Suns invites for training camp starting Tuesday

[Chaplin]

I will raise my hand as to thinking he is a waste of a roster spot. I dont see why a rebuilding team is signing a severely diminished veteran. Its an odd move. If you are scouring the dregs of the remaining big men why do you decide to target the oldest and most washed up one on the block?

And if Jermaine O'Neal, a player noted for his poor conditioning and being a malcontent on his last team, is going to be our locker room leader then I think we have a real void in leadership. Hopefully Dudley or Dragic find their voice during the season.

What a surprise!

 

[Phrazbit]

What a surprise!

Okay, but seriously... what is the point of signing a veteran on his last legs for a team in the Suns current position?

I mean, the dude has been awful for several years, its not even like its a veteran who has been a contributor but is on his way out. He is a freaking bum who couldnt find a job this off season and couldnt get minutes for the last 2 years.

 

[Mainstreet]

Paul Coro gives another camp update in an article dated 10-4-12 at azcentral. Wes Johnson seems to be playing well. See link below for more information.

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/PaulCoro/172663

 

[KloD]

I find no issue with having an elder statesman in the locker room. One doesn't have to be a leader on the floor to make an impact with this young team off of it. I'm sure others will rise to leadership roles both on and off the court, but that doesn't demean having a guy who may help raise the maturity of this team. I like what I'm hearing from O'Neal and hopefully through the season we'll see an impact from him either on or off the court... or both.

 

[SirStefan32]

Paul Coro gives another camp update in an article dated 10-4-12 at azcentral. Wes Johnson seems to be playing well. See link below for more information.

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/PaulCoro/172663

Heh, the best part of the article:
Jermaine O'Neal pulled himself from Friday's workout due to general soreness.

 

[Mainstreet]

Heh, the best part of the article:
Jermaine O'Neal pulled himself from Friday's workout due to general soreness.

I left that nugget for the reader to find.

 

[leclerc]

Kind of have to eat my words about Kayte. She did good in the video from azcentral where she and Paul Coro talks. Good luck to her!

Also impressed with the Jermaine O'Neal video. I'll give him a fair chance this season. Hell, I'll give the whole team a chance. They're new to each other and most of them are young dudes. They have to learn and grow on the job. If we loose then that's more lotto balls in the bank baby.

 

[Superbone]

Kind of have to eat my words about Kayte. She did good in the video from azcentral where she and Paul Coro talks. Good luck to her!

Do you have a link? I couldn't find it.

 

[Mainstreet]

Do you have a link? I couldn't find it.

Here is the link for you.

http://www.azcentral.com/video/1871731906001

 

[Superbone]

Here is the link for you.

http://www.azcentral.com/video/1871731906001

Thank you, sir!

 

[95pro]

dayum her hands are huge

 

[JS22]

I will raise my hand as to thinking he is a waste of a roster spot. I dont see why a rebuilding team is signing a severely diminished veteran. Its an odd move. If you are scouring the dregs of the remaining big men why do you decide to target the oldest and most washed up one on the block?

And if Jermaine O'Neal, a player noted for his poor conditioning and being a malcontent on his last team, is going to be our locker room leader then I think we have a real void in leadership. Hopefully Dudley or Dragic find their voice during the season.

People said the same thing about Hill.

I'm willing to at least give him a chance with this system and training staff. They somehow worked a miracle with Hill & Shaq. I don't see why they wouldn't be able to help keep O'neal healthy and turn him into a serviceable backup.

 

[Mainstreet]

There is a link below to the stats from the Suns scrimmage today which I understand wraps up training camp in La Jolla. Dudley and Morris were the big scorers but it seems a lot of players played well.

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/PaulCoro/172726

 

[elindholm]

Jermaine O'Neal pulled himself from Friday's workout due to general soreness.

Ladies and gentlemen, your clubhouse leader!

People said the same thing about Hill.

You can't be serious. O'Neal hasn't been an effective player, even when healthy, for several years. He's started talking retirement as soon as he got to Toronto, and I'm not sure that he ever had any passion for the game. He had a good run of seven or eight years, but that's old history by now, and it's not only injuries that are the culprit.

Hill worked tirelessly to overcome his injuries, he always gives his best when on the court, and his passion for the game is unsurpassed. Putting O'Neal and Hill in the same sentence is simply baffling.

 

[Chaplin]

Ladies and gentlemen, your clubhouse leader!



You can't be serious. O'Neal hasn't been an effective player, even when healthy, for several years. He's started talking retirement as soon as he got to Toronto, and I'm not sure that he ever had any passion for the game. He had a good run of seven or eight years, but that's old history by now, and it's not only injuries that are the culprit.

Hill worked tirelessly to overcome his injuries, he always gives his best when on the court, and his passion for the game is unsurpassed. Putting O'Neal and Hill in the same sentence is simply baffling.

So what? It's training camp!

 

[Phrazbit]

People said the same thing about Hill.

I'm willing to at least give him a chance with this system and training staff. They somehow worked a miracle with Hill & Shaq. I don't see why they wouldn't be able to help keep O'neal healthy and turn him into a serviceable backup.

Hill had injury problems but he didnt flat out suck and complain and dog it the way O'Neal has the last few years, and I dont recall Hill being in the same situation O'Neal was in this summer where he couldnt find a job, Hill signed with us while he had several contending teams pursuing him. And the Suns Hill joined were in a different place than this squad, my point is that a team in our position (obviously rebuilding) has no upside of signing a vet on his last legs. This isnt like the 2007 Suns who were trying to seriously contend and added Hill in an effort to put them over the top. While O'Neal is a guy of questionable character, advanced age, a terrible injury history and who has stunk for several seasons...

 

[Griffin]

I'm willing to give O'Neal the benefit of doubt here. Lopez did not want to play backup to Gortat, and he was horrible in that role anyway. And there weren't a lot of younger, better alternatives than O'Neal.

And you do need veterans on every team, even a rebuilding one. Not sure if O'Neal is the right type of veteran to have around, but so far he's been saying the right things and players seem to like him. That's important.

Below are some comments from O'Neal and Gortat from a recent Coro article.

O'Neal:

“You open the doors, smell the popcorn and the switches are engaged,” said O’Neal, who will turn 34 on Saturday. “I was a little bit smarter than the day before and a little bit more comfortable. Everything is a lot different. Boston was a slow grind, wear you down over four quarters. This system is faster, conditioned, run-you-out-of-the-gym practices. But I’ll be ready Wednesday.”

“Running was definitely different. Veteran teams come in shape and everything else is a progression. You practice and scrimmage and that’s how you get in shape. Here, a lot more young guys run to get in shape. You want to be part of the guys and do as much as you can. You can lead by horse, but in a situation like that you need to be out there physically to lead.”

Gortat:

“You’re looking at a guy who probably weighs about 280 pounds,” Gortat said. “He’s experienced. He knows what he’s doing. He’s not making any unnecessary moves. He’s skilled and can shoot the ball very well. He has perfect timing for blocking a shot. He’s just crafty. You can learn a lot from a guy like that.

“He’s preparing me to be the guy who everybody expects me to be. He’s telling me a lot of things during the game. We’re running down the break and he’s telling me, ‘Sit down here, lock me or attack.’”

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns waive Othyus Jeffers. However, they are planning on keeping a big man and possibly a fourth PG. It would be interesting if the Suns do indeed keep Diante Garrett. See article by Paul Coro at azcental dated 10-15-12.

The Suns camp's remaining non-guaranteed players are power forwards Ike Diogu, Solomon Jones and Luke Zeller and point guard Diante Garrent. The Suns are expected to keep one of the big men for the opening night roster and are considering Garrett as a fourth point guard because of his potential.

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/PaulCoro/172978

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Ladies and gentlemen, your clubhouse leader!



You can't be serious. O'Neal hasn't been an effective player, even when healthy, for several years. He's started talking retirement as soon as he got to Toronto, and I'm not sure that he ever had any passion for the game. He had a good run of seven or eight years, but that's old history by now, and it's not only injuries that are the culprit.

Hill worked tirelessly to overcome his injuries, he always gives his best when on the court, and his passion for the game is unsurpassed. Putting O'Neal and Hill in the same sentence is simply baffling.

2 years ago he averaged 13.6 PPG, 7 RPG and 1.4 BPG in 28 MPG while shooting 53% from the field. His numbers dropped off with Boston and I think it's fair to say that some of that drop off was was due to his fit with the team and Boston's depth at the big man positions.

 

[carey]

Doesn't really make sense to keep Garrett. Bassy earned minutes with his play the last 1/3 of the season and we really need to give minutes to KM as well. There just won't be anything for him unless they think he can fill in at shooting guard.

Unless they are going to keep him around more than a year and he'll be the 3rd string PG when Bassy leaves. If that's the case then I would look for him to be inactive the entire season.

 

[Mainstreet]

Unless they are going to keep him around more than a year and he'll be the 3rd string PG when Bassy leaves.

These are my thoughts.

Also the Suns are not proven at the PG position and developing Garrett, who I think has NBA potential, would provide another option going forward.

 

[Superbone]

I'm wondering if the Suns have plans to keep Bassy this season.

 

[Mainstreet]

If the Suns want to sign another big man for insurance, the Bulls waive Kyrylo Fesenko.