The Suns with the 2018 #1 overall pick select....

[taz02]

Financial considerations would seem to be the biggest downside to swapping the #1 for KAT. I haven't spent the time necessary to confirm but it seems that a trade for KAT would eliminate our ability to add another significant piece to the puzzle.

We can go back and forth all day on whether Ayton will be better than KAT and only time will tell. Maybe the question should be are we better off with KAT, JJ and Booker or with AYton, JJ, Booker and a quality PG.

My gut tells me we should draft Ayton, throw everything we have into landing a PG that can run the team and knock down 3's. This gives us time for Ayton to develop while the cap number rises and GS diminishes.

The suns have a history of landing great PG's now is the time to make it happen.

 

[Hoop Head]

Burns and Gambo have a poll question up about trading the #1 pick for KAT. 55% say no with about 5200 votes right now.

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[Hoop Head]

I know....this isn't rocket science. What is KAT going to do for us right now except eat up cap space!

I'm not for the trade but you're downplaying what KAT can do for the Suns. He's averaging 22 ppg, 12 rpg, on 42% from 3, and has never missed a game in his 3 years in the league. He's a great big and hopefully Ayton can get to that level but Ayton has more defensive potential than KAT. Adding Towns should put us in the playoff hunt next year and beyond while Ayton will take a year or two before he's able to be a significant contributor that can help us get to the playoffs. I'm fine with waiting but KAT is not a slouch by any means. He's a top 3 Center right now but we should wait because of the financial side of things with Towns makes it more complicated.

He's also due about the same salary as Ayton next year, his extension wouldn't start for another year.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

If we trade #1 (and even more) for KAT how are we better than Minnesota which, while making the playoffs, didn’t really look great?

KAT————————-———> KAT
BOOKER ——better than—> WIGGINS
JJ ——not as good as———>BUTLER

The rest of the suns are arguably equivalent of rest of minny.

 

[pokerface]

I'm not for the trade but you're downplaying what KAT can do for the Suns. He's averaging 22 ppg, 12 rpg, on 42% from 3, and has never missed a game in his 3 years in the league. He's a great big and hopefully Ayton can get to that level but Ayton has more defensive potential than KAT. Adding Towns should put us in the playoff hunt next year and beyond while Ayton will take a year or two before he's able to be a significant contributor that can help us get to the playoffs. I'm fine with waiting but KAT is not a slouch by any means. He's a top 3 Center right now but we should wait because of the financial side of things with Towns makes it more complicated.

He's also due about the same salary as Ayton next year, his extension wouldn't start for another year.

Is KAT going to get us in the playoffs? If so...past the first round? Townes don't give us the kind of time Ayton does to get better

 

[elindholm]

Burns and Gambo have a poll question up about trading the #1 pick for KAT.

I'd find a poll run by Burns and Allen to be slightly more credible. Say goodnight, Gracie.

 

[GatorAZ]

I know....this isn't rocket science. What is KAT going to do for us right now except eat up cap space!

Wasn’t McD’s stipulation on trading the pick is it had to be a young star player under team control? That’s pretty much Karl Anthony-Towns.

 

[Mainstreet]

Here is a question and video that deals with the idea of trading for Towns.

Bordow thinks it would take more than the #1 pick. No thanks.

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[Cheesebeef]

we are fully in overthink mode (present company included).

Take Ayton. Let the young core grow together... on low contracts, which means in two years they'll be able to land a big time FA that can make them the new version of the freaking Warriors.

 

[Hoop Head]

Is KAT going to get us in the playoffs? If so...past the first round? Townes don't give us the kind of time Ayton does to get better

I think he could help get us to the playoffs, how far is questionable, probably a 1st round exit next year if they can get there. Towns would be better here than he was in the slowed down Thibs system, where he was already an All-Star Center in his 3rd season. He would be the clear cut 2nd option for the Suns instead of the 3rd option behind Butler and Wiggins. It's beyond that first season he'd be here where everything becomes a bit muddier. Who knows how good they'd be once Booker, Towns, and Jackson have a year of playing together. The main issue is Booker and Towns extensions would kick in after next season which would limit their ability to add to their core. The salary implications are a large part of why it's not a no-brainer to make that trade.

Ayton will develop a lot in his 1st year, all rookies do, and how good he'd be in his 2nd year isn't known but he could be better than Towns by his 2nd season. That's entirely possible but it's not guaranteed. Towns would also improve next year since he's just 22 years old. However I'd rather the Suns stick with Ayton and hope he can become better than KAT sooner than later. The reason I'd stick with Ayton is he has a chance to be a better defender than Towns right out of the gate. Towns is a bit lazy on defense and that could be one of the reasons he's having issues in Minnesota with Thibs as their head coach and GM. Add in the salary differences and I'd gamble on Ayton, but it's not an awful idea to look into the trade at all. They could see something in Ayton that is concerning, either in his attitude, character, or physically. I just don't think it's as clear cut as you're making it out to be. KAT is exactly the sort of player that McD was talking about when he said he might trade the pick because he's just 22 years old, fills a position of need, and the Suns could control his future for years to come. Again, I'm all for Ayton, but Towns shouldn't be dismissed so easily.

 

[GatorAZ]

we are fully in overthink mode (present company included).

Take Ayton. Let the young core grow together... on low contracts, which means in two years they'll be able to land a big time FA that can make them the new version of the freaking Warriors.

Have you seen the UFA class for 2019? Garbage would be an understatement.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Have you seen the UFA class for 2019? Garbage would be an understatement.

two years from now will be 2020.

 

[GatorAZ]

two years from now will be 2020.

Bunch of old ass dudes.

http://www.spotrac.com/nba/free-agents/2020/ufa/

 

[Phrazbit]

Cap room is as useful in trades as it is signing free agents.

Unless Paul George or LeBron come knocking we should keep the purse strings pulled tight. Blowing our wad on some midlevel players is how you end up in cap hell. (cough, Blazers, cough cough)

 

[JCSunsfan]

Pay big if they really want. Just keep the deals short. Ideally one year deals.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Cap room is as useful in trades as it is signing free agents.

Unless Paul George or LeBron come knocking we should keep the purse strings pulled tight. Blowing our wad on some midlevel players is how you end up in cap hell. (cough, Blazers, cough cough)

Yup. Especially with three young stars who we can only HOPE are good enough to choke our cap in the future.

 

[Raindog]

Bunch of old ass dudes.

http://www.spotrac.com/nba/free-agents/2020/ufa/

Seeing Paul Millsap at the top of that list at $30 mill per... and then recalling how some Suns fans (yes, even some forum members here) were advocating acquiring him as recently as this season... gives me pause when considering some folks ideas for "improving" the team.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

I completely understand why some people would be willing to trade the #1 for KAT. He speeds up the timeline, he is already an impact player vs the potential of Ayton.

If it was a one for one swap I would admittedly consider it, but if it costs any more than that than I think it is absolutely not worth it.

 

[Hoop Head]

Not sure if this has been posted here by anyone but it's a good write up from the Ringer about the Suns picking between Ayton and Doncic. It hypes both players up really well and also talks about their shortcomings. It doesn't sell you on one over the other, it sells you on both really, and after reading it I'd be happy with either of them. I leaned Ayton before and still do but I think I'd be less disappointed with Doncic now. I think the biggest issue I'd have with picking Doncic is wondering why the Suns didn't just trade for Towns when they had the chance if they weren't sold on Ayton. That's a whole different can of worms though. Who knows what it would really take to make that happen anyways, if we don't make the deal it could be some time before we learn what Minnesota really wanted in return, if we ever find out for sure.


Here's the article, it's not too long but it's definitely worth reading...

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/5/15/17359126/phoenix-suns-doncic-ayton-draft

 

[mojorizen7]

I get that having the power of the #1 overall pick makes for great discussion and all but....

Ayton AND Doncic? Stop. Just take the money and run with Ayton.

I've been away for awhile so there's that, but when did the European basketball competition become so good that every slippery smooth Euro scorer with size become a sure fire NBA star? Who and where are these unicorns in the NBA? I sat down and watched some Doncic tonight. I don't see it. He looks great over there. So do a dozen other guys every year.

Most of these guys can't fully transition and nearly all of them are one way players.


Booker/Ayton/Jackson would be a gift of a core unit.

 

[Hoop Head]

This is from last year but it's Ayton and Bamba doing post drills against each other at the Jordan Brand Classic. Gives you a good look at Ayton and Bamba, even if it is a year old.

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[JCSunsfan]

This is from last year but it's Ayton and Bamba doing post drills against each other at the Jordan Brand Classic. Gives you a good look at Ayton and Bamba, even if it is a year old.

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Ayton has added a lot more muscle since then.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Seeing Paul Millsap at the top of that list at $30 mill per... and then recalling how some Suns fans (yes, even some forum members here) were advocating acquiring him as recently as this season... gives me pause when considering some folks ideas for "improving" the team.

Yep. Looking at the FA list is a quick reminder of a couple of things.

1. It is easy to get caught up in what a player used to be, rather than what he is, especially after 30.
2. Players can look better than what they are in certain situations like, the best player on a bad team for some, or a good player on a good team where other players cover their weaknesses. A coach make make a player look better than they are as well.
3. The only time a team should over pay for a middle range player is when they are the final piece to compete for a championship. And then they usually don't have to over pay, the player is begging to come.

 

[GatorAZ]

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[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

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Well THAT’S a terrible thing.