Suns trying to be 3rd wheel in Butler trade to land Dragic

[slinslin]

I do not think that was serious. Aldridge was.

If the Clippers had not given in and given him the extra year full maximum contract Blake Griffin would be a Phoenix Sun, guaranteed.

 

[AzStevenCal]

If the Clippers had not given in and given him the extra year full maximum contract Blake Griffin would be a Phoenix Sun, guaranteed.

I doubt it. If Griffin had become available at the time that Aldridge was, I think we'd have jumped all over it. But IMO we had zero interest in Blake when we agreed to give him an interview. We didn't pursue him, even when he announced that he liked the area. But you don't turn down an agent request like that if you want to do business with him/her in the future and I think that's all there was to it. Since the franchise was again making money, Ryan had little motivation to bring in a star - especially one that was injury prone and not likely to advance us very far in the win column.

 

[1Sun]

When's the last time that they tried it?

Last year (Griffin and Millsap). A few years ago before that (Aldridge).

Edit: Sorry, didn't see that this question had already been answered.

 

[1Sun]

I don't even think Aldridge applies to this specific question.

It's not like we were "holding onto assets" to go after Aldridge and could have pursed something else meaningful if not for that effort.

IMO 1sun's question is self defeating to his point. Bad teams blow assets on stopgaps.

It's not as though we have some hump to get over and a below average player like Beverly would get us there. What young developing team gives up assets for impending free agents in their 30s?

The only answer I can come up with is... stupid teams, who are likely to stay in their hole.

1sun, honestly, where would we be next summer if we trade a pick for a player like Beverly now? I know the answer; we'd win, maybe, a couple more games, we'd be without a pick and we'd still be without a starting point guard and with less means to acquire one.

I am not a fan of Beverley as the stop gap, but that aside, my concern is where we'd be with our current crop of point guards, not in term of wins and losses, but in terms of player development and team morale. Recent history with this team answers that question, in my opinion.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I doubt it. If Griffin had become available at the time that Aldridge was, I think we'd have jumped all over it. But IMO we had zero interest in Blake when we agreed to give him an interview. We didn't pursue him, even when he announced that he liked the area. But you don't turn down an agent request like that if you want to do business with him/her in the future and I think that's all there was to it. Since the franchise was again making money, Ryan had little motivation to bring in a star - especially one that was injury prone and not likely to advance us very far in the win column.

I agree. I think they were going to kick the tires on Griffin; and they let him use them to screw a division rival.

 

[slinslin]

you dont have a meeting with a free agent on the first day of free agency if you are not serious about signing him.

 

[AzStevenCal]

you dont have a meeting with a free agent on the first day of free agency if you are not serious about signing him.

Why not? You don't say no to an agent that asks you for a meeting, first day or billionth day.

 

[Ronin]

I will just add this....The Clippers also had to tell Blake Griffin that they would one day hang his jersey from the rafters, if he choose to resign with them.
Which we all found out later was a lie when they traded him to Detroit.
https://ftw.usatoday.com/2018/01/bl...-agents-clippers-pistons-contract-loyalty-nba

 

[AzStevenCal]

I will just add this....The Clippers also had to tell Blake Griffin that they would one day hang his jersey from the rafters, if he choose to resign with them.
Which we all found out later was a lie when they traded him to Detroit.
https://ftw.usatoday.com/2018/01/bl...-agents-clippers-pistons-contract-loyalty-nba

It would be interesting to find out if it actually was a lie or just a team changing it's mind. Sometimes the situation changes so I have no problem with the fact they traded him unless they actually did deceive him intentionally. And they may well have. It's a pretty cutthroat business, whether you're talking about the team or the player or the agent. The only ones that are truly loyal are some of us fans and that's just because we're idiots.

 

[JCSunsfan]

It would be interesting to find out if it actually was a lie or just a team changing it's mind. Sometimes the situation changes so I have no problem with the fact they traded him unless they actually did deceive him intentionally. And they may well have. It's a pretty cutthroat business, whether you're talking about the team or the player or the agent. The only ones that are truly loyal are some of us fans and that's just because we're idiots.

We throw the term "lie" around a lot. Every statement to every player has understood conditions. His number is not hanging in the rafters if he commits a crime, dogs on the team, requests a trade, or even if circumstances change in unforseen ways. The Clippers were selling a dream, a vision, not a promise.

 

[AzStevenCal]

We throw the term "lie" around a lot. Every statement to every player has understood conditions. His number is not hanging in the rafters if he commits a crime, dogs on the team, requests a trade, or even if circumstances change in unforseen ways. The Clippers were selling a dream, a vision, not a promise.

For the most part I agree but I'm not so sure about this one. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that they signed him, casually promised him the world, all the while knowing that he probably wasn't going to give them what they needed and would likely be a mid season trade. I don't know but with Jerry West there and the way it went down, it just seemed like there might be more to the story.

 

[Hoop Head]

Didn't the Clippers make their front office changes after resigning Blake? They let Doc go as GM and brought in Jerry West. That Blake deal doesn't sound like a move West would make but sounds exactly like Rivers. Rivers also paid his son a lot more than any other team would have.

Glad to see Steve post almost exactly how I viewed it also. Blake's Agent requested the Suns meeting. Not but 2 months earlier though Sarver and McD broke down "The Timeline" to season ticket holders during the mid season meeting. That's when that was coined as THE plan for the Suns and signing Blake made no sense. Especially after selling your loyal and most important customers on a rebuild. GM's and Server especially don't like telling fans to buy in while we are years from competing. Sarver has only recently come around to that approach himself.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Didn't the Clippers make their front office changes after resigning Blake? They let Doc go as GM and brought in Jerry West. That Blake deal doesn't sound like a move West would make but sounds exactly like Rivers. Rivers also paid his son a lot more than any other team would have.

Glad to see Steve post almost exactly how I viewed it also. Blake's Agent requested the Suns meeting. Not but 2 months earlier though Sarver and McD broke down "The Timeline" to season ticket holders during the mid season meeting. That's when that was coined as THE plan for the Suns and signing Blake made no sense. Especially after selling your loyal and most important customers on a rebuild. GM's and Server especially don't like telling fans to buy in while we are years from competing. Sarver has only recently come around to that approach himself.

I am just so glad Earl Watson did not have a son on our team.

 

[sunsfan88]

Title of this thread should be edited with "Teague" replacing "Dragic".

 

[Phrazbit]

I have not opined on Teague yet.

Jeff Teague has the same contract as Dragic. Teague is NOT a long term answer and his contract would make finding a long term answer significantly more difficult.

So, hell no to Jeffy.

If the Suns make a move for a player they need to have a realistic future with the team's growth. The only exception would be an obvious upgrade who comes with little long term investment and for dirt cheap.

Like... let's say the Clippers are obviously swirling the drain and log jammed at point... trading a 2nd round pick for Milos would be very acceptable.

 

[Hoop Head]

Teague might be a better fit than Dragic but as said his contract is the same. Igor would probably prefer Dragic because of familiarity and since the cost is the same in terms of the cap but I can't see why Minnesota would do it.

 

[sunsfan88]

Teague might be a better fit than Dragic but as said his contract is the same. Igor would probably prefer Dragic because of familiarity and since the cost is the same in terms of the cap but I can't see why Minnesota would do it.

This is actually why I meant Dragic should be replaced by Teague. If Minny is doing a 3 way deal then they would keep Dragic for themselves (as Thibs is reportedly a big fan of his) and ship out Teague to the 3rd team.

 

[Chaplin]

NO Teague
NO Dragic

End of post.

 

[Superbone]

NO Teague
NO Dragic

End of post.

Oh, so NOW your list is definitive?!

 

[1Sun]

And with our current point guard rotation...

NO hope

 

[JCSunsfan]

I want to observe JJ running the point a little more. He can defend the position.

From what I gathered, this game was going to be a look at Shaq and Okobo. The next game will feature Canaan and Melton.

 

[Chaplin]

And with our current point guard rotation...

NO hope

Goodbye.

 

[Chaplin]

Oh, so NOW your list is definitive?!

This one is, yes.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I want to observe JJ running the point a little more. He can defend the position.

From what I gathered, this game was going to be a look at Shaq and Okobo. The next game will feature Canaan and Melton.

Is he all the way back?

 

[Hoop Head]

Is he all the way back?

Apparently. It was just an ugly bone break rather than a tear. I think fears of him not being healthy or recovering are misplaced. Generally breaks are much easier to return from. Of course the gruesome breaks stick with fans longer though and could stick with the players also but I'm sure Canaan knows he needs to show he's healthy if he wants to start this season on an NBA roster.