2nd Half of season

[carey]

I think we are playing Tucker to showcase him. If we really wanted to hang on to him for the whole year, then we really have 0 reason to play him that many minutes. I've seen a lot of anger towards the way that Watson has handled the rotation, even when a perfectly plausible and less upsetting explanation is right in front of us: that we are working the phones to get an asset back for Tucker. .

I don't subscribe to this theory. I agree with others who have said you don't need to "showcase" Tucker at this point. It's well known what kind of player he is. A physical 3 & D wing that can really defend when he's locked in but generally succeeds on effort alone. He's available if someone wants him but the idea that we're playing him 35 minutes every night just so we can trade him by February doesn't track with me.

[carey]

Btw, it isn't absolutely necessary to do it because the players on your roster just split a bonus check, but... if we send out Knight's $13M for only a draft pick, how are we going to hit the salary floor? Absorb a contract into our space at the deadline?

[Shabazz]

Probably going to have to add the Lakers to that list. For all the talk about what a great job Walton was doing in LA, the lakers have been terrible lately and although they have a higher winning percentage, are actually a half game behind us in the standings. But I agree that Dallas and Minny seem to be headed upwards. I'd watch out for Orlando and the Knicks out east. While they have a decent lead on us right now, if they decide to give up and start tanking, they could fall off quickly. I'd guess they keep trying to win games though. They probably wouldn't enter tank mode until late in the season.

I think we are safe from Orlando and NY, but yeah, the Lakers will be down there with us too. Their 'hot' start was a fluke. Have you seen Ingram? Hot garbage at the moment. Won't say it will remain like that the rest of his career but honestly I don't see the amount of potential people were giving him credit for. Having KD's body type without the explosion is some tough luck.

Ya I liked Ingram in the draft, but he's been very underwhelming as a pro. I wonder if he's just too weak right now. He's clearly not Durant or really even that close to Durant, but once he adds some strength he might become a useful player.

He's been a lot better lately after a slow start.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

Btw, it isn't absolutely necessary to do it because the players on your roster just split a bonus check, but... if we send out Knight's $13M for only a draft pick, how are we going to hit the salary floor? Absorb a contract into our space at the deadline?

Considering that our core is made out of rookie contracts at the moment, it wouldn't be too bad to write the check and split it, as some backdoor bonus to our underpayed boys. Why give it to some random guy that would probably be in an out-for-the-year expiring contract, and probably wouldn't not even report to the team?

[sunshoopjunky]

if there's a legit chance to make it as an eight seed, you do it.

I agree. Playoff basketball experience can not only catapult players but also teams. I also would think that a playoff birth would keep Sarver from making basketball moves.

[sunshoopjunky]

adding two more rookies to the 3 we got this year might not be the best idea. That's a lot of players to develop and to get minutes too.

I agree and I am not sure that we even have the people in place to develop them.

[Mori Chu]

adding two more rookies to the 3 we got this year might not be the best idea. That's a lot of players to develop and to get minutes too.

You're going to give INF an aneurysm talking like that.

[Superbone]

adding two more rookies to the 3 we got this year might not be the best idea. That's a lot of players to develop and to get minutes too.

You're going to give INF an aneurysm talking like that.

All rookies, all the time!

[da_suns_fan]

What happened to Paul Coro?

[pickle]

I'm pretty sure somebody got the nesting quotes mixed up. I was the one that advocated getting two more top picks if we can, and I think T was the one that disagreed... just for the record, any health problems Inf suffers is not at my hands.

[Superbone]

What happened to Paul Coro?

Apparently, he was let go.

[Split T]

I'm pretty sure somebody got the nesting quotes mixed up. I was the one that advocated getting two more top picks if we can, and I think T was the one that disagreed... just for the record, any health problems Inf suffers is not at my hands.

Haha, it's on me.

[SDC]

who is now the main suns reporter for the azcentral?

[Superbone]

who is now the main suns reporter for the azcentral?

Doug Haller.

[Mori Chu]

Haller at ya boy!!

[Superbone]

Haller at ya boy!!

Can you dig it?

[pickle]

I think we are playing Tucker to showcase him. If we really wanted to hang on to him for the whole year, then we really have 0 reason to play him that many minutes. I've seen a lot of anger towards the way that Watson has handled the rotation, even when a perfectly plausible and less upsetting explanation is right in front of us: that we are working the phones to get an asset back for Tucker. .

I don't subscribe to this theory. I agree with others who have said you don't need to "showcase" Tucker at this point. It's well known what kind of player he is. A physical 3 & D wing that can really defend when he's locked in but generally succeeds on effort alone. He's available if someone wants him but the idea that we're playing him 35 minutes every night just so we can trade him by February doesn't track with me.

Like I said, I'll start worrying when it's past trade deadline and we are still running Tucker for 35 mpg. Different people have different ways of doing things. Maybe, just maybe, these guys aren't as stupid as we think they are, and what they do is their way of achieving the same goals that we all pine for. I'm not an optimist by any stretch of the imagination, but I think the jury is still out on the whole Tucker situation.

[LazarusLong]

FWIW, talk on sports radio yesterday about Tucker. Some teams have offered a couple of 2nd round picks, but Suns want a little more. Tucker is open to a trade to a playoff team. Also, Tucker is a FA after this season, and the next contract probably will be his last. I think even McD realizes Tucker's worth/talent will start to diminish rapidly soon.

[ShelC]

Maybe it was smokescreening but the article yesterday said we were open to re-signing him because we like his work with Booker. If we can't get anything of value, just let him walk at the end of the year.

[LazarusLong]

Maybe it was smokescreening but the article yesterday said we were open to re-signing him because we like his work with Booker. If we can't get anything of value, just let him walk at the end of the year.

I read that, also.

Suns have Dudley under contract for at least another year. I think he can take over mentoring Booker.

Tucker is a big, thick guy. What quickness and athleticism he has soon will diminish rapidly and he'll become a short, wide-bodied 4 with no shot.