Tuesday Morning Suns Thoughts

[pokerface]

if Diaw does not turn it on during the playoffs then get rid of him. We dont need the inconsistency. Him & Jr are aggravating.

No way. Diaw would have to be bad all of next season before I'd give up on him. You cant base it on this playoffs....Marion has had bad playoffs and we didnt throw him away.

You think trading Diaw is some solution? We'd only get garbage back...garbage without the same upside and versatility that Diaw has. No way can we afford to give up on this guy.

 

[TheHopToad]

I think that if there were to be a trade this offseason, it would be Amare for Pau Gasol and the first pick. I don't see us going after KG.

No way Memphis makes this deal. It doesn't make them better in any way.

 

[ma_falaa_50]

I heard KG was going to opt out of his contract so Minnesotta may be forced to trade him it may lower minnesotta's trade leverage.

does he have a trade clause?

 

[Mainstreet]

Minnesota would want no part of Banks or his contract. Banks played for Minnesota last year they had the opportunity to resign him during the off-season but let him walk away to Phoenix.

Probably. I am not close to the situation in Minnesota. However, I think Minnesota lost their exclusive rights to Banks under some provision error while he was with Boston (allowing him to become an unrestricted FA). I think he finished the end of last season playing well for Minnesota for a stretch of games.

Again I would not dispute the fact that Minnesota may not have wanted to pay Banks the money he was asking. Maybe someone else knows the details. At least he played better for Minnesota than he has thus far in Phoenix. Certainly he is not a D'Antonni player and I must give some fault to the coach for not being more involved in his signing. I think D'Antonni more or less rubber stamped it.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Banks has about as much trade value as Vladimir Radmonovic, Speedy Claxton, Tim Thomas or one of the other free agent busts from last offseason. That means he has zero trade value, nobody wants a non-productive player with a long contract and limited upside.

 

[Mainstreet]

Banks has about as much trade value as Vladimir Radmonovic, Speedy Claxton, Tim Thomas or one of the other free agent busts from last offseason. That means he has zero trade value, nobody wants a non-productive player with a long contract and limited upside.

I would trade Banks for Tim Thomas. Thomas was an excellent fit in Phoenix. The Suns could certainly use him for depth on their frontline. I sure wish the Suns would have signed TT instead of Banks.

 

[elindholm]

I would trade Banks for Tim Thomas.

The funny thing is, with Livingston on the shelf for another year and Cassell finally breaking down, that wouldn't necessarily be an impossible trade for either side. The only minor problem is that D'Antoni burned his bridges with Thomas by calling him a lazy headcase.

 

[Diawsome]

I would trade Banks for Tim Thomas. Thomas was an excellent fit in Phoenix. The Suns could certainly use him for depth on their frontline. I sure wish the Suns would have signed TT instead of Banks.

Tim Thomas as the 6th forward in the rotation at 5-6 million a year? no thanks.

 

[elindholm]

Tim Thomas as the 6th forward in the rotation at 5-6 million a year? no thanks.

Sixth? How do you figure? Assuming you call Stoudemire and Kurt Thomas centers, Tim Thomas would be behind Marion, Diaw, maybe James Jones, and Bell if you count him as a GF. That's fifth, worst-case scenario.

And in any case, it beats paying almost the same money to Banks -- for an extra year, at that.

 

[Mainstreet]

Tim Thomas as the 6th forward in the rotation at 5-6 million a year? no thanks.

How much do you value an NBA Championship? I think TT could have put Phoenix over the top with a frontline of Marion, Amare and TT. This would have allowed Diaw to come off the bench to play center until Diaw figures out how to play with Amare. Diaw and LB off the bench would look very good. Anyway it would be money better spent than the Banks signing. I really wish Banks could prove me wrong.

 

[Diawsome]

Sixth? How do you figure? And in any case, it beats paying almost the same money to Banks -- for an extra year, at that.

1. Amare
2. Marion
3. Diaw
4. KT
5. James Jones
6. Tim Thomas

Banks contract was just as bad and hopefully they will rectify that mistake over the summer.

 

[Mainstreet]

1. Amare
2. Marion
3. Diaw
4. KT
5. James Jones
6. Tim Thomas

Banks contract was just as bad and hopefully they will rectify that mistake over the summer.

As I would play it, I would start TT replacing Diaw in the starting lineup. KT could be a spot starter. James Jones would be provide depth if a deeper rotation was needed and Diaw would be the backup center.

 

[elindholm]

1. Amare
2. Marion
3. Diaw
4. KT
5. James Jones
6. Tim Thomas

Well, okay, then Tim Thomas would be the sixth frontcourt player, not the sixth "forward." It's not as buried in the rotation as you make it sound.

Banks contract was just as bad and hopefully they will rectify that mistake over the summer.

Sounds good to me.

 

[Diawsome]

Amare isn't a good enough defender to guard his man and the guy who runs right past Tim Thomas.

 

[Diawsome]

Well, okay, then Tim Thomas would be the sixth frontcourt player, not the sixth "forward." It's not as buried in the rotation as you make it sound.

Technically there is always someone playing the center position but I don't really recognize any of them as a center. I have always considered the Suns under D'Antoni anyway to play in a 2-3 system where they replace the center position with a 3rd guard or forward.

 

[WuRaider]

The funny thing is, with Livingston on the shelf for another year and Cassell finally breaking down, that wouldn't necessarily be an impossible trade for either side. The only minor problem is that D'Antoni burned his bridges with Thomas by calling him a lazy headcase.

When was this? I read the MCCallum book man so I know everything about the 05-06 Suns. TT was lazy yes, but no mention of being headcase during his stay here.

 

[elindholm]

Technically there is always someone playing the center position but I don't really recognize any of them as a center. I have always considered the Suns under D'Antoni anyway to play in a 2-3 system where they replace the center position with a 3rd guard or forward.

Whatever. The point is, if you're sixth in the rotation at a "position" that claims three out of five lineup slots, you aren't buried that deep. It's like being a football team's fourth wide receiver versus their third kicker.

 

[Mainstreet]

Whatever. The point is, if you're sixth in the rotation at a "position" that claims three out of five lineup slots, you aren't buried that deep. It's like being a football team's fourth wide receiver versus their third kicker.

Well, if TT were here, I would unearth him no matter how shallow or deep he is buried.

 

[Mainstreet]

Amare isn't a good enough defender to guard his man and the guy who runs right past Tim Thomas.

The Suns often play matador defense anyway. If they could play solid defense at the end of each half I would be happy.

 

[SO91]

I loved TT here last year, but you guys are forgetting how inconsistent he's been throughout his career. If Diaw drives you guys nuts, what would Thomas do to you guys? (Granted he is on a smaller contract).

 

[cly2tw]

Sooner or later the Suns will need to transform out of the Nash era... I hope it's much later. IMO, LB and Amare are the transition to the future. Rather than sell the house for Garnett I would rather for the Suns to use the draft (especially if Phoenix gets Atlanta's pick this year).

If the Suns really wanted Garnett I would throw Marion and perhaps even Diaw and multiple picks at Minnesota. If they don't want it I would not make the trade for the 30 year old FC. Please no LB. He is our future. I can't say that for sure with Diaw.

Actually, for the same reason, what's Marion's worth without Nash anyway? So, even we don't trade for Garnett, we might want to trade Marion before his value goes down too much.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Ummm guys - Thomas got his money. The player you saw last year is not the same guy we would be getting back.

Thomas should be one of those guys who signs a one year deal year after year. Then you'll get max prodictivity out of him....

 

[JCSunsfan]

What about drafting the best possible player? I would gladly package all three picks to move up two or three spots.

I think we need to forget about Garnett. His contract is too high, he has an opt out next summer (remember Richie Sexon and Antonio McDyess), and his tread has too many miles on it.

I say continue to build with youth and quality mid-level FA's (like Raja).

 

[elindholm]

The player you saw last year is not the same guy we would be getting back.

The numbers don't support that assertion. For the Suns last year, Thomas averaged 11 points and 5 rebounds in 24 minutes. For the Clippers this year, he averages 11 points and 5 rebounds in 27 minutes. Figure in that the Clippers' pace is slower, and his production is exactly what it was last year. His shooting percentages are modestly down, but he isn't getting quite as good looks as he did playing with Nash. For what it's worth, his assists are way up this year, suggesting that he sometimes recognizes when his shot isn't the best option.

He's the same player. He doesn't perform like a star, and he isn't paid like one. The Clippers got what they paid for, and if they expected more, that was their mistake.

 

[Covert Rain]

The numbers don't support that assertion. For the Suns last year, Thomas averaged 11 points and 5 rebounds in 24 minutes. For the Clippers this year, he averages 11 points and 5 rebounds in 27 minutes. Figure in that the Clippers' pace is slower, and his production is exactly what it was last year. His shooting percentages are modestly down, but he isn't getting quite as good looks as he did playing with Nash. For what it's worth, his assists are way up this year, suggesting that he sometimes recognizes when his shot isn't the best option.

He's the same player. He doesn't perform like a star, and he isn't paid like one. The Clippers got what they paid for, and if they expected more, that was their mistake.

It does if your opinion is that he is overpaid combined with him not shooting as well. The guys is making more money for shooting worse. We probably would have gotten the same thing. There were questions about his work ethic in practice this year with the Clips. His reputation has followed him. So we would not have gotten the same player as last year either IMO. He is not worth the salary he is getting paid and I am glad we didn't resign the guy as good as he played.