Trade is imminent

[Goldfield]

Thw Suns #1 priority is to get tuffer...

Add that to a contract situation, pluss the least impact position on the floor SF.

You get a 99% chance Marion gets moved...


Vujanic, Barbosa
JJ, Barbosa
KOBE, Zarko
Amare, Lampe
Camby/Dampier, Lampe


Early predictions!

 

[Joe Mama]

I really don't think you want to leave riots as the starting small forward. I don't think it's likely that Shawn Marion is moved unless they go after T-Mac.

Joe Mama

 

[Chris_Sanders]

The Suns won't be signing Dampier or Camby. Both want too much money.

My guess is that the Suns continue to develop their young players, keep their core, and find veterans to fill in the bench.

If you are looking for our starting center, it is probably McNugget because his game compliments Amare's so much.

The Suns off season depends on a TON of things outside of their control.

#1 Do they get a top 3 pick?

#2 What does Memphis do in the expansion draft?

#3 Where does Kobe want to play?

#4 Where does McGrady want to play?

ect...

 

[Goldfield]

I disagree. IF they can land KOBE, (which IMO would be a sign & trade deal) their plans would totally change into winning a title now.


Then I would bet they would persue a top center free agent very hard.

 

[Skkorpion]

Get over this Kobe stuff.

1. Why would Kobe come to a team in full salary shrinking mode?
2. Why would Jerry Colangelo suddenly change his stance on players of questionable character? Hell, he dumped Cliff Robinson for smoking a joint.

For the thousandth time, I don't understand why anybody clings to the belief that we are in the running for Kobe Bryant.

 

[slinslin]

Robert Sarver

"I will bring in wealthy investors, so if we need to spend more money, we will spend more money," Sarver said after a news conference Friday at America West Arena.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/0417suns17.html

 

[slinslin]

Steve Kerr

Of course, if Phoenix can use its cap room to sign Kobe Bryant, it should throw it all to him and not look back. Superstars are difficult to secure, and if Colangelo has the chance to get Bryant, he will. Remember, teams need to sell tickets, and Bryant will do that. And, oh by the way, he's pretty good.

But if the Suns can't sign Bryant, they would be wise to follow the Denver Nuggets' lead and use their cap room judiciously.


http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=sk-suns&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

 

[scotsman13]

slin so is amare, and the one thing about amare is you dont need to worry about him go to prison for rape. which there is a real chance of that happening with kobe.

 

[slinslin]

The chance of Kobe going to prison is minimal.

And if he did, his contract would be voided anyway. Basically there is no downside if you plan to save your caproom anyway if you don't get Kobe.

 

[George O'Brien]

Get over this Kobe stuff.

1. Why would Kobe come to a team in full salary shrinking mode?
2. Why would Jerry Colangelo suddenly change his stance on players of questionable character? Hell, he dumped Cliff Robinson for smoking a joint.

For the thousandth time, I don't understand why anybody clings to the belief that we are in the running for Kobe Bryant.

I doubt that Kobe will leave the Lakers because the money and visibility is so much better there. But I disagree with your two points.

1. Salary shrinking is required to have cap space. In any case, with the new ownership I don't think the fear the Suns will refuse to re-sign their young players is as much a concern as it was before the sale.

2. Robinson was dumped because of his age and the urge to create cap space. His deal indirectly led to the Suns getting Cabarkapa. They ended up misusing the cap space (opinion) in getting Bo and then later moving Bo for White. But all these deals made sense from a basketball standpoint.

A stronger case could be made that they moved Kidd for Marbury on the character issue due to his wife beating charge. However, it is equally legitimate to suggest that they were convinced Kidd would leave when his contract was finished.

In any case, I doubt that the "character" issue will be a major consideration with the Colangelos not signing Kobe. The biggest issue will the cost of clearing enough cap space and that the Lakers will offer a lot more money.

 

[slinslin]

The only difference between the Suns offer and the Lakers offer will be a few millions due to a slightly bigger raise per year and an extra contract year that the Lakers can offer.

If Kobe wanted to stay he would have signed an extension instead or risking a new contract if he blew out his knee.

He is telling Lakers fans that he is opting out because he can sign a longer contract which is true but doesn't make sense because if it was about security for him he would have taken the extension.

 

[George O'Brien]

The only difference between the Suns offer and the Lakers offer will be a few millions due to a slightly bigger raise per year and an extra contract year that the Lakers can offer.

If Kobe wanted to stay he would have signed an extension instead or risking a new contract if he blew out his knee.

He is telling Lakers fans that he is opting out because he can sign a longer contract which is true but doesn't make sense because if it was about security for him he would have taken the extension.

There is little about Kobe's various statements that make all that much sense. The truth is that Kobe is in the middle of power struggle within the Lakers and his biggest hammer is his threat to leave. If he says for sure that he is leaving, he loses this power just as much as does if he says for sure he is staying.

 

[scotsman13]

The chance of Kobe going to prison is minimal.

And if he did, his contract would be voided anyway. Basically there is no downside if you plan to save your caproom anyway if you don't get Kobe.

hehe slin,, oh how i wish this were true. but let me give you a couple of ideas. to sign kobe the team releases mcdyess and trades away white for nothing. now we are without those two players and by the time that conviction comes in we are total out of the running of any free agents this summer. you have just hurt this team. sure you have some cap room for next year but you also have to worry about signing jj at that time so have that hang over you. this may even cost you the chance to sign milos because he has shown that he wants to come in and get some playing time (so to save money the team doesnt offer him a contact to get him over here). i personally dont think that kobe is going to be on this team next year and i think there is at least a 40% chance that he will be in prison this time next year.

 

[slinslin]

I don't think you even understand the situation.

First of all the Suns are going to renounce McDyess anyway most likely.

Second of all Kobe will definately be signed before his trial is completed.

Third of all if the Suns trade White they can make other FA moves despite signing Kobe to a max deal.

And the Suns aren't going to pay Kobe anything if he goes to prison and he won't be on the payroll either.

You are just a hater. You don't want Kobe, you don't want TMac. Nothing can be done to make you happy.

There is a 40% Kobe goes to prison? LOL
Every expert and every article said that they would have trouble to even get to a trial after the hearing in Colorado.

 

[Chaplin]

I don't think you even understand the situation.

First of all the Suns are going to renounce McDyess anyway most likely.

Second of all Kobe will definately be signed before his trial is completed.

Third of all if the Suns trade White they can make other FA moves despite signing Kobe to a max deal.

And the Suns aren't going to pay Kobe anything if he goes to prison and he won't be on the payroll either.

You are just a hater. You don't want Kobe, you don't want TMac. Nothing can be done to make you happy.

There is a 40% Kobe goes to prison? LOL
Every expert and every article said that they would have trouble to even get to a trial after the hearing in Colorado.

I think we finally agree on something. Is this hell? Because it sure is COLD outside!

 

[George O'Brien]

The Suns will certainly renounce their Bird rights on Dice since that is the only way they can clear the cap space. My understanding is that they will wait until they have gone into the FA market before trying to sign Dice to a smaller contract with whatever is left.

I honestly don't think Dice is going to leave. No one in their right mind is going to give him a big contract with his injury history (yes I know there are some GMs not in their right mind). That being the case, his success with the Suns medical staff should prove decisive.

The Suns have two and a half months to negotiate with Dice prior to the opening of free agency. I would look for a two year deal with a team option after the first year.

 

[Joe Mama]

The Phoenix Suns are not in salary shrinking mode. They are in "get more space under the salary cap" mode. It's unlikely there will be another luxury tax after this season according to what I've heard. Apparently the people in the know if calculated that revenue will be enough next season to avoid the luxury tax. After that it's looking likely that the owners will give up on the luxury tax in order to get something like a minimum ages and/or shorter maximum contracts from the players association.

Unlike others I do believe the character issue could come into play. If they do sign Kobe Bryant it's going to be for a hell of a lot of money. I'm sure they would have teams of lawyers look at his case first before they did anything. It sure doesn't sound like he is going to be found guilty, but you also don't want to sign a player to a huge contract and have him end up like O.J. Simpson. That is found innocent by a jury, but obviously guilty in the eye of the public.

I think Cliff Robinson was dumped because he was a pothead. I still think that was a bad trade even if it did end up working out for the Suns. Jason Kidd was not traded because of his off the court problems. That may have played a small part in it, but it certainly wasn't driving factor. If you're losing him for nothing was the biggest factor in that trade.

I do believe it's unlikely that Kobe Bryant will sign here. I'm not sure he wants to leave. I'm not 100% sure that if he does want to leave the Lakers he would want to come here. I'm not even completely sold that the Phoenix Suns want to give him a huge contract given his situation. However it is definitely within the realm of possibility is that he signs here this summer.

That's my $.02 anyhow.

Joe Mama

 

[JCSunsfan]

Get over this Kobe stuff.

1. Why would Kobe come to a team in full salary shrinking mode?
2. Why would Jerry Colangelo suddenly change his stance on players of questionable character? Hell, he dumped Cliff Robinson for smoking a joint.

For the thousandth time, I don't understand why anybody clings to the belief that we are in the running for Kobe Bryant.

Your negativity is almost comical. The Suns are the envy of the NBA right now. They have.

1. An excellent young core of players in Amare, Shawn, and JJ.

2. An excellent core of project type youngsters that have real potential to develop in Barbosa, Lampe, Milos, and Zarko.

3. Two good role players that would look great on almost any NBA roster as backups in Jake, and C-Jake.

4. They have cap maneuverability.

5. They have a lotto pick that will be in the top 7.

6. They have fresh YOUNG ownership that is willing to spend money to win. An that young ownership includes several former NBA players. This aspect has improved dramatically in the past few days.

7. They have consistent management to work through a transition so it will be orderly.

THIS IS THE MOST ATTRACTIVE FREE AGENT LOCATION IN THE LEAGUE THIS SUMMER.

My prediction is that if Kobe opts out of his contract, he will play in Phoenix next year.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Steve Kerr

Of course, if Phoenix can use its cap room to sign Kobe Bryant, it should throw it all to him and not look back. Superstars are difficult to secure, and if Colangelo has the chance to get Bryant, he will. Remember, teams need to sell tickets, and Bryant will do that. And, oh by the way, he's pretty good.

But if the Suns can't sign Bryant, they would be wise to follow the Denver Nuggets' lead and use their cap room judiciously.


http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=sk-suns&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Steve Kerr was already negotiating to buy the Suns at the time he wrote this article. If there is anyone who wonders whether the Suns are going to pursue Kobe, this should answer it.

It says, "Kobe, we want you here" just before he comes under the tampering restrictions. Who know, it might actually be considered tampering at this point.

 

[slinslin]

March 17.

 

[JCSunsfan]

March 17.

Thanks, I had already felt guilty for my laziness, so I clicked the link and edited my post accordingly.

 

[George O'Brien]

It is interesting to get a perspective that MAY define the Suns plans. We have speculated that the maybe the Colangelos would not make the push for Kobe because of their past problems with problem players. But if the new owners through Steve Kerr think it is a good idea, it would change the dynamic just slightly. Brian is not going to defy his new boss on the first important decision.

 

[zett]

George. Brian is also an investor and will own part of the team also. so how does steve become his boss?

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

George. Brian is also an investor and will own part of the team also. so how does steve become his boss?

I think BC and Kerr will be equals in the management group. However, BC is still the GM, so the only person he could technically defy on personel decisions would be Sarver. Of course, Sarver said he wont be involved in basketball decisions.

They made it very clear that they will approach this offseason as a group, just as they have every other year.

JC claimed that the only 2 times in Suns/Dbacks history where he defied the "approach as a group" philosophy was:

The naming of the Diamondbacks

and

Claiming the suns would pick Amare, no matter who else worked out, nor how good they looked.

 

[fordronken]

My prediction is that if Kobe opts out of his contract, he will play in Phoenix next year.

Kobe will opt out regardless because he can get paid more no matter what(from the Lakers included). The better point to make(although some would disagree) is that when Kobe opts out, if he leaves the Lakers, he will play in Phoenix.