reported FA deals

[Errntknght]

That's exactly what I meant, Tucker at SF and Dudley at PF. It even hurts when I write it.

The things is, who is going to rebound if Dudley starts at PF and Tucker or Warren starts at SF? The Suns have a size issue at the forwards. It could get ugly unless Bender and Chriss can produce now which seems unlikely.

Maybe the Suns plan to play Len at PF as well. If so, the Suns need to look at adding another center to the roster.

I like the way it has worked out so far - I want Len to get some time at PF and see how he does there. I doubt he is ever a good stretch 4 but if he can knock down 15-18 ft jumpers regularly, he can play with a low post C and can run the pick and roll/pop. (I'm not sure it's a good thing but he has been trying to make assist passes from the high post of late, we'll see...)

Low post centers are almost passe right now but if you've got one who is the monster rebounder that Alan Williams gave glimpses of being last year, you'd be glad to be old fashioned. Besides, it's always good to be able to play different styles - you will run into other teams that use low post centers and you want someone who has the muscle to push one off his favorite spots which Williams appears to have. I'm as excited about seeing him play as I am our new guys.

I couldn't believe our luck that Ulis was available at 34 - I've been dying to have a PG good enough to push Bled to the bench where he should be and I have high hopes that Ulis can be that guy.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I like the way it has worked out so far - I want Len to get some time at PF and see how he does there. I doubt he is ever a good stretch 4 but if he can knock down 15-18 ft jumpers regularly, he can play with a low post C and can run the pick and roll/pop. (I'm not sure it's a good thing but he has been trying to make assist passes from the high post of late, we'll see...)

Low post centers are almost passe right now but if you've got one who is the monster rebounder that Alan Williams gave glimpses of being last year, you'd be glad to be old fashioned. Besides, it's always good to be able to play different styles - you will run into other teams that use low post centers and you want someone who has the muscle to push one off his favorite spots which Williams appears to have. I'm as excited about seeing him play as I am our new guys.

I couldn't believe our luck that Ulis was available at 34 - I've been dying to have a PG good enough to push Bled to the bench where he should be and I have high hopes that Ulis can be that guy.

After last season I'd just as soon never see Len at the PF spot again. Maybe it would work paired with a different kind of center than Chandler but it was a disaster as it was. And the more time he spent there the worse of a shooter he became. His hands were an obvious problem in the pick and roll/pick and pop game last season but maybe that goes away when he's fully healthy? But I'm not sure as his hands have been iffy from the beginning.

I'd rather we go back to playing Len at his natural position and hopefully focusing on defense. Our defense with those two together was frighteningly bad but mostly, I think it's a huge mistake to force a young player to try and learn a second position when he has so clearly struggled to learn his first position.

As for Ulis, I like him a lot but I disagree about Eric belonging on the bench. He is far too good to be a bench player. I don't see any reason to think his game will change much after his latest injury so I expect we'll see him back as the starter. If we decide to not use him that way, I'd expect a trade not a move to the bench.

 

[slinslin]

Len is a great rebounder and the Len at PF experiment failed miserably. Watson already said we wont see that again.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Another thing. Sarver can't be suffering too bad financially if they just raised the cap to a gazillion dollars.

I'm ok with them keeping the cap number as low as possible to compensate for the attendance hit this year.

He's still making nice money from all the other revenue streams.

Yeah but it doesn't really work that way. All the costs slowly (sometimes quickly) rise in proportion and he has a lot of other investors to answer to. And when you say he's making nice money, what are you talking about? (that's a question, nothing more)

But I'd love it if the influx of money was sufficient enough to allow us to take this rebuild more slowly. I think we still need at least one more, maybe two more, young pieces to build around. Booker's ceiling is a question mark but it's clear he's going to be good if not great. Unfortunately, we really don't have a clue what we have in Len, Warren, Chriss and Bender. They could easily all be out of the NBA in 5 years.

 

[slinslin]

I couldn't believe our luck that Ulis was available at 34 - I've been dying to have a PG good enough to push Bled to the bench where he should be and I have high hopes that Ulis can be that guy.

Are you on drugs?

 

[Ronin]

Garret Temple 3yr/24

 

[AzStevenCal]

Garret Temple 3yr/24

8 per year for a player that shouldn't be in any team's rotation? He's great on the bench, in the locker room and probably in the community but you don't actually want him on the court. He reminds me of our very own Christmas a few years back, minus the lame Steve Albert jokes.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Wizards get a bargain signing Andrew Nicholson to a four year 26 million dollar contract.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wireta...on-Agrees-To-Four-Year-$26M-Deal-With-Wizards

 

[Mainstreet]

I like the way it has worked out so far - I want Len to get some time at PF and see how he does there. I doubt he is ever a good stretch 4 but if he can knock down 15-18 ft jumpers regularly, he can play with a low post C and can run the pick and roll/pop. (I'm not sure it's a good thing but he has been trying to make assist passes from the high post of late, we'll see...)

Low post centers are almost passe right now but if you've got one who is the monster rebounder that Alan Williams gave glimpses of being last year, you'd be glad to be old fashioned. Besides, it's always good to be able to play different styles - you will run into other teams that use low post centers and you want someone who has the muscle to push one off his favorite spots which Williams appears to have. I'm as excited about seeing him play as I am our new guys.

I couldn't believe our luck that Ulis was available at 34 - I've been dying to have a PG good enough to push Bled to the bench where he should be and I have high hopes that Ulis can be that guy.

I'd prefer Len spend his time at center but I see Dudley as a bad match-up against taller PFs because they can shoot over him plus rebounding will be an issue as well. I'm counting on a slow transition for Bender and Chriss. Anything more would be gravy.

In regard to low post centers, they may be not be in vogue but I'd like for the Suns to have another FC on their roster. A lot of posters seem to be a fan of Alan Williams but he did not show me much at the end of last season in regard to mobility. I hope first impressions are wrong.

I have high hopes for Tyler Ulis as a backup PG but right now I just want him to make the Suns roster (which seems likely).

 

[Mainstreet]

Let it get ugly!!!!

I've never been a fan of the Sam Hinkie rebuild model. Besides the Suns have their own first round picks and the Miami picks.

 

[Mainstreet]

Derek Cooke, Richard Solomon or Alan Williams. One of these players has to pan out and play. I'd rather watch them then the two old guys.

I think you nailed it. I'd like to see a younger player with upside starting at the PF position. Relatively speaking, the Suns went old and slow at the starting PF position.

 

[devilalum]

I've never been a fan of the Sam Hinkie rebuild model. Besides the Suns have their own first round picks and the Miami picks.

I don't think you have to pull a full Hinkie. Just one year to let some players develop, get out of the basement, restore a little respect, draft a nice player next summer and then sign a couple of hard pipe-hittin free agents from Inglewood to complete the rebuild.

 

[Mainstreet]

I don't think you have to pull a full Hinkie. Just one year to let some players develop, get out of the basement, restore a little respect, draft a nice player next summer and then sign a couple of hard pipe-hittin free agents from Inglewood to complete the rebuild.

Since 2013 the Suns have drafted Len at #5, Warren at #14, Booker at #13, Bender at #5 and Chriss at #8.

Devin Booker at #13 may be the best draft pick of the bunch. Hopefully the Suns should be on their way with their own picks, the Miami picks plus Bledsoe and Knight.

I don't expect much from the Suns now unless they do a trade. There is not much on the market to get them over the hump (that is obtainable). So I have no problem with them staying where they are. I guess my hope was that Dudley was not their primary free agent target. I just don't believe in tanking as a strategy.

 

[devilalum]

Since 2013 the Suns have drafted Len at #5, Warren at #14, Booker at #13, Bender at #5 and Chriss at #8.

Devin Booker at #13 may be the best draft pick of the bunch. Hopefully the Suns should be on their way with their own picks, the Miami picks plus Bledsoe and Knight.

I don't expect much from the Suns now unless they do a trade. There is not much on the market to get them over the hump (that is obtainable). So I have no problem with them staying where they are. I guess my hope was that Dudley was not their primary free agent target. I just don't believe in tanking as a strategy.

If they can stay relatively healthy i think they can approach 40 wins. They were off to a nice start last season until everybody starting going down.

When they beat Portland on back to back nights to start the season they clearly looked like the better team.

sent from a fone

 

[bankybruce]

Rondo to the Bulls, 2 years, 28 million. A real PG, but lets see if he has matured. If he has, he is a steal with the current going rate of players.

 

[Mainstreet]

Rondo to the Bulls, 2 years, 28 million. A real PG, but lets see if he has matured. If he has, he is a steal with the current going rate of players.

I keep thinking Rondo must be older than 30. It seems like he has been around forever.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Kings make Seth Curry an unrestricted free agent. Rondo, as noted, goes to the Bulls. So that leaves Darren Collison who reportedly is in the midst of some legal issues.

Hmm.

 

[bankybruce]

The Kings make Seth Curry an unrestricted free agent. Rondo, as noted, goes to the Bulls. So that leaves Darren Collison who reportedly is in the midst of some legal issues.

Hmm.

Big trade in the works or Cousins wants to handle the ball now

 

[elindholm]

The Kings make Seth Curry an unrestricted free agent. Rondo, as noted, goes to the Bulls. So that leaves Darren Collison who reportedly is in the midst of some legal issues.

Hmm.

RUDY GAY ALERT

 

[bankybruce]

RUDY GAY ALERT

You might not be far off. Just read Doug McDermott, José Calderon and Tony Snell for Gay is being discussed.

 

[elindholm]

You might not be far off. Just read Doug McDermott, José Calderon and Tony Snell for Gay is being discussed.

I was thinking more Gay for Knight, but the Kings would have to include something more. Do they have any extra first-round picks, i.e. ones that aren't their own and wouldn't have to be lottery protected until 2030?

 

[Mainstreet]

I was thinking more Gay for Knight, but the Kings would have to include something more. Do they have any extra first-round picks, i.e. ones that aren't their own and wouldn't have to be lottery protected until 2030?

Knight looks good compared to Gay.

 

[Errntknght]

After last season I'd just as soon never see Len at the PF spot again. Maybe it would work paired with a different kind of center than Chandler but it was a disaster as it was. And the more time he spent there the worse of a shooter he became. His hands were an obvious problem in the pick and roll/pick and pop game last season but maybe that goes away when he's fully healthy? But I'm not sure as his hands have been iffy from the beginning.

I'd rather we go back to playing Len at his natural position and hopefully focusing on defense. Our defense with those two together was frighteningly bad but mostly, I think it's a huge mistake to force a young player to try and learn a second position when he has so clearly struggled to learn his first position.

As for Ulis, I like him a lot but I disagree about Eric belonging on the bench. He is far too good to be a bench player. I don't see any reason to think his game will change much after his latest injury so I expect we'll see him back as the starter. If we decide to not use him that way, I'd expect a trade not a move to the bench.

I know Len shot miserably but I was encouraged by the fact that he was, at least, shooting more and trying to dribble less. The way I see it, whether he plays C or PF he has to be able to knock down mid-range shots at a decent clip to be a positive contributor on a contending team. Slotting him at PF gives him more impetus to take those shots, and that part seemed to work. I expected to see him get more and more comfortable shooting them but as you said he did the opposite. It's so unusual I'm inclined to think there was some kind of a coaching problem - and therefore a fixable problem. Perhaps you're right and the problem was nothing more asking him to play a different position.

 

[Mainstreet]

It appears the Suns will stay with the youth movement.

With more than $17 million of salary-cap space once the three rookie contracts are signed later this week, the Suns’ only additional spending could be moves like re-signing point guard Ronnie Price and/or adding a bigger wing player. Phoenix could draw inspiration from Portland, another young team led by guards that had success while maintaining salary-cap space, and how past NBA teams ascended from bottoming out by drafting well.

The Suns do not have much roster room with 14 players under contract for next season once Dragan Bender, Marquese Chriss and Tyler Ulis sign. There is flexibility with John Jenkins, whose contract does not become guaranteed unless he is on the roster on July 11, and Alan Williams, whose contract becomes guaranteed Sept. 1.

Bender and Chriss are slotted into four-year contracts with two guaranteed years and two team option years. Ulis, as a second-round pick, is not guaranteed that, but the Suns will give Ulis the equivalent of a late first-round pick’s contract, which would start at about $1 million and have the same two guaranteed years with two team option years.

The Suns will have to weigh whether Ulis can be a third point guard as a rookie or if the team needs Price’s experience after Eric Bledsoe’s and Brandon Knight’s multiple surgeries.

As the roster stands now, I'm hoping Ulis will become the Suns backup PG. I hope he is a step up from Ronnie Price. I'd like to see what Goodwin can do this season perhaps as a SF. My surprise is Jared Dudley likely being the Suns starting PF. I'm still not sure where the Suns get the rebounding.

The above article is from Paul Coro at azcentral dated 7-3-16.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...s-plan-embrace-youth-hold-cap-space/86663426/

 

[chickenhead]

It is, or it can be. Unfortunately that doesn't seem to be true for the garden variety fan. The Twolves, even with a loaded roster of young potential future stars, was second to last in attendance this past season. They just barely beat out the 76ers team, also loaded with young talent. Denver was dead last, another very young and very talented roster. And not just last year, the Wolves and the 76ers have been at or near the bottom for awhile now.

Attendance usually picks up when the winning picks up, and even then the regular season numbers often increase appreciably the season following the breakout success when season tickets start to catch up. Plus the Twolves fanbase can be forgiven for being cynical. They haven't been in the playoffs for 12 years, and before that they were eliminated in the first round 7 out of 8 times. I also think Sixers fans can be given a pass for passing on the Hinkie experiment.

But I guess this also supports the idea that the Suns may not see an uptick this year or next, depending on what happens. I just hope it doesn't play into an arena/relocation scenario.