Suns News: 2019 Off-Season

[Mori Chu]

I'd be happy with that for the right contracts. I don't think there is a big market for Rubio, so I think he could be a bargain contract next year.

PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE

[Drewsprocket]

I'd rather build the interior and back line defense. Therefore I would rather the Suns target Thaddeus Young and Clarke. Then the Suns could go after a PG like DLo and not worry quite as much about his defensive deficiencies.

I don't think Randle is a great fit on either end with Ayton. They both operate in the same space on offense, which clogs the lane, he's not a good passer. He's like a bigger, better rebounding TJ. On defense, he doesn't offer the weakside help or shot blocking that Ayton needs. But, he is a better interior defender by only a little bit than TJ. So if it was a choice between TJ or Julius, I'd pick Randle for the PF position and hope that he develops a 3 pt shot like TJ did.

Itd be worth a shot. Randle has range for when they're on the floor and both can go inside while the other sits.
I dont see how they can sign Randle, Oubre, plus add a
PG. would the pelicans want Warren for randle on a sign and trade?

[carey]

Mori, you’d be ready to dump Rubio by the AS break because you barely have to guard him.

[In2ition]

I'd rather build the interior and back line defense. Therefore I would rather the Suns target Thaddeus Young and Clarke. Then the Suns could go after a PG like DLo and not worry quite as much about his defensive deficiencies.

I don't think Randle is a great fit on either end with Ayton. They both operate in the same space on offense, which clogs the lane, he's not a good passer. He's like a bigger, better rebounding TJ. On defense, he doesn't offer the weakside help or shot blocking that Ayton needs. But, he is a better interior defender by only a little bit than TJ. So if it was a choice between TJ or Julius, I'd pick Randle for the PF position and hope that he develops a 3 pt shot like TJ did.

Itd be worth a shot. Randle has range for when they're on the floor and both can go inside while the other sits.
I dont see how they can sign Randle, Oubre, plus add a
PG. would the pelicans want Warren for randle on a sign and trade?

Without making any trades or moves, it would difficult.

[Mori Chu]

Mori, you’d be ready to dump Rubio by the AS break because you barely have to guard him.

That might be true. I just want a pass-first PG and then to surround him with shooters and scorers. I miss my Steve Nash so very much. I know he's gone forever, but I just want a guy even remotely like that who tries to run the offense and set everybody else up.

[TOO]

Ricky Rubio isn't good. If he were, teams wouldn't keep moving on from him.

[Shabazz]

Ricky Rubio isn't good. If he were, teams wouldn't keep moving on from him.

All one of them?

[Drewsprocket]

Rubio would make is better but just for a couple years. Better to have a more consistent shooter. I’m more aftaid we will nab Lowry who has a bad back and is due to stop trying after his next contract is inked.

[specialsauce]

I’m okay with Lowry. He’s got all the intangibles

[AmareIsGod]

Josh Jackson in a boot and crutches. Great.

[specialsauce]

DLo is not the PG we need. He's a scoring combo guard who has a shoot-first mentality. "But he averaged 7 assists last year". So did Booker.

Ironically, he is to Booker what some think Randle is to Ayton. And I'd still take Randle at 12-15mil a year, replacing TJ's contract, because Randle is a hustling, double-double player. I think Ayton can become a better shotblocker (he averaged just under 1 last year) and defender and think Randle's energy and aggression can maybe rub off of Ayton or at least balance things out when Ayton starts sleepwalking.

DLo and Randle are not perfect fits for us, but they are a big step better than what we have now. They have value around the league. They are the kind of guys Jerry would take a risk on, knowing that he could move them for a potentially better fit if it didn't work out. Same with Oubre.

I don't need to see us in the finals next season, but I would love to see 8 actual NBA players on the roster next year.

If we somehow managed to turn TJ, Warren, Jackson and the #6 pick into Randle and DLo, all while keeping Oubre I would be ecstatic. I don’t see how that’s possible

Russell/Melton/Okobo
Booker/???
Oubre/Bridges
Randle/Bender
Ayton/Holmes

[specialsauce]

Josh Jackson in a boot and crutches. Great.

I don’t buy for one second he didn’t injure it in Florida.

[Mori Chu]

Why all the talk about D-Lo Russell? Is this assuming that the Nets get Kyrie and want to movie Russell? Otherwise why would they part with him?

[AmareIsGod]

https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/ ... 303613001/

Phoenix Suns' Josh Jackson on crutches after injuring left foot

Phoenix Suns wing Josh Jackson was seen with a soft cast on his left foot and using crutches to walk Friday at Talking Stick Resort Arena.

"He tweaked his foot, and so rather than having him walk around, to protect him, we put him in a temporary soft cast, which is easier to deal with than the strap-foot boot," General Manager James Jones said.

"So it's kind of over-protective to make sure it calms down over the next two days, but it's just something that's really minimal swelling."

Jones said the injury occurred Friday, and was not related to Jackson’s arrest in May in Miami. Jackson was arrested on suspicion of resisting arrest and escape.

“We love Josh,” Jones said back at the NBA Scouting Combine. “Like anything, this is a situation he’ll learn from and he’ll get better.”

The Suns hosted pre-draft workouts for 12 prospects on Friday. Jones told The Republic and The Athletic after the workouts that Jackson's injury "just happened" and "that's why he was in here today."

Jones said the injury is day-to-day and the soft cast to prevent further injury.

Last season, Jackson averaged 11.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, mostly coming off of the bench in his second season.

[INFORMER]

Honestly, I probably said this before, but I wouldn't be upset with a Rubio & Thad Young

I still don't understand why you keep pushing for Thad Young. That would be such a waste, IMO.

[Ring_Wanted]

I feel the same when I see guys pushing for Randle.

[Split T]

I don't think Randle is a great fit on either end with Ayton. They both operate in the same space on offense, which clogs the lane, he's not a good passer. He's like a bigger, better rebounding TJ. On defense, he doesn't offer the weakside help or shot blocking that Ayton needs. But, he is a better interior defender by only a little bit than TJ. So if it was a choice between TJ or Julius, I'd pick Randle for the PF position and hope that he develops a 3 pt shot like TJ did.

I think this is pretty much my view of it, too. Randle doesn't give me what I really want from that position: defense, rebounds, 3s, and ability to work well with our existing players. Randle is a nice player but he would make a lot more sense if our center were either a 3-point shooter or a defensive specialist / rim-runner like Clint Capela. I don't think Randle and Ayton fit well together at all, even though I like them both individually.

There are real fit concerns, but Randle does actually do a few of the things you want. He shot 3’s at 34.4% on 3 attempts per game. That was better than just about our entire team last year. He’s a pretty good rebounder and significantly better than anyone we’ve had play the 4 recently.

I think the idea is that Ayton is not a finished product. We’re expecting a lot of defensive growth and for him to turn into a defensive anchor. He’s also working on his outside shot. If both of those develop, I think the fit concerns mostly go away.

Randle is pretty skilled as a ball handler, can create his own shot, can pass a little too. He gives us another shot creator to take pressure off of Booker. He could also develop some nice inside passing with Ayton that could prove to be pretty useful. Both have the ability to overpower defenders and force help inside. If they can find each other, it could lead to a lot of easy dunks.

So I don’t really buy that he doesn’t work well with booker/Ayton. He takes a lot of pressure off them offensively. Defense is a concern, but we’re the worst team in the west...we’ve got to improve and you can’t just hold out for perfect fits.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

80% fit on a player that actually is interested in coming here is enough for me. We need infusions of good will as much as talent, so, if Randle is truly interested (not just for leverage) in coming here, let the coach to work on the filling the gaps and build over the pieces on every player’s game that fit.

[In2ition]

Honestly, I probably said this before, but I wouldn't be upset with a Rubio & Thad Young

I still don't understand why you keep pushing for Thad Young. That would be such a waste, IMO.

Because he's a good switchable defender at 4 who can set the defensive tone and sets for the team. He would be a good fit next to Ayton and can shoot, pass and rebound. He's not the best, but at least he can do these things and is a good vet on the team.

[Split T]

Honestly, I probably said this before, but I wouldn't be upset with a Rubio & Thad Young

I still don't understand why you keep pushing for Thad Young. That would be such a waste, IMO.

Because he's a good switchable defender at 4 who can set the defensive tone and sets for the team. He would be a good fit next to Ayton and can shoot, pass and rebound. He's not the best, but at least he can do these things and is a good vet on the team.

Randle is a better passer, shooter, and rebounder. I’m not anti Thad, but he isn’t a perfect fit either