Suns News: September

[JCSunsfan]

Suns should offer 4/53.48. Then there can be no excuses. Its not that much more and it puts an end to this.

So, we should bid against ourselves? No way! I say stay absolutely firm on the 4/48. If he doesn't like it, he can GTFO. Bidding against yourselves is not a sound GMing strategy. He has shown no reason why he deserves more than 4/48, and there is no reason to give in to his agent's stalling tactics.

It is more than just bidding against another team. It's bidding against his willingness to take the QO and go play for the Lakers or Cleveland next year. Keeping the big picture in mind is so important.

Still, the best case scenario is a happy EB on the Suns with a 54 million or less contract.

[pickle]

Still, the best case scenario is a happy EB on the Suns with a 54 million or less contract.

Is there something magical about the 54 million number or is it just an upgrade over 48? I'm not trying to be sarcastic... just wondering where the new number came from.

[Cap]

Still, the best case scenario is a happy EB on the Suns with a 54 million or less contract.

Is there something magical about the 54 million number or is it just an upgrade over 48? I'm not trying to be sarcastic... just wondering where the new number came from.

If EB takes the QO and then gets a max contract from another team next summer, he'll make 53.5 million over the next four years. The "magical" quality of 54 is that it beats that.

[SDC]

bill simmons trying to peddle his rondo trade rumors again for the nth time. how many rondo fans here btw?

[INFORMER]

I don't like his fit next to Dragic and I don't think he'll resign here.

[TOO]

Big Rondo fan, but he can't play off the ball, poor fit. Plus he'll want a whale of a deal.

[INFORMER]

If the Suns desire a third point guard, I think the best fits next to Dragic, while presenting the best value and sensibly fitting into a reasonable team salary structure, are:

1. Shane Larkin
2. Russ Smith
3. Norris Cole
4. Darren Collison
5. Brandon Knight

[INFORMER]

Still, the best case scenario is a happy EB on the Suns with a 54 million or less contract.

The best scenario is working a sign and trade now (which may not be feasible at this point) or resigning him and moving him in December.

[Shabazz]

If the Suns desire a third point guard, I think the best fits next to Dragic, while presenting the best value and sensibly fitting into a reasonable team salary structure, are:

1. Shane Larkin
2. Russ Smith
3. Norris Cole
4. Darren Collison
5. Brandon Knight

I don't get your Norris Cole fixation.

[TOO]

I'd like Reggie Jackson as a 3rd guard with Dragic and Thomas.

[INFORMER]

I don't get your Norris Cole fixation.

Athletic, good defender, and can hit the catch and shoot 3. I think he would really blossom under Hornacek. Also watched him at Cleveland State and was really impressed.

[Shabazz]

Even with all that, I'm not sure he's more than a 3rd stringer/specialist.

I think the whole two PG thing works only if you have 2 elite or near-elite PGs, of which at least one can competently defend the 2. If we're talking about players on the level of Cole, Larkin, Russdiculous or even Collison, I think we're better off running a traditional lineup with Green at the two. Which means IT2 would be the backup. Which means we wouldn't really need any of your pu pu platter (although I agree that Knight could work).

[INFORMER]

I think the whole two PG thing works only if you have 2 elite or near-elite PGs

First, I disagree. Chris Paul and Darren Collison was a potent combo last year.

Second, even if you want to be dogmatic about that point, it's fine, because I feel the Suns have that in Thomas and Dragic. I wouldn't imagine playing any of those guys listed (save for Knight) more or as many minutes as Thomas, and they wouldn't have to. Thomas is a stud.

If we're talking about players on the level of Cole, Larkin, Russdiculous or even Collison, I think we're better off running a traditional lineup with Green at the two.

I don't have a problem with a traditional lineup. It's others that act like Dragic will spontaneously combust if he's a full-time point guard, or that the Suns won't go anywhere with in that role. I think we're fine with the traditional lineup, you just have to get better players at the other positions. T.J. Warren appears to be a step in that direction.

I like the 2-point guard look, but I don't think it's an absolute necessity going forward.

Which means we wouldn't really need any of your pu pu platter

That comment came from the same toilet as your "2013 draft disaster" take. Not your best work.

[Ring_Wanted]

If the Suns desire a third point guard, I think the best fits next to Dragic, while presenting the best value and sensibly fitting into a reasonable team salary structure, are:

1. Shane Larkin
2. Russ Smith
3. Norris Cole
4. Darren Collison
5. Brandon Knight

Surprised you didn't include anything from Houston, especially rights to Nick Johnson.

[pickle]

Still, the best case scenario is a happy EB on the Suns with a 54 million or less contract.

Is there something magical about the 54 million number or is it just an upgrade over 48? I'm not trying to be sarcastic... just wondering where the new number came from.

If EB takes the QO and then gets a max contract from another team next summer, he'll make 53.5 million over the next four years. The "magical" quality of 54 is that it beats that.

Ah, makes sense now. Thanks cap.

[INFORMER]

If the Suns desire a third point guard, I think the best fits next to Dragic, while presenting the best value and sensibly fitting into a reasonable team salary structure, are:

1. Shane Larkin
2. Russ Smith
3. Norris Cole
4. Darren Collison
5. Brandon Knight

Surprised you didn't include anything from Houston, especially rights to Nick Johnson.

Just focusing on point guards. I'd love to pair Nick Johnson with Dragic.

[Ring_Wanted]

I think the whole two PG thing works only if you have 2 elite or near-elite PGs

First, I disagree. Chris Paul and Darren Collison was a potent combo last year.

Probably having Paul defending helped matters. Did you know that Paul is one of the very few non 3D specialists who sports a better steal than TO ratio? Despite inherent imperfections to defensive stats like blocks and steals, and conceding that obviously stars won't play with 100% effort on D all possessions, that's a powerful sign of productivity. IT3/Dragic are not anywhere close to him.

I wouldn't be comfortable with two out of three perimeter players who are not above average defenders plus PJ Tucker, because I can't put my defensive specialist on the PG/SG unless I want to see Goran/IT3 trying to guard a SF.

[Superbone]

McDonough's ALS Ice Bucket Challenge video:

[youtube]GfI9512ovgo[/youtube]

Good idea but the comedy is a little forced.

[Shabazz]

I think the whole two PG thing works only if you have 2 elite or near-elite PGs

First, I disagree. Chris Paul and Darren Collison was a potent combo last year.

Yes. That had quite a bit to do with having the best point guard in the game by far. And as good as Paul/Collison was, Paul/Redick was better. Honestly, you could throw nearly any 1 or 2 in the league next to Paul and have some success.

Which means we wouldn't really need any of your pu pu platter

That comment came from the same toilet as your "2013 draft disaster" take. Not your best work.

You're going to defend that turd of a draft to the death, aren't you. It was decried as a poor draft going in and by almost any measure it was the worst first year by a draft class in league history - even worse than 2000. Your argument that it will have a few "contributors" doesn't resonate, because EVERY DRAFT EVER had a few contributors. It's short on star power (I count maybe 4-5 potential all stars and an additional 8-9 potential high level starters), looks to be rife with busts and features the worst season by a #1 pick ever. It does have some contributor/decent starter-level depth, I'll give you that. And looking through the first round, there are very few players I would write off (even Bennett and Shabazz). But evaluate just about any draft after year 1 and you'd likely say the same.

As to my "pu pu platter" comment, the league is absolutely loaded with point guards right now. There are probably about 20-25 starting PGs all of whom would have been top-10 just a few years ago. There are another 15 or so very decent starter/competent backup types and then quite a few combo guards that you can run offense through in a pinch. I just have a hard time getting excited about the Norris Coles and Shane Larkins (I actually like Larkin a little) because they're so far down the PG depth chart.

[Superbone]

Some found footage of Lon Babby negotiating with Rich Paul (black hat):

[youtube]9C-fRdCmzDk[/youtube]