Suns facing tough decisions By Scott Bordow, Tribune Columnist
June 27, 2006
Pick a Web site, any Web site, and you’ll find a rumor about the Suns. They’re going to trade Shawn Marion to the Chicago Bulls for Tyson Chandler and the No. 2 pick. They want to deal Leandro Barbosa. They’re interested in Seattle’s Ray Allen or Rashard Lewis. Interesting stuff.
If any of it were true.
Take it from Mike D’Antoni, and he should know: Marion isn’t going anywhere. Neither is Barbosa. The Suns are close to a championship, and the general manager isn’t going to mess up the coach by trading one of the team’s key players.
“No major pieces are going to go out, and our top six, seven, eight guys are major pieces,” D’Antoni said. “Now if San Antonio calls and offers Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili for Steve Nash, we’ll trade Steve. But they haven’t called.”
The Suns could make a deal before or during Wednesday’s NBA draft, but it’ll be a minor one. They’ll try to package their picks (Nos. 21 and 27) and move up in the first round if a player they like — say, Michigan State’s Shannon Brown — is available.
The more compelling date for Phoenix is July 1 (Saturday), the start of the free agency signing period. That’s when the Suns will be confronted with the biggest question of the offseason:
Which Thomas do they want more, Kurt or Tim?
There is one scenario in which the Suns could keep both players. If they can trade James Jones and the No. 21 pick, they’d have enough room under the salary cap to offer Tim Thomas about $4 million per season.
Would that satisfy Tim Thomas? Your guess is as good as the Suns’.
“We don’t know what Tim is going to want,” D’Antoni said. “He could blow us out of the water.”
If Tim Thomas wants more money, the Suns will have to make a choice: Are they a better team with his outside shooting and versatility or Kurt Thomas’ defense and rebounding?
Although they’re saying little publicly, it’s no secret that the Suns feel Tim Thomas better fits their system. His 3-point shooting spreads the floor and gives Nash more room to operate in the lane.
But as well as Tim Thomas played after signing with Phoenix, one has to wonder: Was he on his best behavior because it was a contract year?
Remember, Tim Thomas was considered a malingerer before coming to the Suns; the Bulls sent him home because they felt he was out of shape and had a terrible work ethic. He didn’t win many friends in Philadelphia, Milwaukee or New York, either.
Perhaps Thomas finally found the coach and scheme that best utilize his talents. But how can Phoenix be sure he won’t revert to old habits once he signs a long-term deal?
“I think we know what Tim is,” D’Antoni said. “He’s a great guy, first of all. He’s always played well in playoffs, no matter where he’s been. I think he’ll be an up-and-down guy during the season, but we’re good enough to weather that storm.”
They also wouldn’t be paying Tim Thomas superstar money, so there’s little financial risk involved.
But as much sense as Tim Thomas seems to make, here’s one vote for the Suns holding onto Kurt Thomas.
Phoenix will have enough scorers on the floor with Amaré Stoudemire coming back. What it will need — particularly in the postseason — is defense, rebounding and toughness.
All Kurt Thomas specialties.
It was just a year ago — after being eliminated by San Antonio in the Western Conference finals — that the Suns said they needed to be bigger and sturdier. So they acquired Kurt Thomas and Raja Bell.
Now, because Tim Thomas gave the Suns a few good months, Kurt Thomas is expendable?
Whatever happened to the idea that Kurt Thomas’ talents would perfectly complement Stoudemire’s? Or that his rough edges are necessary come the playoffs?
The Suns do have payroll issues to consider. They want to sign Barbosa and Boris Diaw to long-term deals, and moving the $15.4 million Kurt Thomas is owed over the next two years would help them avoid the luxury tax. Then, too, there’s the matter of where Boris Diaw will play if Kurt Thomas is the starting center. And if Diaw starts, how can Phoenix justify paying Kurt Thomas $15 million to be a backup? Delicate issues.
But championship seasons don’t come around often — if ever — and Phoenix is about to have its best opportunity since 1993. Do you feel comfortable trading Kurt Thomas?
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=68511
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D’Antoni is a great interview. He tells it like it is!
June 27, 2006
Pick a Web site, any Web site, and you’ll find a rumor about the Suns. They’re going to trade Shawn Marion to the Chicago Bulls for Tyson Chandler and the No. 2 pick. They want to deal Leandro Barbosa. They’re interested in Seattle’s Ray Allen or Rashard Lewis. Interesting stuff.
If any of it were true.
Take it from Mike D’Antoni, and he should know: Marion isn’t going anywhere. Neither is Barbosa. The Suns are close to a championship, and the general manager isn’t going to mess up the coach by trading one of the team’s key players.
“No major pieces are going to go out, and our top six, seven, eight guys are major pieces,” D’Antoni said. “Now if San Antonio calls and offers Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili for Steve Nash, we’ll trade Steve. But they haven’t called.”
The Suns could make a deal before or during Wednesday’s NBA draft, but it’ll be a minor one. They’ll try to package their picks (Nos. 21 and 27) and move up in the first round if a player they like — say, Michigan State’s Shannon Brown — is available.
The more compelling date for Phoenix is July 1 (Saturday), the start of the free agency signing period. That’s when the Suns will be confronted with the biggest question of the offseason:
Which Thomas do they want more, Kurt or Tim?
There is one scenario in which the Suns could keep both players. If they can trade James Jones and the No. 21 pick, they’d have enough room under the salary cap to offer Tim Thomas about $4 million per season.
Would that satisfy Tim Thomas? Your guess is as good as the Suns’.
“We don’t know what Tim is going to want,” D’Antoni said. “He could blow us out of the water.”
If Tim Thomas wants more money, the Suns will have to make a choice: Are they a better team with his outside shooting and versatility or Kurt Thomas’ defense and rebounding?
Although they’re saying little publicly, it’s no secret that the Suns feel Tim Thomas better fits their system. His 3-point shooting spreads the floor and gives Nash more room to operate in the lane.
But as well as Tim Thomas played after signing with Phoenix, one has to wonder: Was he on his best behavior because it was a contract year?
Remember, Tim Thomas was considered a malingerer before coming to the Suns; the Bulls sent him home because they felt he was out of shape and had a terrible work ethic. He didn’t win many friends in Philadelphia, Milwaukee or New York, either.
Perhaps Thomas finally found the coach and scheme that best utilize his talents. But how can Phoenix be sure he won’t revert to old habits once he signs a long-term deal?
“I think we know what Tim is,” D’Antoni said. “He’s a great guy, first of all. He’s always played well in playoffs, no matter where he’s been. I think he’ll be an up-and-down guy during the season, but we’re good enough to weather that storm.”
They also wouldn’t be paying Tim Thomas superstar money, so there’s little financial risk involved.
But as much sense as Tim Thomas seems to make, here’s one vote for the Suns holding onto Kurt Thomas.
Phoenix will have enough scorers on the floor with Amaré Stoudemire coming back. What it will need — particularly in the postseason — is defense, rebounding and toughness.
All Kurt Thomas specialties.
It was just a year ago — after being eliminated by San Antonio in the Western Conference finals — that the Suns said they needed to be bigger and sturdier. So they acquired Kurt Thomas and Raja Bell.
Now, because Tim Thomas gave the Suns a few good months, Kurt Thomas is expendable?
Whatever happened to the idea that Kurt Thomas’ talents would perfectly complement Stoudemire’s? Or that his rough edges are necessary come the playoffs?
The Suns do have payroll issues to consider. They want to sign Barbosa and Boris Diaw to long-term deals, and moving the $15.4 million Kurt Thomas is owed over the next two years would help them avoid the luxury tax. Then, too, there’s the matter of where Boris Diaw will play if Kurt Thomas is the starting center. And if Diaw starts, how can Phoenix justify paying Kurt Thomas $15 million to be a backup? Delicate issues.
But championship seasons don’t come around often — if ever — and Phoenix is about to have its best opportunity since 1993. Do you feel comfortable trading Kurt Thomas?
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=68511
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D’Antoni is a great interview. He tells it like it is!
