2018 Suns Offseason News

[Wormwood]

Kevin Pelton at ESPN feels the same way I do about Ariza.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/2395 ... sing-moves

"Phoenix Suns

1. Agreed to a reported one-year, $15 million deal with forward Trevor Ariza

The Suns seem to be asking the question, "What if we made the entire team out of small forwards?"

Having drafted a small forward with the No. 4 pick of the 2017 draft (Josh Jackson), signed one to an extension last fall (T.J. Warren) and traded for the rights to one drafted No. 10 this year (Mikal Bridges), Phoenix now spent the vast majority of its cap space on another player who primarily plays the 3.

The good news is that if there's one position where more is almost always better, it's small forward, the most versatile spot on defense. I'm guessing Ariza will start at power forward, pushing the Suns' developing bigs (Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss) out of the lineup after each started about half the games last season. But he could also start at shooting guard, pushing Devin Booker to the point.

The big story here to me is Phoenix's passing on using its cap space to sign a point guard, leaving the position in the hands of shoot-first Brandon Knight (coming back from a torn ACL) and No. 31 pick Elie Okobo. Barring a trade, that seems to signal using Booker as a primary ball handler with Jackson in a supporting role -- an interesting gamble that could enhance Booker's value.

More likely, I suspect the Suns' lack of playmaking will doom their offense to the NBA's bottom 10 despite their upgrades elsewhere. And I don't think the addition of Ariza and Bridges will be nearly enough to help last year's worst defense in the league, not with rookie Deandre Ayton anchoring things in the middle.

Phoenix evidently wants to push for a playoff spot this season -- that's presumably the rationale for signing a 33-year-old free agent to a one-year deal. But there's a big difference between wanting to making the playoffs and actually doing it, as the Suns have found out over and over again during their eight-year run in the lottery.

On the plus side, Ariza should draw trade interest if Phoenix does fall out of the playoff race. Additionally, the one-year deal protects the Suns' cap space in 2019, when they could get in the mix for a max free agent if they hold off on an extension for Booker to take advantage of his relatively low cap hold.

That said, I think Phoenix would probably have been better off using its cap space now to sign a younger player to a long-term deal that could have aged well as the cap increases."

[O_Gardino]

[youtube][/youtube]

I hope this kid sticks with the team.

+1

[O_Gardino]

They drafted him, guaranteed him some solid money, they did him enough favors. Sorry Devin, I'd rather watch UDFA Shaq Harrison play defense than watch Ulis dribble around hoist up a contested long 2.

Booker ought to be writing a thank you note to Sarver and McD for giving Ulis a legit shot at making it in the NBA. Ulis had every opportunity to show he belonged. It was just clear he is not an NBA player in the end.

You're not wrong.

[The Bobster]

[youtube][/youtube]

I hope this kid sticks with the team.

+1

I hope we see some of both Harrison and Peters this year.

[Tourbillon]

Should we have any interest into Tony Parker if he is not back with the Spurs ?

[TOO]

I think Parker is toast.

[ShelC]

I'd take a look at Parker, if only to maybe mentor Okobo a bit.

Was hoping we'd give Shelvin Mack a look because I've always liked his game. He played in Utah while Igor was there as an assistant so whether or not we sign him could be telling.

[carey]

Should we have any interest into Tony Parker if he is not back with the Spurs ?

Nope.

[TOO]

I'd take a look at Parker, if only to maybe mentor Okobo a bit.

Was hoping we'd give Shelvin Mack a look because I've always liked his game. He played in Utah while Igor was there as an assistant so whether or not we sign him could be telling.

Is Augustin available too? Lets go through all of Orlandos PGs from last year.

[O_Gardino]

Tony Parker is going to retire a Spur. And he should retire this summer. He's done.

[carey]

I'd take a look at Parker, if only to maybe mentor Okobo a bit.

Was hoping we'd give Shelvin Mack a look because I've always liked his game. He played in Utah while Igor was there as an assistant so whether or not we sign him could be telling.

I think INF brought Mack up a while ago. I don't mean to be dismissive but what does Mack offer that Harrison does not? We trade defense for 3-point shooting.

[ShelC]

Mack's a solid 5-6 year vet who's been around the league, can start or come off the bench, maybe has some history with Igor. If Knight flames out and we trade him, we'd need a steady hand unless we just go big with Booker/Jackson/Ariza/Bridges most of the time.

[Superbone]

[youtube][/youtube]

I hope this kid sticks with the team.

+1

And is the guy Pelton either forgot about or is unaware of. Shaq was arguably our best PG last season. I'm torn on if we should just go into next season with Shaq/Knight/Okobo at point or trade Warren for a veteran point.

[Superbone]

I think Parker is toast.

More like a stale croissant.

[Superbone]

And a hearty welcome to Tourbillon (as we shoot down his Parker idea ).

[O_Gardino]

Welcome Tourby!

I'd be more interested in Parker as a player development coach than as a player. I get wanting to have him around the team, I just don't think he can play anymore. And, if he could, he would stay with the Spurs.

[Mori Chu]

https://twitter.com/sbordow/status/1013831183149379585

[O_Gardino]

https://twitter.com/sbordow/status/1013831183149379585

Thank you for the great play, Sauce. I hope you are back in a Suns uniform soon.

[Split T]

I'm pretty sure he's going to be back once he clears waivers

[Split T]

https://twitter.com/Gambo987/status/1013839873021652992