Shaq pushing for J-Will in Phoenix

[AceP]

Shaq and Jwill had a long term friendship, long b4 their union in Miami. I have never heard of any story of breakup. If the money is close, Shaq's recruiting call should do us some help.

Kerr will add a TRUE PG in roster b4 training camp. I would say we need an NBA proven veteran even if Dragic comes.

 

[Cheesewater]

Williams may have been waiting on or mulling over an offer from Maccabi or even some other Euroleague team. He'd be right to weigh his options before making a rash decision.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Spurs are one of the teams looking at Pargo. They have a glut of PGs already.

http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/courtside/archives/2008/08/jeff_mcdonald_s_12.html

 

[Rab]

Of the options left, Williams would probably be the best option, but I don't the Suns will offer what it will take to get him here egardless of whether or not Shaq wants him here or not.

J-Will's knees are suspect, and he was limited in his play last year. I believe for a good while he was held out of back to backs. Certainly, a reduction in minutes would do him well and hopefully help him get through the season if he did sign here. I just think at his age, he's going to looking for a 2-3 guaranteed deal, and not the 1 year vet's min the Suns would push at him.

 

[shazaam6]

Whatever extra they offer J Williams they could throw Dragics way and possibly get him instead. Sucks being broke. Shaq better be worth 20 frikkin million this season. No more free throw excuses for that kind of money. Hows my ass taste.. Same as your free throw shooting, so go practice shooting them left handed or something.

 

[shazaam6]

Wasn't Marcus Banks signed as a backup point guard for 4 million. If Dragic is the future point and picked to be current backup, shouldn't he be offered something close to that or at least 2-3 million?

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Yeah but dragic is sort of a wild card, marcus banks was a prov...

nm

 

[Mainstreet]

Wasn't Marcus Banks signed as a backup point guard for 4 million. If Dragic is the future point and picked to be current backup, shouldn't he be offered something close to that or at least 2-3 million?

It gets a little tricky. I don't think the Suns want to pay a second round pick more than Lopez, a first round pick. However, I think the Suns will have to pay Dragic at least (net) what they are paying Lopez... maybe more. And I'm not talking about the $500,000 buyout the Suns would have to pay Tau or whoever. The Suns need to pay Dragic a salary that makes it worthwhile to come over now and that probably means more money (at least on paper) than Lopez. If Tau would let him go for only a $500,000 buyout this year then the Suns might get him cheaper. Also I'm still confused by the Slovenia's court ruling and if it effects things.

 

[Irish]

I think it is inevitable that Dragic will COST more than Lopez. Stanford does not require buyouts.

In any case, Shaq is not the reaons the Suns are in a financial bind THIS YEAR.

Marion $17.81 million
Banks 4.25 million
----------------------
Total $22.06 million

O'Neal $20.00 million

Shaq's salary may be an issue next year, but this year's salary structure would have been the same if no move was made.

 

[sLapzsHaQ]

Hmmm.. J-Will seems to play well with Shaq, but not with Wade. So, he's a good backup pg I guess..

 

[leclerc]

As much as I would like a real backup point guard I don't feel it's the key to this years success. Getting Matt Barnes and having a healthy Shaq + letting a new head coach have a crack at it is more important.

Sure, we do need to rest Nash but we can do that with the players we have here, it's just up to coach to pull him and play others. Hill, Barbosa, Diaw and DJ are all capable of getting it up and initiate the offence.

No one plays like Nash anyhow with the penetration and dribbling and finding the open man. And the world class shooting. Nash rules man!! I love the video with Baron Davis on YouTube. LOL.

That said, I really hope we sign both Dragic and J-Will or Pargo or something.

Trading Diaw or Barbosa to Chicago for either Captain Kirk or Ben Gordon is not a smart move IMO.

 

[scXfreakX]

And honestly, whats the difference between having DJ run the show, or Dragic? I mean, both are not stars and both don't have tons of experience.(Although I'm sure Dragic has more pro experience) Its not the same as having a J-Will where you know that they guy has played in the NBA for years.

Listen, I'm all for getting Dragic over as soon as possible, but also looking at all different angles.

 

[Irish]

The reviews are that Dragic is vastly more intuitive than Barbosa and a pretty good defender. It is unlikely he has the range of Barbosa as a shooter, but may be more inclined to pass out of trouble. In any case, I think getting Dragic experience may be more important than avoiding losing a few games due to his inexperience.

Like everyone else, I'd like the Suns to have someone who can give Nash time off following all those back to backs, but the cupboard looks pretty bare. J-Will seems likely to get a lot more money in Europe and both he an Pargo seem unlikely to be winning to be a placeholder while Dragic gets all the attention.

One interim solution may be to use Dragic in a point forward configuration. Unlike when Barbosa is used in that arrangement, Dragic's superior defense could be enough to offset his inexperience.