Phoenix Suns 2014-2015 Season Expectations

[Superbone]

Thanks Swing.

No problem - I dig malaprops.

Being in my line of work, I think I type "rationale" much more often than "rational."

I hear ya - I actually had to look up how to spell "malaprop".

Norm Crosby was the king of malaprops!

[INFORMER]

The fact we have 15 movable contracts.

They really don't though. Goran, Bledsoe, the Morris Twins, and Zoran aren't getting moved. Tolliver and Randolph don't have trade value.

If the Suns are trading Len, it's because he's a bust, and that won't get us much.

Plumlee may become expendable if Len comes along.

So the tradeable assets you have are Ennis, Goodwin, Green, Tucker, Warren, rights to Bogdanovic, and a few mid-to-late first round picks. What impact player can you get for that?

Upgrading the team depends (probably) two of the following happening:

1. The Suns strike gold in TJ Warren.
2. The Suns strike silver in Alex Len.
3. The cap rises in 2016 as expected, and there is a stud 4 or 5 available that is interested in coming to the Suns.

[SwingMan]

Thanks Swing.

No problem - I dig malaprops.

Being in my line of work, I think I type "rationale" much more often than "rational."

I hear ya - I actually had to look up how to spell "malaprop".

Norm Crosby was the king of malaprops!

I always thought it was Leo Gorcey.....

[INFORMER]

I'd rather we try and sign contracts that look good today and great in 2017 than "meh" today and "good" in 2017.

So would I.

[SwingMan]

I'd rather we try and sign contracts that look good today and great in 2017 than "meh" today and "good" in 2017.

So would I.

"Yes, but see, if less is more, then think of how much more *more* would be!"

Kelsey Grammer, frustrated existentialist, 1998

[Indy]

Goran, Bledsoe, the Morris Twins, and Zoran aren't getting moved.

You really expect all of those guys to be here two years from now?

[TOO]

55 wins and WCF.

[Xylus]

In response to OP:

It's really difficult to say how this team is going to fare in the Western Conference this year. The loss of Channing Frye is going to hurt us more than most people think. On the other hand, we have one of the deepest benches in the league, including the best bench backcourt in recent memory.

I think this team is good for about 50-52 wins, which slots us in the "better than last year" category, but only slightly.

Last season, we had a bunch of hungry young players eager to prove themselves--and a few veterans looking for a career resurrection. Now, most of those young guys have been paid big contracts, so we could see some of these guys take their foot off the gas a little.

If Hornacek can somehow keep these all of these guys playing as hard as they did last season, we'll make the playoffs. Injuries shouldn't be too much of a concern this year, with IT, GG, Zoran, Warren, Goodwin and Len all waiting to prove themselves. As for which Western Conference team we'll replace, I honestly have no idea. That's my primary concern at the moment.

[da_suns_fan]

Really depends on the health and play of our front court. We have an absurd amount of wings.

[Xylus]

Really depends on the health and play of our front court. We have an absurd amount of wings.

According to some of the media reports I'm reading today, Len has improved "significantly." If there's one guy on the team I'd like to see play all 82, it's him.

[Superbone]

55 wins and WCF.

Wow.

[Shabazz]

We are in a bit of a situation, similar to the '10-11 season, where we have what seems like a lot of "value" contracts, but because of a lot of positional redundancy, we're going to have a hard time justifying all of those contracts. Meaning, if you're giving Marcus enough minutes to justify his $5M, then PJ, Green and Warren will all see their contracts harder to justify. If IT2 is getting 28 minutes a game, then Archie, Zoran and Green are all getting squeezed for PT and don't have as much of an opportunity to show their worth. This matters more when you're viewing these players as assets, rather than how they contribute to wins, but it still matters.

Also, I'm not so sure how I feel about the "this contract will look good under the 2017 salary cap" argument. I'd rather we try and sign contracts that look good today and great in 2017 than "meh" today and "good" in 2017.

Assets on ice.

I think if there's a trade to be made, it'll be something like 2 or 3 for 1, with Ennis, Green and Tolliver the most likely to go first - something's got to give in that backcourt and any trade will likely be for a 4, IMO. Who that 4 is, I have no idea.

But that's kind of my point. When you're loaded with redundant players, an increase in the value of one asset is typically going to come at the expense of the value of another.

A rookie who doesn't play is like a used car, in that he loses value as soon as he's drafted. Draft picks capture the imagination and are desirable assets. Rookies who play 10 mpg and contribute bit numbers, not so much. Think of the difference of trading for the 7th pick before the 2013 draft or for Ben McLemore today (or 5th pick vs. Len for that matter). Marcus Morris at $5M may be a reasonable contract. It's not so reasonable if he can't get minutes over Tucker, Warren and Tolliver.

[iLLmatic]

Really depends on the health and play of our front court. We have an absurd amount of wings.

According to some of the media reports I'm reading today, Len has improved "significantly." If there's one guy on the team I'd like to see play all 82, it's him.

Ain't gonna happen. Taking a quote from carey, I'd wager my house on that bet. He can't even make it through a complete Summer League season.

[iLLmatic]

How do you see our depth chart, INF?

I don't really have a concrete idea how things will shakeout. I think Marcus might start while PJ serves his suspension.

That really sucks. I wanna see Green or Warren at the 3 during the suspension.

[INFORMER]

Goran, Bledsoe, the Morris Twins, and Zoran aren't getting moved.

You really expect all of those guys to be here two years from now?

Zoran will probably play out his contract and then go back to Europe. But all those other guys will be here.

[da_suns_fan]

Really depends on the health and play of our front court. We have an absurd amount of wings.

According to some of the media reports I'm reading today, Len has improved "significantly." If there's one guy on the team I'd like to see play all 82, it's him.

I once heard the same thing said about Big Jake "Tska-alphabet".

I think the stuff today came McDonough.

[Superbone]

Goran, Bledsoe, the Morris Twins, and Zoran aren't getting moved.

You really expect all of those guys to be here two years from now?

Zoran will probably play out his contract and then go back to Europe. But all those other guys will be here.

No love for Zoran, eh? I think he may surprise many of you. He's going to bring some toughness especially on the defensive end.

[Superbone]

This team is extremely deep 1-3. It's going to be a battle for playing time. I don't think Hornacek is going to play players based on an agenda. I think he'll play the players that have earned it. Those are the players we need to keep.

[INFORMER]

Goran, Bledsoe, the Morris Twins, and Zoran aren't getting moved.

You really expect all of those guys to be here two years from now?

Zoran will probably play out his contract and then go back to Europe. But all those other guys will be here.

No love for Zoran, eh? I think he may surprise many of you. He's going to bring some toughness especially on the defensive end.

That wasn't meant as a knock against. I don't have any expectations or feelings for or against Dragic.

I was just looking ahead and estimating what may become of Zoran. I don't see him having a long and productive NBA career. I would mainly think he would leave after completing his contract because he'll have better offers (money wise) and more of an opportunity to play in Europe.

[Xylus]

Really depends on the health and play of our front court. We have an absurd amount of wings.

According to some of the media reports I'm reading today, Len has improved "significantly." If there's one guy on the team I'd like to see play all 82, it's him.

Ain't gonna happen. Taking a quote from carey, I'd wager my house on that bet. He can't even make it through a complete Summer League season.

It's wishful thinking, no doubt. I don't know if I'd use his summer league injury as proof that he's fragile, though. Seemed like a freak accident.