Nash: We have no real kind of power forward

[Griffin]

An interesting quote from Nash:

"We lost an All-Star power forward and we didn't replace him," Nash said. "We have no real kind of power forward."

I am not sure how Frye or Warrick feel about that, but Nash is absolutely right. Neither Warrick nor Frye can man that position effectively on offense or even defense, though Frye at least tries, and the best the Suns came up with to replace Stoudemire with so far this season was first starting a wing player at PF (Turkoglu) and now starting a C at PF (Gortat).

We can talk about defense and rebounding after every game all season long, as we had for many years now, but ultimately the main reason why this team is below .500 as opposed to above it is because we have failed to replace Stoudemire with a quality traditional PF who can start in this league. I don't mean a Stoudemire-caliber player, I mean just a decent big man who wouldn't be a liability offensively. Any defense and rebounding would have been a bonus.

The Suns organization instead have effectively replaced Amare's salary with three bench players (Warrick, Frye and Childress), two of whom are out of rotation already. This is not money well spent. To compound the problem, our last year's surprising second year players have reverted to their rookie season forms. Gortat can immediately replace Lopez and give the Suns a decent center, but the old recurring problem of not having a quality back-up PG resurfaced this season as Dragic continues to struggle. That's a lot of problems to overcome for one team in a single season.

More quotes from Nash:

"I signed up for this," Nash said. "I'm committed to trying to build a team here. Obviously, last year was a phenomenal year. Tied 2-2 (in the conference finals), I thought we could win a championship. I genuinely believed we could and would win it. It's tough to be in this position six months later. I'm still committed to it. I love the guys. I think we've got potential but we've had so much change and haven't been able to put it together. If we want to point fingers, we've got to point some at ourselves and say, 'We haven't put it together.'

"I'm still happy. I just want to try to win games for these fans and our team because that's the most frustrating thing."

However you may feel about Nash or the team's reluctance to trade him, you have to admire his dedication and loyalty. But time is running out on this season. Soon it may be too difficult to win enough games the rest of the way to get in the playoff mix. While the current Suns squad can definitely play better once they get on the same page and build some confidence and chemistry, I don't think that will be enough, and I don't think the team thinks so either. There has got to be another trade coming soon that brings us a true PF if the Suns brass wants to avoid a potentially losing season and more empty seats in the arena.

 

[jagu]

Good post and I'm glad someone spoke out because its the most glaring weakness on the Suns (other than the lack of a backup PG who shows up every night). I wonder if the Nuggets are willing to move Nene Hilario? If they are moving Anthony, they might as well clean house and move Nene as well. There's a real PF who causes serious matchup problems.

 

[desertdawg]

We already lost Malone, and now Stockton is just suffering. Trade him now, get us a what ever.

 

[sunsfan88]

Get JJ Hickson.

 

[Covert Rain]

This was a more telling quote:

Nash said he "foolishly" thought the Suns would re-sign Stoudemire, 28.

I question if Nash would have resigned with the Suns if he ever thought the Suns would lose Stoudemire. Nash is going to say all the right things about sticking with the Suns but something tells me in reality Nash would not be opposed to be traded to a team with a legit shot.

It's time to trade Nash. If nothing else then to give the guy a shot at a ring and get what you can while he still has any value at all. We are not going to win a ring with him.

The Nash era is over.
​

 

[mojorizen7]

The question is: If Nash is traded for a bag of powdered donuts to a contender, how far and how fast will the SUNS drop in the standings?

Is anybody here afraid of a top 5 lottery pick?
I am,but for reasons that probably differ from the majority. Still,i think its the best way to get out of this mess.

 

[cly2tw]

Nash signed when it was not sure whether Amare would ever come back healthy after the eye surgery. Last season was a surprise success, due to Amare's will to be a better player who, with help of JRich and the surprisingly good bench, rescued Suns season after the ASB. It was not planned nor expected. So, they thought in the offseason they'd just continue the rebuilding as if the late-season run of last season never happened.

 

[Covert Rain]

My point is that his "foolishly" comment is a shot at the organization.

 

[slinslin]

The problem is even if he is up to the challenge of re-building. Trying to win games does not help us rebuild it will only delay the process and makes it tougher every season.

If we finish this season as the 8th seed and get swept in the playoffs, we may very well end up with the next Lopez or Clark type rookie without any impact and little long term value and then we look at an even worse this season next year without accomplishing anything this year.

It is really questionable if we have anyone on the roster who will improve his value over time. Nash won't, Hill won't, Carter won't and most of the others won't improve their value until they are expiring contracts.

Lopez, Dudley and Dragic are the only players who could improve their values but not by enough to facilitate a rebuilding process.. Maybe Gortat as well but it would also hardly matter. None of these players will return us a franchise player or anything like that.

-> Even if we packaged all 4 of them Denver probably wouldn't trade Anthony to us despite the contact situation and all that.

 

[desertdawg]

The question is: If Nash is traded for a bag of powdered donuts to a contender, how far and how fast will the SUNS drop in the standings?

Is anybody here afraid of a top 5 lottery pick?
I am,but for reasons that probably differ from the majority. Still,i think its the best way to get out of this mess.

We seem to be doing fine when Nash is on the bench, I think we gotta move on.

 

[elindholm]

We seem to be doing fine when Nash is on the bench, I think we gotta move on.

What, do you mean they're losing just as efficiently? It wasn't true against the Lakers, but in most recent games, the Suns have been outplaying their opponents with Nash on the floor and then getting crushed when Dragic subs.

 

[desertdawg]

What, do you mean they're losing just as efficiently? It wasn't true against the Lakers, but in most recent games, the Suns have been outplaying their opponents with Nash on the floor and then getting crushed when Dragic subs.

I mean when ever we rest Nash, the teams (I am not crediting Dragic) starters and benchies pick it up and get us back in the game when we are down around 10 pts or so.
Don't nit pick me yet, I just woke up and got me Starbucks, give 20 minutes homie.

 

[slinslin]

I mean when ever we rest Nash, the teams (I am not crediting Dragic) starters and benchies pick it up and get us back in the game when we are down around 10 pts or so.
Don't nit pick me yet, I just woke up and got me Starbucks, give 20 minutes homie.

Are you sure you are talking about this season?

 

[Mulli]

Captain Caveman to Captain Obvious.

 

[desertdawg]

Are you sure you are talking about this season?

It's happening all over again homeslice, I am down with trading Nash and starting this decade.

 

[Cheesebeef]

This was a more telling quote:

Nash said he "foolishly" thought the Suns would re-sign Stoudemire, 28.

​

this was the comment that really made me wince.

I question if Nash would have resigned with the Suns if he ever thought the Suns would lose Stoudemire. Nash is going to say all the right things about sticking with the Suns but something tells me in reality Nash would not be opposed to be traded to a team with a legit shot.

It's time to trade Nash. If nothing else then to give the guy a shot at a ring and get what you can while he still has any value at all. We are not going to win a ring with him.

The Nash era is over.

​

 

[AfroSuns]

Obviously from Nash comments. he did not like the decision to let Amare go and the replacements bought in his stead.
I am wondering if that is one of the reason Kerr left too, instead of the BS we were fed.
If the FO knew they werent going to get a decent replacement for Amare, he should have been re-signed, but they obviously thought a player like Warrick will mitigate the loss of Amare. FAILED!

 

[jibikao]

Obviously from Nash comments. he did not like the decision to let Amare go and the replacements bought in his stead.
I am wondering if that is one of the reason Kerr left too, instead of the BS we were fed.
If the FO knew they werent going to get a decent replacement for Amare, he should have been re-signed, but they obviously thought a player like Warrick will mitigate the loss of Amare. FAILED!

I guess Nash probably thought Suns was more interested in championship and not re-building (yet) and obviously Suns made the "safer" choice by letting Amare go because they don't want to get stuck with 6-year max. contract.

I mean I read the Spurs forum last season a lot and many REALLY HATED Richard Jefferson last season, but look at them right now. After one season, they gel a lot more and Duncan isn't even playing that many minutes.

Looking at Suns' trade history, Suns has been quite impatient.

Sure, let's trade Nash and start over and be like Kings who's been bottom of the barrel ever since they traded Bibby/Chris Webber. Re-building doesn't always mean you'll be good again.

Nash is pretty cheap to keep and it's not like Hill is asking a lot of money. I don't think Nash is playing that bad right now. I just think everyone has confidence/chemistry problem because the front office keeps changing lineup and rotation. I am not sure what they saw in Warrick but he didn't seem to have enough starting (only 2 games?) to build his confidence. Sure, his defense sucks. Is Frye any better? I would hope Warrick can draw more fouls than Frye.

They just need to give Dragic more minutes and reduce Hill's.

 

[slinslin]

I

Sure, let's trade Nash and start over and be like Kings who's been bottom of the barrel ever since they traded Bibby/Chris Webber. Re-building doesn't always mean you'll be good again.
.

Sure as hell beats being old and mediocre with no chance of ever getting back and the slow painful to watch death of the current Suns team.

 

[AfroSuns]

I mean I read the Spurs forum last season a lot and many REALLY HATED Richard Jefferson last season, but look at them right now. After one season, they gel a lot more and Duncan isn't even playing that many minutes.

Spurs are playing good right now but for some reason, i am not still sold on that team. I don't see them getting past 2nd round of PO this year again.
If they are as good as their record indicates, they might be on pace to equal the 96 Bulls or at least pull close enough to that 72-10 record, but we will see.

 

[joshstmarie]

Captain Caveman to Captain Obvious.

Welcome to 2010.

 

[devilalum]

What, do you mean they're losing just as efficiently? It wasn't true against the Lakers, but in most recent games, the Suns have been outplaying their opponents with Nash on the floor and then getting crushed when Dragic subs.

This was before the switch to the defensive focus.

 

[BC867]

What do Colonel Sanders and Alvin Gentry have in common?

They are both trying to put out fires with wings.

 

[jagu]

What do Colonel Sanders and Alvin Gentry have in common?

They are both trying to put out fires with wings.

I think I prefer Sanders' wings to ours... Sigh...

 

[JCSunsfan]

I wonder how many on this board would be griping and complaining about how much we paid Amare, if we had stepped up and resigned him. Seems like we were all on board with this last trade too. Interestingly enough, the Spurs path to success is to keep a team together, even if it underachieves one year.

At this point, this team has no identity and no abilitly to play fast or slow.