Off Season Consideration

[3rdside]

Sounds like we're in a great spot to pick up talented players this off season.

According to the article, because of how many teams will be in luxury tax territory (up to 12) there will be a premium attached to offloading salaries because it will be hard to do as everyone wants to do it and there aren't many teams with cap space.

Those with it i.e. the Suns, will be able to demand quality talent and or picks as the price for accepting for luxury tax teams' excess salary.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/22263630/nba-financial-crunch-coming

Maybe McD is playing to a grander tune after all.

 

[overseascardfan]

I hope this is the case and he doesn’t end up whiffing this offseason either being spurned by top FAs or not being able to find a suitable trade that really benefits PHX.

 

[Hoop Head]

The Ringer posted a similar article breaking down the cap situation in the NBA moving forward. It's definitely worth a read. It discusses how the supermax deals are effecting teams now and in the future, using the Blake Griffin trade as a prime example. It's also predicted the discrepancy of pay between the max level guys and regular role players contracts going forward to increase and why we're probably going to see less mid level deals offered in the future, in the $12-18 million dollar range. Even the mid-level exception is increasing to close to $10 million a year but most teams don't plan on using the entire thing to sign one player like they did back when it was just $4-5 million. The Luxury Tax is going to hurt a lot of teams building their teams now and in the future because of the sharp cap increase and the ridiculous spending spree most teams went on when it happened. The Suns are in a good place right now, financially, since they didn't follow suit when those deals were being handed out.


https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/2/5/16972634/trouble-nba-max-contracts

I think the players are going to end up regretting not allowing the league to slowly implement that increase instead of going with that one year $25 million jump. Some players got paid but a lot are going to miss out. I think some of the older players were just looking to get theirs while they could, since it's mainly veterans on the downside of their career that represent teams in the players association. A lot of them would have missed out on that TV money had the NBA implemented that over a few years.

 

[3rdside]

As much as I rail on McD we are in a good position to capitalise this year (ignoring that it's taken us 5 years to get here..) with up to three first rounders, second rounders and cap space, which now seems to have greater value attached to it.

1. Our draft will either be Doncic and trade for a big (Knight will fill in at PG while he gets up to speed) or Ayton and trade for a guard...not sure who's out there that's available and I like though.

2. McD doesn't really deserve it but I'm okay extending him, with the premise being that we need a decent improvement in Wins next season. To take 5 years to finally 'achieve' the worst record in the league, which is where we're trending, in 99% of cases would lead to a sacking; he should consider himself unbelievably lucky he's in that 1%.

 

[Hoop Head]

As much as I rail on McD we are in a good position to capitalise this year (ignoring that it's taken us 5 years to get here..) with up to three first rounders, second rounders and cap space, which now seems to have greater value attached to it.

1. Our draft will either be Doncic and trade for a big (Knight will fill in at PG while he gets up to speed) or Ayton and trade for a guard...not sure who's out there that's available and I like though.

2. McD doesn't really deserve it but I'm okay extending him, with the premise being that we need a decent improvement in Wins next season. To take 5 years to finally 'achieve' the worst record in the league, which is where we're trending, in 99% of cases would lead to a sacking; he should consider himself unbelievably lucky he's in that 1%.

I don't think he should be extended but I think he should be kept on through this offseason. How the team plays next year, probably to this point in the season, will determine whether or not he should be kept around any longer.

If we could add Ayton to pair with Booker we'll have a great #1 and #2 option, with Warren being our #3. I think a team with Booker and Ayton is better than the Wolves this season when they just had Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. They got lucky trading for Butler but I think the Suns could do something similar if they could somehow end up in a position to draft Ayton. They'll definitely be a team on the rise and much more attractive option to free agents and if they traded for a star they wouldn't need to worry about them leaving in free agency the first chance they had. The Suns could have probably traded for Cousins and Kyrie before but if they had they would have given up all of their assets in order to bring either of them in with the very real risk of seeing them walk as soon as they'd have the chance. If they had either of them they wouldn't be in position to add a top pick this year as well as adding Jackson through last years draft.

 

[3rdside]

I don't think he should be extended but I think he should be kept on through this offseason. How the team plays next year, probably to this point in the season, will determine whether or not he should be kept around any longer.

If we could add Ayton to pair with Booker we'll have a great #1 and #2 option, with Warren being our #3. I think a team with Booker and Ayton is better than the Wolves this season when they just had Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. They got lucky trading for Butler but I think the Suns could do something similar if they could somehow end up in a position to draft Ayton. They'll definitely be a team on the rise and much more attractive option to free agents and if they traded for a star they wouldn't need to worry about them leaving in free agency the first chance they had. The Suns could have probably traded for Cousins and Kyrie before but if they had they would have given up all of their assets in order to bring either of them in with the very real risk of seeing them walk as soon as they'd have the chance. If they had either of them they wouldn't be in position to add a top pick this year as well as adding Jackson through last years draft.

Honestly, i'm not quite sure where i made the switch from hating mcd (I was a chief hater; calling for his head as early as the Dragic / knight fiasco) to thinking he's extendable - maybe it's the pile of assets he's constantly talked finally arriving and the thought that he's best placed to deliver on them (and maybe it was the pro mcd crowd that convinced me of this) - but, as has been mentioned a bunch of times this race the the bottom has come about unintentionally; there was no plan for this, it just happened from straight up incompetence.

Last night was a joke, dude has got to go.

 

[pokerface]

Honestly, i'm not quite sure where i made the switch from hating mcd (I was a chief hater; calling for his head as early as the Dragic / knight fiasco) to thinking he's extendable - maybe it's the pile of assets he's constantly talked finally arriving and the thought that he's best placed to deliver on them (and maybe it was the pro mcd crowd that convinced me of this) - but, as has been mentioned a bunch of times this race the the bottom has come about unintentionally; there was no plan for this, it just happened from straight up incompetence.

Last night was a joke, dude has got to go.

I think McD has had some bad luck. High picks in weak drafts. Players injured. But he's done some questionable trades and some bad coaching hires too. Still, (as has been mentioned) he's accumulated some assets...some of which have yet to come to fruition. We have players still developing, draft picks on the way, and players on the mend from injuries.

So on the whole I'd give him a "C" grade for now.

 

[Chaplin]

Good GMs make their own luck. Teams have bad luck, GMs are either incompetent or aren’t. That’s it.

 

[Covert Rain]

Out of curiosity, if people agree that Booker is the future and we build around him....what players in the off-season help him elevate his game?

Just curious what people think. Either a specific player or type is fine.

Thoughts?

 

[Mainstreet]

Out of curiosity, if people agree that Booker is the future and we build around him....what players in the off-season help him elevate his game?

Just curious what people think. Either a specific player or type is fine.

Thoughts?

Some more shooters and another ball handler (PG). Hope Payton turns out to be an answer.

 

[SirStefan32]

Some more shooters and another ball handler (PG). Hope Payton turns out to be an answer.

I agree, but I would also add defenders to the list. Preferably the defensive players who can shoot.

 

[Hoop Head]

Out of curiosity, if people agree that Booker is the future and we build around him....what players in the off-season help him elevate his game?

Just curious what people think. Either a specific player or type is fine.

Thoughts?

I think he needs to be paired with a strong wing defender but Jackson could develop into that. In terms of older players in the league though I'd say Ariza would be the type of player to look for but he's too old to bring in on his own. Adding a shot blocking Center with a post game offensively would be nice also. Having a strong wing defender would allow Booker to play against the least skilled win on the opposing team and a strong shot blocker would be able to cover for him if his matchup got past him. Having that as well as a PG with size that can defend would be nice also, so Booker could guard the least skilled PG, SG, or SF on the opposing team since they'd have a strong defender on their best player and be able to move their PG onto the other wing if necessary. Payton could be that player if he played strong defense. The scouting report on him coming into the league was that he was as a good perimeter defender but he hasn't been able to get it together yet. Most importantly would be the wing, then the rim protector, and then the PG. For the big someone like Jokic would be ideal.

Of course he could play with anyone but I think they'd need those sort of players to get the most out of him. Jackson could be that wing so acquiring a strong inside presence is the biggest need to put alongside him now. I mentioned Jokic but I think Ayton could also be that player. I'm not sure how good of a passer he is but he'd fit the other descriptions as far as what the ideal big could do on Booker's team.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I think he needs to be paired with a strong wing defender but Jackson could develop into that. In terms of older players in the league though I'd say Ariza would be the type of player to look for but he's too old to bring in on his own. Adding a shot blocking Center with a post game offensively would be nice also. Having a strong wing defender would allow Booker to play against the least skilled win on the opposing team and a strong shot blocker would be able to cover for him if his matchup got past him. Having that as well as a PG with size that can defend would be nice also, so Booker could guard the least skilled PG, SG, or SF on the opposing team since they'd have a strong defender on their best player and be able to move their PG onto the other wing if necessary. Payton could be that player if he played strong defense. The scouting report on him coming into the league was that he was as a good perimeter defender but he hasn't been able to get it together yet. Most importantly would be the wing, then the rim protector, and then the PG. For the big someone like Jokic would be ideal.

Of course he could play with anyone but I think they'd need those sort of players to get the most out of him. Jackson could be that wing so acquiring that strong inside presence is the biggest need to put alongside him now. I mentioned Jokic but I think Ayton could also be that player. I'm not sure how good of a passer he is but he'd fit the other descriptions as far as what the ideal big could do on Booker's team.

Ayton is a surprisingly savvy passer already.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Passing defensive pg or a passing shooting pg.

Wing defender.

Rim protector interior scorer.

Competent bench.

Could be Payton, Jackson and Ayton. Good news is that we have assets and several ways to legitimately fill those holes.

If Payton can be efficient with his shooting even if he does not shoot much from the outside, and start to defend like he was projected to do when drafted, there are some possibilities there.

 

[Mainstreet]

I agree, but I would also add defenders to the list. Preferably the defensive players who can shoot.

Adding defenders who can shoot is always good plus of course a PG. The idea is to take the pressure off Booker. It would be nice if Payton turns out to be that ball handler. I'm still open to the Suns adding another PG this summer.

 

[Matt L]

Sounds like people want a Bamba type in the draft...

 

[BC867]

A high draft pick role Playing Center.

 

[Carolinacacti]

Just curious what people think. Either a specific player or type is fine.

Thoughts?
Has to be a shooter or scorer. If Payton works out and Bender plays center the Suns need a PF, Ayton or Charles Barkley.

 

[SirStefan32]

Just curious what people think. Either a specific player or type is fine.

Thoughts?
Has to be a shooter or scorer. If Payton works out and Bender plays center the Suns need a PF, Ayton or Charles Barkley.

Um... I suppose at this point in time, I'd take Ayton over Barkley.

 

[JS22]

Good GMs make their own luck. Teams have bad luck, GMs are either incompetent or aren’t. That’s it.

You could definitely argue that he made his own luck by grabbing Booker at 13.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

You could definitely argue that he made his own luck by grabbing Booker at 13.

I don’t know how many times I have to say it, Booker was a consensus 13-15th pick. He went exactly where projected. I don’t see that as evidence of any skill on mcd’s part.

 

[SirStefan32]

I don’t know how many times I have to say it, Booker was a consensus 13-15th pick. He went exactly where projected. I don’t see that as evidence of any skill on mcd’s part.

You can say it a thousand times, it still won't make any sense. McD picked him. He gets the credit.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

You can say it a thousand times, it still won't make any sense. McD picked him. He gets the credit.

If I tell you where I hid something did you really discover it? That’s my point. Yes he didn’t screw ip the selection but it’s not like he pulled a Giannis outta his hat. In other words, it didn’t impress me that he selected the guy everyone mocked to him. It shouldn’t impress you either. If it does you have a very low bar for what you consider skill or success.

 

[Hoop Head]

You can't bash McD for taking Bender and Chriss when they were projected to go where they were picked despite not panning out yet while not giving him credit for Booker who was also picked around when anticipated.

 

[SirStefan32]

You can't bash McD for taking Bender and Chriss when they were projected to go where they were picked despite not panning out yet while not giving him credit for Booker who was also picked around when anticipated.

Right, exactly!