Suns 2024-2025 Season Discussions

[Mainstreet]

Please let the Suns hire a top GM to make these decisions. I'm hoping Mat Ishbia has someone lined up.

 

[BirdGangThing]

I really hope it’s the Spurs and for picks starting in 2027 or later once KD is done. Why? The blood clot issue could wipe out Wemby’s career and that could make those picks gold, especially if we were smart and able to deal Book to Houston to get a couple of our own picks back.

lol damn cheese that's dark af yo

 

[Cheesebeef]

lol damn cheese that's dark af yo

I know… just seeing who gives us the best shot to rebuild. Plain truth is harsh, but if our GM ain’t thinking that way, I’m gonna be disappointed.

 

[BirdGangThing]

I know… just seeing who gives us the best shot to rebuild. Plain truth is harsh, but if our GM ain’t thinking that way, I’m gonna be disappointed.

we definitely want to be in the lottery - gonna be tricky

 

[95pro]

we definitely want to be in the lottery - gonna be tricky

*going to

 

[Superbone]

*going to

Tell that to Siri!

 

[95pro]

*going to

Correction

*finna

I never will understand this

 

[leclerc]

I am fully in the trade Booker boat. Off course trade KD as well. Might be difficult to trade Beal, so do not give away players or picks of value to offload him. No negative trades. Get what we can for Booker and KD. If either one is here next year I am feeling like not picking up League Pass.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I am fully in the trade Booker boat. Off course trade KD as well. Might be difficult to trade Beal, so do not give away players or picks of value to offload him. No negative trades. Get what we can for Booker and KD. If either one is here next year I am feeling like not picking up League Pass.

It seems like every year I think this is the one where I finally skip paying for Suns games - but I still take that bite despite the horrible aftertaste.

 

[Hoop Head]

I am fully in the trade Booker boat. Off course trade KD as well. Might be difficult to trade Beal, so do not give away players or picks of value to offload him. No negative trades. Get what we can for Booker and KD. If either one is here next year I am feeling like not picking up League Pass.

I would be ok trading Booker if it makes sense. First KD has to go. After seeing what sort of return he brings back is when I'll know more where to lean on the Booker side. I think trading Booker first is dangerous as it could cause KD to torch his value publicly by demanding a trade to a specific team, ala Jimmy Butler/Miami. If we could somehow turn Durant into a strong PF though, I might be on board with an overhaul.

For example, say the Mavericks offered up AD for Durant, since KD and Irving are buddies. Klay is also there. So Durant has people he likes there. I'd be fine doing that and seeing what happens. As much as AD is ridiculed for his fragility, he has played in just 4 fewer games than KD over the last 3 seasons. AD has 6 more playoff games during that time, evening it out. Davis just turned 32 in March. A lineup of Gillepsie, Book, Dunn, AD, Oso is interesting. Title contender? No. However it's a Beal trade from being able to build itself up as a darkhorse.

Now I used AD as an example. There are PF's who we might be capable of acquiring. Say Indiana wants to swap KD for Siakam and extras. It's intriguing. Maybe it doesn't work for us but we're saddled with Beal regardless. That buys us time also to build Booker's value back up.

 

[SirStefan32]

Yeah, I am not trading Booker. Instead, I am trying to find him a new CP3. I don't think they can find a taker for Beal, so the Suns are likely stuck with him. KD can go. Every single player I'm acquiring now is a long, athletic defender. Next year or two will be ugly because they can't do much while stuck with Beal, but I am still not trading Booker. He's stuck with the Suns when they were awful, and unless he wants to be traded, I am keeping him. He's earned it.

 

[BirdGangThing]

Yeah, I am not trading Booker. Instead, I am trying to find him a new CP3. I don't think they can find a taker for Beal, so the Suns are likely stuck with him. KD can go. Every single player I'm acquiring now is a long, athletic defender. Next year or two will be ugly because they can't do much while stuck with Beal, but I am still not trading Booker. He's stuck with the Suns when they were awful, and unless he wants to be traded, I am keeping him. He's earned it.

if you get a new cp3 you need a new ayton - their pick and roll prevented the double teams on booker and prevented teams from defending the 3

 

[Suns_fan69]

if you get a new cp3 you need a new ayton - their pick and roll prevented the double teams on booker and prevented teams from defending the 3

I think with time Oso could be a reasonable facsimile. He'll never be a pick and pop threat and his finishing at the rim is worse than DA's currently, but his short roll decision making is better and he gives better effort overall.

 

[elindholm]

if you get a new cp3 you need a new ayton - their pick and roll prevented the double teams on booker and prevented teams from defending the 3

The old Ayton is probably available. Just saying.

 

[Mainstreet]

Yeah, I am not trading Booker. Instead, I am trying to find him a new CP3. I don't think they can find a taker for Beal, so the Suns are likely stuck with him. KD can go. Every single player I'm acquiring now is a long, athletic defender. Next year or two will be ugly because they can't do much while stuck with Beal, but I am still not trading Booker. He's stuck with the Suns when they were awful, and unless he wants to be traded, I am keeping him. He's earned it.

That's where the Suns were in 2023 before the GM and ownership decided to push all their assets to the middle of the table on a needless gamble.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Yeah, I am not trading Booker. Instead, I am trying to find him a new CP3.

It's near impossible to find a new Top 5 PG of all time. That seems like an absolute exercise in futility and a total waste of what's left of Devin's prime... and trade value.

I don't think they can find a taker for Beal, so the Suns are likely stuck with him. KD can go. Every single player I'm acquiring now is a long, athletic defender. Next year or two will be ugly because they can't do much while stuck with Beal, but I am still not trading Booker. He's stuck with the Suns when they were awful, and unless he wants to be traded, I am keeping him. He's earned it.

I will never understand the "he's earned it", especially for a guy who's never brought this team a title, much less for a guy who's been the leader of a franchise during an era where the team has been in the toilet or a laughingstock the overwhelming majority of his career. He got paid HUGE money - he earned that. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[Cheesebeef]

That's where the Suns were in 2023 before the GM and ownership decided to push all their assets to the middle of the table on a needless gamble.

You're right... but the difference is NOW we don't have any of those other assets, players or picks to try and get another top 5 PG of all time, so why would we act the same way?

 

[Cheesebeef]

if you get a new cp3 you need a new ayton - their pick and roll prevented the double teams on booker and prevented teams from defending the 3

can someone explain to me how we're going to get a new version of one of the best PGs ever, in their prime, to pair with Devin Booker?

 

[Mainstreet]

You're right... but the difference is NOW we don't have any of those other assets, players or picks to try and get another top 5 PG of all time, so why would we act the same way?

The Suns would need to get lucky, but it's not impossible. They traded for Chris Paul and Steve Nash when some thought they were near the end of their career.

Maybe a player like Jrue Holiday becomes available as @Hoop Head suggested.

 

[Hoop Head]

The Suns would need to get lucky, but it's not impossible. They traded for Chris Paul and Steve Nash when some thought they were near the end of their career.

Maybe a player like Jrue Holiday becomes available as @Hoop Head suggested.

I'd also add Chris Paul most certainly was not in his prime here also. Setting the bar that high is ridiculous. No one here believed he was when we were in talks to acquire him either. It's revisionist history to say he was.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Yeah, I am not trading Booker. Instead, I am trying to find him a new CP3. I don't think they can find a taker for Beal, so the Suns are likely stuck with him. KD can go. Every single player I'm acquiring now is a long, athletic defender. Next year or two will be ugly because they can't do much while stuck with Beal, but I am still not trading Booker. He's stuck with the Suns when they were awful, and unless he wants to be traded, I am keeping him. He's earned it.

I wouldn't force him out the door but my problem with the rest of this approach is that I just don't believe it will work. Even with KD playing fairly well for us we're irrelevant in the scheme of things and likely heading downward from here. Without money and cap space and with the restrictions placed on us by the new rules, we're at a huge disadvantage compared to the other franchises.

Just trying to maintain status quo while Devin ages out is a scary thought to me and maybe I'm wrong but I don't think he'll be a happy camper as we struggle to win 25 games each season. And it wasn't that long ago that rumors were circulating about him planning to force his way to LAL (prior to getting CP3) so I don't think it's far fetched that he's going to request a trade.

 

[Mainstreet]

I wouldn't force him out the door but my problem with the rest of this approach is that I just don't believe it will work. Even with KD playing fairly well for us we're irrelevant in the scheme of things and likely heading downward from here. Without money and cap space and with the restrictions placed on us by the new rules, we're at a huge disadvantage compared to the other franchises.

Just trying to maintain status quo while Devin ages out is a scary thought to me and maybe I'm wrong but I don't think he'll be a happy camper as we struggle to win 25 games each season. And it wasn't that long ago that rumors were circulating about him planning to force his way to LAL (prior to getting CP3) so I don't think it's far fetched that he's going to request a trade.

Devin Booker likes it here, but if the Suns can't put a team around him that can win, things could change.

However, I do believe the Suns will get below the 2nd tax apron. Now, what that team looks like afterward is anyone's guess.

Will it be enough? I don't know.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Devin Booker likes it here, but if the Suns can't put a team around him that can win, things could change.

However, I do believe the Suns will get below the 2nd tax apron. Now, what that team looks like afterward is anyone's guess.

Will it be enough? I don't know.

I don't want to rain on anyone's parade but I am flat out of optimism when it comes to this franchise. I'm still a Suns fan, that will never change, but I survive by not living and dying with each game. I go into them expecting a loss just like I go into each season expecting turmoil and disappointment.

 

[BirdGangThing]

can someone explain to me how we're going to get a new version of one of the best PGs ever, in their prime, to pair with Devin Booker?

aint happening - there are more physically talented pgs in the league but none with the multi processor cp3 had

 

[Hoop Head]

I don't want to rain on anyone's parade but I am flat out of optimism when it comes to this franchise. I'm still a Suns fan, that will never change, but I survive by not living and dying with each game. I go into them expecting a loss just like I go into each season expecting turmoil and disappointment.

When was the last time you were optimistic? I'd imagine the year after the finals loss. Besides that though it's not like us Suns fans have a lot of hope. We spent a decade counting ping pong balls.