Trade: Chris Paul to Suns for Ricky Rubio and Kelly Oubre Jr.

[Flagrant Fowl]

The most intriguing part of this is not the pairing of Booker and Paul. I think Booker is universally respected by other players for the work he's put in to get to this level, and I think Paul will not come in with the "this is my team now" mentality. I think they'll work really well together.

The thing I'm most curious about is what we'll see from Ayton. I think Paul will be the litmus test to know if Ayton truly wants to be great. Paul will hands down be the smartest teammate Ayton's had, so will he respond positively and learn from him? Or will he pout or rebel when Paul gets in his ass for not dunking the ball, missing a rotation, taking fade away 20-footers, etc.?

[ShelC]

Paul's gonna make Ayton cry at least once, guaranteed.

[pickle]

A few random thoughts...

• I wish we had pulled this trade last year with the Tyler Johnson contract.
• I wish we didn't trade a future first for the privilege to draft Ty Jerome last year.
• I wish we weren't executing the deal now so that we could have enough money to make a run at Wood... if we wanted to go over the cap and use the MLE, we can do that at any time, why take away that option?
• I want us to draft a PG, because we'll need someone to take over for Paul in 2 years. I like Payne and still hold out some hope for Okobo but have no confidence in either.
• If we don't get Wood, Gallo is not a terrible consolation prize.
• We better be making some serious investments into trainers after trading for an 85 million dollar walking injury. Get Aaron Nelson back and give him an unlimited budget please.

[Shabazz]

Even though ESPN reported it, I hope we're keeping our options open on the timing of the trade. Or, if we are doing it prior to free agency, that we know some things/have some under the table commitments.

[Oatmeal]

Excellent.

[Split T]

Hasn’t been finalized yet, so that might mean we’re waiting.

[Split T]

Listening to the solar panel podcast and they had Flex on. Two interesting things from him:

1. He said history repeats itself, don’t be surprised if we trade back a few picks and add a player. Said nothing specific.

2. Don’t be surprised if a bigger name guy takes less than you’d expect on a short term deal to play with the suns. Not sure he had anyone specific in mind here, more just that he feels agents are telling players to not sign long term this offseason.

[pickle]

Two more thoughts ...

• I really want Baynes to stay. Have no interest in Kaminsky. Great guy, but I've seen enough of him clanking his 3s. He came out of the draft as a stretch 5... sayonara to that idea.
• If Baynes were to leave, that'd be two years in a row the Suns let go of two of my favorite players on the team. Last year it was Melton and Holmes, this year Oubre and Baynes.

I am not super angry with this trade, but as a Suns fan I can't rest easy until I find something to sulk about. So there.

[Indy]

Even though ESPN reported it, I hope we're keeping our options open on the timing of the trade. Or, if we are doing it prior to free agency, that we know some things/have some under the table commitments.

it feels like many of the teams/players already have stuff worked out and are just waiting to sign. At least, a lot more so than most years.

[pickle]

Listening to the solar panel podcast and they had Flex on. Two interesting things from him:

1. He said history repeats itself, don’t be surprised if we trade back a few picks and add a player. Said nothing specific.

2. Don’t be surprised if a bigger name guy takes less than you’d expect on a short term deal to play with the suns. Not sure he had anyone specific in mind here, more just that he feels agents are telling players to not sign long term this offseason.

I'm just basing this off of reading draft reports and not doing any actual footage scouting at all, but I really want Hayes or Halliburton. If neither is on the board then I'm okay with trading back to pick up another player. But I also don't want any more backup PG by committee approach like we've had the last few years. I want a clearly identifiable prospect that we are going to commit to.

[Superbone]

Paul's gonna make Ayton cry at least once, guaranteed.

[Split T]

Alec Burks is interesting as a BAE signing.

Could you get Ibaka for the MLE?

[The Bobster]

Happy with the deal, although I liked Rubio and Oubre.

Would like to see a follow up deal with Christian Wood or Serge Ibaka (preferably Wood). Gallinari would be choice #3.

And hopefully they can find someone to contribute right away as a backup 2/3 in the draft.

[Cap]

This should be a much better team than Paul played on last season.

[Vladimir_Taltos]

I'm still stunned to think we couldn't have simply traded up high enough to get Haliburton and called it a day...I would have preferred to get a younger understudy to Rubio than trading him...or Toppin...

VT

[Flagrant Fowl]

2. Don’t be surprised if a bigger name guy takes less than you’d expect on a short term deal to play with the suns. Not sure he had anyone specific in mind here, more just that he feels agents are telling players to not sign long term this offseason.

Like I said on the previous page of the thread, this is the Gallo signing. I'd bet money on it at this point. Something in the ballpark of $14 million for 2 years, maybe $22M/3 years with a player option on the third.

[pickle]

Ibaka is a center... he can't defend modern 4s... if we are getting him to be Ayton's backup, he'd better come cheap...

[Flagrant Fowl]

I have a hard time believing Ibaka will leave Toronto. It's not like they won't be competitive in the East and Nurse is still a top 3 coach in the league.

[Split T]

2. Don’t be surprised if a bigger name guy takes less than you’d expect on a short term deal to play with the suns. Not sure he had anyone specific in mind here, more just that he feels agents are telling players to not sign long term this offseason.

Like I said on the previous page of the thread, this is the Gallo signing. I'd bet money on it at this point. Something in the ballpark of $14 million for 2 years, maybe $22M/3 years with a player option on the third.

Ya I’m definitely expecting Gallo. I think we’ll give him a 2/20 deal. 2 years at MLE, expires as CP3 does.

[Wally_West]

Well, it’s official