Poll: which center?

[Dave64]

Which center, if you want to sign one?

 

[Chaz]

I voted for Blount, second choice is Foyle.

Regardless of who we sign I want McDyess to return as well.

 

[Phill11]

None. Unless we get a GREAT Center, I don't want us blowing money on a decent center.

I say we sign McDyess back. Put him on the bench. Heavily pursue Kobe. Trade away Eisley, the pick (From the Bulls), Joe Johnson, and Jacobsen for Shaq. Maybe we can get a 3rd team involved to strength the chance of getting him.

Then our team looks like this.

PG- Nash
SG- Kobe (If he would sign here after getting Shaq, It'd take convincing)
SF- Marion
PF- Amare
C- Shaq

Amare and Shaq could dominate any team in the West. Then you add Nash and Marion as great role players. Kobe would be the scorer. Just an idea. Likelyhood of happening is very low though.

 

[slinslin]

. Just an idea. Likelyhood of happening is very low though.

-100%

 

[Phill11]

-100%

True. But still without Kobe in that lineup that is an allstar team.

 

[elindholm]

Trade away Eisley, the pick (From the Bulls), Joe Johnson, and Jacobsen for Shaq.

This must be a typo.

 

[Chaz]

Com'on Phill11 lets be realistic please. This is a serious poll.

You are talking about pipe dreams.

Kobe is not coming. The Suns are not going to give up Amare, which is what it would take to get Shaq from the Lakers.

You say you only want a great center, but the reality is there are just not many to be had. 85% of the league is looking for a center that is "great" but there are only a handful in the whole history of the NBA.

The Suns need a little more depth on the front line to provide some toughness and rebounding.

I was watching an old Suns game from '95 today. They had the best record in the league and had Joe Kleine and Danny Shayes at center. If Manning had not been injured the Suns would had a great chance at the championship.

A "great" center is not required but a solid front line is. The Suns will have to pickup someone who is available or go into the season with what they have. I would prefer they picked up another big body or two that can play. Greatness is few and far between.

 

[Gaddabout]

Trade away Eisley, the pick (From the Bulls), Joe Johnson, and Jacobsen for Shaq.

This must be a typo.

No kidding. Toss in Marion, the Lakers might listen long enough to see if the Suns panic and toss in Amare. Until then, consider Shaq headed elsewhere. He's going to have to restructure his contract to get that done, and the Suns STILL don't have the chips to play at that table.

 

[DevonCardsFan]

I say Vlade as a stop gap for one season, would Vlade take a one year deal though, I'm not sure??

 

[JS22]

None. Unless we get a GREAT Center, I don't want us blowing money on a decent center.

I say we sign McDyess back. Put him on the bench. Heavily pursue Kobe. Trade away Eisley, the pick (From the Bulls), Joe Johnson, and Jacobsen for Shaq. Maybe we can get a 3rd team involved to strength the chance of getting him.

Then our team looks like this.

PG- Nash
SG- Kobe (If he would sign here after getting Shaq, It'd take convincing)
SF- Marion
PF- Amare
C- Shaq

Amare and Shaq could dominate any team in the West. Then you add Nash and Marion as great role players. Kobe would be the scorer. Just an idea. Likelyhood of happening is very low though.

Are you KIDDING?!?!

 

[Dave64]

I think we should use the cap space elsewhere. These centers just do not do it for me. Spend that money on another shooter, bank it for a trade for a center later, or just hold onto until next year/spend on JJ and Amare's new contracts.

 

[Phill11]

Com'on Phill11 lets be realistic please. This is a serious poll.

You are talking about pipe dreams.

Kobe is not coming. The Suns are not going to give up Amare, which is what it would take to get Shaq from the Lakers.

You say you only want a great center, but the reality is there are just not many to be had. 85% of the league is looking for a center that is "great" but there are only a handful in the whole history of the NBA.

The Suns need a little more depth on the front line to provide some toughness and rebounding.

I was watching an old Suns game from '95 today. They had the best record in the league and had Joe Kleine and Danny Shayes at center. If Manning had not been injured the Suns would had a great chance at the championship.

A "great" center is not required but a solid front line is. The Suns will have to pickup someone who is available or go into the season with what they have. I would prefer they picked up another big body or two that can play. Greatness is few and far between.

Why are we even talking about getting this metiocre centers then. They won't help a ton. They're overpriced, and won't be as good as what were paying them. If we can't get a good center, don't go pay a ton for a crummy one. They won't live up to their contract.

I'd like to see Voshkul play center instead of us dishing out all of our money.

IF we can get a great center, go for it. That's just what I think.

Hint why I put: "Likelyhood of happening is very low though."

 

[George O'Brien]

The problem with this poll is that that by saying "at the right price", it leaves the world of reality. With every player listed, there are guys who would be sensational at $3 million a year and a complete waste at $7. Everyone including Okur and Ostertag make sense if the price is low enough - say $1.7 million. What matters is whether anyone is available for what they are worth.

The ordinary response is, "we've got to get somebody". The Suns have "somebdy", Voskuhl and Lampe. What is needed is someone who is either a lot better or does things these two don't.

 

[Chaz]

Why are we even talking about getting this metiocre centers then. They won't help a ton. They're overpriced, and won't be as good as what were paying them. If we can't get a good center, don't go pay a ton for a crummy one. They won't live up to their contract.

I'd like to see Voshkul play center instead of us dishing out all of our money.

IF we can get a great center, go for it. That's just what I think.

Hint why I put: "Likelyhood of happening is very low though."

Who says we are going to pay a ton for them?

Shaq makes 27+ Mil next season and 30Mil the next. Now that is a ton. Centers are overpaid in general because they are a valuable commodity.

If you are comfortable with Stoudemire, Vroman, Voskuhl, Cabarkapa, and Lampe that's fine but I hope they add some depth up front. Adding Foyle or Blount in addition to resigning McDyess would be a huge help.

Outside of Shaq, Yao, or Duncan who would you would be happy with?

 

[Forrestham]

I still think McDyess is the best option for starting with what is out there. I realize we overpaid Nash but eh will help our team. Lets not overpay a mediocre center ust to get someone. See Luc Longley
McDyess did a nice job and as long as his price is reasonable he is the est option IMO

 

[Forrestham]

I still think McDyess is the best option for starting with what is out there. I realize we overpaid Nash but eh will help our team. Lets not overpay a mediocre center ust to get someone. See Luc Longley
McDyess did a nice job and as long as his price is reasonable he is the best option IMO

 

[Phill11]

Who says we are going to pay a ton for them?

Shaq makes 27+ Mil next season and 30Mil the next. Now that is a ton. Centers are overpaid in general because they are a valuable commodity.

If you are comfortable with Stoudemire, Vroman, Voskuhl, Cabarkapa, and Lampe that's fine but I hope they add some depth up front. Adding Foyle or Blount in addition to resigning McDyess would be a huge help.

Outside of Shaq, Yao, or Duncan who would you would be happy with?

Shaq is dominating. Foyle and co. aren't.

I'd be happy with:

Ben Wallace, Jermaine O'Neal, Rasheed Wallace, there's many out there I'd be happy with. Can we get them? No.

I think if we got together a nice offer, we could get Shaq, Without trading Amare.

I'd still be happy without Shaq. This lineup works...

Nash
JJ
Marion
Amare
McDyess

Nash
JJ
Kobe
Marion
Amare
Yes, we'd be going small, but we'd be a huge team and we'd kill slow centers.

 

[Chaz]

Shaq is dominating. Foyle and co. aren't.

Well good thing he won't get 30 million then.

I'd be happy with:

Ben Wallace, Jermaine O'Neal, Rasheed Wallace, there's many out there I'd be happy with. Can we get them? No.

I think if we got together a nice offer, we could get Shaq, Without trading Amare.

I'd still be happy without Shaq. This lineup works...

Nash
JJ
Marion
Amare
McDyess

Nash
JJ
Kobe
Marion
Amare
Yes, we'd be going small, but we'd be a huge team and we'd kill slow centers.

Well none of those guys are even centers much less great ones.




The Suns problem to end the season was not the starting lineup so much but bench depth was a huge problem. I am looking at guys that will make the team deeper especialy on the front line.
Shaq is not a total impossibility but damn near. Shaq is to old and lazy for what it will take to get him and it appears Kobe already said no. I think you need to get over Shaq and Kobe they are not coming to the Suns.

I think the Kobe ship has sailed and the Suns aren't on board. Time to get over it and move forward.

 

[George O'Brien]

Well good thing he won't get 30 million then.
Well none of those guys are even centers much less great ones.

The Suns problem to end the season was not the starting lineup so much but bench depth was a huge problem. I am looking at guys that will make the team deeper especialy on the front line.
Shaq is not a total impossibility but damn near. Shaq is to old and lazy for what it will take to get him and it appears Kobe already said no. I think you need to get over Shaq and Kobe they are not coming to the Suns.

I think the Kobe ship has sailed and the Suns aren't on board. Time to get over it and move forward.

I will probably start a thread on the subject of which centers are any good. At this point it seems like most of "great" inside players are at power forward. Some of it is simply style. Big guys with skills get listed at PF while centers are frequently the guys who mostly play defense and bang the boards.

I can remember when this was reversed. During the 70's and 80's there were quite a number of very good low post centers while their PF mostly did the dirty work (Kareem and Ramblis being a classic example). I think some of the change came with the three point shot, but the trend reversed by the 90's and the PF's were the main offensive players and the center being the dirty work guy.

Once that trend got started, the best inside guys didn't want to play center.
Why is that surprising?

 

[Phill11]

Well good thing he won't get 30 million then.


Well none of those guys are even centers much less great ones.




The Suns problem to end the season was not the starting lineup so much but bench depth was a huge problem. I am looking at guys that will make the team deeper especialy on the front line.
Shaq is not a total impossibility but damn near. Shaq is to old and lazy for what it will take to get him and it appears Kobe already said no. I think you need to get over Shaq and Kobe they are not coming to the Suns.

I think the Kobe ship has sailed and the Suns aren't on board. Time to get over it and move forward.

Ben Wallace not a center? Jermaine O'Neal is a center, Indy just needs him at PF.

Trust me, I'd rather see them in there than Lampe, who I wouldn't mind seeing traded if we can get equal talent.

 

[Goldfield]

 

[Dylan]

I still think McDyess is the best option for starting with what is out there. I realize we overpaid Nash but eh will help our team. Lets not overpay a mediocre center ust to get someone. See Luc Longley
McDyess did a nice job and as long as his price is reasonable he is the best option IMO

Just a crazy thought that probably won't happen.. but what the heck.

If we lose out on all the centers out there, as it could happen, OR the Suns think Dice is a good fit, we could give McDyess a high-priced ONE year contract. Can work for both..

For McDyess, he wants a 3-year contract, but can't expect too much $ due to his injury problem. If he is healthy, he would be better off getting good money for one year and proving himself. If isn't, he makes a good portion of the $ he would have gotten in a 3-year deal, all in one year.

For Suns, we get cap room "on hold" during the year. He would be a good trade commodity during the season, as he is expiring. If he is not healthy, we only lose out on any free agents this year, but we'd be ready for next year. If he is healthy, it could cost us more, but we would feel better about giving him a better deal. Plus, we would have a better handle on Lampe, or next year's #one pick (if a center), and we could factor that in our decision to sign Dice to a higher price later.

Like a one-year audition for Dice, a one-year rental for Suns.

Maybe a ONE year deal at like 6 million or something... a one year risk. That would keep the MLE guys out of the picture, and just leave caproom teams left.

 

[cly2tw]

The best scenario is still that we get Shaq in a trade. The reasons it might work:

1. Kobe and Shaq won't be back together at Lakers. Kobe desides whether he stays after seeing the trade results or just go to the Clippers.

2. Nets supposedly won't sign Martin to max, so they'd prefer to get compensation in a sign and trade.

3. The following trade proposal makes every team better than without the it.

Suns give up Marion, Eisley, Jake, CJ, Dice s&t for 3mil a year 3 years, Bulls pick, and gets Shaq.

Nets sign and trade Martin for Jake, Dice, Bulls' pick.

Lakers give up Shaq and get Martin, Marion, Eisley, CJ.

Lakers:
Malone/Martin/Marion/Kobe/Payton
Medv/Walton/George/Rush/Eisley
They need to sign a center or two with their exceptions, like Ostertag for 3mil, but that starting lineup is already a contender with the core of Martin/Marion/Kobe very young. That'd convince Kobe to stay.

Nets: with Jake and Dice they got some cheap replacement for Martin, Bulls' lotto pick should make them accept it.

Suns:

Shaq/Amare/Zarko/JJ/Nash
Lampe/Vronman/Barbosa

OK. The bench is weak and Zarko is still a project. But with Shaq/Amare/Nash, you can add any low-cost swingmen who can shoot reasonably well and are not too much of a defensive liability, and we have a contender right away! Say, Sura, Person, Kendall Gill, Travis Best, and one or two bigmen for the minimum. With verbal promises to offer part of next year's MLE to Sura. We can contend this year and virtually a lock to win it all next year with more FAs!

 

[Chaz]

I will probably start a thread on the subject of which centers are any good. At this point it seems like most of "great" inside players are at power forward. Some of it is simply style. Big guys with skills get listed at PF while centers are frequently the guys who mostly play defense and bang the boards.

I can remember when this was reversed. During the 70's and 80's there were quite a number of very good low post centers while their PF mostly did the dirty work (Kareem and Ramblis being a classic example). I think some of the change came with the three point shot, but the trend reversed by the 90's and the PF's were the main offensive players and the center being the dirty work guy.

Once that trend got started, the best inside guys didn't want to play center.
Why is that surprising?

Intersting point George.

I have been thinking about the team in terms of three positions lately.

Sure we play 5 players on the floor but for the purposes of building a team it helps me to break it down into backcourt players (PG and SG that can handle the ball), Wing players (Shooting and slashing players at SF & SG), and frontline or front court players (PF and C that do the inside scoring and rebounding). It is important to have depth at all of these positions.

With the zone defense and the way teams switch really changes the game and makes a "true starting center" less important IMO. It is important to have 5 guys that can play more so than having 5 starters that fit some kind of stereotypical positions even thought you need size for the frontline.


...and Phill, no I don't think of Ben Wallace and Jermaine O'Neal as centers but maybe that is just a fault of my perception.


I think Lampe will be a good player and it would be a mistake to give up on him too early.

 

[coloradosun]

If we really need a body, we can always match any offer to Keon Clark.