Suns News: Weeks 24 (3/30 - 4/5) and 25 (4/6 - 4-12)

[Charlie Smithy!]

Let him lay into Ott for putting lineups of guys 6-5 and smaller out there instead. That might hurt his standing with the FO/ownership and he won't get those juicy insider rumors anymore.

How many points did he score in those 9 minutes in the 4th? We aren’t paying Booker super max money to pass the ball.

With this roster, the Suns are paying him to pass the ball because no one else can create space then make the correct read and pass.

[bajanguy008]

Knew I saw this mentioned last night
He's the Impact doesn't always show up in the Stat Sheet guy so at least there are still some rare numbers to give an idea of how good his season was

[ShelC]

Scoop B isn't that much of a reliable source but he said we have interest in Ja, along with the Kings. Likely BS but Ja was in a suite last night watching the game. Could be him just rooting for Brooks.

[TOO]

Ja is never healthy, he's missed like 40% of his career games.

[The Bobster]

It would have to be something like......

Morant and Brandon Clarke for Booker or Green and filler for Morant.

I don't see either of those happening because of Morant's track record of off court behavior and missing games.

[O_Gardino]

It would have to be something like......

Morant and Brandon Clarke for Booker or Green and filler for Morant.

I don't see either of those happening because of Morant's track record of off court behavior and missing games.

And how many picks are they offering with that package?

[pickle]

If we are complaining about Booker’s production relative to salary, wait till we get Ja. This board is gonna be fun to read then.

[TOO]

If we are complaining about Booker’s production relative to salary, wait till we get Ja. This board is gonna be fun to read then.

We've already done it with Brad Beal.

[pickle]

If we are complaining about Booker’s production relative to salary, wait till we get Ja. This board is gonna be fun to read then.

We've already done it with Brad Beal.

You mean we are gonna get ja and then stretch and waive him too? Can’t wait.

[Shabazz]

I’m sorry, but there is a 0.0% chance of any trade with Booker and Morant as the framework.

[pickle]

I don’t think the idea was Booker for Ja, guess the idea is to pair Booker with Ja, and I’m wholeheartedly against the idea.

[Kryptonic]

HARD PASS

[TOO]

HARD PASS

Easy pass.

[Mori Chu]

I do think Ja could have a career resurgence in a year or two. He's become a toxic asset in Memphis, largely of his own doing, and it seems like the team is thoroughly done with him. But I bet he could benefit from a change of scenery. He's only 26 years old and I don't think he has yet lost his athleticism or drive. He doesn't have the kind of game that will likely age well into his mid-30s, but I bet he has about 6-7 really good years of basketball ahead of him at least. A team that could take a chance on him by giving away some other negative asset, like a Sacramento or Washington or wherever, might find that they get a steal. Despite all the issues this season, he averaged 19.5 ppg and 8.1 ast when he did play.

All that said, I don't think the Suns really have the assets or contracts that would make sense to swap for Ja. The one closest to making sense would be Jalen Green, but I don't think I would want to make that swap unless Memphis also attached picks, which I doubt they would want to do. Maybe if Green had a good 2026 playoffs his value could go up as a trade asset? Hmm. But then we could probably do better for him than Ja.

For me it'd be more about pairings that make sense. I really don't like the Booker-Green combo; both guys want the ball in their hands, and Green's decision-making and shot selection are usually net negatives (past two play-in games' brilliance aside). I would rather have a better distributor and floor general next to Booker, and Ja would be that. I wish we could get a non-headcase PG next to Book like a Darius Garland or somebody vaguely like that.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

What about De’Aaron Fox?

Him and Castle are as odd as Booker-Green playing together, as a pair of PG with limited shooting spacing the court for Wembayana.

We get an slashing player really capable to find Booker (returning to his natural SG spot) and viceversa for San Antonio.

[Mori Chu]

What about De’Aaron Fox?

That's an interesting idea. In my head I sort of dismissed him as done/cooked, and he has been a bit of a disappointment in SA. But actually that's unfair; he's doing just fine, and they've continued to utilize him as the steady veteran hand as their youngs grow to the point that they can take the heavy minutes. Fox is averaging a healthy 18.6 ppg on .486/.332/.760 splits, 6.2 ast, and 3.8 reb. Those numbers don't just blow you away but that's not too bad for a 3rd or 4th scorer. You wish the 3pt or FT% were a bit higher, but that's pretty good scoring, playmaking, and not bad rebounding for a PG. And you get the sense that SA would be willing to let him go, either now or in a year or so.

The main issue would be whether they would have the slightest interest in Jalen Green. I'm guessing not, since they seem to value high-IQ guys and not volume scorers with questionable shot selection / decision-making. I do think they could probably mold and teach Green to be a better player, and that their strong system would be good for him and would rub off on him. But they might not really want to take on a project like him when they have so many other young guys who need reps and shots. You could imagine Wemby being frustrated at Green having tunnel vision and not passing to him in the post or whatever.

Anyway, very interesting player swap idea. That's the kind of player I think we need to look at when we talk about Jalen Green trades. Maybe if Green keeps balling out in these playoffs we can drum up enough interest to get rid of him. Something tells me, though, that Ishbia and the FO would just get excited and want to keep him if he has a strong playoffs.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/pl ... xde01.html

[Aztec Sunsfan]

What about De’Aaron Fox?

That's an interesting idea. In my head I sort of dismissed him as done/cooked, and he has been a bit of a disappointment in SA. But actually that's unfair; he's doing just fine, and they've continued to utilize him as the steady veteran hand as their youngs grow to the point that they can take the heavy minutes. Fox is averaging a healthy 18.6 ppg on .486/.332/.760 splits, 6.2 ast, and 3.8 reb. Those numbers don't just blow you away but that's not too bad for a 3rd or 4th scorer. You wish the 3pt or FT% were a bit higher, but that's pretty good scoring, playmaking, and not bad rebounding for a PG. And you get the sense that SA would be willing to let him go, either now or in a year or so.

The main issue would be whether they would have the slightest interest in Jalen Green. I'm guessing not, since they seem to value high-IQ guys and not volume scorers with questionable shot selection / decision-making. I do think they could probably mold and teach Green to be a better player, and that their strong system would be good for him and would rub off on him. But they might not really want to take on a project like him when they have so many other young guys who need reps and shots. You could imagine Wemby being frustrated at Green having tunnel vision and not passing to him in the post or whatever.

Anyway, very interesting player swap idea. That's the kind of player I think we need to look at when we talk about Jalen Green trades. Maybe if Green keeps balling out in these playoffs we can drum up enough interest to get rid of him. Something tells me, though, that Ishbia and the FO would just get excited and want to keep him if he has a strong playoffs.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/pl ... xde01.html

It would be my preference to send them Jalen, love the guy but the fit is way off, forcing the team into pointBook at the most crucial moments.

Entering into fantasy land, let’s send the Spurs a Gillespie mixtape and offer him as a S&T with Grayson, Royce and picks for Fox, then you bring Jalen Green from the bench with Goodwin. Bad luck that nobody out of this board overvalue Gillespie that much. Still, no doubt that package brings a lot of perimeter shooting, and maybe San Antonio would be open to it if they flameout this postseason because of that shortcoming. Same with Orlando and Banchero.

[The Bobster]

What about De’Aaron Fox?

That's an interesting idea. In my head I sort of dismissed him as done/cooked, and he has been a bit of a disappointment in SA. But actually that's unfair; he's doing just fine, and they've continued to utilize him as the steady veteran hand as their youngs grow to the point that they can take the heavy minutes. Fox is averaging a healthy 18.6 ppg on .486/.332/.760 splits, 6.2 ast, and 3.8 reb. Those numbers don't just blow you away but that's not too bad for a 3rd or 4th scorer. You wish the 3pt or FT% were a bit higher, but that's pretty good scoring, playmaking, and not bad rebounding for a PG. And you get the sense that SA would be willing to let him go, either now or in a year or so.

The main issue would be whether they would have the slightest interest in Jalen Green. I'm guessing not, since they seem to value high-IQ guys and not volume scorers with questionable shot selection / decision-making. I do think they could probably mold and teach Green to be a better player, and that their strong system would be good for him and would rub off on him. But they might not really want to take on a project like him when they have so many other young guys who need reps and shots. You could imagine Wemby being frustrated at Green having tunnel vision and not passing to him in the post or whatever.

Anyway, very interesting player swap idea. That's the kind of player I think we need to look at when we talk about Jalen Green trades. Maybe if Green keeps balling out in these playoffs we can drum up enough interest to get rid of him. Something tells me, though, that Ishbia and the FO would just get excited and want to keep him if he has a strong playoffs.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/pl ... xde01.html

It would be my preference to send them Jalen, love the guy but the fit is way off, forcing the team into pointBook at the most crucial moments.

Entering into fantasy land, let’s send the Spurs a Gillespie mixtape and offer him as a S&T with Grayson, Royce and picks for Fox, then you bring Jalen Green from the bench with Goodwin. Bad luck that nobody out of this board overvalue Gillespie that much. Still, no doubt that package brings a lot of perimeter shooting, and maybe San Antonio would be open to it if they flameout this postseason because of that shortcoming. Same with Orlando and Banchero.

Why would San Antonio do that when they have a lineup that got them the 2nd best record in the league? Your basically offering three suns for a player whose a borderline All-Star and on the books to make a lot less than Booker. There's no incentive for San Antonio to make that kind of deal.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

What about De’Aaron Fox?

That's an interesting idea. In my head I sort of dismissed him as done/cooked, and he has been a bit of a disappointment in SA. But actually that's unfair; he's doing just fine, and they've continued to utilize him as the steady veteran hand as their youngs grow to the point that they can take the heavy minutes. Fox is averaging a healthy 18.6 ppg on .486/.332/.760 splits, 6.2 ast, and 3.8 reb. Those numbers don't just blow you away but that's not too bad for a 3rd or 4th scorer. You wish the 3pt or FT% were a bit higher, but that's pretty good scoring, playmaking, and not bad rebounding for a PG. And you get the sense that SA would be willing to let him go, either now or in a year or so.

The main issue would be whether they would have the slightest interest in Jalen Green. I'm guessing not, since they seem to value high-IQ guys and not volume scorers with questionable shot selection / decision-making. I do think they could probably mold and teach Green to be a better player, and that their strong system would be good for him and would rub off on him. But they might not really want to take on a project like him when they have so many other young guys who need reps and shots. You could imagine Wemby being frustrated at Green having tunnel vision and not passing to him in the post or whatever.

Anyway, very interesting player swap idea. That's the kind of player I think we need to look at when we talk about Jalen Green trades. Maybe if Green keeps balling out in these playoffs we can drum up enough interest to get rid of him. Something tells me, though, that Ishbia and the FO would just get excited and want to keep him if he has a strong playoffs.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/pl ... xde01.html

It would be my preference to send them Jalen, love the guy but the fit is way off, forcing the team into pointBook at the most crucial moments.

Entering into fantasy land, let’s send the Spurs a Gillespie mixtape and offer him as a S&T with Grayson, Royce and picks for Fox, then you bring Jalen Green from the bench with Goodwin. Bad luck that nobody out of this board overvalue Gillespie that much. Still, no doubt that package brings a lot of perimeter shooting, and maybe San Antonio would be open to it if they flameout this postseason because of that shortcoming. Same with Orlando and Banchero.

Why would San Antonio do that when they have a lineup that got them the 2nd best record in the league? Your basically offering three suns for a player whose a borderline All-Star and on the books to make a lot less than Booker. There's no incentive for San Antonio to make that kind of deal.

Out of fantasy land, there’s no Gillespie mixtape that makes the second package palatable for them, I was only joking on how the board looks at him, not me. The guy is a very serviceable bench guard capable to start for an injured role player, not the building block we have to retain as an offseason priority.

About the Green-Fox swap, of course there’s no reason today for SA to consider it, and that’s why I stated that San Antonio would need to suffer a Houston-like defeat over the first two rounds to convince them to do such a fundamental change.

[ShelC]