OT: The trade deadline watch thread. 02/06/25

[Mainstreet]

I think we would have had to include Dunn to get a player that might help us at the 4 or 5 spot and I don't think there were was a player out there that would have made us true contenders. So the last thing I want is a futile attempt to improve now at the cost of our future. But the way this front office has operated since Ish took over suggested we were going to once again take a huge swing at a pitch that's bounced 5 times before reaching the plate. But despite all the rumors, we didn't swing. So, to me, that's a great thing.

I seem to be one of the few who isn't all in on the blame JJ game. I'm not defending this front office, they've made some really stupid decisions the past couple of years. If it's JJ making those decisions, we need him gone as soon as possible. But, if it's someone else (as I believe it is), we still need JJ gone but it won't accomplish much of anything. Not until we get rid of whoever is in Ishbia's ear.

I wouldn't have traded Dunn or more than one first round pick unless there was something spectacular on the table… and that wasn't Butler.

However, even a modest trade for Jonas Valanciunas would have made the Suns a possible playoff team or at least made them watchable.

I'm not sure what the Suns are now. They may not even be a play-in team. It's hard to get excited about the ho-hum manner the current team plays.

 

[Big Al]

If we were 20 games into the season maybe, but we are past half way, outside the playoffs and have a brutally difficult schedule the rest of the way.

If we can't even get up enough to beat the Blazers when we badly need wins, I just don't see it.

Gambo said no matter what happens the Suns will not go into tank mode. That is not on the table. They will be competitive no matter what. They will look at deals to keep the team competitive.

Gambo said no matter what happens the Suns will not go into tank mode. That is not on the table. They will be competitive no matter what. They will look at deals to keep the team competitive.

Yeah exactly when is this Suns competitive spirit is going surface & kick in? We couldn't get Butler but we got Cody Martin a 6'6" small forward.

Lakers got Charlotte's 7'0 starting center Mark Williams and the Suns got Charlotte' 7"0" back up Center Nic Richardson although he has some good qualities

And we know it is hard to make deals when your are as cash committed as the Suns are. Suns are punishing us. I had hope but it's fading as of today. Suns players maybe are lacking heart.

 

[Hoop Head]

I think we would have had to include Dunn to get a player that might help us at the 4 or 5 spot and I don't think there were was a player out there that would have made us true contenders. So the last thing I want is a futile attempt to improve now at the cost of our future. But the way this front office has operated since Ish took over suggested we were going to once again take a huge swing at a pitch that's bounced 5 times before reaching the plate. But despite all the rumors, we didn't swing. So, to me, that's a great thing.

I seem to be one of the few who isn't all in on the blame JJ game. I'm not defending this front office, they've made some really stupid decisions the past couple of years. If it's JJ making those decisions, we need him gone as soon as possible. But, if it's someone else (as I believe it is), we still need JJ gone but it won't accomplish much of anything. Not until we get rid of whoever is in Ishbia's ear.

We didn't swing but we had the opportunity to move KD and start inching our way back but decided to appease him. That shows a lack of gumption from the front office to tell the players that they don't call the shots. If KD, Book, and Beal all want to be here then they would have played better together and not put the franchise in the spot it's in. Beal is the only one who can contractually stop trades but he didn't, KD did. If it was Ishbia or Jones who gave Durant that power, they're fools. I'm leaning towards JJ but Ishbia definitely bears some responsibility as well. I'd say 70/30 but obviously Ishbia isn't going anywhere so he needs to surround himself with better voices.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'd say this should be a reality check to those who think Ishbia will continue to spend frivolously to contend or compete. This trade signals otherwise. They have focused on financial savings over competitive roster construction.

If the Suns players play uninspired and ownership has chosen saving money over roster construction, what do the diehard fans do for the rest of the season?

They can't even look forward to a rebuild or a run in the playoffs.

The Suns lost me at the 2023 NBA trade deadline and have done nothing to repair the damage.

 

[SirStefan32]

As I view it, the Suns had three basic options approaching the trade deadline.

1. Make a trade to improve the team, preferably at the 4/5 position, so they could at least pretend to be a serious playoff team.

2. Start trading off assets to prepare for a rebuild, partial or full, to prepare for the future.

3. Do nothing. Actually, I think the Suns did worse by dumping Nurkic' salary… not even bothering to replace the vacancy in the front court.

I could have respected the first two options, but I never suspected the Suns would choose the third position.

Throwing in the towel without addressing the problem is unacceptable.

Replacing James Jones as the Suns GM might be the only mitigating factor. I no longer trust his judgment in making player personnel decisions.

I am not sure that's what they did. It's quite possible that there was simply no trade available that they could realistically make to improve. I think the second option would be a mistake at this point. Why rush and not simply take your time and do that during the off season? I am as disappointed as anyone, but realistically, I don't think there was much they could do.

 

[Mainstreet]

I am not sure that's what they did. It's quite possible that there was simply no trade available that they could realistically make to improve. I think the second option would be a mistake at this point. Why rush and not simply take your time and do that during the off season? I am as disappointed as anyone, but realistically, I don't think there was much they could do.

Minimally, I think the Suns could have added a center like Jonas Valanciunas.

Many teams contending for a playoff spot went out and improved their roster. A salary dump was the best the Suns could do?