What role will JuJo play?

[JCSunsfan]

According to Coro at www.AZcentral.com today,

1. Jumaine sees himself in the TT role.
2. Turning point of the summer (for the good) is when Salmons waffled.
3. Jumaine was one of the Suns top targets this summer (smirk, they always say that).

Jones, a 6-foot-8 swingman who can play power forward, figured to command more money and years this summer. When the offers did not materialize, Jones switched agents to Merle Scott, who also handled Suns guard Leandro Barbosa's extension this summer and works for the company representing Steve Nash.

"With the way Phoenix plays, there are certain players who are natural fits," Scott said. "He's a shooter. He's a rebounder. He's looking to play for a contender, which was a priority for him. It's a great opportunity. He knows he's coming in to play a supporting role."

Scott foresees a role for Jones similar to the one Tim Thomas, now with the Los Angeles Clippers, played at the end of last season.

"With the rotation and style of ball, the track record shows that guys are going to produce and get better," Scott said. "I know how happy Leandro is. I hope Jumaine feels as good about the family atmosphere.

"He's coming in to prove himself. The way they play, that's not too much to ask."

The Suns summer has a markedly different look than in late June/early July, when they did not get their draft targets, dealt two first-round picks and were unable to keep Thomas.

The off-season improved when John Salmons' wavering on a commitment allowed the Suns to learn point guard Marcus Banks' asking price had fallen into range.

Jones, coming off a career-best 10.5 scoring average in Charlotte, was one of Phoenix's top free-agent swingman targets to start the summer. He fell through the cracks, leaving Suns Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin to land a steal with Jones' fit and price.

 

[Gaddabout]

I doubt that's yet to be decided. He's going to have to work hard to move up higher than No. 9 or No.10, but he's definitely going to be a guy they throw at opponents like Josh Howard. It's nice to finally have a player who can match up defensively with guys like that.

 

[Ryanwb]

Can we please just stop the "Jujo" nickname right now before somebody gets hurt?

 

[mesacardsfan]

jujo? yeah thats a horrible nickname please something different

 

[devilalum]

Serendipity Suns Strike Again

First they cough up a hair ball with TT and Salmons

then turn around and land on their feet with Banks and Jones.

Once again their second choices will turn out to be better than their first.

 

[SirStefan32]

Let's not get carried away now- Jones and Banks are not better than Thomas and Salmons. Very good for the price we got them at, but by no means better than Thomas alone, let alone Thomas and Salmons together.

 

[Chaplin]

Let's not get carried away now- Jones and Banks are not better than Thomas and Salmons. Very good for the price we got them at, but by no means better than Thomas alone, let alone Thomas and Salmons together.

Tim Thomas better than Jumaine Jones and Marcus Banks combined? I think you gotta rethink that statement there, SS. Tim Thomas better than Jones, yes, but better than both of them? I don't think so. Salmons is the worst of the 4.

 

[SunsTzu]

I feel Banks is atleast as good as Thomas now and has more room to graow(not to mention the need for a back-up pg was greater). Jones and Salmons are a wash imo.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Personally, I would have rather had TT and Salmons, but Banks and Jumaine Jones is a solid backup plan and should be pretty solid on it's own right.

 

[asudevil83]

Tim Thomas better than Jumaine Jones and Marcus Banks combined? I think you gotta rethink that statement there, SS. Tim Thomas better than Jones, yes, but better than both of them? I don't think so. Salmons is the worst of the 4.

and ironically, he's getting the most money out of the 4.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Can we please just stop the "Jujo" nickname right now before somebody gets hurt?

Its just a short way of writing it. If you've got a better idea, I'll listen.

 

[CaptainInsano]

Its just a short way of writing it. If you've got a better idea, I'll listen.

How about Jum-Jum or jumajuma.
.
.
.
.
Ok im not serious.

When I think about it what resonable short name COULD we call him, all I can think of is just his first name jumaine.

 

[tobiazz]

Ju-majesty?

 

[devilalum]

Jumaine Jones is a hustle player who has a chip on his sholder and a lot to prove.

TT just got his contract and has a history of taking games off. Yah he was solid in the post season but you still have to play 82 games if you want to get there.

 

[JS22]

Serendipity Suns Strike Again

First they cough up a hair ball with TT and Salmons

then turn around and land on their feet with Banks and Jones.

Once again their second choices will turn out to be better than their first.

Aggghhhhh......

 

[Mainstreet]

Serendipity Suns Strike Again

First they cough up a hair ball with TT and Salmons

then turn around and land on their feet with Banks and Jones.

Once again their second choices will turn out to be better than their first.

You may well be right, although if I could have my choice, I would have preferred TT and Banks.

Okay back to reality. I think Banks will be a good backup PG for the Suns and that is what the Suns needed most this off season. I think the Suns liked Salmons because he solved two problems at once, a backup PG and taller SG. IMO, I think Salmons would probably not have solved either problem completely so I glad the Suns looked strictly for a backup PG with Banks. IMO, this could well prolong the career of Steve Nash. What could be more important? He is the straw that stirs the drink.

And with the signing of Jumaine Jones, I think the Suns really got lucky he was still available. Although TT was more flexible being able to play the 3/4/5, I think Jumaine will do quite well being able to slide between the 3/4 and provide more depth up front. As like TT, I think Jumaine will thrive in the Suns system, hence him signing a 1 year minimum contract to improve his market value.

So, since the Suns could have not afforded both TT and Salmons, they came out smelling like a rose with their second choices. I like. Are the Suns lucky or just good? Sometimes I think the saying, Good things happens to those who wait ... or something to this effect applies to the Suns. However, I do not want the Suns to wait on extending Diaw.

Actually this offseason reminds me a bit of the season when the Suns signed Nash and Q. When the other teams were over paying for bigs the Suns quietly snatched up Nash and Q. I know a counter argument could be made about acquiring Q, but I think the Suns philosphy of going for talent over size has some logic.

 

[Chaplin]

You may well be right, although if I could have my choice, I would have preferred TT and Banks.

Okay back to reality. I think Banks will be a good backup PG for the Suns and that is what the Suns needed most this off season. I think the Suns liked Salmons because he solved two problems at once, a backup PG and taller SG. IMO, I think Salmons would probably not have solved either problem completely so I glad the Suns looked strictly for a backup PG with Banks. IMO, this could well prolong the career of Steve Nash. What could be more important? He is the straw that stirs the drink.

The above senetnce is why I think Banks/Jones is better than TT/Salmons.

 

[George O'Brien]

I've seen a lot more of Banks than Salmons, so I'm not likely to be objective. Still, I like his skills as an on the ball defender and ability to drive and kick. Perhaps Salmons is going to be great, but I'm a lot more confortable with Banks.

TT was great in the playoffs as a three point shooter, but he is not a particularly good defender. If Jumaine shoots the three anything like he did with the Lakers, he may be just as valuable or even more valuable since he plays defense.

It's pretty obvious that Jumanine is making a bigger gamble than the Suns are. I suspect he will play very hard because he saw how quickly TT turned his career around within the Suns system.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Salmons and TT vs Banks and Jumaine

Suns needs this off-season

1. Back up pg. advantage Banks and Jones
2. Rebounding. advantage Banks and Jones
3. Defense. advantage Banks and Jones
4. Avoid complicating future cap issues. advantage Banks and Jones

As far as just comparing players, its close, but when you consider team needs its no contest.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Salmons and TT vs Banks and Jumaine

Suns needs this off-season

1. Back up pg. advantage Banks and Jones
2. Rebounding. advantage Banks and Jones
3. Defense. advantage Banks and Jones
4. Avoid complicating future cap issues. advantage Banks and Jones

As far as just comparing players, its close, but when you consider team needs its no contest.

uh - both our starting C and PF are coming off injuries (one of them which has crushed careers) and FRONTCOURT DEPTH doesn't even make your list?

Sorry folks, I like the Jones signing as much as anyone else, but if anyone thinks he's going to help rebounding or playing defense hasn't seen him play. I got to watch this guy play for a year with the Lakers and D and rebounding weren't his strong-suits.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Salmons and TT vs Banks and Jumaine

Suns needs this off-season:

2. Rebounding. advantage Banks and Jones

uh - you do realize that in less minutes TT and Salmons rebounded at or better than the Banks and Jones combo, so how exactly is the advantage to Banks and Jones there?

 

[SunsTzu]

uh - you do realize that in less minutes TT and Salmons rebounded at or better than the Banks and Jones combo, so how exactly is the advantage to Banks and Jones there?

Yeah I didn't get that one either. I also feel that Salmons could have complimented Barbosa better, but I still think Jones/Banks is better than TT/Salmons.

 

[JCSunsfan]

uh - you do realize that in less minutes TT and Salmons rebounded at or better than the Banks and Jones combo, so how exactly is the advantage to Banks and Jones there?

Jumaine Jones is clearly a better rebounder, averaging more boards over less minutes, than Tim Thomas career-wise.

Comparing the rebounding of Banks and Salmons doesn't make sense since they play different positions. The player Salmons subs for (Bell or Marion) is not likely to average less rebounds than he would. Likewise, the player that Banks subs for is not likely to average more rebounds than Banks (Nash).

So, the only real rebound comparison that makes sense is TT vs. Jum. Jones and the latter is superior to the former.

 

[JCSunsfan]

uh - both our starting C and PF are coming off injuries (one of them which has crushed careers) and FRONTCOURT DEPTH doesn't even make your list?

Sorry folks, I like the Jones signing as much as anyone else, but if anyone thinks he's going to help rebounding or playing defense hasn't seen him play. I got to watch this guy play for a year with the Lakers and D and rebounding weren't his strong-suits.

Jumaine Jones is a better defender (at the 3 AND the 4) and rebounder than Tim Thomas. That allows KT, Amare, and Diaw more minutes to defend the 5, so adding Jones significantly enhances the frontcourt depth.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Jumaine Jones is clearly a better rebounder, averaging more boards over less minutes, than Tim Thomas career-wise.

Comparing the rebounding of Banks and Salmons doesn't make sense since they play different positions. The player Salmons subs for (Bell or Marion) is not likely to average less rebounds than he would. Likewise, the player that Banks subs for is not likely to average more rebounds than Banks (Nash).

So, the only real rebound comparison that makes sense is TT vs. Jum. Jones and the latter is superior to the former.

huh - all we heard about Salmons was his ball-handling skills makes him attractive tio the Suns because he would be able to handle ball-handling duties as a backup PG and would allow Leo to play off the ball - thus, Salmons wouldn't be coming in for Marion or Bell, in essence, what we were being told was that Salmons was going to part of the plan as far as running backup PG, just like Banks.

Thus, you have to take both into consideration and when you do, it's at best a wash.