Suns News: Week 15 1/22-1/28

[In2ition]

This is exactly why this summer should be the most important summer this regime has ever had. Imperative to get high end all-star type talent through the 4 avenues available(development, draft, trade, free agency). Screw waiting until 2019 or 2020.

[Superbone]

I totally agree with Lowe. When you have players with relatively similar stats, you go with the guy on a winning team. It's easier to get stats when your team stinks and they can just give you the ball every time. Booker's having a great season, but given how stacked the West is this year, it makes sense that he doesn't get an All-Star spot. In 1-2 years when we don't stink as much, he'll get his due.

Totally easier.

It's not like he faces this all game every game or anything. (Yes, hyperbole but you get my point.)

Agreed. It's quite the opposite.

[Superbone]

https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/955975429680254976

[INFORMER]

This is exactly why this summer should be the most important summer this regime has ever had. Imperative to get high end all-star type talent through the 4 avenues available(development, draft, trade, free agency). Screw waiting until 2019 or 2020.

I don't feel the same sense of urgency.

[In2ition]

This is exactly why this summer should be the most important summer this regime has ever had. Imperative to get high end all-star type talent through the 4 avenues available(development, draft, trade, free agency). Screw waiting until 2019 or 2020.

I don't feel the same sense of urgency.

Ok, that's fine. I just see the window being this summer, as TJ will have his extension showing this next year and then Booker's Max the following. I realize that some wiggle room will happen, because of Monroe's salary will drop off and then Dudley and Chandler's will drop off after Booker's comes into play, but it won't be that much imo, as potential high picks will also go on the books. I think this summer the Suns can use the expiring contracts in a trade, along with Knight's becoming more valuable as years fall off.

[carey]

Booker is not shooting well the last ten games. He's at 41% from the field (38% from 3) but is still putting up numbers scoring 26 per game during that stretch. I think it's the lack of a solid 3rd option. Defenses really only have to worry about him and Warren. If you make the rest of the team have to beat you then you pretty much win.

[Ring_Wanted]

I don't feel the same sense of urgency.

Neither do I, but by the numbers next summer will be our our optimal situation cap wise as we are scheduled for a payroll of 78M (plus picks) while the salary cap will be around $108M. Will also be armed with Chandler and Dudley expirings and Knight will become movable with only two years left. One big FA move, one big trade using those expirings and maybe even something with Knight and we could be looking at a complete revamp before Booker's new max contract kicks in.

[Split T]

Can we just tell Booker we'll sign you to the max but we're gonna wait until we use our cap space? 2019 is the summer with the best class of free agents. I wouldn't hesitate to use it this summer though if the right opportunity came along.

[Mori Chu]

Can we just tell Booker we'll sign you to the max but we're gonna wait until we use our cap space? 2019 is the summer with the best class of free agents. I wouldn't hesitate to use it this summer though if the right opportunity came along.

I don't think you can literally say that to a player, but some teams basically imply the same.

But I thought that an unsigned FA player still had a "cap hold" to prevent teams from abusing this kind of practice too much? But maybe his cap hold is less than his max possible salary.

[Split T]

Ya, his cap hold should be significantly lower than a max deal. Although I'm sure we'll just sign him to a max extension this summer. No reason to mess around and give him any reason to be upset.

[Wally_West]

https://twitter.com/sbordow/status/956234289221382144

[Wally_West]

https://twitter.com/NBAOfficial/status/956244255072137216

[Superbone]

https://twitter.com/NBAOfficial/status/956244255072137216

That was a retaliation move for what Plumlee did at the other end of the court.

[TOO]

Booker is not shooting well the last ten games. He's at 41% from the field (38% from 3) but is still putting up numbers scoring 26 per game during that stretch. I think it's the lack of a solid 3rd option. Defenses really only have to worry about him and Warren. If you make the rest of the team have to beat you then you pretty much win.

How does this timeframe coincide with the whole point Booker movement? Making him do everything allowing him to be keyed in on early in possessions is a problem.

[Split T]

https://twitter.com/BillSimmons/status/956563698595766272

[Split T]

Not sure where to put this, but I was thinking about next year's free agency. Anyone out there that we like? Besides the obvious that won't come here (LeBron, Durant, PG13) I'm really only interested in restricted targets. Would you throw a big contract(max? Near max?) At Aaron Gordon or Jabari Parker? What are the chances Orlando or Milwaukee match?

[specialsauce]

I think a dream scenario would be something like drafting Young, signing Gordon, and then throwing Warren or Jackson/Chriss/Miami's unprotected 1st and our unprotected 1st the following year to NOP for Davis, or to SA for Kawhi.

Young
Booker
Jackson
Gordon
AD

Young
Booker
Kawhi
Gordon
<Insert center>

Dreaming is free!!

[ShelC]

Absolutely not offering anything to Gordon or Parker.

[O_Gardino]

Absolutely not offering anything to Gordon or Parker.

+1

Dunno who I would target that far in advance.

[LazarusLong]

https://twitter.com/BillSimmons/status/956563698595766272

Talking about the Jason Kidd this afternoon on sports talk radio. Another link ...

https://sircharlesincharge.com/2018/01/ ... enix-suns/