Summer league 2016

[Chaplin]

Not that it matters, but Alan Williams was named to the All-Summer League First Team and Tyler Ulis the Second Team. Which is... weird.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Well. No more signings coming. Trades unlikely. Summer camp over. We probably all need to take August off.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Not that it matters, but Alan Williams was named to the All-Summer League First Team and Tyler Ulis the Second Team. Which is... weird.

I thought so too at first but after consideration, it makes perfect sense.

Jones was a no-brainer after today's game which moved Ulis to second team. Summer League is even more a guard's game than regular season is so bigs are typically at a disadvantage. Most of the bigs need a guard to help them get their numbers but that's not really Williams strength. He was a man among boys down low and he lived off this advantage, an advantage he won't have in the regular season unfortunately.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Well. No more signings coming. Trades unlikely. Summer camp over. We probably all need to take August off.

I hope you're right. What's your reasoning (or source)? I know I'd figured no trades a few weeks ago when I heard Ryan say that Dudley was likely to be the starter at power forward but then I remembered who I was listening to. That's not the kind of thing he'd feel obligated to be truthful about.

I'm going to be very disappointed if we start the season with Tucker, Dudley and Channing as our front line. I think that would feel a lot like last year. Although I guess it would make some sense if they start that lineup with the idea of taking pressure off the young guys while still playing them major minutes. We'd be developing the kids and earning a lottery pick in what's expected to be a loaded class. But I'm just not sure Sarver has that much patience.

Actually, I'm crossing my fingers that we have a plan and that it doesn't really include Dudley starting at the 4. I'm hoping that Warren really has grown to 6'9 and added enough muscle to play the 4 spot regularly. A starting lineup of Bledsoe, Knight, Booker, Warren and Len would make me happy. As would a lineup of Bledsoe, Booker, Bender/Chriss, Warren and Len. If Warren is all the way healthy when the season begins, he really needs to be a starter at one of the forward spots. Unless we've already given up on him?

 

[leclerc]

Did Warren play for coach Watson? They're not talking a lot about him but he's been injured so long. I doubt Chriss/Bender will start ahead of him this year. Hope he's back 100% without loosing any athletic ability.

I agree Troy and Alan should be invited to camp. Not sure we need Kuric with all the guards. After Bledsoe, Booker, Knight, Barbosa and Ulis there's not even garbage minutes left. All of them can shoot a decent percentage from three and bring the ball up. Off course if you factor in injuries on Bledsoe...

 

[JCSunsfan]

I hope you're right. What's your reasoning (or source)? I know I'd figured no trades a few weeks ago when I heard Ryan say that Dudley was likely to be the starter at power forward but then I remembered who I was listening to. That's not the kind of thing he'd feel obligated to be truthful about.

I'm going to be very disappointed if we start the season with Tucker, Dudley and Channing as our front line. I think that would feel a lot like last year. Although I guess it would make some sense if they start that lineup with the idea of taking pressure off the young guys while still playing them major minutes. We'd be developing the kids and earning a lottery pick in what's expected to be a loaded class. But I'm just not sure Sarver has that much patience.

Actually, I'm crossing my fingers that we have a plan and that it doesn't really include Dudley starting at the 4. I'm hoping that Warren really has grown to 6'9 and added enough muscle to play the 4 spot regularly. A starting lineup of Bledsoe, Knight, Booker, Warren and Len would make me happy. As would a lineup of Bledsoe, Booker, Bender/Chriss, Warren and Len. If Warren is all the way healthy when the season begins, he really needs to be a starter at one of the forward spots. Unless we've already given up on him?

There is no way we have given up on him unless his injury is career threatening. It is odd, we have heard very few details on the exact nature of his injury except that it was his foot, it required surgery and the healing time seems really long.

 

[slinslin]

The Barbosa signing was bit unnecessary.

Now we need to make room for 1 roster spot for Troy Williams.

So either Alan Williams, John Jenkins, PJ Tucker or Archie Goodwin.

Troy Williams has played well enough to get a guaranteed contract right now for someone. Just inviting him to camp won't get it done.

 

[Mainstreet]

Troy Williams has the potential to be a rotation player although obviously there are some Gerald Green like issues with him. Kuric isn't a rotation player IMO more like a Dionte Christmas. I just think he makes more sense than continuing to waste time with Goodwin. I think we've burned our bridges there even if he does finally learn the game and he's clearly unhappy so why keep him around?

The way I'm looking at it, the Suns have accumulated depth at the SG and SF position in anticipation of making a trade. Having players on the roster like John Jenkins, Kyle Kuric and Troy Williams makes a trade possible. The addition of Barbosa is another layer of depth.

I agree, Archie Goodwin seems out of the picture at the moment but so may TJ Warren. There is nothing but silence regarding Warren. Also it was not long ago there was talk of trading Knight. I think the Suns are working on a trade to relieve the overload of smaller players on the roster but I'm not sure when it happens.

 

[slinslin]

There is no silence regarding Warren, he is simply rehabbing.

As for Goodwin being unhappy, where is the proof of that?

 

[JCSunsfan]

There is no silence regarding Warren, he is simply rehabbing.

As for Goodwin being unhappy, where is the proof of that?

He has expressed some unhappiness in the past, all these guards can't be comforting to him. I guess its just a logical conclusion, but you are right, there is no proof of that.

 

[leclerc]

Goodwin did not visit Bledsoe with the other guys and he did not show himself in Vegas. Neither did Warren though. Or Len?

 

[slinslin]

Warren was at summer league.

Archie Goodwin was at his moms home the last weeks and watching summer league from home. He commented on the games in his snapchat.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Warren was at summer league.

Archie Goodwin was at his moms home the last weeks and watching summer league from home. He commented on the games in his snapchat.

What did he say?

 

[slinslin]

What did he say?

That he likes Ulis and that he thinks Ingram will be the best player of this draft among other things.

 

[sunsfan88]

I hope you're right. What's your reasoning (or source)? I know I'd figured no trades a few weeks ago when I heard Ryan say that Dudley was likely to be the starter at power forward but then I remembered who I was listening to. That's not the kind of thing he'd feel obligated to be truthful about.

I'm going to be very disappointed if we start the season with Tucker, Dudley and Channing as our front line. I think that would feel a lot like last year. Although I guess it would make some sense if they start that lineup with the idea of taking pressure off the young guys while still playing them major minutes. We'd be developing the kids and earning a lottery pick in what's expected to be a loaded class. But I'm just not sure Sarver has that much patience.

I hope you meant Chandler because this immediately made me wonder if did something to acquire Frye back

And yea I'm hoping that Warren can start at SF and that Tucker can get moved to PF. With his lack of shooting and his physicality, PF is the better position for Tucker even if he be overmatched size on a daily basis. It probably is a good idea to not start Bender or Chriss right away since they both look unready for the NBA much less a starting role.

If Len can quit fouling and stay healthy (something that we've all been saying for the past 3 years) then hopefully he can take over the starting job from Chandler.

Ideally I hope this is our lineup by all star break

PG Bledsoe (or Ulis once Bledsoe suffers his annual injury)
SG Booker
SF Warren
PF Tucker
C Len

 

[AzStevenCal]

I hope you meant Chandler because this immediately made me wonder if did something to acquire Frye back

And yea I'm hoping that Warren can start at SF and that Tucker can get moved to PF. With his lack of shooting and his physicality, PF is the better position for Tucker even if he be overmatched size on a daily basis. It probably is a good idea to not start Bender or Chriss right away since they both look unready for the NBA much less a starting role.

If Len can quit fouling and stay healthy (something that we've all been saying for the past 3 years) then hopefully he can take over the starting job from Chandler.

Ideally I hope this is our lineup by all star break

PG Bledsoe (or Ulis once Bledsoe suffers his annual injury)
SG Booker
SF Warren
PF Tucker
C Len

Hah. Yeah, definitely meant Chandler not Channing. But with the reports that Warren has grown to 6'9 and added muscle, I'd like to give him a try at PF first. And it looks quite possible that Booker will be moving to the SF spot so it works nicely. A lineup of Bledsoe, Knight, Booker,Warren and Len could be pretty entertaining, at one end of the court. But pretty scary at the other end.

 

[leclerc]

Not enough ball movement with Bledsoe and Knight at the guard positions. Add a dose of Ulis. Make Eric and Knight into shooters instead of kamikaze pilots.

Really looking forward to the season. So many exciting youngsters and likable veterans. Don't know if we'll be battling for a playoff spot or bottoming out.

Just flip Tucker and Knight, possibly Chandler, for something (high first round pick?) and don't sign Price. This is not a must but if the price is right or they're not satisfied with their role.

 

[sunsfan88]

Hah. Yeah, definitely meant Chandler not Channing. But with the reports that Warren has grown to 6'9 and added muscle, I'd like to give him a try at PF first. And it looks quite possible that Booker will be moving to the SF spot so it works nicely. A lineup of Bledsoe, Knight, Booker,Warren and Len could be pretty entertaining, at one end of the court. But pretty scary at the other end.

I hope this isn't the case. Booker isn't a SF, he's a SG through and through.

I wish the Suns would try and use size to their advantage for once. The Warriors didn't put Klay at SF just because he's tall enough for it. Neither did the Lakers with Kobe or the Hawks with Joe Johnson etc.

I can see playing SF and taking the pounding from that position having a negative impact on Booker's development. And besides, Bledsoe, Knight and Booker all on the court at the same will not be all that great even offensively since their all so ball dominant. Bring Knight's ass off the bench. If he won't do it, then suspend him.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I hope this isn't the case. Booker isn't a SF, he's a SG through and through.

I wish the Suns would try and use size to their advantage for once. The Warriors didn't put Klay at SF just because he's tall enough for it. Neither did the Lakers with Kobe or the Hawks with Joe Johnson etc.

I can see playing SF and taking the pounding from that position having a negative impact on Booker's development. And besides, Bledsoe, Knight and Booker all on the court at the same will not be all that great even offensively since their all so ball dominant. Bring Knight's ass off the bench. If he won't do it, then suspend him.

I don't think there's any doubt that if Joe Johnson were a young man he'd be full time small forward in today's game. Other than perhaps point guard, basketball positions are pretty much defined (or labeled) by who you can defend.

Booker is still growing and he's simply a larger man than he was just 6 months ago. Watching him, he looks like a small forward. And there really isn't all that much more pounding at small forward in today's game. But it sounds like Booker wants to be the one doing that pounding as he's been working hard at his post-up game. I suspect at his size and build, he'll be defended often by small forwards anyway.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I don't think there's any doubt that if Joe Johnson were a young man he'd be full time small forward in today's game. Other than perhaps point guard, basketball positions are pretty much defined (or labeled) by who you can defend.

Booker is still growing and he's simply a larger man than he was just 6 months ago. Watching him, he looks like a small forward. And there really isn't all that much more pounding at small forward in today's game. But it sounds like Booker wants to be the one doing that pounding as he's been working hard at his post-up game. I suspect at his size and build, he'll be defended often by small forwards anyway.

It is right. It doesn't matter what the Suns call him. He going to be guarded by the other team's best wing defender anyway.

Plus, they can run zones now. I think a zone D might fit the Suns present personnel best anyway.

 

[Carolinacacti]

I beleave we will see a ton of lineups and I can already hear this board crying like the sky is falling. ulis and Bledsoe, one has to be on the court.

 

[sunsfan88]

I don't think there's any doubt that if Joe Johnson were a young man he'd be full time small forward in today's game. Other than perhaps point guard, basketball positions are pretty much defined (or labeled) by who you can defend.

Booker is still growing and he's simply a larger man than he was just 6 months ago. Watching him, he looks like a small forward. And there really isn't all that much more pounding at small forward in today's game. But it sounds like Booker wants to be the one doing that pounding as he's been working hard at his post-up game. I suspect at his size and build, he'll be defended often by small forwards anyway.

Booker didn't look to me any taller than 6'6 despite some saying he's grown to 6'7 or 6'8 now.

Also if defense is how a player's position is labeled then Booker should probably remain at SG because he couldn't defend any SGs so I don't know why anyone would think that he'd be better against SFs.

Just because he's working on a post game doesn't mean he should switch to SF. Klay Thompson has a post game that he uses to his advantage when being defended by shorter SGs so why can't the Suns do the same with Booker?

Suns need to ask Steve Kerr how he utilizes Klay and they need to follow that exact blue print. And that blue print never included anything about using Klay as SF so it shouldn't with Booker. Booker has a chance to maybe even be better than Klay someday.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Booker didn't look to me any taller than 6'6 despite some saying he's grown to 6'7 or 6'8 now.

Also if defense is how a player's position is labeled then Booker should probably remain at SG because he couldn't defend any SGs so I don't know why anyone would think that he'd be better against SFs.

Just because he's working on a post game doesn't mean he should switch to SF. Klay Thompson has a post game that he uses to his advantage when being defended by shorter SGs so why can't the Suns do the same with Booker?

Suns need to ask Steve Kerr how he utilizes Klay and they need to follow that exact blue print. And that blue print never included anything about using Klay as SF so it shouldn't with Booker. Booker has a chance to maybe even be better than Klay someday.

Uhhh, no they don't. I can't for the life of me think of a reason to do that. They aren't the same players, we aren't the same teams, we don't run the same system and we don't have the same surrounding pieces.

 

[devilalum]

3/4 of the roster can now play 2 or 3 positions. Hopefully Watson will put the 5 players on the court that give the team the best chance to compete.

from phone

 

[sunsfan88]

Uhhh, no they don't. I can't for the life of me think of a reason to do that. They aren't the same players, we aren't the same teams, we don't run the same system and we don't have the same surrounding pieces.

It's about using Booker's height to his advantage vs other SGs just like Klay uses his height vs other SGs. You put Booker or Klay at SF and that height advantage is gone.

Funny to hear you say they aren't the same players, most NBA scouts, insiders and people in the media have compared Booker's game most similar to Klay Thompson.