Suns News: The Offseason (2015)

[Preacherpj]

And I'm really not saying I'm totally against trading Bled for the #4.... I was more surprised at how eager everyone seems to do it. Draft picks just bust so often.....

[EDC]

I'm not big on keeping up with the college scene so I'm not sure if Bledsoe+13 is worth the 4 but like others have said I'm glad they are considering moving Bledsoe.

Guards are just easier to replace. Especially those that are around six foot. I would much rather have the Suns put their assets into players who are tall for their position.

[JCSunsfan]

Gambo says the Suns want an established starter in addition to #4 for Bledsoe. Not going to happen.

[Superbone]

Gambo says the Suns want an established starter in addition to #4 for Bledsoe. Not going to happen.

Why not?

[Shabazz]

Its risky either way, no doubt about it.

I'm just not sure we've given him the system and the time to know exactly what he is, what his ultimate ceiling is.

Now, I love DRussell, if someone could somehow promise me he'd be available for us at #4.... I'd like this idea a lot more, but I don't think he will be there.

Bledsoe for Russell is a no-brainer, IMO. Watch some video of Russell passing the ball. Bledsoe doesn't even dream about throwing some of those passes.

[Preacherpj]

Its risky either way, no doubt about it.

I'm just not sure we've given him the system and the time to know exactly what he is, what his ultimate ceiling is.

Now, I love DRussell, if someone could somehow promise me he'd be available for us at #4.... I'd like this idea a lot more, but I don't think he will be there.

Bledsoe for Russell is a no-brainer, IMO. Watch some video of Russell passing the ball. Bledsoe doesn't even dream about throwing some of those passes.

I really like Russell, I watch a lot of BigTen basketball during the year, but there's some warts on his game. First of all, he's not a good defensive player, I don't know if its a lack of athletic ability, or if he just doesn't care, but he doesn't play with the type of aggression that you want to see out of a leader and a star. Maybe in the NBA he ratchets it up; but zebras don't usually change their stripes. Secondly, I saw bad body-language out of him several times this year, after a turnover or poor shots, can't have your star PG pouting.

In his defense, he's young and didn't have a lot of talent around him.

And his floor-vision is lethal, I like the kid and I would take him over Bledsoe, but I don't think its a landslide.

[wpmiller42]

And I'm really not saying I'm totally against trading Bled for the #4.... I was more surprised at how eager everyone seems to do it. Draft picks just bust so often.....

I think if Bledsoe was a positive, vocal leader who performed to his ability night in and night out, I would be very hesitant about doing this kind of trade, but as it is, I think he's being paid to be the team leader, and he's just not living up to that. I don't think he plays hard every game either, so I would be willing to roll the dice on whoever we draft at 4 (Russell could step into his role right away).

[Bruiser]

Its risky either way, no doubt about it.

I'm just not sure we've given him the system and the time to know exactly what he is, what his ultimate ceiling is.

Now, I love DRussell, if someone could somehow promise me he'd be available for us at #4.... I'd like this idea a lot more, but I don't think he will be there.

Bledsoe for Russell is a no-brainer, IMO. Watch some video of Russell passing the ball. Bledsoe doesn't even dream about throwing some of those passes.

I really like Russell, I watch a lot of BigTen basketball during the year, but there's some warts on his game. First of all, he's not a good defensive player, I don't know if its a lack of athletic ability, or if he just doesn't care, but he doesn't play with the type of aggression that you want to see out of a leader and a star. Maybe in the NBA he ratchets it up; but zebras don't usually change their stripes. Secondly, I saw bad body-language out of him several times this year, after a turnover or poor shots, can't have your star PG pouting.

In his defense, he's young and didn't have a lot of talent around him.

And his floor-vision is lethal, I like the kid and I would take him over Bledsoe, but I don't think its a landslide.

Yeah, I kind of made up my mind too. Not so much because of the value of the given assets but because to me it seems to be the right time to take a gamble. If we happen to find a real superstar in Russell then everything is peachy and if not it's not like we wasted our great window of being a contender. We might be forced to tank a season or two but IMHO the Western Conference is just too good to get anywhere without at least one really great player. Now I truly believe Bledsoe is better than we all like him right now and he will do great for the Knicks but we are a small market team and as such I believe you sometimes have to swing for the fences.

I know it would be a risky move but I could imagine Russell becoming the face of our franchise so I think I would do it.

Do you guys think there is a chance that trade gets done without us waiting to see who is available at the 4# spot?

[specialsauce]

Doubt he falls to 4

[Bruiser]

Doubt he falls to 4

Yeah! Why would Philly want to draft big? It's just not happening.

[Sunsfan4life]

Gambo says the Suns want an established starter in addition to #4 for Bledsoe. Not going to happen.

Why not?

If you include #13 then yes, I'd want more then 4. Unless Russel was there. I'm willing to build my franchise around D'Angelo so I'd probabaly trade anyone on this team for him.

If Russel wasn't there then Bledsoe for #4 is fine to grab Mudiay or maybe Zinger or Winslow, but Bledsoe and #13 is steep. They have to kick somthing in although the Knicks really don't have anything I want. If they take PJ's deal then I'm fine with it.

[Sunsfan4life]

Doubt he falls to 4

Yeah! Why would Philly want to draft big? It's just not happening.

Hinkie is a best player available guy. I wouldn't be shocked if Philly drafted a big, particularly with what is happening with Embid

[Bruiser]

I kind of thought the Embiid-will-be-out-for-another-season-stories were only exaggerations and smoke screens but who knows. I also heard Hinkie really likes Porzingis, so ...

Another question is if the Zen Master would do the trade if Russell is still there?

[Sunsfan4life]

I think Russel isn't getting past the sixers but their were rumors around here early ont hat Hinkie is really high on Winslow and knows Orlando loves Portzingas. The sixers may be throwing the smokescreen to get Orlando to swap picks w/them and aquire another asset and still landing their guy in Winslow.

[ShelC]

Hinkie might take Porzingis as another pick for the future, knowing he may take a year or two to really be effective. It's just a game...keep putting off winning, keep building for the future, keep selling hope and keep buying yourself more time. At what point does ownership say enough, start winning games?

[Preacherpj]

Two things I think I know, Towns is going #1 and Russell won't be available to us at #4; I don't think Philly passes on him and if they do I don't think the Knicks deal the pick - they'd just take Russell.

So that means that at least two of the following would be available at #4, Muiday, Porzingis or Okafor.

I would trade Bledsoe+13 for Okafor (although I can't imagine the Knicks passing on him if he's there)

Bledsoe + 13 for Porzingis or Muiday I'm much more torn on.

[JCSunsfan]

I think I would do Bledsoe + #13 for any one of KAT, Okafor, Russell, or Porzingis.

I don't think the Knicks do the deal unless Kaminsky is available at #13. I would not be surprised if the Knicks are floating deals with teams from 9-14 and will make the deal with the team that decides to draft Kaminsky.

We won't know anything until after the Suns pick at 13.

[ShelC]

Steven Kyler said there's no truth to the Knicks-Bledsoe talk. Both sides laughed it off but who knows.

[JCSunsfan]

Local radio guys think it is true. So, it is what it is. I know that the Knicks want Kaminsky but don't want to spend the #4 pick on him.

[ShelC]

I'm sure both sides are denying, especially the Suns. If a rumor is outed and confirmed, it's hard to bring that player back into the mix and have them fully committed to the program when they know they were being shopped. The Sun have been doing a good job of not giving out any info. They're playing it pretty cool.