Suns News: Week 23 (3/20 - 3/26)

[Kryptonic]

Wasn't able to watch last night. Glad I couldn't. Saw Scott Foster & his team awarded the Lakers 50 FTs. That's insane.

Why the league even lets him ref against us is BS... Wouldn't be surprised if he's the next Tim Donaghy and has mob ties to fix games. Curious how much the line moves in vegas when he's announced as the official for suns games.

[Shabazz]

2 more Ls.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Dammit.

[Shabazz]

[barf emoji]

[Flagrant Fowl]

We all knew it would be bad on that end and there was a reason he stopped getting major minutes in Orlando.

[Mori Chu]

His defense is truly awful. You don't even need the stat to see it, but the stat really drives home just how bad he is. I think I'd rather give those minutes to Shamet, Wainwright, and other guys.

[AmareIsGod]

He looks like he's a half second delayed in responding to anything, offense or defense, when he's out there. He needs to stay on the bench.

[ShelC]

[Kryptonic]

Shoulda went the full FVV route for the extra $10k

[Split T]

[Superbone]

More on the Williams fine:

https://arizonasports.com/story/3517065 ... sm-lakers/

[Superbone]

Just like we drew it up to peak in the playoffs. (Assuming we're still in the running by the time he gets back.)

[Uncle_Gene]

Can't wait till Wednesday. Suns need KD desperately.

[Superbone]

Can't wait till Wednesday. Suns need KD desperately.

That they do but I don't like the fact that they are relying on it.

[Split T]

Knowing what we know now, would you guys take back the trade?

I honestly think I would. Not because I think it was a bad move, but it increasingly looks like this year might be a lost year anyways and I think we’d still be able to trade for KD in the summer. We’d then have multiple months and a playoff run from Mikal to show that he’s an absolute stud and have more leverage. We could still make a WCF run with Mikal this year, then trade for KD in the summer and be much better positioned next year. I’m assuming we’d be able to get KD for less. Like Mikal, CamJ and 2 1sts.

[Superbone]

Isn't it cool how all decisions are easier in hindsight?

[Split T]

I will say, come Wednesday I may completely be on board again haha

[Mori Chu]

Knowing what we know now, would you guys take back the trade?

I honestly think I would. Not because I think it was a bad move, but it increasingly looks like this year might be a lost year anyways and I think we’d still be able to trade for KD in the summer. We’d then have multiple months and a playoff run from Mikal to show that he’s an absolute stud and have more leverage. We could still make a WCF run with Mikal this year, then trade for KD in the summer and be much better positioned next year. I’m assuming we’d be able to get KD for less. Like Mikal, CamJ and 2 1sts.

It's definitely been a mixed bag. KD has been exceptional when he's played; with him and a healthy lineup, we look noticeably better than we have looked at any other time this season. But he has barely played, and our depth is bad now, and we gave up a decade's worth of assets to get him. The move is so completely all-in that it will either succeed gloriously or fail catastrophically.

I think I would honestly not have made the trade as given. Mikal + CamJ + Jae + 4 1sts is too much. I was okay with Mikal, Cam, and some 1sts, but more like 2 1sts tops, and no Crowder. They took too much from us. I don't like the precedent of it, the way Ishbia overruled James Jones and said yes to 100% of the asks that Brooklyn made. I think BKN would have caved on some of those assets if we had waited. Or even if they hadn't, fine, then don't make the trade.

Having said that, I am excited to see whether this team can round into form and make a title run. I don't want to be negative or fret about things we can't undo now.

[Superbone]

Knowing what we know now, would you guys take back the trade?

I honestly think I would. Not because I think it was a bad move, but it increasingly looks like this year might be a lost year anyways and I think we’d still be able to trade for KD in the summer. We’d then have multiple months and a playoff run from Mikal to show that he’s an absolute stud and have more leverage. We could still make a WCF run with Mikal this year, then trade for KD in the summer and be much better positioned next year. I’m assuming we’d be able to get KD for less. Like Mikal, CamJ and 2 1sts.

It's definitely been a mixed bag. KD has been exceptional when he's played; with him and a healthy lineup, we look noticeably better than we have looked at any other time this season. But he has barely played, and our depth is bad now, and we gave up a decade's worth of assets to get him. The move is so completely all-in that it will either succeed gloriously or fail catastrophically.

I think I would honestly not have made the trade as given. Mikal + CamJ + Jae + 4 1sts is too much. I was okay with Mikal, Cam, and some 1sts, but more like 2 1sts tops, and no Crowder. They took too much from us. I don't like the precedent of it, the way Ishbia overruled James Jones and said yes to 100% of the asks that Brooklyn made. I think BKN would have caved on some of those assets if we had waited. Or even if they hadn't, fine, then don't make the trade.

Having said that, I am excited to see whether this team can round into form and make a title run. I don't want to be negative or fret about things we can't undo now.

Yeah, there will be plenty of time to winge in the off-season.

[Split T]

Looking at the stats and Terrence Ross has never played better than he is for us right now. If we can just get him to be passable on defense, we might have something. TJ looks better on defense lately and looks like a rotation guy. When fully healthy I’m at:

Paul/Booker/Okogie/KD/Ayton
Payne/Ross/Craig/Warren

Those are my playoff rotation 9 right now. Biz or Jock could be used in certain situations, but I’d mostly go KD at the 5 and have Craig in there.

Shamet could steal some time from Payne, Ross, Okogie, or Craig. Looks like Lee has fallen completely out of the rotation. Baz was never in it, and Ish is barely hanging on.