Should the Suns Tank the Season?

[Irish]

The Suns are currently in 11th place in the West. They'd be in 6th place in the East, but they are only 2 games ahead of GS.

The situation is that their are 7 teams worse off than the Suns in the East and 4 in the West; which means if they drafted tomorrow, the Suns would have the 12th pick. If they keep losing, there are seval teams that could drop below them. Records before tonight's Sun loss to 13-17:

GS 12-19
Clip 10-22
Phil 12-19 before beating the Suns tonight
Cats 11-19
Raptors 11-20
Pistons 11-21

I am not predicting it, but the Suns could fall to 6th in the draft. While disappointing on the floor, the Suns could not only get a decent pick next summer, if there is a strike might get the same pick the following summer.

Obviously the timing of when the draft is held will make a difference; but if they cancel the 2011 draft it would mean a lot more depth and the Orlando pick might actually be worth something too.

Bottom line is that while I'd hate to lose on purpose, it would not be the worst thing that could happen to the Suns if they could get some quality picks.

 

[Brianellsworth]

Yet another awesome and informative post courtesy of the one and only, the infamous.......Irish

We haven't even had the all star break yet and you are already talking about tanking the season? It all sounds a little bit ludicrous if you ask me but that's just my opinion

 

[carey]

lol. The Suns can't afford to tank 52 more games.

 

[Folster]

Yet another awesome and informative post courtesy of the one and only, the infamous.......Irish

We haven't even had the all star break yet and you are already talking about tanking the season? It all sounds a little bit ludicrous if you ask me but that's just my opinion

If you've never noticed, Irish is a prolific offseason poster. He creates more threads and posts than anyone during the offseason. It's like the playoffs for him. Even his in-season threads are about the offseason.

 

[sunsfan88]

They can't tank the season with Nash.

 

[Brianellsworth]

If you've never noticed, Irish is a prolific offseason poster. He creates more threads and posts than anyone during the offseason. It's like the playoffs for him. Even his in-season threads are about the offseason.

I know my post count etc doesn't show it but I have been a "lurker" on this board for a good couple years now long before my "registration" date. My favorite posts are from irish/george o'brien in the off season......they are usually classic and laughable. You prove a good point in saying that his in season threads are even about the off season haha that is great.

I also am surprised to see him posting during the actual season. Usually right around the start of the pre-season he disappears until the off season then returns with a vengeance.

I miss the days of Shaq and Andrew on this board. I am sure Andrew is a die hard celtics fan now and is posting like crazy on their message board. There are some posters who are the heart and soul of entertainment on this board and I enjoy having them post because they are always good for a much needed laugh.

 

[elindholm]

With the lockout looming, the next draft figures to be the weakest in a generation, since early entry candidates will stay in school rather than spend a year twiddling their thumbs. Tanking is always a bad idea, but it would be an especially bad idea this season.

 

[TBaslim]

Anyone know what the plan is with the draft if there is a lockout?

Two drafts, same order each summer?

No 2011 draft, just a 2012?

 

[Folster]

Anyone know what the plan is with the draft if there is a lockout?

Two drafts, same order each summer?

No 2011 draft, just a 2012?

I believe that the draft will still be held because it is before July 1st when I think the CBA expires. Essentially the teams would be unable to sign the players, or have any real contact with them, but they would hold their draft rights.

 

[mojorizen7]

They can't tank the season with Nash.

This + Grant Hill.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

There doesn't seem to be ANYONE in this draft class that would ultimately reverse our fortunes. We should have blown it up 3-4 years ago. Picking at the top of the draft this year doesn't to seem to have much more value than picking in the middle. I'm not opposed to tanking, but it's a pointless exercise this particular season....

 

[slinslin]

There doesn't seem to be ANYONE in this draft class that would ultimately reverse our fortunes. We should have blown it up 3-4 years ago. Picking at the top of the draft this year doesn't to seem to have much more value than picking in the middle. I'm not opposed to tanking, but it's a pointless exercise this particular season....

People seem to say this everytime at this time of the year.

Kemba Walker is a stud combo guard triple double threat.

Perry Jones is a great talent. Averages 14/9 as a freshman and is a legit 6'11 skilled big man.

Jared Sullinger, Derrick Williams and Terrence Jones are very good PFs just a bit short.

Kyrie Irving is a very good PG prospect as is Brandon Knight.

Josh Selby is a great scoring guard.

Harrison Barnes has all the talent in the world.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

"People" may say this, but I don't. I wanted to sell the farm (Amare+) so that we could get Horford when he came out. There are other examples, such as trading Amare this past offseason to the Nets so we could get Favors. I also remember Russ Smith driving the Kevin Love bandwagon on here.

Walker and Jones don't change the Suns' systemic predicament. Until we get that Horford-type and run with that in our frontcourt, all the tweeners and combos in the world won't get this team a ring.

This draft does not offer the Suns the Otis Thorpe, the Buck Williams, the early-Kevin Willis that we need on this team. That is why drafting mid-round is no less valuable than drafting at the top of the round.

The change the Suns need is not in this draft. Tanking is pointless....

 

[The Commish]

Slin is right, the draft has some good prospects. It's top heavy, just not deep.

In regards to the topic of tanking, this team is bad and poorly constructed, so they may not need to openly tank to still secure a top 10 pick.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Anyone know what the plan is with the draft if there is a lockout?

Two drafts, same order each summer?

No 2011 draft, just a 2012?

Well, assuming that it's a full year lockout but doesn't extend beyond that I think there's probably 4 ways they could go. They could hold a league-wide lottery, redo the 2011 lottery, use the 2011 draft order or simply draft worst to first. IMO, drafting worst to first seems by far to be the most logical approach. In any case, the way we finish this season will likely affect two drafts - making this year's finish even more important.

Steve

 

[Griffin]

Well, assuming that it's a full year lockout but doesn't extend beyond that I think there's probably 4 ways they could go. They could hold a league-wide lottery, redo the 2011 lottery, use the 2011 draft order or simply draft worst to first. IMO, drafting worst to first seems by far to be the most logical approach. In any case, the way we finish this season will likely affect two drafts - making this year's finish even more important.

I think that's a pretty big assumption. Personally I doubt a whole season will be lost, but we obviously wouldn't know that until it actually happens. So banking on having the same pick the following year is rather risky. I think a lot of teams would complain about that.

 

[Folster]

"People" may say this, but I don't. I wanted to sell the farm (Amare+) so that we could get Horford when he came out. There are other examples, such as trading Amare this past offseason to the Nets so we could get Favors. I also remember Russ Smith driving the Kevin Love bandwagon on here.

I remember Suns fans scoffing at Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas for Stoudemire when Stoudemire was first put on the block a couple season ago. It was before Noah came into his own, so it wasn't as appealing as it would have been today.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I think that's a pretty big assumption. Personally I doubt a whole season will be lost, but we obviously wouldn't know that until it actually happens. So banking on having the same pick the following year is rather risky. I think a lot of teams would complain about that.

I can't disagree with you but I'd add that it could well go longer than one year also. It's my understanding that this is not expected to be your typical CBA negotiation. The league is looking for some rather drastic changes and on the other side you have the agents coming together in a last ditch effort to regain their lost power.

I wouldn't advocate tanking based on this assumption but I might not mean the same thing others do when they talk about tanking. I'm all for trading anyone on the roster if it brings us a future asset but I'm against shredding the roster merely to insure we lose. The lottery is never a sure thing and this looks to be one of those years where there might not be a clear cut top player.

Steve

 

[Michael]

The only way for Phoenix to tank would be after trading Hill and Nash to contenders.

 

[Mainstreet]

Well, as the Suns are playing right now, the thought of tanking seems unnecessary. What I really would like for the Suns to do is to accumulate more draft picks, if they do any more trades, for upcoming drafts.

 

[JCSunsfan]

No. This is not a draft that is worth it. There is no clear superstar in this draft ala Tim Duncan, David Robinson etc. San Antonio became a perennial contender by tanking, but they tanked in the right draft.

The best player in this draft could be picked in the mid or late first round, its that much of a crap shoot.

 

[slinslin]

No. This is not a draft that is worth it. There is no clear superstar in this draft ala Tim Duncan, David Robinson etc. San Antonio became a perennial contender by tanking, but they tanked in the right draft.

The best player in this draft could be picked in the mid or late first round, its that much of a crap shoot.

Every year it is the same and people say the upcomming draft will be weak. This draft is deep with talent and there is no clear #1 pick right now but that is only because Kemba Walker is a Junior or people still can't believe that his play right now is not just a fluke.

Lets wait until the tournament to say there is no clear #1 pick in this draft.

There was no clear #1 pick when Dwight Howard was drafted and how did that turn out?

From everything I heard so far the draft should be deep this year with many top 10 worthy players. The freshman class is pretty strong this year except there isn't one uber freshman like Wall, Durant or Beasley statistically but many are having good seasons.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Every year it is the same and people say the upcomming draft will be weak. This draft is deep with talent and there is no clear #1 pick right now but that is only because Kemba Walker is a Junior or people still can't believe that his play right now is not just a fluke.

Lets wait until the tournament to say there is no clear #1 pick in this draft.

There was no clear #1 pick when Dwight Howard was drafted and how did that turn out?

From everything I heard so far the draft should be deep this year with many top 10 worthy players. The freshman class is pretty strong this year except there isn't one uber freshman like Wall, Durant or Beasley statistically but many are having good seasons.

Yeah there was. If it hadn't been for idiots like Vitale trying to pimp the college game at the expense of high school and Euro players there wouldn't have been anything close to a debate. There is often no consensus number one even though there usually is a clear cut best player and that year was no different, IMO.

Too many people with too many agendas obscure the draft but most of the scouts were firmly in the Howard camp or so it seemed to me. Even ESPN gets into the agenda act when it comes to the draft, they'll do anything they can to make UConn look good. If Okafor had come out of Utah State, someone would have "reached" for him around the 10th spot.

But, I agree about this season. It's pretty common for the talent to start showing itself come tourney time. As a general rule, I never believe the "this is a weak draft" stuff. Some drafts are stronger than others but there is plenty of talent to be had and some real game changers also. Like you, I think Kemba Walker is a special talent but he really needs to work on his height.

Steve

 

[elindholm]

It's the lockout that is likely to make this a weak draft. A lot of early entry candidates will stay in school.

 

[Mainstreet]

No. This is not a draft that is worth it. There is no clear superstar in this draft ala Tim Duncan, David Robinson etc. San Antonio became a perennial contender by tanking, but they tanked in the right draft.

The best player in this draft could be picked in the mid or late first round, its that much of a crap shoot.

I did use the wording, "upcoming drafts," so it was plural. The Suns need draft picks in multiple years to stock the cupboard with talent. Also it is no longer as easy as before to get the #1 pick in the draft to select a Tim Duncan or David Robinson as the rules have changed. IMO, the Suns best bet is for a player like a Stoudemire to slip in the draft... or a Steve Nash.