azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Phoenix must spend wisely in rebuilding
By Mike Tulumello,
Tribune
Nearly six months ago, the Suns broke up the heart of their team, hoping for better days ahead.
Now, those days are about to arrive. But will they be better?
At long last, the Suns have money to play with, though not money to burn. The moves they make — and don't make — in the coming days and weeks will go a long way in determining whether Phoenix will return to contender's status. True to their reputation, the Suns are actively pursuing big-name players. With more than $16 million in salary-cap space, they'll start making a pitch at superstar Kobe Bryant on July 1.
In recent days, they've also been trying to deal with Orlando for Tracy McGrady, hoping a proposed trade involving the Magic and Houston Rockets falls through. Reports that the Suns had offered Shawn Marion, Joe Johnson and the No. 7 pick in the draft for McGrady are false, the Tribune has confirmed from an NBA source. But there's no question the Suns pushed for McGrady. More likely, they were offering Marion, a role player or two and the No. 7 pick — which has since been traded to Chicago.
If the Suns can't land the biggest names, they are expected to try to woo point guard Steve Nash, a former Sun who achieved All-Star status in Dallas, and smaller-name players, such as Mehmet Okur, a solid backup big man for champion Detroit.
At the same time, the Suns need to be careful.
If, for example, Okur wants a boatload of money, say, $7 million or $8 million a season, the Suns could be pinned down in the same manner that limited them the past five years, when average players such as Penny Hardaway and Tom Gugliotta enjoyed huge contracts. The result was that the Suns became a so-so team with little flexibility. They got teams to take their bad contracts only by giving up draft picks and players.
Would the Suns be better off staying out of the free agent market if they're merely going to end up with average players, and wait and spend their precious cap space down the line?
"We're not prepared to make those decisions until after more information is obtained after July 1st," said club president Bryan Colangelo.
As the Suns approach this fateful offseason, which in effect starts next week with the close of sale of the franchise (current management is expected to remain unchanged for at least the next three years), here's how Colangelo views the state of the Suns:
"We're widely regarded as one of the bright, young upstart teams. Our core of talent is considered by many to be very strong." At the same time, he acknowledged, "We perhaps lack on-court leadership because of our youth.
"We like the core of our team. But we have to add a few pieces," most notably, "leadership, size and toughness." Colangelo's opinion is largely shared by Gene Littles, an NBA hand who has been involved in the pro game in the front office, as a head coach and as a scout.
Littles scouts for the Seattle SuperSonics. Because he lives in Phoenix, he sees the Suns as much as any NBA team.
"I like the Suns team," he said, adding the key is the development of Amare Stoudemire.
"He's young and he's going to get better. They have to understand he has to get the ball."
He also had praise for Johnson, saying, "He's a real valuable piece because he can play three positions. If somebody gets hurt, he can move over."
All in all, "They've got four players every team would like," including Stoudemire, Johnson, Marion and Leandro Barbosa.
Of Barbosa, who is heading into his sophomore season, he said, "He's not a starting point guard. But he's a talent.
"He's quick and aggressive. Those are qualities you can't teach."
Littles believes that lottery teams such as the Suns can't afford to use first-round draft picks on players who won't play right away, suggesting that if the Suns aren't satisfied with their choices, they should trade the pick. Littles also thinks the Suns would be wise to re-sign forward Antonio McDyess, who came over in that big trade nearly six months ago, when the Suns gave up Stephon Marbury and Hardaway.
"He'd be a good piece, if you can get him at your dollars," Littles said of McDyess, whose career has slowed because of knee problems. "At 70 or 80 percent, he's still better than half the big men in the league."
As for Bryant, his star has fallen both on and off the court. But that's part of the reason he could be available.
If Bryant were a content and admired part of a title team in Los Angeles, he probably would stay with the Lakers. Now, with the possible departure of Shaquille O'Neal, his frequent nemesis, and with the definite exit of coach Phil Jackson, with whom he clashed, Bryant could end up re-signing with the Lakers, after all.
Yet the Suns are at least believed to be one of the options Bryant would most seriously consider.
Going after Bryant will pose a special challenge. Pursuing a player with a felony rap hanging over his head will mean the Suns will be tip-toeing through a public-relations minefield. Bryant's sexual assault case has gone on for nearly a year with no resolution in sight. Teams pursuing him may figure they can't wait for the outcome, so they may make him an offer that's contingent on his availability to play.
http://www.aztrib.com/index.php?sty=23636
By Mike Tulumello,
Tribune
Nearly six months ago, the Suns broke up the heart of their team, hoping for better days ahead.
Now, those days are about to arrive. But will they be better?
At long last, the Suns have money to play with, though not money to burn. The moves they make — and don't make — in the coming days and weeks will go a long way in determining whether Phoenix will return to contender's status. True to their reputation, the Suns are actively pursuing big-name players. With more than $16 million in salary-cap space, they'll start making a pitch at superstar Kobe Bryant on July 1.
In recent days, they've also been trying to deal with Orlando for Tracy McGrady, hoping a proposed trade involving the Magic and Houston Rockets falls through. Reports that the Suns had offered Shawn Marion, Joe Johnson and the No. 7 pick in the draft for McGrady are false, the Tribune has confirmed from an NBA source. But there's no question the Suns pushed for McGrady. More likely, they were offering Marion, a role player or two and the No. 7 pick — which has since been traded to Chicago.
If the Suns can't land the biggest names, they are expected to try to woo point guard Steve Nash, a former Sun who achieved All-Star status in Dallas, and smaller-name players, such as Mehmet Okur, a solid backup big man for champion Detroit.
At the same time, the Suns need to be careful.
If, for example, Okur wants a boatload of money, say, $7 million or $8 million a season, the Suns could be pinned down in the same manner that limited them the past five years, when average players such as Penny Hardaway and Tom Gugliotta enjoyed huge contracts. The result was that the Suns became a so-so team with little flexibility. They got teams to take their bad contracts only by giving up draft picks and players.
Would the Suns be better off staying out of the free agent market if they're merely going to end up with average players, and wait and spend their precious cap space down the line?
"We're not prepared to make those decisions until after more information is obtained after July 1st," said club president Bryan Colangelo.
As the Suns approach this fateful offseason, which in effect starts next week with the close of sale of the franchise (current management is expected to remain unchanged for at least the next three years), here's how Colangelo views the state of the Suns:
"We're widely regarded as one of the bright, young upstart teams. Our core of talent is considered by many to be very strong." At the same time, he acknowledged, "We perhaps lack on-court leadership because of our youth.
"We like the core of our team. But we have to add a few pieces," most notably, "leadership, size and toughness." Colangelo's opinion is largely shared by Gene Littles, an NBA hand who has been involved in the pro game in the front office, as a head coach and as a scout.
Littles scouts for the Seattle SuperSonics. Because he lives in Phoenix, he sees the Suns as much as any NBA team.
"I like the Suns team," he said, adding the key is the development of Amare Stoudemire.
"He's young and he's going to get better. They have to understand he has to get the ball."
He also had praise for Johnson, saying, "He's a real valuable piece because he can play three positions. If somebody gets hurt, he can move over."
All in all, "They've got four players every team would like," including Stoudemire, Johnson, Marion and Leandro Barbosa.
Of Barbosa, who is heading into his sophomore season, he said, "He's not a starting point guard. But he's a talent.
"He's quick and aggressive. Those are qualities you can't teach."
Littles believes that lottery teams such as the Suns can't afford to use first-round draft picks on players who won't play right away, suggesting that if the Suns aren't satisfied with their choices, they should trade the pick. Littles also thinks the Suns would be wise to re-sign forward Antonio McDyess, who came over in that big trade nearly six months ago, when the Suns gave up Stephon Marbury and Hardaway.
"He'd be a good piece, if you can get him at your dollars," Littles said of McDyess, whose career has slowed because of knee problems. "At 70 or 80 percent, he's still better than half the big men in the league."
As for Bryant, his star has fallen both on and off the court. But that's part of the reason he could be available.
If Bryant were a content and admired part of a title team in Los Angeles, he probably would stay with the Lakers. Now, with the possible departure of Shaquille O'Neal, his frequent nemesis, and with the definite exit of coach Phil Jackson, with whom he clashed, Bryant could end up re-signing with the Lakers, after all.
Yet the Suns are at least believed to be one of the options Bryant would most seriously consider.
Going after Bryant will pose a special challenge. Pursuing a player with a felony rap hanging over his head will mean the Suns will be tip-toeing through a public-relations minefield. Bryant's sexual assault case has gone on for nearly a year with no resolution in sight. Teams pursuing him may figure they can't wait for the outcome, so they may make him an offer that's contingent on his availability to play.
http://www.aztrib.com/index.php?sty=23636
