Suns @ Timberwolves Saturday game thread 11-23-19

[gimpy]

I don't understand you folks. smh

Already ready to trade a your #1 pick in the draft along with a couple of future #1's plus others for one player...

 

[AzStevenCal]

I don't understand you folks. smh

Already ready to trade a your #1 pick in the draft along with a couple of future #1's plus others for one player...

Towns is playing like a top 3 player so far this season so yeah, there will be a lot of people in favor of trading Ayton plus picks for him. Personally, I'd rather pair him with Deandre but that moves a Towns deal from farfetched to unpossible. Which I believe is even worse than impossible. But if we could somehow find a way to make a Kat trade without parting with DA, there's a good chance that even giving them 4 first round picks and 3 pick swaps would actually look like a steal when all is said and done.

 

[hcsilla]

If it wasn't for Ayton's suspension, I think the Suns could make the most attractive package for KAT. What team could, or would, offer something better than Ayton and a pick?

Yes, the Suns could definitely offer one of most exciting packages for KAT, but the starting point is Towns demanding a trade.

Otherwise any rebuilding effort would start with dumping Wiggins and Dieng and would continue perhaps trading Covington while building around Towns.

In other words: even if they go in rebuilding mode, KAT is the last piece that they put on the table unless he demands a trade.

 

[SirStefan32]

No, no, no! I am telling you guys that Ayton is going to be a better player than KAT, and it's not going to take long.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

No, no, no! I am telling you guys that Ayton is going to be a better player than KAT, and it's not going to take long.

I tend to agree. There is just something lacking from KAT's game that would make me weary of trading away a bunch for him. Yes he is the better player right now, but I think Ayton has quite a bit more upside defensively and is already a guy that can give you about 20 PPG on 65+% from the field.

 

[AzStevenCal]

No, no, no! I am telling you guys that Ayton is going to be a better player than KAT, and it's not going to take long.

He certainly has the physical gifts to rival or surpass Kat. I'll continue to hope that Ayton gets close to his potential but right now, I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[GatorAZ]

I tend to agree. There is just something lacking from KAT's game that would make me weary of trading away a bunch for him. Yes he is the better player right now, but I think Ayton has quite a bit more upside defensively and is already a guy that can give you about 20 PPG on 65+% from the field.

Yeah, I think they’re both a bit aloof but it’s hard to argue with KAT’s numbers. Especially his arc as a shooter... I didn’t see that coming.

 

[GatorAZ]

Towns is playing like a top 3 player so far this season so yeah, there will be a lot of people in favor of trading Ayton plus picks for him. Personally, I'd rather pair him with Deandre but that moves a Towns deal from farfetched to unpossible. Which I believe is even worse than impossible. But if we could somehow find a way to make a Kat trade without parting with DA, there's a good chance that even giving them 4 first round picks and 3 pick swaps would actually look like a steal when all is said and done.

You know how we are as a fans though. JJ was being called untouchable by some after a decent stretch of his rookie season. Mikal was being called untouchable just a few months ago. There were some calling Chriss untouchable after his rookie year (okay that was only one guy). And I’m not calling out anyone specifically. We’ve all been guilty of it over the years.

 

[Chaplin]

He certainly has the physical gifts to rival or surpass Kat. I'll continue to hope that Ayton gets close to his potential but right now, I'll believe it when I see it.

Going out on a proverbial limb there, eh Steve?

 

[Mainstreet]

No, no, no! I am telling you guys that Ayton is going to be a better player than KAT, and it's not going to take long.

If Ayton hadn't been suspended I highly doubt we would be talking about it. He has so much upside.

Unfortunately there is a question mark after the suspension.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Going out on a proverbial limb there, eh Steve?

I really can't think of a reason to crawl out on a limb when it comes to Ayton's development. He's always had a world's worth of potential and he has a nice floor already but it's anyone's WAG whether he will actually become an elite player. Towns right now appears to already be elite.

 

[BC867]

The best thing about Kevin Ray is that he is NOT Marv Albert's brother. And frankly, mediocre though he is, the fact he isn't Steve Albert is enough for me.

Not as bad as the absolutely worst? I think your standards are higher than that.

Again, K-Ray's rambling fits football (or even baseball) play-by-play with so much
dead space between the action. But not basketball where the only dead space is
while shooting free throws or a 20-second time out.

Obviously, calling basketball on TV is not the same as on radio. But Ray misses
all of the nuances that Annie interrupts to mention while the play is going on.

Eddie just lets them go by. And Kevin may mention what just happened at the
end of the play. Or he may not.

Now that Tom Leander has stopped trying to be the next Al McCoy with his
catch phrases, he calls a good game. He knows what is going on and he mentions
some details that Ray has never picked up on.

And, as "manager" of the telecast (and its commercials), Tom runs a smooth
booth and blends perfectly with his color commentators, who don't need to
interrupt to do their job.

 

[AzStevenCal]

You know how we are as a fans though. JJ was being called untouchable by some after a decent stretch of his rookie season. Mikal was being called untouchable just a few months ago. There were some calling Chriss untouchable after his rookie year (okay that was only one guy). And I’m not calling out anyone specifically. We’ve all been guilty of it over the years.

I wouldn't disagree with any of this but I'm not really sure what point you're trying to make? Are you saying I'm jumping the gun by calling Kat elite or are you saying some of us view Ayton as untouchable because that's what we as fans often do?

For me though, Booker has been the only truly untouchable Suns player the past several years. Some guys, such as JJ while still a rookie and even beyond, I'd have put in the untouchable group solely because his potential appeared to be so much higher than his trade value. I'd still put Bridges in that group. I know most here have soured on him but I have no desire to part ways with the best individual defender we've had in Phoenix in quite some time given that at this stage he would basically be a throw-in. Maybe his offense won't ever come around and he'll be relegated to defensive specialist but it's too early for that call IMO.

 

[BC867]

Even though we’ve had some duds I think we’ve been spoiled for the most part whenever I hear another team’s tv crew. Who was the color guy with Gary Bender before Majerle?

My comments were about our play-by-play announced Kevin Ray,
whose job includes overseeing the timing of the announcers.

Color commentators are a whole different consideration. Their
job is to evaluate after the play-by-play announcer has done
his thing. That is if the play-by-play person isn't rambling on
and on and on in half-sentences.

K-Ray doesn't seem to know at the start of a sentence how
he plans on ending it. That is Announcing-101.

A good play-by-play announcer is like a good Point Guard.
He sets up his color commentator to succeed. Or he should.

K-Ray is word-hog.

 

[Chaplin]

I really can't think of a reason to crawl out on a limb when it comes to Ayton's development. He's always had a world's worth of potential and he has a nice floor already but it's anyone's WAG whether he will actually become an elite player. Towns right now appears to already be elite.

Hmm I thought the smiley face indicated that I was joking. Oh well. To each his own.

 

[WildBB]

I wouldn't disagree with any of this but I'm not really sure what point you're trying to make? Are you saying I'm jumping the gun by calling Kat elite or are you saying some of us view Ayton as untouchable because that's what we as fans often do?

For me though, Booker has been the only truly untouchable Suns player the past several years. Some guys, such as JJ while still a rookie and even beyond, I'd have put in the untouchable group solely because his potential appeared to be so much higher than his trade value. I'd still put Bridges in that group. I know most here have soured on him but I have no desire to part ways with the best individual defender we've had in Phoenix in quite some time given that at this stage he would basically be a throw-in. Maybe his offense won't ever come around and he'll be relegated to defensive specialist but it's too early for that call IMO.

Bridges meshes so well with Oubre when they're put on the floor together. They can really create havoc when out there together. That combo of Rubio/TJ, Book, Bridges, Oubre and hopefully soon Ayton/Baynes will be really enjoyable to watch when they're really swarming on D.

 

[GatorAZ]

I wouldn't disagree with any of this but I'm not really sure what point you're trying to make? Are you saying I'm jumping the gun by calling Kat elite or are you saying some of us view Ayton as untouchable because that's what we as fans often do?

For me though, Booker has been the only truly untouchable Suns player the past several years. Some guys, such as JJ while still a rookie and even beyond, I'd have put in the untouchable group solely because his potential appeared to be so much higher than his trade value. I'd still put Bridges in that group. I know most here have soured on him but I have no desire to part ways with the best individual defender we've had in Phoenix in quite some time given that at this stage he would basically be a throw-in. Maybe his offense won't ever come around and he'll be relegated to defensive specialist but it's too early for that call IMO.

This one. Ayton has physical upside and cheap but KAT is still only 24 and putting up prime Dirk numbers (not saying he’s on that level).

 

[AzStevenCal]

Hmm I thought the smiley face indicated that I was joking. Oh well. To each his own.

Well, sure, I saw the smiley face and I didn't take anything you said negatively but what was I supposed to do? If you didn't want an actual response perhaps you should have used the "rhetorical comment, no reply needed" icon.

 

[gimpy]

Which icon is that?

 

[Hoop Head]

Bridges meshes so well with Oubre when they're put on the floor together. They can really create havoc when out there together. That combo of Rubio/TJ, Book, Bridges, Oubre and hopefully soon Ayton/Baynes will be really enjoyable to watch when they're really swarming on D.

I wonder if Bridges slump of sorts could be linked to Ayton being out as well as Melton being dealt. I hadn't thought about it before but your comment on Bridges and Oubre sharing a good chemistry got me thinking more about who Bridges sort of paired off with last year. I remember hearing how he and Melton would have bets about who would get more steals and who could hold their matchup to fewer points. He was clearly friends with him and they shared a bond on the floor that isn't there any longer with Melton gone. Mikal and Ayton became friends during the draft process last year and that was mentioned during their introductory press conference. They didn't have stories the announcers talked about like Mikal shared with Melton but arguably the 2 people he was closest to aren't there right now and he's in a slump.

Oubre is a chameleon of sorts. He just seems to latch onto another guy and hype them up. He does it with Booker, Bridges, Ayton, and Baynes from what I've seen. He's got an infectious energy about him so that's not too surprising that he's able to bond with other players and since he's in a leadership type of role here it does rub off on others in a positive way.