Suns News: Week 14 (1/16 - 1/22)

[Flagrant Fowl]

I think he's just irritated after the Blazers were outscored 75-41 in the second half and squandered a 25 point lead. Pat Beverley and his loud mouth also got under their skin a bit.

[Split T]

Thoughts are trying to pursue Dame in the offseason?

He’s got a massive contract…the only way I really could see it happening is if he asked out and specifically picked us. Then you send CP3s partially guaranteed deal with Shamet and a bundle of picks. Assuming Portland would mostly be interested in youth and picks at that point. We don’t have youth to offer, but we can send picks.

[Mori Chu]

Blazers are just good enough to not get any better. They don't really get high enough draft picks, nor do they have enough cap space, to really improve each offseason. Seems like at some point they'd need to trade Dame and bottom out. But they don't have to do that if they don't want to. Having an all-time great player like Dame can also be fun even if you aren't close to a title.

I do wish the league made it easier for teams to keep their homegrown stars. Lillard shouldn't have to leave Portland to have any chance to compete for a title. That's a small-market team and he's a Portland lifer. There should be a way for them to put talent around him and compete. The cap has Bird exceptions to enable teams to re-sign their own guys, and that's great, but that isn't really the problem. It's that after you re-sign / max your own guy, you can't also go out and get other guys to put next to him. So he languishes all by himself. See also: Beal in DC.

[Split T]

They’ve had talent though, I think they were just too afraid to take chances. Spent too long trying to make CJ/Dame work. Also don’t love Nurkic and his defensive skills next to a guy like Lillard. Just think they chose the wrong talent.

Side note…if they do blow it up, I’d sniff around Jerami Grant and see what it would take to get him.

[JeremyG]

Thoughts are trying to pursue Dame in the offseason?

He’s got a massive contract…the only way I really could see it happening is if he asked out and specifically picked us. Then you send CP3s partially guaranteed deal with Shamet and a bundle of picks. Assuming Portland would mostly be interested in youth and picks at that point. We don’t have youth to offer, but we can send picks.

That was my dream scenario that I mentioned a year ago, if Dame could get to summer 2023 before being traded. I didn't think that could happen, but it's looking more likely now. And if Ishbia doesn't mind the $63 million per year contract as he's turning 37, then I'm all for it.

[INFORMER]

How many PGs are clearly a level better?

Steph Curry
Luka Doncic
Damian Lillard
Kyrie Irving
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Ja Morant

I think he's firmly in this group..

DeAaron Fox $30.3M
Jalen Brunson $27.7M
Tyrese Haliburton
Jamal Murray $31.6M
Trae Young
LaMelo Ball
Jrue Holiday $33.6M

Seems to me like his next contract will be right at market value.

I've liked FVV for awhile, but I think everyone in group 2 is clearly better than him except for Jalen Brunson.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Some more than others, but I agree.

It's been a weird year for the Raptors, so I would caution against writing him off as a top 10 PG during his next contract. Same for Terry Rozier but obviously a tier lower.

[INFORMER]

Even at his best, I'm not sure that FVV has ever been a top 10 point guard.

[Flagrant Fowl]

And I don’t think he’s reached his peak.

[INFORMER]

I guess we'll see. IMO, I don't think FVV is getting any better. And honestly, that's fine, because he is already a good player. I just don't think he'll ever be in the upper echelon of point guards, or even close to do it.

[specialsauce]

I’m not interested in giving FVV more than a 4 year/80 M deal

[TOO]

And I don’t think he’s reached his peak.

Dudes smack in the middle of his prime, he's only gonna slower and less efficient over time.

[TOO]

I’m not interested in giving FVV more than a 4 year/80 M deal

I'd 2 and reevaluate.

[Flagrant Fowl]

And I don’t think he’s reached his peak.

Dudes smack in the middle of his prime, he's only gonna slower and less efficient over time.

Steve Nash won his MVP's at 30 and 31 years old. FVV is 28.

Not saying FVV is a future MVP, but progression and regression aren't linear.

[specialsauce]

Jesus were comparing Klay to cam J and Nash to FVV tonight. Y’all got a good stash from the street corner this week

[Flagrant Fowl]

I didn't compare Nash to FVV. I'm saying that it's not impossible for a 28 year old to improve.

[carey]

Steve Nash won his MVP's at 30 and 31 years old. FVV is 28.

Not saying FVV is a future MVP, but progression and regression aren't linear.

Nash was already shooting 47/40/90, near his mythical 50/40/90 status when we signed him out of Dallas. FVV is not near Steve Nash.

[INFORMER]

I get FF's point though. He isn't saying FVV is Nash. He is just using Nash as an example of a player that improved around the age of 30. Kyle Lowry did something similar.

But Carey's point is also important to keep in mind: the improvement from Dallas Nash to PHX Nash wasn't that dramatic. So even if FVV made a similar jump, that puts him at a career high 42-43 FG% and a return to a 40% 3PT shooting. That doesn't dramatically change who is as a player.

And I don't love that level of play at $30 million a year.

[specialsauce]

I get FF's point though. He isn't saying FVV is Nash. He is just using Nash as an example of a player that improved around the age of 30. Kyle Lowry did something similar.

But Carey's point is also important to keep in mind: the improvement from Dallas Nash to PHX Nash wasn't that dramatic. So even if FVV made a similar jump, that puts him at a career high 42-43 FG% and a return to a 40% 3PT shooting. That doesn't dramatically change who is as a player.

And I don't love that level of play at $30 million a year.

I like FVV, but he is NOT worth a contract like that. $18-20M per is max