Pre-Free Agency Roster

[Joe Mama]

It's up to the league financial officials to work out the exact figure of Salary Cap and Luxury Tax Threshold for every season in July, normally announc it after first week of July.

For 07-08 season, salary cap was 55.63M, tax threshold was 67.865M.
For 06-07 season, they were 53.135M and 65.42M.

U may check out the previous seasons by google to figure out the increase rate. I'm not sure we can have a big one this year due to the cold economy. It is safe to say the LT line could be at most 71M.

There isn't really an increase rate for the salary cap or luxury tax. The salary cap is 51% of the year's BRI (basketball related income) for the league and the luxury tax lien is 61% of the BRI. It's probably safe to assume that BRI increased over the last year, but there's no way to really know how much until they release the numbers.

Joe

 

[Irish]

I agree that Diaw should play SF this year, maybe even start in front of Grant Hill. It's up to Coach Porter to find out what rotation works best, but it will probably not be much different from last year.

4-5: Amare, Shaq, Lopez, [Skinner/Marks]
3: Diaw, Hill, Tucker
1-2: Nash, Bell, Barbosa, [GG], Strawberry

With Diaw starting at the three we have even less outside shooting than with Hill. I don't think Barbosa is ready to start at SG cause our perimeter defence would be horrible.

I really hope Lopez and Strawberry step up this year and get regular playing time, and that Tucker will earn some minutes in the first half of the season.

I wish there was some way to upgrade Bell and GG into one player like Michael Redd or something...

My read on Bell's backup is that it will be GG, Barbosa, Tucher, and Straberry. GG did a nice job last season and I expect h'll be first off the bench. Barbosa's minutes will be driven by how much improveement he makes on his defeense. Tucker and Strawberry on how they shoot the three.

 

[Mr Bottomtooth]

Is Skinner on the roster?

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[Irish]

Is Skinner on the roster?

Technically, Skinner he's on the roster until tomorow when free agency starts.

The demand for Skinner was not that strong last summer and the Suns kept waiting for PJ Brown to come around. So unless something changes, I'd think he would come back if the Suns want him.

If anything, the fact that he had his best year playing for Porter might be an added elemen. But tommorw he can start talking to everyone.

 

[SirStefan32]

I'd love to see Skinman and Giricek back for another year.

 

[Irish]

I'd love to see Skinman and Giricek back for another year.

So far it sounds like they are not set on these two. According to Kerr:

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb...bin-lopez-was-drafted-by-the-suns-114618.html

Starting July 1st we can begin to pursue free agents, and we'll be looking at backup point guards and wing shooters, and potentially another big man. Even though we don't have a lot of money to spend, we do feel we can add a key player or two. There is plenty of talent available, and most NBA teams don't have much cap room this summer. Being a good team in a great city, we obviously have a lot to offer here in Phoenix. Players want to come here, so we'll have an opportunity to improve our team with two or three signings.

You'd think GG and Skinner would be the best choices, but Kerr is not tipping his hand.

As free agency unfolds, we will have a team participating in the Las Vegas summer league from July 11th to 19th. Igor Kokoskov and Dan Majerle will coach the team, which will feature Robin, DJ Strawberry and Alando Tucker. We're excited to see Robin for the first time, and we think DJ and Alando are making great strides as they head into their second years. Those three will be joined by a group of free agents that Griff and Todd are currently putting together.

 

[SirStefan32]

So far it sounds like they are not set on these two. According to Kerr:

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb...bin-lopez-was-drafted-by-the-suns-114618.html


You'd think GG and Skinner would be the best choices, but Kerr is not tipping his hand.

Trying to get them to sign for less maybe?

 

[Irish]

Trying to get them to sign for less maybe?

Less that Vet Minimum. Wow, you must really be impressed by Kerr's negotiating skills.

 

[Andrew]

I was Girichek back, he was a good assest when he was on his game.

 

[PhxGametime]

I'd like Skinner and/or Giricek back but one would assume that a Team would throw out money to either player... perhaps something like Irish's idea concerning KT.

 

[SirStefan32]

Less that Vet Minimum. Wow, you must really be impressed by Kerr's negotiating skills.

I meant "less than they (Skinman and Giricek) would like." I am assuming they would like more than vet minimum. Sorry.

 

[Irish]

I meant "less than they (Skinman and Giricek) would like." I am assuming they would like more than vet minimum. Sorry.

I figured you meant something like that. I have no idea what their market value is, but I would not be unhappy if they returned. But if Kerr has an idea for somebody better, I'm certainly interested.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Giricek got bought out of the last year of his contract earning 4 mil. While he can probably get more than the vet min, I dont see much teams with a need for an aging guard with how many FAs are out there this season.

 

[AceP]

There r a lot of free agents wanting the MLE. It seems to be more than the number of teams which willing to spend MLE. I have a good feeling we will eventually land some good choices with bargain price.

 

[Joe Mama]

If Brian Skinner is getting significant minutes next season I'm not feeling real good about our front line. I thought he looked okay here and there, especially at the beginning of last season. However, his man defense in the post was not good at all. I guess as the third 4/5 off the bench he'd be okay, but that means they have Boris Diaw spending most of his time at the 4/5.

I know I'll catch a bunch of crap for this, but I do think we'll see Sean Marks on the roster again next season. By no means do I think he's a great player, but I do think they could get more out of him than Mike D'Antoni has last couple years.

Joe

 

[Irish]

I know I'll catch a bunch of crap for this, but I do think we'll see Sean Marks on the roster again next season. By no means do I think he's a great player, but I do think they could get more out of him than Mike D'Antoni has last couple years.

Joe

I suspect you are right. EVERYONE knows he can't play because he didn't play; but this is the same D'Antoni who gave up on Eddie House, traded away Rondo, and has shown himself to less than brilliant on his personel evaluations and insists on only playing 8 guys fro the entire season.

In other words, we don't know anything about Marks based on his play.

Why would Kerr want to keep Marks? Marks can shoot. Rememer how big a deal Tim Thomas was? A big who can effectively shoot from the outside can really spread the floor, especially if he has three point range.

Marks was redundant on the Spurs because that is the role that Horry plays. (When he did play, he was used a backup for TD). Prior to the Suns, his NBA career was mostly with the Heat and Spurs - two slow down physical teams.

In the final game of the season, Marks got 24 minutes and played brilliantly against the Blazers starters. Was this a one time fluke or just a sign that D'Antoni was making a mistake by not giving him some minutes?