Richardson trade revisited

[Griffin]

Most Suns fans seemed to have liked this trade right away and probably still do. Richardson have played fairly well and seems to fit our system well. But the trade no longer looks as one-sided as it may have appeared. Diaw, given starter's minutes, is producing the way he had back in his most improved season. Undoubtedly a lot of that has to do with him not having to share the court with Amare.

Since the trade:

Richardson: 7 games (37 mpg), 15.9 ppg / 5.1 rpg / 2.3 apg
Diaw: 9 games (38 mpg), 15.0 ppg / 8.1 rpg / 4.9 apg

Had we been getting those kinds of numbers from Diaw prior to the trade, it never would have happened. But prior to the trade Diaw was coming off the bench and averaging only 24 minutes per game. Clearly he is still capable of producing when given the opportunity.

 

[carey]

I think it's a little early for this thread. It's nice to see Diaw putting up those numbers, but lets remember that his problem is consistency. Lets bump this thread in May and see what's what.

 

[Ninjafish]

I was never for the trade and I'm still not, mainly because we traded away two good players for one in return. And the defense looks like it's worse.

 

[Roca Dolla]

and what exactly those diaw stats bring to the bobcats ? right nothing but losses!

diaw ist one of the softest players in the nba! stop bringing his name here up, real suns fans dont care about him anymore!

 

[hafey]

The problem with Diaw is not his talent. We all know the guy is talented. He needs touches to be effective, touches he is getting on a bad bobcat team. Diaw was never going to get the same amount of touches with Nash/Amare/Shaq on the team.

Just because Diaw is producing in a different role doesn't mean the trade wasn't good. It is silly to just compare the numbers.

 

[SunsTzu]

His #s are purely due to increased playing time except for maybe the rebounding. His effeciency is down though. If the Suns wanted those types of #s from him they would have to play him 40mpg like the Bobcats do.

 

[Mainstreet]

Diaw had plenty of talent but he didn't seem to lace his shoes up every night. Bell seemed like he was just going through the motions... for whatever reason he had lost his fire.

Sometimes it's better for the players and the team to make a trade when the chemistry falters. Richardson and Dudley seem to be giving the Suns their full effort every night. I think when Richardson gets fully adjusted, he will be able to drive daggers through another team's heart and the Suns will win some games they normally lose. I especially like his potential in the playoffs. Dudley adds some quality intangibles and rebounding to the team. He is a very pleasant surprise and will help the Suns.

IMO, it's not just about talent but how the parts fit.

 

[Griffin]

His #s are purely due to increased playing time except for maybe the rebounding. His effeciency is down though. If the Suns wanted those types of #s from him they would have to play him 40mpg like the Bobcats do.

But JRich is playing the same minutes as Diaw, and averaging the same amount of shots per game (13.6 for Richardson to 13.3 for Diaw). The efficiency of both of those players is about the same, except Diaw gets more rebounds and assists. The problem for Diaw in Phoenix was that there was no room for him with Amare and Shaq in the front court.

 

[JS22]

When are people going to realize that Diaw will never, EVER, put up those type of numbers here? Diaw is their focus on offense, so of course he's going to put up decent numbers. (He also turns the ball over a ton, and plays 40+ minutes.)

Here, for whatever reason, he was lazy, passive, and a complete waste of nearly 10 million a year.

 

[Mainstreet]

Here, for whatever reason, he was lazy, passive, and a complete waste of nearly 10 million a year.

You hit the nail on the head. He was not worth his salary. Otherwise he was a decent bench player.

 

[Ninjafish]

He wasn't worth his salary because he was lazy and passive though. He wasn't worth it because we couldn't fit him in here with more than 22 minutes.

 

[SunsTzu]

But JRich is playing the same minutes as Diaw, and averaging the same amount of shots per game (13.6 for Richardson to 13.3 for Diaw). The efficiency of both of those players is about the same, except Diaw gets more rebounds and assists. The problem for Diaw in Phoenix was that there was no room for him with Amare and Shaq in the front court.

Obviously Diaw will is expected to rebound more as a frontcourt player and they are running their offense through him so his assists and TOs are up. However the Suns are actually a better rebounding team since the trade because JRich is a much better rebounder than Bell. On the year the Suns have a +1 in rebound differential, in the 6 games JRich started the Suns are over +4.

 

[cly2tw]

Richardson is a great fit for this team with a better 3pt shot than Bell, at this stage better defense, and way better one-on-one scoring games. However, his midrange game is not well rounded yet. He is quick and strong enough to drive by or fight through his defenders to get off his close/mid-range layups/shots, but doesn't seem to have the soft hand better scorers like Ray Allen, Redd, Pierce have to make them fall. I wonder whether he has always been like that or just doesn't feel comfortable yet with Suns sets. I hope he could improve on that part of his game, so that he could take over the game scoring wise to ease up the burden on Shaq/Amare a little.

 

[mojorizen7]

We have a PF who's far superior to Diaw. His name is Amare Stoudemire.
We now have a SG who's better than Bell. That'd be JRich.
We lost some experience & depth but upgraded the SG position as well as got a little younger with Dudley who looks like he can contribute.
We also garnered a 2nd rd pick for what thats worth.
This trade is still a no-brainer.

 

[Mr. Boldin]

You cant just look at stats to determine something like this.

Some mentioned, myself included, that Diaw was going to play well under Larry Brown. Its all about the system and how the player is utilized. Diaw is being used just as he should, a point forward in a slow paced offense to allow his passing to setup the rest of the team.

With Nash and Amare on the team, not to mention Shaq, you really dont need Diaw beacuse his biggest asset is the same as Nash's. Diaw excels with the ball in his hands and there is no way you take it out of Nash's hands.

 

[Vacard]

Plus, he averages 19.7 points in the playoffs, were we need him the most, so he won't fizzle-out or disappear like SOME former players on our roster *cough* Marion *cough*.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

The trade was full of win and benefited both teams. It's still a no brainer.

Very rarely do you get a trade that pleases both teams.

I wish Diaw/Bell the best of luck in NC but thank the lord every day that Diaw no longer wears purple and orange.

 

[Mr. Boldin]

Most of the trades in the NBA do benefit both teams, that is why they are done. Fans are usualy only hung up over winning the trade in talent or money. NBA GMs make trades that make sense for each team in most cases.

 

[cly2tw]

Most of the trades in the NBA do benefit both teams, that is why they are done. Fans are usualy only hung up over winning the trade in talent or money. NBA GMs make trades that make sense for each team in most cases.

Hey, that's called competitive spirit!

Aside from messing up our objectivity by this competitive over-drives, it's all fun.

 

[dodie53]

i'm still ok with the trade.
good riddance Diaw

 

[Errntknght]

Most of us thought that Boris would do better with the Bobcats and expanded playing time but he was not getting it done for us in the role he needed to play. We couldn't retool the roster to fit with his game - he ain't that good.

In time we may regret the trade, but it doesn't look that way now. Like others, I think its a win-win deal - and I'm glad for Diaw to find a place he can shine. I like Dudley as well as Richardson and this team needed every bit of what they bring.

In 40 plus years of watching the Suns I think this bench is my favorite - its probably not the most talented but its got the toughness, hustle and smarts - and firepower - you need to complement your talented starters. Heck, I like Dee Brown already - the guy gets after it on defense and he has his gunning instincts fairly well under control. Barnes, Barbs, Amundson, Dudley and Brown have their flaws but I don't get anxiety attacks when they step on the floor.

Lopez needs to handle a 1000 passes and rebounds a day and add muscle - I like his mindset pretty well, except that he may not realize how hard he needs to work. Dragic is a confidence boost away from being a useful member of an NBA team. Tucker is a total question mark in my mind - all I'm sure of is that he has terrible timing with his injuries. Every time a window of opportunity opens up, he's nursing some ailment.

 

[Irish]

I was very impressed with J-Rich in his Warrior days. I'm surprised they are using him mostly as a catch and shoot guy because he's proven he can do a lot more that that. His defense is not bad and he's a much better offensive player than Bell.

After two years of complaints about Diaw's lack of hustle, it is my opinion that he became expendible with the develoment of Amundson. Dudley looks like another defensive specialist, but with some skills. I don't care how Bell ad Diaw do, only whether the Suns improve and it seems they have.

 

[Covert Rain]

I still love it. Raja is still struggling. Since he left, he has lost his 4 out of 7 head to heads and the ones he won were against D. Stevenson, M. Belinelli and Mayo. His defense still sucks.

Diaw has talent but I am not convinced he keeps this up. Even if he does..coming off the bench..wouldn't not have resulted in how he is playing now.

Jrich has won 5 of 7 head to head matchups since joining the Suns. Nuff said.

 

[arwillan]

no matter how many times we revisit this trade, i will always like it. i would have hated for the front office to have declined this deal. We got the best player in the deal, and gave up the worst contract in the deal (by far).

 

[Mainstreet]

no matter how many times we revisit this trade, i will always like it. i would have hated for the front office to have declined this deal. We got the best player in the deal, and gave up the worst contract in the deal (by far).

I totally agree. If the Suns had turned down this trade I would be screaming at the top of my lungs. Sometimes trades can turn out wrong long term but this trade was definitely a good move for the Suns at the time. I had grown tired of the apathy Diaw and Bell brought to the floor. I really like to have energy players coming off the bench like LB, Barnes, Amundson and Dudley... not to mention Jason Richardson starting.