What to do with Scola?

[sunsfan88]

I like Scola as a player because he hustles and makes plays when you need it. But he's on the hook for 3 more years $3M/yr and he can give you about 14 pts & 7 boards a night. That's pretty great value.

So do the Suns trade him to acquire more assets or do we keep him?

I actually wouldn't mind keeping Scola because I like the idea of Scola mentoring Len much more than Gortat mentoring Len. Scola just seems to me like has a better work ethic and handles himself like a professional and doesn't go complain to the media at any chance he gets. Sure Scola can't teach him anything defensively but he has some tricks up his sleeve on the offensive end. And Scola is one of those guys who was not naturally gifted or anything and had to work hard at his game. He has a decent jump shot, a good post game and he's been a pretty consistent FT shooter throughout his career too.

And he was a good rebounder for his size too (8 boards a game at 6'9).

Plus we can get more for Gortat than Scola

But I wouldn't be upset if we ended up trading Scola either, I just wouldn't want the Suns to give him away. He's a good contributing veteran leader on a good contract. Here are his stats from last season

Luis Scola vs. power forwards playing at least 25 minutes a game:

• 14th in FG%
• 13th in rebounds per game
• 10th in points per game
• 9th in FT%
• 9th in turnovers (fewest) per game
• 7th in assists per game

So not only did Scola raze his counterparts on the Suns, he also was a productive starting power forward relative to his competition across the league.


http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2013/6/4/4391448/phoenix-suns-2012-13-player-review-luis-scola

Something like Scola to SAS for Diaw and their '14 first round pick seems fair. SAS loves Europeans and hard working vets like Scola who don't have any off court issues or anything. Pop would be thrilled to add another flopper to their team as well

 

[JS22]

I'd keep him unless he wanted to go to a contender. I think, if you can find a decent deal, he's earned the right to go try and win somewhere. But it has to be a good enough deal. Not a trade made just to let him go.

Definitely think he could teach Len a few things offensively.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Trade him for the best deal you can get. We don't owe Scola any special "rights" to go anywhere he wants. He did not come to us as a free agent, he did not give us anything special as a franchise. Its a business, get the best deal you can.

 

[JS22]

Trade him for the best deal you can get. We don't owe Scola any special "rights" to go anywhere he wants. He did not come to us as a free agent, he did not give us anything special as a franchise. Its a business, get the best deal you can.

I doubt many, if any, non-contending teams are going to want him anyway.

 

[Errntknght]

I think we need to trade Scola just to lessen the chance that we win 25+ games - offensively he's slightly above average and usually he gives most of that back defensively but why take a chance. A lineup including Dragic, Goodwin, PJ and Gortat would be fairly strong defensively so if you throw in Scola the D goes down a bit but the offense improves more so they could hold their own against an average team.

 

[Phrazbit]

I would prefer Len to NOT learn anything from Scola. Len needs to learn fundamentals and how to use his size, not some herky jerky offensive game based on finesse.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Trade him for the best deal you can get. We don't owe Scola any special "rights" to go anywhere he wants. He did not come to us as a free agent, he did not give us anything special as a franchise. Its a business, get the best deal you can.

This. He has no place on this team, and is just taking minutes from guys we're trying to develop.

 

[95pro]

I'd rather move the Morris twins first for anything about now. Scola > Morris'

 

[HooverDam]

If you can get a pick in the 20s from a contender for him, do it in a heartbeat. There's no use having him here, and guys like him and Gortat might help the Suns accidentally win 10 too many games or so.

I'd rather watch the Morris twins all year and maybe "develop" as we struggle our way to the leagues worst record.

I want to see this lineup for as many minutes as possible next year:

Len
Morris
Morris
Goodwin
Dragic

Should be brutal!

 

[slinslin]

I'd rather move the Morris twins first for anything about now. Scola > Morris'

And Scola is a decade older.

 

[asuhoopsnut]

I would prefer Len to NOT learn anything from Scola. Len needs to learn fundamentals and how to use his size, not some herky jerky offensive game based on finesse.

Send Len to Summer Camp with Hakeem and Kareem.

 

[sunsfan88]

Send Len to Summer Camp with Hakeem and Kareem.

I want this to happen too but Hakeem is too busy these days helping set up the red carpet for Dwight's arrival in Houston.

 

[Superbone]

Scola earned some respect from me last season. He's a hard worker and relentless. I got the impression even Steve did too as I heard less and less complaints about him as the season wore on.

 

[Superbone]

Send Len to Summer Camp with Hakeem and Kareem.

I was actually thinking about that that he could learn a lot from Hakeem's training camp.

 

[Griffin]

Send Len to Summer Camp with Hakeem and Kareem.

Len probably won't be doing any physical activity until near Suns training camp. He was supposed to be sidelined 4-6 months, so that puts him at September (earliest) to November (latest), assuming no setbacks.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Scola earned some respect from me last season. He's a hard worker and relentless. I got the impression even Steve did too as I heard less and less complaints about him as the season wore on.

You heard fewer complaints from me because Scola started playing a little better and because the rest of the board made it clear they didn't like my Scola comments. I still think the guy is a below average starter that hurts a team almost as much and sometimes even more than he helps it. He has his nights and he has his strengths but the way he would run away from his player so he could guard a less potent threat still irritates me.

I was happiest with him late in the season when we played him at center and forced him to body up against big guys. The guy is surprisingly strong and did a better job of holding his position against true centers than anyone on our roster (including Jermaine). I still vomit a little every time I see someone here rave about how smart he is though and how he always hustles.

Steve

 

[Superbone]

I can't sneak anything past you.

 

[JCSunsfan]

If you can get a pick in the 20s from a contender for him, do it in a heartbeat. There's no use having him here, and guys like him and Gortat might help the Suns accidentally win 10 too many games or so.

I'd rather watch the Morris twins all year and maybe "develop" as we struggle our way to the leagues worst record.

I want to see this lineup for as many minutes as possible next year:

Len
Morris
Morris
Goodwin
Dragic

Should be brutal!

I am thinking similarly. It is going to be a painful process to develop our young players and learn what they have. We might as well just do it. Why stretch the pain out just to win a few more games.

Dragic, Marshall
Goodwin, Brown
Morris, Johnson
Morris, Beasley, Frye
Len, Frye

Trade Gortat and Scola. Dive in, just go young.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I can't sneak anything past you.

I really tried to let it go but there have just been so many pro-Scola comments the past few days that I felt a little balance was warranted. I must admit to being puzzled about how so many people can rave about Scola and yet talk about Frye like he was the worst player ever. As far as game impact, I'd put them in the same ballpark with a slight edge to Frye. You can't win consistently with either guy being a major part of your team, they should be role players only.

Steve

 

[SirStefan32]

I would prefer Len to NOT learn anything from Scola. Len needs to learn fundamentals and how to use his size, not some herky jerky offensive game based on finesse.

Hm, I disagree. Scola is as good as he is because he is smart. He is about as athletic as I am, so he is what he is because of his basketball IQ. If Len became half as smart as Scola is, he'd be unstoppable.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Hm, I disagree. Scola is as good as he is because he is smart. He is about as athletic as I am, so he is what he is because of his basketball IQ. If Len became half as smart as Scola is, he'd be unstoppable.

He is cunning in some ways but all in all I don't think he's a smart player. He is one of the best mid-range shooters in the game (out to just past the free throw line) and yet his shooting percentage doesn't reflect it. Why? Because the other teams know his range and Luis apparently doesn't. They'll give him that shot when it doesn't matter but when points are important they move him a foot or two past his range and Luis still puts it up. When you shoot 80% inside your range and 10% when you go beyond it and you still take a lot of your shots outside your distance, that is not smart basketball. And don't bother double checking my stats, I know they're correct - I made them up myself.

I'd like to see him teach Len how to establish a strong base and how to keep the other guy from rooting you out of your position. Other than that, I don't really want Len to learn much from him. Luis does have a lot of slick moves and trick shots but that game isn't for everyone and I'm hoping Len can score in more traditional ways.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

He is cunning in some ways but all in all I don't think he's a smart player. He is one of the best mid-range shooters in the game (out to just past the free throw line) and yet his shooting percentage doesn't reflect it. Why? Because the other teams know his range and Luis apparently doesn't. They'll give him that shot when it doesn't matter but when points are important they move him a foot or two past his range and Luis still puts it up. When you shoot 80% inside your range and 10% when you go beyond it and you still take a lot of your shots outside your distance, that is not smart basketball. And don't bother double checking my stats, I know they're correct - I made them up myself.

I'd like to see him teach Len how to establish a strong base and how to keep the other guy from rooting you out of your position. Other than that, I don't really want Len to learn much from him. Luis does have a lot of slick moves and trick shots but that game isn't for everyone and I'm hoping Len can score in more traditional ways.

Steve

I think Scola is a smart player as most players with his limited athletic skills would have been out of the NBA a long time ago. He is a dirt worker and knows how to get the job done. Yes, he is cunning. He may have flaws but every NBA player has flaws. If I were a playoff team, he is the type player I would want on my team.

 

[SirStefan32]

I think Scola is a smart player as most players with his limited athletic skills would have been out of the NBA a long time ago. He is a dirt worker and knows how to get the job done. Yes, he is cunning. He may have flaws but every NBA player has flaws. If I were a playoff team, he is the type player I would want on my team.

Agreed. As the matter of fact, I think Scola is what OKC needs. He is actually what we needed during the Nash/Marion/Amare era.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Agreed. As the matter of fact, I think Scola is what OKC needs. He is actually what we needed during the Nash/Marion/Amare era.

yup. he'd be a really nice dirt worker to add some offensive pop off the bench for that team.

 

[Phrazbit]

Hm, I disagree. Scola is as good as he is because he is smart. He is about as athletic as I am, so he is what he is because of his basketball IQ. If Len became half as smart as Scola is, he'd be unstoppable.

If you get a big center I want him to play like a big center. Gortat his first year here was the "polish hammer" because he could throw the ball down on occasion. The last few years he has tried to add finesse to his game and IMO it has really hurt his play. He goes for his dainty layups and has seen his shooting around the rim suffer dramatically.

Scola scores the way he does because he does not have the capability to be more traditionally aggressive, his style of play is not an easy one to play and it also contributes to how inconsistent he is. Again, the last thing I want Len to do is play like he is 6'8" and has to use guile to get off a still difficult shot attempt.

Scola is NOT a player I would want any big man with physical gifts to replicate.