Suns 2024-2025 Season Discussions

[Mainstreet]

IDK, the only way we can get a really good center option is by aggregating salaries. The only way we can doing that is to get under the second apron. Just been noticing the last three guys we obtained have non-guaranteed contracts that get us under the second apron. Sorta lines up as a move they will make. Who knows though? We may just stay in the second apron and struggle more for this next season again.

Or trade KD for many pieces in return. We desperately need defense. Try and get defensive guys with length back? Maybe just having Beal and Booker will be enough firepower on starting offense?

The Suns can get under the 2nd apron without trading Richards. Actually, I hope they extend him. Even if the Suns find a starting center they like better, they will still need backups. Look what the Suns got in return for trading Ayton.

 

[Cheesebeef]

#1 blunder was the Beal trade. #2 the Ayton one. KD trade could be done better with minor twists, like using Saric instead of Crowder and getting Yuta instead of Warren.
We lost to Nugs 2:4 with CP3 sidelined and Booker viciously injured by Green in game 4. If we had Hachimura from a hypothetic trade for Crowder and Yuta who was hot alongside KD that season, we might have had a chance to beat the Nugs. So, the main blunder was the deals in the ensuing offseason, where it was rumored that Mavs was interested in Ayton (+Shamet and 2nds for Irvin s&t). Imagine we had done that and opted out of CP3 contract, we'd then have had the KD/Book/KI big 3, with still the exceptions to sign a C and other pieces, most crucially Camara stil here.

As much as I hate this team, I would actively root against them if that piece of crap Kyrie was on it. Same as I did the second I found out Kidd beat his wife over a damn French fry.

 

[leclerc]

The Suns can get under the 2nd apron without trading Richards. Actually, I hope they extend him. Even if the Suns find a starting center they like better, they will still need backups. Look what the Suns got in return for trading Ayton.

The standard we've had at C the last years has been pretty awful. Keep Richards please, but sign or trade for someone better for the starting position.

 

[Chaplin]

As much as I hate this team, I would actively root against them if that piece of crap Kyrie was on it. Same as I did the second I found out Kidd beat his wife over a damn French fry.

Sad but true. As otherworldy as Kyrie is, he is just a miserable human being.

 

[95pro]

After seeing CP3 and KD jaw at each other the other day, I'm curious if KD made a push for Paul to go. We know KD was part of recruiting Beal, that's been revealed. There's the Phoenix side though that didn't really get any coverage since Monty was fired and we were all celebrating Shamet being gone.

We really didn't give up much for KD in terms of tradeable value. A handful of second round picks and second dibs on swap rights aren't much. Paul being dealt was a key part.though.

I’m thinking this is why Ayton wanted out too. I mean he did want a bigger role within the team but when KD came along that was out the window.

Then when Ayton played with Eric Gordon for the summer, he made a jab that he played with the best teammates ever.

There were two remaining players prior to that summer, KD and Book.

 

[95pro]

As much as I hate this team, I would actively root against them if that piece of crap Kyrie was on it. Same as I did the second I found out Kidd beat his wife over a damn French fry.

I missed what is going on with Kyrie but why this view of him?

 

[Cheesebeef]

I missed what is going on with Kyrie but why this view of him?

Because he’s a raging antisemitic piece of trash.

 

[carrrnuttt]

Because he’s a raging antisemitic piece of trash.

As in a 5-alarm fire in a fireworks warehouse next to a bullet factory kind of raging.

 

[Superbone]

I am almost betting Richards will be gone this off season since the rest of his contract is non guaranteed. Honestly, he hasn't been the answer at center. A couple good games, but no consistency. Hoping maybe Allen or O'Neale can get us a B level Center. I am settling for less than A level at this point.

I think that's what it takes for us to get under the 2nd apron. Have to let Richards, Micic, and Martin loose.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I think that's what it takes for us to get under the 2nd apron. Have to let Richards, Micic, and Martin loose.

With this front office I'm not sure I even want to peak under the 2nd apron, who knows what we'll find.

 

[Hoop Head]

I think that's what it takes for us to get under the 2nd apron. Have to let Richards, Micic, and Martin loose.

I don't mind losing Micic and Martin, no loss there, but Richards is a decent backup. He isn't the answer at C but we won't be able to anyone better than him to be our backup from the pittance available as a 1st apron team.

I fear they do something incredibly stupid though. Waive all 3 and then when they can't find anyone better with the small tax payer exception they announce they're bringing back Bol² long term deal. It'll be spun as if the Suns will trade Bol and Royce or Bol and Grayson for a starting PF but of course we'll be over the apron so we'll need to find a taker who will eat the salary of whichever player isn't in the trade, Royce or Grayson but that will cost us a 1st to do, maybe a pair of 1sts. So we'll lose our backup SG, SF, PF, and C plus a pick just for a slight upgrade at starting PF.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I don't mind losing Micic and Martin, no loss there, but Richards is a decent backup. He isn't the answer at C but we won't be able to anyone better than him to be our backup from the pittance available as a 1st apron team.

I fear they do something incredibly stupid though. Waive all 3 and then when they can't find anyone better with the small tax payer exception they announce they're bringing back Bol² long term deal. It'll be spun as if the Suns will trade Bol and Royce or Bol and Grayson for a starting PF but of course we'll be over the apron so we'll need to find a taker who will eat the salary of whichever player isn't in the trade, Royce or Grayson but that will cost us a 1st to do, maybe a pair of 1sts. So we'll lose our backup SG, SF, PF, and C plus a pick just for a slight upgrade at starting PF.

I agree, he's a pretty good backup center and it's not his fault that we need a true starter at that spot. If we waive him it just adds to our holes.

 

[Superbone]

I agree that he would be a fine backup center. Maybe there are other ways to get under the apron. Just don't look up, Steve.

 

[Hoop Head]

I think Richards is also more of a Vogel type Center than Budenholzer. He's not a shooter, at all. He's strictly an interior/paint big on both sides of the ball. It's weird because Plumlee is also the same sort of player and Richards is definitely better than him but Plumlee seems to be Budenholzer's guy.

I wish we had Frank as a 3rd stringer right now. Saric would make a good option also, even tho he's undersized. Dario plays bigger than Oso on the glass and on defense. Saric isn't seeing the floor in Denver despite signing for 2 years and $10.6 million total. He's on a player option next year but he's only appeared in 14 games so far.

 

[Mainstreet]

I don't mind losing Micic and Martin, no loss there, but Richards is a decent backup. He isn't the answer at C but we won't be able to anyone better than him to be our backup from the pittance available as a 1st apron team.

I fear they do something incredibly stupid though. Waive all 3 and then when they can't find anyone better with the small tax payer exception they announce they're bringing back Bol² long term deal. It'll be spun as if the Suns will trade Bol and Royce or Bol and Grayson for a starting PF but of course we'll be over the apron so we'll need to find a taker who will eat the salary of whichever player isn't in the trade, Royce or Grayson but that will cost us a 1st to do, maybe a pair of 1sts. So we'll lose our backup SG, SF, PF, and C plus a pick just for a slight upgrade at starting PF.

Let's hope James Jones is no longer the Suns GM because this is the type of thinking I fear. The Suns already may have to use a first round draft pick to move another low value contract.

The Suns need both power forwards and centers, as in plural.

Richards is a bargain for $5 million.

 

[Yuma]

But what is perhaps the biggest weakness of this Suns team is how little they set the tone. That has crippled them for three straight contests coming out of the All-Star break, posting 21, 20 and now 26 points in the first quarter. They have no identity, so what are they even trying to establish coming out of the gates anyway? You can win a lot in the NBA by imposing your will. Phoenix loses a lot by doing the opposite. - Kellan Olson

This has been the point I have been trying to get across. We have no identity. We aren't front runners, not runners at all actually. We don't dominate rebounding. Don't win hustle plays. We are more known as soft. We lead in most nights with turn overs and lack of rebounding. Things we should be able to control, or at least be competitive in the rebounding department. There's nothing we are known for. Nothing any other team fears. We need to find an identity so that the front office can find the players that fit that identity, we can get coaches that can coach that, etc. The Suns just stagger around from one thing to another. At least with 7 seconds or less, you knew as another team you were in for a long night on the defensive end. We need that. Right now we are just hodge dodging players around KD and Booker without any theme.

 

[95pro]

This has been the point I have been trying to get across. We have no identity. We aren't front runners, not runners at all actually. We don't dominate rebounding. Don't win hustle plays. We are more known as soft. We lead in most nights with turn overs and lack of rebounding. Things we should be able to control, or at least be competitive in the rebounding department. There's nothing we are known for. Nothing any other team fears. We need to find an identity so that the front office can find the players that fit that identity, we can get coaches that can coach that, etc. The Suns just stagger around from one thing to another. At least with 7 seconds or less, you knew as another team you were in for a long night on the defensive end. We need that. Right now we are just hodge dodging players around KD and Booker without any theme.

KD's style of play is like a pick up game. That is why we are uninteresting and not easy to root for.

 

[BirdGangThing]

if we're going to trade or depart with the majority of this team we shouldn't do it the suns way - we should do it the smart way - meaning let's not alienate or devalue the players - keep everyone in good standings with the club and showcase their talents in these last 20 or so games

let's sell high instead of literally paying teams to screw us - players on a one year contract? sorry but if you're not tradable you're not playable right now - we shouldn't even care about winning games the rest of the way - just get the stats up on all our truly tradable pieces - because whatever this was - it's over

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm wondering if the Suns might not have a similar problem with Kevin Durant, much like the Heat did with Jimmy Butler.

If Phoenix is lucky enough to find a trade partner, they may be looking at getting pennies on the dollar in return.

Durant only has one more season on his contract, so he has a lot of say where he goes. Potential trade partners will not want a player who doesn't want to be there.

 

[leclerc]

Sounds good. If we cannot find takers for our below average players, then keep them or let their contracts expire or trade them as expiring contracts. Do not pay to get rid of players that will not give us a significant upgrade. What the FO thinks of as significant upgrade is obviously veteran players that have a name in the league. That is not what we need. We need young hungry bucks or first round picks.

Better to trade Allen or Royce or whatever positive contracts we have, and take back bad contracts and picks or talents. It will probably make us even worse in the short run, but long term we will be bigger, faster, more athletic, and hopefully get some starter material talent in, like huh, Toumani Camara. Frank the Tank and Saric would be useful for us, because we need size, and they have been quite decent for us before. The players they brought in as replacements have been worse pretty much.

 

[Superbone]

I'm wondering if the Suns might not have a similar problem with Kevin Durant, much like the Heat did with Jimmy Butler.

If Phoenix is lucky enough to find a trade partner, they may be looking at getting pennies on the dollar in return.

Durant only has one more season on his contract, so he has a lot of say where he goes. Potential trade partners will not want a player who doesn't want to be there.

It's a pretty bad situation. We gave up a king's ransom to get KD and we'd be luck to get half of that return back now.

 

[BirdGangThing]

this list contains the nba's top 50 scorers - beal isn't on it - because not only is playing second fiddle hard but playing third fiddle is damn near impossible - nobody needs three fiddles btw - idk wtf ish was thinking but anyway - moving on

bud put beal back in the starting line up - is this merely to increase his trade value? if so that's fine and dandy with me - actually it would quite tickle my fancy but that would entail bud listening to jj and ish - and following their directions after bud already made the call to 6th man bradley freakin beal

or is bud legit thinking beal being a starter is going to change anything? like we've magically learned how to incorporate three fiddle solos into one fight song - come on man - we need to stop fiddling around

we had beal running point last night - he scored - didn't turn it over a ish-ton - but he wasn't dishing dimes - that magical ball movement we stumble upon from time to time isn't gonna happen with beal at the wheel - he's used to wizards basketball with no one to depend on at all - point-beal isn't gonna cut it

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[Ronin]

NBA Official

@NBAOfficial
·
3h


Kevin Durant’s (PHX) technical foul at 1:25 of the 2nd quarter on 2/23/25 (vs. TOR) has been rescinded upon league office review.

 

[Ronin]

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