Suns News: Week 25 4/2-4/10

[Mori Chu]

And yet it may not equate to an all-rookie team. Listening to some of these scouts and analytic guys, they don't have him in any discussions of best rookies.

It seems like they made up their mind about the rooks during the first half of the season. There was a swoon over Tatum early on, but since then it has been all about Simmons (shouldn't be eligible IMO) vs Mitchell. Nobody else gets much attention.

[Split T]

I doubt he makes the first team, but I'd think it would be hard to keep him off the 2nd team.

1st - Simmons, Mitchell, Markkanen, Tatum, Kuzma
2nd - Smith, Fox, Ball, Jackson, Collins? Anunoby?

Who am I missing?

[In2ition]

I doubt he makes the first team, but I'd think it would be hard to keep him off the 2nd team.

1st - Simmons, Mitchell, Markkanen, Tatum, Kuzma
2nd - Smith, Fox, Ball, Jackson, Collins? Anunoby?

Who am I missing?

Bogdanovic, Bell, ?

[Split T]

And yet it may not equate to an all-rookie team. Listening to some of these scouts and analytic guys, they don't have him in any discussions of best rookies.

It seems like they made up their mind about the rooks during the first half of the season. There was a swoon over Tatum early on, but since then it has been all about Simmons (shouldn't be eligible IMO) vs Mitchell. Nobody else gets much attention.

Simmons and Mitchell have been significantly better than the rest. They are the lead ball handlers for top 4 seeds in their respective conferences. Tatum plays a significant role on a contender, but he's more of a 3rd/4th option and definitely cooled after his hot start. Markkanen and kuzma are the other ones who've been really good all year, a couple steps below Simmons and Mitchell though.

[Split T]

I doubt he makes the first team, but I'd think it would be hard to keep him off the 2nd team.

1st - Simmons, Mitchell, Markkanen, Tatum, Kuzma
2nd - Smith, Fox, Ball, Jackson, Collins? Anunoby?

Who am I missing?

Bogdanovic, Bell, ?

Bogdonavich could get a spot. Bell was good, he played a small role, but was good..I wouldn't put him in over Jackson though.

[carey]

And yet it may not equate to an all-rookie team. Listening to some of these scouts and analytic guys, they don't have him in any discussions of best rookies.

That's too bad. Hopefully it motivates him. He doesn't seem like the type to sulk.

[UglyTruth]

https://mobile.twitter.com/Rachel__Nichols/status/982049666190618624 Rachel on one of her annoying but adorable tirades again.

[Hermen]

And yet it may not equate to an all-rookie team. Listening to some of these scouts and analytic guys, they don't have him in any discussions of best rookies.

It seems like they made up their mind about the rooks during the first half of the season. There was a swoon over Tatum early on, but since then it has been all about Simmons (shouldn't be eligible IMO) vs Mitchell. Nobody else gets much attention.

Simmons and Mitchell have been significantly better than the rest. They are the lead ball handlers for top 4 seeds in their respective conferences. Tatum plays a significant role on a contender, but he's more of a 3rd/4th option and definitely cooled after his hot start. Markkanen and kuzma are the other ones who've been really good all year, a couple steps below Simmons and Mitchell though.

Tatum had a "shooting slump" (still solid) in January and February. He's playing very well since then and is their second scorer since Kyrie is out (guess who's first!). He should be ahead of Markkanen (missing a lot of games lately) and Kuzma since he's playing games that matter a whole lot more. I would also be in favor of making the award available only to the latest draft class. Simmons, injured or not, was still a pro last year and worked with and against other pros.

Fun fact: Tatum is shooting 28% from 3 on Thursdays, while being 43% on the season (bballref is awesome, small sample size be damned ).

[carey]

The thing about Booker asking for a trade... he's only in his 3rd year. How many players start demanding shit like that before their rookie deal is even done? Hell, Jordan and LeBron didn't even pull a stunt like that.

Re: Tatum. I thought the same thing about him cooling off considerably, but he has rebounded nicely after hitting his rookie wall. Just check his percentages.

[Hermen]

The thing about Booker asking for a trade... he's only in his 3rd year. How many players start demanding s*** like that before their rookie deal is even done? Hell, Jordan and LeBron didn't even pull a stunt like that.

Pffff, scrubs.

[O_Gardino]

And yet it may not equate to an all-rookie team. Listening to some of these scouts and analytic guys, they don't have him in any discussions of best rookies.

It seems like they made up their mind about the rooks during the first half of the season. There was a swoon over Tatum early on, but since then it has been all about Simmons (shouldn't be eligible IMO) vs Mitchell. Nobody else gets much attention.

I doubt any of them have watched the Suns since the second half. Certainly not while we are tanking and sitting Booker / Warren.

[Ring_Wanted]

The thing about Booker asking for a trade... he's only in his 3rd year. How many players start demanding s*** like that before their rookie deal is even done? Hell, Jordan and LeBron didn't even pull a stunt like that.

Very different times. Today everybody is aware of what tanking is and strategies that involve not doing all you can to win now are maligned. Booker fully belongs to the social media culture. He sees everybody bad mouthing the Suns for tanking, he hears people downplaying his amazing and precocious achievements because he is on a tanking team. And he is fully aware that the only way he is going to get accolades is by winning.

This 'demand greatness from your club' totally has legs and if we are not careful he is not going to keep taking futile seasons just because. This kid is a winner and the franchise better be up for the task of surrounding him with legitimate talent to start making real noise starting this next season.

He sees how the draft has delivered a stiff (Len) and two flops (2016); Jackson has a real chance and Warren is nice, but there is literally nothing else. He also has had to suffer a coach neglect him because he was a rookie and a glorified babysitter. The kid is a winner and has maturity well beyond his age. This is not your typical spoiled brat demanding prominency (Kobe) or money for himslef or his guys (Carter).

They better not mess this up. The Suns are primed for a radical change of approach and I can't fault Booker for wanting it and being politely public about it. Don't mess it up.

[ShelC]

Well said. Totally agree.

[Split T]

It's clear we're definitely gonna go all in this summer which I halfway agree with. It would be nice to make our big free agency push next summer, but with the Booker situation we kinda have to do it this year. I think we almost definitely will be trading those mid 1sts.. The obvious target is Kemba Walker, outside shot at Kevin Love, but I can't see Cleveland moving love before the LeBron situation resolves. Other potential targets?

I guess we could move up in the draft if the opportunity presents itself, but that's still just adding prospects that need time to grow. I guess guys like Mikal Bridges or Wendell Carter could provide some immediate help. Still think our top pick will be the only player we draft in round 1. And we might move that if something crazy happens(Kawhi becomes available)

As far as free agency, if we are going to go all in, who de we want?

I'd be ok adding say Tyreke Evans or Will Barton if we draft a 5 like Ayton or Bamba.

If we draft Doncic, we'd need to address the 5 via trade or free agency. DeAndre Jordan, Clint Capela, Brook Lopez.

The restricted class has some options at the 1 and 4 (Gordon, Jabari, Randle, Smart, Exum)

I wouldn't mind following the sixers model and signing a guy to a big 1 year deal, thus helping us win plus preserving cap space for 2019.

Say we get the 3rd pick, draft Bagley and then send a package built around our two mid 1sts for Kemba. We could use our cap space to sign a guy like Brook Lopez to a big 1 year deal. This only works if he doesn't have multi year offers, but with so little cap space for teams this year, I think there will be guys willing to do it.

How would you feel about a Kemba/Booker/Jackson/Bagley/Lopez starting lineup next year. I think they could challenge for the playoffs and then have enough flexibility cap wise to pivot and make another big move in 2019 that pushes them more towards contender status.

[specialsauce]

I love Booker's move. He is not the one to initiate this talk of accelerating our process and being aggressive, but once our GM mentioned it, he is now running with it to put the pressure on him to stick to his word.

This way if Ryan backs out and stands pat, makes him look bad. Then Booker can turn around and say they aren't serious about winning, and it makes him look much better if he bolts out of town. If they stick to their word and make moves, it's beneficial for both parties.

Genius.

[specialsauce]

It's clear we're definitely gonna go all in this summer which I halfway agree with. It would be nice to make our big free agency push next summer, but with the Booker situation we kinda have to do it this year. I think we almost definitely will be trading those mid 1sts.. The obvious target is Kemba Walker, outside shot at Kevin Love, but I can't see Cleveland moving love before the LeBron situation resolves. Other potential targets?

I guess we could move up in the draft if the opportunity presents itself, but that's still just adding prospects that need time to grow. I guess guys like Mikal Bridges or Wendell Carter could provide some immediate help. Still think our top pick will be the only player we draft in round 1. And we might move that if something crazy happens(Kawhi becomes available)

As far as free agency, if we are going to go all in, who de we want?

I'd be ok adding say Tyreke Evans or Will Barton if we draft a 5 like Ayton or Bamba.

If we draft Doncic, we'd need to address the 5 via trade or free agency. DeAndre Jordan, Clint Capela, Brook Lopez.

The restricted class has some options at the 1 and 4 (Gordon, Jabari, Randle, Smart, Exum)

I wouldn't mind following the sixers model and signing a guy to a big 1 year deal, thus helping us win plus preserving cap space for 2019.

Say we get the 3rd pick, draft Bagley and then send a package built around our two mid 1sts for Kemba. We could use our cap space to sign a guy like Brook Lopez to a big 1 year deal. This only works if he doesn't have multi year offers, but with so little cap space for teams this year, I think there will be guys willing to do it.

How would you feel about a Kemba/Booker/Jackson/Bagley/Lopez starting lineup next year. I think they could challenge for the playoffs and then have enough flexibility cap wise to pivot and make another big move in 2019 that pushes them more towards contender status.

I don't love Brook Lopez but I like your general approach to the offseason. The last thing I want is for them to waste their cap space just because they already decided this is the offseason to be aggressive. You know you're getting a top level talent in this draft if you get a pick 1-3 that should immediately improve your team. They should sign a couple smart, mid-level vets that will be good for this team for the next few years (NOT in the mold of Tyson and Jared, FFS), and if no big FA target presents itself, I like the idea of overpaying for a lower level star on a 1 year deal and then going back at it next year.

[Split T]

Ya I don't love Brook either. He's a decent fit next to Bagley though. Lopez provides some rim protection and can stretch the floor allowing Bagley to operate closer to the rim. Really if we draft anyone else, I'd stay away from Lopez. He just seems like a guy that might have to settle for a 1 year deal in this market.

I think right now if I had to target a free agent that we'd have a chance at (throwing out george, LeBron, Durant, cp3) I'd go after Tyreke Evans. He was really good this year, has figured out how to shoot, can play pg, and is still only 27/28. If we can draft a 5 like Ayton or Bamba and use our other assets to acquire a 4(love is the dream) we could look pretty good.

Tyreke/Booker/Jackson/Love/Ayton

[In2ition]

Ya I don't love Brook either. He's a decent fit next to Bagley though. Lopez provides some rim protection and can stretch the floor allowing Bagley to operate closer to the rim. Really if we draft anyone else, I'd stay away from Lopez. He just seems like a guy that might have to settle for a 1 year deal in this market.

I think right now if I had to target a free agent that we'd have a chance at (throwing out george, LeBron, Durant, cp3) I'd go after Tyreke Evans. He was really good this year, has figured out how to shoot, can play pg, and is still only 27/28. If we can draft a 5 like Ayton or Bamba and use our other assets to acquire a 4(love is the dream) we could look pretty good.

Tyreke/Booker/Jackson/Love/Ayton

I do like your last group and could see that with a solid bench competing for a playoff position.

[Split T]

Ya I think they'd be pretty good, but everything would have to fall in line perfectly for that to happen.

[In2ition]

Ya I think they'd be pretty good, but everything would have to fall in line perfectly for that to happen.

At least it doesn't have to be a perfect scenario though. Seems relatively realistic, compared to my dream scenario.