Where's my Backup Point Guard?

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

It's either the Suns, an italian team, or one of the bottom feeders in the east coast.

 

[mojorizen7]

IMO bringing in Stephon would be a bad idea. I think the SUNS are headed into a shady situation as it is in terms of team chemistry w/the JRich signing. I don't think its beyond AMare to start complaining about touches again if the chemistry between Richardson,Barnes,and Hill continues to flourish. Having Starbury here would only "ignite the spark" so to speak if the lockerroom even remotely began to break up.
Stephon is the poster child for Anti-Solidarity.
No thanks.

 

[Skumbag]

Stephon is the poster child for Anti-Solidarity.
No thanks.

Exactly. Dude's a douche... Amare would freak.

 

[Brianellsworth]

I am curious how this comment means he is coming to the Suns (as mentioned previously in this thread)

"All I've got to do is get free," Marbury said. "Once I get free, the team I'm going to go to, I think a lot of people will be shocked. All the people that say nobody wants me on their team... I'm all of these different things...Frank Isola said I'm a cancer ... I'm doing my thing though."
Asked if that means that basketball is no longer his thing, Marbury said, "I'm doing my thang."

 

[Muggum]

Thankfully we had the foresight to draft Rajon Rondo!

Whoops.

 

[DiamondBacks5117]

so marbury already knows what team eh is going to got to? I mean i guess he could already be talking to other teams and have recieved offers. It would eb pretty cool if Marbury came back to the suns! we could use him against the spurs! He owns parker! Also i am surpirsed a lot of you guys would welcome Marbury back. I would try and be at his first game back with a sign that said welcome back steph!

 

[DiamondBacks5117]

anyone remember this! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAbJUq51I-w

 

[AceP]

Hmm, just read this from hoopshype.

The so-called "shocking" possible destination Marbury could be talking about is the Phoenix Suns. They currently have an open roster spot and a need for a backup guard. Marbury played with Suns coach Terry Porter in Minnesota and, quite frankly, the Steve Kerr-Robert Sarver duo would love nothing more than to take the player Mike D'Antoni exiled and make him an asset. Newsday

IF, I MEAN ONLY IF, somehow Kerr-Sarver could confirm that Marbury is beaten up in mind and eager to prove to the world that he is still a good player.

If we sign him to veteran minimal in mid-season, only half of the salary is due, cost us less than a million including the luxury tax. If he turns out to be the usual Marbury, we could just expell him immediately. It wouldn't harm us much, maybe worth a try.

 

[Mainstreet]

Minnesota LOL

You're right, Marbury returning to Minnesota would be the ultimate shocker. Nothing like returning to the team that got you started even considering the circumstances under which he left.

 

[Irish]

Steve Kerr was on the Gambo and Ash show yesterday and was asked about the PG situation. He was pretty vague, but sounded like he's looking a possible FA buyouts. If so, he may use 10 day guys until whoever he likes gets released. It's easy enough to think Stephon, but I haven't looked to see if there is someone else who might face a similar situation.

As for Pargo, I don't know if the rumors about him not getting paid by the Moscow team is true. In any case, I think faxing him weather reports from Phoenx would be a good move.

 

[AceP]

Steve Kerr was on the Gambo and Ash show yesterday and was asked about the PG situation. He was pretty vague, but sounded like he's looking a possible FA buyouts. If so, he may use 10 day guys until whoever he likes gets released. It's easy enough to think Stephon, but I haven't looked to see if there is someone else who might face a similar situation.

As for Pargo, I don't know if the rumors about him not getting paid by the Moscow team is true. In any case, I think faxing him weather reports from Phoenx would be a good move.

Pargo is not a playmaker at all. For me, he is pretty much of a smaller Barbosa who have played at PG for more years. Barbosa is developing and putting more effort in defense now, and, J.Rich's arrival is cutting his minutes at SG. I would like to see more Barbosa at PG instead of Pargo.

Our roster is full of powerful scorers, even on bench. We already have concerns of shot sharing. We need some1 to feed Amare/Shaq/J.Rich when Nash sits. Adding a non-playmaking, shooter/scorer type of PG is very unwise.

The ideal backup PG should be a very matured veteran (need no time to get going - microwave), playmaker (pass first), floor leader (good vision of the whole court). If we actually get either Pargo or Marbury, Porter has to coach him well and make sure he do what we need him to.

 

[cly2tw]

Pargo is not a playmaker at all. For me, he is pretty much of a smaller Barbosa who have played at PG for more years. Barbosa is developing and putting more effort in defense now, and, J.Rich's arrival is cutting his minutes at SG. I would like to see more Barbosa at PG instead of Pargo.

Agree. Pargo always looked like an allstar playing the Suns, because he knew that Nash's defense was almost nonexistant.

Let's get Marbury back for the min. He is a strong defender on the PG position if he is willing.

 

[SirStefan32]

Marbury to Phoenix makes sense, but from what I've read, the local media is saying it's just not going to happen. Gambo and Ash said that Kerr is simply not interested, and Coro went as far as to say that there is a better chance of D'Antoni returning than Marbury.

You guys in Phoenix correct me if I am wrong, but while it's common knowledge is that Gambo is a buffoon, doesn't Coro actually have some credibility?

 

[AceP]

Most of things happened without a sign. Most of time we were surprised. There was no rumor about the J.Rich deal at all b4 it's official. So, let's just wait to see.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Marbury to Phoenix makes sense, but from what I've read, the local media is saying it's just not going to happen. Gambo and Ash said that Kerr is simply not interested, and Coro went as far as to say that there is a better chance of D'Antoni returning than Marbury.

You guys in Phoenix correct me if I am wrong, but while it's common knowledge is that Gambo is a buffoon, doesn't Coro actually have some credibility?

Yes. However, Coro's credibility and inside scoop can fluctuate, but Gambo is a buffoon 100% of the time.

 

[LV-Suns]

There is a rumor that Marcus Williams could be waived.

I was always a fan of him when he was coming out of the draft.

 

[Kolo]

One of today's papers said Kerr and Griffin are scouting the D-League, and will have a tryout with 4-6 point guards (D-League and free agents) next Monday. The paper speculated Troy Hudson and Damon Stoudamire might be invited.

Here's from today's CNNSI.com:

Two D-League point guards who could draw interest from NBA teams:

• Dontell Jefferson, Utah Flash. "DJ is the guy most NBA scouts ask me about," Flash coach Brad Jones said. "Defensively, he is already an NBA player." Jefferson is a big (6-4), heady playmaker who has developed by leaps and bounds since graduating from Arkansas in 2006. He has blossomed into one of the D-League's most poised point guards, averaging 16.4 points and 5.3 assists in eight games this season. "I'm trying to be more conscious of my decision-making," said Jefferson, who was released by the Grizzlies in training camp last year and was one of Mike Dunleavy's final cuts at Clippers camp this season. "I feel like that's the thing that has been keeping me out of the league."

• Coby Karl, Idaho Stampede. "Coby has really taken to the point guard role," said George Karl, Coby's father and the Nuggets' coach. "He's playing like a veteran out there." Coby Karl spent the 2007-08 season with the Lakers but was waived in October. A deadeye shooter, Karl has been honing his playmaking skills in Idaho (where he is averaging 17.8 points and 5.6 assists in eight games) with an eye toward signing a 10-day contract with an NBA team in January. The Lakers are keeping tabs on him and he still has his No. 1 fan in Denver. "He can play in this league," George Karl said. "I think we should pick him up."

 

[AceP]

The other names r mentioned : Eddie Gill, Smush Parker, Walker Russell Jr.

 

[asuhoopsnut]

The other names r mentioned : Eddie Gill, Smush Parker, Walker Russell Jr.

Walker Russell Jr. is leading the D-League with 11.6 assists per game while averaging 15 points and almost 2 steals per game.

 

[nashman]

Wow I am surprised that this many of you want a cancer like Marbury on this team. No thanks, would take Jwill or Pargo over Marbury maybe even the Dleagers over him, we know what Marbury is ...a headcase no thank you!

 

[Mainstreet]

Here is a another snippet of information written by Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic dated 12-17-08 regarding the Suns looking at D-Leaguers as well.

The 13th man search

The Suns have until Wednesday to sign a player, likely a point guard, and reach the 13-player roster minimum.

Suns General Manager Steve Kerr scouted an NBA Development League game involving Eddie Gill and Smush Parker on Tuesday. The Suns have an eye on other options in the D-League, where Walker Russell Jr. is the leading assist man.

Suns Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin is organizing a Monday workout for four to six point guards. The group will include a mix of D-League and ex-NBA players, possibly including Troy Hudson and Damon Stoudamire.

I guess the Suns are not serious about going after a Championship afterall. They throw 4-6 PGs in a barrel and pick the best of the worst. Sadly I do not see much improvement over Dragic or Singletary. By the way Griffin found Banks for DA.

 

[carey]

Just say no to Smush.

 

[mjb21aztd]

So are we going to sign someone or what? But yeah I agree no Smush Parker he is not a real pg, please sign eaither Jason Williams or Pargo .

 

[Mainstreet]

So are we going to sign someone or what? But yeah I agree no Smush Parker he is not a real pg, please sign eaither Jason Williams or Pargo .

We'll be working out some over the hill veterans and NBADL players on Monday. Then pick the best of the worst.

See my post above.

 

[Errntknght]

The downside to reverting back to the 'Nash' offense is that backup PG becomes ridiculously difficult again. I hate to say it but I think the best course is to give Barbosa another go at it. Keep a subset of the set plays that the team used before for him to run, cap Steve at 30 minutes per game and live with Barbs at point the rest of the time, game in and game out. I would think all of the players could get behind this approach - how could anyone not want to help lovable Leandro succeed?

Before, he fell apart under the pressure of taking Nash's place on the floor but with all the coaches and players pumping up his confidence he might be able to handle it - besides he's had a good amount of success in the NBA so he shouldn't be questioning that he belongs on the floor now.

As many of us have noted, his play has improved some already this year in the areas where it was most lacking but the acquisition of Richardson is going to cut into his minutes at SG, and that could send him into a downward spiral - this approach avoids that potential pitfall.

Its time for Porter to bite the bullet and fix on some rotation that has a chance of lifting this team up a couple of more notches. Nothing wrong with experimenting a bit but the team has had enough changes that the rest of season is needed to smooth out the rough spots. The team certainly has the raw firepower to play with any team in the league now but they need to get synced up and then get some polish if they're going to be a force in the playoffs.

Normally, I favor a deep bench but there's too much ground to cover for the remainder of this year. Cut down to nine guys: Nash, Amare, Shaq, JRich, Hill then Barnes, Leandro and Amundson with Lopez starting for Shaq in the b2b games he misses. Sort of strange with Lopez but we need his size - and he'll know when he's going to play, which is always important with young guys. (It hasn't worked too badly so far.) Limit the number of different line ups used.

If Alando, Dudley, Dragic or #13 become overwhelming in practice and 'garbage time' then consider a minor move of some sort.