Which would you rather have?

[Yuma]

I bet no one takes TJ's contract. Unless we get involved in a three or four team trade and his salary has to make the deal work.

 

[WildBB]

If the Nets sign Walker or Irving plus Leonard or Durant, they will need cap relief. I could see a reasonable deal getting done there involving Johnson's soon to be expiring contract.

It's the Knicks who will be attracting all the top flight players. They can sign two at the least. Another could join on a "Cousins" contract. Plus they could land Zion. This is how today's NBA is a farce, largely. Players control too much.

 

[Finito]

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Are you kidding me. Time has a way of warping perspective. Barkley was short and thick but good god he was not 300lbs. Not even close. Zion is way wider

Zion has gained like 60lbs in the last 3 years that kids body won’t hold up that kind of weight plus athleticism I just don’t see it

 

[AzStevenCal]

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Are you kidding me. Time has a way of warping perspective. Barkley was short and thick but good god he was not 300lbs. Not even close. Zion is way wider

Zion has gained like 60lbs in the last 3 years that kids body won’t hold up that kind of weight plus athleticism I just don’t see it

I said he was 300 pounds in college, I didn't say he was 300 pounds every moment he was in college. From his own comments he said he weighed 300 but worked hard to drop the weight before he was drafted. Then, he learned that he'd only get 75,000 from Philadelphia and it pissed him off - said he didn't work that hard for so little so he tried in vain to add 20 pounds (in 24 hours) the day before the draft hoping they'd pass on him.

 

[BC867]

You can't put much stock in player weights back then, no way was Chuck 252 pounds most years. I know he was over 300 in college. And Chuck carried a lot of fat even after he slimmed down, Zion is solid and he doesn't seem like the type of guy to go down that Oliver Miller path. Maybe you're right about injury risk down the road but I'd hate to be scared away from drafting what could be the best player of his generation on something so nebulous.

And I agree that none of that should stand in the way of us drafting Zion.

The Suns need an emotional lift (which we expected from Ayton --perhaps in time), as much as a technical lift. And if we don't luck out, we still need additions who will give us an emotional lift, as well.

 

[taz02]

If we got lucky Zion and Kemba or another max guy wants to come here we can clear space. Send Warren and JJ of for some future 2nd round picks if you have to.

 

[AzStevenCal]

If we got lucky Zion and Kemba or another max guy wants to come here we can clear space. Send Warren and JJ of for some future 2nd round picks if you have to.

If it were only so easy.

 

[BC867]

If it were only so easy.

Leadership is earning millions of dollars. Privileged to be in the best basketball league in the world.

It shouldn't have to be easy! Don'tcha think?

 

[AzStevenCal]

Leadership is earning millions of dollars. Privileged to be in the best basketball league in the world.

It shouldn't have to be easy! Don'tcha think?

My point was that 2nd round picks plus TJ and Jackson don't get us anywhere close to having room to sign a Kemba Walker. And none of those assets have any real trade value so it's not like they'll do us much good in a sign and trade.

 

[SirStefan32]

My point was that 2nd round picks plus TJ and Jackson don't get us anywhere close to having room to sign a Kemba Walker. And none of those assets have any real trade value so it's not like they'll do us much good in a sign and trade.

Theoretically, they could renounce Oubre and Holmes, and then waive and stretch Johnson. That would get them to $30M or so in cap room. I think it would be foolish to do so, but it is possible.

If they get Zion, draft him, look for a slight upgrade at PG, and extend the two highest-energy guys they have. If they are set on a slight upgrade at PG, they can waive and stretch Johnson, or explore trading Warren or Jackson by including the Bucks pick, their own pick, etc. I honestly don't think they need Kemba Walker. If you have Booker, Ayton, Oubre, Bridges, Johnson, Holmes, and add Zion... you simply need a Collison-type PG.

You already have a top-ten (ish?) scorer in the NBA, and you have two young bigs who could potentially end up being 20-25ppg players. Get a competent point guard who can run an offense and defend. Suns will be able to score plenty. They need defenders around Booker and Ayton. Even if you look at the last year, what few great games they had were won by defending.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Theoretically, they could renounce Oubre and Holmes, and the waive and stretch Johnson. That would get them to $30M or so in cap room. I think it would be foolish to do so, but it is possible.

If they get Zion, draft him, look for a slight upgrade at PG, and extend the two highest-energy guys they have. If they are set on a slight upgrade at PG, they can waive and stretch Johnson, or explore trading Warren or Jackson by including the Bucks pick, their own pick, etc. I honestly don't think they need Kemba Walker. If you have Booker, Ayton, Oubre, Bridges, Johnson, Holmes, and add Zion... you simply need a Collison-type PG.

You already have a top-ten (ish?) scorer in the NBA, and you have two young bigs who could potentially end up being 20-25ppg players. Get a competent point guard who can run an offense and defend. Suns will be able to score plenty. They need defenders around Booker and Ayton. Even if you look at the last year, what few great games they had were won by defending.

Yeah, there are extreme steps we could take but nothing so easy as Warren, Jackson and 2nd round picks. And that doesn't even consider that Kemba is most likely staying in Charlotte or signing with the Knicks or the Mavericks.

 

[1Sun]

While I would love Kemba, I don't think we necessarily need him. A good steady point guard like Teague or Collison will be just fine, especially if we also find a way to fill the hole at power forward.

Meanwhile, John Gambadoro the other day discussed a possibility I proposed months ago - If the Raptors get eliminated, lose Kawhi, and decide to blow it up, we could do worse than trading for Kyle Lowry as a stop gap, especially if we end up drafting Morant, Garland or White.

 

[Mainstreet]

While I would love Kemba, I don't think we necessarily need him. A good steady point guard like Teague or Collison will be just fine, especially if we also find a way to fill the hole at power forward.

Meanwhile, John Gambadoro the other day discussed a possibility I proposed months ago - If the Raptors get eliminated, lose Kawhi, and decide to blow it up, we could do worse than trading for Kyle Lowry as a stop gap, especially if we end up drafting Morant, Garland or White.

I'd prefer another option than Lowry. Maybe I'm still remembering the Ariza experience.

So would it be Warren, Johnson and perhaps Okobo for Lowry?

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'd prefer another option than Lowry. Maybe I'm still remembering the Ariza experience.

So would it be Warren, Johnson and perhaps Okobo for Lowry?

I could be wrong but I think we were talking about clearing space. I'm not sure a rebuilding Charlotte would consider that trio as a plus so I suspect it would also include multiple first round picks just to absorb the salaries.

 

[Mainstreet]

I could be wrong but I think we were talking about clearing space. I'm not sure a rebuilding Charlotte would consider that trio as a plus so I suspect it would also include multiple first round picks just to absorb the salaries.

I was responding to a hypothetical trade as proposed by 1Sun with the Raptors for Lowry if they blow it up.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I was responding to a hypothetical trade as proposed by 1Sun with the Raptors for Lowry if they blow it up.

Yeah, duh. Senior moment. I read the first part and thought you were moving on from the Lowry conversation to the one that mentioned those guys.

Okay, so Lowry. I've never been a fan of Kyle as a person going back to his college days and at 33 he's showing signs of aging quickly. On the plus side, his tendency to disappear in the playoffs isn't much of an issue for us since we probably won't make it before he retires and even if we do, we'd probably expect one and done. He's only got one more year but he's so grossly overpaid right now that I suspect Warren and Johnson might actually get the deal done. But if Kawhi re-signs there and wants Lowry to remain, they'll probably want to keep him.

 

[Mainstreet]

Yeah, duh. Senior moment. I read the first part and thought you were moving on from the Lowry conversation to the one that mentioned those guys.

Okay, so Lowry. I've never been a fan of Kyle as a person going back to his college days and at 33 he's showing signs of aging quickly. On the plus side, his tendency to disappear in the playoffs isn't much of an issue for us since we probably won't make it before he retires and even if we do, we'd probably expect one and done. He's only got one more year but he's so grossly overpaid right now that I suspect Warren and Johnson might actually get the deal done. But if Kawhi re-signs there and wants Lowry to remain, they'll probably want to keep him.

So many different thoughts floating around. I was simply commenting about the proposed idea of trading for Lowry.

I'm not a fan, especially for a 33 year old Lowry. There is not any guarantee he would be happy in Phoenix.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Lowry is too old and frankly too inconsistent in his production, especially in the playoffs.

 

[SunnyBaller]

Yeah, there are extreme steps we could take but nothing so easy as Warren, Jackson and 2nd round picks. And that doesn't even consider that Kemba is most likely staying in Charlotte or signing with the Knicks or the Mavericks.

I read an article about a month ago that stated different scenarios to get us to a Max contract if they wanted , I wouldn't say any were too extreme or even that unrealistic, I'll post it if I find it again but I dont think it'd be that hard to salary dump tj or Jackson, you won't get equal value but if your #1 goal is to just free up space you take what you can get

 

[WildBB]

Theoretically, they could renounce Oubre and Holmes, and then waive and stretch Johnson. That would get them to $30M or so in cap room. I think it would be foolish to do so, but it is possible.

If they get Zion, draft him, look for a slight upgrade at PG, and extend the two highest-energy guys they have. If they are set on a slight upgrade at PG, they can waive and stretch Johnson, or explore trading Warren or Jackson by including the Bucks pick, their own pick, etc. I honestly don't think they need Kemba Walker. If you have Booker, Ayton, Oubre, Bridges, Johnson, Holmes, and add Zion... you simply need a Collison-type PG.

You already have a top-ten (ish?) scorer in the NBA, and you have two young bigs who could potentially end up being 20-25ppg players. Get a competent point guard who can run an offense and defend. Suns will be able to score plenty. They need defenders around Booker and Ayton. Even if you look at the last year, what few great games they had were won by defending.

Zion in the mix would clear up a whole lot of things. But spot on the PG search. Another 3 and D younger PG would be great. Maybe Okobo can become that. But under Williams the young PG's could take a drastic step up in production. I actually think that Morant isn't an answer here at this time, jmho.

 

[Mainstreet]

Zion in the mix would clear up a whole lot of things. But spot on the PG search. Another 3 and D younger PG would be great. Maybe Okobo can become that. But under Williams the young PG's could take a drastic step up in production. I actually think that Morant isn't an answer here at this time, jmho.

It's just that getting Morant or Zion would make life so much easier.

The draft would provide a permanent fix for one of the Suns two major problems: point guard and power forward. Then they could devote more of their assets in free agency towards fixing the other position.

 

[JCSunsfan]

It's just that getting Morant or Zion would make life so much easier.

The draft would provide a permanent fix for one of the Suns two major problems: point guard and power forward. Then they could devote more of their assets in free agency towards fixing the other position.

IMO Zion is a guaranteed permanent fix. Ja is about a 75% guarantee. But yes, it would make life easier.

 

[AzStevenCal]

IMO Zion is a guaranteed permanent fix. Ja is about a 75% guarantee. But yes, it would make life easier.

I agree (obviously) on Zion but I think 75% is a little high for Morant. I like his potential but I think it's more like 50/50. Still, I don't see another high up-side player that I like more in this class.

 

[Mainstreet]

IMO Zion is a guaranteed permanent fix. Ja is about a 75% guarantee. But yes, it would make life easier.

I agree (obviously) on Zion but I think 75% is a little high for Morant. I like his potential but I think it's more like 50/50. Still, I don't see another high up-side player that I like more in this class.

I think we agree about Zion.

If the Suns draft Morant, they would probably be looking for a temporary fix at point guard until he is ready. Either would impact the way the Suns approach free agency and look at trades.

 

[WildBB]

I think we agree about Zion.

If the Suns draft Morant, they would probably be looking for a temporary fix at point guard until he is ready. Either would impact the way the Suns approach free agency and look at trades.

Lets say they get Morant. Who starts and who gets 86'd. Do you give up on either Melton or Okobo? Or do you keep 4 PG's to begin the season?