Suns News: The Offseason

[Superbone]

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/n ... /10401467/

The Suns' Las Vegas NBA Summer League schedule is set with a July 12 game at 5 p.m. against Golden State, a July 13 game at 7 p.m. against Milwaukee and a July 15 game at 5 p.m. against Philadelphia. All three games are at UNLV's Cox Pavilion and air live on NBA TV.

The Suns then will be in the league's 24-team tournament, which starts July 16 and ends with a July 21 championship at UNLV. Suns returnees Archie Goodwin and Alex Len are expected to participate along with this year's draftees under Suns assistant coach Mike Longabardi.

[EDC]

I can't wait. So happy that they are broadcasting them. I wonder if the tournament will be aired as well.

[TOO]

Nice to see Longabardi coaching it this year.

[INFORMER]

P.J. Tucker talks his imminent free agency:

"I love Phoenix, and I hope to be back in Phoenix," he said. "Phoenix has been my home the last two years, and it's been awesome. I love everybody in the organization -- top to bottom. (The) front office has been great, and they've shown me so much love. So, it's always near and dear. But it's a business and different things can happen, so we'll see what happens in the next couple weeks."

The Raleigh, N.C., native made just under $900,000 in 2013-14, and his performance last season likely will earn him a raise on his next contract -- wherever he ends up playing.

Before you get concerned that Tucker is ready to pack his bags and head out of town, the 29-year-old swingman further explained his strategy in free agency.

"I'm restricted, so regardless of what happens, Phoenix gets a chance to match," Tucker said. "So the more suitors, the more chances you have to make more money, maybe."

Although he plans to entertain offers from other teams, Tucker reiterated how much of an impact Phoenix has had on him.

"To be in Phoenix is the key," he said. "I want to be in Phoenix. We've grown so much here. I've grown so much here. We've grown as a team. The priority, probably, is to come back to Phoenix. But as I've said, it is a business and different things may happen."

http://www.arizonasports.com/41/1741011 ... ther-teams

[Superbone]

Get 'er done!

[Mori Chu]

What do you guys think is a fair deal for Tucker? 3yrs/$12m?

[TOO]

Tony Allen's 2nd contract was 2yrs for 5m IIRC (not 100% on that tho), so something similar to that in terms of annual salary is probably fair.

[SDC]

What do you guys think is a fair deal for Tucker? 3yrs/$12m?

same as jared dudley's.

[Ring_Wanted]

I've read somewhere that the Grizzlies are interested in him. Under 4M per season you have a great deal, but if he gets an offer from another team I could see him gone.

[Superbone]

I've read somewhere that the Grizzlies are interested in him. Under 4M per season you have a great deal, but if he gets an offer from another team I could see him gone.

It's in the article INF linked. He will get an offer from another team. We'll have the option to match.

[Sunsfan4life]

I love P.J., but he is replaceable. I think 3/12 would be a fair deal.

[Ring_Wanted]

He is indeed replaceable in terms of numbers, but he has grown to be one of the leaders of this team and his intensity and intangibles are not common.

In my opinion 3 years is not fair to the player, especially after being dirty cheap for two seasons. This is probably his only relevant NBA contract and I think he has earned a 4 year commitment from the Suns.

What remaing to be seen is at how much per season. If it comes from another team that wants to make sure he is theirs, 4/20 would probably get it done, and that is still less than full MLE. Deals like 3/15, 4/12 or 4/16 for instance, and I think you just match without having to think too much about it.

[carey]

I'm sorry, I like Tucker, but he's not an MLE guy. I know his defense has been pretty great, especially when compared to some of the sieves we have on this team. He scores less than 10 a game on 43% shooting and still makes some really really dumb plays when on the break though. Not to mention he's already 29. You want a 33 year old Tucker making $6Mil on this team?

[Ring_Wanted]

You want a 33 year old Tucker making $6Mil on this team?

I don't. But if you are a win now team like the Grizzlies, and you want to make absolutely sure that you get him as a RFA, I think you need to put at least 5M per on the table.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

I love this kind of players, but he is a notch or two below Raja Bell, so 4 millions when he is 33 would be dead weight money.

I would give him 10-11mill on a 3-year contract and let see if he truly wants to be here, after all, we gave him his first true shoot at the NBA. Yes, its cheap, but he is nothing special on the court and is already 29. Goood-but-not-great defense, not a guarantee from 3, and most important to me, Tucker often tries to "take over" and tries too much over his real role and capabilities, leading to bad shots or turnovers. As for the leadership, we have a strong group and a great coach, we will be fine on that regard.

[Ring_Wanted]

I would give him 10-11mill on a 3-year contract and let see if he truly wants to be here.

3.3M is basically the tax payer MLE initial year. If he took it, great, but considering his background I think that's basically showing him the door if you are not willing to go higher.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

I would give him 10-11mill on a 3-year contract and let see if he truly wants to be here.

3.3M is basically the tax payer MLE initial year. If he took it, great, but considering his background I think that's basically showing him the door if you are not willing to go higher.

Any amount below what he thinks he is worthy would be showing him the door if he is all about money.

For instance, Shawn Marion learned the hard way how his self-involvement, blindsided him to recognize the great situation he had going on in Phoenix. Matrix was not all about money, but his demands for "respect" included a Max-contract. Fortunately for him, after a humbling tour for Miami pre-Lebron and Toronto post-Vince, he landed on a Dallas team where he found another shot at something special, there he acepted his role and was an important cog on their title run.

[INFORMER]

What do you guys think is a fair deal for Tucker? 3yrs/$12m?

I'd prefer a deal between $3.5-4.5 million annually, and no more than 3 years guaranteed. If he get s an offer for $5 million annually, I would be tempted to let him go. Then I 'd talk to Charlotte about acquiring MKG.

[Ring_Wanted]

I wouldn't like PJ's case to Marion. At all. Money is of course an issue, it always is, but Tucker has made peanuts so far and has not whined about lack of respect or feeling undervalued. Quite the opposite, he has been a leader by all accounts, something you can't really say about Marion.

Still, if he indeed was all about money, and just about money, he'd go to the highest bidder by definition. We have to find out about this anyway.

In the case he wasn't of this white and black mindset, my point is that the Suns shouldn't be that way either and should go higher than they initially wanted. How much? We'd have to look at the specific figures. If a team gives him 5M I strongly consider letting him go. More than that and honestly I don't even think about it. More than 4 but less than 5M per, I lean towards keeping him. And if it is not an offer sheet, there would be room to share the risk of the fourth year. Something like a partial guarantee for instance.

[Ring_Wanted]

What do you guys think is a fair deal for Tucker? 3yrs/$12m?

I'd prefer a deal between $3.5-4.5 million annually, and no more than 3 years guaranteed. If he get s an offer for $5 million annually, I would be tempted to let him go. Then I 'd talk to Charlotte about acquiring MKG.

He. Our posts couldn't be more similar. Certainly a long way from those 2M per, right?