Mid season report. Suns to playoff. Make a deal for Pau.

[Hoop Head]

I'll give you credit that it seems you have some basis for your faith in the proposed trade idea. I was a little wrong about Pau's age but with all the games he has played not just in the regular season but extended playoff runs plus FIBA and Olympic games he appears older to me than he is. I don't see him being productive much longer. If you suggested a this scenario with Marc Gasol I'd agree with your predictions to a point. I don't see anything minus Lebron or Durant being sent here for Okafor and picks, so we don't lose any current players, making this team a real contender.

I thought I'd add just a bit about Pau. Here's a link to the ESPN boxscore for the 2012 Olympics finals. It basically included the best players in the world. The significance of this game almost goes beyond the NBA finals.

http://espn.go.com/olympics/summer/2012/basketball/men/boxscore?gameId=1172

The best player in this game was Kevin Durant. The third best player was LeBron. The second best player was Pau Gasol. Spain may have won this game if they didn't rest Pau. The game happened just 17 months ago. I think the suns training staff can get back most of those 17 months.

Now this isn't a good example of what Pau brings to the table. He has always played a lot more aggressive and harder when playing for Spain than anywhere else. It's been a knock on him his whole career really. In the NBA he doesn't have the same edge. Also his stats this season are inflated due to the Lakers roster being terrible and depleted.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I thought I'd add just a bit about Pau. Here's a link to the ESPN boxscore for the 2012 Olympics finals. It basically included the best players in the world. The significance of this game almost goes beyond the NBA finals.

http://espn.go.com/olympics/summer/2012/basketball/men/boxscore?gameId=1172

The best player in this game was Kevin Durant. The third best player was LeBron. The second best player was Pau Gasol. Spain may have won this game if they didn't rest Pau. The game happened just 17 months ago. I think the suns training staff can get back most of those 17 months.

unless the Suns training staff has a DeLorean that can travel back in time, no matter what they do, they can't get back 17 months. Father time's taken it's toll on Gasol, just as it does everyone.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Actually, Gasol is 33.

Did the post appear that I was trolling? If it were just one game maybe but he has won 2 rings as a huge contributor. Being able to dominate games on the biggest stage is what everyone is clamoring for. Gasol did that.

that was 4 years ago. 4 years!

 

[Cheesebeef]

Actually, Gasol is 33.

Did the post appear that I was trolling? If it were just one game maybe but he has won 2 rings as a huge contributor. Being able to dominate games on the biggest stage is what everyone is clamoring for. Gasol did that.

Why should I take your word the Suns are 2 years away (emphasis upper case BEST) from contention? I'm not buying that, especially considering all the stipulations. Tell me what their record will be this year at year end? Assume 2 cases. With and without Bledsoe. No trades in either scenario.

I'm just gonna assume injuries are a part of every team, and since we know Bledsoe's, I'm guess we'll be a 45-47 win squad. To get Gasol in either case, maybe makes us a 50 game winner...which means one and done. Giving up assets to improve from 6-7 seed to 4 or 5 continues to make no sense to me, especially since it will only be a one year rental before Gasol leaves.

 

[Covert Rain]

cheesebeef,

I think in my first post I said I think the Suns could win the WC if they got Gasol so the simple answer would be yes. If you're capabale of winning the WC, you're capable of winning it all although the winner from the east should be favored.

A better way to answer it would be where would I expect the Suns to rank in the WC if they acquired him? I'd answer that by saying that I'd really only put the Thunder and maybe the Spurs as teams that would still be better. By the end of the year I expect that Memphis and the Clippers will be the best teams after those 2. I would say the Suns would be in this range. Obviously, Bledsoe's status would have a large effect.

No offense but you must not be watching the other top teams. Yes, it's great the Suns are playing above expectations for the most part. However, if you even think for one second this team can contend for a title there is not much point in continuing a conversation. You are Koolaid logged with no hope of emerging from the ocean of sugar water you have submerged yourself in.

 

[Hoop Head]

Sci-Fi has come up with a prediction/scenario that can't be proven wrong really. There is NO WAY the Suns give up any assets for an over the hill PF/C that might help with a playoff push and maybe help us win a couple of games in the first round but that's basically it. He doesn't fit in long term and the team doesn't really have any bad contracts to shred since there is plenty of cap space available next year plus almost all players are playing up to their salary numbers.

We would also be handing LA assets to further tank this year getting them a better pick/better prospect so they would be better next year when we own their pick so it would be detrimental to us to give them any extra draft picks or players of value before we cash in that pick in 2015.

Sci-Fi can now sit back and say "I had the perfect answer but no one would take me seriously or listen. We were better than anyone else predicted and Pau could have gotten us to the next level" when this teams season ends, be it in the first round or barely missing the playoffs. No matter if the Suns suffer a first round exit or narrowly missing the playoffs this season I think it's obvious this season was an overall success. They are taking a big step forward, much quicker than anticipated, in building a solid winning culture with our younger players, building chemistry amongst those who will be around for a while and also management will be able to accurately exam our needs for the future to truly compete without going after some "Rent-A-Player" just in hopes of either reaching the playoffs for sure and/or possibly getting to the second round. A one year rental is not worth a guaranteed playoff birth or a second round playoff trip, whichever ends up being the next level to where their actual season would end without it.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I do not see how Pau fits into this team. Does he take minutes from Plumlee or Frye? Both are playing very well. Frye's shooting is opening up the floor. The Suns are at their best playing D and letting it key their fast break. How in the world does Pau fit into that kind of game? Pau's defense is suspect and he is not a runner. If you want to get better this year Pau is a horrible fit.

Wanting Pau is only a partial recognition of what is going on right now with the Suns. It's seeing that they are good, but it's not understanding why they are good.

It reminds me of the old saying, "If it aint broke, fix it til it is!"

 

[Cheesebeef]

I do not see how Pau fits into this team. Does he take minutes from Plumlee or Frye? Both are playing very well. Frye's shooting is opening up the floor. The Suns are at their best playing D and letting it key their fast break. How in the world does Pau fit into that kind of game? Pau's defense is suspect and he is not a runner. If you want to get better this year Pau is a horrible fit.

Wanting Pau is only a partial recognition of what is going on right now with the Suns. It's seeing that they are good, but it's not understanding why they are good.

this too.

 

[sunsfan88]

John Gambadoro ‏@Gambo987 1h
The Suns would not give up a first round pick for Gasol only Okafor because it adds 8 mill in payroll and subtracts 13 off LAs books.

Only Okafor? Then I don't mind it. But it creates a log jam at C though unless we plan on moving one of our current bigs elsewhere. I hope its Frye because I like everyone else.

Kieff is capable of replacing Frye as the stretch 4 easily.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Only Okafor? Then I don't mind it. But it creates a log jam at C though unless we plan on moving one of our current bigs elsewhere. I hope its Frye because I like everyone else.

Kieff is capable of replacing Frye as the stretch 4 easily.

I wouldn't mind Okafor and Krav, but the Laker's are trying to dump salary, so they are not taking back a player.

 

[sunsfan88]

I wouldn't mind Okafor and Krav, but the Laker's are trying to dump salary, so they are not taking back a player.

If they are looking to just dump salary, they could have traded Pau to CLE for Bynum.

 

[Joe Mama]

If they are looking to just dump salary, they could have traded Pau to CLE for Bynum.

Was any part of Andrew Bynum's salary going to get covered by insurance? I also just do not understand your feelings on Channing Frye. There are many reasons we are playing so much better this year, but IMO his return and the way he's played is #1… followed closely by the way the Morris twins have played. I think you really underestimate how much of our success is due to those guys spreading the floor, especially Frye.

Joe

 

[sunsfan88]

Was any part of Andrew Bynum's salary going to get covered by insurance?
Joe

No but I think his contract was not guaranteed for rest of the season.

And I don't hate Frye as much as I did in the beginning of the season but out of Len, Goodwin and the twins, I would rather give up Frye than of them. I just think they have higher ceilings than Frye.