The Starting 5

[JCSunsfan]

Oubre's energy was fun during his tenure here. I don't believe he is any sort of culture/lockerroom concern.

He was a 20ppg scorer last season. If you look at just about any impact metric, he is the definition of an empty stats player.

I'd roster him over Ish based on talent. There's a number of ways he could potentially help us if he buys in on the defensive end. If he does not, I'm confident Vogel would have zero hesitation perma-benching him.

Nah. If we cut Ish, there are better options out there than Oubre. His teams do better when he is off the court.

Even an empty roster spot is better. Oubre is a spotlight chaser on and off the court.

 

[overseascardfan]

The good thing is we have until February to use the Saric trade exception and with the picks we got we have time to see what we have before looking for upgrades.

 

[Hoop Head]

The good thing is we have until February to use the Saric trade exception and with the picks we got we have time to see what we have before looking for upgrades.

We got a larger exception from the Payne trade, which will be good for 1 year also. I think that is more likely to be used than the Saric exception.

 

[Mainstreet]

We got a larger exception from the Payne trade, which will be good for 1 year also. I think that is more likely to be used than the Saric exception.

Don't hold me to it, but I think the Suns will lose the Payne trade exception if they don't use it in February. It doesn't last a full year like the Saric exception. It has something to do with the new CBA. Maybe I will run across the information again.

 

[Mainstreet]

@Hoop Head

I think this is where I found it.

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[JCSunsfan]

@Hoop Head

I think this is where I found it.

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They really need to use it to add tradeable assets.

NBA Player Salaries - National Basketball Association - ESPN

See the highest and lowest player salaries in the NBA on ESPN.com

www.espn.com

 

[Yuma]

They really need to use it to add tradeable assets.

NBA Player Salaries - National Basketball Association - ESPN

See the highest and lowest player salaries in the NBA on ESPN.com

www.espn.com

IDK the new rules, but in the old days, didn't teams trade their exceptions to other teams? I think I remember seeing that before, in like three team trades, etc. That's of course now we have these Apron penalties, so who knows. @Bobbie Marks, LOL!

 

[Hoop Head]

ESPN had Reggie Miller on to talk Suns. He thinks Okogie will be the 5th starter, possibly Bates-Diop.

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[Mainstreet]

ESPN had Reggie Miller on to talk Suns. He thinks Okogie will be the 5th starter, possibly Bates-Diop.

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I think the Suns depth is fine. Those top-heavy remarks from the media are getting old. Drew Eubanks is a nice backup center.

The Suns have depth and talent.

I'd be fine with Okogie or Bates-Diop as the 5th starter.

 

[TigToad]

We are so strong in our top 4, I’d be ok with one guy sitting every game to keep people fresh. Let all the other guys get minutes and sort out who is in the playoff rotation

 

[Pda4976]

ESPN had Reggie Miller on to talk Suns. He thinks Okogie will be the 5th starter, possibly Bates-Diop.

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Nuggets only played 8 guys. People just parrot the same talking points over and over.

 

[Yuma]

I think the more appropriate talking point, is who will be the 5th guy at the end of games. If you look at it that way, I could see Gordon finishing games.

 

[95pro]

ESPN had Reggie Miller on to talk Suns. He thinks Okogie will be the 5th starter, possibly Bates-Diop.

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This is just media picking the guy that was already on the Suns without know anything else about who the Suns acquired. Okogie still has a jumper to prove he belongs with the starters. He has defense but so do KBD and Goodwin. It'll be interesting what Vogle decides, but my bet is on KBD.

 

[Absolute Zero]

ESPN had Reggie Miller on to talk Suns. He thinks Okogie will be the 5th starter, possibly Bates-Diop.

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Reggie apparently didn't watch many Suns playoff games last year.

I love what Okogie brings to the game, but don't want him to be the guy in the starting line up or at the end of the game that they leave open in the corner. It has to be someone who would require a defender to make teams pay for double teams on our big 3. I nominate Yuta Watanabe.

 

[95pro]

Reggie apparently didn't watch many Suns playoff games last year.

I love what Okogie brings to the game, but don't want him to be the guy in the starting line up or at the end of the game that they leave open in the corner. It has to be someone who would require a defender to make teams pay for double teams on our big 3. I nominate Yuta Watanabe.

Gordon or Wata may not start but may be finishing games, my bet is on Gordon.

 

[Covert Rain]

Gordon or Wata may not start but may be finishing games, my bet is on Gordon.

I think Gordon will be such a problem off the bench because teams are only going to be able to keep their secondary players matched up against him for so long. Gordon will eat them alive. Forcing shorter rotations or starters coming back earlier than normal.

 

[Proximo]

Reggie apparently didn't watch many Suns playoff games last year.

I love what Okogie brings to the game, but don't want him to be the guy in the starting line up or at the end of the game that they leave open in the corner. It has to be someone who would require a defender to make teams pay for double teams on our big 3. I nominate Yuta Watanabe.

I think people are underestimating Okogie's ability to improve his shot. There was a stretch he was shooting it really well. He knows it is the most important thing for him to fix to get more playing time. I would not at all be surprised if he isn't close to a league average 3 pt shooter this year.

 

[Proximo]

Gordon or Wata may not start but may be finishing games, my bet is on Gordon.

I think it will depend on the matchup. We can't go three guards against every team.

 

[Phrazbit]

I think it will depend on the matchup. We can't go three guards against every team.

And if we're ahead or not.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

I think people are underestimating Okogie's ability to improve his shot. There was a stretch he was shooting it really well. He knows it is the most important thing for him to fix to get more playing time. I would not at all be surprised if he isn't close to a league average 3 pt shooter this year.

It would make him a lot of money. He's shown some knack for taking it to the rim and playmaking as well. Hopefully next year is another step in his development.

 

[Absolute Zero]

Figuring out that 5th starter with so many options is a good problem to have. Trying not to OD on Koolaid here, but its difficult.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Statistically Yuta is not a bad defender he's average to slightly above, in fact based on advanced stats he is a better defensive player than offensive player.

Actually when looking at advanced stats, KBD is the better offensive player, and worse defender compared to Yuta, which I think actually goes against both players reputations.

KBD actually improved greatly offensively last season over his previous years in the NBA primarily due to his big improvement in 3pt shooting - hopefully that wasn't a fluke.

If these stats are true, then Yuta is the obvious choice. The 5th starter is going to be a corner shooter in the offense and Yuta is just insane from there.

However, Bol might be a dark horse. If he fashions himself as a defensive specialist, he can cover a lot of ground. Dark horse though. Interesting.

 

[Proximo]

If these stats are true, then Yuta is the obvious choice. The 5th starter is going to be a corner shooter in the offense and Yuta is just insane from there.

However, Bol might be a dark horse. If he fashions himself as a defensive specialist, he can cover a lot of ground. Dark horse though. Interesting.

Yeah, actually I am beginning to think maybe we should give Bol a chance. If he plays up to his potential he has already shown flashes of the teams starting 5 would be incredible.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Let's say Yuta is the right chemistry with the first group with hustle defense and that corner 3 that does not miss.

Then off the bench comes Goodwin, Gordon, KBD, Bol, and Eubanks. The second unit has a nice mix of defense and offense too. Nice, not scary, but ok.

 

[Yuma]

I heard a good argument today about Gordon being in the final five at the end of the games. Obviously he is clutch in close games. However, imagine the Suns having let's say a 10 point lead with three minutes to go. You put Gordon out there and dare teams to try and outscore that five over the final three minutes.