Suns News: Week 20 2/25-3/3

[Superbone]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/2613 ... ucks-again

The Phoenix Suns rallied from a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat the NBA-best Bucks 114-105 on Monday night, becoming the first team to defeat Milwaukee multiple times this season.

Kelly Oubre Jr. had 27 points and 13 rebounds, Devin Booker added 22 points and Deandre Ayton had 19 points and 12 rebounds, including a key layup with 35.8 seconds to play that gave the league-worst Suns a four-point lead.

The Suns were 13.5-point underdogs in both their games against the Bucks this season. Only once in the past 25 regular seasons did one team beat another team multiple times in a season as an underdog of at least 13 points. The Chicago Bulls did it against the Los Angeles Lakers in 2001-02.

[Flagrant Fowl]

I don't know, In2; saying Rozier isn't an upgrade over Tyler Johnson is somewhat laughable.

If I’m choosing between Johnson for one year at $20M or Rozier for 3-4 years at around $15M per year, I’m going with the former. They’re both backup level PGs.

[In2ition]

I don't know, In2; saying Rozier isn't an upgrade over Tyler Johnson is somewhat laughable.

I meant to say that it isn't MUCH of an upgrade. They have very similar stats across the board and if I upgrade, I would want to make it much more significant.

[In2ition]

I don't know, In2; saying Rozier isn't an upgrade over Tyler Johnson is somewhat laughable.

If I’m choosing between Johnson for one year at $20M or Rozier for 3-4 years at around $15M per year, I’m going with the former. They’re both backup level PGs.

Yes, dollar for dollar I agree. I wouldn't want either, except as an backup and certainly not at that price.

[Xylus]

From Brewhoop, the Bucks' blog on SBNation:

DeAndre Ayton had 19 points and 12 rebounds, but I can’t for the life of me understand why he still only got 13 shots for the night.

Yup.

https://www.brewhoop.com/2019/3/4/18250 ... rch-4-2019

[ShelC]

I love his face up 15footer. That FT line extended shot is so smooth. So is his 10-12ft baseline jumper. Shades of Ewing/TimD.

[da_suns_fan]

1) Aytons finish at the end reminded me Amare. Not many guys can take that type of contact and still finish.

2) Oubre is my favorite player since Dragic.

[Superbone]

2) Oubre is my favorite player since Dragic.

The guy is infectious. It appears to rub off on his teammates too.

[Split T]

My new plan if we don’t land #1

Pick swap with either NO or Memphis for Jrue or Conley....add whatever you need to from Tyler Johnson, Warren, Jackson, okobo, Mil pick.

Not sure Jrue will be available at all, but NO may not be willing to pick swap...unless we’re #2 and they love RJ.

With Memphis I wouldn’t offer the Mil pick and I’d make them take Tyler Johnson. Conley is older and has a big contract...I wouldn’t use up all our cap space just to fit Conley in.

Let’s say by some miracle, we trade #2, Tyler Johnson, Josh Jackson, Elie Okobo and the Mil pick for #11 and Jrue Holiday.

I’d retain the rights to Oubre and we’d have some space to go sign a 4...I think in the 15 million range. That won’t get Harris...maybe Mirotic or Randle...Thad Young or Jamychal Green could be options.

Then draft a 4 of the future at 11(DeAndre Hunter, Brandon Clarke, Grant Williams, PJ Washington)

Jrue, Booker, Oubre, Young, Ayton with
Melton, Bridges, Warren, Clarke, Holmes off the bench

If NO wants warren instead of Jackson, just switch them.
Same essential construct of a deal with Memphis for Conley would work as well.

[Shabazz]

My new plan if we don’t land #1

Pick swap with either NO or Memphis for Jrue or Conley....add whatever you need to from Tyler Johnson, Warren, Jackson, okobo, Mil pick.

Not sure Jrue will be available at all, but NO may not be willing to pick swap...unless we’re #2 and they love RJ.

With Memphis I wouldn’t offer the Mil pick and I’d make them take Tyler Johnson. Conley is older and has a big contract...I wouldn’t use up all our cap space just to fit Conley in.

Let’s say by some miracle, we trade #2, Tyler Johnson, Josh Jackson, Elie Okobo and the Mil pick for #11 and Jrue Holiday.

I’d retain the rights to Oubre and we’d have some space to go sign a 4...I think in the 15 million range. That won’t get Harris...maybe Mirotic or Randle...Thad Young or Jamychal Green could be options.

Then draft a 4 of the future at 11(DeAndre Hunter, Brandon Clarke, Grant Williams, PJ Washington)

Jrue, Booker, Oubre, Young, Ayton with
Melton, Bridges, Warren, Clarke, Holmes off the bench

If NO wants warren instead of Jackson, just switch them.
Same essential construct of a deal with Memphis for Conley would work as well.

If New Orleans won the lottery and we got the second pick, the Pelicans could come away from the draft with a young nucleus of Zion, Barrett and Jason Tatum. That's pretty intriguing.

[bajanguy008]

watching the game the body language of the guys just seemed different
even when we were down , wasn't pouting (Devin been guilty of this) and I'm fairly certain I haven't seen so much smiling/laughing. just found it interesting and was wondering if the guys rallying around each other with the media bashing Suns took last week or so cause obviously they would be aware.
I mean the guys were jumping with hands raised at the buzzer and we don't have any rivalry with Bucks. it just seemed like they wanted to prove a point against the best team in the league, kinda late in the season but hey I'm very interested to see how we play against another bottom feeder

[Superbone]

watching the game the body language of the guys just seemed different
even when we were down , wasn't pouting (Devin been guilty of this) and I'm fairly certain I haven't seen so much smiling/laughing. just found it interesting and was wondering if the guys rallying around each other with the media bashing Suns took last week or so cause obviously they would be aware.
I mean the guys were jumping with hands raised at the buzzer and we don't have any rivalry with Bucks. it just seemed like they wanted to prove a point against the best team in the league, kinda late in the season but hey I'm very interested to see how we play against another bottom feeder

I think we do have a little rivalry thanks to one Eric Bledsoe. He was yelling at our bench throughout the game and he and Booker were going at it.

[Split T]

As I post, 97% of voters want Oubre back

[AmareIsGod]

http://arizonasports.com/story/1863423/ ... ee-agency/

Suns’ Oubre on impending RFA status: ‘Why would I go anywhere else?

“Why would I go anywhere else?” Oubre said when asked if Phoenix was his preferred destination across the entire NBA. “I’m here, I’m getting established and I’m not a guy that really wants to be on a million teams in my tenure in the league and I just want to create a dynasty and a legacy here in Phoenix with [Deandre Ayton], [Devin Booker], [Mikal Bridges], all the guys in the locker room. It’s beautiful.”

In 34 games for the Suns, Oubre is averaging 16.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 blocks and 1.3 steals a game. A recent move into the starting lineup paid off on Monday when he had 27 points and 13 rebounds in a win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

[TOO]

Who'da thunk Kelly Oubre of all people would have a positive impact on the Suns. Its really too bad he plays the same position as Bridges/Jackson/Warren. 2 of the group need to go.

[Split T]

Oubre and Bridges is who I’d keep

[LazarusLong]

Who'da thunk Kelly Oubre of all people would have a positive impact on the Suns. Its really too bad he plays the same position as Bridges/Jackson/Warren. 2 of the group need to go.

A good bet is TJ is gone in a trade in the offseason.
If the Suns are smart (a scary proposition) they'll shut him down for the rest of the season in order to not mess with the current chemistry.

[AmareIsGod]

Not sure why we'd trade TJ. According to a few on here, he's extremely valuable for his high shooting percentage and increased 3 point % 30-45 games a season. Those nagging sore ankles and concussions seem to derail his ability to stay on the court. But he's just so darn valuable.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Oubre and Bridges are perfect 3&D glue guys. OTOH, TJ doesn't do much defensively and JJ is way too inconsistent offensively.

In a perfect situation I'd only move JJ because I think TJ is an elite 6th man, and I want to believe he'd be playing right now if the team were in a playoff spot battle.

[Split T]

If suns keep Oubre, as it seems like we will, here’s our cap breakdown. I’m assuming we keep Holmes as well as his cap hold is just 1.6 million.

Without draft picks, we’ve got 17 million in space.
Our 1st round pick drops us to anywhere from roughly 8.8(if we land #1) to 12.1(if we land 6)