Suns updates and discussion for the 2021-22 season

[Mainstreet]

@capologist

It would be great to see you posting on the Suns forum more!

 

[Finito]

Calling out what you see and the fact that a 10th pick in the draft has not been able to crack the lineup since he got here is not hate. Despite having a ton of coaching resources but has made seemingly little progress is not hate or ridiculous. It's calling it out for what it is. He is a project player, drafted way too high and has not panned out. No hate required.

Look I have no doubt money was a factor. In fact, if you look at the pass on Ayton, the other unspent money and now this. It all screams Sarver IMO. However, looking at this move in a vacuum, it's a justifiable move based on what we have seen from him. I bet not wanting to spend the money was a factor but it wasn't the only factor IMO. This move in itself doesn't upset me.

You don’t think a guy in his second year who averaged 16/12 was first team in summer league and led it in rebounding and got 9/8 in pre season has shown progress? Did you even hear Monty’s interview saying how the teams changed directions with Paul.

We were not some garbage team last year very few rookies would of cracked our line up even Halliburton would of been pressed behind Paul and the year Cam Payne had.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I simply think it's too early to write off a player with the skills to get drafted #10.

James Jones must have seen something in him to draft him that early.

I don't think much has changed except he has not been able to hit the three in game situations. I've always been a believer in playing to a player's strengths and not his weaknesses.

Now I'm just waiting for Stix to be included in a trade.

I don't think it's too early for us to go our separate ways but I'd agree, it's to early to write him off as a player. He has some talent but he needs a lot of court time and he's going to cost you wins out there. We're just not at a stage where we can afford to develop him especially since we sold off our minor league team.

He seems to have a positive attitude so hopefully some other team, early in the rebuild process, will show some interest in him and give him the opportunities we can't.

 

[Mainstreet]

I don't think it's too early for us to go our separate ways but I'd agree, it's to early to write him off as a player. He has some talent but he needs a lot of court time and he's going to cost you wins out there. We're just not at a stage where we can afford to develop him especially since we sold off our minor league team.

He seems to have a positive attitude so hopefully some other team, early in the rebuild process, will show some interest in him and give him the opportunities we can't.

Ironically where Stix was drafted made this necessary. As previously discussed he was drafted too early.

If he were drafted later in the draft his salary would have been more affordable and the Suns might have been able to keep him another season.

For example, Precious Achiuwa is only scheduled to make $2,840,160 next season. He was drafted #20.

 

[Chaplin]

It's not "hate"- he is just not a good player. He is not any better than Chriss or Bender.

Chriss is arguably better than Jalen Smith.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Chriss is arguably better than Jalen Smith.

I prefer Smith's attitude but Chriss was much better as a rookie than Smith is today IMO.

 

[Finito]

Oh Chriss is the perfect example of a great athlete with no work ethic at all

 

[Covert Rain]

You don’t think a guy in his second year who averaged 16/12 was first team in summer league and led it in rebounding and got 9/8 in pre season has shown progress? Did you even hear Monty’s interview saying how the teams changed directions with Paul.

We were not some garbage team last year very few rookies would of cracked our line up even Halliburton would of been pressed behind Paul and the year Cam Payne had.

There have been a bunch of guys who have shown good numbers in G-League that doesn't translate to the next level. It's no different (although not as much now) as what we used to see from European leagues. Guys dominating over there and coming here and it doesn't translate. He might be a higher impact player at a lower level. Preseason is preseason without regular rotations for either team.

So, no I don't necessarily consider that progress. It could be a sign of progress but nothing at the level that says "hold on to that guy". He was a reach at 10 and project player. At some point it's time to take your chances on another project.

 

[Finito]

There have been a bunch of guys who have shown good numbers in G-League that doesn't translate to the next level. It's no different (although not as much now) as what we used to see from European leagues. Guys dominating over there and coming here and it doesn't translate. He might be a higher impact player at a lower level. Preseason is preseason without regular rotations for either team.

So, no I don't necessarily consider that progress. It could be a sign of progress but nothing at the level that says "hold on to that guy". He was a reach at 10 and project player. At some point it's time to take your chances on another project.

1 season and 5 games?

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Oh Chriss is the perfect example of a great athlete with no work ethic at all

If we could combine stix and Chriss we would have a player. On their own neither is.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

There have been a bunch of guys who have shown good numbers in G-League that doesn't translate to the next level. It's no different (although not as much now) as what we used to see from European leagues. Guys dominating over there and coming here and it doesn't translate. He might be a higher impact player at a lower level. Preseason is preseason without regular rotations for either team.

So, no I don't necessarily consider that progress. It could be a sign of progress but nothing at the level that says "hold on to that guy". He was a reach at 10 and project player. At some point it's time to take your chances on another project.

All of this. In his lone court time this season he looked like urkel on offense still.

 

[GatorAZ]

I prefer Smith's attitude but Chriss was much better as a rookie than Smith is today IMO.

Somewhere @Slin still thinks Chriss has all-NBA potential.

I still can’t believe the Bender pick. He had no physical/mental toughness and was never productive in Europe. I blame Porzingis.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Somewhere @Slin still thinks Chriss has all-NBA potential.

I still can’t believe the Bender pick. He had no physical/mental toughness and was never productive in Europe. I blame Porzingis.

Yeah, physically chriss was a real specimen but he had no head for the game. I'm sure we don't make that Bender mistake if it weren't for Kristaps but damn, what a mistake.

 

[Hoop Head]

I think the Bender pick hurts more seeing how Porzingis has panned out. He was complete fools gold. Looked good in limited minutes and a minor role in New York so he was hyped beyond belief. Ended up in Dallas on an exorbitant salary and has shown nothing but the ability to sulk since.

Even if Bender was Porzingis 2.0 it wouldn't have been a good pick.

 

[Covert Rain]

1 season and 5 games?

How many workout sessions and practices do you think this coaching staff has had with this kid? So, yes, it's very possible they have seen enough. Many teams do the same after drafting players. Happens every single year across the league. I am not sure why you think this is so unique?

 

[Muggz]

When can we start trading some of the dead weight?

 

[AzStevenCal]

I think the Bender pick hurts more seeing how Porzingis has panned out. He was complete fools gold. Looked good in limited minutes and a minor role in New York so he was hyped beyond belief. Ended up in Dallas on an exorbitant salary and has shown nothing but the ability to sulk since.

Even if Bender was Porzingis 2.0 it wouldn't have been a good pick.

To me Chriss is probably our worst drafting decision ever. His highlights were impressive but he was playing in the Pac 12 so we had no excuse for not being better informed on the guy. I watched MQ play in a handful of college games and it was clear that he was probably never going to be an NBA player.

Incredible physical gifts but in every game I watched I saw him stand around and just stare at the basket for failing to let his shot go in, or stare at a teammate for a play he didn't like or stare at the referee for not making the call he wanted all while the ball was live. I don't know how you fix that kind of problem.

And the worst part of it all was that we paid a premium to get him.

 

[Hoop Head]

To me Chriss is probably our worst drafting decision ever. His highlights were impressive but he was playing in the Pac 12 so we had no excuse for not being better informed on the guy. I watched MQ play in a handful of college games and it was clear that he was probably never going to be an NBA player.

Incredible physical gifts but in every game I watched I saw him stand around and just stare at the basket for failing to let his shot go in, or stare at a teammate for a play he didn't like or stare at the referee for not making the call he wanted all while the ball was live. I don't know how you fix that kind of problem.

And the worst part of it all was that we paid a premium to get him.

I view Chriss as one of the worst trades we've made while Bender is one of the worst picks. Chriss wasn't terrible at #8, where he was taken, but we gave up #13, #28 and Bodgan. That's reasonable to move up if the right guy is there but Chriss really wasn't even better than Skal Labiessere, who was taken #28. Just a stupid trade but had we moved up for Jamal Murray, #7, or Sabonis, #11, then I'd have been fine with it.

I know I'm quibbling over the details. It was a bad move for a bad player so it seems worse than usual bad pick.

 

[Finito]

How many workout sessions and practices do you think this coaching staff has had with this kid? So, yes, it's very possible they have seen enough. Many teams do the same after drafting players. Happens every single year across the league. I am not sure why you think this is so unique?

Your fooling yourself if you don’t think this isn’t 100% money motivated

 

[Hoop Head]

Your fooling yourself if you don’t think this isn’t 100% money motivated

Didn't you also think trading for Shamet was 100% about saving money also since that meant we didn't need to pay Javon's salary next season and the 29th pick for the next 3-4 years?

 

[Finito]

Didn't you also think trading for Shamet was 100% about saving money also since that meant we didn't need to pay Javon's salary next season and the 29th pick for the next 3-4 years?

I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone cape harder for this front office. Credit where credit is due sir

 

[Hoop Head]

I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone cape harder for this front office. Credit where credit is due sir

So with 1Sun gone you're taking his spot as resident troll who won't stand by their own bad takes? Good to know.

Seriously dude, grow up.

 

[Finito]

So with 1Sun gone you're taking his spot as resident troll who won't stand by their own bad takes? Good to know.

Seriously dude, grow up.

I can’t make any promises.

 

[Covert Rain]

Your fooling yourself if you don’t think this isn’t 100% money motivated

I think you are blind if you think it's only about money.

I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone cape harder for this front office. Credit where credit is due sir

Really? You are obviously trolling now or you have not paid attention. Since when has @Hoop Head become a from office shill? That's two accusations you have lobbed since last night. Evidently, I play games and Hoop Head defends the front office at every turn.

 

[Finito]

I think you are blind if you think it's only about money.



Really? You are obviously trolling now or you have not paid attention. Since when has @Hoop Head become a from office shill? That's two accusations you have lobbed since last night. Evidently, I play games and Hoop Head defends the front office at every turn.

Yeah pretty much sums it up