Suns Press conference/Exit Interviews

[AfroSuns]

A far departure from the Lance Blanks tenure.
Some interesting info, of course the return of Bledsoe and Tucker was brought up. I think Tucker will be back....... Bledsoe? i guess we will see

Press conference -
http://on.suns.com/1a6
Player interviews -
http://on.suns.com/2z0
http://on.suns.com/2z1

 

[HooverDam]

I like Tucker, though I hope they don't over pay him. He's a nice D and 3 guy, but those guys are a dime a dozen. He probably feels like this is his one chance to get a relatively big pay day. He seems like the classic sort of guy a losing franchise like the Bucks would overpay to bring in.

 

[Superbone]

I like Tucker, though I hope they don't over pay him. He's a nice D and 3 guy, but those guys are a dime a dozen. He probably feels like this is his one chance to get a relatively big pay day. He seems like the classic sort of guy a losing franchise like the Bucks would overpay to bring in.

Tucker is the heart of the team. He is NOT a dime a dozen.

 

[Catlover]

I like Tucker, though I hope they don't over pay him. He's a nice D and 3 guy, but those guys are a dime a dozen. He probably feels like this is his one chance to get a relatively big pay day. He seems like the classic sort of guy a losing franchise like the Bucks would overpay to bring in.

I got the feeling they expected to sign him but they realized that he might get an offer too high for them to justify and if it reached the matching point he might be gone.

They didn't say much of anything outright except that they clearly expect to have Bledsoe in a Suns uniform next year. Reading between the lines I think they plan on bringing all the key players back but they will definitely try to upgrade either the four or the five spot (if not both). Also, they made it clear that they weren't going to make any decisions with an eye on maintaining this year's chemistry.

One of the things I really liked to hear was their optimism about Len and Goodwin. They still think that they have bright futures in the league. They said both players were diligent workers and they both spent a lot of time studying the game too.

 

[AfroSuns]

One of the things I really liked to hear was their optimism about Len and Goodwin. They still think that they have bright futures in the league. They said both players were diligent workers and they both spent a lot of time studying the game too.

I felt the same way when i heard that. They did not play a whole lot of games but one of the advantages of the run this season is the two young fellas to start off with a much better winning mentality than they would have gotten if they had gone to a team who is trying to tank....

It will be extremely hard for the chemistry this season to carry over to the next. I do feel the twins and Tucker play a key role in that.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Sarver was on the radio today with Gambo and was very candid. He said even if Eric says he doesn't want to be here, they are matching. He said Eric is a great player, match for this team and teammate. He knows he likes it here. He also knows that young players want as much money as they can get and he is fine with Eric trying to get as much as he can.

Gambo asked him if there is ANY chance at all that Bledsoe would not be back, and he waffled slightly and said something like, "well, if there were one of a handful of former MVP's available in a sign and trade, maybe." But he tossed that out there as a wild, remote, and unlikely situation. Basically, Eric will be back unless some team really knocks their socks off with some sort of superstar talent that they just cannot refuse.

Gambo said "what about Joe Johnson." Sarver said that he has learned some things since then, but then also said that the risk for matching under the new CBA (4 year max length contracts as opposed to 6 years before), means much less risk.

 

[elindholm]

Gambo said "what about Joe Johnson." Sarver said ....

Sarver should have laughed, said, "No, we aren't trading Eric for Joe Johnson," snorted derisively, and ended the interview. That would have been awesome.

"Former MVP," hmm. Derrick Rose?

 

[Catlover]

Sarver should have laughed, said, "No, we aren't trading Eric for Joe Johnson," snorted derisively, and ended the interview. That would have been awesome.

"Former MVP," hmm. Derrick Rose?

Or Kobe Bryant. What a sick joke that would be on all of us.

 

[elindholm]

Wow, this is embarrassing: When I was trying to think about former MVPs who are still in the league, I completely forgot about Nash.

 

[JS22]

Wow, this is embarrassing: When I was trying to think about former MVPs who are still in the league, I completely forgot about Nash.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Tucker is the heart of the team. He is NOT a dime a dozen.

I am sorry. I understand your affection for the hardworking Tucker. But Goran Dragic is the heart of this team right now. Tucker is replaceable, even by players already on this roster.

Just like Dudley was.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Sarver should have laughed, said, "No, we aren't trading Eric for Joe Johnson," snorted derisively, and ended the interview. That would have been awesome.

"Former MVP," hmm. Derrick Rose?

The '"what about Joe Johnson question" question was basically, "you didn't keep Joe Johnson when he wanted to be somewhere else, why is it different with Eric?"

 

[elindholm]

The '"what about Joe Johnson question" question was basically, "you didn't keep Joe Johnson when he wanted to be somewhere else, why is it different with Eric?"

Yes, I understand that. The point of the joke was that, based on that little synopsis, it appeared as though it could have been possible for Sarver to misunderstand the question, intentionally or otherwise, and respond appropriately.

 

[Catlover]

I am sorry. I understand your affection for the hardworking Tucker. But Goran Dragic is the heart of this team right now. Tucker is replaceable, even by players already on this roster.

Just like Dudley was.

I guess "heart of this team" hasn't been exactly defined but Tucker is referred to in this way often by the announcers and players. In fact, I'm pretty sure that Jeff or McDonough even used those exact words to describe him in the Exit Interview. Various people connected to the team have talked often about how important he is since neither of their point guards are actually leaders in the typical sense. And Tucker is the one that gets them focused and gets on them at halftime if they're dogging it. Jeff has mentioned this in many post game interviews.

As for being replaceable, sure, everyone on this team is replaceable. I think he's a far better player than Dudley though. He's not the shooter that Duds is but his defense is so much better and he's far more flexible in his assignments too. He can guard almost anyone from the one to the four and he's the only guy we have that can rebound in traffic (well, other than Ish). In an ideal world he'd be the backup (maybe start occasionally against the Harden's of the league) but I think we'd lose a lot if we just let him walk.

 

[Superbone]

I am sorry. I understand your affection for the hardworking Tucker. But Goran Dragic is the heart of this team right now. Tucker is replaceable, even by players already on this roster.

Just like Dudley was.

I'm sorry that you're wrong too. Goran is the head of the snake. There is nobody on this roster that can replace what Tucker brings every single night.

 

[Superbone]

I guess "heart of this team" hasn't been exactly defined but Tucker is referred to in this way often by the announcers and players. In fact, I'm pretty sure that Jeff or McDonough even used those exact words to describe him in the Exit Interview. Various people connected to the team have talked often about how important he is since neither of their point guards are actually leaders in the typical sense. And Tucker is the one that gets them focused and gets on them at halftime if they're dogging it. Jeff has mentioned this in many post game interviews.

As for being replaceable, sure, everyone on this team is replaceable. I think he's a far better player than Dudley though. He's not the shooter that Duds is but his defense is so much better and he's far more flexible in his assignments too. He can guard almost anyone from the one to the four and he's the only guy we have that can rebound in traffic (well, other than Ish). In an ideal world he'd be the backup (maybe start occasionally against the Harden's of the league) but I think we'd lose a lot if we just let him walk.

The cat lady gets it.

 

[Joe Mama]

So you guys who are adamant about keeping Tucker, how much are you wanting to pay him? I don't think there's a chance he gets paid by the Phoenix Suns until rather late in free agency. McDonough will want to keep his options open as long as possible. If that means losing Tucker so be it.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think Tucker could fill the "heart of this team" role from the bench if the Suns went after a free agent small forward. However, I would not overspend to keep him. There were some nights Tucker would seemingly vanish.

 

[Catlover]

So you guys who are adamant about keeping Tucker, how much are you wanting to pay him? I don't think there's a chance he gets paid by the Phoenix Suns until rather late in free agency. McDonough will want to keep his options open as long as possible. If that means losing Tucker so be it.

Not adamant, not at all. I just disagree with the idea that he's "replaceable, even by players already on the team" or that "those guys are a dime a dozen". Those are two recent comments about him in this thread. If he prices himself out of our range then let him go. But letting him go, even if it's the right thing to do, is going to hurt. There's a real chance it's going to hurt a lot, we won't know till it happens.

 

[Catlover]

I think Tucker could fill the "heart of this team" role from the bench if the Suns went after a free agent small forward. However, I would not overspend to keep him. There were some nights Tucker would seemingly vanish.

I agree with this. He brought energy almost every night for the first half of the season (more than half probably) but the last month or two he did seem to disappear in far too many games. I think he's like so many of our players, none of them were used to the minutes they were playing and they all seem to hit a wall. Even Goran hit that wall although he outlasted his teammates.

 

[Superbone]

I agree with this. He brought energy almost every night for the first half of the season (more than half probably) but the last month or two he did seem to disappear in far too many games. I think he's like so many of our players, none of them were used to the minutes they were playing and they all seem to hit a wall. Even Goran hit that wall although he outlasted his teammates.

It's amazing Dragic lasted as long as he did. He never got a break playing this Summer for Slovenia.

 

[Catlover]

It's amazing Dragic lasted as long as he did. He never got a break playing this Summer for Slovenia.

We had a lot of players outplay their contract this year but he might have been the biggest bargain of them all.

 

[PhxGametime]

Unless the Suns can get a Hayward, DeRozan, Gay, Deng, etc. like player, I'd give him around $5 Million/year but my thinking originally was to Draft a PG and SF while adding PF, via FA/Trade. The Arizonasports.com article said it's unlikely the Suns Draft 3 First Rounders, and they could possibly Trade for 'Star' player...

So I think I'll re-watch Suns games for Star player thru FA/Trade. Watching game-film of Collegiate players isn't exciting as watching Suns games over heh.

 

[Mainstreet]

Unless the Suns can get a Hayward, DeRozan, Gay, Deng, etc. like player, I'd give him around $5 Million/year but my thinking originally was to Draft a PG and SF while adding PF, via FA/Trade. The Arizonasports.com article said it's unlikely the Suns Draft 3 First Rounders, and they could possibly Trade for 'Star' player...

So I think I'll re-watch Suns games for Star player thru FA/Trade. Watching game-film of Collegiate players isn't exciting as watching Suns games over heh.

IMO, the Suns need another star potential player. This would dictate what other positions they need to address. Say the Suns get that star type player at SF. Then the Suns need to minimally need to beef up the PF position. After that, I would like to get a combo guard to serve the Suns backup needs at PG and SG.

I'm not into signing Tucker if the signing price is too high. I certainly do not want to extend Frye which is what he is seeking. If he can find a team that will give him a multi-year contract, so be it.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Yes, I understand that. The point of the joke was that, based on that little synopsis, it appeared as though it could have been possible for Sarver to misunderstand the question, intentionally or otherwise, and respond appropriately.

Sorry.