The 2021 Suns Offseason

[Flagrant Fowl]

I remember when the consensus on Payton around here was that he'd be better if he changed his goofy haircut.

Turns out that talent seems to be the bigger issue for him.

[Split T]

I do think it’s interesting we haven’t heard anything about the extensions for Ayton and Bridges…Bridges doesn’t surprise me too much as that needs to be negotiated. Ayton I’m sure asked for the max…that we didn’t immediately give it to him is interesting. Might not mean anything at all, maybe we said we’ll talk negotiations after we sign new free agents, but maybe means we’re not just giving him the max no questions asked? I’ve seen reports on Trae/SGA/Doncic already…MPJ would probably be the only other potential max with Ayton, but he’s also not a lock imo.

[Split T]

I remember when the consensus on Payton around here was that he'd be better if he changed his goofy haircut.

Turns out that talent seems to be the bigger issue for him.

Ya he wasn’t good for us and hasn’t really ever been good. He had some moments, but I also think he quit on the season. I remember him having a pretty steep drop off at one point…perhaps at some point we told him we didn’t plan to bring him back.

[djy2j]

I mean it's a low risk high reward situation. If Chris Paul can keep him focused/motivated he'll be a fine 3rd option. If he can't he'll simply be cut.

Better options out there I'm sure but seems like a game of chicken is being played by agents to try and get more money for their clients that simply isn't there and FO's aren't really wanting to wait around on them.

[The Bobster]

You really don't want to pay more than minimum salary for your 12th-15th players. There are salary cap implications and there aren't really enough minutes available to justify spending much more anyway.

[specialsauce]

You really don't want to pay more than minimum salary for your 12th-15th players. There are salary cap implications and there aren't really enough minutes available to justify spending much more anyway.

Correct but what the hell are we doing? We’re not even attempting to improve our 6-10th men in the rotation.

Wasted our MLE.

We really could have used a solid addition in the front court that could play 4/5. Didn’t even attempt it.

[Superbone]

Patience, young grasshopper. All will be revealed in time.

[JeremyG]

It's really not even just 6th-10th that needed improvement. What we really need is a legit starting PF to replace Crowder--someone who is at least 6'10 and can rebound.

[Indy]

You really don't want to pay more than minimum salary for your 12th-15th players. There are salary cap implications and there aren't really enough minutes available to justify spending much more anyway.

Correct but what the hell are we doing? We’re not even attempting to improve our 6-10th men in the rotation.

Wasted our MLE.

We really could have used a solid addition in the front court that could play 4/5. Didn’t even attempt it.

Guys 8-10 don't play in the playoffs. So we took our original 7 (Book-CP3-DA-Mikal-Jae-Cam-Cam) and replaced injured Dario with McGee. By total minutes played, Craig was our #8, but it was Dario up until he got injured.

I am not happy that we haven't added a big 4/5 that can play with DA, though.

[Indy]

It's really not even just 6th-10th that needed improvement. What we really need is a legit starting PF to replace Crowder--someone who is at least 6'10 and can rebound.

I don't think we need to replace him there, though. I think it is fine if he starts at PF, and we get Cam 25 mpg there. They can share that spot, and we bring in anther 4/5 that can play with DA or McGee. That would allow us to go big or small, depending on what we need.

[bajanguy008]

Just a lil bummed with the additional creator void that lingers but will not trip yet and always good to see a post about this guy

[JeremyG]

It's really not even just 6th-10th that needed improvement. What we really need is a legit starting PF to replace Crowder--someone who is at least 6'10 and can rebound.

I don't think we need to replace him there, though. I think it is fine if he starts at PF, and we get Cam 25 mpg there. They can share that spot, and we bring in anther 4/5 that can play with DA or McGee. That would allow us to go big or small, depending on what we need.

I wouldn't mind a quality backup PF as long as he can start against big lineups, but I would prefer a legit PF starting and Crowder coming off the bench. Crowder is only 6'6"--that's just not enough size against most opponents and he's not a very good rebounder either.

[Flagrant Fowl]

I have very little issue with the offseason moves if the team is comfortable with leaning on the development of the young guys.

Paul and Payne are great cap-friendly deals. Nader's new deal is fine. He's comfortable in his role and the contract is good if a trade option becomes available. Kaminsky is whatever after the McGee signing. His job is to make goofy hand gestures after other guys make three-pointers. Benefits of being able to walk and chew gum as a 7-foot tall human.

Shamet is better than any bench guard on the roster last season besides Payne. I don't think the draft pick would've been much help in 2021-22. That's a little shortsighted, but they're still developing 4 players on rookie contracts. 5 if we want to include Ty-Shon Alexander.

McGee is a slight overpay, but I like the stuff he brings to the team. He's going to play hard and not cause issues in the locker room if he doesn't get on the court for a week straight.

Much like hypothetical trades, it takes two to tango. So for the people who say they should get this player or that player, remember it's the player's decision where they want to sign. The worst thing to do is give out contracts to guys like Josh Childress.

The core is set and solid. Maintain flexibility in the trade and buyout markets.

[JeremyG]

I don't understand why the Suns have no interest in Aldridge (per Gambo). If you could get someone like him at the 4, you can play Johnson and Crowder more at the 3 and 2, with Nader/Shamet playing less. No need to play undersized.

[Split T]

The one thing I would do, is make sure we use our exceptions…it appears we might not, but having two more contracts could prove useful in a trade scenario. Adding a 4.5 and 3.7 million dollar contract could prove very useful in acquiring a piece at the deadline. Honestly, giving Payton the BAE would be better than the minimum if we aren’t going to use the BAE otherwise. Those two contracts alone could get us a player making 12-13 million a year back…Add in Saric and we can go up to 22ish million. Of course Sarver would have to be willing to pay.

[Split T]

I don't understand why the Suns have no interest in Aldridge (per Gambo). If you could get someone like him at the 4, you can play Johnson and Crowder more at the 3 and 2, with Nader/Shamet playing less. No need to play undersized.

I understand not wanting to be undersized, but Crowder is better than Aldridge…downgrading talent to be bigger isn’t the answer either.

Now I wouldn’t mind Aldridge on the team, but it would be in a limited role. A role I don’t get the feeling he would be interested in. I think that’s the biggest reason we don’t have many big names wanting to sign on.

[specialsauce]

You really don't want to pay more than minimum salary for your 12th-15th players. There are salary cap implications and there aren't really enough minutes available to justify spending much more anyway.

Correct but what the hell are we doing? We’re not even attempting to improve our 6-10th men in the rotation.

Wasted our MLE.

We really could have used a solid addition in the front court that could play 4/5. Didn’t even attempt it.

Guys 8-10 don't play in the playoffs. So we took our original 7 (Book-CP3-DA-Mikal-Jae-Cam-Cam) and replaced injured Dario with McGee. By total minutes played, Craig was our #8, but it was Dario up until he got injured.

I am not happy that we haven't added a big 4/5 that can play with DA, though.

We wasted our MLE on Javale. We’re going to regret this again when DA gets into foul trouble or is exhausted in the playoffs and we have only a single option to replace him. Same shit that happened this year.

Frank did decent against Milwaukee but he is not the answer. We need high level depth, and Mcgee would have been that if he was the third center. Instead he’s the only realistic backup option.

[specialsauce]

Would love to swing a deal for Lauri.

Problem is I’m not interested in giving up Cam.

Dario + Smith + picks??

[Indy]

You really don't want to pay more than minimum salary for your 12th-15th players. There are salary cap implications and there aren't really enough minutes available to justify spending much more anyway.

Correct but what the hell are we doing? We’re not even attempting to improve our 6-10th men in the rotation.

Wasted our MLE.

We really could have used a solid addition in the front court that could play 4/5. Didn’t even attempt it.

Guys 8-10 don't play in the playoffs. So we took our original 7 (Book-CP3-DA-Mikal-Jae-Cam-Cam) and replaced injured Dario with McGee. By total minutes played, Craig was our #8, but it was Dario up until he got injured.

I am not happy that we haven't added a big 4/5 that can play with DA, though.

We wasted our MLE on Javale. We’re going to regret this again when DA gets into foul trouble or is exhausted in the playoffs and we have only a single option to replace him. Same shit that happened this year.

Frank did decent against Milwaukee but he is not the answer. We need high level depth, and Mcgee would have been that if he was the third center. Instead he’s the only realistic backup option.

I agree on that part.

[Split T]

Let’s break down the roster to see why we probably aren’t getting the free agent names many of us wanted.

Our top 7 players in minutes played in the playoffs were:
Booker, Ayton, Paul, Bridges, Johnson, Crowder, and Payne. All 7 are back and there’s no indication they would need to cut minutes…except maybe Paul and Payne probably deserves more anyways.

Number 8 and 9 were Craig and Saric. Now we can debate over whether we replaced them with the right guys, but as of now, Shamet and McGee took those spots. There wasn’t free agents on the market that were going to jump into our top 7. That was set once Paul and Payne came back. So all we had was 10-15 minute roles off the bench up for grabs.

All that being said, I still think we need 1 more guy. Someone to actually fill the role departed by Craig. Shamet may be worthy of those minutes, but there will be scenarios when we’ll need to be bigger. Maybe Jalen Smith proves worthy of that role, but I’m not counting on it. Craig was also our small ball 5…we don’t have one of those now…so if we can get a big wing that can double as our small ball 5 with our last roster spot, I will be happy. To me the best bet at this point is Stanley Johnson.