Elfrid Payton acquired!

[specialsauce]

I'd rather not have him. I worry he will lead us to win some games that we otherwise wouldn't this year, and at this point the ultimate goal is Ayton or Doncic.

I think if we continue to run the Bender/Chriss starting combo that we won't have much to worry about in terms of losses.

I would expect both to play a lot better with a real PG running the offense.

Payton is starting for a team that has won 17 game in the East. He's not going to magically turn our mess into a sports movie comeback feel good story where the skinny shy white kid and the troubled black kid hug it out and find new purpose and meaning in being a team against all odds. If he was that good, the Magic would be better and he would have cost more than a 2nd rounder.

Nobody is saying he will make us drastically better. But in a close game against the Mavs, Kings, Grizz, Magic, etc, the difference between Payton and Ulis could swing the game in our favor. Look how close the standings are. If he leads to even 2-3 more wins and we go from worst to 4th worst, it could drastically change the course of our franchise.

[Ring_Wanted]

Nobody is saying he will make us drastically better. But in a close game against the Mavs, Kings, Grizz, Magic, etc, the difference between Payton and Ulis could swing the game in our favor. Look how close the standings are. If he leads to even 2-3 more wins and we go from worst to 4th worst, it could drastically change the course of our franchise.

I know what you mean but I think we are safe. The roster is overall bad enough that you can engineer a loss at any given point in any given game. We just need to be subtle and don't bring bad light under ourselves. Everybody has done it in their history. Just one more year.

[EDC]

Nobody is saying he will make us drastically better. But in a close game against the Mavs, Kings, Grizz, Magic, etc, the difference between Payton and Ulis could swing the game in our favor. Look how close the standings are. If he leads to even 2-3 more wins and we go from worst to 4th worst, it could drastically change the course of our franchise.

I know what you mean but I think we are safe. The roster is overall bad enough that you can engineer a loss at any given point in any given game. We just need to be subtle and don't bring bad light under ourselves. Everybody has done it in their history. Just one more year.

Like only giving Len 5 minutes in the first half while Aldridge torched us in the post. Strategic tanking.

[Split T]

I think as long as we land in the top 7 we'll have a shot at a really good player. And if we don't, I think both Carter and Mikal Bridges will be available and be very solid NBA players. I would love to get Ayton or Doncic but we know first hand that having the worst record is no guarantee to pick top 3. Besides, I'm not convinced there is a huge gap between Ayton and a guy like JJJ.

[Mori Chu]

The lotto odds have flattened somewhat in the past year or two. I don't think Payton will win us enough games to matter in the tankathon. He isn't good enough at this time to make that kind of impact.

[Ring_Wanted]

The hype alone would be huge for the franchise. Ayton-Doncic--Bagley, even Young and maybe Porter, Bamba and JJJ. The Phoenix Suns need not only better players, but also catching the attention of the fans and gain respectability back.

[bajanguy008]

https://twitter.com/sbordow/status/961725606088986624

[ShelC]

I'm fine with this. He's a starting PG and is pass-first and plays D, which is what we need next to Book. I worry about his RFA and his jumpshot. We NEED shooters and Payton, Jackson, Chriss and Bender aren't exactly cutting it.

[TOO]

Great deal. I'm not a huge Payton guy, but he gets Booker off the ball and can defend the opposing tough guard matchup. Doesn't turn it over at a high rate either, very good move from McDoofus.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

Which pick is it?

Memphis second rounder that we own

Not sure this is the best place, but https://www.prosportstransactions.com/b ... e/Suns.htm says it isn't expected to transfer this year. Am I missing something?

“That moment when you can’t believe you are the team taking advantage...”

I think either we agreed to just take him off their hands but still have to send something in return, (so we send the pick less likely to convey) or they were so desperate to sold him for anything, that we forced them to take this pick among all. “Draft considerations” sounds much better than “let him walk for nothing”, and the casual fan mostly forgets to look out for what happened with a second rounder.

[O_Gardino]

Which pick is it?

Memphis second rounder that we own

Not sure this is the best place, but https://www.prosportstransactions.com/b ... e/Suns.htm says it isn't expected to transfer this year. Am I missing something?

“That moment when you can’t believe you are the team taking advantage...”

I think either we agreed to just take him off their hands but still have to send something in return, (so we send the pick less likely to convey) or they were so desperate to sold him for anything, that we forced them to take this pick among all. “Draft considerations” sounds much better than “let him walk for nothing”, and the casual fan mostly forgets to look out for what happened with a second rounder.

Quick, lock him up to a multi-year contract!

[Mori Chu]

In some ways the weaknesses of our team mirror those of the Magic in recent seasons. We, and they, have a bunch of young guys without having very many who look like real keepers or stars. Both teams have not nearly enough shooters. Both teams have a glut of mediocre big men and an unclear pecking order or rotation between them. Both teams can't seem to find a PG solution.

We have at least two major differences over that Magic roster that give me hope: (1) A real honest-to-goodness budding star in Booker, who's far better than anybody on the Magic roster; and (2) A relative lack of toxic long-term contracts to underperforming veteran players.

[Flagrant Fowl]

https://twitter.com/elfrid/status/961105074436046848 LOLz

[Cap]

https://twitter.com/elfrid/status/961105074436046848 LOLz

That's a nasty thing to say about a second-round pick who hasn't even been selected yet.

But yeah, whoever that pick's gonna be, he gone. He ain't good.


Or maybe I misunderstood, and this is just Elfrid's way of firing his barber. We always have to consider the possibility that these tweets are sent from hair salons.

[virtual9mm]

I have always wanted to have a Gambel's Quail on the roster. Perfect symbol of the Arizona desert





Speaking of which, I wonder if there's an instant upgrade waiting to be unlocked, on both Payton and Jackson. There's so much anecdotal evidence that an afro hurts shooting. It would be so funny if the Suns could get the two to shave, and they upped their shooting percentages.

http://www.complex.com/sports/2016/06/n ... in-the-way

Overall, I love this trade. If Payton suddenly flourishes with the change of scenery, the Suns all of a sudden have one massive hole to fill, not two.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

https://twitter.com/elfrid/status/961105074436046848 LOLz

That's a nasty thing to say about a second-round pick who hasn't even been selected yet.

But yeah, whoever that pick's gonna be, he gone. He ain't good.


Or maybe I misunderstood, and this is just Elfrid's way of firing his barber. We always have to consider the possibility that these tweets are sent from hair salons.

Hopefully, he is talking to himself to remember that he hasn’t achieved nothing worthy of being resigned.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

Which pick is it?

Memphis second rounder that we own

Not sure this is the best place, but https://www.prosportstransactions.com/b ... e/Suns.htm says it isn't expected to transfer this year. Am I missing something?

“That moment when you can’t believe you are the team taking advantage...”

I think either we agreed to just take him off their hands but still have to send something in return, (so we send the pick less likely to convey) or they were so desperate to sold him for anything, that we forced them to take this pick among all. “Draft considerations” sounds much better than “let him walk for nothing”, and the casual fan mostly forgets to look out for what happened with a second rounder.

Quick, lock him up to a multi-year contract!

We better do it, that huge investment needs to be justified, a dubious second rounder for just half season on Elfrid? No way, we are no cowards!!!

[Wormwood]

This was a great trade. Payton is a distributor, and his metrics have improved every year he's been in the league. His RPM and PER are both above the median. His true shooting percentage has gone up every year. The knock on his game is his shooting, but the stats say it's getting better.

In other words, we got a young guy, who's on an upward trajectory, tests out at a starter level across a couple of big metrics, for the price of a second round pick.

Considering the vast improvement Payton is over Ullis and Knight, this was a really good acquisition, especially if we can retain him at a reasonable price.

[INFORMER]

I worry about his RFA and his jumpshot.

Agreed.

[Shabazz]

I don't see how that ridiculous 'do doesn't impact his shot. Anyone who's ever played ball in a baseball cap knows it's harder to shoot with it on. Why doesn't he at least fold it back with a headband or something?