2018 Suns Offseason News

[Superbone]

NBATV is doing a 30minute Suns Team Preview in an hour. Pretty sure they'll show it a bunch more times but I saw it listed for 3:30EST.

I caught the last minute of it about an hour ago and one of the knuckleheads (some guy I've never seen before, not a player) said Booker is technically a point guard? WTF? I'm going to watch the whole thing but I get the feeling it'll be a surface level take on the Suns by 2 wannabes on NBATV.

I watched it last night. It was actually one of their better Suns season previews. You just happended to catch The Starters segment (Is Booker overrated?) where the Australian guy made that weird and wrong PG comment. He might be handling the ball a lot in Igor's system but that doesn't make him a PG.

The other strange part was at the end when Gooden predicted 21 wins for the team this year. Hayward predicted high 20s which is more believable although I'm putting my money where my mouth is and laying down a Benjamin today via a friend in Vegas on the Over. Don't know what my win total to beat is yet but as long as it's under 30 wins, I'm taking the bet.

The consensus is that the Suns don't get to 30 wins. This is pretty well established throughout all of national NBA writers and analysts, along with even local guys. They are so confident in that, that they even laugh about the Suns and their decisions this summer, from picking Ayton over Doncic, to throwing in the most valuable pick we've seen in the last decade ('21 unprotected Heat pick), to getting fleeced by Morey, signing Ariza to $15 Million only to inevitably be bought out after the All-Star game, signing Booker to a Max contract, not having an above replacement pg to start the year, and being so dumb to think a foreigner could reach these NBA guys with some Euro coaching. If I could get to Vegas, I would put money on the over, and feel it's easy money.

Totally agree with you. I remember Hornacek's first year as coach had similar predictions and we blew them away. I've never done one of these types of bets before but I too think it's easy money. Most of these national guys make their opinions on limited knowledge of the team and it's quite frustrating. They are paid for their strong opinions even if they don't have any facts to back them up. Gooden predicting 21 wins was laughable.

It's funny, he was pretty complimentary about Ayton, adding the shooters, the vets added and seemed impressed. To come out and say 21, I think someone may have to check him out, he may have had a stroke.

Ha ha. I know, right? It threw me for a loop. Everything he said up to that point was very positive and then boom. It makes no sense that they would have the same record as last year.

[In2ition]

I watched it last night. It was actually one of their better Suns season previews. You just happended to catch The Starters segment (Is Booker overrated?) where the Australian guy made that weird and wrong PG comment. He might be handling the ball a lot in Igor's system but that doesn't make him a PG.

The other strange part was at the end when Gooden predicted 21 wins for the team this year. Hayward predicted high 20s which is more believable although I'm putting my money where my mouth is and laying down a Benjamin today via a friend in Vegas on the Over. Don't know what my win total to beat is yet but as long as it's under 30 wins, I'm taking the bet.

The consensus is that the Suns don't get to 30 wins. This is pretty well established throughout all of national NBA writers and analysts, along with even local guys. They are so confident in that, that they even laugh about the Suns and their decisions this summer, from picking Ayton over Doncic, to throwing in the most valuable pick we've seen in the last decade ('21 unprotected Heat pick), to getting fleeced by Morey, signing Ariza to $15 Million only to inevitably be bought out after the All-Star game, signing Booker to a Max contract, not having an above replacement pg to start the year, and being so dumb to think a foreigner could reach these NBA guys with some Euro coaching. If I could get to Vegas, I would put money on the over, and feel it's easy money.

Totally agree with you. I remember Hornacek's first year as coach had similar predictions and we blew them away. I've never done one of these types of bets before but I too think it's easy money. Most of these national guys make their opinions on limited knowledge of the team and it's quite frustrating. They are paid for their strong opinions even if they don't have any facts to back them up. Gooden predicting 21 wins was laughable.

It's funny, he was pretty complimentary about Ayton, adding the shooters, the vets added and seemed impressed. To come out and say 21, I think someone may have to check him out, he may have had a stroke.

Ha ha. I know, right? It threw me for a loop. Everything he said up to that point was very positive and then boom. It makes no sense that they would have the same record as last year.

I just listened to a betting lines podcast on RealGM Radio, and they had a guy on there that thinks Phoenix is a safe play for under.

I rolled my eyes when he started out thinking that Booker is going to miss a lot of time, they have all the incentive to lose this year, and were speculating where Trevor was going to be at the end of the year, believing that he will get traded or bought out. Also, they seem totally confused about the roster. I don't get this, what's so confusing? It's actually pretty balanced imo for a wings all around with one player in the post. It's pretty clear that they don't know what they are talking about. At least Arturo Galletti didn't.

[OE32]

NBATV is doing a 30minute Suns Team Preview in an hour. Pretty sure they'll show it a bunch more times but I saw it listed for 3:30EST.

I caught the last minute of it about an hour ago and one of the knuckleheads (some guy I've never seen before, not a player) said Booker is technically a point guard? WTF? I'm going to watch the whole thing but I get the feeling it'll be a surface level take on the Suns by 2 wannabes on NBATV.

I watched it last night. It was actually one of their better Suns season previews. You just happended to catch The Starters segment (Is Booker overrated?) where the Australian guy made that weird and wrong PG comment. He might be handling the ball a lot in Igor's system but that doesn't make him a PG.

The other strange part was at the end when Gooden predicted 21 wins for the team this year. Hayward predicted high 20s which is more believable although I'm putting my money where my mouth is and laying down a Benjamin today via a friend in Vegas on the Over. Don't know what my win total to beat is yet but as long as it's under 30 wins, I'm taking the bet.

The consensus is that the Suns don't get to 30 wins. This is pretty well established throughout all of national NBA writers and analysts, along with even local guys. They are so confident in that, that they even laugh about the Suns and their decisions this summer, from picking Ayton over Doncic, to throwing in the most valuable pick we've seen in the last decade ('21 unprotected Heat pick), to getting fleeced by Morey, signing Ariza to $15 Million only to inevitably be bought out after the All-Star game, signing Booker to a Max contract, not having an above replacement pg to start the year, and being so dumb to think a foreigner could reach these NBA guys with some Euro coaching. If I could get to Vegas, I would put money on the over, and feel it's easy money.

Totally agree with you. I remember Hornacek's first year as coach had similar predictions and we blew them away. I've never done one of these types of bets before but I too think it's easy money. Most of these national guys make their opinions on limited knowledge of the team and it's quite frustrating. They are paid for their strong opinions even if they don't have any facts to back them up. Gooden predicting 21 wins was laughable.

They focus too much on what didn't happen. We didn't draft Doncic, and he could very well be the best talent on the draft (Dallas was probably his best destination followed by us). But Ayton would have been a consensus #1 in 75% of drafts as a terrific prospect on his own, while also fixing (in theory) several holes on our roster.

We don't have a starting PG, true, but we are not void of options there. The key is that we have a proven role solved (defensive hound in Shaq) and Booker will handle the ball a lot anyways. Don't get me wrong, I still want a starter but not getting it is not as bad in my opinion (I personally have grrown very interested in seeing what we have in Okobo and Melton).

The rest of the roster is an obvious upgrade from what we had last year. And as pointed, we finally are dissease free, or almost, as there is a case of logjam at forward that could lead to some issues (I'm looking at you Warren and Jackson).

I want to see who else (RIP Sauce, wish you luck in BRY) gets cut. Daniels, Canaan? How much time are the rookie guards going to spend in the GLeague?

Kokoskov has a chance to be the moral leader of this group (this is totally ammo for the Doncic widows ajaja ).

The baad? LeBron is in the west now. George stayed. Minni seems like they will drop, which is something. Portland is due to some injury bug (don't want to put that evil on them, though). IT could give something to Denver; could be poison, could be Boston (or is it Stevens?). Will the Logo blow it up in LAC? Is MEM healthy? NOP looks solid if healthy, as well as Utah. Pop, Aldridge and DeRozan's revenge should be enough (warning: they have Rudy Gay too).

Say you are better than SAC and DAL. Say some others drop (LAC, DEN and MIN, for instance) and that it is you reaping the benefits, What are you, #10 in the west? Say you also beat every East non playoff teams but one or two.

Are we looking at a bottom lotto team? 35-40 wins?

I think the only teams that improved over the summer were us, LAL, MEM and DAL. LAL will obviously make the playoffs, I think Memphis does, but I don't think Dallas gets that far by adding only Doncic and Jordan. I think we finish ahead of them, as you do. I also can't see us behind LAC. Tobias is a nice player, and Bradley, Beverley and Williams are great complimentary players, but who's generating the offense there? Gortat is the Jeff Teague of centers, and if they're actually playing their rookies in the back court, those will be development (negative) minutes.

By contrast, I think the change to the SUNS coaching staff will pay especially huge dividends. The coaching, the improvements throughout our roster, and the thinness of the west, make me think we have a solid shot at the playoffs.

Several teams that made the playoffs last year have taken steps back - most significantly, San Antonio. Everyone's so focused on Kawhi that they seem to be ignoring the fact that they lost 3 of their top 6 players, not counting Kawhi. Danny Green, Manu Ginobili, Kyle Anderson and even Tony Parker. Is that still a winning club? I'm not so sure.

Minnesota is losing Butler. If you ignore whatever they'll get in return, their starting lineup currently appears to be Teague-Rose-Wiggins-Gibson-Towns. I just can't be afraid of whatever's going on in that locker room.

Portland's backcourt carries that team, but I'd take our bench over their starters at positions 3-5. I think Booker's better than McCollum. Lillard is magical, but atlas could shrug, and if that happened, that team would be nothing.

Same for Pelicans, but with positions 1-3. They got Jrue Holiday, E'Twuan Moore and not much else. If the Pels stumble out the gate, will Anthony Davis be able to carry that whole squad?

I believe in OKC because of Adams moreso than Westbrook. They'll be tough, so they'll be solid. I think Houston's taken a step back but they'll also make the playoffs. With GSW and UTA, that's 5 teams that are locks.

So for those last three spots, I think our primary competitors are just MEM and DEN. Memphis has a lot of overlooked, talented young players, and they've added Conley, Jackson and Anderson while losing only Evans. Gasol took a HUGE step back last year, and I'm curious whether he will truly recover. Denver obviously has that beast Jokic, I like Murray and Harris, and Millsap/Lyles is good at the 4 if healthy. I don't like their depth at the 2/3 spots at all, though, so you're really relying on IT to recover if they're going to be much improved over last season (when they missed the playoffs).

So yeah. I have us in that 6-8 range. But the thing about homerism is you can never tell if you're being a homer, because you're a homer. So whatever. Maybe Ayton will suck and TJ will brick threes and Anderson will get injured and Jackson will lose control and we'll bring in Daniels to try to save the day. But I don't think so. Not with this coach.

[Ring_Wanted]

I think the only teams that improved over the summer were us, LAL, MEM and DAL. LAL will obviously make the playoffs, I think Memphis does, but I don't think Dallas gets that far by adding only Doncic and Jordan. I think we finish ahead of them, as you do. I also can't see us behind LAC. Tobias is a nice player, and Bradley, Beverley and Williams are great complimentary players, but who's generating the offense there? Gortat is the Jeff Teague of centers, and if they're actually playing their rookies in the back court, those will be development (negative) minutes.

By contrast, I think the change to the SUNS coaching staff will pay especially huge dividends. The coaching, the improvements throughout our roster, and the thinness of the west, make me think we have a solid shot at the playoffs.

Several teams that made the playoffs last year have taken steps back - most significantly, San Antonio. Everyone's so focused on Kawhi that they seem to be ignoring the fact that they lost 3 of their top 6 players, not counting Kawhi. Danny Green, Manu Ginobili, Kyle Anderson and even Tony Parker. Is that still a winning club? I'm not so sure.

Minnesota is losing Butler. If you ignore whatever they'll get in return, their starting lineup currently appears to be Teague-Rose-Wiggins-Gibson-Towns. I just can't be afraid of whatever's going on in that locker room.

Portland's backcourt carries that team, but I'd take our bench over their starters at positions 3-5. I think Booker's better than McCollum. Lillard is magical, but atlas could shrug, and if that happened, that team would be nothing.

Same for Pelicans, but with positions 1-3. They got Jrue Holiday, E'Twuan Moore and not much else. If the Pels stumble out the gate, will Anthony Davis be able to carry that whole squad?

I believe in OKC because of Adams moreso than Westbrook. They'll be tough, so they'll be solid. I think Houston's taken a step back but they'll also make the playoffs. With GSW and UTA, that's 5 teams that are locks.

So for those last three spots, I think our primary competitors are just MEM and DEN. Memphis has a lot of overlooked, talented young players, and they've added Conley, Jackson and Anderson while losing only Evans. Gasol took a HUGE step back last year, and I'm curious whether he will truly recover. Denver obviously has that beast Jokic, I like Murray and Harris, and Millsap/Lyles is good at the 4 if healthy. I don't like their depth at the 2/3 spots at all, though, so you're really relying on IT to recover if they're going to be much improved over last season (when they missed the playoffs).

So yeah. I have us in that 6-8 range. But the thing about homerism is you can never tell if you're being a homer, because you're a homer. So whatever. Maybe Ayton will suck and TJ will brick threes and Anderson will get injured and Jackson will lose control and we'll bring in Daniels to try to save the day. But I don't think so. Not with this coach.

I see GSW-HOU-OKC-LAL-UTA-SAS-POR-NOP as better if healthy. DEN probably more consilidated too. We'd have to grow a ton and also have others to suffer in order to have a better record. Are three of those teams going to win 35 games next season?

[Flagrant Fowl]

By contrast, I think the change to the SUNS coaching staff will pay especially huge dividends. The coaching, the improvements throughout our roster, and the thinness of the west, make me think we have a solid shot at the playoffs.

The coaching staff will help a lot, but the West is by no means thin and we're not sniffing the playoffs with the way things look right now.

Several teams that made the playoffs last year have taken steps back - most significantly, San Antonio. Everyone's so focused on Kawhi that they seem to be ignoring the fact that they lost 3 of their top 6 players, not counting Kawhi. Danny Green, Manu Ginobili, Kyle Anderson and even Tony Parker. Is that still a winning club? I'm not so sure.

They've got this guy, Greg Popovich. I've heard he's still pretty good.

Minnesota is losing Butler. If you ignore whatever they'll get in return, their starting lineup currently appears to be Teague-Rose-Wiggins-Gibson-Towns. I just can't be afraid of whatever's going on in that locker room.

They look to be trending down, but KAT is still a top 5 big man in the league. Minnesota is truly a wildcard.

Portland's backcourt carries that team, but I'd take our bench over their starters at positions 3-5. I think Booker's better than McCollum. Lillard is magical, but atlas could shrug, and if that happened, that team would be nothing.

Portland will do normal Portland stuff. Good enough to make the playoffs and lose in the first round. NBA purgatory.

Same for Pelicans, but with positions 1-3. They got Jrue Holiday, E'Twuan Moore and not much else. If the Pels stumble out the gate, will Anthony Davis be able to carry that whole squad?

You're leaving out Mirotic and Randle, who should both excel next to AD in Gentry's offense. They're a playoff team.

I believe in OKC because of Adams moreso than Westbrook. They'll be tough, so they'll be solid. I think Houston's taken a step back but they'll also make the playoffs. With GSW and UTA, that's 5 teams that are locks.

So for those last three spots, I think our primary competitors are just MEM and DEN. Memphis has a lot of overlooked, talented young players, and they've added Conley, Jackson and Anderson while losing only Evans. Gasol took a HUGE step back last year, and I'm curious whether he will truly recover. Denver obviously has that beast Jokic, I like Murray and Harris, and Millsap/Lyles is good at the 4 if healthy. I don't like their depth at the 2/3 spots at all, though, so you're really relying on IT to recover if they're going to be much improved over last season (when they missed the playoffs).

You're underrating Denver. They're primed to put together a really good season and I wouldn't be surprised to see them finish in the top 4. Memphis could go either way depending on Conley's health.

So yeah. I have us in that 6-8 range. But the thing about homerism is you can never tell if you're being a homer, because you're a homer. So whatever. Maybe Ayton will suck and TJ will brick threes and Anderson will get injured and Jackson will lose control and we'll bring in Daniels to try to save the day. But I don't think so. Not with this coach.

Bartender, give me one of what ever he's drinking!

[Cap]

They look to be trending down, but KAT is still a top 5 big man in the league.

Not anymore. Ayton’s going to claim the top five spots by himself. Nobody else will rank higher than 6.

[Split T]

People forget that San Antonio won like 46 games without Kawhi last year. So ya, they lost Danny Green and Kyle Anderson and ginobili/Parker, but they also added DeMar Derozan. Spacing might be an issue for them with dejounte/DeMar/LaMarcus, but popovich will figure it out. I won't say they're a lock, but they aren't going to fall apart. That's a 40+ win team.

[In2ition]

People forget that San Antonio won like 46 games without Kawhi last year. So ya, they lost Danny Green and Kyle Anderson and ginobili/Parker, but they also added DeMar Derozan. Spacing might be an issue for them with dejounte/DeMar/LaMarcus, but popovich will figure it out. I won't say they're a lock, but they aren't going to fall apart. That's a 40+ win team.

Yeah, I can't see them falling apart. They tend to have guys come out of nowhere and play well in their system.

[JCSunsfan]

People forget that San Antonio won like 46 games without Kawhi last year. So ya, they lost Danny Green and Kyle Anderson and ginobili/Parker, but they also added DeMar Derozan. Spacing might be an issue for them with dejounte/DeMar/LaMarcus, but popovich will figure it out. I won't say they're a lock, but they aren't going to fall apart. That's a 40+ win team.

Yeah, I can't see them falling apart. They tend to have guys come out of nowhere and play well in their system.

At some point San Antonio is going to lose its charm and Pop will be a human. It might be this year.

[Cap]

People forget that San Antonio won like 46 games without Kawhi last year. So ya, they lost Danny Green and Kyle Anderson and ginobili/Parker, but they also added DeMar Derozan. Spacing might be an issue for them with dejounte/DeMar/LaMarcus, but popovich will figure it out. I won't say they're a lock, but they aren't going to fall apart. That's a 40+ win team.

Yeah, I can't see them falling apart. They tend to have guys come out of nowhere and play well in their system.

At some point San Antonio is going to lose its charm and Pop will be a human. It might be this year.

It’s not charm, it’s greatness, and no, he ain’t human, he’s a basketball god.

[O_Gardino]

I really like Shaq Harrison. I'm even okay with him as a starter, given his strength on the defensive end.

I like Jones and think he would be an upgrade, but I doubt that Teague really would be, all things considered. Dragic would be a big upgrade, obviously.

I think we're a bubble playoff team with Shaq, Teague or Jones. I think we'd be favored to make it with Dragic on the roster. But in my view, we could explode based on the changes to our roster and the coaching staff alone.

I'm looking for upwards of 38 wins. I don't expect us to resemble the team we were last year at all.

No reason to jump the shark with a PG trade or give real long-term value for a minor upgrade (or downgrade).

GO SUNS!!!

I'm with you. 38.

[specialsauce]

Some good ass drugs being passed around!

[Danimal]

Some good ass drugs being passed around!

Going cheap?

[Danimal]

I’m fine with waiting out for the right deal for a pg until we have some leverage. The rockets gm who is a good listen when he is on bill simmons said it’s not about having your best roster in November. Granted we have holes and the rockets don’t blow like us but wait it out till some other team develops some needs and we can regain some leverage.
Do you think Sarver and MCD have the patience for that ? Having a year of marginal improvement is far better than putting all our chips in for an ok pg who kills our cap space next year and the. if we don’t make the playoff the next two years we have a real cluster fuck on our hands.

[ShelC]

I still think Ariza could be a nice trade piece come the deadline. And I don't think he has a lot of fans on this board but i still really like Schroder. If there comes a point in the season where the Thunder are looking for a veteran shooter heading into the playoffs...Schroder for Ariza works. Both make 15mil, we get a young but established PG and the Thunder get a defensive 3pt shooting SF who can switch off with George on the wing. Schroder's locked in for 2 more seasons after this one at 15mil flat. Really not a bad deal at all.

[In2ition]

I still think Ariza could be a nice trade piece come the deadline. And I don't think he has a lot of fans on this board but i still really like Schroder. If there comes a point in the season where the Thunder are looking for a veteran shooter heading into the playoffs...Schroder for Ariza works. Both make 15mil, we get a young but established PG and the Thunder get a defensive 3pt shooting SF who can switch off with George on the wing. Schroder's locked in for 2 more seasons after this one at 15mil flat. Really not a bad deal at all.

There isn't a scenario I can think of other than this season being a total and utter failure that would make this a good thing. No offense, I HOPE this doesn't remotely happen.

[JCSunsfan]

Not interested in Schroder. Shoot first pg.

[JCSunsfan]

We have time. We can figure out what our roster looks like and what our real needs are. We will be better than last year right away and that takes the pressure off. Getting the right of at the right price is essential.

[O_Gardino]

With Igor, it's more about bball iq than style. He's not running an offense where a pg brings the ball up and has to create shots, either for himself or for others. We need a PG who can defend, shot, move, pass, and play in the system.

[Superbone]

If I could get to Vegas, I would put money on the over, and feel it's easy money.

Been a while since I’ve placed any sports bets. Are online sportsbooks no longer an option?

I have no idea, I've never used them.

Apparently, the sports bettors agree with us. Not so sure I'm going to be able to do this bet now. My friend is at the Mirage and wins total over/under for the Suns is 27.5 but the odds on the over is -220 which means I'd have to bet $220 to win $100. This means most bettors have been betting the over.