Free Agency Thread

[Indy]

Crowder is a great signing. He’s exactly the type of player I wanted to replace Oubre. Cheaper replacement with far higher value compared to cost, lower usage, smarter on defense, toughness with a good work ethic and decent/above average from 3.

It’s pretty clear the type of team Jones is trying to assemble (don’t you dare respond with “yeah, mediocre” inf). He’s got a clear identity for this roster, which is much more than I could say for any GM really since D’Antoni left.

I’m really happy with our moves overall. I would have preferred FVV at 21m over Paul at 40, but I can at least see a plan and purpose. And MLe for crowder is hardly an overpay. Overpaying a player like Bertrans or Gallo is what will kill teams.

Yep, yep, yep. You're just happy he won't do push ups after a hustle play leaves him on the deck.

You forgot the part where we were down 20 lol

Kelly at 14.375M vs Crowder at 10M? I would take Kelly every time.

So would the GSW

I think the entire league would, to be honest. Unless of course all you are willing to spend is the MLE.

[Ring_Wanted]

So who’s still out there we can bring in to the back court?

Jordan McRae is my top choice right now.

Langston Galloway, E’Twaun Moore, Jeff Teague, Reggie Jackson, Jordan McLaughlin, Shabazz Napier...who else?

I bet Jones feels we are set at backup PG with Payne, although Teague could be interesting. Trier. I would like to keep Carter for depth at SG/PG.

Although I feel we need to go after a SF, and depending on what happens with Saric-Baynes, also need a C.

[Ring_Wanted]

Maybe no suns news is good news with some of these deals being handed out.

Exactly. But Woods on a terrific contract was there for the taking.

He’s got a huge role in Houston. He’s the only big man there. Think that probably played a big role as well.

Probably. Here he'd be known as maybe the missing piece, but HOU is a mess and Harden has his days numbered there. If I were him and I could choose between similar offers, I'd want to be part of a more defined plan. Or perhaps PHX didn't even reach to him.

[Split T]

So who’s still out there we can bring in to the back court?

Jordan McRae is my top choice right now.

Langston Galloway, E’Twaun Moore, Jeff Teague, Reggie Jackson, Jordan McLaughlin, Shabazz Napier...who else?

I bet Jones feels we are set at backup PG with Payne, although Teague could be interesting. Trier. I would like to keep Carter for depth at SG/PG.

Although I feel we need to go after a SF, and depending on what happens with Saric-Baynes, also need a C.

I’d be cool with Trier, I get the feeling there are off the court issues. It was weird that NY released him and I’ve heard nothing about him signing anywhere.

[Ring_Wanted]

So who’s still out there we can bring in to the back court?

Jordan McRae is my top choice right now.

Langston Galloway, E’Twaun Moore, Jeff Teague, Reggie Jackson, Jordan McLaughlin, Shabazz Napier...who else?

I bet Jones feels we are set at backup PG with Payne, although Teague could be interesting. Trier. I would like to keep Carter for depth at SG/PG.

Although I feel we need to go after a SF, and depending on what happens with Saric-Baynes, also need a C.

I’d be cool with Trier, I get the feeling there are off the court issues. It was weird that NY released him and I’ve heard nothing about him signing anywhere.

For reasons only known to them haha

[Aztec Sunsfan]

Kelly at 14.375M vs Crowder at 10M? I would take Kelly every time.

For a single year? Of course, but year two and three get trickier: We have Crowder again for $10, while Kelly is up for a new contract.

$17 a year for Oubre? Crowder adds up to $30 vs $48 for Kelly

20? Then its goes $30 vs $54

Kelly leaves? If the CP3 trade it’s in place, we are out of cap space to replace him, if not, still unlikely and very risky to bet on it, given the crazy contracts we are witnessing.

[INFORMER]

It’s pretty clear the type of team Jones is trying to assemble (don’t you dare respond with “yeah, mediocre” inf).

[INFORMER]

Character issues is the main reason why I don’t want portis. It’s been a couple years and mirotic is an asshole but the dude broke his jaw and gave him a concussion. No. Pass.

And Chris Paul seems obsessed with punching guys in their junk.

You're thinking of Draymond Green.

[INFORMER]

OF COURSE you don't like it.

Well seeing how I made post talking about how I didn't think Crowder was a good idea BEFORE the news even broke, yeah, OF COURSE I don't like it.

[INFORMER]

But Crowder can dig in and body up a LeBron, Kawhi/PG, Luka, Melo, Tatum and make their lives harder with his strength. He can bang and can switch off effectively. Even Giannis had trouble with Crowder's strength and lower center of gravity.

Very true.

[INFORMER]

Yep, yep, yep. You're just happy he won't do push ups after a hustle play leaves him on the deck.

You forgot the part where we were down 20 lol

Kelly at 14.375M vs Crowder at 10M? I would take Kelly every time.

So would the GSW

I think the entire league would, to be honest.

I know I would.

[Indy]

But Crowder can dig in and body up a LeBron, Kawhi/PG, Luka, Melo, Tatum and make their lives harder with his strength. He can bang and can switch off effectively. Even Giannis had trouble with Crowder's strength and lower center of gravity.

Very true.

Whether you agree or not, it does seem like Jones is building a team with the thought of going up against bigger teams. He talked about the size in the west and needing guys to go up against Lebron and AD at the same time, for example. I get the impression he is hoping Crowder turns into our version of PJ on the Rockets, but in fewer minutes.

[specialsauce]

Not me, not for what this team needs. And definitely not for the $18-20M he’s going to be looking for next year

[specialsauce]

Kelly at 14.375M vs Crowder at 10M? I would take Kelly every time.

For a single year? Of course, but year two and three get trickier: We have Crowder again for $10, while Kelly is up for a new contract.

$17 a year for Oubre? Crowder adds up to $30 vs $48 for Kelly

20? Then its goes $30 vs $54

Kelly leaves? If the CP3 trade it’s in place, we are out of cap space to replace him, if not, still unlikely and very risky to bet on it, given the crazy contracts we are witnessing.

Bingo.

And Kelly didn’t play the way we need him to play on this team, the role we need from our role players. We need low usage high IQ shooters to surround DA CP and Book

[ShelC]

[Indy]

Kelly at 14.375M vs Crowder at 10M? I would take Kelly every time.

For a single year? Of course, but year two and three get trickier: We have Crowder again for $10, while Kelly is up for a new contract.

$17 a year for Oubre? Crowder adds up to $30 vs $48 for Kelly

20? Then its goes $30 vs $54

Kelly leaves? If the CP3 trade it’s in place, we are out of cap space to replace him, if not, still unlikely and very risky to bet on it, given the crazy contracts we are witnessing.

Bingo.

And Kelly didn’t play the way we need him to play on this team, the role we need from our role players. We need low usage high IQ shooters to surround DA CP and Book

I am not talking about whether I would have traded Rubio/Kelly for CP3. I am saying that Kelly at his current salary does way more per dollar for us than Crowder.

And the role that we needed from him? It was energy and athleticism and crunch time scorer. Who had a better 4Q 3P% on our team? Or crunch-time scoring? We had nobody on the team you could count on in crunch time besides Book. And when teams ran everyone and the kitchen sink at him, or on nights when he just didn't have it, we lose. Kelly was that punch we needed when Book didn't/couldn't do it.

But he is gone and it is what the James thought was needed to make our team better. I am fine with that. I just really hope what we have seen so far is not the end of his plans for this season. Because it looks like we got significantly better at PG, and no improvement elsewhere.

No additional backup behind Book/CP3.

No additional front court depth.

And we down-graded in talent (Kelly to Crowder).

If you are going to go all-in on a 35 year old PG making 40M for the next 2 years, then do it. But stop with the half-measures. We only have the next two season before we are completely in cap hell and will be completely hamstrung. With only Ayton and Mikal and Book, we will be in the +90M/year range.

I will cross my fingers and hope to Kahless that our young guys can play +72 games this year the way they did for 8 games in Orlando. And that Book takes another leap. And Paul doesn't fall off. And Dario doesn't play the way he did 90% of last year. And Smith makes all the draft experts look stupid. And Ayton lives up to his tattoo and mouth.

All of that happens, and we will be in a great spot and we can discuss which team we want to face in the western finals.

[specialsauce]

I think you’re wrong Indy (of course).

If this team as it is currently constructed is going to make any real run, it’s going to be because DA and Book are #1 and 2. Everything else needs to complement them. His strengths did not fit. We need to surround them with smart defenders, passers, shooters. He did none of that well.

And I think it’s telling that OKC tossed him to GS right away. He’s not old. He’s not a vet. He’s young and would fit fine with the core of SGA if they felt strongly about him.

That’s now 3 teams that have passed on him in 2 years.

[ShelC]

[INFORMER]

and did we actually think Anderson was gonna be good?

Here is what Planet Orange had to say:

I remember someone saying that his 3 point shooting is not that good due to percentages, but the fact is he routinely pulls up from 3-4 feet behind the 3 point line, and everyone respects him as a shooter and guards him up close. He definitely will help on the court on the offensive side of things, and I still feel like he's a net positive in the locker room, so I'm not down on him.

Anderson knows how to play stretch 4, and will be able to teach a little in the locker room and in practice.

Anderson can still play but in a limited role or you get terribly exploited, although they seem confident that Ayton can cover his ass. If nothing else, now you have a real threat in pick and pop situations for 15-18 mpg.

Somehow the Suns wound up with the two players who spent most of the season as the starting forwards on the team with the NBA's best record last year.

Anderson will help offensively, but his defense can't be described any way other than "bad."

I'm not sure how Anderson fits but I do like that we are acquiring good vets to balance out our young guys. Ryno's salary is gross and probably takes us out of the FA hunt next year...Anderson is a huge upgrade at PF

[INFORMER]

And I think it’s telling that OKC tossed him to GS right away. He’s not old. He’s not a vet. He’s young and would fit fine with the core of SGA if they felt strongly about him.

That’s now 3 teams that have passed on him in 2 years.

It's telling that OKC got rid of him...but it's not telling that a championship organization TRADED FOR HIM? Hmmm...