Suns 2022 Off-Season Thread

[Flagrant Fowl]

I think there's a bit of truth to this if we're listening to Ayton's comments over the years. IIRC, he was talking about being a Power Forward a lot when he came into the league and had his eye on shooting 3-pointers. There were also a lot of comments from him about his "middy" a couple of years back.

[Superbone]

Give me a break. A PF who is afraid of contact?

[Shabazz]

The thing I have been worrying about lately is, if you just let Ayton go shopping for contracts from other teams with the intent to match, you are playing with fire. For one thing, you force Ayton to go and sign with another team, which causes him to presumably commit to playing there and want to be there. Now if he stays in Phoenix, he's had that look at another team and doesn't want to be forced to stay here against his will. Secondly, the other team can put all sorts of awful poison pills into the deal that make it unpalatable for us. They can make the first year's salary higher to hurt our cap. They can add trade kickers so that we will get penalized for trying to sign him and deal him later. And so on. Basically Ayton and that other team can stick enough bad juju into that deal situation that we will be disincentivized from matching it, especially with cheapass trash Sarver running the team. It really isn't as simple as "just match whatever deal he signs."

I would much rather see us talk to him and negotiate a deal with him, say a 4-year max or whatever, if it's at all possible to do so. That's still better than he can get from other teams, and we can tell him if it doesn't work out for whatever reason, we'll help him find a better situation that we can trade him to. Everybody wins.

I've said for months that the biggest risk is a team signing him to a 3-year max with a PO after the 2nd year.

[Indy]

The thing I have been worrying about lately is, if you just let Ayton go shopping for contracts from other teams with the intent to match, you are playing with fire. For one thing, you force Ayton to go and sign with another team, which causes him to presumably commit to playing there and want to be there. Now if he stays in Phoenix, he's had that look at another team and doesn't want to be forced to stay here against his will. Secondly, the other team can put all sorts of awful poison pills into the deal that make it unpalatable for us. They can make the first year's salary higher to hurt our cap. They can add trade kickers so that we will get penalized for trying to sign him and deal him later. And so on. Basically Ayton and that other team can stick enough bad juju into that deal situation that we will be disincentivized from matching it, especially with cheapass trash Sarver running the team. It really isn't as simple as "just match whatever deal he signs."

I would much rather see us talk to him and negotiate a deal with him, say a 4-year max or whatever, if it's at all possible to do so. That's still better than he can get from other teams, and we can tell him if it doesn't work out for whatever reason, we'll help him find a better situation that we can trade him to. Everybody wins.

I've said for months that the biggest risk is a team signing him to a 3-year max with a PO after the 2nd year.

Yeah that would kind of force us to trade him during the season this year.

[Indy]

fixed

You're no fun!

What did he fix? Why not just delete it?

I typed "her" instead of "here" in the post quoted above.

There is no "her" or "here" in "fixed".

Correct. I was talking about the quoted post from AIG, not you.

[Indy]

Give me a break. A PF who is afraid of contact?

Avoids contact and can't dribble and can't create.

[Superbone]

You're no fun!

What did he fix? Why not just delete it?

I typed "her" instead of "here" in the post quoted above.

There is no "her" or "here" in "fixed".

Correct. I was talking about the quoted post from AIG, not you.

"You're no fun!" Nope, still no "her" or "here". I promise you I'm not doing an Abbot and Costello routine. I have no idea of what you're talking about. A post that says "fixed" out of nowhere is really weird. Why didn't you quote the post you "fixed"?

(And can you tell I'm not interested in working today?)

[Indy]

lol. it was the quoted post of AIG's before that one where he commented on my typo.

[Uncle_Gene]

Give me a break. A PF who is afraid of contact?

Avoids contact and can't dribble and can't create.

.......& let a 6'7 Doncic back him down in the paint.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Give me a break. A PF who is afraid of contact?

Right. A big reason why I don't believe Ayton will ever be DOMINATYON at the Center position is because he doesn't actually want to do the stuff required, and it really puts a kink in the "get him more post touches" argument. He apparently wants to do stuff that he's not skilled enough to do (right now, maybe ever) at the expense of winning, and be paid at a superstar level to do it. That's a lot to ask of any team who's not in the rebuilding phase.

Smart teams who're interested in signing him have to be asking questions about this to Ayton and themselves. If a team, say the Pistons, signs him to a max contract with the expectation that he'll be their Center in a mostly similar role to what he's done in Phoenix, wouldn't they need some assurances that he'll commit to improving his game in that role? They have to be at least a little worried about why the Suns haven't been willing to do whatever it takes to keep him in Phoenix, and contrary to what a lot of people think, the main reason isn't Robert Sarver.

[Indy]

Give me a break. A PF who is afraid of contact?

Right. A big reason why I don't believe Ayton will ever be DOMINATYON at the Center position is because he doesn't actually want to do the stuff required, and it really puts a kink in the "get him more post touches" argument. He apparently wants to do stuff that he's not skilled enough to do (right now, maybe ever) at the expense of winning, and be paid at a superstar level to do it. That's a lot to ask of any team who's not in the rebuilding phase.

Smart teams who're interested in signing him have to be asking questions about this to Ayton and themselves. If a team, say the Pistons, signs him to a max contract with the expectation that he'll be their Center in a mostly similar role to what he's done in Phoenix, wouldn't they need some assurances that he'll commit to improving his game in that role? They have to be at least a little worried about why the Suns haven't been willing to do whatever it takes to keep him in Phoenix, and contrary to what a lot of people think, the main reason isn't Robert Sarver.

Exactly. I mean who is a better center, Looney or Ayton? Bjelica or Ayton? Ayton or 36 year old Horford? Ayton's physical abilities dwarf them all, but I don't see either team being better with him starting for them.

[specialsauce]

Give me a break. A PF who is afraid of contact?

Right. A big reason why I don't believe Ayton will ever be DOMINATYON at the Center position is because he doesn't actually want to do the stuff required, and it really puts a kink in the "get him more post touches" argument. He apparently wants to do stuff that he's not skilled enough to do (right now, maybe ever) at the expense of winning, and be paid at a superstar level to do it. That's a lot to ask of any team who's not in the rebuilding phase.

Smart teams who're interested in signing him have to be asking questions about this to Ayton and themselves. If a team, say the Pistons, signs him to a max contract with the expectation that he'll be their Center in a mostly similar role to what he's done in Phoenix, wouldn't they need some assurances that he'll commit to improving his game in that role? They have to be at least a little worried about why the Suns haven't been willing to do whatever it takes to keep him in Phoenix, and contrary to what a lot of people think, the main reason isn't Robert Sarver.

Exactly. I mean who is a better center, Looney or Ayton? Bjelica or Ayton? Ayton or 36 year old Horford? Ayton's physical abilities dwarf them all, but I don't see either team being better with him starting for them.

Lmao.

Your boncic is getting in the way again

[Superbone]

And if he is adamant that he won't want to be anywhere if he isn't the primary shot taker (he hasn't said this tbf), him being her will only hurt us.

If that's truly the case, I hear the Mercury really need a center. People hardly ever dunk in the WNBA so Deandra would fit right in. Might even be an all-star.

OK, because I'm avoiding work, I took the time to finally find what you were talking about! I first read both of these posts before your correction (I think) and I missed your typo. I just thought AIG was just being funny with Ayton's gender identity which I thought was weird as he's one of Ayton's bigger defenders. Anyway, I can now sleep tonight.

[Superbone]

Give me a break. A PF who is afraid of contact?

Right. A big reason why I don't believe Ayton will ever be DOMINATYON at the Center position is because he doesn't actually want to do the stuff required, and it really puts a kink in the "get him more post touches" argument. He apparently wants to do stuff that he's not skilled enough to do (right now, maybe ever) at the expense of winning, and be paid at a superstar level to do it. That's a lot to ask of any team who's not in the rebuilding phase.

Smart teams who're interested in signing him have to be asking questions about this to Ayton and themselves. If a team, say the Pistons, signs him to a max contract with the expectation that he'll be their Center in a mostly similar role to what he's done in Phoenix, wouldn't they need some assurances that he'll commit to improving his game in that role? They have to be at least a little worried about why the Suns haven't been willing to do whatever it takes to keep him in Phoenix, and contrary to what a lot of people think, the main reason isn't Robert Sarver.

Exactly. I mean who is a better center, Looney or Ayton? Bjelica or Ayton? Ayton or 36 year old Horford? Ayton's physical abilities dwarf them all, but I don't see either team being better with him starting for them.

Lmao.

Your boncic is getting in the way again

If your boncic lasts longer than four hours you should call your doctor, am I right?

[specialsauce]

Give me a break. A PF who is afraid of contact?

Right. A big reason why I don't believe Ayton will ever be DOMINATYON at the Center position is because he doesn't actually want to do the stuff required, and it really puts a kink in the "get him more post touches" argument. He apparently wants to do stuff that he's not skilled enough to do (right now, maybe ever) at the expense of winning, and be paid at a superstar level to do it. That's a lot to ask of any team who's not in the rebuilding phase.

Smart teams who're interested in signing him have to be asking questions about this to Ayton and themselves. If a team, say the Pistons, signs him to a max contract with the expectation that he'll be their Center in a mostly similar role to what he's done in Phoenix, wouldn't they need some assurances that he'll commit to improving his game in that role? They have to be at least a little worried about why the Suns haven't been willing to do whatever it takes to keep him in Phoenix, and contrary to what a lot of people think, the main reason isn't Robert Sarver.

Exactly. I mean who is a better center, Looney or Ayton? Bjelica or Ayton? Ayton or 36 year old Horford? Ayton's physical abilities dwarf them all, but I don't see either team being better with him starting for them.

Lmao.

Your boncic is getting in the way again

If your boncic lasts longer than four hours you should call your doctor, am I right?

Oh yeah, for sure. And if it’s been 3 years, make arrangements

[iLLmatic]

We seemed to fair just fine with McGee and Biyombo when Ayton was out for that stretch of games. Our play didn't really dip that much during that time. That's one of the reasons why I think he's gone.

[specialsauce]

We seemed to fair just fine with McGee and Biyombo when Ayton was out for that stretch of games. Our play didn't really dip that much during that time. That's one of the reasons why I think he's gone.

We also did just fine without Booker or Paul. Didn’t skip a beat.

[Indy]

Give me a break. A PF who is afraid of contact?

Right. A big reason why I don't believe Ayton will ever be DOMINATYON at the Center position is because he doesn't actually want to do the stuff required, and it really puts a kink in the "get him more post touches" argument. He apparently wants to do stuff that he's not skilled enough to do (right now, maybe ever) at the expense of winning, and be paid at a superstar level to do it. That's a lot to ask of any team who's not in the rebuilding phase.

Smart teams who're interested in signing him have to be asking questions about this to Ayton and themselves. If a team, say the Pistons, signs him to a max contract with the expectation that he'll be their Center in a mostly similar role to what he's done in Phoenix, wouldn't they need some assurances that he'll commit to improving his game in that role? They have to be at least a little worried about why the Suns haven't been willing to do whatever it takes to keep him in Phoenix, and contrary to what a lot of people think, the main reason isn't Robert Sarver.

Exactly. I mean who is a better center, Looney or Ayton? Bjelica or Ayton? Ayton or 36 year old Horford? Ayton's physical abilities dwarf them all, but I don't see either team being better with him starting for them.

Lmao.

Your boncic is getting in the way again

It is so funny to me that you normally bitch incessantly about guys avoiding contact, but you seem to embrace it with Ayton. Like you are 100% hot or 100% cold.

[specialsauce]

Give me a break. A PF who is afraid of contact?

Right. A big reason why I don't believe Ayton will ever be DOMINATYON at the Center position is because he doesn't actually want to do the stuff required, and it really puts a kink in the "get him more post touches" argument. He apparently wants to do stuff that he's not skilled enough to do (right now, maybe ever) at the expense of winning, and be paid at a superstar level to do it. That's a lot to ask of any team who's not in the rebuilding phase.

Smart teams who're interested in signing him have to be asking questions about this to Ayton and themselves. If a team, say the Pistons, signs him to a max contract with the expectation that he'll be their Center in a mostly similar role to what he's done in Phoenix, wouldn't they need some assurances that he'll commit to improving his game in that role? They have to be at least a little worried about why the Suns haven't been willing to do whatever it takes to keep him in Phoenix, and contrary to what a lot of people think, the main reason isn't Robert Sarver.

Exactly. I mean who is a better center, Looney or Ayton? Bjelica or Ayton? Ayton or 36 year old Horford? Ayton's physical abilities dwarf them all, but I don't see either team being better with him starting for them.

Lmao.

Your boncic is getting in the way again

It is so funny to me that you normally bitch incessantly about guys avoiding contact, but you seem to embrace it with Ayton. Like you are 100% hot or 100% cold.

Yes he avoids contact like a little bitch, but you’re hilarious saying he wouldn’t improve the warriors by replacing KEVON LOONEY or bjelica!!!! Horford!!!! Lolololol

Have you told your physician about your Boncic?

[JeremyG]

We seemed to fair just fine with McGee and Biyombo when Ayton was out for that stretch of games. Our play didn't really dip that much during that time. That's one of the reasons why I think he's gone.

Yeah, it sounds like the Suns latched onto that as a reason to get rid of him. But that success with McGee and Biyombo was because of Chris Paul.

The utter insanity is that the Suns are so delusional as to think that Chris Paul can keep playing at that MVP level, even though he turns 38 next postseason. Even if he’s still pretty good next season, what are they going to do in the seasons after that? It’s such a shortsighted view that it deserves to be laughed out of the building, and yet here we are with Monty and Sarver and perhaps even Jones going in this ridiculous direction.