Suns sign Piatkowski

[MastersofCombat]

This is absolutely great signing for the Suns I am so happy they have finally realized how to add pieces that know how to contribute to this team. GOOD JOB Phoenix.... love it!!!

His game has always been about the run and gun, wait and see

 

[Joe Mama]

Thus it looks like every FA you sign on at a min contract hits lux tax the same - 744,500 this year. Sheesh, they did say something about rookie free agents... I can't remember what. I kind of think they cost less for lux tax, and it would make sense. Oh wait, what has sense got to do with a document contrived by lawyers...

Anyway we saved the grand amount of $56,000 for signing Piatkowski over Maurice Agar at #27. WTG, Mike! I think its got to be BS if a team says there's no one they like at that kind of outlay... what they mean is they didn't do their homework.

Well, there's $56,000 plus the $3 million Portland gave Phoenix for that draft pick.

Joe

 

[Mainstreet]

Well, there's $56,000 plus the $3 million Portland gave Phoenix for that draft pick.

Joe

I'm wondering, does the 3 million the Suns received for the 27th pick treated basically as a profit for ownership or does it in some way directly help the Suns to obtain a player for the money?

I tend to think it just mostly benefits the Suns ownership and does not enhance their ability to sign players (except it gives ownership a larger profit margin) and ties up a little less money long term on a rookie player.

From what I've heard, the Suns insinuated this was part of the savings of 9 million as a rationale to sell the pick so the team would have additional money to sign TT. Technically this might be correct, but IMO, somewhat deceptive.

So the Suns as a team only saved $56,000 by trading the pick as I understand it. The ownership then pockets most of the 3 million as a result. I understand other factors do enter into the equation (such as years signed). I'm just trying to make sure I understand it correctly without the spin.

 

[Joe Mama]

I'm wondering, does the 3 million the Suns received for the 27th pick treated basically as a profit for ownership or does it in some way directly help the Suns to obtain a player for the money?

I tend to think it just mostly benefits the Suns ownership and does not enhance their ability to sign players (except it gives ownership a larger profit margin) and ties up a little less money long term on a rookie player.

From what I've heard, the Suns insinuated this was part of the savings of 9 million as a rationale to sell the pick so the team would have additional money to sign TT. Technically this might be correct, but IMO, somewhat deceptive.

So the Suns as a team only saved $56,000 by trading the pick as I understand it. The ownership then pockets most of the 3 million as a result. I understand other factors do enter into the equation (such as years signed). I'm just trying to make sure I understand it correctly without the spin.

There's really no separation. The money that is used to pay players comes from the ownership group. That's an extra $3 million they COULD spend on players that they MIGHT not otherwise have been willing to spend.

Joe

 

[TucsonDevil]

I'm really surprised about the complaints about this signing. It's not like this guy is going to get much time. When he does see the floor, a vet can make better decisions than a rookie. I'm not excited, nor am I upset... we are talking about the 8-10th man on the bench. Come playoffs (which is all I care about this coming year), the Polish Rifle will only come in during blowouts.

More importantly - WHERE IS OUR BACKUP POINT GUARD...?

 

[Joe Mama]

I'm really surprised about the complaints about this signing. It's not like this guy is going to get much time. When he does see the floor, a vet can make better decisions than a rookie. I'm not excited, nor am I upset... we are talking about the 8-10th man on the bench. Come playoffs (which is all I care about this coming year), the Polish Rifle will only come in during blowouts.

More importantly - WHERE IS OUR BACKUP POINT GUARD...?

it's a long summer. We are less than a week into free agency, and this team has the assets to make a deal for a point guard if they want to go that route.

Joe

 

[Lars the Red]

The 36 years old isn't what I was hoping for, but for you guys that don't know him, Pike can fill it. He's very tough from 3, and the perfect part of it is his ability to find creases to get open looks.

He could really give some valuable 3 pt shooting before all is said and done.

 

[Mainstreet]

The 36 years old isn't what I was hoping for, but for you guys that don't know him, Pike can fill it. He's very tough from 3, and the perfect part of it is his ability to find creases to get open looks.

He could really give some valuable 3 pt shooting before all is said and done.

I'm looking at this differently now as he appears to be just a veteran minimum player (that can still play a role) that will fill out the roster.

I feared that the Suns were signing him as a primary acquisition after not signing TT. Now if the Suns do not sign one player that can fulfill a need for a higher dollar amount, I will start worrying again.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I'm looking at this differently now as he appears to be just a veteran minimum player (that can still play a role) that will fill out the roster.

I feared that the Suns were signing him as a primary acquisition after not signing TT. Now if the Suns do not sign one player that can fulfill a need for a higher dollar amount, I will start worrying again.

I think the Suns have been looking at this differently even than this.

They looked at Tim Thomas as just filling a roster spot. With Amare and KT coming back, he would be a quality player to fill the roster spot, and they would love to have that. But they did not look at him as being a primary aquisition to fill a need. DAntoni said as much, basically saying that they talked big about TT in press to give TT the warm fuzzies, in hopes he would sign here for much less.

They would love to have a pg as insurance too. But they do consider Barbosa their backup pg. So whoever they sign is a 3rd option pg in their mind. We've been seeing any pg signing as a primary backup to Nash.

This is why there hasn't been much urgency in free agency. They don't see anyone they get as getting much pt anyway.

Personally, I think our injury exposure is to great to think that way, but they didn't ask me.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

IMO, he used to be a shooter. Check out last season's stats. As I recall even when the Suns could not get a defensive player on him, he missed open shots. Personally, I would rather have Eddie Johnson back in uniform.

I saw him at Casino Arizona on Friday night playing 20/40 Hold Em. We talked for a bit.

 

[AZBALLER]

I still remember watching Pi at the Desert Classic more than 10 years ago...He is the perfect fit for the Suns and even a better fit at the $ he's being paid...He's the PERFECT role player for the Suns!!!

 

[F-Dog]

I still remember watching Pi at the Desert Classic more than 10 years ago...He is the perfect fit for the Suns and even a better fit at the $ he's being paid...He's the PERFECT role player for the Suns!!!

Yes, 10 years ago he would have been a great fit.

 

[AZBALLER]

Sure...and Jordan would have been better as a rookie instead of a 10 year vet; or maybe Barkley deserved the MVP his rookie season, instead of being an old experienced player on the Suns; or possibly Hakeem Olawjawon(sp?) was much better as a rookie than when he won his rings? Hey, Steve Nash was probably a way better player his rookie year out of Santa Clara, than he is now...

I'm trying to understand how a GREAT shooter isn't a perfect fit for the Suns' system?