Mori Chu wrote:Have we figured out whether Oladipo is a PG or SG yet? I think they were trying to play him at PG but he isn't much of a distributor, right? I am not sure I have much interest in Dipo if we have Booker on the team unless Dipo could be an elite passing/defending PG. If not, why not just stick with Bledsoe?
Valid point. I look at it like this, which 3-some of guards do you prefer? Bledsoe-Knight-Booker or Bledsoe-Dipo-Booker? For me it's the latter.
Multiple teams who have made pitches for Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris suggest a first-round pick hasn't been enough to engage the Suns in trade talks.
Suns general manager Ryan McDonough has been pursuing a package that includes a younger player and a first-round pick, league executives said. The Suns are motivated to honor Morris' desire for a trade – and have no intention of bringing him back next season – but teams are starting to think the Suns could hold onto Morris past the Thursday trade deadline without a deal that brings back a player of value with a first-round pick.
The Suns could wait until the summer to move Morris when teams who have missed on free-agent priorities return aggressively into the trade market for the power forward. Morris' contract has three years, $24 million left after the this season, which is still on the low end for a player of his talent – whatever the recurring issues with his attitude and professionalism.
Part of the challenge on pursuing Morris primarily with the lure of draft choices is that the Suns have such a deep well of future picks. Phoenix has five first-round picks in the next three drafts – and nine over the next six years.
Mori Chu wrote:Wow, okay. A lot of Rubio hate in this thread, and a lot of shock at how much I like the guy.
Yes, he's a poor shooter. And that can be a problem in today's NBA. But. What I really want from my PG more than anything else is for him to be an excellent facilitator, a guy who sets up his teammates and is great at getting assists. Rubio is one of the very best in the world at that.
Also, this notion that he is some kind of turnstyle on defense is just completely wrong. He is actually an above-average point guard defensively. He gets 2.2 steals a game and has gotten a lot better at both individual and team defense.
I know the shooting percentage is absolutely horrid. But I would MUCH rather have that kind of point guard running our offense than the current complete shit we have now. I am so tired of me-first chuckers and never ever want one running our offense ever again. I also think that Rubio has some potential to get better at his FG% by learning what shots he should take, mostly taking layups and short jumpers, etc. He's only 25.
P.S. Rubio would do great in an uptempo, SSOL-type offense.
Plus we can get Hornacek to improve his shot... Er, wait, ah... nevermind.
Very interesting. I'm not surprised Morris is valued around the league. He has been hot garbage for us, but I bet a lot of GMs chalk that up to him not wanting to be here. He still has an absolute sweetheart of a deal and is a talented player.
“Kobe had said (after the play) I wasn’t hugged enough as a child,” Bell recalled. “My mom kind of found him after the instance and we had beat them and offered him a hug in the bowels of the Phoenix arena. She really feels a part of that story.”
Just a huge Dipo fan since his days at Indiana, but I agree with what a lot of people are saying. His best position is SG...we have our future SG. I'd still take him on though for Knight/Chandler/Morris or tucker. Can never have enough talent.
“Kobe had said (after the play) I wasn’t hugged enough as a child,” Bell recalled. “My mom kind of found him after the instance and we had beat them and offered him a hug in the bowels of the Phoenix arena. She really feels a part of that story.”
Multiple teams who have made pitches for Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris suggest a first-round pick hasn't been enough to engage the Suns in trade talks.
Suns general manager Ryan McDonough has been pursuing a package that includes a younger player and a first-round pick, league executives said. The Suns are motivated to honor Morris' desire for a trade – and have no intention of bringing him back next season – but teams are starting to think the Suns could hold onto Morris past the Thursday trade deadline without a deal that brings back a player of value with a first-round pick.
The Suns could wait until the summer to move Morris when teams who have missed on free-agent priorities return aggressively into the trade market for the power forward. Morris' contract has three years, $24 million left after the this season, which is still on the low end for a player of his talent – whatever the recurring issues with his attitude and professionalism.
Part of the challenge on pursuing Morris primarily with the lure of draft choices is that the Suns have such a deep well of future picks. Phoenix has five first-round picks in the next three drafts – and nine over the next six years.
Over/under this scrub is with us after the trade deadline?
I'd say 60/40 he's gone by Thursday. But about 90/10 he's gone before next season starts. Could wait til the draft to deal him and see if their is anyone there they want with the pick the raptors or someone else is offering.
“Kobe had said (after the play) I wasn’t hugged enough as a child,” Bell recalled. “My mom kind of found him after the instance and we had beat them and offered him a hug in the bowels of the Phoenix arena. She really feels a part of that story.”
Heat with serious concerns tonight about Bosh's health;agent says "too soon to report" if he has another blood clot:
Sad news...
“Kobe had said (after the play) I wasn’t hugged enough as a child,” Bell recalled. “My mom kind of found him after the instance and we had beat them and offered him a hug in the bowels of the Phoenix arena. She really feels a part of that story.”
The youth-laden Magic have made it known they are in the market for veterans as they continue to slide out of playoff contention. Sources say Orlando has been willing to discuss the prospect of moving some of its more familiar names, including former No. 2 overall pick Victor Oladipo and the recently re-signed Tobias Harris.
Thanks Inf. But what I was more curious about is how you see Oladipo's game, and if you think he's a good fit for the Suns. From what I've seen, he's an athletic player with decent size who can defend 2 guards as well as 1, but his outside shot is suspect and his game is predicated on penetration. He's a pretty good rebounder for his size and can lock down his man when focused (sound familiar?), but doesn't shoot well enough to be a threat, and having both him and Payton on the court at once has proven to be bad spacing.
Naturally having him instead of Knight would be an upgrade, especially on the defensive end, but I don't know how that would fit in the rotation. I'm for such a move, but I just wonder if you see this as a long term solution or incremental upgrades.
As a SG I think he's a fine in the ball movement department, can make the right pass and won't stall the offense. As a PG, I think he's in over his head when trying to lead an offense, just like Archie/Knight/Bledsoe.
pickle wrote:Thanks Inf. But what I was more curious about is how you see Oladipo's game, and if you think he's a good fit for the Suns. From what I've seen, he's an athletic player with decent size who can defend 2 guards as well as 1, but his outside shot is suspect and his game is predicated on penetration. He's a pretty good rebounder for his size and can lock down his man when focused (sound familiar?), but doesn't shoot well enough to be a threat, and having both him and Payton on the court at once has proven to be bad spacing.
pickle wrote:Thanks Inf. But what I was more curious about is how you see Oladipo's game, and if you think he's a good fit for the Suns. From what I've seen, he's an athletic player with decent size who can defend 2 guards as well as 1, but his outside shot is suspect and his game is predicated on penetration. He's a pretty good rebounder for his size and can lock down his man when focused (sound familiar?), but doesn't shoot well enough to be a threat, and having both him and Payton on the court at once has proven to be bad spacing.
Did you just describe Archie Goodwin?
Yes. He is a better,much better, version of Archie.
I could be interested in Rubio for the sake of the kid's development, but first you have to get move Bledsoe-Knight. At the very least, trade Bledsoe and make Knight the 6th man. Ricky under Mike D, plus the young blood, would have my curiosity.
Oladipo is too close to being more of the same we have in Bledsoe and to a much lesser extent, Goodwin. Gifted but can't put it together and his development has been slower than expected. Orlando needing to use him to tinker with lineups and supposedly entertaining trades should make you wary of investing the kind of money he'll command soon.
Tobias Harris has always been appealing but at this point why bother unless he can be acquired on the cheap.
Mori Chu wrote:I don't think Oladipo can be a starting guard on a good team if he can't shoot or pass at an elite level. It is as simple as that.
So, would you say the same about Bledsoe?
That is the thing here. Brandon Knight has a skill that still makes him hugely marketable. He can shoot. He can shoot well. He is just not a pg. The reason that so many Suns fans are frustrated with him right now is because he failed miserably as a distributor.
Oladipo can score. He can defend at a very high level. He is a decent passer, but not exceptional. He is not a shooter by any means. He is still a substantially better shooter from the three than Archie in a 2015-16 stat comparison. Archie is better from the 2. I guess the question would be whether Oladipo is an upgrade over Archie. I would think he is both now and in the long term.
I really liked that kid coming out of college. He was the player I wanted out of that draft. He can be electric on the court, but he would HAVE to play along side of Booker and a shooter at the three.
Last edited by JCSunsfan on Tue Feb 16, 2016 8:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
Given Orlando's needs, it wouldn't surprise me if Oladipo were made available in a trade for Knight. My question is, where would we send Oladipo? Unless we think Booker can play the 1, I don't think he makes much sense for us. I'm fine bringing Knight off the bench as a super-sixth next season, but I don't want him starting over Booker or Bled.
There must be a team out there willing to give up something of value for Oladipo...
