Suns updates and discussion for the 2023-24 season

[Ronin]

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[Mainstreet]

I am a little surprised Indiana made this move. I don't think it's enough to get them into serious contention and he is not really a young player anymore.

But I am happy he is staying in the East.

To get a star player for essentially draft picks, and not good ones at that, I thought was a no-brainer for the Pacers. I like what they have done.

 

[Ronin]

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

It is short term thinking. If he just leaves in free agency after we miss the playoffs or lose in the first round, you won't feel so much like it was a good idea to refuse to trade him.

Free agency next year should have zero to do with whether we trade him or not. Whether or not the trade gives us a better chance at winning should be all that matters. This team is currently all in on winning now and therefor we need to do what gives us the best chance right now.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

The bird rights are what I was curious about. Looks like we can sign him to more than a minimum in the offseason and is big if we want to hold onto him.

 

[Covert Rain]

To get a star player for essentially draft picks, and not good ones at that, I thought was a no-brainer for the Pacers. I like what they have done.

What is interesting is he said he will test free agency and warned any team that trades for him he will not be giving up his free agency.

 

[Covert Rain]

The bird rights are what I was curious about. Looks like we can sign him to more than a minimum in the offseason and is big if we want to hold onto him.

Birds rights isn't the problem. Because the Suns are so far over the cap? If they want flexibility bringing in the size of the contract might not be want the Suns want longer term. It will be interesting to say the least. I love what he has brought to the team.

 

[Mainstreet]

What is interesting is he said he will test free agency and warned any team that trades for him he will not be giving up his free agency.

From what little I've read, Siakam seems happy about the trade to the Pacers and will likely re-sign there, although he can become a free agent in July.


ESPN News Services:

Jan 17, 2024, 02:26 PM ET

Siakam, 29, can be a free agent in July. He is making nearly $38 million this season.

"I'm excited that Pascal is getting a first-class opportunity with the Pacers, being paired with Tyrese [Haliburton] and Myles [Turner] and being coached by a great coach in Rick Carlisle," Siakam's agent, Todd Ramasar, told Andscape.

"His future looks bright there."

Sources: Pacers get Siakam in trade with Raptors

The Pacers have acquired Pascal Siakam from the Raptors for Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora and three first-round picks in a deal that also includes the Pelicans, sources told ESPN.

www.espn.com

 

[Hoop Head]

Saw this in Sports Illustrateds site. 4 trade targets for the Suns. Jonathan Kuminga (Warriors), Royce O'Neale (Nets), De'Andre Hunter (Hawks), and Ziaire Williams (Grizzlies). I'd be ecstatic with Kuminga and Hunter would be interesting. Royce wouldn't be awful, depending on cost, but I have no interest in Ziaire.

Four Updated Trade Targets for Suns

The Suns reportedly have a top priority on the trade/buyout market - here's four targets to watch.

www.si.com

 

[Hoop Head]

FWIW, a trade involving someone like Damien Lee and Nassir Little for Royce O'Neale should work financially. That frees a roster spot, adds a bigger wing accustomed to playing a stretch 4 role, and the Nets might even bite since O'Neale is too old for their team, 30, and their season isn't going anywhere. They get younger with Little and we get a vet. Of course Lee can be swapped for other minimum guys we have like KBD, Yuta, or whoever but one needs to be included.

 

[Proximo]

Saw this in Sports Illustrateds site. 4 trade targets for the Suns. Jonathan Kuminga (Warriors), Royce O'Neale (Nets), De'Andre Hunter (Hawks), and Ziaire Williams (Grizzlies). I'd be ecstatic with Kuminga and Hunter would be interesting. Royce wouldn't be awful, depending on cost, but I have no interest in Ziaire.

Four Updated Trade Targets for Suns

The Suns reportedly have a top priority on the trade/buyout market - here's four targets to watch.

www.si.com

Flex also said Nick Richardson - and he looks pretty interesting to me as a backup center.

Hunter is locked up at 20 million+ a year for the next 4 years. That pretty much means Grayson would be part of that deal, not sure about that one.

 

[Hoop Head]

Flex also said Nick Richardson - and he looks pretty interesting to me as a backup center.

Hunter is locked up at 20 million+ a year for the next 4 years. That pretty much means Grayson would be part of that deal, not sure about that one.

Nick Richardson is ok.

I don't see Hunter coming here for salary reasons. O'Neale makes the most sense. Kuminga would need a 3rd team as I'm not sure what we have the Warriors would want. Grayson works but they don't need guard depth really.

 

[Hoop Head]

Ive also read there's a potential deal in the works sending PJ Tucker to Washington where he'd be bought out. He'd be eligible to sign here but I'm not sure who he'd replace. He'd be an upgrade over KBD and Yuta but he wouldn't improve things much.

 

[Mainstreet]

Ive also read there's a potential deal in the works sending PJ Tucker to Washington where he'd be bought out. He'd be eligible to sign here but I'm not sure who he'd replace. He'd be an upgrade over KBD and Yuta but he wouldn't improve things much.

I wouldn't be thrilled to have Tucker back at this point in time except to upgrade Yuta or KBD.

The Suns have some trade exceptions available, particularly Dario Saric ($4,975,371) or Cam Payne ($6,500,000). However, they can't be combined.

 

[Proximo]

Ive also read there's a potential deal in the works sending PJ Tucker to Washington where he'd be bought out. He'd be eligible to sign here but I'm not sure who he'd replace. He'd be an upgrade over KBD and Yuta but he wouldn't improve things much.

In the playoffs I still think he could be useful defensively - maybe. Depends on the matchup.

 

[Proximo]

Nick Richardson is ok.

I don't see Hunter coming here for salary reasons. O'Neale makes the most sense. Kuminga would need a 3rd team as I'm not sure what we have the Warriors would want. Grayson works but they don't need guard depth really.

I don't see the point of O'neal.

Honestly I would rather stay with Little. Unless his injury is going to prevent him from playing again.

 

[taz02]

FWIW, a trade involving someone like Damien Lee and Nassir Little for Royce O'Neale should work financially. That frees a roster spot, adds a bigger wing accustomed to playing a stretch 4 role, and the Nets might even bite since O'Neale is too old for their team, 30, and their season isn't going anywhere. They get younger with Little and we get a vet. Of course Lee can be swapped for other minimum guys we have like KBD, Yuta, or whoever but one needs to be included.

Can't be done. Cannot combine salaries to match the incoming player salary. We can only trade Allen for him. That's the problem.

 

[taz02]

I wouldn't be thrilled to have Tucker back at this point in time except to upgrade Yuta or KBD.

The Suns have some trade exceptions available, particularly Dario Saric ($4,975,371) or Cam Payne ($6,500,000). However, they can't be combined.

The suns can’t use trade exceptions created from a prior year.

 

[1982baskets]

Free agency next year should have zero to do with whether we trade him or not. Whether or not the trade gives us a better chance at winning should be all that matters. This team is currently all in on winning now and therefor we need to do what gives us the best chance right now.

I disagree because they are not winning now. If they were in the top 3 of the West, ok. They are fighting for a playoff spot with the play ins. We're not going to end up in the top 4 of the West. The best case for this team in the regular season is probably a 5th or 6th seed finish. Winning 3 rounds without home court, then a NBA title without one, again, very unlikely.

The other thing - Beal and Book are SGs match up wise. Sure Book has some PG skill so does Beal. They can make plays. Match up wise though, you basically have three SGs in Allen, Book, Beal. When you then face teams who have some quick PGs or a big SF, you're in match up hell in the playoffs.

 

[95pro]

The suns can’t use trade exceptions created from a prior year.

I think this is our last year to use either the Dario or Payne exception.

 

[1982baskets]

Payne was from this year, I believe. He was dealt in the offseason to the Spurs along with our 2025 second round pick for the Spurs 2024 second round pick, and the Spurs had capspace to take the deal on. So the trade ex that opened up, should still be available. A player in the 6.5M range.

Unless the new tax rules limit that, not sure. Based on my memory, the Suns should be able to add a player within than 6.5M salary. Question is who would be available at that salary who would give us what we need?

We need someone that can step in at the 3/SF and give you minutes that are currently going to non-shooting threats like Okogie, Little etc. Or a 1/PG who can do the same, give you 3 point shooting instead of the non-impact shooting we get from Goodwin when he plays there. There's really no way you can land a player that gives you defense and 3 point shooting (what we really need) at those 2 spots with just that trade exemption.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I disagree because they are not winning now. If they were in the top 3 of the West, ok. They are fighting for a playoff spot with the play ins. We're not going to end up in the top 4 of the West. The best case for this team in the regular season is probably a 5th or 6th seed finish. Winning 3 rounds without home court, then a NBA title without one, again, very unlikely.

The other thing - Beal and Book are SGs match up wise. Sure Book has some PG skill so does Beal. They can make plays. Match up wise though, you basically have three SGs in Allen, Book, Beal. When you then face teams who have some quick PGs or a big SF, you're in match up hell in the playoffs.

Winning a title is unlikely but not impossible, unless and until you start making moves for the future. And judging where we are right now makes little sense as we've rarely seen this team whole. That could very well remain the case all season and if so, we'll be lucky to make the playoffs. But we mortgaged much of our future to create this team with it's built in expiration date - so as long as we have even a remote chance of winning it all, every decision we make has to be designed to make us better right now.

You're right about the poor roster balance but I don't believe we'll be able to fix that this year. And you're also ignoring that the matchup advantages work both ways. But I'll say again, I think we have a better chance of improving our balance, our rotation, with the players already in house than we would by trading away Allen. We likely aren't getting anywhere near a star for Grayson even though he's playing like one.

 

[Hoop Head]

Can't be done. Cannot combine salaries to match the incoming player salary. We can only trade Allen for him. That's the problem.

Yes we can. The rules for aggregating salaries kick in next year and don't apply to players who make less than the league average anyways. The league average is a little higher than the MLE which is $11 million.

 

[Ronin]

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[Ronin]

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media