Suns roster as of 7-25-12

[Mainstreet]

I just had to put the Suns roster on paper as of today to get a better perspective of where they are now. Certainly some players will play more than one position. So here goes with at least one player needed to get the roster to 13 players.

C: Gortat

PF: Scola, Morris, Frye

SF: Beasley, Johnson, Tucker

SG: Dudley, Brown

PG: Dragic, Marshall, Telfair

Nothing goes as planned but it appears PG and PF may be the strength of the team. Although Scola can play some center (as well as Frye), I would feel better if the Suns had another center. Center could become a strength as well with the right player to back up Gortat.

 

[Phrazbit]

I just had to put the Suns roster on paper as of today to get a better perspective of where they are now. Certainly some players will play more than one position. So here goes with at least one player needed to get the roster to 13 players.

C: Gortat

PF: Scola, Morris, Frye

SF: Beasley, Johnson, Tucker

SG: Dudley, Brown

PG: Dragic, Marshall, Telfair

Nothing goes as planned but it appears PG and PF may be the strength of the team. Although Scola can play some center (as well as Frye), I would feel better if the Suns had another center. Center could become a strength as well with the right player to back up Gortat.

I'd think center is a bigger strength than anything else. I'd rather have one good starter and a "?" as a backup than a mix of 3 average to below average players.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'd think center is a bigger strength than anything else. I'd rather have one good starter and a "?" as a backup than a mix of 3 average to below average players.

You have a valid point but still Gortat will need rest. I know Scola can slide over from PF to play center but I would feel better with another center or forward/center.

Any ideas on who the 13th player should be, any position? The Suns can keep up to 15 players but I think this is unlikely.

 

[BC867]

You have a valid point but still Gortat will need rest. I know Scola can slide over from PF to play center but I would feel better with another center or forward/center.

That is a great point. If Gortat is the only legitimate Center on the team . . .

Well, we know what is going to happen. As has been mentioned before, Lopez was playing, at the most, six minutes per quarter, leaving Gortat to play 18 straight minutes, which wore him down, while his opposing Centers were getting rest after twelve minutes or so each half.

 

[overseascardfan]

Jordan Hill would have be a good insurance pick up but I guess PHX wasn't considering trading Lopez at that point.

A couple of interesting UFA options remain: Daniel Orton & Solomon Alabi.

Orton you may recall had a nice stint as the starting C for ORL when Howard went down but then he got hurt.

Alabi, like Orton is a former 1st round pick, played for TOR, known as a shot blocker in college.

Both of these guys would come cheap and are very young which makes them appealing.

 

[leclerc]

I agree, we need to sign another center. Hopefully someone who's young and can turn into a solid contributor. Get a specialist with a motor and teach him a few post moves.

 

[TigToad]

I agree, we need to sign another center. Hopefully someone who's young and can turn into a solid contributor. Get a specialist with a motor and teach him a few post moves.

So, if the 1st we got in the trade isn't a lottery pick, the Suns will have 3 1st round picks next year? Crazy.

I think the Suns could do okay with the back up centers we have. Someone like Frye could come in and we can run our offense up-tempo. We have some interesting potential line ups. Probably not enough to win with consistantly, but could still be fun.

 

[Griffin]

I think whoever the Suns add as the 12th or 13th players (Tucker may still be waived before start of season) won't get much playing time anyway. So it looks like Frye will be our de facto backup center. Unless of course the Lopez trade falls apart, in which case we'll have Lopez in that role for another year. I don't think the Suns will be adding any more rotation players this summer.

 

[leclerc]

Next year

So, if the 1st we got in the trade isn't a lottery pick, the Suns will have 3 1st round picks next year? Crazy.

Let's get all the CJ's next year. That's kind of brotherly, right?

http://nbadraft.net/2013mock_draft

• CJ McCollum, http://nbadraft.net/players/cj-mccollum
• CJ Leslie, http://nbadraft.net/players/cj-leslie
• CJ Fair, http://nbadraft.net/players/cj-fair

A bit off topic, sorry.

Back on topic, I hope to see a rotation of something like this:

C Gortat / Frye / <project>
PF Scola / Morris
SF Beasley / Dudley
SG Johnson / Brown
PG Dragic / Telfair / Marshall

Or maybe start with Dudley or Brown at shooting guard, and let Wes Johnson (if we get him) earn it by playing well. Word is he's mainly a spot up shooter so he probably would be better on the floor with the starting five. Shannon Brown is okay creating for himself. If Wes Johnson starts at SG we'd be pretty athletic and have good length. Could be fun to watch.

If whoever screws up and we don't deal Lopez for Wes Johnson and a 1st, then something like this:

C Gortat / Fropez
PF Scola / Morris / Frye
SF Beasley / Warrick
SG Dudley / Brown
PG Dragic / Telfair / Marshall

Bit of a logjam in the front court... I think Telfair should be the first PG off the bench, but still, give Marshall steady minutes each game so he knows he'll be on the court.

I'll watch this team next year (as always). Won't get a lot of W's but that's rebuilding for you.

 

[BC867]

Back on topic, I hope to see a rotation of something like this:

C Gortat / Frye / <project>
PF Scola / Morris
SF Beasley / Dudley
SG Johnson / Brown
PG Dragic / Telfair / Marshall

If whoever screws up and we don't deal Lopez for Wes Johnson and a 1st, then something like this:

C Gortat / Fropez
PF Scola / Morris / Frye
SF Beasley / Warrick
SG Dudley / Brown
PG Dragic / Telfair / Marshall

It is interesting that you're projecting Frye as a backup Center, but a 3rd string Power Forward.

I suggest that it is imperative for the stamina of Gortat that, when the Lopez trade goes through, we pick up a legitimate backup Center rather than use a VERY SOFT 3rd string Power Forward.

 

[Mainstreet]

Well the Suns roster that seemed set on 7-27-12 now appears to be the Suns roster they will go with as of today.

However, what I'm really wondering who will be 13th player if the Suns go with a center.

Darko Milicic anyone? I'm not sure who is still available.

Also I would not be shocked to see Telfair traded as he may be unhappy being the third PG as I suspect.

 

[Griffin]

However, what I'm really wondering who will be 13th player if the Suns go with a center.

Probably just a roster filler. Suns training camp invites could be a hot commodity among undrafted rookies and D-Leaguers this season as two roster spots could still be open. Since Tucker will be signed to a non-guaranteed deal, I'm counting his spot as open.

Darko Milicic anyone? I'm not sure who is still available.

We know that there have been off-court issues with the T'Wolves players last season. We don't know who were the biggest trouble makers, but something tells me putting Beasley, Wes Johnson AND Milicic back into the same locker room again is not wise.

 

[Mainstreet]

Probably just a roster filler. Suns training camp invites could be a hot commodity among undrafted rookies and D-Leaguers this season as two roster spots could still be open. Since Tucker will be signed to a non-guaranteed deal, I'm counting his spot as open.

I think there may be some centers out there who can play some instead of just settling on roster filler.

We know that there have been off-court issues with the T'Wolves players last season. We don't know who were the biggest trouble makers, but something tells me putting Beasley, Wes Johnson AND Milicic back into the same locker room again is not wise.

You might be right. I do not know much about the Wolves team chemistry.

 

[elindholm]

I think there may be some centers out there who can play some instead of just settling on roster filler.

Yes, but are any of them going to be good enough to take minutes away from Frye (the current backup center by default) or Morris (who could spend more time at PF when Scola covers backup C)?

 

[Mainstreet]

Yes, but are any of them going to be good enough to take minutes away from Frye (the current backup center by default) or Morris (who could spend more time at PF when Scola covers backup C)?

I don't know, but the Suns are on a roll. Let's just keep adding cheap talent and see where it goes.

 

[elindholm]

talent

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

 

[devilalum]

I think you leave the roster alone at this point. Maybe bring in a min. vet.

I'd like the Suns to stay ready to pounce on a deal for a star player at the deadline. Every year some team flops and wants to unload a star at the deadline to save money. If not the deadline then just before the next draft. They have lots of options going forward.

 

[Mainstreet]

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

Talent means the natural ability or the means to do something well, in this case play basketball. However, talent does not always translate in being able to do a certain task well. IMO, it's sort of like having a high IQ, it shows potential but it does not mean one can do a particular task better than another person.

 

[elindholm]

Talent means the natural ability or the means to do something well, in this case play basketball. However, talent does not always translate in being able to do a certain task well.

Yes, I understand, but I think we'd agree that the relevant talent here is not just "basketball," but specifically being an effective NBA player. And a lot of the new faces that the Suns are bringing in have shown themselves to be deficient in that talent, relative to their peers across the league.

 

[Mainstreet]

Yes, I understand, but I think we'd agree that the relevant talent here is not just "basketball," but specifically being an effective NBA player. And a lot of the new faces that the Suns are bringing in have shown themselves to be deficient in that talent, relative to their peers across the league.

We shall see. A number of the players are still young.

Here are a few interesting tweets coming from Paul Coro:

Paul Coro ‏@paulcoro

Blanks was "very surprised" the #Suns had an opportunity to get a player of Johnson's ability. Babby said WJ is "speechless" about coming.

Paul Coro ‏@paulcoro

Blanks believes Johnson's confidence was shaken from the unrealistic expectations of being a #4 pick & will benefit from a lower bar in PHX.

Paul Coro ‏@paulcoro

#Suns GM Lance Blanks said the Suns' current environment and franchise history can catapult the career of a player like Wesley Johnson.

Does all this mean anything... not yet. However, I believe the Suns best chance of getting a star player is through a trade... like getting Joe Johnson.

http://twitter.com/PaulCoro

 

[Mainstreet]

Per Paul Coro on twitter:

Paul Coro ‏@paulcoro

Babby said the #Suns will have about $7M of cap space to pursue opportunities at the trade deadline.

I'm beginning to like the new Lon Babby. Accrue draft picks, sign young players with potential, grab Scola after amnesty and keep cap space available.

http://twitter.com/PaulCoro

 

[Mainstreet]

Per John Gambadora, the Suns will have 14 M in cap space next season.

John Gambadoro ‏@Gambo620

With 3-way trade now completed Suns turn attention to signing a backup center. Suns will have 14 mill in cap space for next season.

I'm not sure about all the math but having cap space is good no matter how one calculates it.

http://twitter.com/gambo620

 

[elindholm]

We'll see if the Suns pick up Johnson's fourth-year option. That decision will speak volumes.

 

[Folster]

We'll see if the Suns pick up Johnson's fourth-year option. That decision will speak volumes.

I don't think they will unless he just blows-up. They'll want the flexibility to sign a max/near max player next offseason.

 

[Mainstreet]

I don't think they will unless he just blows-up. They'll want the flexibility to sign a max/near max player next offseason.

Do you or anyone else know when the Suns have to make the decision about the 4th year?