Suns News: Week 17 2/16-2/22

[INFORMER]

There's really nothing to gain in keeping him, except to be defiant.

So we just take the least worst deal out there just because he wants out? Let him walk. He wants to turn down 100 mil, show us. If he walks, use the capspace but don't tie it up on Deng or Jordan Hill.

Jordan Hill has a team option, so that wouldn't tie up cap space. Deng has a player option. He could opt-out, and even if he doesn't, the Suns can flip him.

[SDC]

Of course that's what it is. He wants to be a lead guard. Bledsoe's our guy, for better or worse. I just hope we don't make a bad deal just to accommodate him. We're under no obligation to move him, and is reps leaking this to force our hand doesn't help the situation.

Bargnani, Tim Hardaway and a 1st from the Knicks. They'll do it. I don't want Jordan Hill. Maybe Stevie and Julius Randle. Let Stevie retire a Sun.

why would these teams offer a lot for a dragic rental? they are tanking this year. and some here are overvaluing dragic's bird rights. the other teams dont need it.

[INFORMER]

https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/567909060307218432

If they go that route, then they just aren't listening. It's not just about Thomas, idiots.

[carey]

Can we at least see what he gets for the guy before we start witht he McDumbass stuff?

[INFORMER]

and some here are overvaluing dragic's bird rights. the other teams dont need it.

On the contrary, having Dragic as their own free agent gives them more flexibility to spend on other free agents.

[INFORMER]

Can we at least see what he gets for the guy before we start witht he McDumbass stuff?

It's not just about the money with Dragic. It rarely is with European players.

[iLLmatic]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--l ... 17423.html

Or, the Suns could remain defiant of doing deals with those chosen teams, trade Dragic elsewhere and dare him to take less guaranteed years and money to join the Lakers, Knicks or Heat. If Dragic isn't traded, he could sign a maximum free-agent deal for four years, $80 million with New York or Los Angeles. The Suns – or a team that acquires him and his Bird rights – could sign Dragic for five years, $100 million-plus.

The Suns are in a difficult position to regain assets for Dragic, because three of the teams – the Lakers, Heat and Knicks – do not have significant trade pieces available for deals. If one of those teams believes they have an inside track on signing Dragic, they'll be even less apt to give away trade chips now when they could simply sign him into salary-cap space this summer.

We're too nice of a franchise to send him to a place he doesn't want to go to.

[iLLmatic]

Can we at least see what he gets for the guy before we start witht he McDumbass stuff?

No.

[SDC]

and some here are overvaluing dragic's bird rights. the other teams dont need it.

On the contrary, having Dragic as their own free agent gives them more flexibility to spend on other free agents.

ah, but i dont think dragic is worth the max.

[Gladiator]

As an aside, is $20 million a season about right for Goran or overpaying?

[SDC]

that's overpaying. but the lakers can afford it.

[carey]

As an aside, is $20 million a season about right for Goran or overpaying?

Overpay, by a lot. Harden doesn't even make $20M. LeBron just now started making $20M for the first time in his career. But I'm of the opinion you only pay guys that are top 5 in the league that kind of money. Then all-stars in the 13 to 17 range. Borderline all-stars in the 10 to 13 range. Solid roleplayers in the 7 to 10 range. Then your average MLE types. I don't think any GM sees it like I do though.

[ShelC]

Dragic will be 29 in May and we saw at the start of the season that he was fatigued from intl play, even with the capped minutes in the summer. I wouldn't feel great committing to him in that situation.

[iLLmatic]

Dragic will be 29 in May and we saw at the start of the season that he was fatigued from intl play, even with the capped minutes in the summer. I wouldn't feel great committing to him in that situation.

If the sole reason for him leaving is the money ($20 million a year) then yeah I can get on board with trading him. However, that is not the primary reason he's leaving. He's leaving because he lost trust in the Suns front office and their ability to utilize him like they should.

[INFORMER]

As an aside, is $20 million a season about right for Goran or overpaying?

Overpay, by a lot. Harden doesn't even make $20M. LeBron just now started making $20M for the first time in his career. But I'm of the opinion you only pay guys that are top 5 in the league that kind of money. Then all-stars in the 13 to 17 range. Borderline all-stars in the 10 to 13 range. Solid roleplayers in the 7 to 10 range. Then your average MLE types. I don't think any GM sees it like I do though.

I find it weird that with just about every other contract I hear it justified in terms of what the new CBA will allow/dictate. But with the early projections of Dragic offers, they're being evaluated in the context of the current CBA.

[INFORMER]

Dragic will be 29 in May and we saw at the start of the season that he was fatigued from intl play, even with the capped minutes in the summer. I wouldn't feel great committing to him in that situation.

If the sole reason for him leaving is the money ($20 million a year) then yeah I can get on board with trading him. However, that is not the primary reason he's leaving. He's leaving because he lost trust in the Suns front office and their ability to utilize him like they should.

Exactly. We're making it a money issue when not a single indication has been made that this is about money.

[ShelC]

And that's fine. We made our choice and he was ok with it until he wasn't. Now he wants out. Get the best deal or let him walk. We're in bed with Bledsoe, which I'm ok with. Dragic wasn't leading this team anywhere at this point. Sorry, he wasn't. He just made some fans here feel good because we drafted him and he's a good guy and he was Nash's heir whereas Bledsoe is the new GM's pet project who's a young, greedy, overrated baller. And it won't ever change unless/until Bledsoe wins a bunch of games for us and changes that perception.

[INFORMER]

I missed this last week:

The Suns' problems Tuesday did not have much to do with the offense but Dragic had admitted frustration about his involvement entering the game and Coach Jeff Hornacek understands it. He said Dragic's off-ball time might be taking a toll on Dragic. Juggling three point guards' minutes, roles and shots has been one of the coach's toughest tasks this season.

"He's an attack guard," said Houston coach Kevin McHale, his former coach. "He makes plays. I was just a big fan of Goran, always have been. I think he's playing now more off the ball. He was more on the ball with us. Hey, look at last year, he was third-team all-pro here in this system. Jeff's system evidently fits him very well."

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/n ... /23219381/

I wish the Suns were big fans, Kevin. I wish the Suns were.

[OE32]

That's a size 200 smilie btw. You just can't tell.

[carey]

As an aside, is $20 million a season about right for Goran or overpaying?

Overpay, by a lot. Harden doesn't even make $20M. LeBron just now started making $20M for the first time in his career. But I'm of the opinion you only pay guys that are top 5 in the league that kind of money. Then all-stars in the 13 to 17 range. Borderline all-stars in the 10 to 13 range. Solid roleplayers in the 7 to 10 range. Then your average MLE types. I don't think any GM sees it like I do though.

I find it weird that with just about every other contract I hear it justified in terms of what the new CBA will allow/dictate. But with the early projections of Dragic offers, they're being evaluated in the context of the current CBA.

Not by me you don't. You know why? We have no idea what the salary cap landscape will look like. We know it's going up but we aren't sure by how much, in what kind of increments, and when exactly. So how do you evaluate anything with those variables?