Who's Left?

[George O'Brien]

Unless something falls through, it appears that Wilcox, Gooden, Al Harrington, Lorenzen Wright, and Loren Woods will all be signed soon if they haven't already. Following the signings of Ben Wallace, Joel Przybilla. Francisco Elson, Nazr Mohammed and Jackie Butler; plus trades of Magloire, Ratliff, Joe Smith and Raef LaFrent - it has certainly been a busy summer for bigs. This is not even counting the signings of Tim Thomas and Vladimir Radmanovic.

So what's left? The answer is, "not much". I could be missing someone, but by my count the guys who are left include:

Michael Olowokandi
Kelvin Cato
Scot Pollard
Keith Van Horn
Reggie Evans

My read on it is that neither Olowokandi nor Cato are in especially good condition. Pollard has a history injuries. Van Horn has been on a downward slide for several seasons.

Based on last season's performance, the best of the bunch is Reggie Evans. He might even be willing to sign a one year deal for what remains of the Suns MLE. The only problem is that he is not really D'Antoni's type of player.

D'Antoni really likes versatile, skilled players. Evans is a specialist. He rebounds. In 04-05 he averaged 9.3 rpg in just 23.8 minutes and with Denver he averaged 8.7 per minute: This was an amazing .37 per minute with Denver in a league where anything over .25 is considered pretty good. (Marion is the Suns best rebounder and he averaged .29 per minute).

With that kind of rebounding, why is Evans unemployed? He can't shoot. He is a career 53.5% free throw shooter, which puts him in the Shaq class of brick layers. He gets 5.6 ppg on 48.9% from the field, but this due mostly to offensive rebounds rather than any offensive skills.

Would he get any minutes on the Suns. More than money, that would be the issue for Evans. It's hard to say, but it would be nice to be able to respond once in a while when getting killed on the boards.

 

[Mainstreet]

Based on last season's performance, the best of the bunch is Reggie Evans. He might even be willing to sign a one year deal for what remains of the Suns MLE. The only problem is that he is not really D'Antoni's type of player...

... Would he get any minutes on the Suns... It's hard to say, but it would be nice to be able to respond once in a while when getting killed on the boards.

George, he is the perfect type player to crash the boards for rebounds whenever the Suns cannot get their running game going... like in the playoffs. He'd give the Suns shooters extra shots at the basket in a halfcourt game and help limit opposing teams to one shot while the Suns play defense. Also he would provide the Suns frontline more depth because of injury or foul trouble. Additionally, he would also be someone the Suns could put in the game that could give up some fouls on opposing interior players.

IMO, Reggie Evans would minimally give the Suns a different type player than what they currently have on their roster.

 

[CaptainInsano]

I say wait until midseason to see if any non-playoff teams are willing to give up players for salary space to spend our leftover $ on. It got us Tim Thomas last time, not that something like that will happen again but it is always a possibility.

 

[Nash]

Wilcox stays with the Sonics

 

[Mainstreet]

Anyone know about Marcus Fizer's status? He's a little undersized for a PF but he can shoot and rebound. I'm not sure about the rest of his game as he has bounced around. He's always played great against Phoenix as I recall. It seems his career got off to a bad start when Chicago drafted him (because another team wanted to draft him) and his career has been going South ever since.

 

[sunsfn]

I would be very surprised if Evans is ever a Sun.

When he plays no one has to guard him.........EVER!

D'Antoni would never play him based on that issue.

 

[DevonCardsFan]

I would be very surprised if Evans is ever a Sun.

When he plays no one has to guard him.........EVER!

D'Antoni would never play him based on that issue.

I agree, do not see him being a Sun, D'Antoni likes guys who play several positions

 

[asudevil83]

Melvin Ely?

 

[Errntknght]

Dang, if Reggie could just rebound while sitting on the bench he'd be a great fit for the Suns.

 

[basketballfan]

I don't really want a guy on our team that grabs other player's privates while they try and box him out. It would bring bad press to a team of good guys.

 

[Espo]

I don't really want a guy on our team that grabs other player's privates while they try and box him out. It would bring bad press to a team of good guys.

Is that Richard Dumas in your avatar? If it is that comment is kind of funny. jk

 

[Chaz]

How about Alan Henderson?

 

[fordronken]

I don't think anybody that would get signed at this point will get any more playing time than I will this year.

 

[basketballfan]

Is that Richard Dumas in your avatar? If it is that comment is kind of funny. jk

LOL, It's all good man.

 

[Nasser22]

I really like Reggie Evans and am really hoping that they can get him. I've wanted him since last off-season. We need another big and he's a great rebounder and Kwame will think twice about stepping over Diaw because Evans will will use the nutcracker manuever. I hope D'Antoni can stop being stubborn and goes after this guy and give him some PT. After getting him I don't see any weaknesses except for knees, backs and feet. :-/

 

[Chaplin]

Evans will never put on a Suns uniform. Olowakandi is a better fit, and we know he ain't coming here!

 

[Mainstreet]

My obsession with the Suns adding a banger/rebounder apparently is way off base. Perhaps the Suns should try to get Dan Langhi back.

 

[George O'Brien]

I agree with everyone.

Seriously, I think Evans would be useful and also that D'Antoni would never play him. There are several guys like Henderson who suffer from the same offensive limitations as Evans, but aren't as good on the boards.

The sad part is that Van Horn is best fit style wise, but I have never felt he had the heart and toughness. Evans has lot of heart, but perhaps not enough of the rest.

 

[cly2tw]

Evans is a type of player that fits with a team with a great one-on-one player and offense designed around that player. Suns are not playing that way though in the playoffs you'd wish we could play this way.

 

[George O'Brien]

Evans is a type of player that fits with a team with a great one-on-one player and offense designed around that player. Suns are not playing that way though in the playoffs you'd wish we could play this way.

That's an interesting observation. Rodman was another rebounding specialist that couldn't shoot, but playing with Jordan seemed to minimize that problem.

 

[Hugh D'Man]

Evans wants too much $$$, and will get it somewhere. (and we are not the Bulls, and he is not rodman)

Ely would be a better fit (for he can play C) , though we can only rent him for a yr.

VanHorne could sign for 1 mill, which is what we have to spend.

 

[Mainstreet]

Just a thought, although I'm sure most of you are aware, the 3.6 million TE remaining from the JJ sign and trade expires 8-21-06. So I guess we'll learn soon if Phoenix is going to use it.

See Link: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0709suns0709.html

 

[overseascardfan]

Evans wants too much $$$, and will get it somewhere. (and we are not the Bulls, and he is not rodman)

Ely would be a better fit (for he can play C) , though we can only rent him for a yr.

VanHorne could sign for 1 mill, which is what we have to spend.

Says who? If he plays well enough ala Diaw, then I'm sure we would probably trade either KT or Marion in order to keep him if not hey its only one year. It might take a couple of 1st rounders though and maybe JJ with a TE.

 

[Mainstreet]

Evans wants too much $$$, and will get it somewhere. (and we are not the Bulls, and he is not rodman)

Ely would be a better fit (for he can play C) , though we can only rent him for a yr.

VanHorne could sign for 1 mill, which is what we have to spend.

You have my permission to rent Ely for a late first round draft pick or whatever.

 

[F-Dog]

I don't really want a guy on our team that grabs other player's privates while they try and box him out. It would bring bad press to a team of good guys.

You know, back in their college days, Gilbert Arenas accused Eddie House of repeatedly going after his privates. And, of course, I'm sure nobody here would object to adding JET or Chris Paul for the right price.


Anyway, Evans is too expensive, the Suns supposedly passed on Kandi (thankfully), and according to RealGM, Pollard is about to be signed by the Cavs.

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/41948/20060818/cavaliers_close_to_deal_with_scot_pollard/

I don't think Ely is that good a fit. In any case, he'll be very expensive, since the Suns can't trade for him if he signs the QO.


I haven't heard anything about Jumaine Jones for a long time.