Suns News: Week 21 (3/10 - 3/16)

[Superbone]

So, we know the Suns have the most expensive payroll ever to not make the playoffs. But we also know that payrolls have continued to grow over the years. What I'm wondering is if we're number one in league history if you translate past payrolls into current dollars. I have a feeling we are.

[SunsRIt]

I just don’t understand how this team is 30-36. With the talent they have over .500 should he a given. What a colossal failure.

[JeremyG]

Yeah, you would think that “not living up to expectations” would still mean 44 wins or something by the end of the season. Not six games under .500. It seems impossible and has to be a combination of players and coaching, as well as players not buying into coaching.

[Cap]

Yeah, you would think that “not living up to expectations” would still mean 44 wins or something by the end of the season. Not six games under .500. It seems impossible and has to be a combination of players and coaching, as well as players not buying into coaching.

I didn’t know where the blame lies, so I asked KD.

It’s the fans.

[Superbone]

Yeah, you would think that “not living up to expectations” would still mean 44 wins or something by the end of the season. Not six games under .500. It seems impossible and has to be a combination of players and coaching, as well as players not buying into coaching.

I'm afraid it's everything. This team just doesn't care on the defensive end. They don't care to rebound the ball. They don't care to match other teams' physicality. They are content to get manhandled. They are continuously sloppy with the ball and do it over and over, game after game. They are just happy to go out there and try to score the ball individually with little care of the game outcome. THIS IS AN EX-PARROT!!

I believe it's the most disappointing Suns team I can ever remember and my memory is clear back to the 1975-6 season. We're talking 50 years of Suns' basketball.

[Superbone]

And what do we have to show for our first ever #1 overall pick? Grayson Allen and Nick Richards? So many thing have gone wrong since Ishbia took over. Now he needs to pull us out of this mess.

[Kryptonic]

Officially the most disappointing and depressing suns team to ever take the court. I’d find 2x more joy in watching a young, home grown team under the apron than this overpriced turd. Thanks KD… for nothing.

[O_Gardino]

Windhorst on PTI said everything points to a KD trade this summer. Can't explain why we're 30-35, should be better, no way this collection of talent should be 30-35. Makes no sense to run it back. Changed coaches, changed role players but haven't proven to be a quality team with the Big 3.

Book has no intention of going anywhere, under longterm deal.

Beal has a no-trade clause, hasn't played up to the contract, they tried to trade him, talked to multiple teams at the deadline.

KD wasn't involved in the deadline process, bothered but not mad and wants to change team on his terms. Does think that's were it's headed, see how the season ends and who's disappointed and see how the market develops.

It's not hard to figure out. They were built to score, but in doing so they neglected the defense, they continue to have holes in the lineup because most of their talent is concentrated at SG and SF. They don't have any on-court leadership or toughness, they aren't physical, and frequently look like they're just going through the motions.

If you can't defend or rebound and aren't an offensive juggernaut of course you aren't going to win consistently.

IMO the biggest problem is that they also don't score particularly well. Like you said, they aren't an offensive juggernaut. If the team isn't good at the star's weaknesses, you could address that with role players. If the team isn't good at the stars' strengths, you gotta blow it up.

[BigLewy]

Really long ESPN article on the Suns with quotes from Booker and Ishbia. Any Booker trade speculation can end. Too long to paste, but a good read.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/442 ... oenix-suns

[O_Gardino]

Miller's Phoenix highlight was in the first round of the '93 NBA playoffs against the Lakers. The Suns fell behind 2-0 to an undermanned L.A., but battled back to tie the series. In the pivotal fifth game, the Suns and Lakers went into overtime wherein Miller blocked several shots and led the team with nine points to win the game and the series.

That game is still one of my best memories. I was in high school, and my mom was a Lakers fan. That offseason was the beginning of a long and fun rivalry on our family.

[O_Gardino]

Officially the most disappointing and depressing suns team to ever take the court. I’d find 2x more joy in watching a young, home grown team under the apron than this overpriced turd. Thanks KD… for nothing.

Worse than Backcourt 2000.

[TOO]

Really long ESPN article on the Suns with quotes from Booker and Ishbia. Any Booker trade speculation can end. Too long to paste, but a good read.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/442 ... oenix-suns

Basically for anyone who thinks that Ishbia will rebuild the old fashioned way you need to let that dream die. Never gonna happen.

[Wally_West]

2 year plan.

Next two years should be about acquiring and developing young talent around Book with trades and drafting. Getting flexible contracts that will allow us to have max cap space when Beal’s contract ends in 2 years. That’s 57 million off the books, so let’s add to that. Allow yourself to be able to get multiple stud free agents or be able to make trades for another star.

[BigLewy]

I thought it was interesting that there was insinuation that Beal would be more amenable to waiving his NTC in the offseason since he didn't want to uproot his family during the season. One can only hope.

[ShelC]

Yea it's not impossible and doesn't need to be some 4 year tanking plan. You need to maximize what you get for KD tho, can't take pennies on the dollar and need to hold firm on an asking price. And you also need to get the best deal, not let him dictate the two teams he wants to go to (I know that's easier said than done).

[Wally_West]

Yea it's not impossible and doesn't need to be some 4 year tanking plan. You need to maximize what you get for KD tho, can't take pennies on the dollar and need to hold firm on an asking price. And you also need to get the best deal, not let him dictate the two teams he wants to go to (I know that's easier said than done).

This. We can always revisit at the deadline, not ideal I know, but you gotta threaten the little leverage you have. Worst case scenario would be not getting anything for him but getting off 53 million off your books isn’t worst thing in the world, especially since 57 million will come off the season after that.

[Wally_West]

I thought it was interesting that there was insinuation that Beal would be more amenable to waiving his NTC in the offseason since he didn't want to uproot his family during the season. One can only hope.

I want to get off the Beal deal asap but I’m at a point where I refuse to give up any more draft capital. I think the Rockets game broke me. We wasted enough on him, unless it’s a clean deal, I’m cool with just letting him expire. I’m ready to be big players in Free Agency again with an owner who ain’t afraid to spend and who players actually like.

[Mori Chu]

Really long ESPN article on the Suns with quotes from Booker and Ishbia. Any Booker trade speculation can end. Too long to paste, but a good read.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/442 ... oenix-suns

Some quotes from the article:

"If we get in the playoffs, I don't think that we're an easy out for anybody," Ishbia said.

LOL. Yeah, sure. I bet OKC is quaking in their boots about having to potentially face us.

THERE IS ONE absolute certainty as the Suns approach what might be a summer of major change: Booker will not be traded.

"It's surprising to me that other people, other fans, they actually like the rebuild process," Ishbia said, disdain dripping from his voice as the final word of that sentence comes out of his mouth. "Like, 'Oh, let's rebuild it.' Are you crazy?! You think I'm going to go for seven years and try to get there? You enjoy the 2030 draft picks that we have holding? I want to try to see the game today. I want us to win today, and we're going to try.

Groan.

League sources said that Durant and Rich Kleiman, the 15-time All-Star's agent and business partner, would be consulted on any trade discussions involving him this summer.

Why? Just trade him. Who cares what he thinks or wants?

Beal admits that he has felt disrespected at times by the Suns this season.

He gets plenty of respect for a broken down piece of glass that breaks every 5 games.

DAYS AFTER PHOENIX'S 2023-24 season ended in a first-round sweep, Ishbia defiantly declared that the Suns had "enough talent to win a championship," a claim he believed again entering this season. He also insisted during that news conference that 26 of the other 29 NBA general managers would swap situations with the Suns -- roster, future draft picks and all -- a statement that was mocked around the league within minutes of Ishbia saying it.

LOL. Sure, Jan.

"The thing is, I feel really good about our organization, the franchise, the basketball," Ishbia said. "If we had won 15 more games than we won right now, I'd feel amazing about it all, but I feel that we're in a great position in Phoenix."

We're doing great. We just need to win 15 MORE GAMES is all.

Ishbia is aware that he has been accused by rivals and the media of having "new owner syndrome," which is a way of saying he makes impulsive, splashy decisions instead of taking a patient approach.

"People like to say, 'Oh, he's too involved.' What?" said Ishbia, who splits his time between Phoenix and Pontiac, Michigan, where the headquarters of his family's United Wholesale Mortgage are located. "Honestly, you think I watched film on the players we're drafting? They say, 'We like Ryan Dunn.' I say, 'OK, how do we get him?' I don't watch film, I don't interview the player. It's just silly what people talk about."

So he doesn't watch any film, but nevertheless he forces the GM to make major trades. OK, thanks for the help, Ishbia!

[Mori Chu]

We may get a look at Cody Martin tonight.

[Cap]

Really long ESPN article on the Suns with quotes from Booker and Ishbia. Any Booker trade speculation can end. Too long to paste, but a good read.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/442 ... oenix-suns

The belief within the front office is that the Suns aren't as far away from contending as the standings indicate.

Right. Not as far away as the standings indicate. The standings indicate we’re the 11th-best team in the conference, but maybe it’s really closer to 7th. I guess that’s technically not as far away from contending as 11th. Our odds should be 1 in 500 instead of the 2000-1 you can get on Draft Kings.