Would this make us real contenders
- Thread starter Finito
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At no point in this season have I thought we were real contenders. As for this trade, I think it gives us a good chance to beat anyone except healthy versions of either the Lakers or the Nets. So yeah, with some easily-anticipatable bad luck for those two teams, this trade could make us a real contender. I think Ayton is better than his current reputation here and I believe he's going to continue to improve but I'd make this deal. Even if he does improve, I don't think DA will ever be as good as Vucevic is right now.
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It would be easier to add a power forward.
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I'm not so sure. We could add a mediocre big on a level with say, Portis, but that probably doesn't make us a contender and I'm not sure we have enough ammo to get someone noticeably better. Whereas a starting lineup of Paul, Booker, Bridges, Johnson and Vucevic would be the best lineup we've seen in Phoenix since Joe left (IMO).
You’d rather keep Crowder than add Vucevic? I don’t think you understand how good he is and what his advanced stats are.
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I think a player like Bobby Portis playing next to Ayton gets the Suns very close.
Suns lose a lot of close games because they do not have another inside threat playing next to Ayton. Sometimes they can't buy an inside basket
Saric needs to be the small ball center.
Proximo
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What is Orlando’s motivation to do this?
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i agree with us not really be contenders, but I think that trade doesn’t really do it for us either. We’re a good, odd kinda up and coming team with a great leader... who’s a little passed his prime. Probably a 4 or 5 seed when all’s said and done and gives a team a good series in the second round if we win a tough first rounder. But they’re ultimately going to have to be a super version of those Pistons teams, where they were just 2 deep at EVERY position, have Booker as the superstar version of Rip, CP3 as Mr. Big Shot and include a solid 4, which is a hole as far as title contention this year. Hopefully that’s Jalen Smith or someone else next year.
As for this year, I’m just having fun with this season. Not watching tonight’s game probably makes that a little easier.
elindholm
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Well obviously Vucevic is better than Crowder. I guess I should have spelled out my point, which is that if the Suns are giving up Ayton for a middle-aged center with basically no playoff experience, the price is already high enough, and additionally sacrificing someone who's legitimately battle-tested would be a huge error.
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kindness?
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I'm not sure they'd make this move but rebuilding probably makes more sense with Ayton than with Vucevic. They could probably get an asset for Crowder, trade Gordon for more assets and hope for a quick turnaround as a core of Ayton, Fultz and Isaac grow up.
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In this proposed trade the Suns still do not fix the power forward position and they trade away a young prospect.
I like Vucevic but I'm not a fan of the trade.
I like Vucevic but I'm not a fan of the trade.
we don’t live in a magical world where you have studs 1-5. I mean even look at the Lakers starting 5 or the Nets no team has studs all through out the starting 5
that deal gives us legit 3 all stars on this team. When was the last time that happened. That makes up for a lot of holes
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This team is a Rasheed Wallace away from being a title contender.
right now, we’re probably a solid first round toss up. Which is still major progress from last year.
right now, we’re probably a solid first round toss up. Which is still major progress from last year.
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I see your point but the Suns do not have enough horsepower upfront. Even below average teams have more size and athleticism upfront. IMO, the Suns are only a player like Bobby Portis away. Maybe even a waived big man away.
A lot depends on how Ayton does in the playoffs. If he plays well this is probably accurate.
I don't think a total collapse by DA in the playoffs is out of the question though. If he folds we are going to need a top guy upfront.
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Ideally a top big man power forward is what the Suns need but as @Finito pointed out you can't have everything.
I don't think Ayton will fold in the playoffs but I think he has a propensity towards getting early fouls. Suns need someone who can help do some of the dirty work inside.
Aside from Ayton and Saric the Suns do not have anyone who can consistently score and defend inside. One more player who could play inside would help a lot.
soooo you think Bobby Portis instead of Vucevic makes this team a contender
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This is not what I said.
Adding a player like Bobby Portis to the Suns current rotation of players would get the Suns close to being a title contender.
Fold may have been a poor choice of words. I don't analyze games as closely as most on this board, but it seems like he plays not to make mistakes and when he picks up early fouls it gets worse and he really struggles. I can see the pressure of the playoffs compounding the problem. I imagine this will be a big part of the game plan for opposing teams.
If DA handles it well we are likely good with adding a mid-level big to play along side of him.
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This appears to be the game plan of most opponents, to get Ayton to the bench with early fouls.
And you are right. This will be the game plan of opponents in the playoffs as well. It will be a learning process. So much is expected of this 22 year old player. It's easy to forget his age and lack of playoff experience.
Im very worried about Ayton in the playoffs. He folded in the tournament at UofA and in the bubble wasn't it game 7 when he almost missed it because he didn't do his covid test in time? I know that wasn't the playoffs but it did have that importance for the Suns and he messed up something that shouldn't have been an issue. Had that been game 1 or 2, I would be quicker to excuse it because its a new process but that was a good amount of time into the bubble. I don't know why he messed up then but you can't rule out the pressure getting to him or the lack of importance he plays with.
Proximo
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Yeah, he would do it. But there are very few of those types of guys in the league anymore.
Craig seems like a good pickup for cash - but we really need a legit big somehow.
Proximo
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Well, I have mixed feelings. I would probably do it, but I feel like we would be sacrificing our future.
That said, it does seem difficult to justify paying Ayton the max right now.
I think it's moot, because I don't think Orlando would do this deal.
