2023 Suns General Offseason/PostSeason News Thread

[Flagrant Fowl]

It's pretty funny that Kendrick Perkins talks about Chris Paul like we're living in 2015.

[Mori Chu]

Kendrick Perkins is occasionally insightful, but he's mostly a media blowhard.

[rhylek]

Even a broken clock is righ twice a day

[Superbone]

Kendrick Perkins is occasionally insightful, but he's mostly a media blowhard.

Living in the past.

[TOO]

Even a broken clock is righ twice a day

I'd rather listen to a broken clock.

[ShelC]

[JeremyG]

Here's the original story: https://sports.yahoo.com/suns-decision- ... 03826.html

If there’s one dreamy framework that could become a reality, let’s not forget Phoenix’s strong overtures to acquire Kyrie Irving — another key point guard of this offseason — before Brooklyn dealt the dazzling ball-handler to Dallas. The Suns backed off their pursuit of Irving and refocused on landing a bigger prize in Durant, but Phoenix officials haven’t just abandoned the interest they held in Irving four months ago. That would require some cooperation from the Mavericks, who have so far signaled little willingness to entertain a possible sign-and-trade for Irving with the Lakers, sources said. Dallas, of course, hopes to retain Irving after mortgaging two key rotation pieces plus a 2029 first-round pick to acquire him. But if Irving were to call his shot out of town, perhaps the Mavericks would be more willing to work with a return that netted Paul as opposed to Los Angeles point guard D’Angelo Russell.

Would Phoenix take Russell for Paul? The Suns held discussions with the Timberwolves regarding Russell prior to the trade deadline, sources told Yahoo Sports, before Minnesota found a new home for him with the Lakers. Phoenix also coveted Wolves center Naz Reid in trade talks, sources said.

Russell is known to be close friends with Booker. Plus, the Lakers are said to be exploring similar sign-and-trade possibilities with Russell. For Los Angeles and Phoenix, losing Russell by free agency or waiving Paul would sacrifice a $30 million salary slot that feels all the more precious while staring down a daunting new second tax apron in the league’s upcoming collective bargaining agreement.

I would do the Kyrie trade if he's willing to sign for equal to or less than Paul's $30.8M.

Of course either of the above scenarios (Paul for Kyrie, or Paul for Russell) would require illegal tampering to know we could trade Paul after June 28, unless Paul agrees to push back his guarantee date.

[Split T]

It’s a lot trickier to stay under the hard cap though if we’re using CP3 as our trade piece in a S&T. We’d definitely need to cut salary elsewhere

[Flagrant Fowl]

I'm interested in Payton Pritchard but not in a starting role, and I think that's what he's angling for in his trade request out of Boston.

[ShelC]

I'd jump at MitchRob and IQ. Mitch is on a good deal right now and IQ is up for an extension that the Knicks probably don't want to pay. IQ can start or come off the bench but has the size, length, defense and explosiveness we could use.

[INFORMER]

I had lost hope that Ayton is going to be moved, and I never like Atlanta as a trade partner because I think they would only offer a Capela/Collins combo (which makes me want to vomit). However, if Ayton is going to be moved, and Atlanta is the destination, I wouldn't mind a package of Bogdanovic, A.J. Griffin, Okongwu, and the #46 pick.

[ShelC]

You'll get Capela and a future 2nd.

[INFORMER]

Fortunately that doesn't even work salary wise.

[ShelC]

That'll be the core of the deal. Maybe Bogdan to make the salaries work but you're not getting two of their best young players.

DA and Shamet for Capela and Bogdan. I'd also try and get 1 of Matthews, Bey or Johnson with Bey and Johnson the targets.

[INFORMER]

...you're not getting two of their best young players.

That's fine, then no deal. Capela and Collins are non-starters for me. I honestly think the sticking point for them would be giving up Bogdanovic in concert with Griffin/Okongwu; they're not in development mode; they're trying to put together a contender.

But for me, Griffin/Okongwu is my price. I would be fine leaving out Bogdanovic and inserting John Collins if the Clippers could be added to take Collins. Something like:

Suns get: AJ Griffin, Onyeka Okongwu, Jason Preston, Robert Covington, Nicolas Batum, #46
Atlanta gets: DeAndre Ayton, Landry Shamet
LA Clippers gets: John Collins, Garrison Matthews

DA and Shamet for Capela and Bogdan. I'd also try and get 1 of Matthews, Bey or Johnson with Bey and Johnson the targets.

I think they're keeping Bey. They brought him in at the deadline and he performed well; I don't see them turning around moving him so soon. I think Johnson is definitely attainable, and Matthews is the type of role player that would probably work well next to Book/KD.

[ShelC]

Griffin and Okongwu are contributors who are still getting better, not projects who need years of development. Young players on rookie deals that teams value, core guys who fit with Trae. DA and Shamet aren't getting them closer to contention anyway.

What changed your mind on Okongwu? Thought you weren't a fan during the draft.

[INFORMER]

Griffin and Okongwu are contributors who are still getting better, not projects who need years of development. Young players on rookie deals that teams value, core guys who fit with Trae.

Oh, they definitely value Okongwu. But ultimately, he is still playing behind Capela. I'm sure they would rather move Capela, but doesn't mean their trade partner is going to accept that.

As far as Griffin goes, I'm sure they like him too, but they brought in Bey (who plays his position) and Griffin collected DNPs in the playoffs. So I don't think they (Snyder) is married to him.

DA and Shamet aren't getting them closer to contention anyway.

Well Shamet is salary filler, so it's silly to even mention him. And I think you're projecting your valuation of Ayton on Atlanta. If I were a Brooklyn fan in 2021 and wanted to dump Shamet, I would have never thought a team would give me a 1st rounder for him. If I was a Jazz fan last summer, I never would have thought Minnesota would have backed up the brinks truck for Rudy Gobert.

I know in the past there has been smoke around Atlanta's interest in Ayton, and I think they would see him as a clear and significant upgrade to Capela. And like I said initially, I think their offer would be Collins and Capela. But I was just leaving room to be pleasantly surprised.

What changed your mind on Okongwu? Thought you weren't a fan during the draft.

I saw him play in the NBA. Seriously though, he has rebounded better than I thought he would, and has been able to finish against NBA size, strength, and length better than I thought he would. So I changed my opinion of him from what I thought of him at draft time. I know, I know, hard to believe...

[ShelC]

If they take Ayton they still have to move Capela, unless they're fine with both. I'd be OK with Capela since he's only got 2 more years left, maybe you move him next year as an ending contract. He's good for a double double and some blocks and we can platoon a bit with him and Jock. I dont have any interest in Collins.

[Shabazz]

How about Capela and Hunter as the core pieces coming back?

One challenge, Ayton doesn’t strike me as a Quinn Snyder guy.

[Drewsprocket]

I had lost hope that Ayton is going to be moved, and I never like Atlanta as a trade partner because I think they would only offer a Capela/Collins combo (which makes me want to vomit). However, if Ayton is going to be moved, and Atlanta is the destination, I wouldn't mind a package of Bogdanovic, A.J. Griffin, Okongwu, and the #46 pick.

Idk if it’s just me psyching myself out. Maybe I was too high on us trading Ayton away. But I’ve mellowed down to maybe he will maybe he won’t. I’d rather keep him than trade him away on a crap deal. The odds of Vogel reforming Ayton are better than winning with a John Collins.