2018 Trade Deadline

[1tinsoldier]

I don't know if Lebron even cares about joining an instant contender. There's a lot of reasons it might be nice for him to go to LA. Great entertainment, nightlife, things to do. Great weather. Lots of opportunities for business, acting, music, entertainment, all his various entrepreneurial desires. They'll have lots of fun. Probably won't win a title right away, but they're on the way up and will get better every year. Better owner, GM, staff, overall org. There's lots of reasons it might be nice to be in LA.

Pretty sure he alreaydy owns a house in LA. Lets be honest here though, none of that stuff is really doable during the NBA season, and he can spend his off-season there anyway, I don't think its a selling point anymore.

right. and Barkley can tell him this is the best winter city in the country. and when you're the King you can have any future you want in any city without having been on its team.
what the King needs, is another challenge to top off his career. putting a banner in a city without one, instead of adding to their collection (yeah, that's the angle)

now, having said that. i do find it an offensive trend for stars to pick a city to set up a dynasty in. it makes the game all about them instead of the fans/communities. parity and balance is supposed to be built in so fans in any city can have a shot. that's the fun of the sport. otherwise, just let the stars pick the city to use for their superteam and hand out their rings without sweating out a whole season

[carey]

After thinking about it for a while, I'm really fine without how today played out. We're going to be very active in the off season. Gambo said Chandler for sure won't be back. We have the potential to have up to 6 picks this Spring. We don't have that many roster spots. Some of our current players will likely be packaged with draft picks and moved for other players or in order to move up in the draft. The only players Gambo said the FO views as part of the core are Booker-Warren-Jackson at the moment.

[Ring_Wanted]

The only players Gambo said the FO views as part of the core are Booker-Warren-Jackson at the moment.

At least they are not in denial about Chriss/Bender.

[Split T]

Gambo said that Chandler won't be back?

[Indy]

Gambo said that Chandler won't be back?

I thought he said that at last year's deadline too.

[Split T]

He also said Knight would be gone least year. Although he may have said Knight would never play another game for the Suns and that's still been true.

[In2ition]

After thinking about it for a while, I'm really fine without how today played out. We're going to be very active in the off season. Gambo said Chandler for sure won't be back. We have the potential to have up to 6 picks this Spring. We don't have that many roster spots. Some of our current players will likely be packaged with draft picks and moved for other players or in order to move up in the draft. The only players Gambo said the FO views as part of the core are Booker-Warren-Jackson at the moment.

I agree, the Suns are going to have ample assets to make moves and noise this summer. They could easily go bpa, but I think they want to get that superstar frontcourt player to pair with Booker and make teams have to double and draw the defense to the basket. Ayton, Bagley, JJJ, Bamba, and Carter are possible franchise frontcourt players with imo Robinson and Gafford being a great complimentary player at center in the Marionish/Chandler type role. Or, the Suns could pursue a possible Cousins acquisition in FA, even after blowing out his achilles.

If they go Bagley, Carter or JJJ the Suns would immediately improve the pf position significantly, then Robinson and Gafford would fit well next to them and Chandler would be a good mentor in that role.

If they go Ayton or Bamba, you probably hope that the Chriss or Bender take a HUGE jump in developmemt, or the Suns can trade for a high quality starter. Along with that, improving the pg position and shooting will be a priority in FA and/or trades.

Hopefully, Payton and Knight fill the pg role adequately without the need to address it, but that seems like wishful at this moment.

[Mori Chu]

The only players Gambo said the FO views as part of the core are Booker-Warren-Jackson at the moment.

I would put Bender in there, too. Don't sleep on our best big man.

[djy2j]

McDo has to make big moves at the draft. Now that the Lakers have 2 spots for max free agents that completely takes us out of the bidding war that we were probably going to lose before anyway. If he plans on adding a star it has to be during the draft. I hope his big plan isn't to move up in the draft because I don't see any team parting with a top 7 pick this year.

[Split T]

Here's my dream (somewhat realistic) off season:

1. We land a top 3 pick

2. Miami just misses the playoffs and we package some combination of draft picks and players not named Jackson, Booker, or Warren to move into the 7-10 range in the draft.

3. Payton impresses in his short stint and we re-sign him to a friendly contract. I'm thinking something similar to the Lou Williams deal.

4. Payton, Jackson, and Warren all make improvements to their outside shots.

5. Knight gets healthy and welcomes a bench role playing mostly off the ball.

PG. Payton, Knight, Ulis
SG. Booker, Reed, Daniels
SF. Jackson, Warren
PF. Top 10 draft pick, Bender or Chriss, Dudley
C. Top 10 draft pick, Chandler, Williams

There would be one more roster spot. We could target a vet big man with the mid level exception or use it on one of our 2nd round picks.

As far as the draft picks go, I'd focus on bigs as Trae Young is really the only 6'7 an under player worth drafting top 10 anyways.

I'd want at least one defensive anchor/rim protector: Ayton, JJJ, Bamba, or Carter.

Then the other could be: Doncic, Bagley, Porter, or either Bridges.

[INFORMER]

We don't have that many roster spots.

I really wish we had a GM that wasn't disillusioned by his initial evaluations.

Instead of moving picks because we don't have the roster room or we don't want more youth, I wish we had a GM that could assess his choices accurately and ask, "is this really the best we can do? Is this really taking us in the right direction? Does this player help establish an effective team?"

This clutter on this roster that needs to be dealt with. Chandler and Dudley don't add value. Ulis isn't getting us anywhere. Having Len around the last two seasons has been a waste. And I don't see the need to continue with both Chriss and Bender (and I choose Bender).

I hate how slow Ryan is to identify when we need to course correct. I'm not in a rush to win, but I do have a sense of urgency to avoid stagnation and to continue constructive roster management. I think those concepts are lost on Ryan.

[carey]

We don't have that many roster spots.

I really wish we had a GM that wasn't disillusioned by his initial evaluations.

Instead of moving picks because we don't have the roster room or we don't want more youth, I wish we had a GM that could assess his choices accurately and ask, "is this really the best we can do? Is this really taking us in the right direction? Does this player help establish an effective team?"

This clutter on this roster that needs to be dealt with. Chandler and Dudley don't add value. Ulis isn't getting us anywhere. Having Len around the last two seasons has been a waste. And I don't see the need to continue with both Chriss and Bender (and I choose Bender).

I hate how slow Ryan is to identify when we need to course correct. I'm not in a rush to win, but I do have a sense of urgency to avoid stagnation and to continue constructive roster management. I think those concepts are lost on Ryan.

Excellent post. You've identified the exact problem I've had with him lately. He is too slow to react. He needs to be proactive in building the roster instead of reactive.

[Cap]

We don't have that many roster spots.

I really wish we had a GM that wasn't disillusioned by his initial evaluations.

Instead of moving picks because we don't have the roster room or we don't want more youth, I wish we had a GM that could assess his choices accurately and ask, "is this really the best we can do? Is this really taking us in the right direction? Does this player help establish an effective team?"

This clutter on this roster that needs to be dealt with. Chandler and Dudley don't add value. Ulis isn't getting us anywhere. Having Len around the last two seasons has been a waste. And I don't see the need to continue with both Chriss and Bender (and I choose Bender).

I hate how slow Ryan is to identify when we need to course correct. I'm not in a rush to win, but I do have a sense of urgency to avoid stagnation and to continue constructive roster management. I think those concepts are lost on Ryan.

Excellent post. You've identified the exact problem I've had with him lately. He is too slow to react. He needs to be proactive in building the roster instead of reactive.

For a good proactive step, he can try not signing Bradley.

[specialsauce]

We don't have that many roster spots.

I really wish we had a GM that wasn't disillusioned by his initial evaluations.

Instead of moving picks because we don't have the roster room or we don't want more youth, I wish we had a GM that could assess his choices accurately and ask, "is this really the best we can do? Is this really taking us in the right direction? Does this player help establish an effective team?"

This clutter on this roster that needs to be dealt with. Chandler and Dudley don't add value. Ulis isn't getting us anywhere. Having Len around the last two seasons has been a waste. And I don't see the need to continue with both Chriss and Bender (and I choose Bender).

I hate how slow Ryan is to identify when we need to course correct. I'm not in a rush to win, but I do have a sense of urgency to avoid stagnation and to continue constructive roster management. I think those concepts are lost on Ryan.

Agreed.

Just let go. It’s okay to admit your mistakes. Holding on in hopes of them shockingly becoming valuable only makes it worse.

[iLLmatic]

We don't have that many roster spots.

I really wish we had a GM that wasn't disillusioned by his initial evaluations.

Instead of moving picks because we don't have the roster room or we don't want more youth, I wish we had a GM that could assess his choices accurately and ask, "is this really the best we can do? Is this really taking us in the right direction? Does this player help establish an effective team?"

This clutter on this roster that needs to be dealt with. Chandler and Dudley don't add value. Ulis isn't getting us anywhere. Having Len around the last two seasons has been a waste. And I don't see the need to continue with both Chriss and Bender (and I choose Bender).

I hate how slow Ryan is to identify when we need to course correct. I'm not in a rush to win, but I do have a sense of urgency to avoid stagnation and to continue constructive roster management. I think those concepts are lost on Ryan.

Yep.

[Mori Chu]

Word. Let's get rid of all of: Chandler, Dudley, Chriss. Probably Ulis, too :'(.

I still believe in Bender and want him to stay here. I don't want to package him in any trade to move up for some pick.

[wpmiller42]

Word. Let's get rid of all of: Chandler, Dudley, Chriss. Probably Ulis, too :'(.

I still believe in Bender and want him to stay here. I don't want to package him in any trade to move up for some pick.

As much as I like Bender, I'd package him to move into the top 3. Outside of Booker and Jackson, I think there isn't anyone I wouldn't package to get into the top 3. And I'd really have to think about a package with Jackson if I knew for sure that it would get us Ayton. I only make an exception for Jackson because I don't think we've really seen enough of him to see where he's going to go as a pro.

[Split T]

I'm actually fairly comfortable picking anywhere in the top 6-7. I have my favorites for sure, but I could get behind just about any of the top 7 prospects. The one guy I hesitate on right now is Mo Bamba. I wouldn't hate the pick, but I have more confidence in Ayton, Doncic, JJJ, Bagley, Porter, Young, and Carter

So I wouldn't give up much to move into the top 3 if we were drafting 4-7. If we landed 8, I'd be much more willing.

[In2ition]

I don't think I would package anything significant to get into the top 3, but I fully expect the Suns to land a top 3 this year for some illogical reason.

I like Ayton a ton, but not convinced that Ayton alone with Bender and Chriss is as good as Bagley and Mitchell with possibly Bender off the bench. I would think the Suns would have to go hard after a player like Paul George to spread it out as a stretch 3/4. Then trade the Miami pick + Milwaukee pick and Chriss and Chandlerfor someone like Kemba with Payton as backup.

If they go with Young, I would take Robinson with the Miami pick and possibly try to get Cousins in Free Agency. Once again making Chriss expendable in a trade.

[specialsauce]

If we don’t come away from this draft with Ayton, Bagley, Doncic, I will be very disappointed. Yes I would absolutely trade anybody on this team not named Booker or Jackson to move up to grab them. You win in this league with superstars. They are the 3 with the highest ceilings and floors.

If they don’t come away with one of those, and they don’t trade for a star or trade one of their young role players to have the ability to draft a star, they are not serious about building a winner. A fatal flaw as said before has been getting too attached to mediocre prospects just because they are ours. If bender or Chriss were on any other team we wouldn’t give them a second of our attention.