Suns to trade 2014 picks for Star?

[jlove]

I know it's Bleacher Report, however with rumors I've heard around the net, Twitter, etc, but the Suns may be willing to send off 2014 draft picks for proven star.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1888481-report-phoenix-suns-open-to-trading-2014-first-round-picks-for-superstars

IF that is the case, I'm not sure who to ship out and who to target. I'd love to keep Plum, Morrii, Bledsoe, Dragic, Goodwin and prbably Frye at minimum.

The players most talked about on the trade block right now, there are one that I would seriously look at......Afflalo. Orlando is said to be looking for youth and/or a high draft pick. I'd love to pull a trade to get him as our starting 3.

Other names floating (that could be tempting for us) are Thad Young, Evan Turner, Zach Randolph, Luol Deng.

 

[HooverDam]

First we need to have some working definitions. What's a star? Who's untradeable on the Suns?

Lets look at the 2nd question first:
No one on this roster, nor any asset should be untradeable for the right player. However the sort of player being referred to here (a LeBron, Durant, Paul George type) won't be available at any price.

Realistically, Eric Bledsoe is probably the only asset the Suns have that they'd really not want to move. Dragic is terrific, but for the right guy, you ship him out in a moment.

Stars:
LeBron, Durant, etc. aren't moving anywhere. So you have to look at 2nd level stars. Some of the guys you listed are more like 3rd or 4th level. I have no interest in Aaron Afflalo or guys like that, we may as well just hope for ping pong balls at that point.

You have to hope a team like Minnesota gives up on the Love-Rubio experiment and decides to start over, though that seems not terribly likely.

You may also be able to get a guy like Greg Monroe, who's not a star, but has some potential if the Pistons want to go in another direction.

It wouldn't surprise me to see players like David Lee or Pau Gasol become available, but who cares? They're too old to be a fit with the rest of this core.

 

[Chaplin]

At this point, I'm not sure why people think Dragic is more expendable than Bledsoe. Seems to me both are pretty much as valuable as the other.

Why would the Suns be so willing to get rid of Dragic but not Bledsoe?

Personally, I think Dragic is the leader of the team. Nobody's untradable, of course, but what makes Dragic more tradable than Bledsoe?

 

[JCSunsfan]

I know it's Bleacher Report, however with rumors I've heard around the net, Twitter, etc, but the Suns may be willing to send off 2014 draft picks for proven star.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1888481-report-phoenix-suns-open-to-trading-2014-first-round-picks-for-superstars

IF that is the case, I'm not sure who to ship out and who to target. I'd love to keep Plum, Morrii, Bledsoe, Dragic, Goodwin and prbably Frye at minimum.

The players most talked about on the trade block right now, there are one that I would seriously look at......Afflalo. Orlando is said to be looking for youth and/or a high draft pick. I'd love to pull a trade to get him as our starting 3.

Other names floating (that could be tempting for us) are Thad Young, Evan Turner, Zach Randolph, Luol Deng.

Afflalo is not a star.

 

[HooverDam]

Not that he's at all a star, but Thad Young would interest me. The Sixers are clearly in full on tank mode, resting Michael Carter Williams with a mysterious injury.

Would they want another 1st rounder? I wonder if they'd go for something like this:

PHIL sends:
Thad Young
Jason Richardson (and his contract)

PHX sends:
Emeka Okafor (ans his expiring deal)
Our highest 1st rounder

That saves them money, makes them worse this year, and gets them a high pick. They might want something else back too, perhaps a role player, especially a young one.

I'm not sure how the pick trading works though. In a trade can you say "we're trading whichever pick ends up being highest"? Or do you have to specify a certain pick?

At this point, I'm not sure why people think Dragic is more expendable than Bledsoe. Seems to me both are pretty much as valuable as the other.

Why would the Suns be so willing to get rid of Dragic but not Bledsoe?

Personally, I think Dragic is the leader of the team. Nobody's untradable, of course, but what makes Dragic more tradable than Bledsoe?

He's older and has a lower ceiling. Or at least its perceived he has a lower ceiling as its taken him much 4 years more than Bledsoe to get to the same level.

Also, its clear Bledsoe can't be your full time 2 because he's too small. So if you're going to keep him, but want to be more conventional with a bigger 2 who can shoot the 3 better, you'd be open to moving Dragic.

 

[jlove]

To me, Bledsoe and Dragic are non tradeables. As I stated in my original post, is I'd prefer to hold on to Dragic, Bledsoe, Morrii, Plumlee and Goodwin. That leaves the rest of the team up for grabs with our picks. I'm not saying Afflalo is a Star player, but is in that 2nd tier group. He has broken out this year and in a big way. He would be perfect as our starting 3 with Marcus as his back up. He plays hard on defense and now has a vast array of offense to go with it. I'd give Green, Tucker, Len and a pick for him.

I like Thad Young as well, and Monroe to a lesser extent. To get Young, IMO, we'd have to give up Kieff to get him and I'm not sure I'd go that route with the work he's doing and putting in. I'd think about it if maybe Young/Turner/Hawes for Kieff/Marcus/Len/Okafor/pick

 

[slinslin]

None of those are stars, no star is available for okafor and the picks we have.

At this point why tinker with the group we have when things are running so well unless you get a no-brainer star like Lebron or Durant or Davis it is dumb.

McD has always said that one option for dealing with those 4 picks is to use them to acquire a star like Houston did with Harden. Media are just hyping that up because he stated it again in the live interview. Nothing new.. he also said there were other options on what to do with those picks... like drafting projects, moving up in the draft, trading for other future picks etc..

No Harden-like situation is on the horizon in the NBA currently.

 

[JS22]

Afflalo is not a star.

It's debatable if he'd even start over Dragic.

 

[devilalum]

I don't see why the Suns need to give up any starters or key reserves unless its for a legit All Star. With just Okafer for salaries and tons of draft picks they should be able to make a deal.

Would Boozer help the Suns? He could be had for NOTHING if the Bulls amnesty him.

Maybe if Minny keeps struggling they will deal Love. It would be awesome to give them back their pick as part of a deal.

 

[ProdigalSun]

We should not be going after guards IMO. Dragic and Bledsoe are such a dangerous combo RIGHT NOW and I want to see what they can evolve into by the end of the year. We should be looking at potential stars at the 3 or 4/5 positions

 

[Chaplin]

It's debatable if he'd even start over Dragic or Bledsoe.

FTFY

 

[JCSunsfan]

Its not that Bledsoe and Dragic are not tradeable, its that it would be REALLY hard to imagine any YOUNG players out there that would fit the rebuilding mode better than they do. Maybe DRose, Chris Paul, or Steph Curry. Beyond that the players are too old, to one-dimensional, are not enough of an improvement to bother.

If its the best you can get, quit trying to get something better, you'll only mess it up.

 

[Covert Rain]

Unless you are a franchise player you are tradeable. Heck even franchise players not named LeBron are tradeable. Nobody is hands off on this roster. Having said that, I am not for trading "potential" picks for "potential" guys. If you are settled on a "potential" guy, stick with the draft.

Who the heck is available anyway or would potentially be available that is a "star"? The end game is to get your future franchise player.

 

[95pro]

we need a forward, plain and simple. we are very solid at the 1-2 or 2-1, however you want to look at it, with dragic and bledsoe. plumlee and tucker bring that defensive edge down low, tucker is fine at sf and plumlee at center. Just need that 4 who can defend and attack.

We have frye, morris and morris. they are good when they have their nights, but we need someone who is consistent enough to defend and score every night.

but making a move now, especially using our assets wouldn't be wise at this point in the season. maybe after all-star break when teams start to see where they stand for certain, and we should also take a gander at the up coming free agent market as well.

 

[Covert Rain]

but making a move now, especially using our assets wouldn't be wise at this point in the season. maybe after all-star break when teams start to see where they stand for certain, and we should also take a gander at the up coming free agent market as well.

Huh? If you can get your hands on a franchise player why wouldn't it be wise? Are you saying to maximize leverage?

 

[95pro]

Huh? If you can get your hands on a franchise player why wouldn't it be wise? Are you saying to maximize leverage?

odds are that there will be a franchise available player later rather than now, and yes we would have more leverage later than sometime before all star break. we have picks and the stock on suns players could increase as well.

 

[jlove]

I haven't been talking about getting Afflalo to play as a 2, I would play him at the 3. Yes he is short for the 3 but he is a monster on D and his offense has exploded this year.

 

[Gaddabout]

Y'all are a bit emotionally tied to this current roster. IMO, every single player on this roster is trade-able. Not a single one of them are untouchable, because none of them are super elite players that can elevate a team to a championship.

It's just hard to imagine who would be available that you could leverage for a better player or players. I imagine having McD having this internal conversation every day: "Don't screw it up."

 

[Covert Rain]

odds are that there will be a franchise available player later rather than now, and yes we would have more leverage later than sometime before all star break. we have picks and the stock on suns players could increase as well.

I see your point but we have also seen competition heat up for star players with teams not in contention. If someone comes to you now and offers up a star player with no other teams to compete against...you have to pull the trigger now.

 

[elindholm]

It's just hard to imagine who would be available that you could leverage for a better player or players. I imagine having McD having this internal conversation every day: "Don't screw it up."

Yeah, the hard part is that I would guess that the rest of the league sees the Suns as overachieving with a pretty mediocre roster, so I'd be surprised if anyone outside of Dragic or Bledsoe has any trade value. Hornacek deserves great credit for figuring out how to get something productive out of the likes of Mk. Morris, Plumlee, and Green, but I seriously doubt that other teams are coveting those players as building pieces for their own rosters.

 

[Superbone]

Y'all are a bit emotionally tied to this current roster. IMO, every single player on this roster is trade-able. Not a single one of them are untouchable, because none of them are super elite players that can elevate a team to a championship.

It's just hard to imagine who would be available that you could leverage for a better player or players. I imagine having McD having this internal conversation every day: "Don't screw it up."

I agree. Look at our past blockbuster trades. We almost always have to give up our best players to acquire a superstar. Larry Nance, Michael Finley/Nash, Hornacek come to mind.

 

[Covert Rain]

Y'all are a bit emotionally tied to this current roster. IMO, every single player on this roster is trade-able. Not a single one of them are untouchable, because none of them are super elite players that can elevate a team to a championship.

It's just hard to imagine who would be available that you could leverage for a better player or players. I imagine having McD having this internal conversation every day: "Don't screw it up."

I find that notion completely strange. Aside from having some sentimental feelings towards Dragic how anybody can be emotionally tied to this roster is beyond me. Yes, they are overachieving and it's fun to see.

However, I have long since move beyond the Suns "fun" phase. Screw that. I want titles in the rafters. This team needs to do everything in it's power to land a franchise player to get us there.

 

[elindholm]

I agree. Look at our past blockbuster trades. We almost always have to give up our best players to acquire a superstar. Larry Nance, Michael Finley/Nash, Hornacek come to mind.

Although I agree with your general point, what was interesting about the Barkley trade was that the Suns didn't have to give up Kevin Johnson. I remember, when the rumors started heating up, that everyone was assuming Johnson would have to be involved. When they got away with giving up "only" Hornacek, Lang, and Perry, it was something of a surprise.

 

[hcsilla]

At this point, I'm not sure why people think Dragic is more expendable than Bledsoe. Seems to me both are pretty much as valuable as the other.

Why would the Suns be so willing to get rid of Dragic but not Bledsoe?

Personally, I think Dragic is the leader of the team. Nobody's untradable, of course, but what makes Dragic more tradable than Bledsoe?

Bledsoe is younger, a better defender and has more potential.

 

[slinslin]

Bledsoe generally ranks a little higher than Dragic.

Bledsoe is #13 in PER overall, Dragic is #18.