Suns claim Luis Scola

[Phrazbit]

So what exactly are we going to do with it this year? We acquired a piece to possibly trade next year in a FA class that will be full of big names (the majority of which will want S&T). Trading takes assets and what we acquiring are assets.



We know you don't like him but that doesn't make him untradeable



Gortat is one, Scola, Morris, Marshall, Lakers picks, our picks, etc, etc

I wouldnt call future picks as trade assets on our roster. And if we didnt have them then my head might explode.

Beasley is currently untradable for anything but a bad contract. The Wolves proved it last season when they tried desperately to move him and failed on a LESSER deal than what the Suns gave him.

I am not counting Scola because its a year before he is even an option and I dont see anyone biting on a downy soft 33 year old in decline.

Gortat is one... what do you consider Morris' trade value? He is not a negative like some of our players but his value isnt going to land us anything worth caring about until he shows more talent.

Could anything besides Gortat land a young player or a decent draft pick? No.

 

[Evil Ash]

I'll bet you any ASFN funny bet that they're better than us. They replaced Kidd with Collison who's a solid PG. They still have a superstar in Dirk, they got Brand for a little bit of beef in the middle and have one of the best Coaches in league. And they're still got money to burn.

Dirk (2 years older than Scola) and Brand (bad knees) are getting older, their bench is gone and they are attempting to tank this year trying to get Paul/Howard offseason next year.

I'm down for an avatar bet if you are

 

[Cheesebeef]

I think Dallas' ace in the hole is the coach. He's a great difference maker. But have they lost or are they going to lose Jason Terry? Collison is ok, but is he really that much better than Dragic? Dirk is awesome, but Brand is an injury-prone has-been. That will be another team that will be fascinating to watch IMO.

i've got to believe Cuban gets them Mayo at this point, or pulls off a trade for someone.

And one superstar, plus decent PG plus great Coach is better than what we have... and I'm fine with that. Y'all know I'm of mind that this team needs to bottom out. I just think it's anyone would say there's only 3-5 teams better than us on paper (and yes, I know you didn't say that)

 

[Phrazbit]

You wanna have a sig bet on that?

Dallas is better than us on paper? Reaaally? And I can see us doing better than Denver this season too.

As long as we keep the terms cordial, I dont want to be accused of rooting against the Suns all year because of some silly sig bet. I'd be thrilled if the Suns dont suck. But they are going to suck.

 

[Chaplin]

i've got to believe Cuban gets them Mayo at this point, or pulls off a trade for someone.

And one superstar, plus decent PG plus great Coach is better than what we have... and I'm fine with that. Y'all know I'm of mind that this team needs to bottom out. I just think it's anyone would say there's only 3-5 teams better than us on paper (and yes, I know you didn't say that)

I cannot and will not claim we are better than any team other than Charlotte because frankly, I have no idea. I can form an opinion about it, but the only thing I can say about the team is that it will be an immensely different team than we're used to. And that is why I find it hard to pass judgement right now.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Dirk (2 years older than Scola)

what's your point? He's still a superstar.

and Brand (bad knees) are getting older,

same as Scola.

their bench is gone and they are attempting to tank this year trying to get Paul/Howard offseason next year.

yeah, we'll see about that.

I'm down for an avatar bet if you are

whatever you want. it's your loss.

 

[Chaplin]

All this talk of tanking. Other than the Spurs the year before Duncan, when was the last time a team tanked and it worked out? Hell, when was the last time a team tanked, period? I mean deliberately tanked? It simply doesn't happen.

 

[Folster]

This is the offseason some of you would have preferred:

1. Let Nash walk for no compensation
2. Don't sign any free agent that is not a bonafide superstar (that means nobody)
3. Amnesty Childress, but don't use the cap space
4. Don't resign Robin Lopez because he sucks
5. Fill the roster and payroll minimum with D-leaguers on 1 year inflated deals.

Roster: Marshall, Telfair, Dudley, Warrick, Frye, Morris, and a bunch of scrubs.

We're supposed to suck and cross our fingers? Even if we had the worst record in the league, we'd still somehow lose the lottery and end up with the #4 pick in a 3 player draft.

 

[SunsTzu]

But Scola a year from now at age 34 (can't trade him this year) is a highly tradable chip?

Unless his production falls off a cliff he is a very valuable trade asset. There isn't a team in the league where Scola wouldn't get significant minutes and be productive.

I don't see how a productive front court player only making 4.5mil with a 440k buyout the following year isn't a valuable asset.

 

[Evil Ash]

what's your point? He's still a superstar.

That most players can't keep their same level play especially at 35

same as Scola.

Exactly my point. You list Brand as a positive for them but list Scola as a negative for us when at this point they are basically the same player.

yeah, we'll see about that.

They were preparing to do it this offseason but the Paul trade (and his accepting his option) threw off their plan. Their main bench scorer for the past several years (Terry) is now a Celtic

whatever you want. it's your loss.

Done and done

 

[cly2tw]

If Scola can be healthy, we could trade him for assets anytime. He is definitely a better player than Frye and Morris right now. So, I like this deal for the Suns.

But I was just wondering why they didn't go after Brand who seems to be better still and only on a one year deal?

 

[Evil Ash]

If Scola can be healthy, we could trade him for assets anytime. He is definitely a better player than Frye and Morris right now. So, I like this deal for the Suns.

But I was just wondering why they didn't go after Brand who seems to be better still and only on a one year deal?

They might have. They just weren't the winning bid

 

[SunsTzu]

They might have. They just weren't the winning bid

The winning Brand bid was only 2.1mil. I think it is more likely they were looking beyond just the upcoming season and didn't make a bid on him.

 

[sunsfan88]

But I was just wondering why they didn't go after Brand who seems to be better still and only on a one year deal?

http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...-contemplating-a-bid-on-amnestied-elton-brand

 

[Cheesebeef]

That most players can't keep their same level play especially at 35

that's great and all... but he just turned 34. He'll still be a superstar this year.

Exactly my point. You list Brand as a positive for them but list Scola as a negative for us when at this point they are basically the same player.

I don't list Scola as a negative. I see him being a guy that will make us marginally better. From a 33-36 win team, to a 38-40 win team. In other words, accomplishing very little. And Brand is going to team with a superstar. And to be honest, I don't see him making all that much of an impact either, but he does add some beef to a team that has better players/Coach than we do right now.

They were preparing to do it this offseason but the Paul trade (and his accepting his option) threw off their plan. Their main bench scorer for the past several years (Terry) is now a Celtic

thanks for the update.

Done and done

again, it's your avatar dude.

 

[sunsfan88]

any bet you name it.

We'll do an avatar bet.

As long as we keep the terms cordial, I dont want to be accused of rooting against the Suns all year because of some silly sig bet. I'd be thrilled if the Suns dont suck. But they are going to suck.

We'll do a sig bet.

Of course everything will be done in an appropriate and tasteful manner

 

[sunsfan88]

Is it just me or does he look a lot like Russell Brand?

 

[overseascardfan]

There is a divide amongst opinions of the move and while I agree that Scola is old and doesn't fit PHX's offseason plan of getting younger, the good news is that he certainly is coming cheap at around $13M for 3 years. He is a stop gap who will be very tradeable if PHX chooses to do so maybe to pick up a pick in next years draft. So overall this is a good move IMO.

Also, he will be cheaper than Humphries & Illyasova so it looks like a good move on PHX's part by showing fans they will field a team of players that they will at least know. We will still be terrible but remember folks we still have cap room and players who are tradeable because they are on reasonable deals. Plus if this team sucks bad enough, hello lottery.

 

[Covert Rain]

All this talk of tanking. Other than the Spurs the year before Duncan, when was the last time a team tanked and it worked out? Hell, when was the last time a team tanked, period? I mean deliberately tanked? It simply doesn't happen.

OK, probably splitting hairs but when a team purges their roster in favor of young unproven talent....said team knows they are going to suck for some time to come. In a way isn't that deliberately tanking? That team knows they are not going to do anything and be drafting high for some time. There have been many teams that have taken that approach. Including the old Sonics which purged their roster and Miami for that matter prior to getting Wade.

I am still trying to process this but this sure as hell feels like retooling versus bottoming out as Cheese said. This feels like stop gap measures by the Suns until

A. They get lucky in the draft
B. Can pull off a trade for a franchise player

Anybody that thinks this makes the Suns any kind of relevant in a playoff run is smoking something. Also, if this still makes us around a 40 to 45 win team we will be stuck forever with "teen" picks in the draft for several years. I think I would rather hedge my bets by bottoming out and drafting low for a few years versus hoping that A or B happens above.

 

[Evil Ash]

OK, probably splitting hairs but when a team purges their roster in favor of young unproven talent....said team knows they are going to suck for some time to come. In a way isn't that deliberately tanking? That team knows they are not going to do anything and be drafting high for some time. There have been many teams that have taken that approach. Including the old Sonics which purged their roster and Miami for that matter prior to getting Wade.

I am still trying to process this but this sure as hell feels like retooling versus bottoming out as Cheese said. This feels like stop gap measures by the Suns until

A. They get lucky in the draft
B. Can pull off a trade for a franchise player

Anybody that thinks this makes the Suns any kind of relevant in a playoff run is smoking something. Also, if this still makes us around a 40 to 45 win team we will be stuck forever with "teen" picks in the draft for several years. I think I would rather hedge my bets by bottoming out and drafting low for a few years versus hoping that A or B happens above.

By tanking you're still hoping for A or B. There have been many teams that have bottomed out and still haven't recovered. There are more Odens and Stromile Swifts than there are Wade or Durants

 

[JS22]

This is the offseason some of you would have preferred:

1. Let Nash walk for no compensation
2. Don't sign any free agent that is not a bonafide superstar (that means nobody)
3. Amnesty Childress, but don't use the cap space
4. Don't resign Robin Lopez because he sucks
5. Fill the roster and payroll minimum with D-leaguers on 1 year inflated deals.

Roster: Marshall, Telfair, Dudley, Warrick, Frye, Morris, and a bunch of scrubs.

We're supposed to suck and cross our fingers? Even if we had the worst record in the league, we'd still somehow lose the lottery and end up with the #4 pick in a 3 player draft.

It's worth the risk though. I saw a video on YouTube where one guy in high school was dunking over all of these other guys. So I think the Suns should just completely write-off the season and purposely drive fans away so they can have a small chance of drafting him. It's an awesome video, so I know he'd totally be worth it. He had one crazy dunk over a 5'4 fat kid. Imagine what he could do in the NBA!

 

[JCSunsfan]

Ok. This is the way I am looking at it. They acquired Scola instead of signing Grant Hill. They are paying him less than they paid Hill and he is 7 years younger.

 

[sunsfan88]

Scola is a terrible defender , and Gortat is one of the worst help defenders on the Suns.

I know defense isn't one of his strengths but to call Scola a "terrible" defender is going way too far.

You love stats more than anyone else here so here's something for you to chew on

http://www.hoopsstats.com/basketbal...-rockets/players/luis-scola/profile/12/10/147

Hardly "terrible"

 

[Phrazbit]

double posted

 

[Phrazbit]

By tanking you're still hoping for A or B. There have been many teams that have bottomed out and still haven't recovered. There are more Odens and Stromile Swifts than there are Wade or Durants

I agree. However, the Suns current method never works. The odds of getting a Durant are slim. The odds of competing on a high level by heaping out cash on role players in free agency while having no core do not exist.