Suns News: Week 21 3/16-3/22

[carey]

Another 2-2 week with a giant stinker at home versus Golden State and a pretty decent game for about 40 minutes versus Atlanta. We also struggled at times against the 2 worst teams in the league, the Knicks and the Timberwolves. At the beginning of the year I predicted the Suns would finish 41-41 barring any roster changes. Well, the Suns made changes and at this point the schedule is so difficult I think they will have to play out of their minds the next 14 games if they want to reach that goal. There's not much of a chance we go 6-8, but stranger things have happened.

Last Week's Games

Monday vs. Golden State LOSS 98-80
Wednesday vs. Minnesota WIN 106-97
Friday vs. Atlanta LOSS 96-87
Sunday vs. NY Knicks WIN 102-89

This Week's Games

Thursday, March 19th vs. New Orleans 10:00PM EST
Saturday, March 21st @ Houston 8:00PM EST
Sunday, March 22nd vs. Dallas 9:00PM EST

Suns Stories

BrightSide on Suns v. Knicks: LINK
AZ Central on Suns v. Knicks, including an Archie video interview: LINK

I find it hard to believe that Goodwin is talking like they still have a shot to make the playoffs. I guess that's how it should be, but reality should set in soon.

Coro said in a tweet there's a chance that both Knight & Len return on Thursday because they will have 3 full days of rest between now and then.

[Mori Chu]

There are still several games to go, but Knight hasn't had a very impressive 30-game audition so far. It's unclear how much we would want to pay to keep him. Certainly nowhere near the max, and not as much as we pay Bledsoe.

[Cap]

There are still several games to go, but Knight hasn't had a very impressive 30-game audition so far. It's unclear how much we would want to pay to keep him. Certainly nowhere near the max, and not as much as we pay Bledsoe.

I can't see the FO trading what they did for Knight and then letting him walk away for nothing after playing just 20 games for us. They pretty much have to match any offer he gets and sell it to the fans as a great deal that was worth what we gave up.

[carey]

http://www.sbnation.com/2015/3/16/82231 ... Mj9vNdXh_K

SB Nation did a video on the twins.

[pickle]

There are still several games to go, but Knight hasn't had a very impressive 30-game audition so far. It's unclear how much we would want to pay to keep him. Certainly nowhere near the max, and not as much as we pay Bledsoe.

I can't see the FO trading what they did for Knight and then letting him walk away for nothing after playing just 20 games for us. They pretty much have to match any offer he gets and sell it to the fans as a great deal that was worth what we gave up.

agree with this. if we end up with knight, whether he works out or not, i can at least get behind that rationale, that the suns management felt that knight was an equal or better player than anyone we could've gotten with the lakers' pick. if we make the trade and end up not retaining him, then i'll be super pissed as well...

having said that, personally i would've preferred kris middleton. or maybe we make a run at middleton anyway and then resign knight?

[Indy]

There are still several games to go, but Knight hasn't had a very impressive 30-game audition so far. It's unclear how much we would want to pay to keep him. Certainly nowhere near the max, and not as much as we pay Bledsoe.

I can't see the FO trading what they did for Knight and then letting him walk away for nothing after playing just 20 games for us. They pretty much have to match any offer he gets and sell it to the fans as a great deal that was worth what we gave up.

agree with this. if we end up with knight, whether he works out or not, i can at least get behind that rationale, that the suns management felt that knight was an equal or better player than anyone we could've gotten with the lakers' pick. if we make the trade and end up not retaining him, then i'll be super pissed as well...

having said that, personally i would've preferred kris middleton. or maybe we make a run at middleton anyway and then resign knight?

I'd be more pissed if we compound our mistakes for the sake of not losing face.

[iLLmatic]

^ I don't think re-signing Knight is compounding an issue. I think not trading the twins, Tucker, and Bledsoe would be.

[Indy]

^ I don't think re-signing Knight is compounding an issue. I think not trading the twins, Tucker, and Bledsoe would be.

I don't disagree with the second part. The first part is only true depending on the cost/years.

[Superbone]

From everything I've read, the Suns have a strong desire to retain Knight.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

I'd be more pissed if we compound our mistakes for the sake of not losing face.

It will be all about the price tag coming along with him. Bledsoe at 70mill feels very diferent that it would at 50mill.

And thats the good thing about this mildly dissapointing 30 game audition. If he were tearing things up apart, his price tag would skyrocket up. I would be perfectly happy with us resigning Knight for a salary below Bledsoe's, with some luck, maybe even below the 10mill mark. That, and sending the Morrii packing for Kevin Love, win-win for everybody, teams and players.

[Mori Chu]

I'd be more pissed if we compound our mistakes for the sake of not losing face.

It will be all about the price tag coming along with him. Bledsoe at 70mill feels very diferent that it would at 50mill.

And thats the good thing about this mildly dissapointing 30 game audition. If he were tearing things up apart, his price tag would skyrocket up. I would be perfectly happy with us resigning Knight for a salary below Bledsoe's, with some luck, maybe even below the 10mill mark. That, and sending the Morrii packing for Kevin Love, win-win for everybody, teams and players.

I agree, so long as the underwhelming 30-game stint is an aberration and not indicative of what we'll get when we re-sign the guy.

[pickle]

I'd be more pissed if we compound our mistakes for the sake of not losing face.

It will be all about the price tag coming along with him. Bledsoe at 70mill feels very diferent that it would at 50mill.

And thats the good thing about this mildly dissapointing 30 game audition. If he were tearing things up apart, his price tag would skyrocket up. I would be perfectly happy with us resigning Knight for a salary below Bledsoe's, with some luck, maybe even below the 10mill mark. That, and sending the Morrii packing for Kevin Love, win-win for everybody, teams and players.

I agree, so long as the underwhelming 30-game stint is an aberration and not indicative of what we'll get when we re-sign the guy.

agreed all around. i'm not saying knight is a savior, but he did perform decently when asked to run a team (not a super star, but solid nonetheless) and is young enough to still have some intrigue left. i won't be very pissed off if we can keep him at 10-12 mil per. i can almost live with 13, given that the cap will rise with the new TV deal.

[iLLmatic]

^ I don't think re-signing Knight is compounding an issue. I think not trading the twins, Tucker, and Bledsoe would be.

I don't disagree with the second part. The first part is only true depending on the cost/years.

I think it will be less than Bledsoe years and money.

[carey]

Hornacek is coming on KTAR in 2 secs.

[jkalldaway]

Carey, we do have a shot at the playoffs...2 games against NO and 1 against OKC.

[Indy]

Carey, we have not been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs...2 games against NO and 1 against OKC.

Fixed it for you.

[carey]

Carey, we do have a shot at the playoffs...2 games against NO and 1 against OKC.

Have you been watching the games?

[Mori Chu]

With the way we have been playing and our remaining schedule, there is absolutely no way that we will make the playoffs.

[LazarusLong]

Carey, we do have a shot at the playoffs...2 games against NO and 1 against OKC.

And I have a shot at winning the PowerBall.

But I ain't planning on getting fabulously rich any time soon ...


There's a big difference between mathematical possibility vs. real world probability.

[jkalldaway]

I think we sneak in.