Tucker Article On East Valley: I Think A Trade Is Coming Soon

[Sunsman43]

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/120530

I've been hearing a lot about Tucker and DJ. Both AzCentral and East Valley continue to report that these guys may see much increased playing time under the new coach.

Add this fact to the fact that Suns already have Bell, Barbosa, and Grant Hill - and you wonder what new wing player in this world is willing to be paid the league minimum on a team that already has 5 wings (Bell, Barbosa, Hill, Strawberry, Tucker).

Oh yeah: Make that 6 wings. All indications from Steve Kerr interviews are that Boris Diaw will be a starting small forward or a backup small forward to Grant Hill.

So what new wing player is Kerr talking about signing? What wing shooter is willing to join a club for minimum salary with 6 wings and promised increased play time for second-year wings?

I am increasingly leaning towards the idea that Suns are going to pull off a trade to rid Diaw -or- Barbosa soon. I think they want to address three issues with such trade:

1. Open up playing time for the 2nd-year guys as well as a new minimum-contract veteran wing shooter.

2. Lower the overall salary to reduce some luxury tax and improve financial flexibility for next year.

3. Get a backup power forward or center in return for this Diaw-or-Barbosa deal so they don't have to sign yet another minimum deal to another emergency big man that's needed if the Lopez-experiment fails or Shaq-n-Amare are in foul trouble.

 

[Sunsman43]

With such trade, you'd have yourself:

C Shaq + Lopez
F Amare + ?? (the diaw trade from above)
F Hill + ?? (minimum contract shooter)
G Bell + Barbosa
G Nash + Lue

11 Tucker
12 Strawberry

 

[scXfreakX]

If they can do it, and make a solid deal, then I don't see why not. We do have somewhat of a surplus of wings, but I think if we can get a pick for 2010, then that might be a good thing.

 

[Irish]

For a couple of weeks I've been saying that the Suns future will depend on how well Tucker and Strawberry do in Las Vegas. Tucker is pivotal because if he can shoot 40% for three, then the pure shooter is unlikely to get signed.

As it is, there is no doubt the Suns will have a lot of wings: Hill, Diaw, Tucker, Bell, Barbosa, and Strawberry. However, the ideal situation is to have them show they are that good in the regular season when the team can get maximum value.

But if by some fluke everything goes right, the Suns will undoubtedly have some quality guys not getting minutes. We've had worse problems...

IMHO, Diaw is marginally less expendible than Barbosa. The fact that Boris can play inside means the team does not HAVE to carry 5 bigs. They do need one more guy (Skinner perhaps), but maybe not two.

 

[Sunsman43]

Well, I guess if they really wanna open up playing time for both Tucker and/or Strawberry, they will have to move Boris Diaw back to the bench power forward position just as he did last season. Add a Brian Skinner as the emergency big and you have 5 bigs.

In this scenario, you'll have Grant Hill as the starting small with Tucker coming off the bench.

The new free agent wing shooter Kerr keeps talking about can then sit on the bench as an emergency man in case Alando Tucker's backup small forward experiment fails.

Question is: Who is willing to come to Phx on a minimum deal knowing Alando may be given first opportunity to play - and thus you're going to have to wait for your playing time by getting inconsistent 12th man minutes.

Jarvis Hayes or Darius Miles, perhaps? Devin Brown? Luke Jackson?

 

[scoutmasterdave]

I would rather see Barbosa traded than Diaw. Diaw may be enigmatic (understatement of the year), but Barbosa is consistently mistake-prone, non-clutch, and a small and terrible defender. If he could play the point this would be a different situation, but scoring guards are easier to come by than skilled big guys.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I would rather see Barbosa traded than Diaw. Diaw may be enigmatic (understatement of the year), but Barbosa is consistently mistake-prone, non-clutch, and a small and terrible defender. If he could play the point this would be a different situation, but scoring guards are easier to come by than skilled big guys.

I guess I would have to say that I disagree with this assessment of Barbosa. He has had a number of clutch plays over the years as a Sun. He has had playoff injuries that have been a concern--especially because he plays with them. I don't know if that was personal decision or or a coaching decision.

He has been a decent defender and is quite long for his height. He just needs a little defensive coaching. I believe Terry Porter might be able to have bigger impact on Barbosa than anyone else.

He is one of the fastest people in the league and almost unguardable one on one. He can create his own shot off of the dribble and seems to get to the rim with ease.

I would not be in favor of trading Barbosa unless we get significant value in return.

 

[scoutmasterdave]

I guess I would have to say that I disagree with this assessment of Barbosa. He has had a number of clutch plays over the years as a Sun. He has had playoff injuries that have been a concern--especially because he plays with them. I don't know if that was personal decision or or a coaching decision.

He has been a decent defender and is quite long for his height. He just needs a little defensive coaching. I believe Terry Porter might be able to have bigger impact on Barbosa than anyone else.

He is one of the fastest people in the league and almost unguardable one on one. He can create his own shot off of the dribble and seems to get to the rim with ease.

I would not be in favor of trading Barbosa unless we get significant value in return.

I'm certainly not discounting his value on the offensive side of the ball, and I agree that he shouldn't be traded unless we get significant value in return. I do think you overrate his defense, however - I would give him a solid "D" grade. He has all the tools to be a nice defensive player (except height), but he hasn't delivered. And his clutch plays have been very few and far between - the Chicago shot was the exception, not the rule.

 

[Mainstreet]

You list the article link as to somehow make your thread look official. However, there is nothing in the article which indicates the Suns are going to make a trade. I had to read the article twice to make sure I had not missed anything. The actual article written by Jerry Brown of the East Valley Tribune is titled: "Tucker hopes summer play will land him on Suns roster"

Your thread at ASFN is titled: "Tucker Article On East Valley: I Think A Trade Is Coming Soon"

Please give me a break.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Sensationalist reporting used to push a personal opinion or agenda =

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[nowagimp]

boris diaw is quite underrated on this board, defensively. Brook lopez may end up the best post defender on the team in a year or two, but boris' man had a 12 PER rating last year. Considering that he always took the tougher defensive assignment when he was on the floor with amare, thats pretty good. tucker hasnt shown any sign he can play NBA defense at anything close to that level, defense is what held him back int he rotation last year(vs DJ). If the suns trade Boris diaw and want to be a better defensive team, they must get a quality defender in return, somebody to cover for amare, prevent opposing teams from trying to roll fouls up on amare. At this point we dont know if Lopez can stay in an NBA game for even 15 mins without fouling out, he is not an NBA established defender yet.

 

[scXfreakX]

Expecting or even thinking about Tucker shooting 40% from the field in the NBA is a bit much IMO. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see it happen. But, I just don't see it happening. I know that he and DJ will get more time this year and that I am thrilled about. But, I think we should just let Tucker get used to getting some time. He only played 48 minutes total last season with the Suns. Of course he dominated the D-League, but thats different than the NBA. Even if Tucker doesn't shoot well, but adds some athleticism and possibly an alley-oop threat, that would be very nice.

 

[scoutmasterdave]

boris diaw is quite underrated on this board, defensively. Brook lopez may end up the best post defender on the team in a year or two, but boris' man had a 12 PER rating last year. Considering that he always took the tougher defensive assignment when he was on the floor with amare, thats pretty good. tucker hasnt shown any sign he can play NBA defense at anything close to that level, defense is what held him back int he rotation last year(vs DJ). If the suns trade Boris diaw and want to be a better defensive team, they must get a quality defender in return, somebody to cover for amare, prevent opposing teams from trying to roll fouls up on amare. At this point we dont know if Lopez can stay in an NBA game for even 15 mins without fouling out, he is not an NBA established defender yet.

Completely agree - I think Boris is an excellent post defender, and not half bad on the perimeter.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Diaw's defense is the least criticized aspect of his shoddy gameplay in the last two seasons.

 

[sunsallday]

I still don't like Diaw. IMO, he is soft as feathers and has too little self confidence. Every single time Diaw gets the ball, I don't know if he is going to shoot the ball when he is open or dunk the ball when there is a open lane, or pass the ball to a teammate who has a defender all over him when he has a open shot or when he has a chance to dunk in a open lane.

If our new coaching staff can't unlock Diaw's aggressive and heart, he needs to go.

 

[Chaplin]

I still don't like Diaw. IMO, he is soft as feathers and has too little self confidence. Every single time Diaw gets the ball, I don't know if he is going to shoot the ball when he is open or dunk the ball when there is a open lane, or pass the ball to a teammate who has a defender all over him when he has a open shot or when he has a chance to dunk in a open lane.

If our new coaching staff can't unlock Diaw's aggressive and heart, he needs to go.

It's so easy to say that--but if we have a good reason to trade him away, then other teams have a good reason to not want to trade for him.

 

[Sunsman43]

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Do you guys know where the ignore button is? These oversized pictures are getting annoying and make no sense as to why one has "Failed."

Ignore used to be on the side panel last year. Need to find it.

 

[Suns_fan69]

I guess I would have to say that I disagree with this assessment of Barbosa. He has had a number of clutch plays over the years as a Sun.

The only one I can think of over his tenure is the 3 in chicago 2 years ago. I don't think he's that clutch, and it's not from lack of opportunities either.

 

[Splinters81]

Sensationalist reporting used to push a personal opinion or agenda =

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What are you talking about, this is a great picture!! I mean, just look at dudes nose. I bet he wasn't very excited after that happened.

 

[Irish]

It's so easy to say that--but if we have a good reason to trade him away, then other teams have a good reason to not want to trade for him.

I have never actually haerd a response to this issue. Stuff along the lines of "this guy is terrible, so lets trade him for somebody good" that leaves me cold. Yes, there are some really stupid GM's that will totally misevalute your players, but just not nearlly enough of them.

 

[Joe Mama]

I kind of agree with sunsman Re: all the pictures. I find them every bit as annoying as sunsman's more annoying posts.

Joe

 

[elindholm]

I have never actually haerd a response to this issue. Stuff along the lines of "this guy is terrible, so lets trade him for somebody good" that leaves me cold. Yes, there are some really stupid GM's that will totally misevalute your players, but just not nearlly enough of them.

Obviously some teams have different needs at different times. Brand's departure from the Clippers, for example, has led them to think about Zach Randolph, whom the Knicks would (or should) be happy to get rid of. More broadly, a rebuilding team may value young talent over a current star, even if there is nothing "wrong" with the current star.

That said, I'm pretty sure no one wants Diaw.

 

[Irish]

If the Suns bought out Diaw, he'd get hired pretty quickly. The problem is that he's seriously overpriced. Same with Randolph, we should not confuse use value with price.

IMHO, the core problem with the Knicks is that this is just a collection of players who don't fit together. I cannot remember a team that was consistently able to make guys worse just by joining their team.

 

[HooverDam]

I can't believe NY didn't send Randolph to LAC for basically nothing but cap relief if that was the proposed deal. I would've done that in a heart beat if I was NY (maybe try to get a 2nd round pick out of LA). Any move for them that gives them more cap space and gets rid of one of their idiot players is a good one.

 

[Irish]

Randolph puts up good stats and is impressive if you don't pay attention to how the team plays when he's on the floor. I've always seen him as the ultimate "flack hole" that never ever passes the ball.