The OFFICIAL off-season Suns plan thread!!

[OldDirtMcGirt]

Garnett isn't really a low-post player. He would be the perfect complementary big man to a true inside force, but he isn't one himself.

Yes, but Garnett would still give us a more than viable scoring option. I don't see us losing much, if anything, in that respect.

 

[sharkman]

I'm probably in the minority with this opinion, but I really think that Phoenix should trade Amare for KG.

Are you serious??? We have not one but two First Team All-NBA players....and you want to trade one of them away??? Amare will be a force in the League for the next decade.....

...Garnett has the ability to opt out of his deal next year....and sign where he chooses...

...you want to "rent" Garnett for a year...by trading away a franchise player who has another decade in his legs...for a guy who could elect to play with the Lakers after one year??? Who probably plays another 4-5 years before retiring???

Madness.

Nash= Keep the best point guard in the League (and the real MVP this year).

Raja= $4.75 mil for a guy that can lock down Kobe....and shoot .400%+ from 3 point range...a keeper.

Amare= The franchise...a guy that can deliver 30 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 blocks...in the playoffs....if you said you were willing to trade Amare...you'd have every other team in the League kissin' your butt just to listen to their offers. Idiocy to even consider trading the guy. At 24 years old he's already a top ten player in the League. You could probably get Oden straight up for him with the right team (like Charlotte...if they win the lotto they already have a rebounder-shot blocker in Okafor...but they need a consistent inside scorer which Oden isn't...yet).

Barbosa= Yes he dissappeared against San Antonio...but many do...he's young...cheap...and is quite possibly the fastest player in the League. He's instant offense off the bench...and he gets more confidence every year...did I mention he is cheap?

Kurt Thomas= If he exercises his option this year he makes $8mil for this one year...he plays defense....he can execute the pick and pop...he rebounds...he's tough...he's a keeper...and besides...his salary if off the books next year (unless we can sign him to a reasonable two year extension).

Everyone else is expendable. Use them...our three firsts...our second...our MLE...to fill holes, add a proven scorer/guy who can hit clutch 3's in the 4th quarter, another big to rebound, block shots, and play defense...

...and the team will make another run...we just have to make sure payroll is below the $70mil mark.

 

[OldDirtMcGirt]

There's no way that Garnett would opt out if he was traded Phoenix. All he has wanted to do is play on a title contender. And yes I'd break up our two All-NBA first teamers because they've gotten us zilch in the playoffs. Garnett is a much better and well-rounded player than Amare, plus he has the drive and maturity to get a championship. Ask Miami if they have any regrets about mortgaging their future for Shaq.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

I am a big Amare fan but to say he will be a force for years is hopeful at best.

We don't even know what his knee will be like in two years. Hopefully it will be stronger than ever. It would be novel if microfracture actually did what it promised for once.

 

[dodie53]

shaq > KG

trade anyone for KG but not amare and nash..

 

[sharkman]

There's no way that Garnett would opt out if he was traded Phoenix. All he has wanted to do is play on a title contender. And yes I'd break up our two All-NBA first teamers because they've gotten us zilch in the playoffs. Garnett is a much better and well-rounded player than Amare, plus he has the drive and maturity to get a championship. Ask Miami if they have any regrets about mortgaging their future for Shaq.

I call BS!

If Garnett was here for the one year...and we didn't win a title...

...he'd be looking for the one thing that has eluded him his entire career...(a Championship). He has money...a certain hall of fame spot...

...if he failed to win a title with the Suns his first year...and Kobe called...

...trust me...he'd be listening. He owes Phoenix nothing...he'd be doing anything he can to put himself in the best position to win it all...

...and in LA...he could take the minimum...and make up the cash with the endorsement dollars from the second largest market in the Country (super-athletes make far more on endorsements than they do in salary/winnings...see Tiger Woods).

 

[sharkman]

I am a big Amare fan but to say he will be a force for years is hopeful at best.

We don't even know what his knee will be like in two years. Hopefully it will be stronger than ever. It would be novel if microfracture actually did what it promised for once.

Huh? Kobe could get hit by a bus tomorrow too...

When healthy, Amare has proven to be a top ten talent...a big man who has speed...can rebound...block shots...and score at will. He's a good Character guy who hasn't had major legal problems...

...and your response is that a prior injury COULD come back???

That's it then...let's get rid of the bum...he could re-injure himself...lets take a proven first team all nba player and trade him for a guy on the downside of his career....who can go where he wants after a single year.

If you think Garnett wouldn't be looking at LA if he didn't win a title after one year, you are dreaming. He knows he only has a few years left...and he'll go wherever he has the best chance to win...

...and it may not be Phoenix. Kobe...Bynum...Odom...a point guard through the draft...and Garnett...with the trappings of tinsletown and the celebs...on that big stage?

No...you're right...he'd leave it all behind out of loyalty to Phoenix...a team he would have been with one year.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

I am totally against trading Amare. Just because I am not declaring his certain greatness of years to come doesn't mean I don't appreciate him now.

It has already been said Amare will need another surgery in a few years. I just hope that timetable is wrong.

 

[sharkman]

I am totally against trading Amare. Just because I am not declaring his certain greatness of years to come doesn't mean I don't appreciate him now.

It has already been said Amare will need another surgery in a few years. I just hope that timetable is wrong.

Fair enough. It's just that the Suns salary last year was $68mil...slightly over the luxury tax threshold...but Sarver (who has made it clear he doesn't want to pay the tax) agreed to do it because he thought that the Suns had a shot at the title. Due to Sterns actions we may never know...but salaries next year for ten players exceed $76 million...not including draft picks...

...and with the dollar for dollar tax, the Suns player payroll will be $96-100 million next year...

...you think Sarver's going to pay that when San Antonio's payroll will be around $65 million (over $30mil less)???

On top of that we have people doing post after post after post...about acquiring a guy....whose salary is $22 MILLION?

Folks...we're going to be lowering salaries...not adding $22mil players...

...remember...this is the team that gave away it's draft picks last year ...for nothing mind you...so it could save money. You really think the Suns are going to use all three picks...AND add a $22mil player?

I'm not trying to spoil dreams...just tryin' to keep it real.

 

[dodie53]

why would KG go to the lakers?
will the lakers become instant champions because of him?

if i were KG,
i would go to the spurs, mavs or pistons after a fruitless stint with phoenix..

 

[sharkman]

why would KG go to the lakers?
will the lakers become instant champions because of him?

if i were KG,
i would go to the spurs, mavs or pistons after a fruitless stint with phoenix..

1. LA is one of the largest stages...and they have a history of signing high profile vets
2. He could sign for the minimum...and make up the money in endorsements (something SA, Dallas, or Detroit can't offer)...and don't say money doesn't matter...it matters to all players.
3. Like him or not...many believe Kobe is a top 3 talent in the League. Kobe and Shaq...plus any other 5 scrubs could win a title...Kobe, KG, Odom, Bynum, a point guard and any other 3 scrubs could probably win a title too.
4. San Antonio signs annonymous veterans to do the scrub work...they don't usually go after the stars (Finley was probably their biggest veteran acquisition)

 

[dodie53]

shaq > KG

ok sure, the money is in LA,
but i still have doubts that KG, Kobe, smush and 5 scrubs could win a title..

 

[elindholm]

On top of that we have people doing post after post after post...about acquiring a guy....whose salary is $22 MILLION?

Folks...we're going to be lowering salaries...not adding $22mil players...

You understand that it's possible to do both, right? The way it works is, you get the $22 million dollar player by making a T-word (I can't use the actual word because my post will get deleted) using players whose combined salaries are more than that.

Marion $16.4 million
Barbosa $5.6 million
#5 pick about $3 million

total $25 million

Salary alone won't prevent the Suns from going after Garnett.

 

[Hugh D'Man]

Off season Variables :

ATL pick to PHNX
ATL pick to ATL

Sarver says pay no tax
Sarver says pay some tax
Sarver says pay all tax

Amare says adiosMF
Amare comes back, tail waggin, D'Ant crawls up his **********

Ivaroni goes
Ivaroni stays

D'Ant relinquishes GM duties
D'Ant tries to avoid 1st yr mistakes as GM


Stay tuned...for the next episode of the Setting Suns

 

[Ollie]

I'd like to see the Suns go after some seasoned international vets to reinforce the bench (you know, kinda like our former GM did with his new team) and I wouldn't mind giving away some picks if needed, instead of basically selling them.

For instance, trading our late firsts or future firsts for Luis Scola's rights (Spurs), Walter Herrmann (Bobcats, if they are our future salary dump partner) or Roko-Leni Ukic's rights (Raptors) is an idea I'd like D'Antoni to have. I know that Luis Scola contractual situation is pretty complicated but his buyout is rumored to be affordable now.

And trying to get some undrafted Euro guys like Felipe Reyes (who could be a good Kurt Thomas clone, minus the jumper) or Dimos Diamantidis (the backup Pg we need, big, smart and lockdown defender) would be pretty smart, too.

 

[OldDirtMcGirt]

I call BS!

If Garnett was here for the one year...and we didn't win a title...

...he'd be looking for the one thing that has eluded him his entire career...(a Championship). He has money...a certain hall of fame spot...

...if he failed to win a title with the Suns his first year...and Kobe called...

...trust me...he'd be listening. He owes Phoenix nothing...he'd be doing anything he can to put himself in the best position to win it all...

...and in LA...he could take the minimum...and make up the cash with the endorsement dollars from the second largest market in the Country (super-athletes make far more on endorsements than they do in salary/winnings...see Tiger Woods).

Then we'd just tell KG to restructure his contract. He'd have just as good a shot at winning a title with Phoenix than he would anywhere else. This whole opt out business really doesn't seem to be that big of a deterrent.

If we trade Garnett for Amare, the only thing that we'd be losing is future potential (KG probably only has three peak years left before he starts to decline), which is called into question by the status of Amare's knee. But for the next three years there's absolutely no question that KG is better than Amare.

 

[sharkman]

Then we'd just tell KG to restructure his contract. He'd have just as good a shot at winning a title with Phoenix than he would anywhere else. This whole opt out business really doesn't seem to be that big of a deterrent.

If we trade Garnett for Amare, the only thing that we'd be losing is future potential (KG probably only has three peak years left before he starts to decline), which is called into question by the status of Amare's knee. But for the next three years there's absolutely no question that KG is better than Amare.

Can't argue that one...
...but I'd rather keep Amare too. I must be one of the minority who believes that the two could coexist (Garnett isn't a Kobe-like ball hog).

 

[OldDirtMcGirt]

Can't argue that one...
...but I'd rather keep Amare too. I must be one of the minority who believes that the two could coexist (Garnett isn't a Kobe-like ball hog).

First of all, there's no guarantee that McHale would part with Garnett for Marion and a pick (I'm assuming that's what you'd offer, maybe Barbosa too). I'd say that Amare would be the best offer that the T-Wolves would get.

And I really don't think that Amare and Garnett would work well together. While Amare is definitely a better player than Marion, I believe that Marion is the more important player. His versatility, defense, and rebounding is the perfect fit for Phoenix. Marion allows to keep Nash on the other team's worst offensive player, and without him, you'd see Tony Parker absolutely running wild.

On the other hand, if you substitute Amare for Garnett, you don't lose anything. Nash can still guard the opposing team's worst offensive player, Garnett can pick up Amare's scoring, and we have a decided advantage on the glass and on defense. Garnett's defense would allow us to get rid of Kurt Thomas and free up some cash.

While initially when we brought Nash in, we were going to build around Amare, I believe that the times have changed. Nash proved to be a big surprise, and as far as I'm concerned it's now or never as far as championships go. We can still have a decent young foundation with our lottery pick, Barbosa, and Diaw.

 

[elindholm]

I'd say that Amare would be the best offer that the T-Wolves would get.

Considering none of the other four All-NBA first-teamers is a candidate to be traded, I'd say that's a pretty safe bet.