What could our unconditional 2019 1st net us in trade?

[Hoop Head]

To make the playoffs, it would have taken EVERYTHING going right. JJ and Bender would have needed to be actual NBA players, Booker would have needed to be healthy and a clear all-star player, Ayton would have needed to exceed every expectation (which, in all fairness, he has done), Ariza would have needed to have his best season in years, etc.

I don't think it would have taken all that. Booker as a clear All-Star, Ayton producing like he has, Warren improving like he has, and the entire team playing some of the best defense the Suns ever had would be all it would take. If we were a top 10 defensive team I think we could make a playoff push. That would require Booker and Ayton to be better than they are defensively but if Ariza was a lockdown defender like he's been at a few stops throughout his career, Jackson became the defender he was touted as before the draft, and a strong rotation of defensive PG's, we might have been a top 10 defensive team. With Booker, Ayton, and Warren we have the scoring to stay close to just about anyone but we can't get stops on the other end, at all, so it doesn't matter if we score. This year around the league it's largely been a first team to 110 wins, instead of 100, and the Suns could hit that but not while keeping their opponents scoring less than them.

 

[hcsilla]

Right now, that pick might be the most valuable pick for the coming draft.

I do not see any player in the 2019 draft that is going to be a game changer for us.

I see 3 (Barrett, Reddish, Williamson) and more will come as the season progresses.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I thought we had only a very remote chance at the playoffs. We just need to get better. We need to be playing like a playoff team by the time the year ends.

I don't know how you come to these conclusions... either pre-season... or now. if this team is playing like an average ten seed by the end of the year, it'll be progress. Expecting them to play like a playoff team by the end of it is just setting yourself up for more disappointment.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns need to fix what ails the team before it worries about the draft.

I think the consensus is the Suns need a new owner, period.

However, since that's not happening, they need to hire the best GM, coach and scouts money can buy. I wish Sarver would listen to this. Spend the money on good decision makers and those who find the talent. Then eventually they would earn respect around the league for being a smart, well run organization.

Every season it's get a high draft pick and whiff on acquiring a quality free agent. It's rinse and repeat... rinse and repeat.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

The Suns need to fix what ails the team before it worries about the draft.

I think the consensus is the Suns need a new owner, period.

However, since that's not happening, they need to hire the best GM, coach and scouts money can buy. I wish Sarver would listen to this. Spend the money on good decision makers and those who find the talent. Then eventually they would earn respect around the league for being a smart, well run organization.

Every season it's get a high draft pick and whiff on acquiring a quality free agent. It's rise and repeat... rinse and repeat.

Yeah could you imagine if we had an Ainge or Riley as gm???

 

[JCSunsfan]

I don't know how you come to these conclusions... either pre-season... or now. if this team is playing like an average ten seed by the end of the year, it'll be progress. Expecting them to play like a playoff team by the end of it is just setting yourself up for more disappointment.

Oh believe me Cheese, I was thinking maybe we should be playing like an 8 seed, not a 4-5 seed. So I am not really thinking much differently than your ten seed level.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Oh believe me Cheese, I was thinking maybe we should be playing like an 8 seed, not a 4-5 seed. So I am not really thinking much differently than your ten seed level.

I expect us to start playing like the 10th seed or so by the time the season ends but I expect us to finish with a bottom 5 record overall. Finishing dead last would be disheartening and I don't think it will happen - I just wish I could say it was completely off the table.

 

[Mainstreet]

Yeah could you imagine if we had an Ainge or Riley as gm???

Exactly. The Suns wouldn't be in this terrible mess they are today.

 

[Errntknght]

Yeah could you imagine if we had an Ainge or Riley as gm???

With Sarver as the managing partner, I imagine they wouldn't last more a month. We are doubly protected from having a GM of that caliber - Sarver wouldn't hire them and they wouldn't work for Sarver.

I think the league will have to step in to get rid of Sarver as MP. Hopefully, the top brass is already thinking in those terms.

 

[Mainstreet]

With Sarver as the managing partner, I imagine they wouldn't last more a month. We are doubly protected from having a GM of that caliber - Sarver wouldn't hire them and they wouldn't work for Sarver.

I think the league will have to step in to get rid of Sarver as MP. Hopefully, the top brass is already thinking in those terms.

The writing was on the wall when Budenholzer wouldn't coach the Suns.

 

[Sunburn]

With Sarver as the managing partner, I imagine they wouldn't last more a month. We are doubly protected from having a GM of that caliber - Sarver wouldn't hire them and they wouldn't work for Sarver.

I think the league will have to step in to get rid of Sarver as MP. Hopefully, the top brass is already thinking in those terms.

Won't happen unless he's caught saying or doing something racist.

 

[Yuma]

Seriously, BEFORE the season we all could make educated guesses about making or not making the playoffs based on how other teams did improving their teams in the Western Conference. The Lakers got better just by adding an all time historical great player to their team. GS finally added a center. Sacramento even actually improved. Looking around I hoped we could win, but also, we had so many new parts. It takes time to get all the new parts to work well. I was hoping as a fan, but realistically I thought we weren't going to make the playoffs.

 

[Mainstreet]

Seriously, BEFORE the season we all could make educated guesses about making or not making the playoffs based on how other teams did improving their teams in the Western Conference. The Lakers got better just by adding an all time historical great player to their team. GS finally added a center. Sacramento even actually improved. Looking around I hoped we could win, but also, we had so many new parts. It takes time to get all the new parts to work well. I was hoping as a fan, but realistically I thought we weren't going to make the playoffs.

My hope was the Suns would take the next step forward this season. Little did I realize the next step might be backward.

 

[Yuma]

My hope was the Suns would take the next step forward this season. Little did I realize the next step might be backward.

I actually expected us to start slow. I was/am hoping around All Star Break our team catches on to the schemes, especially defensive end, and starts playing some seriously competitive ball. I do like the recent quotes by Booker on how he wants the team to improve. I think he's starting to become the leader of the Suns.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I actually expected us to start slow. I was/am hoping around All Star Break our team catches on to the schemes, especially defensive end, and starts playing some seriously competitive ball. I do like the recent quotes by Booker on how he wants the team to improve. I think he's starting to become the leader of the Suns.

I did too but maybe not this slow. And certainly not this poorly. But I still remain hopeful. Not that it would please many people but I think we're going to win close to 30 games and still get a very good draft pick. That improvement may have to come at the cost of some trade assets near the all star break but that's okay as long as we aren't mortgaging the future for mediocrity.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I actually expected us to start slow. I was/am hoping around All Star Break our team catches on to the schemes, especially defensive end, and starts playing some seriously competitive ball. I do like the recent quotes by Booker on how he wants the team to improve. I think he's starting to become the leader of the Suns.

I am hoping this is the case. New coach, new system, young players, tough schedule. I was expecting a slow start too. I am hoping it will start to click as they have to think less about what they are doing. My fear is that the vets have just checked out already. We ought to play Bender. At least he would be motivated to play for a contract (with someone else of course).

 

[95pro]

I am hoping this is the case. New coach, new system, young players, tough schedule. I was expecting a slow start too. I am hoping it will start to click as they have to think less about what they are doing. My fear is that the vets have just checked out already. We ought to play Bender. At least he would be motivated to play for a contract (with someone else of course).

Do we have any rights to Bender after this year?

 

[slinslin]

I actually expected us to start slow. I was/am hoping around All Star Break our team catches on to the schemes, especially defensive end, and starts playing some seriously competitive ball. I do like the recent quotes by Booker on how he wants the team to improve. I think he's starting to become the leader of the Suns.

The last weeks made me realize that Booker is not ready to be a leader yet.

He needs to make the step to true stardom and start carrying his team. He is not doing that either despite good statistics.

He has only done that in the last few minutes against Dallas and Memphis and that is simply not enough either.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Our biggest issue right now is effort. If this team was putting in a lot of effort on both ends every night we would be looking a lot more competitive right now. Might even be close to a .500 record. That is what a lot of us didn't see coming was the huge lack of effort night in night out and thus we were predicting them to be better than they have been.

 

[taz02]

Our biggest issue right now is effort. If this team was putting in a lot of effort on both ends every night we would be looking a lot more competitive right now. Might even be close to a .500 record. That is what a lot of us didn't see coming was the huge lack of effort night in night out and thus we were predicting them to be better than they have been.

I don't know, how can we even identify the biggest problem, there are so many: poorly constructed roster, effort, scheme, defense, turnovers, poor shooting, lack of talent, age, management etc.

For me, the biggest issue is leadership. Neither Booker, Sarver, Jones or Igor strikes me as the kind leader needed. We need one person who commands respect that can take charge, rally and inspire the troops, cut the dead weight, develop a clear plan and make bold moves that compliment the overall plan and core players.

Examples: Jordan, Popovich, Colanegelo, Auerbach

These are leaders and I don't see one on the suns.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Our biggest issue right now is effort. If this team was putting in a lot of effort on both ends every night we would be looking a lot more competitive right now. Might even be close to a .500 record. That is what a lot of us didn't see coming was the huge lack of effort night in night out and thus we were predicting them to be better than they have been.

I don't know, it seems to me that most of the time the poor effort occurs after we start getting hammered. I'd probably blame a lot of the lopsided scores on effort but not the losses themselves.

 

[Yuma]

Do we have any rights to Bender after this year?

He is a free agent. I believe.