Suns News: Week 4 (11/7-11/13)

[Split T]

How about this:

Ayton to SAS
Tre Jones and Devin Vassell to Minny
KAT to Phoenix

Why does SA do it? Not sure, they’d need to have a high opinion on Ayton. Maybe Pop thinks he can build him into a Tim Duncan lite? They also aren’t giving up a ton of high level talent, just two really solid players.

Why does Minny do it? KAT/Rudy is clearly not working. One of them needs to go and Rudy just got there. He needs a real pg to make him useful on offense. Tre Jones is much better than D-Lo. A Jones/Vassell/Ant/McDaniels/Gobert lineup could be really good. D-Lo off the bench.

Why does Phoenix do it? Pretty obvious that KAT is an upgrade on Ayton. He creates defensive concerns, but he makes it so our offense is pretty much unschemable.

[JeremyG]

Mikal is great value, even without the cap spike. Ya I’d love if he was more consistently able to create offense, but he provides a bunch of value. Our problem is paying max money to a C that can’t stay out of foul trouble and can’t create his own shot. That plus CP3 looks like Rubio so far and we’re paying him 30 million.

Also paying 30 million combined to Crowder/Saric/Shamet and getting nothing out of them.

He has stayed out of foul trouble his entire career. Are people seriously using this as an argument now? Lol. After he's played 7 games this season?

He has, but he’s also made comments saying this is how he’s planning to play now, so we’ll see.

I thought you never believe his talk?

I don’t know that I’ve ever said that. I always get hopeful that the Ayton talk will actually prove true, but I’ve been disappointed every time. But this is also an easier thing to believe. He’s not talking about showing us unseen skills, he’s talking about continuing to do something he’s already doing.

Two games later...0.5 fouls per game.

And...just like clockwork...we're already getting posts on here complaining about "ZERO FOULS."

What did I say? Y'all are too predictable.

Just know that if you do, you'll have to suffer the copious responses from you know who.

I think even Jeremy knows Ayton has been pretty much mailing it in.

You guys are hilarious. When Ayton used to have 0-foul games, everyone said it proved he was mailing it in. Now that’s he being more physical and getting in foul trouble, it proves he is mailing it in.

Him not fouling was never an issue, picking up dumb fouls doesn't mean he's being physical, just means he's taking dumb fouls.

Him not fouling was a huge issue on this board, and was used against him as a negative and proof he’s a soft player. (There were comments like, “How do you play 35 minutes in a game and not pick up a single foul?”)

From what I’ve seen, about 0.5 fouls per game are dumb/lazy fouls. The rest are him being more physical. But if the refs don’t adjust to him, he will have to adjust his play, and I’m sure the coaching staff will guide him on that.

[Mori Chu]

On paper I really like KAT's game. But he really worries me in terms of his leadership, commitment, attitude. He seems out of shape all the time and he seems to pout when he isn't made the focal point of the offense. He's been on that team for several years now but never seems to demonstrate any real leadership. And then in the playoffs he choked. I also worry that he'd be a bad defender and that as a team we would basically have a below-average defense.

[Superbone]

Maybe Jon Bloom is FLEX's insider:

[Split T]

He has stayed out of foul trouble his entire career. Are people seriously using this as an argument now? Lol. After he's played 7 games this season?

He has, but he’s also made comments saying this is how he’s planning to play now, so we’ll see.

I thought you never believe his talk?

I don’t know that I’ve ever said that. I always get hopeful that the Ayton talk will actually prove true, but I’ve been disappointed every time. But this is also an easier thing to believe. He’s not talking about showing us unseen skills, he’s talking about continuing to do something he’s already doing.

Two games later...0.5 fouls per game.

And...just like clockwork...we're already getting posts on here complaining about "ZERO FOULS."

What did I say? Y'all are too predictable.

Not from me. You can’t quote me and then use contradictory posts from other posters to call me out.

What’s predictable is you coming to Ayton’s defense when he is playing like garbage. Can you honestly say Ayton is playing well right now? I’m curious what you think.

[Split T]

Maybe Jon Bloom is FLEX's insider:

I think Flex and Bloom have a longtime relationship. Didn’t he often call into Blooms post game radio show or something? I don’t think Bloom is connected enough to be the source.

[Superbone]

Maybe Jon Bloom is FLEX's insider:

I think Flex and Bloom have a longtime relationship. Didn’t he often call into Blooms post game radio show or something? I don’t think Bloom is connected enough to be the source.

Ah, yeah. Good point. I forgot about that relationship. I think Bloom put him on the map.

[Mori Chu]

I just don't get why you even follow Flex.

[Split T]

I just don't get why you even follow Flex.

I mean he clearly has a source…you just have to filter out all the cheerleader stuff. As long as you know he’s an eternal optimist with a source connected to Book/CP3 and not the team, he’s a fine follow.

[Split T]

RAPTOR literally has Ayton as the worst player in the nba

[Superbone]

I just don't get why you even follow Flex.

I don’t.

[TOO]

RAPTOR literally has Ayton as the worst player in the nba

Is that bad?

[ShelC]

The Raptors definitely won't trade for him now.

[Shabazz]

It’s like a mirror image of DA.

[TOO]

It’s like a mirror image of DA.

This is what Ayton thinks he is lol. Talk about head in the clouds.

[Flagrant Fowl]

I'm sure Ayton would look exactly like David Robinson in that situation.

[Furlanfufi]

I'm sure Ayton would look exactly like David Robinson in that situation.

No way... He would let the dunker pass by him way before the contact

[INFORMER]

I haven’t watched last nights game yet, but I get the feeling both sides know Ayton is gone by the deadline. Just waiting around for Jan 15th.

For what, though? His play isn't going to inspire great offers...

Someone banking on him playing better when he gets out of Phoenix? I don’t really know

That’s my reason in thinking Ayton will not get traded this year. Too many hurdles and questions, it’s just not gonna happen.

…but what about this!?


Raptors - Ayton, Crowder, Seth Curry, Royce O’Neal

Nets- OG Anunoby, Gary Trent, Khem Birch, Cam Johnson, Torrey Craig. 3 1st round pick, 2 swaps from Suns, 1st from Raptors.

Suns- KD, Thad Young, Christian Koloko, Malachi Flynn, Josh Jackson(waive immediately after)

Yeah, Toronto would have no interest in that deal.

[INFORMER]

How about this:

Ayton to SAS
Tre Jones and Devin Vassell to Minny
KAT to Phoenix

I think San Antonio might be a potential suitor for Ayton, but they aren't giving up Jones or Vassell. The Spurs would probably offer a package of Poeltl, McDermott, and Josh Richardson, plus an ATL 1st rounder.

[Flagrant Fowl]

I dream of James Jones trading Paul (Charlotte?) to clear room for a Fred VanVleet free agent offer during the summer.

The worrying thing with Ayton is that he's already floating and he technically can't be traded right now. How's he going to play when his name is in trade rumors this winter?