Suns Off-season Thread

[Ronin]

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[GatorAZ]

Here is another what-if. What if Jerry Colangelo hadn't made the horrendous mistake of trading Dan Majerle for Hot Rod Williams in the 1995 offseason?

Here is why I believe that trade ruined the last Charles Barkley team. It wasn't about Williams, it was about the effect of team chemistry. Everyone knows that Barkley and Kevin Johnson failed to get along very well. I figured out that because they both got along well with Dan Majerle, Majerle was probably the bridge between them among teammates. Especially since JC had also traded away Kevin Johnson's buddy Mark West, the other possible bridge, in 1994. By now trading Majerle, Colangelo burned the last bridge; and the fragile chemistry between Barkley and Johnson imploded, so that they openly feuded in 1995-96. I remember seeing Barkley chuck bad shots and pick up lots of flagrant fouls; he was playing frustrated, and I wonder whether he was even pouting.

You can make the argument he should’ve been traded sooner. Didn’t they make Majerle the 6th man halfway thru 95’?

Looking at bball reference the Rockets blew b2b 18-point leads in games 1-2 at home to go down 2-0. Idk how that didn’t break the Rockets mentally. At this point there was a lot of pressure on Hakeem not getting over the hump.

 

[somethingshesaid]

You can make the argument he should’ve been traded sooner. Didn’t they make Majerle the 6th man halfway thru 95’?

Looking at bball reference the Rockets blew b2b 18-point leads in games 1-2 at home to go down 2-0. Idk how that didn’t break the Rockets mentally. At this point there was a lot of pressure on Hakeem not getting over the hump.

I can explain it: Because Olajuwon was so tough that Michael Jordan later admitted to having feared him. That says it all to me.

Well, I guess you can make that argument about Majerle, because I don't. Mine is that he should not have been traded at all. He was too vital to the unstable chemistry.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I can explain it: Because Olajuwon was so tough that Michael Jordan later admitted to having feared him. That says it all to me.

Well, I guess you can make that argument about Majerle, because I don't. Mine is that he should not have been traded at all. He was too vital to the unstable chemistry.

Majerle was an abomination in those two series.

He was a horrific 11/48 in the final 5 games of the first choke job against Houston in 1994. That’s shooting 22%. He averaged 7 ppg those last 5 after being a 16.5 ppg scorer all year.

And in 1995 he was an awful 15/50 over 7 games. 30% shooting. Again, 15.5 ppg scorer who averaged 8 ppg all series.

And he just got abused on D by either Vernon Maxwell or Clyde Drexler any time he was on the court.

They couldn’t keep going with him in a major role in the playoffs anymore. He was broken.

Trading him wasn’t the wrong move. Trading him for Hot Rod was the wrong move.

 

[Cheesebeef]

So, is Jalen Smith going to really command that big of a salary on the open market? I wonder if there’s any chance this team moves on from Ayton, gets a PF in the deal and some picks and then admits it’s mistake and throws the MLE at Stix for a couple years.

Would that get a deal done? Can we even offer that after trading him?

 

[Mainstreet]

So, is Jalen Smith going to really command that big of a salary on the open market? I wonder if there’s any chance this team moves on from Ayton, gets a PF in the deal and some picks and then admits it’s mistake and throws the MLE at Stix for a couple years.

Would that get a deal done? Can we even offer that after trading him?

My understanding, only the Pacers are limited to what they can offer Jalen Smith next season.

The Suns are one of 29 other teams that can offer Smith whatever they want.


By Tony East, Forbes:

In this case, even though the Pacers were not the team that declined Smith’s team option, they are still his incumbent team at the conclusion of his second season on his rookie scale deal. That means Indiana is limited in what they can offer Jalen Smith in free agency this summer — he cannot make more than $4.67 million with the blue and gold in 2022-23 and can’t be paid more than $5.95 million (the amount his fourth-year option would have been worth) from the franchise in 2023-24. Any other team in the NBA can offer Smith whatever they desire.

The Challenges The Indiana Pacers Face In Keeping Jalen Smith

Jalen Smith had his rookie scale team option declined last November, which may make it tough for the Indiana Pacers to keep him.

www.forbes.com

 

[Folster]

My understanding, only the Pacers are limited to what they can offer Jalen Smith next season.

The Suns are one of 29 other teams that can offer Smith whatever they want.


By Tony East, Forbes:

In this case, even though the Pacers were not the team that declined Smith’s team option, they are still his incumbent team at the conclusion of his second season on his rookie scale deal. That means Indiana is limited in what they can offer Jalen Smith in free agency this summer — he cannot make more than $4.67 million with the blue and gold in 2022-23 and can’t be paid more than $5.95 million (the amount his fourth-year option would have been worth) from the franchise in 2023-24. Any other team in the NBA can offer Smith whatever they desire.

The Challenges The Indiana Pacers Face In Keeping Jalen Smith

Jalen Smith had his rookie scale team option declined last November, which may make it tough for the Indiana Pacers to keep him.

www.forbes.com

If there are no prohibitions on the Suns signing him aside from normal cap constraints then trading him was the correct/only move after the blunder of not picking up his option was apparent. I suppose there was an outside chance that a discussion was had with his agent and him that the Suns messed up and are very interested in bringing him back, but that is doubtful.

Question: Do the Suns have the full non tax payer's MLE since they did not pay the tax in 2022, or are they limited to the tax-payer's MLE because they are projected to be above the luxury tax?

 

[Mainstreet]

If there are no prohibitions on the Suns signing him aside from normal cap constraints then trading him was the correct/only move after the blunder of not picking up his option was apparent. I suppose there was an outside chance that a discussion was had with his agent and him that the Suns messed up and are very interested in bringing him back, but that is doubtful.

Question: Do the Suns have the full non tax payer's MLE since they did not pay the tax in 2022, or are they limited to the tax-payer's MLE because they are projected to be above the luxury tax?

If the Suns are a taxpayer, their MLE will be the lower number $6,149,000 rather than the standard MLE of $10,095,000.

I wonder if the Suns could temporary drop below being a taxpayer by trading a player and sign someone to the higher MLE before other free agent signings?

 

[Cheesebeef]

If the Suns are a taxpayer, their MLE will be the lower number $6,149,000 rather than the standard MLE of $10,095,000.

I wonder if the Suns could temporary drop below being a taxpayer by trading a player and sign someone to the higher MLE before other free agent signings?

Is Jalen gonna command the standard MLE? I don’t know.

Are the Suns smart enough to admit their previous stupidity? I don’t know.

 

[Hoop Head]

If there are no prohibitions on the Suns signing him aside from normal cap constraints then trading him was the correct/only move after the blunder of not picking up his option was apparent. I suppose there was an outside chance that a discussion was had with his agent and him that the Suns messed up and are very interested in bringing him back, but that is doubtful.

Question: Do the Suns have the full non tax payer's MLE since they did not pay the tax in 2022, or are they limited to the tax-payer's MLE because they are projected to be above the luxury tax?

Cap holds put them in LT territory so they have the tax payer MLE. If they renounced rights to Ayton then they could get the full MLE but that would be the dumbest possible way to add approximately $3 million to a single players salary.

They can still sign players to minimum deals and should have the bi-annual exception. So it wouldn't make sense to up their MLE.

 

[Mainstreet]

Is Jalen gonna command the standard MLE? I don’t know.

Are the Suns smart enough to admit their previous stupidity? I don’t know.

If I were Jalen, I might want to stay with the Pacers even with their salary limitations (other teams may not offer a lot more money) or go to another team that's willing to offer a multi-year contract for more money.

I'm not sure why he would want to come back to the Suns, a team that gave up on him, unless he was offered an opportunity to earn a starting position.

 

[Cheesebeef]

If I were Jalen, I'd might want to stay with the Pacers even with their salary limitations (other teams may not offer a lot more money) or go to another team that's willing to offer a multi-year contract for more money.

I'm not sure why he would want to come back to the Suns, a team that gave up on him, unless he was offered an opportunity to earn a starting position.

If they’re done with Ayton, there’s a gaping hole in the starting lineup that needs filling.

Stranger things have happened.

 

[Mainstreet]

If they’re done with Ayton, there’s a gaping hole in the starting lineup that needs filling.

Stranger things have happened.

The possibility of starting and earning more money is always an attraction.

 

[Folster]

If the Suns are a taxpayer, their MLE will be the lower number $6,149,000 rather than the standard MLE of $10,095,000.

I wonder if the Suns could temporary drop below being a taxpayer by trading a player and sign someone to the higher MLE before other free agent signings?

I wonder if the $6.15M would be enough to bring him back. Again the only way I think the Suns have a chance is if they had a convo with his agent and him before dealing him, and he can't get a better offer than the tax-payer's MLE. Both are not likely in my opinion. But they still have a better chance and can offer more money than if they had kept him.

 

[Mainstreet]

I wonder if the $6.15M would be enough to bring him back. Again the only way I think the Suns have a chance is if they had a convo with his agent and him before dealing him, and he can't get a better offer than the tax-payer's MLE. Both are not likely in my opinion. But they still have a better chance and can offer more money than if they had kept him.

If the only difference was money, the Suns might have a chance of bringing him back. It's hard to see Stix wanting to return to a team that didn't pick up his option and where he didn't get to play much. IMO, he will garner interest from other NBA teams in free agency.

I don't remember a lot of fond farewells when he left. I'd certainly like to see him come back though. It's a shame the Suns didn't pick up his option and traded him for Torrey Craig, a player who might get traded.

 

[Chaplin]

I don't remember a lot of fond farewells when he left.

What did you expect? A block party on Jefferson? Who cares? It's ancient history now. Stop looking backward and start looking forward. Which is what James Jones should be doing as well.

 

[Mainstreet]

What did you expect? A block party on Jefferson? Who cares? It's ancient history now. Stop looking backward and start looking forward. Which is what James Jones should be doing as well.

Some of us still have interest in Jalen Smith and it's only natural to talk about him since he will be a free agent.

 

[Folster]

If the only difference was money, the Suns might have a chance of bringing him back. It's hard to see Stix wanting to return to a team that didn't pick up his option and where he didn't get to play much. IMO, he will garner interest from other NBA teams in free agency.

I don't remember a lot of fond farewells when he left. I'd certainly like to see him come back though. It's a shame the Suns didn't pick up his option and traded him for Torrey Craig, a player who might get traded.

Well one benefit of the Suns not picking up his option is it made him eligible to be paid more earlier, but it also put his paycheck in jeopardy. I still think it's highly unlikely, but would welcome the news.

 

[Mainstreet]

Well one benefit of the Suns not picking up his option is it made him eligible to be paid more earlier, but it also put his paycheck in jeopardy. I still think it's highly unlikely, but would welcome the news.

Yes, I think most Suns fans liked Stix and would welcome him back. Hopefully the Suns would offer a multi-year contract on the unlikely chance he might want to return.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Yes, I think most Suns fans liked Stix and would welcome him back. Hopefully the Suns would offer a multi-year contract on the unlikely chance he might want to return.

Well he was certainly 1sun's favorite player, or maybe second favorite player behind CamJ.

 

[Mainstreet]

Well he was certainly 1sun's favorite player, or maybe second favorite player behind CamJ.

I wouldn't say that name three times in a row.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I wouldn't say that name three times in a row.

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice. What can I say, I love living on the edge. (of my couch)

 

[Mainstreet]

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice. What can I say, I love living on the edge. (of my couch)

I'm glad he is appearing at your place, not mine.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'm glad he is appearing at your place, not mine.

I've got a house full of cats, Beetlejuice won't know what hit him, bit him or scratched him.

 

[Mainstreet]

I've got a house full of cats, Beetlejuice won't know what hit him, bit him or scratched him.

He will stumble over one for sure.

We had a new cat adopt us a few months back. It's like he has known us all our lives. Funny how cats just appear and magically take ownership.