Where will Jimmy Butler end up? 2025 edition

[Phrazbit]

Possibly. However, weird things happen all the time in the NBA and teams do things that scratch your head.

Nobody....and I mean nobody had on their bingo card Utah trading 3 first round picks for our one 1st round pick which opened up the next 6 drafts for the Suns. Everybody was on the "no possible moves left" train. I was listening to Utah radio after that and fans there were in disbelief that Utah would do it.

Well... I would say that no one expected it because it was so lopsided. I am sure a ton of teams were drooling over the thought of getting that pick.

 

[Covert Rain]

Well... I would say that no one expected it because it was so lopsided. I am sure a ton of teams were drooling over the thought of getting that pick.

Yet I don't recall the last time a team traded 1st rounder for 3.

 

[Phrazbit]

Yet I don't recall the last time a team traded 1st rounder for 3.

I don't recall picks ever being leveraged so badly either.

We traded a pick that will likely be in the top 5 for 3 picks that will almost certainly fall in the last 5, one of which (the pick this year) is a virtual lock to be the last pick. The math is very bad for us.

 

[Covert Rain]

I don't recall picks ever being leveraged so badly either.

We traded a pick that will likely be in the top 5 for 3 picks that will almost certainly fall in the last 5, one of which (the pick this year) is a virtual lock to be the last pick. The math is very bad for us.

I would argue leveraging one pick for 3 while opening up the next 6 drafts was genius. However, I get the argument that they would not have had to do so if they hadn't already traded away so many of the previous.

 

[hcsilla]

I don't recall picks ever being leveraged so badly either.

We traded a pick that will likely be in the top 5 for 3 picks that will almost certainly fall in the last 5,

Both projections are way too pessimitic and basically represent the worst-case scenarios.

We just don't know how the Suns will look like in 2031. I understand that the future is not bright but bigger turnarounds did happen even in a shorter period of time.

The same applies for the picks that we acquired. This year's is 1/29-30, no question. But the 2027 one? The Cavs are not the Chicago Bulls from 1993.

one of which (the pick this year) is a virtual lock to be the last pick. The math is very bad for us.

According Kevin Pelton's calculation the 3 picks' combined value is 1/6 in 2031. So if it will be higher, the Jazz won, It it is lower, we won.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

I would rather get Cam Johnson back. Full disclosure

 

[Mainstreet]

I would rather get Cam Johnson back. Full disclosure

At least it would make the Suns more likable, even if they had to pay again for Durant.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

At least it would make the Suns more likable, even if they had to pay again for Durant.

Cam Johnson is having a nuts shooting season for those that don't know. He wouldn't need the ball to make a huge impact.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Well... I would say that no one expected it because it was so lopsided. I am sure a ton of teams were drooling over the thought of getting that pick.

No one is drooling over a pick that’s 6 years away.

 

[Phrazbit]

No one is drooling over a pick that’s 6 years away.

I dare to disagree. Especially with a GM with the job security that Ainge has and with a team with the long term projections we have.

That pick is sold gold.

If that isn’t the case then why on earth did Utah agree to the trade?

They are making a bet, with house money. Trading away heavily leveraged picks for one with no limitations from a team with a really bleak future.

 

[Hoop Head]

We need to scale back thinking we can now trade any of our picks in the next 6 years because those are also leveraged and the 2026 pick would be the worst pick between us, Orlando, Washington, and Memphis. We don't have our own pick in 2027. In 2028 our pick goes to Brooklyn or Washington, if they choose. Our 2029 pick is also gone. Our 2030 pick is a toss up between Washington and Memphis. So those attractive trade assets by any means. They're slightly better than what we got from Utah but that also means the Utah picks are locked in due to the Stepian rule where we can't be without a 1st round pick for 2 consecutive years. So there's some wiggle room but not much. Ultimately it really shouldn't be discussed because it's more likely we trade away whichever pick we own that is most favorable.

The lack of draft capital makes it near impossible to bank on being relevant in 2031 when that pick goes to Utah. In 6 years, KD will likely be accepting his HOF induction, Beal will be retired, and Booker will be ring chasing at the end of his career. Kicking the can down the line only works for so long and I'm afraid we've kicked it as far as possible, especially if we bring in Butler and extend him.

 

[SirStefan32]

Do you guys really think that Ishbia will let the Suns bottom out by 2031? He'll just spend money and at worst Suns will be mediocre. I can't imagine 2031 pick will be a top-five pick.

 

[Covert Rain]

I don't recall picks ever being leveraged so badly either.

We traded a pick that will likely be in the top 5 for 3 picks that will almost certainly fall in the last 5, one of which (the pick this year) is a virtual lock to be the last pick. The math is very bad for us.

Ishbia will just bring in bunch of FA or make other moves to make them competitive. They may not be title contenders but there is NOTHING about Ishbia so far that would indicate he lets the Suns bottom out that far.

 

[SirStefan32]

Ishbia will just bring in bunch of FA or make other moves to make them competitive. They may not be title contenders but there is NOTHING about Ishbia so far that would indicate he lets the Suns bottom out that far.

Right, exactly!

 

[Hoop Head]

Do you guys really think that Ishbia will let the Suns bottom out by 2031? He'll just spend money and at worst Suns will be mediocre. I can't imagine 2031 pick will be a top-five pick.

Money only does so much. We've been a 500 team for the last month and depending on the day would miss the play in entirely. Spending more won't get us out this. Spending recklessly actually got us here.

 

[ProdigalSun]

Ishbia will just bring in bunch of FA or make other moves to make them competitive. They may not be title contenders but there is NOTHING about Ishbia so far that would indicate he lets the Suns bottom out that far.

Yeah this ain't necessarily the Cardinals...or I'd be really worried

 

[Hoop Head]

I don't think people understand how dire the Suns financial future is. You can literally remove Booker and KD's salary and we wouldn't have $10 million in cap space, so we'd be a team offering a MLE. Max extensions for KD, and potentially Butler, shrinks that number even more. We've never been a free agent destination. Modern day versions Trevor Ariza and Tyson Chandler won't make us contenders, or a playoff team. We'll have to overpay for them also which means less space the next year to fill out the roster.

 

[Phrazbit]

Ishbia will just bring in bunch of FA or make other moves to make them competitive. They may not be title contenders but there is NOTHING about Ishbia so far that would indicate he lets the Suns bottom out that far.

Oh, I expect him to spend plenty, but so far throwing money at the problem is only making it is worse because he is making horrible decisions.

 

[Phrazbit]

Do you guys really think that Ishbia will let the Suns bottom out by 2031? He'll just spend money and at worst Suns will be mediocre. I can't imagine 2031 pick will be a top-five pick.

Right now we’re the most expensive team in league history and we’re decidedly mediocre. Our team is old and we have no realistic way to bring in meaningful talent.

Star players don’t sign with hopeless teams. We’re going to be the team throwing insane contracts to players like Jeremy Grant and Kyle Kuzma.

Barring striking gold and finding a superstar with what little late piddly draft assets we have, I don’t see any way we are not a terrible team in a couple years.

 

[Covert Rain]

Oh, I expect him to spend plenty, but so far throwing money at the problem is only making it is worse because he is making horrible decisions.

I hear you. I just think there is very little chance he lets the team bottom out which means everybody freaking out about those being great picks we gave up is probably not the case. We shall see.

 

[GatorAZ]

I see the late stage Kobe years as our future.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I see the late stage Kobe years as our future.

I see it more likely as the high point of our next dozen years or so.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm not thrilled looking at the Suns future long term, but a lot of the dire forecasts are predicated on the current CBA which runs through the 2029-30 season. The new CBA will likely change with more salary flexibility.

Also, there will be expansion teams and the NBA will likely be involved in forming European teams of some sort which should result in more income.

Also, I can see current NBA owners investing in European franchises. This may supplement the foreign talent already in the NBA.

What I'm saying, we are looking at the future through the lens of today.

The traded draft picks and swaps concern me the most. They may come home to roost unless the Suns get excellent at drafting.

 

[Ronin]

* crosses finger* anywhere but here.

 

[Covert Rain]

I just hoping something happens. These trade rumors have gone from eyebrow raising to simply stupid.