. The difference between Devin having 30 and 3 vs 30 and 8 is monumental, especially in a close game.

This narrative that him being a playmaker makes him less of a player is nothing short of ridiculous.

I agree with you, Chap, if Book is on the floor as a Shooting Guard, rather than as the Point Guard in absence of Rubio.

As a Shooting Guard, Booker is a decent distributor, as any Shooting Guard needs to be as often as he is double teamed.

As a substitute Point Guard, Booker has way too many turnovers. And he should certainly not be defending Point Guards.

The problem is that the Suns do not have a legitimate backup Point Guard, which is why I posted, tongue in cheek, they
might as well move Book to the Point in Rubio's absence and stop pretending that we have a backup rotation.

Of course, when Rubio comes back, the problem will persist whenever he is not on the court.

 

[1Sun]

I hope the Suns got creative with Kaminsky's team option. It would be nice if we had one of those contracts that are often viewed as assets because the team option/guarantee date is later than usual so it can be included in a trade as an asset for the other team to take on and then exercise the option. JR Smith had one last year, I believe, where his guarantee date was in mid-July so the Cav's could have dealt him and $15 million dollar salary somewhere but the other team would really be acquiring him to waive him since his guarantee was only like $3-4 million. So he was a way for someone to shed $11-12 million in salary. I'm surprised they didn't end up trading him. I know I had a little hope that the Suns could try to swap Tyler Johnson and a 2nd rounder or something for him but that didn't happen, obviously.

I tried looking up information on Kaminsky's option but couldn't find anything. I imagine it's pretty standard. There seems to be one or two of those contracts every offseason though. It would be a nice thing to have.

http://www.basketballinsiders.com/phoenix-suns-team-salary/

Standard option. Must be exercised by June 29, 2020.

 

[Mainstreet]

I hope the Suns got creative with Kaminsky's team option. It would be nice if we had one of those contracts that are often viewed as assets because the team option/guarantee date is later than usual so it can be included in a trade as an asset for the other team to take on and then exercise the option. JR Smith had one last year, I believe, where his guarantee date was in mid-July so the Cav's could have dealt him and $15 million dollar salary somewhere but the other team would really be acquiring him to waive him since his guarantee was only like $3-4 million. So he was a way for someone to shed $11-12 million in salary. I'm surprised they didn't end up trading him. I know I had a little hope that the Suns could try to swap Tyler Johnson and a 2nd rounder or something for him but that didn't happen, obviously.

I tried looking up information on Kaminsky's option but couldn't find anything. I imagine it's pretty standard. There seems to be one or two of those contracts every offseason though. It would be a nice thing to have.

Some great ideas but James Jones did not do anything overwhelmingly creative this past summer so I'm not counting on it.

 

[1Sun]

Some great ideas but James Jones did not do anything overwhelmingly creative this past summer so I'm not counting on it.

Plus just listen to him being interviewed, including today's interview on KTAR. The man is not particularly intelligent, or if he is he has a very difficult time conveying it.

 

[Chaplin]

I agree with you, Chap, if Book is on the floor as a Shooting Guard, rather than as the Point Guard in absence of Rubio.

As a Shooting Guard, Booker is a decent distributor, as any Shooting Guard needs to be as often as he is double teamed.

As a substitute Point Guard, Booker has way too many turnovers. And he should certainly not be defending Point Guards.

The problem is that the Suns do not have a legitimate backup Point Guard, which is why I posted, tongue in cheek, they
might as well move Book to the Point in Rubio's absence and stop pretending that we have a backup rotation.

Of course, when Rubio comes back, the problem will persist whenever he is not on the court.

Statistically, even with turnovers, Booker is on par with guys like Westbrook. Now, I will admit that he needs to improve his assist-to-turnover ratio, but with his volume he isn't that much worse than any of the other stars out there, including Luka. And he is statistically a much better point guard than Trae Young, who has an abysmal assist-to-turnover ratio.

Of course, Rubio has a terrific ratio himself, so it's easy to compare the two and say that Booker stinks. But he really doesn't.

 

[GatorAZ]

Plus just listen to him being interviewed, including today's interview on KTAR. The man is not particularly intelligent, or if he is he has a very difficult time conveying it.

There’s a bunch of reasons you could list as to why you might think that but his delivery on the radio isn’t one of them; Saric trade, starting off trade negotiations with strong offers, drafting Jerome, preferring Rozier/Brooks, valuing Carter over Melton... THAT said he’s still put us in the best position, which isn’t saying much but good grief, they’re at least watchable and have a few guys with upside.

 

[Carolinacacti]

Wanted to see Okobo with point Book. Break out game for Ayton Its a new year.

 

[mjb21aztd]

Go suns must win gm here...

Need ayton to play with authority this gm to prove valley boys are back

Ill be watching this gm actually nervous on this one

Im guessing no rubio tonight?

 

[Ronin]

Go Suns!

 

[Mainstreet]

With teams trying to run Baynes off the 3 point line, he is developing a floater.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[Hoop Head]

With teams trying to run Baynes off the 3 point line, he is developing a floater.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

Got to admire his desire to learn something new to be effective at 33 years old but he is 33 years old, not sure how that will work out. I'm glad we have a vet like him though, someone that is all about putting in the work and willing to add new facets to his game to help the team.

 

[Mainstreet]

Got to admire his desire to learn something new to be effective at 33 years old but he is 33 years old, not sure how that will work out. I'm glad we have a vet like him though, someone that is all about putting in the work and willing to add new facets to his game to help the team.

I admire Baynes as well but he is basically a backup player who can help a team off the bench. That's not a bad thing but he not something you build upon. For the right price he is well worth keeping.

 

[Mainstreet]

Gina Mizell‏Verified account @ginamizell

Ricky Rubio, who is officially listed as probable to play tonight vs. NY with a sore hip, went through shootaround and was running court-length sprints during media’s viewing period. Monty Williams expressed his displeasure that wet spot on the floor wasn’t taken care of #Suns

9:58 AM - 3 Jan 2020

 

[Mainstreet]

Kellan Olson‏Verified account @KellanOlson

"I was a little ticked off at the lack of ability to go clean that spot up where Anthony (Davis) fell. That's on the home team to do that. It could cost a guy a season. That's something that the league has to do a better job of enforcing." -- Monty Williams on the wet spot

10:01 AM - 3 Jan 2020

 

[1Sun]

There’s a bunch of reasons you could list as to why you might think that but his delivery on the radio isn’t one of them; Saric trade, starting off trade negotiations with strong offers, drafting Jerome, preferring Rozier/Brooks, valuing Carter over Melton... THAT said he’s still put us in the best position, which isn’t saying much but good grief, they’re at least watchable and have a few guys with upside.

Still, the man's incoherence when asked to explain the development of Ayton and Booker and the team's needs is not encouraging.

 

[Mainstreet]

I suspect Ayton will start tonight which would be one change.


Kellan Olson‏Verified account @KellanOlson

Monty Williams was asked on @DougandWolf987 if he's going to try anything different to get a better first quarter tonight. "There could be a few things on the docket. I'm not gonna let it out of the bag just yet."

10:17 AM - 3 Jan 2020

 

[82CardsGrad]

Knicks riding a 3 game win streak and coming off a demolition of the Blazers... This game will likely be more difficult than we would all like to see, especially with Rubio out, or not at 100%...
Just win baby... don't care how ugly or pretty it is... Just get the W!

 

[JCSunsfan]

Even though it was a loss, the second half of that Laker game should inspire confidence. DA came alive. Hopefully he does not regress.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Even though it was a loss, the second half of that Laker game should inspire confidence. DA came alive. Hopefully he does not regress.

Rubio's injury is problematic...

 

[Mainstreet]

Knicks riding a 3 game win streak and coming off a demolition of the Blazers... This game will likely be more difficult than we would all like to see, especially with Rubio out, or not at 100%...
Just win baby... don't care how ugly or pretty it is... Just get the W!

We know the Knicks are going to try to take it inside on the Suns.

Their leading scorers against the Trail Blazer were Randle (22), Morris, Sr. (18), Portis (17) and Robinson (22). Suns have problems when teams take it to the basket.

I hope they figure it out.

 

[Ronin]

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[Hoop Head]

I thought they had the former Grizzlies player Mike Miller as their interim coach. Unless he's aged very badly in the last 3-4 years since he quit playing, that's not him.

 

[hcsilla]

I thought they had the former Grizzlies player Mike Miller as their interim coach. Unless he's aged very badly in the last 3-4 years since he quit playing, that's not him.

Same here.

 

[TJ]

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

Im still hot from this situation. This was literally a preventable injury had one of the booger-eating towel boys been paying attention or cared enough to clean the floor. Stuff like this should prompt the league to have a discussion with ownership.