Who do you want to acquire at PF

[JCSunsfan]

When you think about improving this team going foward consider:

The way to get to the next level will not be by adding depth or even competent starters. The only way to transition up will be by adding at least one star/superstar caliber player. Conceivably, who would even be available? Let's look.

1. Replace Nash with Dragic? Is Dragic our pg of the future or do we see him as a career backup. If a backup, then who do you target? Chris Paul, Jennings, someone in the draft?

2. Jason Richardson. He is young and in his prime. He is the hen-pecked player right now because there is a perception that his contract is out of whack. He will be the leading scorer on this team this year and likely the key player outside of Nash. If you want to trade him away, who will you get that will be better? Where is the available star/superstar sg in the draft, through free agency or for trade. IMO you could not get better than JRich for the money except with a rookie and that won't happen this year.

3. Replacing Grant Hill with a star/superstar 3 is probably a good place to start looking. The draft is a great place to go, but it is not likely to find a player that will fill that need if you are drafting outside of the first 10 picks. In free agency, Carmelo Anthony might be available, but I have no confidence building our future around him. Dudley could eventually start at this position, but he will not be a star at that position. If Dudley is the future here, we have to look for a star player elsewhere--probably trying to get lucky in the draft.

4. Amare was our best bet for a star player. But Sarver did not not want to take a bet on his knees, and as much as I don't like Sarver, his offer was fair. New York had to role the dice and they did. If we want to add a star player here, the names being kicked about (Scola etc) are not sufficient. Again, we would have to hope for draft magic to happen. I do not see any star caliber FA's available in the future or even through the draft. Maybe there is a young, promising player out there who has all the tools and just needed to mature (like Jermaine ONeal did). Any ideas?

5. Lopez is our best hope for the future at center. There are so few star caliber centers in the league. I do not see any hope for filling that spot with a star caliber player. No one is going to give us a Pau Gasol.

 

[AzStevenCal]

1. Replace Nash with Dragic? Is Dragic our pg of the future or do we see him as a career backup. If a backup, then who do you target? Chris Paul, Jennings, someone in the draft?

As much as we've seen of Dragic I still think the jury remains out on the guy. I think he's too good to be a career backup but I can't tell if his ceiling is superstar or slightly below average starter. He shows signs of both. He should become a strong defender and he obviously can get his own shot. If he can run an offense and make those around him better in the process, we're looking at one of the 2 or 3 best PG's in the game.

Steve

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

2. Jason Richardson. He is young and in his prime. He is the hen-pecked player right now because there is a perception that his contract is out of whack. He will be the leading scorer on this team this year and likely the key player outside of Nash. If you want to trade him away, who will you get that will be better? Where is the available star/superstar sg in the draft, through free agency or for trade. IMO you could not get better than JRich for the money except with a rookie and that won't happen this year.

you know, a lot of people have been accusing a lot of other people of "hating" on jrich. this is the exactly opposite extreme. jrich is either 30 or going to be 30 this season. he's not what i'd call "young." in his prime? eh, maybe a little past his prime. he's a better shooter, but not quite the athlete or defender he used to be. and i grudgingly believe that the "key player" this year (outside of nash) is likely to be hedo.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

As much as we've seen of Dragic I still think the jury remains out on the guy. I think he's too good to be a career backup but I can't tell if his ceiling is superstar or slightly below average starter. He shows signs of both. He should become a strong defender and he obviously can get his own shot. If he can run an offense and make those around him better in the process, we're looking at one of the 2 or 3 best PG's in the game.

Steve

i don't know about calling him one of the 2 or 3 best pg's in the game . . . but i'd agree with the rest of your take. i think dragic has the potential to either be a star or a slightly below average starter. the uncertainty will likely remain until nash actually retires and we have a chance to see what dragic can do with the keys to the car.

 

[Mainstreet]

I wonder how many games Tracy Mcgrady missed last year? Should we extend Nash for 5 more years because he missed fewer games than Chris or Tracy? Nash has a CHRONIC back problem. It is not sacrilegious to suggest that this problem is getting worse and will continue to worsen. Nash only missed one game last season but he should have missed a lot more than that. As it was, Gentry could barely get him to sit down even for one game.

Talk about something out of left field. Where did you get this 5 year extension stuff? I know... you made it up.

All I know is that Nash was written off by Mark Cuban concerning health/ age issues 6 years ago and Nash is still playing up to a MVP level. Nash had the same back problems long before he returned to the Suns from Dallas. Also who said Nash's back problems are getting worse beyond your suggestion?

I sort of got a chuckle when you ended your discussion about Nash as follows:

Nash only missed one game last season but he should have missed a lot more than that. As it was, Gentry could barely get him to sit down even for one game.

This doesn't sound like a player on his way out.

 

[Irish]

I guess there are concerns about Nash as much due to the refs as to his back. For some reason, he has a target on his back with just the words "hit me" hidden from view. In football, running backs average on 5 years due to the abuse they receive. Wide receivers get some protection and quarterbacks a lot of protection, but running backs are abused more than any offensive player. The same is true with Nash.

There is some hope that Hedo will do some of the playmaking this year, so Nash will get support from Hedo, Hill and Dragic. That may help.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Talk about something out of left field. Where did you get this 5 year extension stuff? I know... you made it up.

Normally, when I accuse someone of making something up, I save it for those moments when someone has actually made something up. When you ask a rhetorical question and a responder follows up with 2 rhetorical questions it doesn't actually fall in the category of making something up.

All I know is that Nash was written off by Mark Cuban concerning health/ age issues 6 years ago and Nash is still playing up to a MVP level.

You've thrown this out there before as if it has some special relevance to our situation today. First off, it was 6 years ago and it has no relevance. And secondly, you've twisted the facts to suit your argument. Mark Cuban did pretty much the same thing then as Robert Sarver did this offseason. He looked at a player that he wanted to keep and made a business decision that it didn't warrant the risk. He didn't write him off as you so often state. He decided that meeting an agent's demands for a player that either broke down or wore down each year wasn't a smart business decision.

Also who said Nash's back problems are getting worse beyond your suggestion?

Nobody. I've offered an opinion on the subject. It's just my opinion based on my observation. I don't think I've presented it as anything but my opinion but if I have, it certainly wasn't intentional.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

Normally, when I accuse someone of making something up, I save it for those moments when someone has actually made something up. When you ask a rhetorical question and a responder follows up with 2 rhetorical questions it doesn't actually fall in the category of making something up.

You tap danced around the issue. You throw something out there that is a non-issue, "Should we extend Nash for 5 more years because he missed fewer games than Chris or Tracy?" Then you try to walk away from it.

You've thrown this out there before as if it has some special relevance to our situation today. First off, it was 6 years ago and it has no relevance. And secondly, you've twisted the facts to suit your argument. Mark Cuban did pretty much the same thing then as Robert Sarver did this offseason. He looked at a player that he wanted to keep and made a business decision that it didn't warrant the risk. He didn't write him off as you so often state. He decided that meeting an agent's demands for a player that either broke down or wore down each year wasn't a smart business decision.

You brought up Nash's "CHRONIC back problem" in your post. How is it not relevant when Nash had the same problem playing for Dallas over 6 years ago. I think even Cuban would admit he made a bad decision in not keeping Nash no matter how you try to spin it. Cuban has been trying to replace Nash ever since.

Nobody. I've offered an opinion on the subject. It's just my opinion based on my observation. I don't think I've presented it as anything but my opinion but if I have, it certainly wasn't intentional.

Your observation is not supported by facts.

 

[AzStevenCal]

You tap danced around the issue. You throw something out there that is a non-issue, "Should we extend Nash for 5 more years because he missed fewer games than Chris or Tracy?" Then you try to walk away from it.



You brought up Nash's "CHRONIC back problem" in your post. How is it not relevant when Nash had the same problem playing for Dallas over 6 years ago. I think even Cuban would admit he made a bad decision in not keeping Nash no matter how you try to spin it. Cuban has been trying to replace Nash ever since.




Your observation is not supported by facts.

I surrender.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

I surrender.

Steve

Aw-shucks, just when it was starting to get interesting.

 

[Covert Rain]

you know, a lot of people have been accusing a lot of other people of "hating" on jrich. this is the exactly opposite extreme. jrich is either 30 or going to be 30 this season. he's not what i'd call "young." in his prime? eh, maybe a little past his prime. he's a better shooter, but not quite the athlete or defender he used to be. and i grudgingly believe that the "key player" this year (outside of nash) is likely to be hedo.

Ouchie on what planet is 29 or 30 past someones prime? Players usually are not past their prime until they are past 32 and for some players even longer. JRich falls in that category. Athletic freaks of nature like him are not out of their prime at 30. JRich is definitely still in his prime IMO.

 

[Irish]

Ouchie on what planet is 29 or 30 past someones prime? Players usually are not past their prime until they are past 32 and for some players even longer. JRich falls in that category. Athletic freaks of nature like him are not out of their prime at 30. JRich is definitely still in his prime IMO.

It all depends on history of injuries. A guy with lotos of knee problems can get old very quickly. But the calendar does not tell if a guy is in good condition and ready to play.

In baseball, on of the worst trades ever made was when Frank Robinson was traded for Millt Pappas (sic) a journeyman pitcher. The Reds traded Frank Robinson because they thought he was getting old at 30. He went on to help Baltimore win some championships and would end up in the Basefall Hall of Fame. It was a pure blunder based mostly on fear of having a guy who was getting old.

 

[Sunburn]

I do think that out of all the abilities of a basketball player, athleticism fades the soonest. I don't think JRich, similar to Vince Carter, is as athletic as when he won those dunk contests. JRich's athleticism, like Vince Carter's, is fading. For players with games predicated on athleticism, their primes come sooner in their careers. A case could be made that J Rich is past his prime. However, this does not mean he is not, nor will continue to be, an outstanding player, especially with his stroke from 3.

Was that a double, or even triple, negative? Ugh. Not pretty.

 

[SactownSunsFan]

Where is Sean Williams?

He's a young, athletic foward with natural shot blocking skills. The Nets released him in January, and he's been playing international ball since... I wouldn't mind seeing the Suns sign him for training camp fodder.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Where is Sean Williams?

He's a young, athletic foward with natural shot blocking skills. The Nets released him in January, and he's been playing international ball since... I wouldn't mind seeing the Suns sign him for training camp fodder.

Ummmmm... I think he is taken up at the moment

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AogcGNB0F7YqmI_GKfGKaI.8vLYF?slug=ap-shawnewilliamsarrested

 

[elindholm]

Ummmmm... I think he is taken up at the moment

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AogcGNB0F7YqmI_GKfGKaI.8vLYF?slug=ap-shawnewilliamsarrested

Wrong guy. Sean Williams is trying to return to the NBA. It was on hoopshype this morning. The Suns could do a lot worse.

 

[SweetD]

If Paul wants out then I say lets make a move for West. I would skip on Williams

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Wrong guy. Sean Williams is trying to return to the NBA. It was on hoopshype this morning. The Suns could do a lot worse.

Damn. How many New Jersey Nets released Sean (or Shawne) Williams could there be?????

 

[SactownSunsFan]

Damn. How many New Jersey Nets released Sean (or Shawne) Williams could there be?????

Good point. Both were waived in January.

 

[Sunburn]

Solve this riddle. Earl Barron, New York Knicks. 7 foot, 250. Averaged 12 points and 11 rebounds in 33 minutes last year. He had the 3RD HIGHEST rebound player rating of anyone playing over 30 mpg last season, second only to Howard and Camby. He only made $63,127.

Answer: This was out of a total of 7 games. He was on a 10 day contract.

Question: Can he continue this kind of production?

If he can, he's a total bargain. His defense ain't bad according to 82games.com. In the meantime, since KT's gone, and we got nothin better. . .

 

[Errntknght]

Earl Barron has a career avg rebound rate of .238 per minute in about 1300 total minutes, in contrast to .331/min last year. He also didn't play at all in 2009 after 3 yrs in Miami, seeminly working his way up. Don't know what the story is but its possible he's injury prone or worse, a headcase.