Suns 2013 Free Agency

[SweetD]

I don't see the Suns going after a PG, SF or C unless there is a trade.

Targets?
Smith - PF $$$ (Spurs)
Blatche - PF $$ (Boston)
Iguodala - SF/SG $$ (Denver)
Mayo - SG $$$ (Boston - if Rondo is traded to Mavs)
Millsap - PF $$ (Suns or Spurs)
Evans - SG $$ (Suns or Mavs)

 

[Mainstreet]

If the Suns draft selections mean anything in regard to age, they want young talent that will grow with the team.

 

[overseascardfan]

I don't think PHX goes after any big name FA's. For one, they don't have a lot of cap room unless they are dealing Gortat. Two, I think they are trying to get in the Wiggins / Parker sweepstakes and bringing in mediocre FA's will jeopardize that plan. I could see them possibly going after Tyreke Evans but isn't his biggest flaw that he can't shoot either?

 

[Phrazbit]

I dont think we will target any of those guys. And I sure as hell hope we dont go after Ellis or Evans. I would go from being excited about the McD era to being absolutely terrified in a heartbeat.

McD said he didnt see the Suns making any big signings this year unless they had an opportunity for something too good to pass up, none of those dudes fit the bill.

 

[elindholm]

How about J. J. Hickson?

 

[ASUCHRIS]

How about J. J. Hickson?

At 4 mil, and 3 years or less, I'd think about it. Otherwise, I'd pass.

My goal would be to get rid of Gortat, maybe take on a bad contract or two that expires in the next 2 years, get more picks, and get rid of all of our bad contracts while trying to develop young talent.

 

[Phrazbit]

JJ Hickson intrigues. If we get him at a decent price I'd bite. Portland has gotta keep him though, they'd be a good team if not for having no depth.

 

[elindholm]

At 4 mil, and 3 years or less, I'd think about it. Otherwise, I'd pass.

My goal would be to get rid of Gortat, maybe take on a bad contract or two that expires in the next 2 years, get more picks, and get rid of all of our bad contracts while trying to develop young talent.

Why swap the Suns' current short-term bad contracts for different ones?

The only players signed for more than one more year are Dragic, Frye, Beasley, Scola, and Dudley. Beasley has a buyout and Scola will very likely be traded. Frye may get a medical waiver. So that's potentially just Dragic and Dudley on the books in 2014-15.

The Suns need to make decisions on the Morrises and Marshall. The decision to pick up those players' next years has to be made in late October, if I remember correctly. Probably all will be picked up, but even so, that carries them only through 2014-15.

If the Suns want to purge their roster for summer 2015, they don't have to do anything. It will purge itself. Actually they will already have a ton of space even next summer, unless they blow it on a high-priced FA or trade acquisition before then.

The Suns should absolutely not make any sacrifices in the name of clearing cap space. They have all the cap space they need; what they need is a good reason to spend it.

 

[elindholm]

JJ Hickson intrigues. If we get him at a decent price I'd bite. Portland has gotta keep him though

That's what I'd think too, but I keep reading that they don't like him.

 

[JS22]

I've always liked Millsap. Wonder what he'll command, though.

 

[elindholm]

RFAs

I'm looking at restricted free agents whose teams might hesitate to keep them if the Suns signed the player to a strong offer sheet. Here are some possibilities:

Rodrigue Beaubois (Dallas)
Tyler Hansbrough (Indiana)

... and those were the only two I came up with. Never mind, this turned out not to be interesting.

Wow, what a dismally weak FA class.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

I've always liked Millsap. Wonder what he'll command, though.

Probably more than he deserves, as with more FA's. Don't think I'd give him more than 7 mil per.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Why swap the Suns' current short-term bad contracts for different ones?

I'm not suggesting that. I'm proposing that it may not be a bad idea to pick up a bad contract or two (again, ones that expire in the next 2 years) to acquire an extra pick. If not, then I wouldn't add anyone.

So that's potentially just Dragic and Dudley on the books in 2014-15.

The only two players you can build around on the roster, good news. After you see what you have with guys like Len/Goodwin, maybe a guy like Johnson turns into an NBA rotation player.

The Suns need to make decisions on the Morrises and Marshall. The decision to pick up those players' next years has to be made in late October, if I remember correctly. Probably all will be picked up, but even so, that carries them only through 2014-15.

Probably, although there is very little that the brothers Morris or Marshall have shown that make me think they're top 8 rotation players in the NBA. The drafting of Goodwin and the team statements that they expect him to be a PG don't bode well for the future of our 2012 lottery pick.

Actually they will already have a ton of space even next summer, unless they blow it on a high-priced FA or trade acquisition before then.

My biggest fear, I cringe anytime I hear us connected to a high price FA. Overpaying mediocre talent is the biggest way to stay irrelevant in the NBA. Hopefully the team has learned that after 2 dreadful years.

 

[Folster]

I looked up Celtic trade deadline rumors from last season and Tyreke Evans and Josh Smith were rumored targets at the time. It'll be interesting to see if we pursue either one of them since they are both free agents.

 

[elindholm]

I looked up Celtic trade deadline rumors from last season and Tyreke Evans and Josh Smith were rumored targets at the time. It'll be interesting to see if we pursue either one of them since they are both free agents.

It seems that Josh Smith has been a rumored Suns target forever, way back to when they were allegedly offering Marion for him. I wouldn't throw a fit if they went after him. But Evans can't stay healthy and his numbers have gotten worse since his rookie year. He's a mistake someone else should make.

 

[sunsfan88]

I'm gonna be pissed if we sign either Josh Smith or Evans. Their both gonna cost a lot and are role players at best.

Hell, we have Goodwin whose game projects to be very similar to Evans.

 

[Superbone]

It seems that Josh Smith has been a rumored Suns target forever, way back to when they were allegedly offering Marion for him. I wouldn't throw a fit if they went after him. But Evans can't stay healthy and his numbers have gotten worse since his rookie year. He's a mistake someone else should make.

It's too late. We don't need Smith anymore. Let's just stick to young prospects that can grow together. Stink it up and get a high lottery pick next year and then we can start thinking about adding key free agents.

 

[Griffin]

Marreese Speights is available.

But the Suns should only go after those players that their scouts deem as undervalued, with potential to blossom if given the opportunity. I don't mind signing someone buried on some bench somewhere for a reasonable price if the scouting reports say he should do better in the right situation.

That means you don't do what they did last year.

Btw, should Frye be expected to miss the whole season again, his salary would come off the books, giving the Suns much more cap space to (mis)use.

 

[Mainstreet]

Marreese Speights is available.

But the Suns should only go after those players that their scouts deem as undervalued, with potential to blossom if given the opportunity. I don't mind signing someone buried on some bench somewhere for a reasonable price if the scouting reports say he should do better in the right situation.

That means you don't do what they did last year.

Btw, should Frye be expected to miss the whole season again, his salary would come off the books, giving the Suns much more cap space to (mis)use.

I liked Speights after he was drafted but sort of lost track of him. He will only turn 26 in August.

 

[elindholm]

Speights has bounced around a lot already, in spite of putting up decent numbers when he gets minutes. His foul rate is quite high, so maybe he's poor defensively.

 

[PhxGametime]

I have a feeling Suns will go after Austin Daye on cheaper deal - the Suns could then have Morris twins, Frye, Beasley, and Daye as stretch 4's. Who knows if Frye is cleared or if Beasley comes back but the Suns seem to love having 4's that can shoot 3-pointers. Heh

It'll also be interesting to find out Gortat's asking price for extension - if Favors can play sparingly for 3 years and Teams like the Nuggets having three 7-footers, it could work having 2 Centers. It'd have-to be reasonable price and maybe have Team Option on 4th year - Gortat and Dragic are my 2 favorite players though so maybe I'm not being realistic.

Gortat and Dragic, with Len and Goodwin (as rookies) could be a strong PG/C combination. Malcolm Lee as 3rd string PG/combo guard and Frye/Oriakhi as 3rd string center/PF. Suns could have Picks, Dudley, Scola, Marshall, Morris twins, Beasley, Brown, etc. as cheap role players that can be packaged in a deal(s) with Teams looking for depth.

 

[Phrazbit]

Smith, Evans, Ellis... I would not sweat the Suns signing these guys. Even if we wanted to the team does not have the cap space to sign a big contract, and all indications are the team is not looking to make a big splash this year.

 

[overseascardfan]

According to this morning's AZ Republic, McDonough said PHX will not be going after any big name FA's (Howard, Josh Smith) but will focus on the FA's left after the first big wave of signings.

I say forget FA all together, they got 15 guys on the roster after the draft, go with that and sell guys off at the deadline to get picks for 2014 if they can if not then let those contracts expire and make a big splash in FA next year. Question, does PHX get a 1st rounder from LA in the 2014 draft or the 2015 draft? According to NBA Draft Net PHX only has 1 pick in the 1st Round next year.

 

[carey]

Question, does PHX get a 1st rounder from LA in the 2014 draft or the 2015 draft? According to NBA Draft Net PHX only has 1 pick in the 1st Round next year.

L.A. pick is 2015. The only way we'll get a 2nd 1st rounder next year is if Minnesota makes the playoffs. Or of course if we acquire another in a trade.

 

[binkar]

I think Chase Budinger and Al-Farouq Aminu are some other young, relatively inexpensive possibilities. Aminu's weakness is his shot, which is a common theme with our wings, but he does bring athleticism, defense, and youth. Budinger is still relatively young and brings another shooter with some athleticism from the wing.

Will be interesting to see how much these two cost.