Suns, Eric Bledsoe Far Apart In Talks

[TRW]

I know that in today's terms we'd have called him a point guard but I really believe his position was just called guard at the time. I can almost remember sitting at the kitchen table reading his bio and stats on the back of the milk carton. I really don't recall a "point guard" label for any player on our team back then. I do remember he wasn't the most popular player in town, at least among the older crowd in Scottsdale. Everyone loved Dick VA and Connie was our star but Gail would often force shots instead of giving it up to the Valley favorites. There weren't a lot of tears shed over his trade despite the fact we only got a very mediocre center in return (Mel Counts).

Steve

Goodrich was really good for the Suns and gave them some early stability. Not to hijack the thread but it's interesting that the Lakers got a compensatory pick when Gail signed with the New Orleans Jazz that turned into Magic Johnson.

Love those early days of the Suns. When they took the Lakers to 7 games with The Hawk leading the way. That's when I fell in love with the game.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Goodrich was really good for the Suns and gave them some early stability. Not to hijack the thread but it's interesting that the Lakers got a compensatory pick when Gail signed with the New Orleans Jazz that turned into Magic Johnson.

Love those early days of the Suns. When they took the Lakers to 7 games with The Hawk leading the way. That's when I fell in love with the game.

Goodrich was a great player, we practically gave him away. He was never fully appreciated in the Valley though.

Steve

 

[Covert Rain]

I'm sure I'll kick myself for getting involved, but your argument is faulty. You claim that a 2 PG lineup isn't as successful in the playoffs, but at the same time admit that it's rarely been used. It doesn't matter that a traditional PG/SG combination has won more championships if a PG/PG combo has rarely been used against them. There isn't enough of a sample to validate your claim. It's like saying history shows that you have to have a right handed catcher to win a world series because if you look at all the world series catchers they were almost all right handed. The problem is, there are very few left handed catchers to ever play in MLB. So it's poor logic to claim history suggests you have to have a right handed catcher to win. Chances are you could have an equal chance to win a world series with a left handed catcher if there were just as many as right handed ones. All history suggests is that there have only been a few left handed catchers. So in this argument all history shows is that there have been few teams that used a 2 PG's lineup. That they have rarely won a championship could just as easily be attributed to they've rarely tried compared to the traditional lineup.

Anyway, I think Bledsoe and Dragic have shown that in their first year with only a half season of playing together they can have success. I believe that with some time in the system they will improve. Not only was the system unfamiliar, but playing together was too. If we can keep them on the team, I believe they can certainly grow. Throwing Thompson in off the bench to spell them both should help keep production at a high level. I'm very excited to see this and hope we will get to.

Now you know how I feel about responding. LOL. Your analogy is somewhat understandable in terms of you relating it to sample size but that's over simplifying the issue. Maybe there is not a large sample size simply because it's not a good strategy and coaches recognize that. I am sure there are a bunch of players in the NBA that if called upon can play out of their natural positions. Hell...the Suns have been experts at this.

Here is a different analogy. I equate this scenario to a 1st baseman trying to play outfielder. They possess some of the same skills and probably could back each other up. However, asking that 1st basemen to play out of position or the other way around as part of your regular lineup is probably not a good strategy. Guys gravitate to positions that play to their strengths. Could those guys do it? They are professional athletes and so the answer is yes. However, is it the most effective long term strategy or are you better off getting someone in there that specializes in that position? I would argue it's almost always the latter.

If given the opportunity to get very good pure SG in this league to play along side Bledsoe? It's a no brainer IMO versus playing Dragic at SG. However, I also acknowledge this is a new experiment and maybe...just maybe Dragic becomes more of a pure SG role type guy and does it effectively. It doesn't solve the small back court which I think becomes more of an issues in the slower playoff pace but that remains to be seen. Maybe it's not a big issue, I have not really scene any stats around the average back court size in the NBA.

 

[devilalum]

Article about Bledsoe situation.
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/eric-bledsoes-long-hot-restricted-summer/

 

[TRW]

Goodrich was a great player, we practically gave him away. He was never fully appreciated in the Valley though.

Steve

What?!!!! The "Goose" Mel Counts...a true stretch center???? How dare you!!!

LOL

 

[AzStevenCal]

What?!!!! The "Goose" Mel Counts...a true stretch center???? How dare you!!!

LOL

It's frightful to think of the mistakes we've made through the years in pursuit of that elusive big man.

Steve

 

[Covert Rain]

It's frightful to think of the mistakes we've made through the years in pursuit of that elusive big man.

Steve

How can you go wrong with a guy named Hot Rod?

 

[SirStefan32]

Article about Bledsoe situation.
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/eric-bledsoes-long-hot-restricted-summer/

That was a great read. Thanks for posting it.

 

[BC867]

No, we got big Lou and then discovered he was only like 6'7. I believe you're thinking of Big Lew as in Lew Alcindor.

Steve

Oops! Or in the words of DarenG . . .

Same here. My thoughts are clear in my head but don't always translate well when I write. Short circuit between my office chair and keyboard I guess.

I have an added excuse. Check out the number next to "Age" to the left. 'Even older than you, Steve.

 

[FutureSuperstar]

Does anybody know what Bledsoe is doing or has been doing the last couple months? I mean, since he's an NBA player, I'm assuming he's working out somewhere, but you never know for sure.

We've heard a lot about Goodwin/Len's progress and after them, I feel like Bledsoe is the next guy on the team that has the most room to develop and grow, which says a lot considering he's so good already ... Meaning that guys like Dragic/Morri/Green/Plumlee are closer to their ceiling than a guy like Bledsoe I think

I think Bledsoe's improvement is probably the most overlooked aspect of this team heading into next season. I hear a lot of people say "Where is the superstar on this team?" or "We need more stars" or "How will we be better than last year?" ... I feel like Bledsoe could be that star, along w/ Dragic, if he shores up his weaknesses and propel this team a lot if he improves

 

[elindholm]

We've heard a lot about Goodwin/Len's progress and after them

Haven't we heard a lot about Goodwin/Len's lack of progress? Maybe we're hearing different reports.

 

[Mainstreet]

Haven't we heard a lot about Goodwin/Len's lack of progress? Maybe we're hearing different reports.

We seem to agree about not hearing many progress stories on these two.

TJ Warren has been the real talk of the Suns this summer. Goodwin, Len and Ennis have been mostly left out about making substantial progress. PJ Tucker, Isiah Thomas and Anthony Tolliver have been the most promoted signings by the Suns. Maybe I missed it, but I have not heard about the Suns signing Warren and Ennis. It may be because of salary implications regarding the cap or perhaps the Suns are still looking at trade options although it would be hard to part with Warren.

 

[KloD]

We seem to agree about not hearing many progress stories on these two.

TJ Warren has been the real talk of the Suns this summer. Goodwin, Len and Ennis have been mostly left out about making substantial progress. PJ Tucker, Isiah Thomas and Anthony Tolliver have been the most promoted signings by the Suns. Maybe I missed it, but I have not heard about the Suns signing Warren and Ennis. It may be because of salary implications regarding the cap or perhaps the Suns are still looking at trade options although it would be hard to part with Warren.

I'm almost positive Warren signed a week or more ago. Tucker signed today. Ennis is the only one I have no recollection of reading that he's signed his contract. I think Tuckers deal was on hold in case an opportunity for a trade or to get someone under the cap before signing our restricted free agents. So Tucker signing today seems a clear indication that they are not going to sign Monroe to an offer sheet. Any other signings, if any, will be low dollar. This is the team we are taking into camp.

I don't like reading into what the front office says, but I did find it curious that McD said they were happy to keep Tucker as a Sun for the "foreseeable future". Seemed an honest way of saying they don't have any trades in mind today, but he's not someone they would hesitate to trade if the right deal came along. I suppose that should be a given, just thought he used his words carefully.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm almost positive Warren signed a week or more ago. Tucker signed today. Ennis is the only one I have no recollection of reading that he's signed his contract. I think Tuckers deal was on hold in case an opportunity for a trade or to get someone under the cap before signing our restricted free agents. So Tucker signing today seems a clear indication that they are not going to sign Monroe to an offer sheet. Any other signings, if any, will be low dollar. This is the team we are taking into camp.

I don't like reading into what the front office says, but I did find it curious that McD said they were happy to keep Tucker as a Sun for the "foreseeable future". Seemed an honest way of saying they don't have any trades in mind today, but he's not someone they would hesitate to trade if the right deal came along. I suppose that should be a given, just thought he used his words carefully.

If Warren has signed, I can't find it. However, below is a twitter link that may answer your questions. I am not good at reading twitter when it goes beyond first person.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...on-james-carmelo-anthony-chris-bosh/12412661/

IMO, anyone on the Suns roster can be traded (when eligible) if the offer is right. This applies to the "foreseeable future" on Tucker as well. It can get here in a hurry.

 

[FutureSuperstar]

Haven't we heard a lot about Goodwin/Len's lack of progress? Maybe we're hearing different reports.

I guess I could have phrased it better. Basically, I mean we've heard a lot about them during the summer - Articles about how they've been at the Suns facility, Goodwin doing drills w/ the pre-draft guys, Len bulking up, etc. We have no doubt that they are working hard. I think people view those 2 guys, along w/ Warren as the players that can improve the most the next 1,2,3 yrs. ... I think Bledsoe's potential to improve has been overlooked and his development is crucial to the Suns success, just like Goodwin and Len.

I understand that it's normal to track the "progress" or "lack of progress" as you put it of the younger guys as opposed to a veteran, but I think fans should be just as interested in what Bledsoe is doing this summer to improve, as they should be about guys like Len/Goodwin.

 

[elindholm]

I think fans should be just as interested in what Bledsoe is doing this summer to improve, as they should be about guys like Len/Goodwin.

That's a good point, but as of now, it's not at all clear that Bledsoe will be wearing a Suns uniform next season. So, just playing the percentages, there's less reason so far for a Suns fan to be interested in his improvement. And frankly, the best improvement he could show would be the ability to play 75 games in a season, which we can't know about any time soon.

 

[KloD]

If Warren has signed, I can't find it. However, below is a twitter link that may answer your questions. I am not good at reading twitter when it goes beyond first person.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...on-james-carmelo-anthony-chris-bosh/12412661/

IMO, anyone on the Suns roster can be traded (when eligible) if the offer is right. This applies to the "foreseeable future" on Tucker as well. It can get here in a hurry.

I believe I saw a few twitters saying Warren had signed, here's one: http://www.hoopsrumors.com/2014/07/suns-sign-warren.html

I don't know that he in fact has, only that I read that he had.

Of course anyone is tradable. I was only saying that I thought his choice of "for the forseeable future" was an odd comment to tack on at the end of his saying we are glad he's still with the Suns.

 

[JCSunsfan]

We seem to agree about not hearing many progress stories on these two.

TJ Warren has been the real talk of the Suns this summer. Goodwin, Len and Ennis have been mostly left out about making substantial progress. PJ Tucker, Isiah Thomas and Anthony Tolliver have been the most promoted signings by the Suns. Maybe I missed it, but I have not heard about the Suns signing Warren and Ennis. It may be because of salary implications regarding the cap or perhaps the Suns are still looking at trade options although it would be hard to part with Warren.

It's spelled Isaiah.

 

[Mainstreet]

I believe I saw a few twitters saying Warren had signed, here's one: http://www.hoopsrumors.com/2014/07/suns-sign-warren.html

I don't know that he in fact has, only that I read that he had.

Of course anyone is tradable. I was only saying that I thought his choice of "for the forseeable future" was an odd comment to tack on at the end of his saying we are glad he's still with the Suns.

Interesting. I guess we'll have to go with that for now. However, it seems the news of TJ Warren signing would get more publicity.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Interesting. I guess we'll have to go with that for now. However, it seems the news of TJ Warren signing would get more publicity.

http://www.spotrac.com/draft-tracker/nba/

Shows salary for every player that has signed and is blank for the ones that haven't yet.

 

[Superbone]

It's curious that Ennis hasn't signed yet.

 

[Mainstreet]

http://www.spotrac.com/draft-tracker/nba/

Shows salary for every player that has signed and is blank for the ones that haven't yet.

Thanks for the link.

 

[Mainstreet]

It's curious that Ennis hasn't signed yet.

It is curious. I had it in the back of my mind that the Suns might be picking for another team when they selected Ennis, specifically Toronto. However, Toronto is loaded at PG as well.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

It's curious that Ennis hasn't signed yet.

It's simple to me. We have a ton of depth at his position and thus we must be looking into trade possibilities and he is a player that they are willing to trade. If they sign him they won't be able to trade him for a few weeks.

 

[sunsfan88]

It's curious that Ennis hasn't signed yet.

He hasn't earned his contract yet through his poor summer league play.

Couple of jumping jacks and some suicide drills might do the trick though