elindholm
edited for content
I don't want to be pessimistic, but it seems pretty likely now that the Suns will be eliminated by the Spurs. So it’s time to think about the future. With the season almost officially over, maybe we can start organizing our thoughts.
1. Should the Suns keep Joe Johnson?
Yes. As one of his biggest detractors, I have to say that I'm now sold on him, based on his play during the end of the regular season and in his abbreviated playoff run.
2. Should the Suns keep the same starting lineup?
That's the big question. Whether Stoudemire and Marion "hate" playing a position up is open to debate, but what seems clear is that this year's starting lineup gives up too much defensively to be a championship favorite.
D’Antoni, however, has already indicated that he’s leaning toward staying the course, for instance in his comments that the lineup would have five three-point shooters next year. The regular season showed that small ball can win a lot of games. Will that continue to be the priority, or will the Suns start thinking in October about the late playoff rounds, the way great teams do?
3. If the Suns keep the same lineup, how can they improve?
That’s something of a mystery, at least to me. Offensively, I doubt they can get much better. Stoudemire and Johnson have room to improve, but Nash and Marion are at their peaks and Richardson just isn’t an elite player. They could improve their rebounding by learning to block out, so there’s hope there. Stoudemire has a lot to learn defensively, but it’s hard Marion as a long-term answer for guarding opposing power forwards.
4. If the Suns change their lineup by adding another big man, where do they get him?
Where, indeed? No one good enough to make a difference will be available where the Suns draft. Whatever new form the MLE takes in the new CBA, it’s unlikely to be enough money to recruit a quality big. That leaves a trade. A sign-and-trade for Johnson is possible if he is determined to play somewhere else, but most likely he’ll see the wisdom of staying in Phoenix. That leaves Richardson and Marion as the only viable trade bait. With Marion’s value much higher than Richardson’s, and having come off the best season of his career, he represents the only realistic option the Suns have for adding another good center or power forward. But will the franchise have the stomach to trade him? I doubt it, at least not now.
5. So will the Suns look much different next year?
I guess not. It doesn’t seem like any of the starters are going anywhere, and the Suns don’t have any other way of bringing in a really good player. Figure on the first-round draft pick and an MLE signing as two more role players to add to the rotation. McCarty is probably gone, but if Hunter and Barbosa can improve over the summer, the roster could go ten players deep. Maybe the improved depth and an introduction to the concepts of rebounding and defense will be enough to get this team to the next level.
1. Should the Suns keep Joe Johnson?
Yes. As one of his biggest detractors, I have to say that I'm now sold on him, based on his play during the end of the regular season and in his abbreviated playoff run.
2. Should the Suns keep the same starting lineup?
That's the big question. Whether Stoudemire and Marion "hate" playing a position up is open to debate, but what seems clear is that this year's starting lineup gives up too much defensively to be a championship favorite.
D’Antoni, however, has already indicated that he’s leaning toward staying the course, for instance in his comments that the lineup would have five three-point shooters next year. The regular season showed that small ball can win a lot of games. Will that continue to be the priority, or will the Suns start thinking in October about the late playoff rounds, the way great teams do?
3. If the Suns keep the same lineup, how can they improve?
That’s something of a mystery, at least to me. Offensively, I doubt they can get much better. Stoudemire and Johnson have room to improve, but Nash and Marion are at their peaks and Richardson just isn’t an elite player. They could improve their rebounding by learning to block out, so there’s hope there. Stoudemire has a lot to learn defensively, but it’s hard Marion as a long-term answer for guarding opposing power forwards.
4. If the Suns change their lineup by adding another big man, where do they get him?
Where, indeed? No one good enough to make a difference will be available where the Suns draft. Whatever new form the MLE takes in the new CBA, it’s unlikely to be enough money to recruit a quality big. That leaves a trade. A sign-and-trade for Johnson is possible if he is determined to play somewhere else, but most likely he’ll see the wisdom of staying in Phoenix. That leaves Richardson and Marion as the only viable trade bait. With Marion’s value much higher than Richardson’s, and having come off the best season of his career, he represents the only realistic option the Suns have for adding another good center or power forward. But will the franchise have the stomach to trade him? I doubt it, at least not now.
5. So will the Suns look much different next year?
I guess not. It doesn’t seem like any of the starters are going anywhere, and the Suns don’t have any other way of bringing in a really good player. Figure on the first-round draft pick and an MLE signing as two more role players to add to the rotation. McCarty is probably gone, but if Hunter and Barbosa can improve over the summer, the roster could go ten players deep. Maybe the improved depth and an introduction to the concepts of rebounding and defense will be enough to get this team to the next level.
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