Now to Plan B

[George O'Brien]

As one of the biggest promoters of TT, I am disappointed he's leaving but not surprised. The Suns were never really in a position to give him a full MLE deal and if that's what he wanted, then it was not really an issue.

One thing that seems to be emerging from the kind of deal the Suns offered TT is that they did not want to give him the entire MLE even in the short run. It appears they offered something along the line of $3.5 to start in order to keep enough of the MLE to add at least one other player.

For example, if Sato is as good on offense as his Euro stats suggest, with his rep as a very good defender, the Suns were not going to get him for a rookie minimum. I don't know enough about him to know if he's the guy, but he's not in the mix if TT gets the entire MLE.

Another option is to use the left over TE from the JJ deal. This is not a terribly strong free agency class, but there may be some guys on rookie contracts that might be available. As I noted in another thread, the Celtics have six guys who are eligible for RFA status next summer and it is unlikely they will keep all of them. Gomes for example will be completely unrestricted next summer.

I'm not suggesting a particular player, just a wider set of options.

Right now, Jones is the eigth man in the rotation. They don't have to make a move beyond filling the roster with guys to provide depth.

 

[Goldfield]

As one of the biggest promoters of TT, I am disappointed he's leaving but not surprised. The Suns were never really in a position to give him a full MLE deal and if that's what he wanted, then it was not really an issue.

One thing that seems to be emerging from the kind of deal the Suns offered TT is that they did not want to give him the entire MLE even in the short run. It appears they offered something along the line of $3.5 to start in order to keep enough of the MLE to add at least one other player.

For example, if Sato is as good on offense as his Euro stats suggest, with his rep as a very good defender, the Suns were not going to get him for a rookie minimum. I don't know enough about him to know if he's the guy, but he's not in the mix if TT gets the entire MLE.

Another option is to use the left over TE from the JJ deal. This is not a terribly strong free agency class, but there may be some guys on rookie contracts that might be available. As I noted in another thread, the Celtics have six guys who are eligible for RFA status next summer and it is unlikely they will keep all of them. Gomes for example will be completely unrestricted next summer.

I'm not suggesting a particular player, just a wider set of options.

Right now, Jones is the eigth man in the rotation. They don't have to make a move beyond filling the roster with guys to provide depth.

I agree and infact prefer JJ over TT.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Now that Chicago has Villanueva, they have so many forwards, they cannot possibly keep them all. Is it possible they would take the Cleveland pick next year for Thabo?

 

[nathan]

Now that Chicago has Villanueva, they have so many forwards, they cannot possibly keep them all. Is it possible they would take the Cleveland pick next year for Thabo?

Milwaukee has Villanueva

 

[devilalum]

I don't see why losing T2 is such a big deal.

The Suns were doing great last year before KT was hurt.

Now they'll have Amare back AND KT.

IMO getting a good guard is more important.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I don't see why losing T2 is such a big deal.

The Suns were doing great last year before KT was hurt.

Now they'll have Amare back AND KT.

IMO getting a good guard is more important.

hmm, everyone assumed that we'd get one or two good players in the draft resign tt, extend diaw and barbs.

now we've given away those draft picks and not resigned tt or gotten extensions done yet for diaw and barbs (though those may still happen) and the board, with NO indication from the suns, now ASSUMES ('cuz that's what your statement implies) that we're signing a "GOOD guard" . . . but that hasn't happened yet either, and from all indications over the past two years, we've failed at our plan a, what makes you think plan b will work other than sarver's ass being saved by diaw turning out to be a player when no one thought he would be...?

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOB (not you, that's boobert sarver i'm speaking of)

 

[devilalum]

hmm, everyone assumed that we'd get one or two good players in the draft resign tt, extend diaw and barbs.

now we've given away those draft picks and not resigned tt or gotten extensions done yet for diaw and barbs (though those may still happen) and the board, with NO indication from the suns, now ASSUMES ('cuz that's what your statement implies) that we're signing a "GOOD guard" . . . but that hasn't happened yet either, and from all indications over the past two years, we've failed at our plan a, what makes you think plan b will work other than sarver's ass being saved by diaw turning out to be a player when no one thought he would be...?

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOB (not you, that's boobert sarver i'm speaking of)

Don't get me wrong, I'm not giving a pass on all that other crap. I just don't think losing TT is that big a deal.

 

[TucsonDevil]

I don't see why losing T2 is such a big deal.

The Suns were doing great last year before KT was hurt.

Now they'll have Amare back AND KT.

IMO getting a good guard is more important.

You nailed my thoughts, I just want to bring in another combo guard that can handle the ball. I don't want him to get more than 25 min any night, so he doesn't have to be a Spring chicken (ie, Hunter and/or Bobby Jackson don't have to be perfectly healthy for this role, I wouldn't want to lean on them to much anyway - so their bodies wont be 'taxed' too much).

Plan B is really last September's Plan A - KT and Amare, Bell and Marion, and Nash running the show.

 

[cepstrum]

Plan B is really last September's Plan A - KT and Amare, Bell and Marion, and Nash running the show.

Actually that was last summers plan B. Plan A included Joe Johnson also. Of course neither worked out and we went to plan C.

 

[JCSunsfan]

We are very suseptible to injury next year though. But I suppose if one of the top 5 has a major injury, we might as well just be bad, and get the best possible pick in next year's draft.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Milwaukee has Villanueva

Of course. Sorry.

 

[slinslin]

Best case now would be to sign Speedy Claxton for the MLE, Lorenzen Wrigth or Olowokandi for the minimum and trade Barbosa for JR Smith since Claxton and Barbosa wouldn't work in my opinion and New Orleans would need to replace Claxton.

 

[Chaplin]

Best case now would be to sign Speedy Claxton for the MLE, Lorenzen Wrigth or Olowokandi for the minimum and trade Barbosa for JR Smith since Claxton and Barbosa wouldn't work in my opinion and New Orleans would need to replace Claxton.

Barbosa for JR Smith? LOL

Might as well trade Diaw for Calvin Booth.

 

[sunsfn]

Olowokandi will never be a sun. That is as long as Gentry is a coach. He really bad mouthed him this year. If I remember right, Gentry was coach of the Clips while Olowokandi was there, and he does not have good memories of him!

 

[sly fly]

Best case now would be to sign Speedy Claxton for the MLE, Lorenzen Wrigth or Olowokandi for the minimum and trade Barbosa for JR Smith since Claxton and Barbosa wouldn't work in my opinion and New Orleans would need to replace Claxton.

Kandi Man? You must be joking.

 

[slinslin]

Barbosa for JR Smith? LOL

Might as well trade Diaw for Calvin Booth.

No you wouldn't.

Barbosa doesn't have that much value with him becoming a FA and most everyone expecting the Suns to keep Diaw over Barbosa as they most likely can't pay both.

JR Smith has shown flashes, is young, he still has a lot of potential so he will always have some trade value. Maybe we could get a 2nd rounder or so on top of him but not much more I guess.

JR Smith really isn't a worse prospect or player than Barbosa..both young and talented. Barbosa performing a bit better last year but Smith having more upside so it cancels each other out. Plus Smith would excel in the Suns offense with his range and athleticism.

 

[slinslin]

Kandi Man? You must be joking.

No I am not. For near the minimum you still get a 7'1 or whatever strong big guy who is capable of giving you a double digit rebounding night with a couple of blocks.

We don't have that right now. Amare is our biggest player as of right now.

 

[Chaplin]

No you wouldn't.

Barbosa doesn't have that much value with him becoming a FA and most everyone expecting the Suns to keep Diaw over Barbosa as they most likely can't pay both.

JR Smith has shown flashes, is young, he still has a lot of potential so he will always have some trade value. Maybe we could get a 2nd rounder or so on top of him but not much more I guess.

JR Smith really isn't a worse prospect or player than Barbosa..both young and talented. Barbosa performing a bit better last year but Smith having more upside so it cancels each other out. Plus Smith would excel in the Suns offense with his range and athleticism.

You've got to be kidding. Not only are you overrating JR Smith (as many people on this board do), you are underrating Barbosa, who has improved every year--there's no evidence that he has reached his peak. But JR Smith?

 

[JCSunsfan]

So, who might be available to pick up with the TE.

You're looking for a player earning less than 3.8 or so, that their team might be wanting to move for cap space.

 

[Chaplin]

So, who might be available to pick up with the TE.

You're looking for a player earning less than 3.8 or so, that their team might be wanting to move for cap space.

Hey, JR Smith for the TE is fine. But not straight up for Barbosa. He gets a bad rap on this board.

 

[panfolk]

So, who might be available to pick up with the TE.

You're looking for a player earning less than 3.8 or so, that their team might be wanting to move for cap space.

Sign and trade for Flip Murray.

 

[cly2tw]

Marion for Lewis solves our problems!

 

[Mainstreet]

IMO, there are two primary concerns with the Suns ownership right now:

First, is there anyone on the Suns staff that has the necessary experience as a GM (like BC) to acquire the right players to fill the gaps?

And second, are the Suns going to spend the money? The Suns ownership needs to show that it will extend Barbosa and Diaw this summer as well as use all the money available to fill out a quality roster. I believe extending Diaw is an absolute must.

The Suns have first round picks, players, MLE and the TE they can use to acquire at least one quality young player in a position of need. Also they need to improve team depth. If the Suns cannot make the correct moves to improve the depth of this team it will say a lot.

 

[Joe Mama]

IMO, there are two primary concerns with the Suns ownership right now:

First, is there anyone on the Suns staff that has the necessary experience as a GM (like BC) to acquire the right players to fill the gaps?

And second, are the Suns going to spend the money? The Suns ownership needs to show that it will extend Barbosa and Diaw this summer as well as use all the money available to fill out a quality roster. I believe extending Diaw is an absolute must.

The Suns have first round picks, players, MLE and the TE they can use to acquire at least one quality young player in a position of need. Also they need to improve team depth. If the Suns cannot make the correct moves to improve the depth of this team it will say a lot.

IMO the last Phoenix Suns owner and general manager could have used a little financial restraint. First of all, no one even knows if the Phoenix Suns offered to Tim Thomas was the decision of the owner or the general manager(s). Of course everyone wants to blame Sarver, but I have no problem with the decision's so far this summer.

I want to see what they do next.

Joe

 

[Cheesebeef]

IMO the last Phoenix Suns owner and general manager could have used a little financial restraint. First of all, no one even knows if the Phoenix Suns offered to Tim Thomas was the decision of the owner or the general manager(s). Of course everyone wants to blame Sarver, but I have no problem with the decision's so far this summer.

I want to see what they do next.

Joe

or do you mean, "what they don't do next?"

As far as the last owner and GM, that lack of financial restraint seemed to help us get Steve Nash and Raja Bell. (and before you throw out Googs, Penny and Longley much there no comaprison to two MAX deals and whatever the hell Longley got to a solid guy who can provide great depth or start if needed for 5.4 million.