Suns Offseason Possibilities

[wilecoyotesupergenius]

Any discussion regarding trades, possible free agent signings and the Suns draft picks have to start with a simple premise:
Sarver isn't going to pay the luxury tax. Period. Never. I know I've read where people think he would if we were close to a title...or if we had a shot at Garnett....ain't true. He's philosophically opposed to it.

With that out of the way, there are some moves the Suns can make (that are CBA compliant):

1. http://www.hoopshype.com/rumors.htm states that Seattle is tired of losing money and they are happy with their 10 man rotation (until the can find a buyer for the team). It is reported that Seattle is shopping their number 10 pick...and it can be had for a solid future #1 and a #2 this year. My proposal? Send James Jones to Charlotte for their second rounder. They need scoring help and although they don't want to assume large contracts they would pay $2.5 mil for a nice young player who can shoot from the outside. They are under the cap so they can absorb his salary without us having to take any back.
A. We get $2.6mil off the books (Sarver smiles) and we have a second rounder to give to Seattle.
B. Ship Atlanta's future #1 and the newly acquired number to for the 10th pick overall. Yes I know Atlanta's pick may be high...but we need help now during the two year window of opportunity we have to win a title while Nash is still healthy. Seattle won't get a better offer than a Charlotte number 2 and an Atlanta number 1.....and we now get the #10, 21, and 27 in the draft.

2. Chicago is looking for a big man who can score and rebound (to spell Chandler and play beside him occasionally). Skiles likes defense minded players. We trade Kurt Thomas and the number 27 to Chicago for the number 16 pick. They will have cap room after season's end...so they can absorb KT's $7.355mil since they are a large market team...and Kurt would fit in well in that division.
A. We have now wiped $10 mil off our $62 mil payroll (Sarver grins) and we have the number 10, 16, and 21 picks to deepen our bench.
B. We now have the room to resign Tim Thomas (and look into extensions for Diaw and Barbosa).
C. We'd have the top six rotation players returning that made the Western Conference finals (Nash, Bell, Marion, TThomas, Diaw, and Barbosa)...and with Amare...and 3 nice rookies....

3. We could pick a backup point guard to give Nash some down time....a backup wing, and a backup big. Who? Depends on whose there. For Bigs I like Sene and Alexander Johnson. At wing, Carney, Brewer, or Thabo would work. At point, Sergio Rodriguez or Farmer would be nice...but Lowrey or Rondo could work too...(I'd even try Diaz at point...a project for sure, but unlimited upside).

Just a thought (and it didn't involve proposals that don't work under the CBA...or ANY talk of getting Garnett).

 

[Cheesebeef]

sending off the Atlanta pick is the most short-sighted thing the Suns could ever do - the draft next year is going to be OUTSTANDING - we have an opportunity to use that pick to bridge the gap between the present and the future. This draft sucks - getting someone at 10 in this piss poor draft ain't gonna help until years down the road and this team, configured as is - assuming Amare's healthy is ready to roll. And if Amare AIN'T healthy, you damn well better believe that pick next year from Hawks is gonna be the key to future success.

 

[slinslin]

#10 isn't worth Atlanta's pick.

I want #15 and JR Smith possibly Pj Brown for Barbosa, Jones and Thomas if Brown is in the deal.

We would have to get Aldridge for Atlanta's pick.

 

[JWF]

just a question, but isnt the ATL pick next year top 3 protected?

 

[Cheesebeef]

just a question, but isnt the ATL pick next year top 3 protected?

yeah, but the draft is gonna be OLD SCHOOL DEEP! They'll probably end up in 5-7 range, which means we'd still have a shot at probably either of the big studs from FLA or a couple of the projected lotto-projected freshman who would have been in the lottery THIS YEAR if not for the new age limit.

 

[SunsTzu]

sending off the Atlanta pick is the most short-sighted thing the Suns could ever do - the draft next year is going to be OUTSTANDING - we have an opportunity to use that pick to bridge the gap between the present and the future.

Preach it. Could you imagine if by some chance Durant fell to where the Suns were picking and they didn't have a pick. I know it's unlikely he'd fall out of the top 3 but stranger things have happend and I think whoever the Suns pick next year with the pick will be better than what they could get by moving up with it this year.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Im with everyone else. While I think that the Hawks will pull a Bulls and get us more in the 7-10 range - that pick doesn't get moved unless it is for something amazing.

 

[devilalum]

Any discussion regarding trades, possible free agent signings and the Suns draft picks have to start with a simple premise:
Sarver isn't going to pay the luxury tax. Period. Never. I know I've read where people think he would if we were close to a title...or if we had a shot at Garnett....ain't true. He's philosophically opposed to it.

With that out of the way, there are some moves the Suns can make (that are CBA compliant):

1. http://www.hoopshype.com/rumors.htm states that Seattle is tired of losing money and they are happy with their 10 man rotation (until the can find a buyer for the team). It is reported that Seattle is shopping their number 10 pick...and it can be had for a solid future #1 and a #2 this year. My proposal? Send James Jones to Charlotte for their second rounder. They need scoring help and although they don't want to assume large contracts they would pay $2.5 mil for a nice young player who can shoot from the outside. They are under the cap so they can absorb his salary without us having to take any back.
A. We get $2.6mil off the books (Sarver smiles) and we have a second rounder to give to Seattle.
B. Ship Atlanta's future #1 and the newly acquired number to for the 10th pick overall. Yes I know Atlanta's pick may be high...but we need help now during the two year window of opportunity we have to win a title while Nash is still healthy. Seattle won't get a better offer than a Charlotte number 2 and an Atlanta number 1.....and we now get the #10, 21, and 27 in the draft.

2. Chicago is looking for a big man who can score and rebound (to spell Chandler and play beside him occasionally). Skiles likes defense minded players. We trade Kurt Thomas and the number 27 to Chicago for the number 16 pick. They will have cap room after season's end...so they can absorb KT's $7.355mil since they are a large market team...and Kurt would fit in well in that division.
A. We have now wiped $10 mil off our $62 mil payroll (Sarver grins) and we have the number 10, 16, and 21 picks to deepen our bench.
B. We now have the room to resign Tim Thomas (and look into extensions for Diaw and Barbosa).
C. We'd have the top six rotation players returning that made the Western Conference finals (Nash, Bell, Marion, TThomas, Diaw, and Barbosa)...and with Amare...and 3 nice rookies....

3. We could pick a backup point guard to give Nash some down time....a backup wing, and a backup big. Who? Depends on whose there. For Bigs I like Sene and Alexander Johnson. At wing, Carney, Brewer, or Thabo would work. At point, Sergio Rodriguez or Farmer would be nice...but Lowrey or Rondo could work too...(I'd even try Diaz at point...a project for sure, but unlimited upside).

Just a thought (and it didn't involve proposals that don't work under the CBA...or ANY talk of getting Garnett).

Hey, your giant screen name screws up my browser.

I think a lot of teams are looking to get out of this draft and would love to trade their picks for a future pick.

Can a team like the Suns just say, "PASS" when their 27th pick comes up?
All we need is another CJake wastin our cap.

 

[devilalum]

Im with everyone else. While I think that the Hawks will pull a Bulls and get us more in the 7-10 range - that pick doesn't get moved unless it is for something amazing.

Especially if they sign the Alien.

Even if the Hawks improve a little they won't get out of the lotto. A #10 next year will be as good as a #5 this year.

 

[George O'Brien]

The reason that no one is a consensus #1 pick is not that everyone is so great. This is a very weak draft at the top. There is talent going into the 2nd round, but the top has only a few sure fire starters in the bunch. I'd hate to break up a championship team to get a few more bench players.

 

[Mainstreet]

Hey, your giant screen name screws up my browser.

I think a lot of teams are looking to get out of this draft and would love to trade their picks for a future pick.

Can a team like the Suns just say, "PASS" when their 27th pick comes up?
All we need is another CJake wastin our cap.

There are good players in every draft, even in the second round. The trick is finding them.

I hope the Suns have done their homework if they keep their picks.

However, I think the Suns are more likely to package a player and pick(s) for something more substantial and get a second round pick or two in return for an athletic project player or a need player. I really think that the Suns will move one of their first round picks if they cannot move up in the draft. I'm sure at least the 21st pick will have some value to another team if not the Suns.

If the Suns keep the picks but are unsure about the pool of talent... use the BPA strategy on both picks irregardless of position to add depth.

 

[George O'Brien]

I think there is a real chance the Suns are interested in Alexander Johnson, perhaps even enough to trade up.

Before BBall31 loads up the video, it should be noted that he had an average career and was considered a 2nd rounder just a few months ago. Apparently he worked worked very hard on his conditioning and shooting with spectacular results. His combination of physical strength and athleticism is getting comparisons with Stoudemire, which is not realistic. But it shows how big a hit he's become.

So why isn't he a lottery pick? As I said, his college career did not overwhelm anyone and a lot of GM's are reluctant to take guys who look better than their on the floor performance would warrent. he was considered too passive at times in college. However, he is said to have seriously impressed the Suns.

There are several reasons why Alexander Johnson might be a good pick. For one, the Suns have no way to know if TT is going to re-sign and could be awfully small if he doesn't. Johnson is not as big as TT, but is considered very strong and super athletic with a 40 inch vertical.

I haven't seen him play, but I can imagine why the Suns might be interested.

http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=165#

 

[panfolk]

We would have to get Aldridge for Atlanta's pick.

Agreed.

Cheesebeef: What makes that draft so crazy deep? Besides the 4 you mention. I think if there is a shot we could trade up and get Noah next year we should keep the pick but otherwise alot of those PF/Cs don't look like they'd fit the Suns system any better than Aldridge or Sene whom we could get this year.

 

[panfolk]

There are good players in every draft, even in the second round. The trick is finding them.

I hope the Suns have done their homework if they keep their picks.

However, I think the Suns are more likely to package a player and pick(s) for something more substantial and get a second round pick or two in return for an athletic project player or a need player. I really think that the Suns will move one of their first round picks if they cannot move up in the draft. I'm sure at least the 21st pick will have some value to another team if not the Suns.

If the Suns keep the picks but are unsure about the pool of talent... use the BPA strategy on both picks irregardless of position to add depth.

Trouble with BPA at 27 is that Griffin already said he didn't like how much of a crapshoot it was. He did say he likes the 21st pick. If they don't move up they'll use that one I'm sure. The other thing I thought was cool in one of the recent articles was Griffin saying that there wasn't a financial downside to keeping both picks as they were cheap enough to afford.

 

[PhxGametime]

Before BBall31 loads up the video...

lol


I actually have seen him Freshman year but last year his numbers were horrible, his Freshman year he looked like a Sean May kind of post player but I've heard he's lost some weight and now his workout numbers are great... it's possible I have no video though


I can't even find any of my Hoops Summit video... I looked at Sergio's Draft profile at NBADraft.net and he sure looks familiar. I'd like to watch the last 3 years and when introducing players to see if he's on there... that would be sweet to be able to watch Sergio and Sene BEFORE the Draft.