Okur: Who's Chasing Who?

[George O'Brien]

We keep hearing that the Suns are interested in Okur, but I have a suspicion that it's the other way around. Okur wants to be a Sun.

I'm not sure what difference it makes, but it might limit the kind of salary demands he would be making. There is little doubt that Utah could offer more money, but Utah has no other big men of note and Okur knows he can't carry a team. He might like Denver, but risks backing up Camby.

Most talk about Okur has been in the $7 million range, which is completely out of the question for a guy who averaged only 5.9 rpg last season in 22.3 minutes (Voskuhl averaged 5.2 rpg in 24 minutes). I'm not sure how I would feel about him at just over the MLE. He's not my ideal kind of player and seems overrated, but he is a young and has some upside.

I'd rather take someone else, but the competition for big men is likely to be fierce.

 

[scotsman13]

george, one of the things going for okur is that he is young and showing some skill in rebounding and playing center. jake is only a 3 year vet and he is 26 okur is 25 and 2 year vet. look at the change from year 2 to year 3 for jake, it was a big step. also he does have a good outside shot. which may go to opening up the inside (braking the zone) for amare work. the suns may look at this being an important assist to get out of their centers because of amares post work. he is the same height as jake and wieghs more.

now i am not saying that he is my first choose as a center, but i think i can see why the suns may have an interest in him.

time will tell what the suns do. but we all know what they have stated their weaknesses have been, point guard and center. and we know that this team had a lot of problems when faced with the zone. how do you beat a zone? passing and outside shooting.

 

[Yuma]

george, one of the things going for okur is that he is young and showing some skill in rebounding and playing center. jake is only a 3 year vet and he is 26 okur is 25 and 2 year vet. look at the change from year 2 to year 3 for jake, it was a big step. also he does have a good outside shot. which may go to opening up the inside (braking the zone) for amare work. the suns may look at this being an important assist to get out of their centers because of amares post work. he is the same height as jake and wieghs more.

now i am not saying that he is my first choose as a center, but i think i can see why the suns may have an interest in him.

time will tell what the suns do. but we all know what they have stated their weaknesses have been, point guard and center. and we know that this team had a lot of problems when faced with the zone. how do you beat a zone? passing and outside shooting.

Also inside penetration of the zone. So PG would help that tremendously, as would a low post center who could flash into the zone for a pass. Okur doesn't seem to have that kind of game, but I didn't see any teams playing zone on Detroit when I watched them, so who knows. I just think Okur is making out in a year when not many viable young big men are available. I haven't seen anything in his game any better than our centers we have now. I'd rather save the cap space and stick to what we have. If we are going to spend that kind of jack, I'd rather take a risk on Dampier for a two year contract. If there's one guy in the free agent market I hope we don't get for big bucks, It's Okur!

 

[cepstrum]

If we are going to spend that kind of jack, I'd rather take a risk on Dampier for a two year contract. If there's one guy in the free agent market I hope we don't get for big bucks, It's Okur!

I think that dampier is looking for a long term commitment. That's the main reason he's opting out. Im not too high on okur, but for something starting at 5.5 mill it wouldnt kill me. Of course there will be other teams offering much more.

 

[George O'Brien]

I think that dampier is looking for a long term commitment. That's the main reason he's opting out. Im not too high on okur, but for something starting at 5.5 mill it wouldnt kill me. Of course there will be other teams offering much more.

Dampier is definitely looking for a long term contract.

My comments on Okur reflect a theory that he may be looking at more than just the most money. Atlanta has the most money. If he is looking for a team with a future that needs a center, then maybe he will not demand as much money.

In any case, I am more opposed than supportive of getting Okur even at a reasonable price.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Didn't someone suggest we should throw max money at Okur this summer. I think it happened 2-3 months ago.

At least we are coming back to reality. If we miss on Kobe, and want to throw just over the MLE to Okur, fine. I guess I can't really complain about it that much, although I don't have any clue where he would play. Nor what good he would do for the suns for that matter.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

JUST SAY NO!

 

[JCSunsfan]

I've been pretty negative on Okur myself, but that primarily because of what I hear. I really haven't seen him.

Question: what is it about Okur that has Joe Dumars so interested in him? Is it that he reminds Joe of Laimbeer or what? There has to be some appeal. What is it?

 

[Yuma]

Anyone see that ugly pirate being chased by the fat woman in the Pirates Of The Carribean ride at Disney when they think of the Suns courting or being courted by Okur? Man, I hope that doesn't happen!

 

[elindholm]

Question: what is it about Okur that has Joe Dumars so interested in him?

Good question. Maybe it's that he's reasonably large, reasonably active and reasonably skilled. But if he isn't reasonably affordable, I don't think anyone will be interested in him.

 

[F-Dog]

Question: what is it about Okur that has Joe Dumars so interested in him?

Good question. Maybe it's that he's reasonably large, reasonably active and reasonably skilled. But if he isn't reasonably affordable, I don't think anyone will be interested in him.

This is like the restaurant that's so crowded that nobody goes there anymore, right?

 

[Goldfield]

JUST SAY NO!

I agree... We need defense & rebounding at center. If all we needed was scoring we would start Lampe.


I would much rather sign Foyle & Thomas... Or even just one of them.

 

[cly2tw]

I recall Brad Miller signed a 3-4 year contract for 5 mil per with the Bulls. Okur is in a similar situation with one year good performance like Miller then. I see no reason why we can't agree on a 20 mil 4 year deal. He is young enough to cash in big like Miller with consistent production for the next 3 years. His skill level seems to be at least that of Miller's. He'd be good trading asset if we did not find him fit enough. Given the fact that someone will offer him more than MLE, out of Pistons' matching range, they'd even consider doing Okur sign and trade for Jake, so that we could potentially afford both Kobe and Okur with the cap space we have.

 

[George O'Brien]

My problem with Okur is that I don't like paying big bucks based on potential. He hasn't proven yet that he is going to be more than a journeyman, so you are not buying performance - just hope.

As I said at the start of the thread, I think it is Okur that is courting the Suns and not vice versa. I just hope the Suns don't get "seduced".

 

[newfan101]

Well it's apparent the Suns are longing for the days of Rick Robey, because Okur is definitely the new millennium's version of the venerable stiff. And oh, the Robey years were such sweet, good times, weren't they?

Seriously, if it's a tall white guy with a decent outside shot they're looking for, couldn't they just sign Slava Medvedenko for a quarter of the salary?

 

[George O'Brien]

Well it's apparent the Suns are longing for the days of Rick Robey, because Okur is definitely the new millennium's version of the venerable stiff. And oh, the Robey years were such sweet, good times, weren't they?

Seriously, if it's a tall white guy with a decent outside shot they're looking for, couldn't they just sign Slava Medvedenko for a quarter of the salary?

Come on, if we REALLY wanted a stiff, I suspect Predrag Drobnjak will be hitting the waiver wire pretty soon (he went to the Bobcats in the expansion draft - part of the draft pick deal). Here is a guy who could only manage 15 minutes a game WITH THE CLIPPERS.

 

[George O'Brien]

Well it's apparent the Suns are longing for the days of Rick Robey, because Okur is definitely the new millennium's version of the venerable stiff. And oh, the Robey years were such sweet, good times, weren't they?

Seriously, if it's a tall white guy with a decent outside shot they're looking for, couldn't they just sign Slava Medvedenko for a quarter of the salary?

Come on, you can do better than that. If you really want a stiff, Predrag Drobnjak should be hitting the waiver wire soon. Here is a guy who could only manage 15 minutes a game WITH THE CLIPPERS.

 

[elindholm]

Actually, Medvendenko's not a bad idea.

 

[George O'Brien]

If I was going to get a guy at Medi's level, I'd go for Brian Cardinal. I love his game and the guy can flat out shoot.

In any case, I think the Suns want a big man who is actually BIG.

 

[slinslin]

I could live with Okur for something slightly above the MLE.

 

[scotsman13]

I could live with Okur for something slightly above the MLE.

so could i, but i would still like camby better. i love shot blocking. hehe it was one of the things i liked the most about oliver miller was his shot blocking.

 

[F-Dog]

I could live with Okur for something slightly above the MLE.

Things are looking pretty good for you, then.