How Would You Rebuild the Suns?

[Mori Chu]

It's too bad, because old Jae (from 1-2 years ago) would have really helped the 2023 Suns in the playoffs. But I think he's regressed, and he exhibited such a horrible attitude this past season, that I never want him in a Suns uniform again. He can go fuck himself.

[virtual9mm]

I would take him...for the minimum. Schadenfreude.

[virtual9mm]

Maybe the Paul stuff is just smoke to get other teams interested.

I think that's likely. Other teams are trying to wait the Suns out, hoping we'll waive CP3 and they can sign him on the cheap without giving up any assets. We are trying to signal that he still has value to us so they'll make us interesting offers. What will be interesting is if the July 1 date approaches and we don't have a good deal lined up. Would we waive and stretch him? It's pretty crazy to pay ~ $35m to just make Monty and CP3 go away with nothing in return. Not sure how we fix this roster unless we can find a way to add a great coach and some reasonably priced talent and depth.

Trade is happening, this is the Suns trying to preserve leverage in a trade

I don't know if whatever we get in a CP3 trade would be better than being able to use the NTP-MLE and Bi-annual exception.

Very good point. Could get a bigger salary back but would be a bad contract.

[Flagrant Fowl]

I also think there's a pretty decent chance that Paul finishes out his contract with the Suns. I don't foresee the Suns getting anything of value in a trade, in fact, they'd probably have to give up something to get off of his money or take on a longer term bad-ish contract.

Regardless, this roster desperately needs another highly competent ball handler.

"Finishes out his contract" as in 2024-25? I don't think even Ishbia will pay him $31M for that season.

You're right. He's not going to finish his entire current contract on the Suns. I made an assumption that no one in their right mind would guarantee the last year of his current contract.

I intended to say that there's a decent chance he finishes out the guaranteed part of his contract with the Suns. Everything is up in the air right now without a coach, so I'm hopeful the next guy has a plan to transition away from Paul. But if the Suns are standing around waiting for someone who ends up being Kevin Young or the like, keeping Chris Paul around becomes more attractive to Ishbones.

[Split T]

How would you guys feel if this was our offseason?

Trade Ayton for Myles Turner(saves roughly 12 million).
Waive CP3 and bring him back at the minimum(saves 12-13 million)

That gives us CP3/Booker/KD/Turner/Payne/Shamet/Ish and we’d be far enough under the tax apron that we could use the full MLE and BAE. Would need to fill the last 6 spots with vet min or rookie min contracts.

[Superbone]

How would you guys feel if this was our offseason?

Trade Ayton for Myles Turner(saves roughly 12 million).
Waive CP3 and bring him back at the minimum(saves 12-13 million)

That gives us CP3/Booker/KD/Turner/Payne/Shamet/Ish and we’d be far enough under the tax apron that we could use the full MLE and BAE. Would need to fill the last 6 spots with vet min or rookie min contracts.

As long as we can keep Shamet and Ish...

[INFORMER]

Bill Simmons floated a Marcus Smart/Robert Williams for Ayton trade on his pod.

It will be interesting to see how much the recovery from the 0-3 deficit will impact Brad Stevens' appetite for making major changes to the roster.

I really don't have any interest in Marcus Smart. I think he takes as much as he gives. The defense and hustle is nice, but the flopping and unreliable shooting is brutal.

I'd take Payton Pritchard though.

[INFORMER]

Gambo is using his Jason Kidd contact to refute it

Gambo is also tight with Ayton's camp.

[INFORMER]

I don't know why I didn't think of this in my other Ayton trade possibilities, but Detroit makes a ton of sense. Duren, Bogdanovich and Burks for Ayton and Shamet - or something like that. I'd love to find a way to get Beef Stew also.

Detroit already has 2 other centers, which complicates things, but they're at least giving up one in the trade.

I don't think Detroit is in the Ayton market anymore. The love Duren, and he will probably be better than Ayton.

[INFORMER]

I would definitely bring Crowder back.

Shocker, bringing someone back that hated Monty.

[INFORMER]

Trade Ayton for Myles Turner(saves roughly 12 million).

I still don't know why Indiana trades a player that was better last season and cheaper.

[Split T]

Trade Ayton for Myles Turner(saves roughly 12 million).

I still don't know why Indiana trades a player that was better last season and cheaper.

Ya I don’t know either…wishful thinking that they still believe in him like they did when they signed him to the max offer sheet

[LazarusLong]

I would definitely bring Crowder back.

Shocker, bringing someone back that hated Monty.

Grant Williams is similar, younger, better and might be available ...

[Mori Chu]

How would you guys feel if this was our offseason?

Trade Ayton for Myles Turner(saves roughly 12 million).
Waive CP3 and bring him back at the minimum(saves 12-13 million)

That gives us CP3/Booker/KD/Turner/Payne/Shamet/Ish and we’d be far enough under the tax apron that we could use the full MLE and BAE. Would need to fill the last 6 spots with vet min or rookie min contracts.

Why would CP3 go along with that? Being waived and offered the minimum salary by the team he helped bring out of the cellar. I think he'd take it as a sign of disrespect and would go play somewhere else.

[Kryptonic]

How would you guys feel if this was our offseason?

Trade Ayton for Myles Turner(saves roughly 12 million).
Waive CP3 and bring him back at the minimum(saves 12-13 million)

That gives us CP3/Booker/KD/Turner/Payne/Shamet/Ish and we’d be far enough under the tax apron that we could use the full MLE and BAE. Would need to fill the last 6 spots with vet min or rookie min contracts.

Why would CP3 go along with that? Being waived and offered the minimum salary by the team he helped bring out of the cellar. I think he'd take it as a sign of disrespect and would go play somewhere else.

Or he could feel like he owes the suns and the fans for flaming out during our play off runs and want to give back to the franchise that embraced him…. I can see both sides.

[JeremyG]

This is Chris Paul we’re talking about. He would be much too proud to do that.

[INFORMER]

Trade Ayton for Myles Turner(saves roughly 12 million).

I still don't know why Indiana trades a player that was better last season and cheaper.

Ya I don’t know either…wishful thinking that they still believe in him like they did when they signed him to the max offer sheet

I think, if they are still interested in Ayton, they will want to pair him with Turner.

[Split T]

How would you guys feel if this was our offseason?

Trade Ayton for Myles Turner(saves roughly 12 million).
Waive CP3 and bring him back at the minimum(saves 12-13 million)

That gives us CP3/Booker/KD/Turner/Payne/Shamet/Ish and we’d be far enough under the tax apron that we could use the full MLE and BAE. Would need to fill the last 6 spots with vet min or rookie min contracts.

Why would CP3 go along with that? Being waived and offered the minimum salary by the team he helped bring out of the cellar. I think he'd take it as a sign of disrespect and would go play somewhere else.

Because it’s the only way to free the space to bring in enough talent. Feel like he might be willing to give up a few extra million for a chance at a title. But he might not

[Superbone]

Whichever way he leans, we'll go. Will he stay, or will he go?

[Split T]

Trade Ayton for Myles Turner(saves roughly 12 million).

I still don't know why Indiana trades a player that was better last season and cheaper.

Ya I don’t know either…wishful thinking that they still believe in him like they did when they signed him to the max offer sheet

I think, if they are still interested in Ayton, they will want to pair him with Turner.

Even after pairing him with Sabonis didn’t really work?