Thomas very willing to stick around

[HooverDam]

Plus we will have Brian Grant and Eddie House still.

I hope not. House is fine, Im a huge Sun Devil fan, but it depends on his price. Grant is worthless, give that spot to a big rookie we can draft.

We HAVE to keep KT. He is the key to the interior defense that will propel the Suns over the Spurs. Talk all you want to about limiting spacing w/ certain lineups, but last I checked basketball was played on 2 ends of the court. Plus there is no reason D'Antoni would have to go w/ a KT-Marion-Diaw line up. Also, who's to say Diaw doesnt drastically improve his 3 pt shooting over the summer? His form is fine, its a matter of confidence.

 

[arthurracoon]

I hope not. House is fine, Im a huge Sun Devil fan, but it depends on his price. Grant is worthless, give that spot to a big rookie we can draft.

We HAVE to keep KT. He is the key to the interior defense that will propel the Suns over the Spurs. Talk all you want to about limiting spacing w/ certain lineups, but last I checked basketball was played on 2 ends of the court. Plus there is no reason D'Antoni would have to go w/ a KT-Marion-Diaw line up. Also, who's to say Diaw doesnt drastically improve his 3 pt shooting over the summer? His form is fine, its a matter of confidence.

Diaw hit a 3 against the clipps IIRC.

 

[Nash]

Diaw hit a 3 against the clipps IIRC.

YRC

 

[nowagimp]

People need to keep in mind that Thomas has been consistant for the playoffs. He was on and off when we had him in the regular season - as he has been for his entire career.

Like I have said, I would like to keep him - but Im not even sure I would take him over Jr if we had to make a decision.

The regular season was 15 games of getting into shape, TT obviously didnt move as well as he does now. He's lost at least 10 lbs of fat. I think we may see him next year, whether on the suns or not. He could go to the Lakers, the spurs, Mavs, or even the clippers who could drop Radmonivic and just pick up TT(a better choice as he can finish at the rim, shoot just as well). We'll likely find out how good he is, either way.

Remember, he spent what 4-5 years with the knicks, which is a player purgatory not too different than Atlanta, no real point guard. I would take TT over JR, simply because he can create his own shot. The suns have a need for players that can create their own shots, because the starting 2 and 3 cannot. As a matter of fact: KT, Bell, JR, House, and Marion all cannot create their own shots. Diaw is a work in progress in that area, I expect that he will be that kind of player soon. In the playoffs, it is key to be able to force double teams in the half court set, and that requires players that can create their own shots or shots for others. Forcing good defensive spacing is also important, and the more 3pt shooters, the better the spacing will be for Amare. Of our 3's, 4's, and 5's TT is by far the best 3 pt shooter, probably JR is second. This means that the suns dont have to go so small to put great shooting out there.

 

[nowagimp]

Plus there is no reason D'Antoni would have to go w/ a KT-Marion-Diaw line up. Also, who's to say Diaw doesnt drastically improve his 3 pt shooting over the summer? His form is fine, its a matter of confidence.

So lets just say that its Diaw, Marion and Amare on the front line with KT backing up. None of these guys can shoot the three good enough to take their defender out of the lane. How will we get amare one-on one in the lane area? Add JR and yes someone will have to play outside, but it wont be a shot blocker, its not necessary. TT can be defended only by a shot blocker, especially if he fakes the shot and goes to the rim. Have you noticed that he finishes under defensive pressure better than anyone on this years team? All this talk of "spacing is not that important" is contrary to the D'Antoni system, its all ABOUT spacing, about getting open shots or one-on-one situations with a guy like Amare, Nash or Barbosa. If this team expects to beat the pistons, Ben Wallace and Rasheed cannot both be in the lane area on defense. Even Amare needs spacing to operate the pick and roll with Nash. Defenses in the playoffs use MUCH more energy to double and trap and good spacing just maximizes the energy and limits the reaction time of the defensive double teams creating the open shots.

 

[JS22]

Tim Thomas is such a unique player. One game he looks like a joke, a 12th man. The next he'll put up 25/12. I think it may have been due to his conditioning in the regular season, though. I can imagine it being tough to go straight from the couch to Suns ball.

He also seems to be a bit lazy. Could you imagine if he were a 30-35 minute player who actually gave the effort that he has been giving during these playoffs? He'd EASILY average 20/10, and teams would be throwing another max contract at him.

I just can't figure him out. I'm not sure he's worth the MLE, either. Then again, playing with his buddy KT, and in this system, may turn him into a more consistant player.

 

[Nasser22]

I don't think we should worry about unloading contracts. Like I said... Sarver can pay the luxury tax and win a championship and then unload the contracts of Marion and Tim Thomas while keeping the younger guys. I like Marion and TT, but if they win a championship I don't mind losing them then and letting the younger people play. If we don't change anything this off-season then next year's team is going to be so dominant. I think we'll have a nice D and our offense will be better than ever. We would also have the best bench in the league probably with Barbosa and Jones improving. I just suggest losing House(even though I love this guy) and Grant.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

First off, Thomas spent 1.5 years in NY - not 4 to 5. He spent almost his entire career in Milwaukee - with Sam Cassell as his point guard. Hell - he even had Robinson and Allen with him so he was often an afterthought for defenses.

Thomas is playing well now because he has all of the tools in the world to suceed. The problem is - he just doesn't usually show up with the full package. Have you followed him throughout his career at all? The biggest fear from Rudy Gay in this draft is that he will become another Tim Thomas!

If I was even 80% certain that Tim Thomas would play to his potential for the next 5 years as a Sun - I would be willing to give him more than the MLE. However, there is absolutely NO evidence that he will do that - while we have another tall, long, good shooting and shotblocking TWO GUARD in Jr right now - and he puts it all out on the floor every game.

Admit that you must be a little scared of signing Thomas to a big contract. His career numbers - 12 points, 4 rebounds a game. Eric posted his previous career high when we signed him - but I think it was 8 boards....

 

[elindholm]

Eric posted his previous career high when we signed him - but I think it was 8 boards....

It's not even close to that -- only about five per game, believe it or not. That's why his rebounding in the playoffs has been so impressive (at least to me).

Edit: Oh, wait, you mean career high in a single game. I think it was 12 or 13. His 15 total rebounds in Game 1 against the Lakers set a new career high.

 

[nowagimp]

First off, Thomas spent 1.5 years in NY - not 4 to 5. He spent almost his entire career in Milwaukee - with Sam Cassell as his point guard. Hell - he even had Robinson and Allen with him so he was often an afterthought for defenses.

Thomas is playing well now because he has all of the tools in the world to suceed. The problem is - he just doesn't usually show up with the full package. Have you followed him throughout his career at all? The biggest fear from Rudy Gay in this draft is that he will become another Tim Thomas!

If I was even 80% certain that Tim Thomas would play to his potential for the next 5 years as a Sun - I would be willing to give him more than the MLE. However, there is absolutely NO evidence that he will do that - while we have another tall, long, good shooting and shotblocking TWO GUARD in Jr right now - and he puts it all out on the floor every game.

Admit that you must be a little scared of signing Thomas to a big contract. His career numbers - 12 points, 4 rebounds a game. Eric posted his previous career high when we signed him - but I think it was 8 boards....

I never said I would like to sign him for 5 years. Nash has a 2-3 year window of 30 mins/game before he ages to a more supporting role. Now is the time for a championship. Playing on the same team with Ray Allen, Glenn Robinson, Michael Redd(2002), gary peyton(2002) and Cassel probably means TT was 4th or 5th option on offense. In 2000, ray allen and glenn robinson shot 1500 shots each and cassel had 1100. TT took 750 shots all year. That was a high octane offense with 5 guys scoring in double figures, so dont expect 15-20 ppg. When TT went to the knicks for 2 FULL seasons, he played with more guards who were gunners: Marbury, Allan Houston, Jamal Crawford. Since 2000, TT has played with these guards, all of who shot more than him: Cassel, Glenn Robinson, Michael Redd, Gary Peyton, Ray Allen, Stephon Marbury, Allan Houston, Jamal Crawford.

Many posters on this board thought chris wilcox was worth more than the MLE, yet he has not even shown he can play in the playoffs. People are talking about Radmonovich getting 7-8 mil and he hasnt shown anything. Dalembert, Curry, Chandler, Dampier all make twice the MLE and are less talented. The suns system can take certain types of players and get alot more performance out. TT looks like this kind of player: an athletically gifted shooter who can run the floor. I like JR, but I doubt he will ever take anyone off the dribble or be able to finish in traffic near the rim. Skilled 6' 10" players not on their last legs will probably cost something near the MLE.