Around the League: Week 14 1/26-1/31

[Superbone]

Isaiah Thomas is an official ASE.

Even if we decided IT was not the right fit for us, can you imagine how much better positioned we would be right now if we never traded for Knight?

Yes.

[Mori Chu]

Yes, I can imagine that.

[Ring_Wanted]

Isaiah Thomas is an official ASE.

He earned it.

Absolutely.

And yeah, I think we all have given some thoughts to scenarios where Knight didn't happen hehehe.

[Indy]

Isaiah Thomas is an official ASE.

He earned it.

Absolutely.

And yeah, I think we all have given some thoughts to scenarios where Knight didn't happen hehehe.

Yeah, I know that was kind of stupid to say. But it still just baffles my mind as to why we thought that was a good idea. Even if there was no pick involved, we would be better off with IT over Knight (basketball-wise, and financially).

[OE32]

Isaiah Thomas is an official ASE.

He earned it.

Absolutely.

And yeah, I think we all have given some thoughts to scenarios where Knight didn't happen hehehe.

Yeah, I know that was kind of stupid to say. But it still just baffles my mind as to why we thought that was a good idea. Even if there was no pick involved, we would be better off with IT over Knight (basketball-wise, and financially).

Raise your hand if you liked IT while he was here. Raise your other hand if you thought he was underappreciated by the fans.

::raises both hands::

I expect not to see very many hands raised here. On a related note, rank the following in order of preference:

1. Getting IT for nothing.
2. Getting IT for a low first round draft pick.
3. Getting a low first round draft pick for nothing.
4. Losing IT for nothing.

3 teams, 4 ways to look at it.

[Indy]

I certainly thought we didn't need both him and Green long-term, but thought for what we were paying him, he was worth it. And yes, he was under appreciated at the time (and I was vocal about it).

[JCSunsfan]

Before you all go pining for IT and saying "I wanted to keep him" go back and read this thread for a dose of reality.

http://www.phx-suns.net/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=638

[OE32]

Before you all go pining for IT and saying "I wanted to keep him" go back and read this thread for a dose of reality.

http://www.phx-suns.net/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=638

From that thread:

I liked IT, but we ended up getting a super-low first rounder in next year's draft for him. Not exactly a great return.

To be fair, I was "optimistic" about Brandon Knight at the time and thought some were overvaluing the Lakers' pick in their evaluation of the trade. Well, since then, Knight's value has decreased, while the value of the Lakers pick has increased. So, right on the one hand, wrong on the other. A mixed record, just like everyone else around here.

[Indy]

Because MCW is only in his second season as a pro, and plus he isn't an impending free agent.

The contract status is the only reason. Knight is and will be a better player.

From that thread too. Still feel the same, Bazz?

[Indy]

At least I am consistent!

I really don't get the IT hate. Yeah, he didn't fit here well, but he did exactly what was asked of him. And I keep harping on this, but he was our most efficient offensive player.

[Ring_Wanted]

IT3 did his thing here and did it well, but the backcourt was beyond crowded. I know I didn't want to keep him. Was ok with the dumping even knowing the player widely exceeded the value of the pick we were getting.

Very much like when we let RoLo go, I don't have regrets. Just wasn't working out here. Will say the same about Kieff when the time coes, whose game I like but his situation on the team is untenable.

[ShelC]

The challenge with IT3 is that you kind of need to build a team around him and his skillset. That scares off teams and coaches because of his size but he's proven to be a legit scoring PG and not just a chucker who doesn't get his teammates involved (which seemed to be the rap on him his first few years). If you put defenders, rebounders and role players around him, you can probably be successful. Imagine IT3, a shooter like Booker, PJ or TJ, and Leuer and Chandler. That's a pretty balanced backcourt, along with a role player at the 3, a stretch 4 and a hustle/defensive big in Chandler. Wouldn't have been a bad lineup.

[Superbone]

I still wish IT never happened. It would have been interesting to see how Dragic would have played out.

[Mori Chu]

Not IT's fault per se, but bringing him in is what crumbled our whole team. IT's presence led to the 3-PG fiasco and the disgruntlement of Dragic, who is now gone. If not for IT, we probably wouldn't have acquired Knight. We probably would have a Bledsoe-Dragic backcourt still, and I'd bet that we would be playing much better, because that backcourt actually *almost* (but still not quite) makes sense.

[Indy]

I still wish IT never happened. It would have been interesting to see how Dragic would have played out.

I doubt it would have been too different. I think he still would have left. And if he didn't, that would mean we were going to pay him 90 million. That is just not a smart move (not saying giving Knight so much was either).

[Shabazz]

Because MCW is only in his second season as a pro, and plus he isn't an impending free agent.

The contract status is the only reason. Knight is and will be a better player.

From that thread too. Still feel the same, Bazz?

I was comparing Knight and MCW. Absolutely. Knight is better.

[Indy]

Because MCW is only in his second season as a pro, and plus he isn't an impending free agent.

The contract status is the only reason. Knight is and will be a better player.

From that thread too. Still feel the same, Bazz?

I was comparing Knight and MCW. Absolutely. Knight is better.

I haven't seen much of MCW, so I wasn't sure.

[Ring_Wanted]

MCW starter pretty poorly. Looked like he might never make a shot but it is slowly improving and now his numbers are decent. You take those %s. Milwaukee is struggling but individually he is not bad. Still good on D, can pass.

[JCSunsfan]

Before you all go pining for IT and saying "I wanted to keep him" go back and read this thread for a dose of reality.

http://www.phx-suns.net/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=638

From that thread:

I liked IT, but we ended up getting a super-low first rounder in next year's draft for him. Not exactly a great return.

To be fair, I was "optimistic" about Brandon Knight at the time and thought some were overvaluing the Lakers' pick in their evaluation of the trade. Well, since then, Knight's value has decreased, while the value of the Lakers pick has increased. So, right on the one hand, wrong on the other. A mixed record, just like everyone else around here.

Here is what I said at the time from that thread,

So, after a night and a morning, I am feeling much worse about the trades. The primary issue is Brandon Knight. Suns mgmt is treating him like a star, but all I read about him screams "Shannon Brown." Literally, he is hated by Milwaukee fans like that.

Then Gambo says he was bummed about the trade because he wants to be THE pg and the man. We gave up the Laker's pick for that? I would rather have just kept Ennis.

We have this concept of a two pg system and we keep trying to pry players into it, but its really hard to find pg's that want to do it. My guess is that is why Ennis was dealt. He is not a combo guard and wouldnt be happy in this concept of a system (its not a system yet).

I was more negative then, and I am not nearly as negative as most now.

[OE32]

Here is what I said at the time from that thread,

So, after a night and a morning, I am feeling much worse about the trades. The primary issue is Brandon Knight. Suns mgmt is treating him like a star, but all I read about him screams "Shannon Brown." Literally, he is hated by Milwaukee fans like that.

Then Gambo says he was bummed about the trade because he wants to be THE pg and the man. We gave up the Laker's pick for that? I would rather have just kept Ennis.

We have this concept of a two pg system and we keep trying to pry players into it, but its really hard to find pg's that want to do it. My guess is that is why Ennis was dealt. He is not a combo guard and wouldnt be happy in this concept of a system (its not a system yet).

I was more negative then, and I am not nearly as negative as most now.

Wow, that was prescient. Well done, sir.