Looking objectively into the future

[Travis Bickle]

Here's how I've tried to rationalize the trade, and I think I've talked myself into liking it.

Say the Suns didn't make the trade and rode out this season. They probably would be a 10 seed in the West, getting the 10th or 11th pick in the draft. With only Googs coming off the books, they wouldn't have the cash to use the mid-level exception. They might add a Keon Clark-type for minimum money, but that's probably it. They go into next season with basically the same roster and the #10 pick in the draft.

Now, they'll probably be one of the worst teams in the West and perhaps the league. They'll probably pick around 4th or 5th. They'll have the Knicks pick, which will probably be around 15. They have Lampe and Vujanic. They'll be $8 million under the cap and be able to use the mid-level exception. I think two realistic targets might be Brent Barry w/ the mid-level and Okur w/ the $8 million, so for arguments sake let's say the Suns only get one of the two.

What would you rather have--
1. Stephon; Penny; the 10th pick in the 2004 draft; and no room to sign fa's for another few years.

2. Lampe; Vujanic; Eisley (who isn't as horrible--just overpaid); the 5th pick; the 15th pick; another Knicks 1st rd. pick in 2006; Barry or Okur; and continued financial flexibility for another few years.

I don't think there's any doubt that #2 bodes better for the Suns a couple years from now and many years into the future. And, if we're not going to win a championship in the next few years, I'd rather increase our odds of winning one 5 years from now.

 

[Joe Mama]

If you are under the salary cap by $1 you do not get the mid-level exception. I don't think the Phoenix Suns are going to go below that salary room to get just anyone. If the player they want this summer isn't there for the money they will save it, make a trade, etc. I also think they are going to do everything in their power to free up more salary space for this summer.

Joe Mama

 

[scotsman13]

looking into the future is like looking into a mirror that has been fogged over, you can never see clear and dont know if what you are seeing is what you think you are seeing. but sometime you may find a clear spot and get a clear look into the future.

there are a couple clear spots that have come out of this trade. first new york will do better in the short term. the suns have gotten younger. the suns have cleared a lot of salery that would have keep them handycapped for years. whatever else this team wasnt living up to what they should have been. it may look like the suns have given up on this season.

now to look into the fog and see if we can find some other clear spots. it looks like the suns have a lot of faith in barbosa. the suns are high on that european point guard. the suns hope to go out and get at least one good FA this summer (a lot of thought has been on kobe, i dont think so). so who are the suns going to go after? one name that i have seen only one place makes a lot of sence for this team and is a JC type player, steve nash. steve would match up better with this team of marion and amare. he has a better outside shot and is a good crunch type player then what we have seen from jj (as a point). there maybe others they are targetting but this is one that fits our needs better and is a good person.

also the name is out there from someone beside david alridge.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/basketball/nba/01/05/analysis.trade/index.html

 

[slinslin]

No Steve Nash.

1. His best friend is Nowitzki and Cuban won't let him walk.

2. Nash is too old to fit into the future of this team.

3. Nash is not durable. He already doesn't play star minutes because he usually wears down at the end of seasons.

4. I like Barbosa handling the point, Vujanic backing him up. We still have Joe Johnson to do some duties at the Point. If we were to draft say Iguodala with the Knicks pick he could play PG for some minutes as well.

 

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by slinslin
No Steve Nash.

1. His best friend is Nowitzki and Cuban won't let him walk.

2. Nash is too old to fit into the future of this team.

3. Nash is not durable. He already doesn't play star minutes because he usually wears down at the end of seasons.

4. I like Barbosa handling the point, Vujanic backing him up. We still have Joe Johnson to do some duties at the Point. If we were to draft say Iguodala with the Knicks pick he could play PG for some minutes as well.

Although I don't feel the same way you do about Iguodala I do agree that the Suns will not go for Steve Nash. That is just not a position of need for the Phoenix Suns, and he will cost too much money.

Joe Mama

 

[Travis Bickle]

With Eisley Barbosa, Jacobsen and JJ and maybe Vujanic on next year's roster already, I can't see the Suns drafting any guards next year. A minimum wage vet might be nice--Wes Person maybe--but I think Suns will definitely draft an interior defender with their pick. With the Knicks pick, ?

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by Travis Bickle
With Eisley Barbosa, Jacobsen and JJ and maybe Vujanic on next year's roster already, I can't see the Suns drafting any guards next year. A minimum wage vet might be nice--Wes Person maybe--but I think Suns will definitely draft an interior defender with their pick. With the Knicks pick, ?

Assuming the Knicks are a lottery team, the Suns might bundle the two picks to take a top three if the pingpong balls doen't fall right. If the Suns go for a free agent, they may prefer one really high pick than two lower picks to avoid tying up so much cap money.

 

[jbeecham]

How great would it be if the Suns somehow got 2 picks in the top 3 via the ping pong balls?

 

[RedStorm]

It is going to be interesting to see how this team comes together the rest of this season. Like it or not, this move was needed to free up space. You can not pay two player the amount they were and end up in last place in your division. Something had to be done.

At least by the end of the season they will know who can play and who can not and who to focus on in FA and the draft.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Lol JBeecham, I was counting on the #1 and #2 picks this summer as well.


I think George is right, if we wind up with two lottery picks we may be vary willing to bundle them for a top 3 pick. It would not only give us a better prospect in theory, but it free up maybe an extra million for a FA.

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by jbeecham
How great would it be if the Suns somehow got 2 picks in the top 3 via the ping pong balls?

I would certainly trade one. A 1st and a 2nd would commit $6.2 million. Here is the Rookie Salary Structure:

• 
  1 3,349.1 3,600.3 3,851.5 26.1% 30.0%
  2 2,996.5 3,221.2 3,446.0 26.2% 30.5%
  3 2,691.0 2,892.8 3,094.7 26.4% 31.2%
  4 2,426.1 2,608.1 2,790.0 26.5% 31.9%
  5 2,197.0 2,361.8 2,526.6 26.7% 32.6%
  6 1,995.5 2,145.2 2,294.8 26.8% 33.4%
  7 1,821.6 1,958.2 2,094.9 27.0% 34.1%
  8 1,668.9 1,794.0 1,919.2 27.2% 34.8%
  9 1,534.0 1,649.1 1,764.1 27.4% 35.5%
  10 1,457.3 1,566.6 1,675.9 27.5% 36.2%
  11 1,384.4 1,488.3 1,592.1 32.7% 36.9%
  12 1,315.2 1,413.9 1,512.5 37.8% 37.6%
  13 1,249.5 1,343.2 1,436.9 42.9% 38.3%
  14 1,187.0 1,276.0 1,365.0 48.1% 39.1%
  15 1,127.6 1,212.2 1,296.8 53.3% 39.8%
  16 1,071.2 1,151.6 1,231.9 53.4% 40.5%
  17 1,017.7 1,094.0 1,170.3 53.6% 41.2%
  18 966.8 1,039.3 1,111.8 53.8% 41.9%
  19 923.3 992.5 1,061.8 54.0% 42.6%
  20 886.4 952.8 1,019.3 54.2% 43.3%
  21 850.9 914.7 978.5 59.3% 44.1%
  22 816.9 878.1 939.4 64.5% 44.8%
  23 784.2 843.0 901.8 69.7% 45.5%
  24 752.8 809.3 865.8 74.9% 46.2%
  25 722.7 776.9 831.1 80.1% 46.9%
  26 698.8 751.2 803.6 80.3% 47.6%
  27 678.6 729.5 780.4 80.4% 48.3%
  28 674.4 725.0 775.5 80.5% 49.0%
  29 669.5 719.7 769.9 80.5% 50.0%