Suns 2022 Off-Season Thread

[Drewsprocket]

VT is on fire.
I’ve had a couple days of not thinking about Ayton. Who knew that there are other things to think about in life? I’m convinced that whatever transpired this post season (COVID + Injuries + No Show Bench), JJ’s roster moves will make them a more resilient team. GSW, Mem, Den, Mavs, and NOLA are going to be tough to beat next year.

Drew, rather be thinking about Ayton than Ukraine, threat of China starting WWII by going after Taiwan, COVID resurge, crashing stocks, school shootings, insanity of '1/2' the country screaming about imaginary voter fraud while seeking to boost politicians willing to back plans to forment overturning an election, ... I could go on...but meh, I float trade fantasies instead...less depressing...

Opiate for the masses. How else does one build meaning in this late stage capitalistic nightmare? We’re swinging arm in arm into maskless crowds risking disability with each covid reinfection without demanding better pay for those whose jobs put them at greater risk. Nevermind the elections. Neoliberalism intends to sponsor the coming economic collapse under whatever flag you fly out on your front lawn.
That said, anyone think JJ is planning to make any trades to get a 2nd rounder?

[Mori Chu]

VT is on fire.
I’ve had a couple days of not thinking about Ayton. Who knew that there are other things to think about in life? I’m convinced that whatever transpired this post season (COVID + Injuries + No Show Bench), JJ’s roster moves will make them a more resilient team. GSW, Mem, Den, Mavs, and NOLA are going to be tough to beat next year.

Drew, rather be thinking about Ayton than Ukraine, threat of China starting WWII by going after Taiwan, COVID resurge, crashing stocks, school shootings, insanity of '1/2' the country screaming about imaginary voter fraud while seeking to boost politicians willing to back plans to forment overturning an election, ... I could go on...but meh, I float trade fantasies instead...less depressing...

Come join us in the Politics section if you want to rant about that stuff!

[Split T]

[specialsauce]

Report is Atlanta trying to get a lottery pick for Collins.

Would you trade DA for the second pick and Giddy and then flip the second pick with whatever cap fill we get from OKC plus Crowder, Craig, Shamet for Collins and Bogdanovic?

[Superbone]

Where there's smoke, there's fire. Sounds more and more like Ayton will be gone to start next season.

[AmareIsGod]

Where there's smoke, there's fire. Sounds more and more like Ayton will be gone to start next season.

Dammit. I'm going to have to return the Ayton jersey I bought as a gift for Jeremy.

[ShelC]

I think Jones values consistency so unless there's a great player we can get for guys like Payne, Crowder, Shamet, Saric I think most of those guys will be back.

The Blazers are also supposedly looking to move the 7th pick for someone to plug in right away next to Dame and Simons. Could be something there with DA.

Does anyone know the dates we can start talking to teams about a S+T? I'm sure execs are talking, but could we make a draft night trade involving the 7th pick for DA to be completed later on with other players when things can be made official? I get it's risky if the deal falls thru and the Blazers are stuck with a draft pick they don't want, but could we legally do that?

[Superbone]

Where there's smoke, there's fire. Sounds more and more like Ayton will be gone to start next season.

Dammit. I'm going to have to return the Ayton jersey I bought as a gift for Jeremy.

I hope you used an AmEx to purchase!

[Split T]

I think Jones values consistency so unless there's a great player we can get for guys like Payne, Crowder, Shamet, Saric I think most of those guys will be back.

The Blazers are also supposedly looking to move the 7th pick for someone to plug in right away next to Dame and Simons. Could be something there with DA.

Does anyone know the dates we can start talking to teams about a S+T? I'm sure execs are talking, but could we make a draft night trade involving the 7th pick for DA to be completed later on with other players when things can be made official? I get it's risky if the deal falls thru and the Blazers are stuck with a draft pick they don't want, but could we legally do that?

I don’t think so because of Ayton’s FA status. He can’t have any contact with another team until July 1st

[Split T]

Report is Atlanta trying to get a lottery pick for Collins.

Would you trade DA for the second pick and Giddy and then flip the second pick with whatever cap fill we get from OKC plus Crowder, Craig, Shamet for Collins and Bogdanovic?

Yes I would do that, but I don’t think OKC would give up Giddey

[Split T]

The Blazers are pretty underwhelming to me as an Ayton target. Simons is what I’d be interested in, but I assume they have no interest in moving him. Plus acquiring him would hard cap us. The 7th pick isn’t bad, but I’d need more and I don’t think Josh Hart does it for me. Maybe if we had another deal in place to move #7 for John Collins.

[Superbone]

The Blazers are pretty underwhelming to me as an Ayton target. Simons is what I’d be interested in, but I assume they have no interest in moving him. Plus acquiring him would hard cap us. The 7th pick isn’t bad, but I’d need more and I don’t think Josh Hart does it for me. Maybe if we had another deal in place to move #7 for John Collins.

What about a 31-year-old Lillard?

[Split T]

I mean I’d get behind that…it makes for a weird fit with CP3, but Lillard-Booker is too enticing to pass up.

[Drewsprocket]

I’m sure he’s a welcome trade piece of the right move comes up. Otherwise he’s probably the Back up 5 we were missing this year.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Report is Atlanta trying to get a lottery pick for Collins.

Would you trade DA for the second pick and Giddy and then flip the second pick with whatever cap fill we get from OKC plus Crowder, Craig, Shamet for Collins and Bogdanovic?

Yes I would do that, but I don’t think OKC would give up Giddey

I think the basic rule to remember is if us fans would like a trade to happen in the Suns favor, the opposing GM would never consider it.

The Suns aren't getting more than one young high value prospect asset out of Ayton if that's the route they chose. And I don't think it's at all possible for them to get a player who'll be drafted in the top 4 this year.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Saric is a 20-25mpg rotation big. I can't say I'm completely confident in his return, but I'm optimistic that his skillset never relied much on explosive athleticism. The Suns should still benefit from his shooting and playmaking in his position and role.

[Shabazz]

Anyone else have a continuous sinking feeling that we're going to totally blow this Ayton situation?

Not to be dramatic, but if we do (trade Ayton and don't recoup the right package back), we may be headed for a stretch of good-but-not-nearly-good-enough teams followed by some really lean years. Unfortunately, the front office has been negligent on filling up our young talent pipeline and we're about to move our youngest player (by 2 whole years!) for who knows what pu-pu-platter of players that Monty would allow his daughter to date.

[Flagrant Fowl]

I'm more dreading the initial reaction to an Ayton trade among fans and media more. July 1st is the beginning of the player movement schedule, not the end. Just like last summer when a lot of people were freaking out about the Suns not using their full MLE in August, whatever returns to the Suns in an Ayton trade will likely not be the only piece that'll be on the court next Spring.

This ultimately comes down to whether or not you believe James Jones is good at his job. Based on his track record with the Suns and understanding of the window with Chris Paul, I trust that he'll have a plan to put the Suns in the group of contenders for the next title.

I'm going to try to not repeat myself a million times, but no promises. One deal involving Ayton will not make or break this team.

[Shabazz]

I'm more dreading the initial reaction to an Ayton trade among fans and media more. July 1st is the beginning of the player movement schedule, not the end. Just like last summer when a lot of people were freaking out about the Suns not using their full MLE in August, whatever returns to the Suns in an Ayton trade will likely not be the only piece that'll be on the court next Spring.

This ultimately comes down to whether or not you believe James Jones is good at his job. Based on his track record with the Suns and understanding of the window with Chris Paul, I trust that he'll have a plan to put the Suns in the group of contenders for the next title.

I'm going to try to not repeat myself a million times, but no promises. One deal involving Ayton will not make or break this team.

Of course, but it HAS to be followed up with an upgrade on the Crowder spot and some additional ball creation. We weren't good enough to win the title this year. We're likely going to lose an Ayton sign and trade. That means that we're 2 steps back from where we need to be (better than this year). So we then may have to make a follow up move that's a clear win (and if it's a trade it takes 2 to tango) just to get back to the same level we were at this past season PLUS another move to be better than last season. That's a tall task.

Also, last summer people freaked out that he never used the full MLE or the BAE... and he never did! Someone like Malik Monk at the BAE would have certainly helped with out shot creation issue.

[Mori Chu]

Anyone else have a continuous sinking feeling that we're going to totally blow this Ayton situation?

Not to be dramatic, but if we do (trade Ayton and don't recoup the right package back), we may be headed for a stretch of good-but-not-nearly-good-enough teams followed by some really lean years. Unfortunately, the front office has been negligent on filling up our young talent pipeline and we're about to move our youngest player (by 2 whole years!) for who knows what pu-pu-platter of players that Monty would allow his daughter to date.

I'm nervous. But our James Jones FO has made few mistakes, so I'm willing to give them some benefit of the doubt. I am definitely trying to manage my expectations and not hope for the moon and the stars in return for Ayton. And I do worry that we'll miss him when he's gone. But I guess it all depends on what we get back.