Realistic options to improve the frontcourt

[Sci Fi]

I'll bet they don't look a lot different in the regular season. Why would they? I've been largely disappointed with the preseason. And, yes, the preseason matters. The Suns basically missed the playoffs last year by two points so the preseason was the time to get things going right away. One unexpected loss early in the season could be significant.

The offense appears to be nothing like the two guard offense Hornacek talks about. It looks basically like every other teams structure with sets line-ups and set positions. There is no urgency to the offense with little passing and a bunch of one-on-one. I expected more. And Dragic looks like he's going to be marginalized. That would spell trouble for the season as well as his signing next offseason.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Stop the sillyness.

The Answer is really clear.

Alex Len.

the question was REALISTIC options to improve the frontcourt.

 

[Sci Fi]

the question was REALISTIC options to improve the frontcourt.

Len looked good the other night. Sorry to disappoint you.

And the time for this talk was last year when Len was injured.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Len looked good the other night. Sorry to disappoint you.

haha... disappoint me? i'd be happier then a pig in slop if Len was good, but I didn't see much of anything the other night that indicated he's going to improve the front court, especially this year.

 

[Sci Fi]

Get your pig pen ready then.

 

[AzStevenCal]

haha... disappoint me? i'd be happier then a pig in slop if Len was good, but I didn't see much of anything the other night that indicated he's going to improve the front court, especially this year.

I saw enough from Len the other night to hold onto the hope that he could become a serviceable backup this season. Right now though, Plumlee is at the bottom of the league for starting centers and Len is matching that as a backup. But it's just preseason so there's still a chance that we aren't seeing the actual product out there. I'm concerned but I'm not quite ready to panic.

Steve

 

[Phrazbit]

The Suns have actually been heavily in the + while Bledsoe and Dragic have been out there so far in the preseason.

The ugliest stretches have been the ones that involved Randolph, Tolliver and Barron, all known turds. Green, despite solid individual scoring, also has been a part of some ugly ugly basketball.

But I don't think you can sweat preseason performances too much when guys naturally play these exhibition games in 3rd gear and we're a team who is built to be in 5th gear all game long.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm now hoping the Suns do not lock up more money by keeping Barron but instead go with Randolph. I think the Suns will need to make a trade for a C/F so they should wait for the right trade instead of going for some type of minor fix if it were one.

 

[HooverDam]

Would the Pellies move Asik? He seems so redundant w/ Anthony Davis. Ryan Anderson stretching the floor is a perfect fit next to Davis and you can't play all 3 of those guys at once. I know NO thinks Anderson can play SF, but thats a recipe for disaster I think.

Would this work:

NO sends:
Omer Asik

PHX sends:
Gerald Green
Tyler Ennis

Phoenix gets a guy on an expiring deal and if he works out, you can more easily extend him. They might buy the idea of Ennis' potential as an upgrade over the woeful Austin Rivers. Green can give them a bitter person for the 3 which they don't currently have.

Unfortunately, it leaves NO pretty thin up front, so maybe they wouldn't do it or they Suns would have to sweeten with a pick-- and if you're throwing in picks that gets to be a lot for what might be a 1 year rental.

 

[elindholm]

Keyword: preseason

Right, preseason is when you experiment and let bench guys audition for rotation spots. I don't care about the final outcome of any given preseason game.

But when Dragic and Bledsoe are on the floor at the same time, I expect to see something about what a dynamic duo they are supposed to be together. After all, they are the two leaders of the team this season, and they don't exactly have a long-term partnership to fall back on. But so far, all they're doing is taking turns with one as the PG and the other one waiting behind the arc to see if the ball comes his way. The Suns aren't getting any added value from what is supposed to be this innovative, dynamic, full-throttle setup.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Would the Pellies move Asik? He seems so redundant w/ Anthony Davis. Ryan Anderson stretching the floor is a perfect fit next to Davis and you can't play all 3 of those guys at once. I know NO thinks Anderson can play SF, but thats a recipe for disaster I think.

Would this work:

NO sends:
Omer Asik

PHX sends:
Gerald Green
Tyler Ennis

Phoenix gets a guy on an expiring deal and if he works out, you can more easily extend him. They might buy the idea of Ennis' potential as an upgrade over the woeful Austin Rivers. Green can give them a bitter person for the 3 which they don't currently have.

Unfortunately, it leaves NO pretty thin up front, so maybe they wouldn't do it or they Suns would have to sweeten with a pick-- and if you're throwing in picks that gets to be a lot for what might be a 1 year rental.

Good point, he likes Phoenix and isn't going to be happy if he's traded.

Seriously though, I don't think they have any interest in moving him. I suspect they realize their mistake and getting rid of Lopez last season as Davis benefitted from the presence of another big man. Asik isn't going to take anything away from Anthony's opportunities on offense and together they are going to be a formidable defense. He probably wouldn't be a perfect fit for us but he's such a great rebounder and defender that it would make sense to alter our style a bit. Even if that means moving another player of too. But I don't think he's on the market just yet.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

Right, preseason is when you experiment and let bench guys audition for rotation spots. I don't care about the final outcome of any given preseason game.

But when Dragic and Bledsoe are on the floor at the same time, I expect to see something about what a dynamic duo they are supposed to be together. After all, they are the two leaders of the team this season, and they don't exactly have a long-term partnership to fall back on. But so far, all they're doing is taking turns with one as the PG and the other one waiting behind the arc to see if the ball comes his way. The Suns aren't getting any added value from what is supposed to be this innovative, dynamic, full-throttle setup.

So far I haven't see Dragic and Bledsoe on the court at the same time. All I've seen is Eric and the corpse of Dragic; he looks a full step slower than last year. But even when they are at their best you're not going to see much of what you're asking about. That isn't really their strength especially given how little they've actually played together.

They benefit mostly from being on the court together in just the manner you described. The presence of both players puts extra pressure on the defense. Few teams have more than one quality defender at the guard position and most teams have to anticipate being able to provide help at multiple spots on the perimeter. That's a lot to ask for most teams.

Steve

 

[JCSunsfan]

Probably the most realistic plan is giving Len and Plumlee the minutes to try to get it together and then, if necessary, making a push for Okafor in January. A healthy Okafor brings the exact skill set this team needs.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Probably the most realistic plan is giving Len and Plumlee the minutes to try to get it together and then, if necessary, making a push for Okafor in January. A healthy Okafor brings the exact skill set this team needs.

I don't think we'd go after Okafor if he was free and silver plated. Why waste your time with a guy who refused to meet with the team that was paying his salary? And the Suns management offered to meet with him at his convenience and at his home (city if not actual home). I'm surprised people keep suggesting him as an option. OTOH, I was just as sure that Lebron would never return to Cleveland so who knows. I suspect you're right on Plumlee and Len though, we have no other real option right now other than to live and die with whatever they can bring us.

Steve

 

[JCSunsfan]

I don't think we'd go after Okafor if he was free and silver plated. Why waste your time with a guy who refused to meet with the team that was paying his salary? And the Suns management offered to meet with him at his convenience and at his home (city if not actual home). I'm surprised people keep suggesting him as an option. OTOH, I was just as sure that Lebron would never return to Cleveland so who knows. I suspect you're right on Plumlee and Len though, we have no other real option right now other than to live and die with whatever they can bring us.

Steve

I understand this, but still, he is a FA and all they have to do is convince him.

 

[elindholm]

A healthy Okafor brings the exact skill set this team needs.

For that matter, Antonio McDyess is only 40, so maybe the Suns should look at him too.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm not sure if the Thunder have anything to offer the Suns or anything the Suns want but it looks like Morrow will be out 4-6 weeks with a left MCL sprain.

 

[Chaplin]

Okafor is pretty much retired, I don't see any reason to bring up his name in any circumstance.

 

[Phrazbit]

Okafor is still injured and won't be ready until mid-season at the earliest... and given that its a spine/neck injury I doubt he comes back at all this year and possibly not ever.

 

[sunsfan88]

Would the Pellies move Asik? He seems so redundant w/ Anthony Davis. Ryan Anderson stretching the floor is a perfect fit next to Davis and you can't play all 3 of those guys at once. I know NO thinks Anderson can play SF, but thats a recipe for disaster I think.

Would this work:

NO sends:
Omer Asik

PHX sends:
Gerald Green
Tyler Ennis

Phoenix gets a guy on an expiring deal and if he works out, you can more easily extend him. They might buy the idea of Ennis' potential as an upgrade over the woeful Austin Rivers. Green can give them a bitter person for the 3 which they don't currently have.

Unfortunately, it leaves NO pretty thin up front, so maybe they wouldn't do it or they Suns would have to sweeten with a pick-- and if you're throwing in picks that gets to be a lot for what might be a 1 year rental.

Why would the Pelicand trade Asik? How is he redundant?

Just because the Suns have been like that post-Amare doesn't mean that every team in the NBA is looking for 3pt chuckers for the PF position.

Anthony Davis can easily hit jump shots and score anywhere inside the paint with ease. Spacing isn't a problem for them.

Davis will no longer have to guard Cs who out gain him in weight every night due to the presence of Asik's defensive pedigree.

If both those guys stay healthy, they have the best PF-C duo in the league and it's not close.

 

[sunsfan88]

I'm not sure if the Thunder have anything to offer the Suns or anything the Suns want but it looks like Morrow will be out 4-6 weeks with a left MCL sprain.

Gerald Green. I think they would love to add Green to that roster. I don't see what we could get in return though since they won't trade Adams and the big 3 is untouchable.

Maybe Reggie Jackson? Lol.

 

[Hoop Head]

Gerald Green. I think they would love to add Green to that roster. I don't see what we could get in return though since they won't trade Adams and the big 3 is untouchable.

Maybe Reggie Jackson? Lol.

The Thunders pick this year could have value since Durant will be out for the first month or two putting them in the middle of the West's playoff standings but Green is more valuable than another mid to late first round pick. They would need to get a third team involved to give the Suns either a young big or a veteran backup PF/C, which is highly unlikely.

Even if they listened to offers for Adams or Ibaka I'm sure they'd be asking for too much since the Harden deal ended up so one sided. Their fan base would lose it if they moved another key player for 10 cents on the dollar.

 

[Chaplin]

Earl Barron was waived, so he's not part of the solution (as if he ever was)...

 

[JCSunsfan]

The Thunders pick this year could have value since Durant will be out for the first month or two putting them in the middle of the West's playoff standings but Green is more valuable than another mid to late first round pick. They would need to get a third team involved to give the Suns either a young big or a veteran backup PF/C, which is highly unlikely.



Even if they listened to offers for Adams or Ibaka I'm sure they'd be asking for too much since the Harden deal ended up so one sided. Their fan base would lose it if they moved another key player for 10 cents on the dollar.

Do they NEED anyone on our roster? That's why we were able to make the trade with Indiana, they needed the vet depth that Scola provided.

 

[Hoop Head]

Do they NEED anyone on our roster? That's why we were able to make the trade with Indiana, they needed the vet depth that Scola provided.

Sure they could use someone on our roster like Green who can help offensively while Durant is out and even work as a starting SG or depth off the bench once Durant returns but that doesn't mean they will make a move. I'm sure some teams have initiated talks with OKC after word of Durant's injury came out to gauge their willingness to let someone with value go, like Adams or Jackson. If you look at their roster they have 5 players with positive trade value (Durant, Ibaka, Westbrook, Adams, Jackson), the rest is filled out with bad players on worse contracts (Perkins), rookies who haven't shown much of anything up to this point (Lamb, Jones, Roberson), or old vets on minimum deals (Telfair, Collison). OKC has virtually no depth and will remain in the top tier of teams in the league in terms of standings so long as they keep their big 3 so their picks don't hold much value either. In order for them to give up one of their 2 positive trade chips they'd be asking for a lot in return, perhaps too much, because they don't have the personnel or finances to gamble with.

If they'd do a deal with Phoenix involving Adams I'd bet they'd ask for Green, Len, and probably a pick in return. I wouldn't do that deal, even as weak as our frontcourt is. Salary wise they'd have to include Perkins in that deal which leaves them very thin up front so they'd probably ask for Plumlee as well. So Len, Plumlee, Green, and maybe a pick for Adams and Perkins? That seems pretty lopsided in OKC's favor to me.

Looking at their roster and using the ESPN Trade Machine I really can't see much they could do even if they wanted to.