Steve Kerr To Get an Extension?

[MaoTosiFanClub]

This post is just laughable, the Suns won more games under D'Antoni and went further in the playoffs, but somehow the Suns are better now because Lou Amundson gets time? Thats amazingly silly.

We're not better, we have roughly the same chance of winning it all now as we did then with half the talent. D'Antoni's teams were massive underachievers who got fat off of the NBA's bad teams and never had the mental fortitude or training to beat the NBA's best, the prototypical ****-tease as Cheese put it. If Kerr was around and forced D'Antoni or whoever to develop a bench and play defense with those teams there would be at least one trophy in the case at USAC.

The D'Antoni Era was a joke in retrospect. That him and the organization (and for most of the Colangelo times) zealously supported entertainment over rings was a complete embarrassment. After decades the Suns are finally on the right path to winning it all. We just need to get some more talent which you will find is much easier when you develop youth and gain trade assets.

 

[Cheesebeef]

We're not better, we have roughly the same chance of winning it all now as we did then with half the talent. D'Antoni's teams were massive underachievers who got fat off of the NBA's bad teams and never had the mental fortitude or training to beat the NBA's best, the prototypical ****-tease as Cheese put it. If Kerr was around and forced D'Antoni or whoever to develop a bench and play defense with those teams there would be at least one trophy in the case at USAC.

The D'Antoni Era was a joke in retrospect. That him and the organization (and for most of the Colangelo times) zealously supported entertainment over rings was a complete embarrassment.

not only that, but those teams had the benefit of playing during an era of the NBA that was... AWFUL. Think about, the East was a complete and utter joke, maybe having 1 title contender... at best and the West had 3 great teams and nothing else.

I mean, that Steve Nash team minus Amare won 54 games... and had the 4th best record! 54 games.

Mentally weak, under-achievers who never even got to the Finals despite two 60 win seasons... and a ton of talent.

Are there really still DA defenders? This team is comparable to his teams yet much less talented, playing in a tougher era and what has DA done? Oh yeah, exactly what he did in Denver before without Steve Nash, losing at a hilarious rate. For all his bluster and hype, he's made no bigger difference in NY than Thomas did, with arguably more talent, or at least the same.

 

[SunsTzu]

Are there really still DA defenders? This team is comparable to his teams yet much less talented, playing in a tougher era and what has DA done? Oh yeah, exactly what he did in Denver before without Steve Nash, losing at a hilarious rate.

I don't see how anyone can claim DA had nothing to do with the success and it was all Nash. And I'd like to know the honest opinion of anyone who thinks this what they thought of Nash before he signed with the Suns. I seem to recall quite a bit of uproar when it was learned what the Suns were going to pay Nash.

Just look at the player Nash was under Porter or even Nelson compared to DA/Gentry.

The only other thing I'll mention is to look at the Suns rosters in the playoff series in which they were eliminated and explain how they were more talented than the team they lost to. The only argument would be the '07 run and if you want to blame the suspensions(plus the lead assistant inexplicably getting a T during half time) on the team being mentally weak due to DA then I'd concede that as a valid point.

All that being said I much prefer Gentry not just for developing the bench but the fact that for years it's been painfully obvious how much better Amare is playing alongside another interior player. Yet DA always seemed reluctant to play one beside him.

Personally I was more disappointed in the '94 Suns than I was with any DA led Suns team. Talk about missing a golden opprotunity for a title.

 

[slinslin]

D'Antoni was a joke, look at his record in Denver before and New York after plus how he handled Jordan Hill or Nate Robinson, Eddy Curry, Darko Milicic or others.

D'Antoni is a classless clown.

He can't play "bad" rookies because he tries to win games? Yeah I can see that they are totally winning. It is funny how Jordan Hill goes to a better team and suddenly gets a little playing time and puts up modest numbers in the minutes.

If we had to sign and trade Amare, Jordan Hill, Chase Buddinger, picks and whatever Houston got for TMac is pretty attractive.

 

[hsandhu]

I was thinking about this today, as Gentry won coach of the month. If gentry was coach during 2004 to 2007, i feel pretty good we win a title.

To watch the way gentry has DEVELOPED a bench in comparison to D'Antoni is astounding. Yes mike, you have to be patient when building a bench.

Can you imagine dantoni with dragic and lopez, they'd still be anchored to the bench and he'd be playing 7 guys.

Which as jalen rose pointed out a few days ago ain't exactly great for chemistry when you have 4/5 guys only on the roster to have bodies for practice.

D'antoni gets a pass because he is nice guy off the court, but he is one of the most arrogant/stubborn people in the nba.

A few months ago he called a team meeting in ny.
He read off his resume with the suns to all the players, and told them to get with the program or get out. You would have though he was phil jackson.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I'm not going to forget the draft picks Kerr traded away and certainly I will not give Kerr much credit until the future status of Stoudemire is resolved... either extended or a fair sign and trade.

What you are not doing is differentiating between Sarver edicts to Kerr, and moves Kerr is making. The cost cutting moves are set by Bobby Sarver, not Kerr.

Drafting and trades like Diaw and Bell for Jrich and Dudley are Kerr moves. Thats where Kerr doesnt' get enough credit.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I was thinking about this today, as Gentry won coach of the month. If gentry was coach during 2004 to 2007, i feel pretty good we win a title.

To watch the way gentry has DEVELOPED a bench in comparison to D'Antoni is astounding. Yes mike, you have to be patient when building a bench.

Can you imagine dantoni with dragic and lopez, they'd still be anchored to the bench and he'd be playing 7 guys.

I can't disagree with any of this but I think Mike deserves a little more credit than he is getting. Look at Gentry as a coach pre-Dantoni and look at him now and I think it's clear that he improved in part because of Mike and his system. He never coached with this much talent before but he never had them playing up-tempo either.

Steve

 

[elindholm]

Look at Gentry as a coach pre-Dantoni and look at him now and I think it's clear that he improved in part because of Mike and his system. He never coached with this much talent before but he never had them playing up-tempo either.

That's true. One thing I think Gentry deserves a lot of credit for is modifying his system according to the talent available, which most coaches seem unable or unwilling to do.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Drafting and trades like Diaw and Bell for Jrich and Dudley are Kerr moves. Thats where Kerr doesnt' get enough credit.

Agreed. He is even to me. The drafting and the JRich/Dudley trade make up for the selling of picks, the Shaq trades (to and from) and the KT trade. I realize that some of those deals weren't up to him, so that's why they are weighted differently.

 

[Mulli]

Agreed. He is even to me. The drafting and the JRich/Dudley trade make up for the selling of picks, the Shaq trades (to and from) and the KT trade. I realize that some of those deals weren't up to him, so that's why they are weighted differently.

Makes sense. Even.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Agreed. He is even to me. The drafting and the JRich/Dudley trade make up for the selling of picks, the Shaq trades (to and from) and the KT trade. I realize that some of those deals weren't up to him, so that's why they are weighted differently.

No way. It wil never be "even". Nothing will ever make up for giving up a pair of 1st round picks just so that someone would take an ASSET away from us. I do not believe I have ever seen a move that was so clearly stupid at the time it occurred as that one. Alright, maybe giving up your entire draft for Ricky Williams is worse but not by much.

Still, I think Kerr is doing a reasonable job especially since we'll never know for sure just who pushed the button on that deal.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

Actually KT's contract garnered three first first round draft picks that season. The thing is the Suns paid to move a valuable asset.

 

[SunsTzu]

I think the point being is who do you actually credit the KT trade to. I don't think Kerr or any other GM would trade a player like KT plus 2 firsts for nothing. Just like I don't think you can blame the Nuggets GM when he traded Camby for a 2nd round pick or the Jazz GM trading Ronnie Brewer for nothing.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think the point being is who do you actually credit the KT trade to.

Okay, if not Kerr, then I presume you mean Sarver. However, I don't think Sarver told Kerr not to put any protection on the Suns 2010 first round pick. At least this aspect seems to put Kerr squarely in the drivers seat.

 

[hafey]

At this point isn't the whole no protection on the picks wringing of hands irrelevant? The pick will be in the 20s.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

No way. It wil never be "even". Nothing will ever make up for giving up a pair of 1st round picks just so that someone would take an ASSET away from us. I do not believe I have ever seen a move that was so clearly stupid at the time it occurred as that one. Alright, maybe giving up your entire draft for Ricky Williams is worse but not by much.

Still, I think Kerr is doing a reasonable job especially since we'll never know for sure just who pushed the button on that deal.

I'm sure it was Kerr pushing that deal. He probably marched right into Sarver's office and said "I really want to trade our only front court depth who's a consummate team player and professional along with three draft picks for absolutely nothing!" That was Sarver's move, pure and simple.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'm sure it was Kerr pushing that deal. He probably marched right into Sarver's office and said "I really want to trade our only front court depth who's a consummate team player and professional along with three draft picks for absolutely nothing!" That was Sarver's move, pure and simple.

If I had to guess I'd say Sarver demanded a trade but Kerr crafted it. I don't think he's completely without fault in this. I like Kerr, he's a smart guy and he knows the game. And I'm all for giving him an extension.

Steve

 

[SunsTzu]

Okay, if not Kerr, then I presume you mean Sarver. However, I don't think Sarver told Kerr not to put any protection on the Suns 2010 first round pick. At least this aspect seems to put Kerr squarely in the drivers seat.

The trade went down after all the teams with cap space used it. There was only 1 team in the entire league able to take on KT without sending salary back and that was the Sonics with the massive TPE the got from the Lewis S&T. The Sonics GM is Sam Presti, a guy clearly smart enough to know when he has someone at a disadvantage. Do you know for a fact that Kerr didn't ask for protection and was refused?

Not that it really matters since the Suns record this year will likely be better than it will be for the foreseeable future and thus will be giving a lesser pick.

 

[Mainstreet]

At this point isn't the whole no protection on the picks wringing of hands irrelevant? The pick will be in the 20s.

The point is, not putting any protection on the 2010 pick was a mistake. It could have been very relevant if the Suns had not turned the corner. A good GM would cover the back door with at least some protection.

 

[Mainstreet]

The trade went down after all the teams with cap space used it. There was only 1 team in the entire league able to take on KT without sending salary back and that was the Sonics with the massive TPE the got from the Lewis S&T. The Sonics GM is Sam Presti, a guy clearly smart enough to know when he has someone at a disadvantage. Do you know for a fact that Kerr didn't ask for protection and was refused?

Not that it really matters since the Suns record this year will likely be better than it will be for the foreseeable future and thus will be giving a lesser pick.

I don't expect a good GM to rollover. The Suns could have done a lot worse than keeping KT's expiring contract or trading him for value before the trading deadline. I'm not interested in saving Sarver money at the cost of a very bad trade. Also, where's the first round pick for the All-Star Shaq who was much hyped going to Cleveland. I guess Cleveland's GM was shrewd too. If you are saying Kerr is a yes man for Sarver, then just say it.

 

[SunsTzu]

If you are saying Kerr is a yes man for Sarver, then just say it.

Of course he is. And of course teams are going to play hard ball with the Suns when they know they are the only option for financial relief. Why would Ferry offer a 1st in the Shaq trade when he knew no other team was going to offer anything that saved more money?

 

[elindholm]

Why would Ferry offer a 1st in the Shaq trade when he knew no other team was going to offer anything that saved more money?

Well, as long as we're on the subject, the Suns bungled the Ben Wallace buyout. Before the O'Neal trade was finalized, it was speculated that Wallace would agree to a fairly small buyout, because he didn't want to sully his reputation by money-grubbing when his career was over. But then his price kept going higher and higher, and finally the Suns bought him out for nearly his full salary, realizing only minimal savings. And now, as we know, he has played fine this season, missing only a few games and averaging more than 29 minutes. Furthermore, were he putting up the same numbers on the Suns, he'd be leading the team in rebounds (9.0, compared to Stoudemire's 8.9) and blocks (1.2, compared to Lopez's 1.0). Finally, needless to say, he'd be particularly useful now with Lopez on the shelf.

So if you want to talk about giving away a valuable asset for nothing, Ben Wallace is your case study.

 

[mojorizen7]

I think we should extend Grant Hill for 3 more years.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

No way. It wil never be "even". Nothing will ever make up for giving up a pair of 1st round picks just so that someone would take an ASSET away from us. I do not believe I have ever seen a move that was so clearly stupid at the time it occurred as that one. Alright, maybe giving up your entire draft for Ricky Williams is worse but not by much.

Still, I think Kerr is doing a reasonable job especially since we'll never know for sure just who pushed the button on that deal.

Steve

Colangelo did the exact same thing when he traded Googs, yet people pray for the day he can run the team again.

 

[green machine]

Colangelo did the exact same thing when he traded Googs, yet people pray for the day he can run the team again.

Yep. One of those picks is the Knicks' pick this coming draft. Wouldn't mind if that pick was going to the Suns.