2018 Suns Offseason News

[Cap]

Wow. Way to go out on a limb with those bets.

And you put in the under bet first, so we really know how you feel.

The under bet is on the Knicks.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Wow. Way to go out on a limb with those bets.

And you put in the under bet first, so we really know how you feel.

The under bet is on the Knicks.

Yeah, I just realized that. Way to reply before I could delete my post.

[Superbone]

Wow. Way to go out on a limb with those bets.

And you put in the under bet first, so we really know how you feel.

I don't think you're reading it right.

[The Bobster]

The Suns have their uniform sponsorship in place -

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/2486 ... eal-paypal

[Flagrant Fowl]

The Suns have their uniform sponsorship in place -

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/2486 ... eal-paypal

There are a lot of Sarver jokes waiting to be made with this one.

[Mori Chu]

The Suns have their uniform sponsorship in place -

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/2486 ... eal-paypal

There are a lot of Sarver jokes waiting to be made with this one.

I was going to make a joke about us being sponsored by the company that manufactures army tanks. But I couldn't actually figure out what company that is. I found some links to Renault but I gave up. RIP, my attempted joke.

[O_Gardino]

General Dynamics

[jonh]

Blunt article with interesting quotes from Coach Kokoskov about Bender:

https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2018 ... nba-season

Just to highlight a few of the quotes that were really interesting:

“He has to play the game. We can’t play the game for him...He can do everything a little bit, but nothing really [good]. This is a league of extremes. You have to be extremely good at something.”

“The biggest challenge for him is defense. He’s got to be a better defensive player. You know, he’s guarding 4s, we know it’s a small league, he’s got to contain the ball. If he’s a 5 he’s got to rebound and fight with those guys and bring more physicality.”

“He has to play the game. He’s got to step on the stage and, whatever it requires, be more upset, be more focused.”

I'd love to see the video of the interview these quotes were taken from. Anyone know where to find it?

[EDC]

It is nice to have a coach with experience that you can trust. With all these first year guys with no experience as assistants you always worried that the coach was not putting the players in a position to succeed.

I'm not worried about Bender. I hope he figures it out but I trust Igor's judgement if he decides to bury him at the end of the bench.

I have a feeling talking about Bender is going to get real old real quick this season.

[In2ition]

He's totally right. He doesn't play like he feels he belongs. He needs to find that fight, that chip on his shoulder, because frankly he's playing for his NBA life right now. If I was to call it at this moment, I wouldn't pick up his 4th year option. I'd use his money($5.9 mil)for someone that can help the Suns next year.

On that note, I was listening to Chis Mannix podcast this morning and they were talking about the prevailing thought is that Durant goes to NYK next year. If Robinson & Knox show out this year, and Durant goes to NY, they could conceivably balk at paying Porzingis his money and save it for a pg instead. I think a few scenarios could happen if the Suns decide that Porzingis could be the ultimate front court partner with Ayton.
1. The Suns could offer a large contract w/ years to Porzingis to be that next piece.
2. The Suns could offer him a Max 1 yr deal to force NY to match and lose him in a year, or back them into a corner to trade him to the Suns.
3. The Suns just work out a sign & trade for Porzingis that helps NY get off his contract, but still allows them to get back some pieces.

I know all of this is unlikely, but just had that thought.
Rip it to shreads if you like.

[specialsauce]

Blunt article with interesting quotes from Coach Kokoskov about Bender:

https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2018 ... nba-season

Just to highlight a few of the quotes that were really interesting:

“He has to play the game. We can’t play the game for him...He can do everything a little bit, but nothing really [good]. This is a league of extremes. You have to be extremely good at something.”

“The biggest challenge for him is defense. He’s got to be a better defensive player. You know, he’s guarding 4s, we know it’s a small league, he’s got to contain the ball. If he’s a 5 he’s got to rebound and fight with those guys and bring more physicality.”

“He has to play the game. He’s got to step on the stage and, whatever it requires, be more upset, be more focused.”

I'd love to see the video of the interview these quotes were taken from. Anyone know where to find it?

Love his honesty. He’s absolutely on point. I would definitely not pick up that option at this point. $5M is not cheap for a trash player, we cut Sauce over it and quite frankly Sauce has been a more productive player on the court.

And with regards to KP, I like him but absolutely not next to Ayton. That ship has sailed.

[Split T]

Do we have to pick up Bender's option before the season starts?

[specialsauce]

I believe so. This time last year we picked up his option for this coming season. Not entirely sure though.

I would give him the entirety of the preseason to audition. If he lays an egg like he has his entire career, decline it.

[UglyTruth]

Blunt article with interesting quotes from Coach Kokoskov about Bender:

https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2018 ... nba-season

Just to highlight a few of the quotes that were really interesting:

“He has to play the game. We can’t play the game for him...He can do everything a little bit, but nothing really [good]. This is a league of extremes. You have to be extremely good at something.”

“The biggest challenge for him is defense. He’s got to be a better defensive player. You know, he’s guarding 4s, we know it’s a small league, he’s got to contain the ball. If he’s a 5 he’s got to rebound and fight with those guys and bring more physicality.”

“He has to play the game. He’s got to step on the stage and, whatever it requires, be more upset, be more focused.”

I'd love to see the video of the interview these quotes were taken from. Anyone know where to find it?

Love his honesty. He’s absolutely on point. I would definitely not pick up that option at this point. $5M is not cheap for a trash player, we cut Sauce over it and quite frankly Sauce has been a more productive player on the court.

And with regards to KP, I like him but absolutely not next to Ayton. That ship has sailed.

You bring up a good point, I wonder if it would be possible to trade Bender to Brooklyn for Sauce?

Based on how washed up Tyson has looked in training camp and pre season, I’d feel better about Sauce backing up Ayton than Tyson.

[ShelC]

I'd like for us to give Holmes a legit shot. Sauce is nice but Holmes can really play above the rim, hit the 3, bring some energy and bounce off the bench.

With Bender, those quotes sound like frustration even from a new coach like Igor. You see the size and skillset, but he's just invisible out there. He doesn't seem to make any real impact. He came in with a rep for perimeter defense as a 7footer so where's that gone? Guarding 4s shouldn't be a problem honestly. Even 5s are smaller so he should match up well there too.

[Superbone]

It is nice to have a coach with experience that you can trust. With all these first year guys with no experience as assistants you always worried that the coach was not putting the players in a position to succeed.

I'm not worried about Bender. I hope he figures it out but I trust Igor's judgement if he decides to bury him at the end of the bench.

I have a feeling talking about Bender is going to get real old real quick this season.

He had the worst start imaginable in the Kings preseason game. Woof!

[Superbone]

I'd like for us to give Holmes a legit shot. Sauce is nice but Holmes can really play above the rim, hit the 3, bring some energy and bounce off the bench.

I was surprised how skinny Holmes is. I thought he was a bigger body.

[iLLmatic]

Bender is the very definition of timid

[Superbone]

Yeah, people say he's young, give him time. But you can't teach aggressiveness. You either have it or you don't. I just don't think he has a killer instinct. I'm starting to think he's a lost cause. What a lost draft.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Yeah, people say he's young, give him time. But you can't teach aggressiveness. You either have it or you don't. I just don't think he has a killer instinct. I'm starting to think he's a lost cause. What a lost draft.

Every GM wanted that next Porzingis or Gobert but it's increasingly looking like we got another Darko, which is actually the most common outcome in this situation.