Suns News: Week 13 1/19-1/25

[OE32]

Honestly -

Eric/IT/Ennis
Goran/Green/Goodwin/Bullock
Tucker/Marcus/TJ/Zoran
Markieff
Len/Wright/Plum

Who stays? Who goes? If we consolidate, what position do we upgrade? What's the biggest glut? PG? Or SG? Or SF? I say SF, because I don't see us trading Tucker, and TJ has tremendous upside, and Marcus can't be moved unless his brother is moved, and he's our go-to halfcourt scorer. What a puzzle! Anyone got a clue?

[Ring_Wanted]

I believe 'consolidating' is going to be much more difficult than what many assume. It is the obvious path but it's extremely tricky. We need a superstar that specifically designs Phoenix as its prefered destination. Or let Dragic go in case we can find such a free agent which seems even harder, to stomach at least (to me) and that's after doing some juggling to make numbers work. In any case that would represent making our absolutely best assets disappear.

I think we also need to 'allocate'. While I am looking for that superstar, I'd work on finding balance for the roster, according to a few rules, basically under the principle that the short term is say 40% against mid-long term 60%. Money and rest of assets, tangible and intangible (chemistry, flexibility, etc).

For instance, I am eager to see Kieff off the bench. I would love to turn something redundant into a PF who can make a credible case to bench Markieff. I sell him the idea of making a mob with his brother and others off the bench, etc. Perennial 6thMOY candidate.

[Ring_Wanted]

Who goes? How about whoever is replaceable at no additional cost, for instance. Green is a candidate. Goran too. And Wright, of course.

[Ring_Wanted]

By the way, do I trade Miles to the Rockets? NOP pick? Capela alone? Nick Johnson has no room, at least unless you trim the guard bush.

[ShelC]

It might be smokescreen but I do get why Goodwin is deemed untouchable. The kid is 20 years old. Imagine where he could be when he's 25. He's honestly a baby in the grand scheme of things.

[carey]

Taken from Tom Ziller's daily newsletter:

Good morning. Shawn Marion announced on Wednesday that he plans to retire at the end of the season. Immediately the debate went to his Hall of Fame credentials, and that is an interesting debate. But it reminds me how misunderstood Marion's impact on some of the greatest teams of his generation remains. Marion is lauded as a great defender and supplemental scorer, but as my friend the great Bethlehem Shoals has written at length, he was much more: Matrix was the man who made those famous Suns possible.

By virtue of his versatility and ability to "fill in" each role on a totally ad hoc basis, Marion allowed Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire to push the gas pedal and run persistent fast picks-and-rolls. Amare wasn't able to be a center because of his own gifts so much as Marion's ability to play power forward while undersized. Marion was alternately a shooter, a playmaker, a post threat, a leak-out culprit and always a stopper. They say that Nash is the reason that Mike D'Antoni's grand experiment worked. Many of us would argue Shawn Marion deserves that distinction.

Given the impact the Suns had on the league -- an impact still being felt -- I'd say Marion is worthy of the ultimate recognition.

[carey]

It might be smokescreen but I do get why Goodwin is deemed untouchable. The kid is 20 years old. Imagine where he could be when he's 25. He honestly a baby in the grand scheme of things.

I get that. I have a feeling that is typical GM speak this time. Assets deemed expendable are worth less than those that aren't. It might not mean a whole lot but who knows.

[Superbone]

https://twitter.com/paulcoro/status/558065718420594688

[Mori Chu]

In terms of the roster going forward and who stays/goes, sadly I think it's almost certain that Dragic will leave. We just have too many guards and too much money tied up in them. And, most damning of all, Dragic isn't McD's guy; he didn't sign him or pursue him, so he doesn't get the credit for him. And GMs are personal and petty like that.

It makes me sad, because in my mind Dragic is the best player on our team, a guy who should spend the rest of his career here. But I doubt that will happen. I'd give anything to keep Goran rather than Bledsoe. I'd give up BOTH Bledsoe and IT (despite the fact that they're playing well right now) if it meant that Dragic would stay. I just like watching the guy that much. I'm already pre-emptively being sad about his hypothetical departure at the end of the year. I think teams like the Lakers and Rockets are going to throw a ton of money at him and we won't want to match.

[carey]

I don't think that matters. Dragic is Sarver's guy. If Sarver wants him here he will be here.

[ShelC]

Say we let Dragic and Green leave, who's our 2guard next year? Tucker? Archie? Do we play Ennis at the 1 and Bleds at the 2? Draft a 2?

Just thinking out loud...

[Split T]

Say we let Dragic and Green leave, who's our 2guard next year? Tucker? Archie? Do we play Ennis at the 1 and Bleds at the 2? Draft a 2?

Just thinking out loud...

The Cornerstone!

[Nodack]

Right now I call him pebble. If he doesn't pick it up soon I'll start calling him rubble.

[INFORMER]

I think Shawn Marion Hall of Fame talk is ridiculous.

[Cap]

How about the Fantasy Hall of Fame?

[carey]

I think Shawn Marion Hall of Fame talk is ridiculous.

I am not sure it's ridiculous but probably not going to happen. I mean if there are people doubting Nash as a HoFer then no way Marion makes it.

[OE32]

Crazy he never made All-Defense. His D on LeBron was a big reason the Mavs won a title. Carlisle was right in that he is one of the most underrated players -- I won't say all-time because I'm too young to know what the hell I'm talking about. Where's our local basketball historian?

[MightyMoog]

Marion > Mitch Richmond

[carey]

Espo tweeted an Espo thread about how he sucks.

https://twitter.com/Espo/status/558403611265208320

[OE32]

Dude doesn't pronounce "Dragic" correctly. Inexcusable.