Game Day: Grizzlies (4-0) @ Suns (3-1), Wed 11/05/14

[INFORMER]

Marc Gasol would look so good in a suns uniform next yr

No cap room. So just enjoy the Morris Twins and #wewriteouronchapter.

Yeah, because Marc Gasol and the likes are eager to play for the Phoenix Suns while leaving money from their original teams on the table. Sure.

Interesting response, given these past comments:

And there really isn't a big fish to catch in free agency next offseason.

Millsap, Monroe, Faried, DeAndre Jordan, Marc Gasol, Thaddeus Young, Tobias Harris, Omer Asik, Vucevic, Rudy Gay, LaMarcus Aldridge, Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard.

Regardless of their status, if you don't have the money available, you can't try to get them.

Because status comes second after ability to get them. It doesn't matter if the Spurs are 99.9% sure to match anything for Kawhi, or the Warriors for Klay. If I can't make the max offer there is nothing to even consider no matter how improbable acquiring some of the listed players may look like.

If our cap situation was different, it is, if we were already capped out and commited to a certain core plus role players under long term contracts, sure, take the package from Milwaukee as it doesn't cost you anything in terms of opportunity. But that's not the case, and adding those players would have an impact of 21M next offseason (including Knight's cap hold of 9M as RFA).

There is just too much unknown in the inmediate and mid term future of this franchise to make 8M mistakes. Of course, it's not set in stone that Ilyasova would be a fail here, but personally I don't want to find out, at least for Knight-Henson-Middleton given our current roster and cap configuration.

[SDC]

Sarver needs to ban Dragic from all national team play as long as he's here - otherwise, who the fuck needs him here when he plays like dogshit?

Yeah, too much basketball, that's the problem. Good thing we didn't make the playoffs, then he'd be even worse. Let's make sure we miss them again so everybody can rest.

This is actually a really good point. The time he spent with the national team wasn't even as extensive as what players put in when their team advances far into the playoffs.

I'm not sure the reason for Dragic's struggles are entirely a byproduct of his international play.

he's more effective when the ball is in his hands. clear as day last season.

[Ring_Wanted]

Interesting response, given these past comments

In short, I was not willing to use that flexibility on Ilyasova, Knight and Henson. I am ok spending the 13M on the twins, as well as Bledsoe, IT3 and Tucker. I have expressed my opinion before that Kieff and Marcus can be favorable contracts, and so far they have not let the Suns down.

Now, does this investment cost the Suns a shot at 2015 FAs? It does.

But note that there is a difference between 'Mac Gasol and the likes', it is, elite at their position, and the other FAs.

My opinion is that players on the first group are not going to Phoenix even at the max, unless we are winning a ton, hence my latest comment.

The rest, I believe they could be attainable if you have substantial cap space, hence my reticence to take Ilyasova.

The FO has chosen to renounce to that second possibility, and my point is that if you are going to spend not only on Bledsoe, but also on the twins, Tucker and IT3, might as well have kept Frye.

Not to mention that I'd rather use the money on those players instead of Ilyasova-Knight-Henson.

[SDC]

I'm not sure the reason for Dragic's struggles are entirely a byproduct of his international play.

It's not. Fatigue is not the only reason, and it's debatable if it's even the biggest factor.

The roster is different. It has experimented two big changes, and both affect Dragic directly. There is one more dominant playmaker and one less option to play a two man game.

He'll need to get his legs back to make long distance shots but above all he'll need to adjust to the new product on the floor.

dragic cant even play lead point guard in the second unit with shooting PG thomas around.

[SDC]

Marc Gasol would look so good in a suns uniform next yr

No cap room. So just enjoy the Morris Twins and #wewriteouronchapter.

Yeah, because Marc Gasol and the likes are eager to play for the Phoenix Suns while leaving money from their original teams on the table. Sure.

Anyway, I am starting to have an issue with the roster configuration. Not because the Morrii were extended, but because the Suns prescinded of one key piece when they were already spending, or planning to do so, to the point of essentially not being able to just sign a major FA without further roster juggling.

IT3's contract is great (and I believe he was not on the plan until the opportunity presented itself), although as we are seeing it implies a major change to the system and rotations.

i thought the suns were willing to walk away from bledsoe. now we are seeing the fruits of mcdo's decisions?

[SDC]

We had 2 point guards...signed a third....and then drafted one

We resigned our 2 small forwards.....and then drafted one

Meanwhile we let Frye leave at our biggest position(s) of need and replaced him with Tolliver.

And the Suns management would be surprised if this group struggled?

i knew some here would turn on mcdo soon enough.

[Ring_Wanted]

IT3's usage is ridiculously high at the moment, but since he is the best scorer we have right now, I can't complain. I didn't like the thought of Dragic-IT3, but Goran needs to find a way to deliver that doesn't involve dismantling the things that are working.

[SDC]

Sarver needs to ban Dragic from all national team play as long as he's here - otherwise, who the fuck needs him here when he plays like dogshit?

He better not get a max from us, that's for damn sure.

he doesnt deserve the max, but based on last season, he clearly deserves the same amount of money bledsoe got from boy mcdo.

[Ring_Wanted]

i thought the suns were willing to walk away from bledsoe.

Where did you see that? All things pointed at the Suns wanting to keep Bledsoe. Either via negotiations and as cheap as possible, or by matching any offer sheet.

now we are seeing the fruits of mcdo's decisions?

He is the GM. We see that fruit every day. Right now things depend more on tweaks from the coach and improvement from struggling players.

[SDC]

Marc Gasol would look so good in a suns uniform next yr

No cap room. So just enjoy the Morris Twins and #wewriteouronchapter.

the morris and IT signings werent mistakes.

[Ring_Wanted]

Sarver needs to ban Dragic from all national team play as long as he's here - otherwise, who the fuck needs him here when he plays like dogshit?

He better not get a max from us, that's for damn sure.

he doesnt deserve the max, but based on last season, he clearly deserves the same amount of money bledsoe got from boy mcdo.

I agree with this, but that money needs to be at least defensible based on what he does this 2015 season.

[SDC]

i thought the suns were willing to walk away from bledsoe.

Where did you see that? All things pointed at the Suns wanting to keep Bledsoe. Either via negotiations and as cheap as possible, or by matching any offer sheet.

they drafted ennis, then signed thomas. and they still had dragic. what do you think? in the end the boy caved.

[SDC]

Sarver needs to ban Dragic from all national team play as long as he's here - otherwise, who the fuck needs him here when he plays like dogshit?

He better not get a max from us, that's for damn sure.

he doesnt deserve the max, but based on last season, he clearly deserves the same amount of money bledsoe got from boy mcdo.

I agree with this, but that money needs to be at least defensible based on what he does this 2015 season.

looking at the roster and his place on the team, i know he wont be able to replicate those numbers (unless bleds goes down again).

[Ring_Wanted]

i thought the suns were willing to walk away from bledsoe.

Where did you see that? All things pointed at the Suns wanting to keep Bledsoe. Either via negotiations and as cheap as possible, or by matching any offer sheet.

they drafted ennis, then signed thomas. and they still had dragic. what do you think? in the end the boy caved.

I believe Ennis was desired as replacement to Ish Smith, and also that IT3 became available at an unexpected price impossible to refure, which is what rendered Ennis useless.

[Ring_Wanted]

Sarver needs to ban Dragic from all national team play as long as he's here - otherwise, who the fuck needs him here when he plays like dogshit?

He better not get a max from us, that's for damn sure.

he doesnt deserve the max, but based on last season, he clearly deserves the same amount of money bledsoe got from boy mcdo.

I agree with this, but that money needs to be at least defensible based on what he does this 2015 season.

looking at the roster and his place on the team, i know he wont be able to replicate those numbers (unless bleds goes down again).

He doesn't need to, just something more along the lines of the 18-6 with good efficiency he was achieving before Bledsoe got injuried. That's enough to justify 13M per. If he had another A+ season, we'd have to talk about the max.

[OE32]

It wasn't Gasol or Randolph that killed us. I thought Alex did a pretty good job, but I'm biased. It was Courtney Lee who killed us. Not only did Goran fail to create offense, but Courtney Lee also ate his lunch. Very impressed by Markieff last night, fwiw.

Waiting for Alex's hand to heal, for TJ to play, and for a trade, maybe?

[INFORMER]

Interesting response, given these past comments

In short, I was not willing to use that flexibility on Ilyasova, Knight and Henson. I am ok spending the 13M on the twins, as well as Bledsoe, IT3 and Tucker. I have expressed my opinion before that Kieff and Marcus can be favorable contracts, and so far they have not let the Suns down.

Now, does this investment cost the Suns a shot at 2015 FAs? It does.

Except Ilyasova-Knght-Henson wouldn't have eaten all the Suns cap space, not even close.

[jkalldaway]

A trade needs to happen. Warren needs to get minutes and I'm just not sure how that happens.

[SwingMan]

Listen to him :

[youtube][/youtube]

[JCSunsfan]

A trade needs to happen. Warren needs to get minutes and I'm just not sure how that happens.

Pj is not what he was or he would have been covering Lee last night. I think Warren might help the offensive chemistry. Something is wrong with Goran. Hopefully it's just the flu making its way through the team or something.