How Would You Rebuild the Suns?

[Split T]

Crazy idea...sign Paul to a 2 year extension, but at $5M/yr with the purpose of having him as the bench PG. He collars the same money and can make the transition as a PG to coach the bench and whomever we get as starting PG for a couple years. The reduced minutes and transitory role I think strengthens the team and reduces our bank roll, while ensuring him his guaranteed money. Shrug, just an idea.

In an ideal world that's what I'd do, but I don't think Paul has any intention of coming off the bench. He'll want to round out his career as a starter be it in Phoenix or elsewhere.

I don't know. He's a smart guy. He knows he's slowing down. He might be willing to listen. If not, sayonara.

Nah. He’s like Melo. You guys saw in the playoffs this year when he kept the ball in his hands and slowed it to a halt down the stretch and did pick and rolls with Half man Half ass instead of referring to Book/KD.

He may come off the bench, he may start, but he’ll never change his style

He’s not going to adapt. That’s not how he got here and how he sees himself as a facilitator. Playing outside his comfort zone often leads to turning it over. But it seems he has lost the ball control on offense. Suns have to move on.
I think the decision has been made to hunt for a deal that makes sense.

He set a career low in turnovers per game. He’s fine as a facilitator. He just can’t get his shot whenever he wants anymore. And he doesn’t hold up for a full season.

[SunsSince92]

Melo did adapt though. He had a couple decent years at the end as a role player.

Wasn't that after he spent a chunk of time watching at home waiting for a team to pick him up? I suspect that altered his perspective somewhat. If he'd continued playing through I doubt that would have happened. Realistically Paul has one year left as I can't see anyone picking him up as a 40 year old point guard. It seems inconceivable that he would take a bench role for his last year.

[Split T]

Ya he dropped off after NY and then had that weird year where he mostly sat out but also played like 5 games with the rockets. He wasn’t very good with them. I think he eventually signed the next year with Portland and had a couple nice years there. I believe he even started one year for them. Then his last season was in LA off the bench.

[ShelC]

Melo didn't adapt. He just found middling teams/situations that let him play his game in a limited role.

[Split T]

That’s not true, he definitely adapted. Way less long 2s, way more 3s(which led to a career high TS% in his final season). Way lower usage rate, way lower TO rate.

There may have been moments where the old Melo came out, but overall he was a drastically different player in Portland/LA than he was in Denver/NY

[specialsauce]

Melo did adapt though. He had a couple decent years at the end as a role player.

He didn’t adapt, teams just played him less and off the ball.

Melo still did Melo when they fed him the ball. Total ball stopper and iso player til the end.

The difference is that CP is a PG so taking the ball out of his hands renders him ineffective as he’s not a spot up shooter, not a good defender, rebounder, etc.

[Split T]

I mean the stats don’t support you guys, but believe what you want.

[specialsauce]

I mean the stats don’t support you guys, but believe what you want.

You’re more than entitled to hold the wrong opinion

[Flagrant Fowl]

How ironic.

[Split T]

Haha, as are you

[Split T]

Would you bring Crowder back?

I’d honestly welcome him for the vet min…is he gonna get more than that? He wasn’t good for Milwaukee

[Flagrant Fowl]

I'm not sure. He seems washed, even for the vet minimum.

The roster needs a guy like him, though. I'd look at Grant Williams if the price isn't too high.

[JeremyG]

I would definitely bring Crowder back. We could have used the depth this season, that’s for sure.

[Split T]

I don’t think I’d want to count on him as a starter, but in the Torrey Craig bench role? Sure.

[Superbone]

Nah. F him.

[specialsauce]

Haha, as are you

[TOO]

Crowder looked washed. Not interested

[JeremyG]

He had career highs this season in 3P%, FG%, and FT%, while averaging more points, rebounds, and assists per minute than he did in Phoenix.

[Split T]

Playoffs is where he looked bad and got taken out of the lineup

[specialsauce]

He played 41 minutes in the playoffs and shot 0/6 from 3 with a whopping 4 rebounds. Classic Jae