Point guard solutions

[JCSunsfan]

Mike James, while performing admirably is not an NBA starting point guard. He had 18 points and no turnovers last night. Which is good on one hand, but only three assists means he wasn't passing much or the team was shooting horribly. We need a pg. We don't necessarily need one now, but we do need one in the future. So this thread is about suggested options. It is not the "rip on Mike James" thread. We seem to use every other one for that purpose.

1. Brandon Knight. He is already on the roster. He has the physical skills. He has been a good shooter. We do not really know what he looks like under a coach who holds him responsible. He is an easy solution to get in place, but a long shot to actually be successful.

2. Malcolm Brogdon. We have wanted this player. He will be a free agent in the summer of 2019. He is a well-rounded point guard that might suit this team well.

3. Kyrie Irving. Probably a free agent in the summer of 2019. Can't imagine we will have much luck prying him away from Boston.

4. Tyler Ulis. Pesky, pass first point guard. Probably a career back up.

Just a short list as a discussion starter.

2019 will provide some options, but we really need someone sooner rather than later, even as a stop gap, just to help the rest of the roster develop.

 

[elindholm]

we really need someone sooner rather than later, even as a stop gap, just to help the rest of the roster develop.

I agree with this, but none of the options on your list look viable. I don't know what the answer is. I'm hoping that there is an established second-tier PG on another team that the Suns could trade for. It would have to be a team that has another PG-in-waiting ready to go.

 

[Mainstreet]

I don't have any particular PG in mind but the market appears saturated. A number of teams drafted a PG the 2017 draft.

The Suns could look at drafting a PG or perhaps trading for one. I wonder if Mudiay was available for trade.

 

[Ronin]

I will throw out a name...Derrick Rose
Derrick Rose is the only name I can think of right now as a solution to the point guard dilemma. He is not going to get top dollar money like he had hoped.

 

[Finito]

I will throw out a name...Derrick Rose
Derrick Rose is the only name I can think of right now as a solution to the point guard dilemma. He is not going to get top dollar money like he had hoped.

No and GOD NO

 

[Ronin]

No and GOD NO

I didn’t say it was a good suggestion. I am just trying to brainstorm some pg’s available this off season.

 

[SirStefan32]

Monroe for Dragic. Get it done.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Monroe for Dragic. Get it done.

No thx

 

[elindholm]

Anyone for Deron Williams as a stopgap?

 

[SirStefan32]

Williams looked like a corpse with the Cavs, but he is likely better than anything the Suns have on their roster.

Draft doesn't appear to have any good PG prospects, free agency looks terrible for PGs. Not sure who is the answer to the Suns' PG problems, but the solution has got to be in a trade.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Williams looked like a corpse with the Cavs, but he is likely better than anything the Suns have on their roster.

Draft doesn't appear to have any good PG prospects, free agency looks terrible for PGs. Not sure who is the answer to the Suns' PG problems, but the solution has got to be in a trade.

If doncic falls behind the bigs and we are in the top 4 he could be the choice. Also Sexton is supposed to potentially be a value in the Miami pick range.

Ugh I’m trying not to dream about plucking our pg and center of the future outta thisbdraft.

 

[3rdside]

Williams looked like a corpse with the Cavs, but he is likely better than anything the Suns have on their roster.

Draft doesn't appear to have any good PG prospects, free agency looks terrible for PGs. Not sure who is the answer to the Suns' PG problems, but the solution has got to be in a trade.

Would a double headed monster of Booker and Doncic do it?

If we keep Monroe, and Chriss and / or Bender pans out this season, it's the PG position we're short on only and this solution seems worth considering.

 

[3rdside]

touché ouchie..

 

[overseascardfan]

I know the 2018 draft is light on PG prospects with Doncic being considered the best but Trevon Duval has looked really good for DUKE so far and if he continues to develop his distribution skills he can turn himself into a lottery pick. Not sure if there is a long term solution this year, maybe stick with Ulis to at least see what he can do over the course of an entire year, James is a scoring guard so doubt he turns into a pass first PG overnight.

 

[Hoop Head]

We're paying Knight anyways, might as well give him a shot. He shouldn't keep us from drafting or signing a PG this next offseason though. I'm just not sure who will be available. Ulis is a good backup but I'm not sure if he'll ever be a good starter. People say there aren't a lot of PG prospects in this draft but the NCAA season is just starting. Pass first PG's aren't usually highly touted entering the NBA anyways so the lack of one being in the headlines or projected in the lottery isn't an issue right now, IMO.

 

[devilalum]

We're paying Knight anyways, might as well give him a shot. He shouldn't keep us from drafting or signing a PG this next offseason though. I'm just not sure who will be available. Ulis is a good backup but I'm not sure if he'll ever be a good starter. People say there aren't a lot of PG prospects in this draft but the NCAA season is just starting. Pass first PG's aren't usually highly touted entering the NBA anyways so the lack of one being in the headlines or projected in the lottery isn't an issue right now, IMO.

Seems like I remember Knight having a +/- rating of -20 at half time.

On several occasions!!!!

 

[SirStefan32]

Would a double headed monster of Booker and Doncic do it?

Well yes, that would be my preferred solution, but the Suns are not going to have a pick to get Doncic.

 

[Hoop Head]

Seems like I remember Knight having a +/- rating of -20 at half time.

On several occasions!!!!

He was beyond awful last season but that doesn't change anything really. That was in a role he was uncomfortable with and was changing quite often under Watson's coaching. He looked better under Hornacek but even then he was primarily played as a SG next to Bledsoe. His +/- wasn't that bad then though. We're still paying him and won't be able to trade him without parting with other assets so why not give him a shot before entering buyout negotiations? Maybe he plays well enough to draw interest from elsewhere so we can dump him but that won't happen until he returns to the court after his injury.

All I'm saying is he's drawing a huge check from the Suns anyways, might as well give him a look when he's healthy before paying him to go away. I already said I wouldn't use having Knight on the roster keep us from exploring other options like drafting or signing someone but I'd rather he be given the chance when he's healthy than cut out right.

 

[3rdside]

Well yes, that would be my preferred solution, but the Suns are not going to have a pick to get Doncic.

There's enough big men that we might get lucky if we pick 4th or 5th but I think you might be right, the hype around doncic is big

 

[devilalum]

He was beyond awful last season but that doesn't change anything really. That was in a role he was uncomfortable with and was changing quite often under Watson's coaching. He looked better under Hornacek but even then he was primarily played as a SG next to Bledsoe. His +/- wasn't that bad then though. We're still paying him and won't be able to trade him without parting with other assets so why not give him a shot before entering buyout negotiations? Maybe he plays well enough to draw interest from elsewhere so we can dump him but that won't happen until he returns to the court after his injury.

All I'm saying is he's drawing a huge check from the Suns anyways, might as well give him a look when he's healthy before paying him to go away. I already said I wouldn't use having Knight on the roster keep us from exploring other options like drafting or signing someone but I'd rather he be given the chance when he's healthy than cut out right.

I️ don’t care how much Sarver loses on the whole Knight fiasco. The Suns are below the cap floor and Sarver is making money hand over fist. I️ want to watch players that are either good or have potential.


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[JCSunsfan]

Would a double headed monster of Booker and Doncic do it?

If we keep Monroe, and Chriss and / or Bender pans out this season, it's the PG position we're short on only and this solution seems worth considering.

There are some who believe that Doncic will be a pg in the NBA.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I think last night showed us a little of our pg solution. We need a pg to play good pesky D, bring the ball up, make a good first pass, and then get the out of the way. He needs to know how to make a good decision on the break. Thats it.

 

[Raze]

I think last night showed us a little of our pg solution. We need a pg to play good pesky D, bring the ball up, make a good first pass, and then get the out of the way. He needs to know how to make a good decision on the break. Thats it.

Yep. Which leads me to the real question we should be asking: what type of PG works best with Booker?

I think he has to be a pass first/3&D type. This is Booker's team. The offense should flow through him. I don't want a PG who has to score to be effective. His mentality should be, "This is Booker's team, how can I get him in the best possible position to be successful?" Ideally, he'd be a 12ppg/10apg kinda guy. He has to compliment Devin defensively, which means he has to be good at it.

So...

Kyrie's out. He doesn't make anyone better around him. He's currently 25th on the assist board behind a Center, a PF, and a SF.

I'm ok with Knight if he knows his role. He just never has been the facilitator type. TAFKAKD is right, he's on the payroll, he isn't going anywhere, it'd be a good idea to provide a sensible role for him. Maybe he just subs for Devin and gets us points of the bench. I just don't see him as a plausible PG. Things as they are right now though, I'd rather have him than James. (Who's filled in well enough).

Ulis is a PURE backup. He's too small to start. Teams are absolutely exposing him on switches. He's an energy bug that brings life off the bench. That's it.

Then there's the Dennis Smith types. Even though he doesn't fit the mold of what I described above, he does fit the potential FREAK mold. You always take the FREAK no matter the fit. During the draft I was holding out hope that we could package up Bledsoe and some picks to nab him. Still wish we had.

This draft might have another Smith type who sneaks into the top 10. It's a long time away.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Yep. Which leads me to the real question we should be asking: what type of PG works best with Booker?

I think he has to be a pass first/3&D type. This is Booker's team. The offense should flow through him. I don't want a PG who has to score to be effective. His mentality should be, "This is Booker's team, how can I get him in the best possible position to be successful?" Ideally, he'd be a 12ppg/10apg kinda guy. He has to compliment Devin defensively, which means he has to be good at it.

So...

Kyrie's out. He doesn't make anyone better around him. He's currently 25th on the assist board behind a Center, a PF, and a SF.

I'm ok with Knight if he knows his role. He just never has been the facilitator type. TAFKAKD is right, he's on the payroll, he isn't going anywhere, it'd be a good idea to provide a sensible role for him. Maybe he just subs for Devin and gets us points of the bench. I just don't see him as a plausible PG. Things as they are right now though, I'd rather have him than James. (Who's filled in well enough).

Ulis is a PURE backup. He's too small to start. Teams are absolutely exposing him on switches. He's an energy bug that brings life off the bench. That's it.

Then there's the Dennis Smith types. Even though he doesn't fit the mold of what I described above, he does fit the potential FREAK mold. You always take the FREAK no matter the fit. During the draft I was holding out hope that we could package up Bledsoe and some picks to nab him. Still wish we had.

This draft might have another Smith type who sneaks into the top 10. It's a long time away.

Brogdon would have been ideal. Maybe here is an unsung pg like this out there somewhere in the draft like Brogdon was. You know. Big guy, defensive expert, upper classman, ready to go now. Like a Davon Reed, but a pg.

 

[Mainstreet]

Monroe for Dragic. Get it done.

No other assets involved though except perhaps second round picks. Keep the Miami picks.

It would never happen though.