Wizards @ Suns Saturday game thread 1-25-2025

[95pro]

Makes that trade good because he arguably has given us two wins by his play.

Richards was a beast tonight. It’s just insane how much better he is than our other centers, and how much better of a fit he is for us as a team.

Sir may I have another?

Suns need to find another center in the same mold this season.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Beal played great tonight.

It just shows more why I want to blow it up.

Trade Booker for all our picks back.

 

[Mainstreet]

Richards was a beast tonight. It’s just insane how much better he is than our other centers, and how much better of a fit he is for us as a team.

Sir may I have another?

Suns need to find another center in the same mold this season.

I've been singing this tune for a long time.

Instead of trading for Butler, the Suns might be better off trading for a power forward and center.

 

[Yuma]

You need to look up how VORP is calculated. Its value over replacement player, which means over an average C since he is one. It accounts for role to an extent. Comparing Richards to Okogie in terms of statline won't tell the whole story. They received different assignments. You mentioned WAR and I think VORP is closest to that in the NBA. Comparing bigs to wings is always difficult.

Remember, we also lost 2 2nd round picks as well. It wasn't just Okogie we gave up but Okogie and potentially 2 Oso's. So again, the trade is tough to grade 1 vs 1.

Just seeing double digit rebounds, a skill we desperately need from Richards, the better defense in the lane, which is also a weakness he addresses, and his rim running causing gravity that spaces our three shooters better, which we also needed over skills that Okogie had that are replicated by guys we still have, I don't think VORP is truly a good measure in this case.

 

[Yuma]

I've been singing this tune for a long time.

Instead of trading for Butler, the Suns might be better off trading for a power forward and center.

I have too. Just different terminology than you. I would rather get 2-3 guys back instead of Jimmy Butler who address our needs better. Plus moving guys on lower contracts much easier than a guy on Butler's contract. I am still of the opinion that ultimately, the Suns greatest weapon would be to get under both aprons and then we can select free agents we want. The MLE is upon us to $14 million now. All the ease of making moves becomes available if we get under the aprons.

 

[Mainstreet]

I have too. Just different terminology than you. I would rather get 2-3 guys back instead of Jimmy Butler who address our needs better. Plus moving guys on lower contracts much easier than a guy on Butler's contract. I am still of the opinion that ultimately, the Suns greatest weapon would be to get under both aprons and then we can select free agents we want. The MLE is upon us to $14 million now. All the ease of making moves becomes available if we get under the aprons.

Of course, the problem is the size of Beal's contract. The Suns might be better off sweetening a trade to move Nurkic.

 

[Yuma]

Of course, the problem is the size of Beal's contract. The Suns might be better off sweetening a trade to move Nurkic.

That's why I am not hopeful we won't get under the aprons for two more seasons when Beal's contract expires. Nurkic's contract alone doesn't get us under the second apron, I think if I remember right. That's why if we have to keep him all season, so be it. I certainly don't want to take a longer contract back in return. Just be patient and wait for the off season if we have to. That's also why I won't sweat a KD extension as long as it doesn't go more than two seasons, which is what they are talking about.

We know this won't happen, but IF both Beal and Nurkic get dealt, how tempting would it be to just let KD walk instead of extending him? Then you can free agent rebuild with what we have on the roster now. We have money. We just have no flexibility.

 

[Mainstreet]

That's why I am not hopeful we won't get under the aprons for two more seasons when Beal's contract expires. Nurkic's contract alone doesn't get us under the second apron, I think if I remember right. That's why if we have to keep him all season, so be it. I certainly don't want to take a longer contract back in return. Just be patient and wait for the off season if we have to. That's also why I won't sweat a KD extension as long as it doesn't go more than two seasons, which is what they are talking about.

We know this won't happen, but IF both Beal and Nurkic get dealt, how tempting would it be to just let KD walk instead of extending him? Then you can free agent rebuild with what we have on the roster now. We have money. We just have no flexibility.

Keeping a core of Booker, Beal and Durant may not be the worst way to go if the Suns can strengthen their front court.

We see how the addition of Richards helped the team. This would further allow the Suns trio to do their thing.

 

[Yuma]

Keeping a core of Booker, Beal and Durant may not be the worst way to go if the Suns can strengthen their front court.

We see how the addition of Richards helped the team. This would further allow the Suns trio to do their thing.

Dunn went out early, but we had 5 to 6 guys in double digits last night scoring. That's a great sign. We ended the game in the low teens in turn overs. Another good sign. Rebounds are better under Richards at the helm. I think Richards had 6 offensive boards last I looked. That's been a glaring weakness all season.

Of course it was Washington. We start the tough part of our schedule. Let's see if the Suns play up to the competition.

 

[Mainstreet]

Dunn went out early, but we had 5 to 6 guys in double digits last night scoring. That's a great sign. We ended the game in the low teens in turn overs. Another good sign. Rebounds are better under Richards at the helm. I think Richards had 6 offensive boards last I looked. That's been a glaring weakness all season.

Of course it was Washington. We start the tough part of our schedule. Let's see if the Suns play up to the competition.

I don't think the Suns are a finished product. The addition of Richards helps, but they still need inside players when he sits.

And it sounds like Nurkic is out of the equation. The Suns need more than Plumlee and Oso against more athletic teams.

 

[GatorAZ]

Keeping a core of Booker, Beal and Durant may not be the worst way to go if the Suns can strengthen their front court.

We see how the addition of Richards helped the team. This would further allow the Suns trio to do their thing.

.
If the Suns run back the same core next year it might break my sole but I can tough it out the rest of this season. Beal becomes more movable this summer when multi-team trades are more plausible than mid-season.

Someone mentioned letting KD walk after next season. That would be worse than extending him because he still has positive trade value. I don’t care what happens to Nurkic they can waive him for all I care.

 

[Mainstreet]

.
If the Suns run back the same core next year it might break my sole but I can tough it out the rest of this season. Beal becomes more movable this summer when multi-team trades are more plausible than mid-season.

Someone mentioned letting KD walk after next season. That would be worse than extending him because he still has positive trade value. I don’t care what happens to Nurkic they can waive him for all I care.

I've moved further away from trading Beal as the only option.

It may not be the Suns trio at all, but rather who the Suns have put around them, especially upfront. Trading Nurkic for help might be the way to go. Of course, it would cost the Suns something.

I can't believe how bad the Suns were at center before they traded for Richards and he is only one player. IMO, this was a poorly assembled front court.

We agree, if the Suns should decide to blow it up, they need assets in return.

 

[Yuma]

I don't think the Suns are a finished product. The addition of Richards helps, but they still need inside players when he sits.

And it sounds like Nurkic is out of the equation. The Suns need more than Plumlee and Oso against more athletic teams.

Oso has the foot work, he just lacks the strength. Plumlee has the strength, he just lacks the foot work. Richards has both. Charles Barkley Suns made it to the Finals arguably with just one center. That's what I mean, it's not ideal, but Nurkic is better than a back up center, but not quite as good as a full up starting center. As a backup he could take advantage on offense of most back up centers. Defensively, I think we just have to platoon Plumlee and Oso based on if we need strength or foot speed.

 

[Yuma]

I've moved further away from trading Beal as the only option.

It may not be the Suns trio at all, but rather who the Suns have put around them, especially upfront. Trading Nurkic for help might be the way to go. Of course, it would cost the Suns something.

I can't believe how bad the Suns were at center before they traded for Richards and he is only one player. IMO, this was a poorly assembled front court.

We agree, if the Suns should decide to blow it up, they need assets in return.

Yeah, I looked at Plumlee being better than Drew Eubanks. Nurkic was better that season with Eubanks. Frankly, Nurkic has regressed, which we could not have at all. That's what killed us.

Ideally if we could trade Nurkic and get anything resembling a PF back in return, maybe a big wing, it would be a win. That said, I don't want the guy being proposed we swap for Nurkic.

 

[Mainstreet]

Yeah, I looked at Plumlee being better than Drew Eubanks. Nurkic was better that season with Eubanks. Frankly, Nurkic has regressed, which we could not have at all. That's what killed us.

Ideally if we could trade Nurkic and get anything resembling a PF back in return, maybe a big wing, it would be a win. That said, I don't want the guy being proposed we swap for Nurkic.

I'm not sure who you are referring too… Patrick Williams? He is not near the top of my list.

 

[Yuma]

I'm not sure who you are referring too… Patrick Williams? He is not near the top of my list.

That's who everyone is talking about. I think I'd rather keep Nurkic at that point because Nurkic's contract ends earlier.

 

[Mainstreet]

That's who everyone is talking about. I think I'd rather keep Nurkic at that point because Nurkic's contract ends earlier.

I'd prefer other trade options, preferably on the young side, although Jonas Valanciunas would help the Suns.

 

[Ronin]

Nick Richards' rebounding career-high nears Charles Barkley record in Suns' win vs Wizards

Phoenix Suns' starting center Nick Richards had 20 points and a career-high 19 rebounds in their 119-109 win over the Washington Wizards on Saturday.

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