Phx-Suns.Net

Basketball is back, baby!

Nationally televised games this week.
Tuesday: Dallas @ San Antonio 8:00 EST TNT, Houston @ Lakers 10:30 EST TNT
Wednesday: Chicago @ NYK 8:00 EST ESPN, OKC @ Portland 10:30 EST ESPN
Thursday: NYK @ Cleveland 8:00 EST TNT, OKC @ Clippers 10:30 EST TNT
Friday: Cleveland @ Chicago 8:00 EST ESPN, Clippers @ Lakers 10:30 EST ESPN
Saturday: Chicago @ Minnesota 8:00 EST NBATv, Lakers @ Golden State 10:30 EST NBATv
Sunday: Charlotte @ NYK 7:30 EST NBATv

NBA News.
Kawhi Leonard wants a max extension and Spurs aren't having it: LINK
Ditto Klay Thompson and the Warriors (Carey's note: If you value the guy enough not to trade him for Kevin Love who is clearly a max player, doesn't that mean you view Thompson as a max player? Sometimes I don't understand NBA logic.): LINK
Phil Jackson scouts his own players: LINK
This story is a bit fun, Charley Rosen calls Jeff Van Gundy "full of crap" for saying what we're all thinking - that the triangle is not the reason for Phil Jackson's titles, it's that he coached Jordan/Pippen and Kobe/Shaq, Kobe/Gasol: LINK
The New York Times weighs in on Sarver's "apology" & calls it a tough sell: LINK
The T-Pups are buying out Barea & I guess he wants to go back to the Mavericks because they need 5 PGs:LINK
Interesting book coming out on Jordan's career from the perspective of other players: LINK
Melo apparently would love to play with Kobe (Carey's note: But not that much...): LINK
Felton can't start his suspension until healthy: LINK
New Jersey was supposed to legalize sports betting this week, but not so fast, Yo: LINK
D.A.'s Morning Tip: LINK

The NBA set to announce new partnership with Brazil league: LINK

This story is a bit fun, Charley Rosen calls Jeff Van Gundy "full of crap" for saying what we're all thinking - that the triangle is not the reason for Phil Jackson's titles, it's that he coached Jordan/Pippen and Kobe/Shaq, Kobe/Gasol: http://nypost.com/2014/10/25/phil-jacks ... ll-of-crap

Rosen has written a couple of books with Jackson, hasn't he? I'm pretty sure they're friends.

Edit - yup.

Dan H wrote:Rosen has written a couple of books with Jackson, hasn't he? I'm pretty sure they're friends.

Edit - yup.

Not only that, Rosen was an assistant coach for Jackson for a time.

Thanks Carey!

carey wrote: Kawhi Leonard wants a max extension and Spurs aren't having it: LINK
Ditto Klay Thompson and the Warriors (Carey's note: If you value the guy enough not to trade him for Kevin Love who is clearly a max player, doesn't that mean you view Thompson as a max player? Sometimes I don't understand NBA logic.): LINK

With both Thompson and Leonard, it makes more sense for their teams to let them get max offers in restricted free agency than to offer them Max extensions this summer. It's a dangerous game to play, but it represents a nice savings.

Shabazz wrote:

carey wrote: Kawhi Leonard wants a max extension and Spurs aren't having it: LINK
Ditto Klay Thompson and the Warriors (Carey's note: If you value the guy enough not to trade him for Kevin Love who is clearly a max player, doesn't that mean you view Thompson as a max player? Sometimes I don't understand NBA logic.): LINK

With both Thompson and Leonard, it makes more sense for their teams to let them get max offers in restricted free agency than to offer them Max extensions this summer. It's a dangerous game to play, but it represents a nice savings.

Exactly. Don't bid against yourself. If they think they are worth a max contract from you, let their agent find one other team out there willing to do it, and you get the difference in savings. And you can be completely up front with them about it too. That is why RFA exists, to help the team (not the player).

It can also bite you in the buttocks. What if they love Leonard & want him a Spur for the next 6 years. Only they piss him off. He signs a deal with an opt out after year 3. Oops now you have him for 2 less years cause you jerked him around to save some money. I agree with the strategy overall, I'm just saying that there is a negative side. This isn't consequence free by any means.

Nothing is. But there isn't a reason to piss him off if you are open about it. Tell him you want to pay him what he is worth. He is worth whatever the market will pay. Let your agent earn his million dollars off of you by finding the biggest contract he can, and we will match it. We want you here, and want to pay you what you are worth...

You'll have to explain to me how that is different than what the Suns did with Bledsoe that had him so aggravated all Summer.

The difference is that Bledsoe #wrotehisonchapter.

And Kawhi Leonard isn't represented by Rich Paul.

The Suns didn't say we will pay you whatever another team offers you. They said you are worth 50/5 and he wanted 84/6 (I think I have those numbers right). The problem came when he couldn't get any offers close to the deal he wanted.

And what they said.

Supposedly it was 4/48. What Lowry signed.

carey wrote:You'll have to explain to me how that is different than what the Suns did with Bledsoe that had him so aggravated all Summer.

Was Bledsoe aggravated, or was he just playing the negotiating game to the very end?

Man, I can't believe the season starts tomorrow. I'm so hyped up right now.

Carey, thanks for the roundup!

Ring_Wanted wrote:Supposedly it was 4/48. What Lowry signed.

Got it. Thanks Ring.

RE: Tristan Thompson #BreakBread

https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/526843434787545088 I always liked Jordan Hamilton.