Suns trade Robin Lopez to Hornets; recieve 1st rd pick, Johnson in 3 team trade

[JCSunsfan]

On the bright side of the Wes Johnson part, he shot 48% fg and 45% from the 3 in summer league. I know they don't play much D in summer league. But it might be an indication of what he could do in a more open offense with more open looks.

Don't get me wrong, Adelman is a great coach, but his offense is not wide open, and that whole team centers on Kevin Love.

Watching a little video of Wesley Johnson reminds me some of Wes Person.

 

[sunsfan88]

On the bright side of the Wes Johnson part, he shot 48% fg and 45% from the 3 in summer league. I know they don't play much D in summer league. But it might be an indication of what he could do in a more open offense with more open looks.

Don't get me wrong, Adelman is a great coach, but his offense is not wide open, and that whole team centers on Kevin Love.

Watching a little video of Wesley Johnson reminds me some of Wes Person.

Here's a good read on Wesley Johnson if your interested in more about him

http://www.canishoopus.com/2012/1/11/2699606/a-pattern-of-behavior-wesley-johnson

 

[Cheesebeef]

On the bright side of the Wes Johnson part, he shot 48% fg and 45% from the 3 in summer league. I know they don't play much D in summer league. But it might be an indication of what he could do in a more open offense with more open looks.

Don't get me wrong, Adelman is a great coach, but his offense is not wide open, and that whole team centers on Kevin Love.

wha? with rubio running the team, they were pretty wide open... and most of Adleman's teams have been. His Sacto teams were the first fun and gun team in years before SSOL.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Here's a good read on Wesley Johnson if your interested in more about him

http://www.canishoopus.com/2012/1/11/2699606/a-pattern-of-behavior-wesley-johnson

Interesting...both Johnson and Beasley need to take the damn ball to the hoop and stop shooting jumpers.

 

[JCSunsfan]

With the Suns present roster with no particular stars, I would consider more of a platooning substitution pattern so the second unit could develop some chemistry.

This might help Johnson.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Interesting...both Johnson and Beasley need to take the damn ball to the hoop and stop shooting jumpers.

That's alot easier with a running team. Its pretty clear to me that in order for this group of players to excel, they really need to try to implement a SSOL type of offensive game.

 

[devilalum]

That's alot easier with a running team. Its pretty clear to me that in order for this group of players to excel, they really need to try to implement a SSOL type of offensive game.

I loved SSOL but they should have called it SSWN (Seven seconds with Nash) SSOL without him is what the Nuggets did back in the day with that coach from Pepperdine. I was awful.

 

[Joe Mama]

Which leads to the other rhetorical question: Why is a mid-round pick a year or two from now more attractive than a mid-round pick from a few years ago? It's not like Lopez has proved to be a terrible reach at the position where he was selected. Some players below him have turned out better, but some players above him have turned out worse. If you were to re-do the 2008 draft based on what we know now, Lopez would probably go in about the same spot, maybe a few places lower.

Maybe it shouldn't be, but draft picks are always worth more than they probably should be, especially right around that draft. I'm not as down on Lopez that some people, but that contract is right at the upper limit of what I would be willing to pay, and considering we get back a first-round draft pick and essentially swap Warrick for Johnson's potential I like it.

These are the kind of moves we should be making while trying to rebuild Imo.

Joe

 

[Phrazbit]

The Suns are not in a position to be dumping 5 mil a year on reserve centers. Its a good trade, we got something for a contract that we should not have matched. And I agree, thats a somewhat reasonable rate for him, but the Suns have a lot more important holes going forward than making sure they have their 8th or 9th man locked down long term.

Dont give multiyear contracts to role players when rebuilding, period. We have already jeopardized our future cap situation this offseason, adding Lopez for 5 mil a year would have made chewed up a good chunk of what flexibility we have left.

We need to be stockpiling draft picks, we did that. And I dont care about Wes Johnson. He stinks, he stinks big time, he went from being the 4th pick to a justifiable salary dump. If he ends up turning his career around, then great. But I am going to assume he wont be here in a year.

 

[devilalum]

I'm too lazy to re-read and see if it was already mentioned. Minny is doing this deal to free cap room to sign Kirilenko. That is why they're willing to give up a first for next to nothing.

Also read that Johnson is on the way to being a lock down defender.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I'm too lazy to re-read and see if it was already mentioned. Minny is doing this deal to free cap room to sign Kirilenko. That is why they're willing to give up a first for next to nothing.

Also read that Johnson is on the way to being a lock down defender.

That's funny. Most say his defense is absolutely awful. I have no clue. Certainly he has the athleticism and length to be a good defender.

Generally, if someone doesn't like a player, they say their defense is atrocious. If they like them, they think its just fine.

 

[Phrazbit]

Looking at his metric stats he does not appear to be a good defender. He was supposed to be a solid defender coming out of college, among other talents that have not panned out, but Syracuse's gimmicky system may have covered a lot of weaknesses.

If the Suns, as expected, dont pick up his 13-14 option before the year then its a pretty strong sign they view him as a fringe rotation player for the upcoming season.

 

[devilalum]

That's funny. Most say his defense is absolutely awful. I have no clue. Certainly he has the athleticism and length to be a good defender.

Generally, if someone doesn't like a player, they say their defense is atrocious. If they like them, they think its just fine.

I read it on Holinger's insider player profile page. He said he was 3rd in blocks for his position and middle of the pack on all other defensive stats. He said that is good for a second year player.

 

[Evil Ash]

The AP is now reporting this as pretty much a done deal. Only logistical matters remain namely Robin going to New Orleans to take a physical

Although the story does screw up in saying that Miller is going to Minnesota

http://www.nola.com/hornets/index.ssf/2012/07/new_orleans_hornets_acquire_ro.html

 

[elindholm]

You have to admit, it's pretty funny that there are five players involved in the deal and yet Lopez is the headliner.

 

[Mainstreet]

I have to ask again, how is losing Warrick's salary beneficial if he would have been gone next summer regardless? He makes the same amount as Johnson, who will also almost certainly be gone next summer unless the Suns re-sign him.

As for saving money long-term, that's only true if you consider not keeping Lopez which the Suns didn't have to do anyway. Other than that, right now I don't see where else the Suns saved money on this.

I was projecting the Suns keeping Lopez and signing him to something like what the Hornets are offering.

 

[Mainstreet]

The AP is now reporting this as pretty much a done deal. Only logistical matters remain namely Robin going to New Orleans to take a physical

Although the story does screw up in saying that Miller is going to Minnesota

http://www.nola.com/hornets/index.ssf/2012/07/new_orleans_hornets_acquire_ro.html

It sounds like the Suns are keeping their draft picks... crossing my fingers.

 

[JCSunsfan]

It sounds like the Suns are keeping their draft picks... crossing my fingers.

This would seem to make sense. Minny needs to get something and NOH need to give up something. NOH two second rounders makes it just about right.

Not sure about BMillers contract. He is retiring. Is it tradeable now and then can be bought out if he retires?

 

[Evil Ash]

This would seem to make sense. Minny needs to get something and NOH need to give up something. NOH two second rounders makes it just about right.

Not sure about BMillers contract. He is retiring. Is it tradeable now and then can be bought out if he retires?

He already retired. We just have to pay around $800k to pay off his guaranteed portion of his deal.

 

[Folster]

Here are the terms of the Memphis pick owned by Minnesota that we are rumored to be receiving. Source: RealGM

Memphis' own 2013 1st round pick to Minnesota via Houston (top 14 protected in the 2013 Draft, top 14 protected in 2014, top 14 protected in 2015, and top 14 protection in 2016 Draft). If Minnesota via Houston has not yet received this first round pick by the 2016 draft, then so long as Memphis' own 2016 2nd round pick is among the top 55 picks then Minnesota via Houston shall instead receive (1) Memphis' own 2016 2nd round pick and (2) cash. If, however, Minnesota via Houston has not yet received this first round pick by the 2016 draft, but Memphis' own 2016 2nd round pick is not among the top 55 picks then Minnesota via Houston shall instead receive (1) Toronto's own 2016 second round pick via Memphis and (2) cash. [Houston - Memphis, 2/24/2011 and then Houston - Minnesota, 6/24/2011]

Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/future_drafts/detailed#ixzz21fayApXu​

 

[sunsfan88]

Dont give multiyear contracts to role players when rebuilding, period. We have already jeopardized our future cap situation this offseason, adding Lopez for 5 mil a year would have made chewed up a good chunk of what flexibility we have left.

 

[sunsfan88]

Trade is basically official now. No more RoLo playing volleyball in Phoenix!

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8200060/robin-lopez-joins-new-orleans-hornets-3-team-trade

 

[jlove]

Ok. So now the Suns MAY need to look at bringing in another center since Fropez is off to New Orleans and Frye being out still for an unforseen amount of time from surgery. Outside of possibly signing the 6'9" Garcia from our Summer League team, or playing Scola or Morris at the 5 behind Gortat, we need more size.

The available FA's that might be available and would be great pick-ups IMO are as follows in order:

Chris "Birdman" Anderson - Would be the ideal backup 5 with the 4's we have in Scola and Morris.
Joel Pryzbilla - Good defense and rebounding
Jeff Foster - Great rebounding and above average defense
Ronny Turiaff - Hustle guy and decent rebounding

From the D-League a couple guys might be worth a look:

Brian Butch (6'11" 240)- Great rebounder and productive scorer
Ben Strong (6'1" 220) - Great rebounder and productive scorer although a bit slight in weight
Jeff Foote (7' 265)- Great rebounder and efficient scorer

 

[Mainstreet]

Here are the terms of the Memphis pick owned by Minnesota that we are rumored to be receiving. Source: RealGM

I need this in English.

It almost sounds like under the right conditions the Suns might never receive a first round pick but a second round pick and money by 2016.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Good grief. I hate conditional picks! They always bite the Suns in the butt.

BTW. RoLo will average 10, 7, and 1.5 blocks next year in 29 minutes of pt.