Strawberry Situation In Question

[Irish]

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2008/08/20/20080820spt-sunsnb.html

Free throws

Guard D.J. Strawberry is the only Suns roster member whose status is in flux for the coming season. His agent, Duffy, said he would not discourage Strawberry from getting a chance to go elsewhere. The Suns have until Oct. 31 to exercise his option for a $711,517 salary, $200,000 of which is guaranteed once he makes the opening night roster. Without him, the Suns would need to sign a 13th player.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2008/08/21/20080821spt-p2main.html

although Strawberry disappeared at about the time the chances of the Suns picking up his contract option became more questionable.

It's not clear what is going on, but the addition of Dragic seems to have put Strawberry's status into question. Uninspired play at Las Vegas may be part of the problem, but I have to wonder if Kerr is looking for someone who could fill the third PG slot better than Strawberry. Another possibility is that they are looking for a three point specialist.

Given a choice, I'd like to see the team keep Strawberry and help him develop. I looked at Bruce Bowen's history and he didn't do much for several years until he found his outside shot. But the Suns may not have that luxury.

My read on it is that nothing will be decided until the end of training camp and the Suns have a chance to watch the waiver wire. None the less, this suggests that this roster is not quite as set as we've been thinking.

 

[mojorizen7]

Another possibility is that they are looking for a three point specialist.

The SUNS ought to bring Reggie Miller out of retirement
I'll bet he can still nail the 3 ball......that is,as long as he's got a hand in his face.

 

[elindholm]

What are the Allan Houston updates?

 

[Roca Dolla]

that sucks big time

 

[Mainstreet]

I think the Suns are hoping a player gets waived that can play the 1 or the 2 position that can shoot reasonably well. In an idea world he could play both the 1 and the 2 position. Is there a poor man's John Salmons type player out there... or a PG that can shoot reasonably well that might get released?

 

[nowagimp]

If the suns arent going to sign DJ, its looks like Kerr Porter and DA were all on the same page on that one.

 

[fordronken]

I have a feeling they're just waiting as long as they can to guarantee his contract in case somebody surprising shakes loose who'd be willing to play for the minimum.

 

[BC867]

I've liked DJ Strawberry and his potential from the time we drafted him.

But our need this year is for either a legitimate 3rd Point Guard (leaving two PG's when Steve Nash gets time off) or, at worst, a 3-point shooter to come off the bench.

 

[Irish]

I'm curious about whether had has any market value. I know that seems odd, but in n era when Devon George gets signed for his defense, that is not out of the question.

A few weeks ago I brought up Chirs Quinn. Someone pointed out that Shaq made an inslting remark about him, but Shaq's back in town so Kerr has an opportunity to ask him now.

Quinn is a restricted free agent, so it might take trading Strawberry and future 2nd to get him. In any case, Quinn started 25 games last season and his stats were:

22.3 minutes, 7.8 ppg, 3.0 apg, 42.4% shooting 40.3% for three (64 of 159) only 0.93 turnovers per game (3.2 to 1 assist to turnover ratio). Why haven't the Heat re-signed him? Other than the fact that already have 13 guys under contract and that they want to focus on developing Chalmers (a very good shooter in college); I don't know.

 

[KloD]

As harsh as this is for Strawberry, it's the right thing for Kerr to do. No reason to give away that spot when someone better may come along.

 

[Irish]

As harsh as this is for Strawberry, it's the right thing for Kerr to do. No reason to give away that spot when someone better may come along.

In our long, long, long debae over whether the Suns met their goals, what wasn't mentioned was that Brent Barry was on their original wish list. He got snapped up by the Rockets. It was like they just dropped the idea of getting a pure shooter who could do more than shoot. Barnes is a more complete player, but not the shooter that BB is.

I decided to check on the status of Kareem Rush, but he's already signed with the Sixers. I can't think of anyone who might be available, but that may change.

 

[arwillan]

i think we should look for a small forward who can hit the 3. hill isn't very good from deep, and barnes is hardly average himself.

 

[HooverDam]

I think as long as they keep trying to turn DJ into a PG they'll have problems. DJ just doesn't seem to have the passing, ball handling or decision making skills to be an NBA level PG. I've said it before, but I think he can develop along the lines of a Bruce Bowen/Raja Bell type once he learns an outside shot, I wish they'd push him more that direction, it seems a more natural fit with the skills he does possess.

 

[arwillan]

I think as long as they keep trying to turn DJ into a PG they'll have problems. DJ just doesn't seem to have the passing, ball handling or decision making skills to be an NBA level PG. I've said it before, but I think he can develop along the lines of a Bruce Bowen/Raja Bell type once he learns an outside shot, I wish they'd push him more that direction, it seems a more natural fit with the skills he does possess.

almost all of the scouting reports say that he's terrific at getting into the lanes and finishing, so i think he could be even better than bell/bowen with a shot. maybe like a pietrus with good scoring ability.

 

[HooverDam]

almost all of the scouting reports say that he's terrific at getting into the lanes and finishing, so i think he could be even better than bell/bowen with a shot. maybe like a pietrus with good scoring ability.

Yah we haven't seen a lot of that so far. It seems like a lot of the time he'll lose the handle when driving to the lane. I think in college he was probably a lot stronger than a lot of his opponents and could out muscle them and get into the lane. But if he can do that at the NBA level, he'd be a great role player.

 

[shazaam6]

Man, Sarver is pinching pennies again. DJ only makes about 750k a year. If someone good is released we can sign him too.

Dragic and DJ in the backcourt would be a good defensive combo to press opponent's backcourt. Bell is getting old and our young quick guards could come in and cause havoc in spurts while Nash and Bell rest.

3 point shooting isn't everything. I want DJ on this team. His defense makes us stronger.

 

[Irish]

Last summer DJ led the summer league in assists. I don't know what happened this year, but his numbers fell a lot and he still can't seem to shoot.

I wouldn't be unhappy if they kept him, but I think getting another shooter would be a good move. This may be an overreaction by DJ and his agent, but it "feels" like there is more to it.

 

[AceP]

We need depth and development of young players, but even the deepest team seldom go beyond 11 or 12 men. If DJ can't get much playing time, how can he develop? Should we keep him just to play in NBDL?

DJ is the last and #13 in this roster, and out of a position. Dragic is the first backup PG. Kerr said if Dragic not doing very well, Barbosa is next. Barbosa(PG) + Hill(SG) + Diaw(SF), that's quite an acceptable plan, better than anything with DJ.

Our backcourt is really crowded. Especially, if Diaw plays majority of his minutes at SF, which will move Hill to play at SG. Don't forget, Diaw and Barbosa both will average more than 25mpg.

I'm not saying Amundson and Tucker r better than DJ. Just they got guaranteed contract, and Amundson plays at the position we r still thin. DJ is so vulnerable ...

 

[HooverDam]

We need depth and development of young players, but even the deepest team seldom go beyond 11 or 12 men. If DJ can't get much playing time, how can he develop? Should we keep him just to play in NBDL?

DJ is the last and #13 in this roster, and out of a position. Dragic is the first backup PG. Kerr said if Dragic not doing very well, Barbosa is next. Barbosa(PG) + Hill(SG) + Diaw(SF), that's quite an acceptable plan, better than anything with DJ.

Our backcourt is really crowded. Especially, if Diaw plays majority of his minutes at SF, which will move Hill to play at SG. Don't forget, Diaw and Barbosa both will average more than 25mpg.

I'm not saying Amundson and Tucker r better than DJ. Just they got guaranteed contract, and Amundson plays at the position we r still thin. DJ is so vulnerable ...

Huh? Boris Diaw will see limited minutes at best at SF, the Suns have Hill and Barnes there, plus Bell can slide over and play some SF. The Suns are thin up front, so Diaw will mostly be used at the 4. And to suggest that Grant Hill will be seeing time at the 2 seems crazy to me. What about Grant Hill says "shooting guard", he's a small forward if ever there was one.

The back court is somewhat crowded, but I don't see why DJ couldn't be the 3rd guard at both slots. I'd rather have him getting minutes than Amundson who's done nothing his whole career and Alando who I have little to no faith in.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Man, Sarver is pinching pennies again. DJ only makes about 750k a year. If someone good is released we can sign him too.

Dragic and DJ in the backcourt would be a good defensive combo to press opponent's backcourt. Bell is getting old and our young quick guards could come in and cause havoc in spurts while Nash and Bell rest.

3 point shooting isn't everything. I want DJ on this team. His defense makes us stronger.

I've done my share of complaining about penny pinching on Sarvers part, but it doesn't make sense here. He has to fill that roster spot anyway. It looks to me like either they want to allow DJ to go someplace where he has a chance, or they want a different type of player (maybe a shooter?) to fill that spot. I could see a Brent Barry type, who could play the point in a pinch and can shoot.

 

[mojorizen7]

I'm not going to sweat it if DJ's released.
I'm also in agreement with those that feel that the SUNS will look to add another guard that has 3 pt capabilities. Who? I haven't a clue.
Bring in Reggie out of retirement......he needs a ring too.

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[shazaam6]

I just want Bell to have a backup defender-type so he doesn't have to always play heavy minutes.

 

[mojorizen7]

I just want Bell to have a backup defender-type so he doesn't have to always play heavy minutes.

Barnes will get minutes on the opponents best offensive player. I don't forsee Bell getting overworked as he has been. His ankle's and back can't take another year of D'Umbtoni minutes IMO.

 

[Irish]

Just a thought, if the Suns are going to carry a guy based on what he might do someday, then maybe Livingston makes sense after all.

http://lakers.freedomblogging.com/2008/08/22/the-work-is-paying-off/

The work is paying off

August 22nd, 2008, 11:47 am ·

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The 18 months of long, arduous and often painful rehabilitation work that guard Shaun Livingston has put in, seems to be paying off.
Not only is the Clippers’ former first-round draft pick playing regularly in full-court, five-on-five pickup games at noted personal trainer Tim Grover’s Attack Athletics private facility in Chicago but Grover said hardly a day goes by when the 22-year old Livingston is not on the premises.
“He’s here five to six days a week, working out,” Grover said via telephone Friday morning. “I won’t go into any detail regarding what he’s doing but I’ll say this, by the first day of training camp, he’ll be ready.”
Not withstanding the severity of the injury that Livingston suffered to his left knee Feb. 26, 2007, the extensive surgery that renowned Alabama-based orthopedic surgeon James Andrews had to perform and the long recovery that Livingston has had to withstand, Grover said it should not surprise anyone that Livingston has made it back.

In addition to the strength-training program that Grover has him on, Livingston is getting his fill of basketball, playing in high-level games with approximately 20-25 other NBA players, including former Clipper swingmen Corey Maggette and Quentin Richardson.

The next order of business is for Livingston to find a team. He became an unrestricted free agent last month, when the Clippers renounced their rights to him. Prior to that, the Clippers declined to extend Livingston a qualifying offer of at least $5.8 million.

It is almost certain that Livingston won’t return to the Clippers, who have three veteran point guards on their roster - Baron Davis, Jason Hart and Jason Williams.

A possible destination could be the Miami Heat, which had shakey point guard play last season and have not solidified that position yet this summer.

And what about the Lakers, who don’t have anyone on their roster with the court vision and floor generalship abilities possessed by Livingston?
Livingston’ agent, Henry Thomas, is attending the Beijing Olympics at the moment but he is sure to have dialogue going on with a number of NBA general managers upon his return.

 

[HooverDam]

Just a thought, if the Suns are going to carry a guy based on what he might do someday, then maybe Livingston makes sense after all.

I'd LOVE to have Livingston, but it sounds like the Suns won't carry more than the minimum, and if they're going to let DJ go to bring in someone else, its certainly not going to be a guy that won't play this year.