Who is the Star the Suns could get or event want?

[PhxGametime]

I wouldn't do that Trade - I'd be looking to Trade Okafor and Picks, for star/semi-star. I like Westbrook but Trading 3 solid rotation players for 1 star wouldn't be my plan... Westbrook goes down and Suns are doomed. Using remaining cap space (Trade) or Okafor's contract with Picks would be my top options. IF the Suns find need for an upgrade, I wouldn't want to give up Dragic, Bledsoe, Plumlee, Len, Goodwin or 1 of either Tucker/Green just to upgrade a level higher. Chemistry of Team is great, an addition to current roster would be my Option a).

Option b) to upgrade Frye or Morrii, possibly Tucker or Green, etc. c) taking on small contract for asset or expiring with asset (using Okafor) etc. d) Rookie contract Trade (Ross, Harkless, etc.) to add to roster e) wait for summer.

 

[AfroSuns]

Goran is no Russell, but question is what can Dragic do with a player like Durant getting a boatload of attention and we know his assist stats would rise immensely. What i am trying to say is i wouldn't gut the team for no Westbrook.

 

[Hoop Head]

I don't think it would be gutting the team. Losing Bledsoe & Green plus picks would not gut the team. Like I said Len doesn't have to be included for salaries to work, we could include an extra pick or 2 instead. I would wager that the Thunder would rather have the pick(s) than Len given they already Adams plus they have shown they are very competent in the draft. We would also be taking Perkins contract, when added to Westbrook's would hurt our cap space but we would have our star plus have all of our other rotation players. I haven't looked into the longterm ramifications cap wise but I'm pretty sure we would still have enough space to sign someone over the MLE still which could be used to lure a PF/C here. It would be more attractive to a good free agent worth around 7-8 million to join a team on the rise with Westbrook, Goran, and the rest of our roster than it would Bledsoe, Goran, and the rest IMO.

I also think it would be a win win for both teams. Say we give up the 2 best picks this year plus our own next and don't include Len. We get better immediately while losing some draft picks, we do have 6 over the next 2 years so we could lose half of those and still be ok in regards to adding youth in the future. Oklahoma is a team that is very cap conscience, proven by the Harden trade last year. Being able to get a cheaper replacement for Westbrook plus assets might do it with how well they've played without him. Also KD has been a beast lately without Westbrook which might also help OKC consider it if they got an offer like this from us.

 

[AfroSuns]

I was actually replying elindholm, who think so HIGHLY of Westbrook, he is willing to gut the team for him....figurative or not.

I still dont think i would do your trade though...mostly because i don't like Westbrook's brooding and immaturity. IMO that chip is a little too much and have done that team more damage than good in the post-season

 

[sunsfan88]

I would absolutely do your trade and OKC wouldn't.

Westbrook is a SUPERSTAR. Bledsoe and a Dragic are All Star caliber players who have the potential to be a superstar but Westbrook is a developed superstar.

You don't trade away superstars in the NBA today. Ask OKC itself in regards to Harden and they will tell ya.

And please lets stop kidding ourselves thinking we wouldn't trade Len, Bledsoe and Green for Westbrook.

 

[Hoop Head]

I can see that logic in that Westbrook IS a superstar while Bledsoe just has the potential to be one, also that OKC may be apprehensive to any deal because of the Harden trade. I see most people are looking at either PF's, C's, or SF's when thinking of stars that may be, or end up, on the market. Going after a SG or PG would be fine if the right one is available. Given how Bledsoe and Dragic have both played well in a 2 PG system I think giving up one to get a more established PG, or a ball dominating SG, would be an option that may come about. I think any piece of the team is tradable really and no position is set in stone for the future but if I had a choice I'd choose Dragic over Bledsoe. That is based on skill alone, his contract is much better for the future also. Does anyone think we will get Bledsoe to sign for 4 or 5 years at or below $7.5 million?

With Bledsoe's free agency on the horizon I'm skeptical that he will stay in PHX and it may be best to trade him before the deadline. Even with the injuries this year I believe his value will be more at the deadline than it would be in a sign and trade come the offseason. I think he will get a max contract in the offseason and I don't believe he's worth it but think Phoenix would match it provided he doesn't do something like Joe Johnson or Eric Gordon and request that it doesn't get matched.

 

[Errntknght]

Giving up Len would be a deal breaker for me... I'm undoubtedly in the minority on that but we could go for many years without finding the big we need to anchor our defense. Obviously, I'm not a huge Westbrook fan and I'm less so with his recent injuries but with doubts about Bledsoe wanting to stay I'd make the deal sans Len.

 

[devilalum]

The only reason OKC would trade Westbrook is if they think he's damaged goods.

 

[Mainstreet]

I was thinking with all the talk of finding a star mostly matching what the Suns currently need position wise, preferably a Power Forward but could use help really at Small Forward or Center also. What if the team went another direction and traded Bledsoe? Here is a trade I was thinking, it works salary wise and also because Oklahoma has shown they can play well without him. We would probably need to pitch in some picks but depending on which picks and how many I would make this deal.

Suns send - Bledsoe, Okafor, Len and Green
Thunder send - Westbrook and Perkins

The trade still works salary wise without Len so he doesn't have to be part of the deal. If he was though I would think less picks would need to be included and also worse picks could be used. He has shown a good amount of potential recently and I wouldn't want to lose him as just a throw in but the trade works with or without him. Same goes for Green also, if Len is included he doesn't need to be to make it work with salaries. Both could go and it would work but if I had to choose one to keep I'd keep Len.

Why Oklahoma would do the trade is fairly simple. They gain assets in the draft picks plus Len, if included, shred some salary to get some flexibility losing Perkins contract and getting Westbrook off the books for the next 4 year. They have shown they can play really well without him and I think Bledsoe and Green make up for what Westbrook would provide. Bledsoe is a little bit younger and will be a little easier on their cap long term also.

Phoenix has shown they are ok without Bledsoe and Westbrook would be an upgrade. Dragic has shown he can play with another ball dominant guard as well. Perkins can be moved in the off season or next year as an expiring contract and having Westbrook locked up for the next 4 years is better than possibly over paying to keep Bledsoe considering he may not be a max player but they may have to pay max money to keep him. Westbrook is a max player plus I think he would be ok with being the primary focus of the offense, in OK he will always be secondary to Durant.

Thoughts?

I think the Suns can find a better trade elsewhere if the Suns are not locked into the "star" or "superstar" label.

Also I think OKC is asking for your first born son as well.

 

[Suns_fan69]

The only reason OKC would trade Westbrook is if they think he's damaged goods.

I'm not saying they would or wouldn't, but there's other reasons they would consider trading Westbrook. Jackson is filling in more than adequately, the chemistry is obviously clicking, they shed a ton of salary in this deal and they get a ton of assets. In particular the salary reduction is a big deal for them, as they are a tax averse team.

Be that as it may, it's still highly doubtful they trade RW.

 

[elindholm]

Wow! i hope this is speaking figuratively, if not.....wow!

His injury issues would give me pause, but I'd probably do it anyway. He's only 25 and easily a top-ten player if he comes back full strength. Of course my "trade" would be impossible as a practical matter, but my point is that if you can get a talent like that as he's entering his prime, do whatever it takes and sort out the rest later. I did intend that the Suns would keep their draft picks, so with competent drafting and free-agent signing, you have at a minimum a perennial 50-win team almost automatically. I'd be a lot more excited about that than the current Suns squad, which is overachieving admirably but doesn't have anyone who looks to me to have top-20 potential, and has 50-and-fade as its ceiling, not its floor.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm not saying they would or wouldn't, but there's other reasons they would consider trading Westbrook. Jackson is filling in more than adequately, the chemistry is obviously clicking, they shed a ton of salary in this deal and they get a ton of assets. In particular the salary reduction is a big deal for them, as they are a tax averse team.

Be that as it may, it's still highly doubtful they trade RW.

So Jackson is filling in for Westbrook? This says a lot about the trade right there. I'm not against trading for Westbrook but the trade proposals I've seen are over-the-top. And the Suns are taking back Perkins. Gag.

 

[Mainstreet]

His injury issues would give me pause, but I'd probably do it anyway. He's only 25 and easily a top-ten player if he comes back full strength. Of course my "trade" would be impossible as a practical matter, but my point is that if you can get a talent like that as he's entering his prime, do whatever it takes and sort out the rest later. I did intend that the Suns would keep their draft picks, so with competent drafting and free-agent signing, you have at a minimum a perennial 50-win team almost automatically. I'd be a lot more excited about that than the current Suns squad, which is overachieving admirably but doesn't have anyone who looks to me to have top-20 potential, and has 50-and-fade as its ceiling, not its floor.

If we are going to gamble on injuries, I'd just as soon keep Bledsoe and the Suns would be just as good.

 

[elindholm]

If we are going to gamble on injuries, I'd just as soon keep Bledsoe and the Suns would be just as good.

Yeah, I really don't see Bledsoe as being in Westbrook's league. Have you watched Westbrook?

 

[Mainstreet]

Yeah, I really don't see Bledsoe as being in Westbrook's league. Have you watched Westbrook?

Not lately. Hasn't he been out with an injury.

As I have said before, I'm not against trading for Westbrook, however, what is being proposed to do the trade for the Suns is a bridge too far, IMO.

Let the Knicks have him for tiddlywinks. See link below:

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/realistic-trade-russell-westbrook-save-york-knicks-163000701--nba.html

Especially read: Why the Thunder Would Do It

 

[devilalum]

Not lately. Hasn't he been out with an injury.

As I have said before, I'm not against trading for Westbrook, however, what is being proposed to do the trade for the Suns is a bridge too far, IMO.

Let the Knicks have him for tiddlywinks. See link below:

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/realistic-trade-russell-westbrook-save-york-knicks-163000701--nba.html

Especially read: Why the Thunder Would Do It

PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

The guy that wrote that article lives in NY.

 

[JS22]

I'd rather just roll with Dragic and keep things as they are, vs trading too many pieces for Westbrook. Dragic has put himself in the upper tier of PG's this year. No need to bring another one in. Even if he is better than Goran.

If I'm the Suns I'm only looking at trading Okafor and a few picks at this point.

 

[SirStefan32]

Yeah, I really don't see Bledsoe as being in Westbrook's league. Have you watched Westbrook?

Bledsoe (or Dragic, for that matter) are not anywhere near Westbrook's league, let alone in it. Westbrook is easily a top-10 player in the league. I am concerned about his injuries though, but honestly, I'd still pull the trigger and trade for him.

 

[devilalum]

We're getting great guard play. If we had a PF that played as well as Dragic the Suns would be a top 4 team in the west.

 

[JS22]

We're getting great guard play. If we had a PF that played as well as Dragic the Suns would be a top 4 team in the west.

Agreed. The guards are doing well enough that I don't see a need to trade a bunch of assets to bring in another one. If you're going that route, trade for a SF or PF.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Bledsoe (or Dragic, for that matter) are not anywhere near Westbrook's league, let alone in it. Westbrook is easily a top-10 player in the league. I am concerned about his injuries though, but honestly, I'd still pull the trigger and trade for him.

Not any more. Westbrook has not been able to stay on the court. Also, Dragic has improved so much, he is Nash-esque in his ability to score creatively and run a team.

It would have to be a very special player to make a deal for Dragic, and Westbrook can't stay healthy enough to be that player.

 

[Catlover]

We're getting great guard play. If we had a PF that played as well as Dragic the Suns would be a top 4 team in the west.

I don't think replacing Frye with a quality power forward makes us better. In fact, if it's the only change it makes us worse. Tucker is such a liability as a scorer that without Frye on the court our spacing falls apart. Yet his defense is stellar and his rebounding helps make up for Frye's biggest weakness. If we were to add a true Power Forward we'd need to move Tucker to the bench IMO. But that PF would need to be closer to Karl Malone than JJ Hickson otherwise we'll have neither spacing nor a dominant inside game.

I'm looking forward to the possibility of a starting lineup of Bledsoe, Dragic, Green, Frye and Plumlee along with a second group of Barbosa (or Ish), Tucker, Marcus, Markieff and Len. I think that's a team that could grow into a championship contender in a couple of years just by gaining experience and minor tinkering along the way. Hopefully we could add a solid big man in the draft to eventually replace Frye and a future star at the wing spot.

 

[SirStefan32]

Not any more. Westbrook has not been able to stay on the court. Also, Dragic has improved so much, he is Nash-esque in his ability to score creatively and run a team.

It would have to be a very special player to make a deal for Dragic, and Westbrook can't stay healthy enough to be that player.

I have become a huge fan of Dragic that it would take a lot for me to say "yeah, let's trade him" (I would trade Bledsoe over Dragic any day of the week and twice on Sunday), but Westbrook is one of the maybe 10 players in the league I would trade him for. Injuries are definitely a deterrent, so I'll give you that, but I would still risk it.

EDIT: I am starting to wonder if Dragic is going to turn into a weird Nash/ Billups clone. The way that kid is playing is nothing short of impressive. He is really becoming one of my favorite players in the entire NBA. I really want to see him work that pick and roll with Len and Plumlee more.

 

[SirStefan32]

I don't think replacing Frye with a quality power forward makes us better. In fact, if it's the only change it makes us worse. Tucker is such a liability as a scorer that without Frye on the court our spacing falls apart. Yet his defense is stellar and his rebounding helps make up for Frye's biggest weakness. If we were to add a true Power Forward we'd need to move Tucker to the bench IMO. But that PF would need to be closer to Karl Malone than JJ Hickson otherwise we'll have neither spacing nor a dominant inside game.

I'm looking forward to the possibility of a starting lineup of Bledsoe, Dragic, Green, Frye and Plumlee along with a second group of Barbosa (or Ish), Tucker, Marcus, Markieff and Len. I think that's a team that could grow into a championship contender in a couple of years just by gaining experience and minor tinkering along the way. Hopefully we could add a solid big man in the draft to eventually replace Frye and a future star at the wing spot.

If we had a legitimate PF, I would be OK replacing Tucker in the starting lineup with Green or another SF that can score while playing some D. Truth be told, I'd like to give that lineup a chance even with Frye. Green is far from being a bad defender, and he is a much better scorer. Morris twins and Barbosa SHOULD be enough firepower off the bench for this season, anyway.

 

[Sci Fi]

The Suns have 2 legitimate PF's. They're just cut from a different mold. As Catlover properly notes, the spacing they provide is essential. The Suns biggest weakness is defensive rebounding and the way to solve that is through the center position. Len's progression will be the answer in time. A trade could also be considered if McD wants to speed things up.