Official Stay the Course Thread

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Read this quote in another thread and it's exactly what I've been thinking.

Trade none of them. Give Gentry an entire season with this roster. If they fail then you get the salary relief from Nash and Shaq off the books.

We can bitch and moan and demand unrealistic trade scenarios all day and then bash the owners when they dont listen, or we can be optimisitc about staying the course and accepting what may come.


Things to look forward to:

Dragic - finally grew balls and should see more playing time and I am optimistic after a horrid rookie season
Barbosa - showed marked improvement in both playmaking and slashing while dealing with the distractions of his mother passing away and finding out he is going to be a father
Nash - a year older but still a 50%FG, 40%3PT, 90%FT threat every night and arguably the best shooter/passer in the league
Shaq - was our best player last season and always comes to play. contracts runs out around the time we will be ready to part ways with him
Amundson - hopefully working on his free throws and showed improvements on the offensive end
Amare - his eyeballs work now and Gentry gets a solid run with him. If he doesnt play defense this season, he wont get his extension. look for mvp-esque play out there.
Barnes - turnovers should drop but will still be streaky, and always fun to watch
Lopez - Meh
Dudley - Dudley kicked it into awesome gear once Gentry got a hold of him, will be a joy to watch. Potential MIP candidate imo.
JRich - this man is ready to get out and run again and brings a lot of what we wanted from our 2 spot
Hill - Loves our training staff and doesnt show signs of slowing down


And if we draft Earl Clark and Jack McClinton it will be a successful offseason

Depth

1 - Nash/Dragic/Barbosa/McClinton
2 - JRich/Barbosa/McClinton/Tucker
3 - Hill/Barnes/Dudley/JRich/Clark
4 - Amare/Amundson/Barnes/Dudley/Clark
5 - Shaq/Lopez/Amare/Amundson


Best Suns Mix ever - download link
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=08ZJRYCX

 

[HooverDam]

Whats the upside of that plan? 7th seed this year and then the team is broken up next year when Shaq walks?

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

What salvage plan this year could outdo a S&T of Amare and 35M in free agent money next year? Plus having to hope that whatever blockbuster trade you concoct keeps the chemistry and energy levels in tact.

What Ace do you have up your sleeve that isn't shortsighted and makes us better now?

We're keeping Nash and most likely won't find any deal worth taking for our other trade pieces, and all this revolt and demand for change feels like pushing sand against the surf. It's time to sober up imo.

 

[HooverDam]

What salvage plan this year could outdo a S&T of Amare and 35M in free agent money next year? Plus having to hope that whatever blockbuster trade you concoct keeps the chemistry and energy levels in tact.

Having a bunch of money to sign FAs when they have seen what a lousy F.O. the Suns have isn't exactly an ideal situation. Lots of other teams with better F.O.'s, and some already good players will be more attractive to the guys in the 2010 class anyhow.

Also you're assuming the Suns can sign and trade Amare, when its probably more likely he'd just opt out and sign somewhere else.

What Ace do you have up your sleeve that isn't shortsighted and makes us better now?

Who said anything about making the Suns better now? Why do so many fans have this notion that teams should be able to be good now and rebuild for the future simultaneously. That rarely if ever happens. For all I care the Suns can trade just about everyone and lose 82 games next year (provided they get their pick back or another lottery bound teams pick). Im perfectly fine with a team going in the toilet for a year or two if you're able to stockpile young talent and picks to rebuild.

We're keeping Nash and most likely won't find any deal worth taking for our other trade pieces, and all this revolt and demand for change feels like pushing sand against the surf. It's time to sober up imo.

If Kerr and Sarver want to go with the stay the course plan, and resign Nash to some idiotic deal, Im not sure why the fans should accept it. Those two are morons and ought to be called out and shouted down at every opportunity. Its not like fans have any control anyway, so whether or not we accept what they're doing is irrelevant. We may as well have fun making fun of those boneheads and dreaming of what a qualified GM would do.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Aint.Happenin.

 

[Mulli]

Aint.Happenin.

What aint happenin?

 

[Covert Rain]

I just don't see a point in rolling out a team that has no shot at a title. I mean if we can't get anything for Shaq, Nash or Amare then I can see the Suns standing pat and letting contracts expire. However, that is only for salary reasons. For basketball reasons I don't see a point.

 

[Sovereignz]

I'm fine with not completely blowing things up, but to me it's clear that the core we have with Nash, Amare, JRich and Shaq doesn't work from on offensive/defensive balance standpoint.. I mean, how truly valuable are those guys when 1, or for hell's sake even TWO (if it was JRich + Amare or JRich + Shaq) of them can go down and the team doesn't experience a significant drop off? There's too much offensive talent overlapping. It's pointless to have it. And that's not a knock on any of those guys, it just is what it is. I see the Houston Rockets having the same problems for years that we've had for years.. no balance. At some point, don't you have to stop stockpiling defensive guys and just get ONE damn guy on your team who isn't a defensive stopper + 30% bricklayer?

I think there are moves to be made that will improve us this coming season without hurting us too much beyond 2010. We just need to make them.

 

[mojorizen7]

Who said anything about making the Suns better now? Why do so many fans have this notion that teams should be able to be good now and rebuild for the future simultaneously. That rarely if ever happens. For all I care the Suns can trade just about everyone and lose 82 games next year (provided they get their pick back or another lottery bound teams pick). Im perfectly fine with a team going in the toilet for a year or two if you're able to stockpile young talent and picks to rebuild.

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+1

 

[ASUCHRIS]

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+1

Seconded...even if they're crappy next year, it's to be expected, and at least we'll be able to see what the next group can do.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

What aint happenin?

Staying the course. Something is going to happen.

 

[mojorizen7]

Staying the course. Something is going to happen.

Something wonderful?

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[nashman]

Its a business and your kidding yourselves if you think they are willing to put a complete crap product on the floor and lose tons of money as the fans won't show up! This team will not be totally blown up its just not going to happen. They still have to have a competitive team or people just flat out won't watch or go to the games. Every fan seems to think they are a GM and know how to fix it, there is more to it obviously you can't just blow it up and start over without losing tons of cash, something we all know Sarver is NOT willing to do. Deal with it.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

The problem is that we don't have our pick and won't get it back. Sucking this year is pointless. The only way this team will improve is through years of sucking or to improve through free agency. That is why you let the contracts expire.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

The problem is that we don't have our pick and won't get it back. Sucking this year is pointless. The only way this team will improve is through years of sucking or to improve through free agency. That is why you let the contracts expire.

And our best chance to be attractive to free agents is to get young talent and picks to surround them with by trading our current players, not greeting them with an empty cupboard after another pointless 7-8 seed year, and one and done in the playoffs.

While it sucks that we don't have our pick next year, we shouldn't design our future plans around the fact that we don't have it, instead we should be trading away our current assets for more picks and young talent.

 

[mojorizen7]

The problem is that we don't have our pick and won't get it back. Sucking this year is pointless. The only way this team will improve is through years of sucking or to improve through free agency. That is why you let the contracts expire.

...and pray that we can attract quality FA's here by flaunting all that cap room,sunshine,golf courses and Barbosa?

I prefer setting the table before feasting. Get what we can while we can.
I've said all along, there's no reason we can't secure a good '10 draft pick & some younger pieces with some upside by trading some combination of Shaq,Nash and JRich. We 'd have to take on at least one bad contract....but what NBA team doesn't have a bad contract?

 

[JCSunsfan]

Thoughts on "Stay the course"

1. Shaq will never again have as high trade value as he does at this moment. He can provide a huge help for a team needing to get over the hump, and his deal expires soon. It is an ideal time to pick up picks or promising young players along with marginal expiring contracts. The Suns should trade Shaq for the best deal they can get now.

2. Forget about not having next year's pick. The Suns are rebuilding, there is no way around that idea. It was a stupid mistake to trade that pick without protection, but trying to make that previous deal look better (by trying to get more wins in the short term) at the expense of the long range rebuilding plan is a big mistake too.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Thoughts on "Stay the course"

1. Shaq will never again have as high trade value as he does at this moment. He can provide a huge help for a team needing to get over the hump, and his deal expires soon. It is an ideal time to pick up picks or promising young players along with marginal expiring contracts. The Suns should trade Shaq for the best deal they can get now.

2. Forget about not having next year's pick. The Suns are rebuilding, there is no way around that idea. It was a stupid mistake to trade that pick without protection, but trying to make that previous deal look better (by trying to get more wins in the short term) at the expense of the long range rebuilding plan is a big mistake too.

HARUMPH!

 

[Mainstreet]

Whats the upside of that plan? 7th seed this year and then the team is broken up next year when Shaq walks?

The long term financial savings of letting contracts expire has been noted. One only has to look at the way the Suns handled the KT situation... and his value continues to payoff for other teams.

However, I think the primary underlying reason the Suns want to avoid rebuilding now is because Sarver/ Kerr do not want to give The Thunder a lottery pick next season. Pride can do strange things. Giving The Thunder a lottery pick next season would seal their fate as being totally inept. They would be the talk of the NBA and it would not be complimentary. Also the Suns do not have anything to gain by rebuilding for next season unless a miracle drops in their lap. So 7th seed is looking good to Sarver/ Kerr.

 

[mojorizen7]

The long term financial savings of letting contracts expire has been noted. One only has to look at the way the Suns handled the KT situation... and his value continues to payoff for other teams.

However, I think the primary underlying reason the Suns want to avoid rebuilding now is because Sarver/ Kerr do not want to give The Thunder a lottery pick next season. Pride can do strange things. Giving The Thunder a lottery pick next season would seal their fate as being totally inept. They would be the talk of the NBA and it would not be complimentary. Also the Suns do not have anything to gain by rebuilding for next season unless a miracle drops in their lap. So 7th seed is looking good to Sarver/ Kerr.

If this is true then there is absolutely no hope for this franchise with these clowns at the helm.
F_o_r_g_e_t about the pick. What's done is done. Look at what you've got, decide where to go and make it happen.

 

[Covert Rain]

The San Antonio Spurs just got a pretty good damn addition to their team in Richard Jefferson. You better bet that other teams out West our going to counter.

Some of you want to stand pat with the team we have??

 

[Mainstreet]

The San Antonio Spurs just got a pretty good damn addition to their team in Richard Jefferson. You better bet that other teams out West our going to counter.

Some of you want to stand pat with the team we have??

It's not the mindset the Suns just want to stand pat... it's just that the Suns traded their future (draft picks) both past and future. There is no guarantee Sarver/ Kerr would know how to rebuild the Suns anyway. It's not like wer're running the franchise which would be infinitely better.

It wouldn't surprise me if Sarver wants to lower his bankroll after next season and sell the Suns franchise. The Suns have played most of their chips and trading away their core would make the Suns look horrible next season. So the thought process may be the Suns barely make the playoffs next season and then drop ballast looking to attract a buyer.

Let me make it clear, I do not like standing pat. If I had my way, if the Suns drafted a top notch PG like Flynn or Jennings I would move on especially if the Suns could also draft a center like Mullens for the future.

 

[JCSunsfan]

HARUMPH!

Is that good or bad?

 

[Covert Rain]

Let me make it clear, I do not like standing pat. If I had my way, if the Suns drafted a top notch PG like Flynn or Jennings I would move on especially if the Suns could also draft a center like Mullens for the future.

You had me until you said Jennings. That guy doesn't play a lick of defense. Why would you want to do that to the franchise....AGAIN?

 

[Mainstreet]

You had me until you said Jennings. That guy doesn't play a lick of defense. Why would you want to do that to the franchise....AGAIN?

I'll let you substitute a different player for Jennings. There are a lot of good PGs in this draft.

However, when I see Mullens I see a highly athletic center that will only improve with time. I agree his basketball smarts are not there now but I'm betting he will develop into a high quality center within three years. At 7'1" he is an athletic specimen who if fed the ball properly can score easily on cuts to the basket. He also has good hands. The rest of his game will have to evolve. As good centers are so hard to find, I'm betting on his upside as he has all the talent in the world.