Suns need to make a splash...

[Arizona's Finest]

Ok boys and girls...I am not telling you anything new but all the good will this team generated last year is officially out the door. And everyone is piling on... I hate to say this but the suns need to make a "splashy" move...im thinking something that might not be the best long term, but helps us with this upcoming season. There is way to little of a window to actually win a title and we need to make our move while Nash and Marion still have it.

Im thinking Mike Finley would be nice but i dont see many players taking a three million dollar pay cut just so they can play with their friends. Even Nash didnt do it last year and he is as loyal as they come in the NBA. My question is Finley starts here but backs up Wade in Miami, so why go?

So im thinking we need to take a salary cap hit and get a bomber. and i mean a big time bomber. Im thinking Paul Pierce, Peja, Wally Sczerbiak or someone of that ilk. We have numerous picks now, a TE, Barbosa, Vujanic, JJAX and even Diaw as parts of a package we could offer to get one of these two guards.

Lets face it...W/O a big time player we will be competitive but not worthy to win it all. And by the time we use those picks or Diaw develops Nash and Marion will be getting past their prime. We are caught in purgatory and we have to do something about it....we have the main pieces to win a title next year...but we need a three point shooter and a third/fourth option

 

[Arizona's Finest]

So lets quit worrying about Diop, Grant, Frank williams, dickau and the infamous Lonnie Jones as none of these scrubs is going to put us over the top. we just dont have enough....we should re up Amare and then go out and get him a two guard who can keep double teams off him.

 

[SweetD]

ok my issue is it is not all doom and gloom. JJ was a big part of this team but every other move the Suns have gotten better. Hunter was a nice piece to have but his 13minutes a game can be replaced. IMO Raja replaces half of JJ now we need to bring in a player that can do the other half. Finely would be the best option. Maybe Boris can become a JJ type player the only issue is his shooting, I just haven't seen much of him to say he is a bad or even good player. I going to do some research on him and post it in a few.

 

[corrado]

Arizona's Fintest

I agree with you 100 percent. Read my thread on the very same subject. The people on this board are throwing names around like Payton, Finley, Grant, etc. This team needs to make a major move. Not a stupid move but a major move. The problem I see is that I sense the Suns brass is not thinking the way we are thinking. I think they are content picking up a couple of fringe players via the amnesty rule and that's it. IF THIS IS THEIR THINKING, I DISAGREE 100%.

They have been weakened during this offseason and like you stated, the window is small considering their current personnel. Just look at the guys they are relying on Nash, Thomas, J. Jax. These guys are approaching the twilight on their careers and the time is now.

 

[KANIDJA]

What? So trade everything for a player that will be here for 1 year only??? Remember, when Amare is signed we wont have enough cap space to sign any more big name players.
We go after Finley or use that trade exception along with first rounder or a player to trade for someone we need.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

ok my issue is it is not all doom and gloom. JJ was a big part of this team but every other move the Suns have gotten better. Hunter was a nice piece to have but his 13minutes a game can be replaced. IMO Raja replaces half of JJ now we need to bring in a player that can do the other half. Finely would be the best option. Maybe Boris can become a JJ type player the only issue is his shooting, I just haven't seen much of him to say he is a bad or even good player. I going to do some research on him and post it in a few.

My main contention is the same one bill simmons made in his "anchorman" piece...

" You spend the last two years giving away first rounders and building a contender for the immediate future.....now you're trading away one of your three indispensible players for future picks? Whaaaaaaaat?????"

I know JJ forced our hand, but we cant let his ego be the single reason we dont win it all in these next couple years...i actually think Diaw could develop into a player very comprable to JJ (due to is body, skill set and the suns coaching staff) but thats not for three more years....I want to win now...

Go look in the Smack Shack....I can't have Laker fans showing me empty shelf cases and saying thats our trophy case. We have our big man and PG so we need to go for it now!!!!

 

[sly fly]

Screw Pierce. He's has a terrible attitude.

I'd love it if PHX could somehow pry Peja away. That would be the one move that would put ALL my fears to rest.

Just two years ago, Peja was one of the most feared players in the league. Then, he wanted out of SAC because of Webber. Last year was a throw-away year for him. I'm sure he'll bounce back.

What would it take to trick the Maloofs into getting him? (For all you capologists).

 

[Chaz]

ok my issue is it is not all doom and gloom. JJ was a big part of this team but every other move the Suns have gotten better. Hunter was a nice piece to have but his 13minutes a game can be replaced. IMO Raja replaces half of JJ now we need to bring in a player that can do the other half. Finely would be the best option. Maybe Boris can become a JJ type player the only issue is his shooting, I just haven't seen much of him to say he is a bad or even good player. I going to do some research on him and post it in a few.

I think Bell and Thomas replace Richardson and Hunter.

Jackson has to replace Johnson.

Who replaces Jackson's role off the bench is a question.
Barbosa, Diaw, Thompson. (behind Bell)
We have numbers at this position we are just unsure about the quality.

I love Padgett to replce McCarty.

I am not sure I want Finley or another player that 'makes a splash' but has a huge ego and demands the ball.
The Suns just need another 4/5 and a contributor off the bench at the 2/3. I am not convinced Tischer or Burke are anymore than Shirley/Voskuhl type positions.

Of course this is the same thing they needed last year but never got.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

My main contention is the same one bill simmons made in his "anchorman" piece...

" You spend the last two years giving away first rounders and building a contender for the immediate future.....now you're trading away one of your three indispensible players for future picks? Whaaaaaaaat?????"

I know JJ forced our hand, but we cant let his ego be the single reason we dont win it all in these next couple years...i actually think Diaw could develop into a player very comprable to JJ (due to is body, skill set and the suns coaching staff) but thats not for three more years....I want to win now...

Go look in the Smack Shack....I can't have Laker fans showing me empty shelf cases and saying thats our trophy case. We have our big man and PG so we need to go for it now!!!!

It's nice to see someone who is not drowing in the coolaid on this board. I saw some poster saying Diaw can become JJ, that is only a functionof the unknown, it's exciting and people think hey this guys could be anything !!! but take a step back and realize the frank is the same age as JJ and a back up on the worst team in the NBA. It ain't gonna happen.

I am reserved to the fact that unless the Suns make a move to get some more spacing on this team the older Suns players like Nash and JJ will be burned out by February.

 

[elindholm]

What would it take to trick the Maloofs into getting him? (For all you capologists).

I've suggested Marion for Stojakovic and Brian Skinner several times -- it's almost a perfect cap fit -- but people here always shoot the idea down, because they would rather have one player who "can do everything" than one who can score but can't defend (Stojakovic) and another who can defend but can't score (Skinner).

Even so, I think it's a decent idea.

 

[George O'Brien]

What would it take to trick the Maloofs into getting him? (For all you capologists).

I've suggested Marion for Stojakovic and Brian Skinner several times -- it's almost a perfect cap fit -- but people here always shoot the idea down, because they would rather have one player who "can do everything" than one who can score but can't defend (Stojakovic) and another who can defend but can't score (Skinner).

Even so, I think it's a decent idea.

Actually you haven't suggest it all that often. It's nothing like Colorado wanting Ratliff, Joe Mama and Lonnie Jones, or me on Mutombo.

 

[Errntknght]

I'd be okay with Marion for Peja and Skinner, because Skinner fills a void - to me Burke is a void since I don't know squat about him. To me Peja is a significant improvement on the offensive end because he moves without the ball while Marion is far too static and he also shoots better from long range. (I can see D'Antoni having trouble putting together an offense that is is complex enough to involve movement off the ball and the screens they entail, but thats a different issue.) Anyway, I can't imagine Sac doing it but if they'll bite...

Other than that I don't have any hankering for the Suns to make a 'splashy' move - IMO, it would be likely to hurt in the short term as well as the long term. If you can't build a winner around three 'all-stars' using lesser talents and role players you can't build one at all because the chances of the chemistry being good is essentially zero.

Were the Suns to use the expected trade exception from JJ's trade to fill one of the gaps on the team with an above minimum player, I'd be all for that. To me the most important gaps are backups at PF/C and PG.

There's a remote chance we could get Brevin Knight, who is one of the few PGs around the league who can play in the same style as Nash. He may well not want to come here because of his brief tenure earlier but perhaps the opportunity he'd have would override that.

The one signing to date that I really don't like is Padgett - D'Antoni will probably like him because he's tall and can shoot from long range and, as he did with McCarty, he'll play him more than he deserves. And we could use his roster spot to bring a young PG who has some chance of developing into a replacement for Nash. Very likely there'll be a couple of them loose after teams trim their rosters.

 

[playstation]

lol

you can't do the marion trade cause you can't trade a big for a small

like it or not, marion's a 4 on our team.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

lol

you can't do the marion trade cause you can't trade a big for a small

like it or not, marion's a 4 on our team.

Maybe last season. With KT in the fold he is most definitely a 3 again.

 

[sunsfn]

I do not think there is any way the suns trade Marion.

They need stability with this team after trading and losing 2 starters from last year.

I like Skinner as a backup more than I do with Peja as a starter. I think Marion gives more to this team than Peja can. There is no doubt that Peja is one of the very best shoters in the league, but he can be defensed and he does not go off on good teams that play good defense. (playoff teams)

 

[elindholm]

Maybe last season. With KT in the fold (Marion) is most definitely a 3 again.

Yes and no. He'll probably start at SF, but I see him getting roughly half of his minutes at PF, pretty much whenever either Stoudemire or Thomas sits. So far, the Suns don't have any competent backups at either C or PF (unless you count Padgett, which is a major stretch), so Marion will have to log time at PF by default. Besides, these are still D'Antoni's Suns, so they'll still have to play "skill ball" a lot of the time to be philosophically consistent.

 

[PhxGametime]

I guess I'm the only 1 on board, who thinks the team didn't improve the D that much losing JJ... KT is much more undersized than Hunter, while Hunter is a much better athlete, - we Trade shotblocking for rebounding. KT is a better overall player but we did lose JJ...


JJ is a much better overall player than Bell, and I haven't seen Bell as a lockdown defender... so the Teams Trades athleticsm for toughness.

I do hope KT continues to make those 17 foot jumpers because he's probably going to get plenty of them...


So instead of adding a FA and Draft Pick, the team replaces players with others - hopefully toughness is needed more, and the team can still score 120 PTS.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Everyone knows im for trading Marion, but that was under the premise that we retained JJ. I like Stojakavic but not at the price of Marion.....To the fans who disagree w/ my contention that we shouldnt hurt ourselves longterm for a short term run.....well i say at what point do you quit saying "wait till next year..."?

 

[coloradosun]

JJ is a much better overall player than Bell, and I haven't seen Bell as a lockdown defender... so the Teams Trades athleticsm for toughness.

I agree, but if you put things into context, I think the combination of Bell and Diaw may offset the loss of JJ. It sounds like Diaw has the ball handling skills of JJ and Bell has some of shooting skills of JJ, not the range though.

The absence of Q will be filled by Jackson and Barbosa, I just hope that they can make LB more of a spot up shooter. I have always felt more comfortable with him just sitting on the perimeter than driving the lane.

I would really like the Suns to make a run at Tony Allen (Celts) if they could pry him away from Ainge. Barbosa and a draft pick may do it.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I agree, but if you put things into context, I think the combination of Bell and Diaw may offset the loss of JJ. It sounds like Diaw has the ball handling skills of JJ and Bell has some of shooting skills of JJ, not the range though.

The absence of Q will be filled by Jackson and Barbosa, I just hope that they can make LB more of a spot up shooter. I have always felt more comfortable with him just sitting on the perimeter than driving the lane.

I would really like the Suns to make a run at Tony Allen (Celts) if they could pry him away from Ainge. Barbosa and a draft pick may do it.

OH i absolutly love that idea....I LOVE tony Allen and might take a likeness to him the way Joe Mama has w/ Lonnie Jones and George has w/ Mutumbo....

I agree Diaw and Bell help to combine to offset JJ but we need one more scorer who can shoot to really actually offset the loss (Flip Murray?)

or maybe............Tony Allen!

 

[PhxGametime]

I agree, but if you put things into context, I think the combination of Bell and Diaw may offset the loss of JJ. It sounds like Diaw has the ball handling skills of JJ and Bell has some of shooting skills of JJ, not the range though.

The absence of Q will be filled by Jackson and Barbosa, I just hope that they can make LB more of a spot up shooter. I have always felt more comfortable with him just sitting on the perimeter than driving the lane.

I think I am one of the few that still like Leandro Barbosa and likewise with Boris Diaw - one of those two will need step up because I think JJ was probably the best qualified SG for team... I just am upset with a lot of things that have happened this summer.

I have been 1 of the biggest homers around but a lot of what some of the fans of team for say 20-40 years - seem to say a lot of what I've been disappointed so much with this team. Building the team strong enough for Playoffs but never making that 3rd Level step to get team into Championship contender material... I really thought last year was the year and 1 would think that the team would've went all out this year, but it seems more like a Cardinal offseason (I am Cardinals fan)... letting key players leave and then replacing them with others. I was sooo excited - I'd think bring key players back and then add a Draft Pick or add a key FA (adding from 7 deep to 8/9 deep)... but I guess it wasn't meant to be.

 

[Joe Mama]

The Celtics aren't trading Tony Allen. Well, they certainly aren't doing it for Barbosa and a draft pick.

Joe Mama

 

[Chaz]

The Suns still retain their primary offense, the Nash/Stoudemire pick and roll.

They lost the consistant shooting and one on one abilities of Johnson. This wasn't the Suns choice. Now we all have to make the best of it. I think Diaw trade brings a lot of exciting options both with the player and who they might add with the picks and exception.

I am tired of trading out of your opportunity. Lets not compound the mistake of losing JJ to FA with trading away Marion.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

The Celtics aren't trading Tony Allen. Well, they certainly aren't doing it for Barbosa and a draft pick.

Joe Mama

No Kidding. That package might land us Marcus Banks, but certainly not Allen.