Game Day: Suns (14-13) @ Nuggets (15-11), Mon 12/23/24

[Split T]

Have you followed the Knicks and their fans? Bridges has been on their shit list most of the year

No I don’t care about Knicks fans. They also gave up a bunch for him…not his fault they treated him like he was KD when they traded for him. He’s still a good player and more importantly to this discussion, a likable player to cheer for.

Well they expected a two way star who was dropping 25/5/5.

They got Phoenix Mikal, who is a great role player but not a star.

So there are two different discussions. He's very likable as a role player but that Bridges we saw right after he was traded to BKN was a hot streak and not a sudden rise in development

That’s on them if they were expecting 25/5/5. And I’d say he’s somewhere between Phoenix Mikal and that half season in Brooklyn Mikal. He obviously has more shot creation ability than Phoenix Mikal did.

[Mori Chu]

I think Saucey has come out as a HIMosexual.

[JJ Slim]

Hindsight is 20/20. Most everyone was onboard with moving off Monty, CP, Cam and Mikal. Ishbia was probably the main catalyst in making it all happen as a new owner. Jones still gets a ton of heat but I think he's weathered a few storms pretty well. Can't really blame him for this current mess.

I think people wanted to move off Ayton and Monty, and there was the feeling that CP could go because of his contract, but I don't think anyone was looking to unload Briges and Johnson.

Trading for Beal was the biggest mistake. They already had Booker at his position and that gave them three main players who were offensive-minded (although Durant is a good defensive player). Add to that a lack of quality big men and you have a situation where no coach is going to coax this team into being good defensively.

Our biggest mistake was not trading DA before he signed his max offer from Indiana. Could've gotten so much more for him.

I think it goes back further than that. Our biggest mistake was drafting DA instead of whiney ass Doncic.

[Mori Chu]

Drafting DA (and not Luka) set this franchise back a decade. And probably cost us a title.

[ShelC]

Plus Josh Jackson over Fox.

[JJ Slim]

Honestly I thought Ayton had a ton of potential and that we finally got the big man we never had. Unfortunately his physical potential was wasted by the lack of mental potential. Of course I thought Big Jake was our answer at center too.

[SunsRIt]

Don’t forget the Chriss/Bender draft. They were so excited to get 2 absolute losers.

[TOO]

Don’t forget the Chriss/Bender draft. They were so excited to get 2 absolute losers.

Never hated a draft more than that, I didn't understand either pick. I was so upset

[Split T]

4, 8, 4, 1 in 3 drafts and came away with Bender, Chriss, Jackson, Ayton…some teams get those picks and draft Durant, Westbrook, Harden, Ibaka

[iLLmatic]

Don’t forget the Chriss/Bender draft. They were so excited to get 2 absolute losers.

Never hated a draft more than that, I didn't understand either pick. I was so upset

Bunch of Suns homers on Reddit loved it.

[Split T]

Bender had a lot of fans…7’0 skilled big…after the Porzingis success, people thought Bender would follow. I was not a fan though. I never saw much of an nba player in him. I did like Chriss though

[Superbone]

Bender had a lot of fans…7’0 skilled big…after the Porzingis success, people thought Bender would follow. I was not a fan though. I never saw much of an nba player in him. I did like Chriss though

Bender island sunk though.

[ShelC]

Bender was so weird because he looked the part and teased with some things but never actually did anything to impact a game. He'd grab a rebound, bring the ball up, pass it off, cut hard to the corner, and then either do nothing or brick a shot. Or he'd come off a screen, catch a pass, make a hard dribble, go nowhere, pass it off, cut away and do nothing or miss his next shot.

Chriss was the classic "bigger/stronger/more athletic than his comp" college big. No real skills and when got to the pros and guys were his size or bigger, stronger or more athletic, he didn't know how to work or elevate his game.

[Flagrant Fowl]

The Bender and Chriss draft blunders were all about a staff trying to prove their worth/keep their job.

Everyone knew that was a talent poor draft, yet it didn't prevent McD and his people from thinking they were smarter than everyone else and doubling down on high value selections. Hindsight being what it is, Chriss was pedestrian in the Pac12, and there was really nothing about Bender's career in Europe that indicated a sufficient return on his draft position.

It was all ego and probably a significant reason why McD hasn't been in a front office since 2018.

[ShelC]

Also a clear divide between McD and Watson, each wanting their own guy. It was a pretty poor draft tho where they should've traded back or out.

[MightyMoog]

Had they done nothing we’d have had Sabonis and Boggie.

Jones has had a few blunders, but if you excuse the stuff he had to do while under Sarver, he’s been pretty good.

[ShelC]

And recently when he's had picks, he drafted Camara, Dunn and Oso. Camara is at least a solid rotational swing who'd be filling a need for us now, while Dunn and Oso at least give us what we need in terms of size, length and athleticism at their position.

[Split T]

He also drafted Cam Johnson, Ty Jerome, and Jalen Smith…Jerome and Smith took a little longer, but they are rotational players…there’s not a miss anywhere.

[MightyMoog]

Also think he would’ve handled the Jaylen contract better had it not been for Sarver’s budgeting.

Only real blunder I have seen is passing on Tyrese.

[Cap]

Don’t forget the Chriss/Bender draft. They were so excited to get 2 absolute losers.

Never hated a draft more than that, I didn't understand either pick. I was so upset

Bunch of Suns homers on Reddit loved it.

In fairness, it was a pretty crappy draft. I wasn’t excited about the Bender pick, but there wasn’t anybody on the board who excited me.