Kurt Thomas Out

[elindholm]

The players I like the best off this list are the following: White, Massenburg, Fizer (I do not know why he is not on some NBA roster), Stepania, Laettner, Parks. I'm sure everyone has a criticism of these players I mentioned or I have overlooked but the Suns need some frontcourt help now from a former NBA player that at least used to know how to play.

White can't move. He'd be useless on this Suns team.

Massenburg might be okay.

Fizer has an attitude problem the size of the Grand Canyon. He would be subtraction by addition.

Laettner is possible. Depends on if he feels like it.

I thought Stepania was playing overseas?

Parks is terrible.

 

[George O'Brien]

Perhaps BC was distracted, perhaps Sarver was just being cheap but the chances of making a trade for a big was fairly limited anyway.

Their main problem was that no one was going to give the Suns a guy who could play inside who had an expiring contract. Last season the Suns traded a pretty good second round pick for McCarty who proved to be of only marginal value. That pick was used for Ryan Gomes.

In a sense they gambled that the team would stay healthy until Amare and Grant return. They were understandably reluctant to take on another contract going into next season for someone with a limited chance of playing.

Tim Thomas? Odd as it may seem, but he was considered a pretty good player just a few years ago. His effectiveness dropped dramatically when Cassel left the Bucks and he ended up on the slow down Knicks and Bulls.

Oddly enough, the Suns need might actually lead Tim to accept a less generous buyout than he might otherwise accept. Playing for the Suns could showcase his best attributes which is his athleticism and, he shot 40.9% for three last season with the Knicks. He's been an SF all his caree, but he's a lot bigger than Jones. For a veteran minimu, he might fit in better than expected.

 

[Mainstreet]

Tim Thomas? Odd as it may seem, but he was considered a pretty good player just a few years ago. His effectiveness dropped dramatically when Cassel left the Bucks and he ended up on the slow down Knicks and Bulls.

Oddly enough, the Suns need might actually lead Tim to accept a less generous buyout than he might otherwise accept. Playing for the Suns could showcase his best attributes which is his athleticism and, he shot 40.9% for three last season with the Knicks. He's been an SF all his caree, but he's a lot bigger than Jones. For a veteran minimu, he might fit in better than expected.

If Tim Thomas can be had, I would be open to the idea.

There used to be a saying.... beggars can't be choosers.

 

[Joe Mama]

Tim Thomas is a terrible defender and rebounder. The team is better off without him.

I love how it's always get to be someone's fault. Frankly I'm happy they didn't make some lame move at the trade deadline that would cost them to much for a sorry big man.

There's always... crap, I can't remember his name anymore. What is that guy's name? He's the guy I always talk about after seeing him in the summer league two years ago.

Joe Mama

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Tim Thomas is a terrible defender and rebounder. The team is better off without him.

I love how it's always get to be someone's fault. Frankly I'm happy they didn't make some lame move at the trade deadline that would cost them to much for a sorry big man.

There's always... crap, I can't remember his name anymore. What is that guy's name? He's the guy I always talk about after seeing him in the summer league two years ago.

Joe Mama

Lonnie Jones... I'll research to see where he's at now and edit this post....

 

[elindholm]

What is that guy's name? He's the guy I always talk about after seeing him in the summer league two years ago.

Jones is all well and good for a training camp tryout, but the probability that he'd be able to make a useful contribution to this team, at this point in this season, is zero.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Tim Thomas is a terrible defender and rebounder. The team is better off without him.

I love how it's always get to be someone's fault. Frankly I'm happy they didn't make some lame move at the trade deadline that would cost them to much for a sorry big man.

There's always... crap, I can't remember his name anymore. What is that guy's name? He's the guy I always talk about after seeing him in the summer league two years ago.

Joe Mama

I agree. This is no one's "fault". Just bad luck.

As long as we are healthy when the playoffs roll around we will be fine. I would put our full roster against any other team in the league.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

Perhaps BC was distracted, perhaps Sarver was just being cheap but the chances of making a trade for a big was fairly limited anyway.

Their main problem was that no one was going to give the Suns a guy who could play inside who had an expiring contract. Last season the Suns traded a pretty good second round pick for McCarty who proved to be of only marginal value. That pick was used for Ryan Gomes.

In a sense they gambled that the team would stay healthy until Amare and Grant return. They were understandably reluctant to take on another contract going into next season for someone with a limited chance of playing.

Tim Thomas? Odd as it may seem, but he was considered a pretty good player just a few years ago. His effectiveness dropped dramatically when Cassel left the Bucks and he ended up on the slow down Knicks and Bulls.

Oddly enough, the Suns need might actually lead Tim to accept a less generous buyout than he might otherwise accept. Playing for the Suns could showcase his best attributes which is his athleticism and, he shot 40.9% for three last season with the Knicks. He's been an SF all his caree, but he's a lot bigger than Jones. For a veteran minimu, he might fit in better than expected.

Maybe you are right, There is no way Sarver moves Jackson when he is on a 1 year deal essentailly and take on a player with multi years on his deal.

I think the colangelo was distracted is probably a bit over played, he has a cell phone and I am sure it logged the normal trade deadline minuets. But the money thing is probably very real.

 

[haverford]

One has to wonder to what extent the distraction of BC's Toronto wooing has kept the Suns from making any necessary moves before the trade deadline. One also has to wonder whether it makes any sense now for Amare to come back this season.....

 

[F-Dog]

Oh, and in case anyone was wondering, here's a list of FA big men


POWER FORWARDS
Robert Traylor, Samaki Walker, Christian Laettner, Vin Baker, Sam Clancy, Tom Gugliotta, Marcus Fizer, Jerome Moiso, Clarence Weatherspoon, Cherokee Parks, Dennis Rodman, Ryan Humphrey, Tony Massenburg, Mark Pope, Kimani Ffriend, Lucas Tischer

CENTERS
Jahidi White, Ben Handlogten, Andrew DeClercq, Oliver Miller, Wang Zhizhi, Curtis Borchardt, Tyler Coppenrath, Amal McCaskill, Roy Tarpley, Chris Marcus, Vladimir Stepania, Nate Huffman, Jayson Williams, Jared Reiner, Kyle Davis, Olden Polynice, Peter Cornell, Keith Closs, Luke Schenscher, Mamadou N'Diaye, Elden Campbell

Massenberg is probably the best available, or possibly Borchardt. I know the Suns were interested in Traylor during the summer, but I doubt he's healthy and in good enough shape to help a team immediately.


You know who this really sucks for? Skita. This was his chance!


Anyway, the Suns are going to get as much burn as they can from Burke--see if he starts looking better if he gets regular minutes. He'll probably start to look halfway-decent again right about the time Amare and Brian Grant are ready to get back.

If it were up to me, I would give Nash one more game against Houston, and if he and/or the team doesn't look good, I would sit him until the Minnesota game (on the 9th). The Suns will be better off if Nash gets rest than they would be winning one or two of those games.

In the meantime, the Suns have got to sign somebody. After all, Amare needs a practice dummy for his rehab.

 

[overseascardfan]

Did I see Elden Campbell on that list. I say we rent him until we get someone back. BTW, our TE, did we have to use it this year? Can we use it in the offseason or will it carry over to next year. I thought that and JJax could have netted us a big man.

 

[panfolk]

I'm sure most will cringe when reading this: Lucas Tischer. As a practice body with loads of athleticism, not the answer to our current woes.

 

[Yuma]

Did I see Elden Campbell on that list. I say we rent him until we get someone back. BTW, our TE, did we have to use it this year? Can we use it in the offseason or will it carry over to next year. I thought that and JJax could have netted us a big man.

I read it could be used to resign our own players in the off season. So I assume it's good until next season. Campbell, if he can stay in front of other centers one on one, would be a good guy to play a few minutes defensivly each game for us.

 

[elindholm]

Campbell is available, but he was flat-out awful last season. I'd rather have Willis, even though he's much older.

 

[arthurracoon]

 

[Mainstreet]

I would rather have Jahidi White than nobody and he has played in the NBA. However, if there is another veteran NBA 4/5 available better, I'm all for it.

Maybe Jahidi is not as quick or shoots as well as the Suns would like but I think Nash can help him fill a role inside. Nash makes players look better in a Suns uniform. Right now the Suns would only need him for probably 10 minutes a game in a backup role.

Just a wishful thought. Maybe Skita can play a little reserve high post center when his ankle heals. Being past the trading deadline really hurts.

 

[elindholm]

The problem is that the Suns have already demonstrated that they won't use White. Someone who's only going to sit on the bench does no good at all.

 

[Chaz]

The problem is that the Suns have already demonstrated that they won't use White. Someone who's only going to sit on the bench does no good at all.

I agree with you on White but whom ever they bring in at this point probably won't play or contribute much in any event.

In absence of a big that can run and shoot (good luck) they really just need somebody to take up space in case the existing rotation is in foul trouble.

 

[sunsfn]

Tim Thomas has the ability to play small forward, but he is a P.F. and that is where he has played the most.

In that case, he is the worst rebounding PF in the history of the league. He's never even averaged 5 boards a game over a season. Last season, he played more than 27 minutes per game and averaged barely three rebounds per.

I just can't consider someone a PF if he's afraid of the paint on both ends of the floor.

He is a power forward that wants to play like a small forward. This has hurt his stats and career, (except for the big contract he signed) but he is too big to play small forward and try to stay with most of the small forwards in the league.
He is not a good rebounder, but could probably play the suns game with the run and gun style.

He did play pretty good in Milwaukee when he was there, but not in New York at all.

Not sure what happened in Chicago with Skiles, but it could hurt him in going to another team including the suns if it is all about his attitude, which it may be.

 

[Mainstreet]

The problem is that the Suns have already demonstrated that they won't use White. Someone who's only going to sit on the bench does no good at all.

I know where your coming from about White, but D'Antonni may have to redo his thinking a tad when Diaw goes to the bench. I think it was D'Antonni's brother who made a remark at halftime the last game... something to the effect the Suns may not have an answer.

I just feel the Suns need another big body upfront to keep teams from driving the ball to the hoop at will. At least White has a big body, can take a few fouls, give somebody a rest and score some points underneath.

I know he is not D'Antonni's type of player but unless someone emerges from somewhere (not just a practice player like Paul Shirey), I would like to have a veteran NBA player at the end of the bench who can at least do something.

 

[sunsfn]

Oh, and in case anyone was wondering, here's a list of FA big men


POWER FORWARDS
Robert Traylor, Samaki Walker, Christian Laettner, Vin Baker, Sam Clancy, Tom Gugliotta, Marcus Fizer, Jerome Moiso, Clarence Weatherspoon, Cherokee Parks, Dennis Rodman, Ryan Humphrey, Tony Massenburg, Mark Pope, Kimani Ffriend, Lucas Tischer

CENTERS
Jahidi White, Ben Handlogten, Andrew DeClercq, Oliver Miller, Wang Zhizhi, Curtis Borchardt, Tyler Coppenrath, Amal McCaskill, Roy Tarpley, Chris Marcus, Vladimir Stepania, Nate Huffman, Jayson Williams, Jared Reiner, Kyle Davis, Olden Polynice, Peter Cornell, Keith Closs, Luke Schenscher, Mamadou N'Diaye, Elden Campbell

In the power forwards, Fizer was playing in one of the developement leagues, not sure he still is but think so. I did not know that he had a bad attitude, (Laettner has that problem) but had some injuries that took a couple years to heal. The guy is built like Karl Malone, and can run. I do not think any of the others could play suns basketball on short notice at all. Some of them have not played in two years.

Curtis Borchardt went overseas and may have to stay there this year?

N'Daye was in the summer league for someone and one of the games I watched he looked very good. He ran the floor well and scored some in that game.

Ben Handlogten was on a team this year I am sure and they cut him less than a month ago. He may be in decent shape.

When Grant and Amare come back, it will take them a while to be able to play much, and they need to sign someone so they do not hurry Grant back.

They may sign one of the guys they had this year like Jared Reiner.

 

[boisesuns]

I just feel the Suns need another big body upfront to keep teams from driving the ball to the hoop at will.

I Agree. From the games i've seen this year, we've gotten killed inside by opponents driving the lane and scoring easy buckets. Our defensive rotation hasn't been great either, which has created some of those easy shots.

 

[jbeecham]

Sorry if this has been posted already, but I just saw on Channel 10 news (Jude La Cava) an interview with KT. He basically said that they're going to get a 2nd opinion on his foot to determine if he should have surgery or just rest it. He also said that in 4 weeks he can start conditioning again in the pool and non-load bearing activities to try to keep his conditioning up.

 

[hsandhu]

Did he say how long surgery would keep him out? I'm guessing the season, in which case we're really screwed.

 

[jbeecham]

I think it was 6-8 weeks whether he had surgery or just tried resting it.