Suns News: Week 14 1/23-1/29

[Bruiser]

I would pass on Cousins.


On an unrelated note, if we had a GM that had any sort of clue, we'd move Bledsoe now. His value will never be higher. Move him now (should be a member of the Orlando Magic by the end of February).

I don't know where I stand on Cousins but I am absolutely okay with cashing in on Bledsoe now.

Theoretically or basketballwise Cousins is a no-brainer, but I am not so sure if the city, team, front office, owner, culture and timing are right for him and his special character needs. It would be a lot different if Nash and Hill or someone else with a straight head would still be leading the team here but with our current situation it is most definitely a risky move that could go either way. Having said that, I would tend towards taking the risk if the price is not too hefty. I would without a doubt enjoy watching our Kentucky-Connection do some damage, even though it seems impossible to even get to the conference finals for a few more years.

Anyway, my favorite route would be to do it the Philly way and trade everything, invest in the not so near furture and build the team through the draft.

[Mori Chu]

ESPN's Zach Lowe takes a long look at Bledsoe and his role on the Suns. Good read from Lowe as always.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/1860 ... x-suns-nba

[Bruiser]

ESPN's Zach Lowe takes a long look at Bledsoe and his role on the Suns. Good read from Lowe as always.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/1860 ... x-suns-nba

Nice, very much appreciated.

[Superbone]

Watson is more blunt: "I can almost guarantee Devin and Eric will be on the same team next year," he said.

There's your answer.

[In2ition]

Watson is more blunt: "I can almost guarantee Devin and Eric will be on the same team next year," he said.

There's your answer.

Why am I not surprised by this quote? smfh

[ShelC]

I wish Watson would keep his mouth shut.

[jonh]

Watson is more blunt: "I can almost guarantee Devin and Eric will be on the same team next year," he said.

There's your answer.

Is that an answer? How much input does Watson get when determining who stays and who goes? I imagine that he has a voice in the decision, but McD's apparent approach to players feels much less impersonal. My guess is if a somewhat decent offer is made of Bledsoe (or Chandler or Tucker for that matter), then McD will pull the trigger.

In fact, one could argue one of the biggest issues with the current iteration of the Suns FO is they can often be too trigger happy--semi blowing up the team every few years or so in order to pick up another 1st or 2nd round pick.

[Split T]

Great article. Really shows how far Bledsoe has come and how good he's been this year. I'd move him for that Orlando package, Bledsoe and Len for vucevic, hezonja, and their first, but I'm in no rush to move him. I think he's a solid point guard! We can always trade him later after we know what we have in this year's draft. If we draft Josh Jackson, we're gonna need a pg and knight and ulis are not the answers

[jonh]

Great article. Really shows how far Bledsoe has come and how good he's been this year. I'd move him for that Orlando package, Bledsoe and Len for vucevic, hezonja, and their first, but I'm in no rush to move him. I think he's a solid point guard! We can always trade him later after we know what we have in this year's draft. If we draft Josh Jackson, we're gonna need a pg and knight and ulis are not the answers

That leads to an interesting question--assuming there are no major roster moves the rest of the season and the Suns get the first pick in the draft, who do you pick?

[Split T]

Great article. Really shows how far Bledsoe has come and how good he's been this year. I'd move him for that Orlando package, Bledsoe and Len for vucevic, hezonja, and their first, but I'm in no rush to move him. I think he's a solid point guard! We can always trade him later after we know what we have in this year's draft. If we draft Josh Jackson, we're gonna need a pg and knight and ulis are not the answers

That leads to an interesting question--assuming there are no major roster moves the rest of the season and the Suns get the first pick in the draft, who do you pick?

Slight lean towards Fultz right now over Jackson. Fultz is big enough that he can easily play both guard positions and you could get away with a Bledsoe-Fultz-Booker lineup as well. That being said, I love Josh Jackson too and would be just fine taking him 1st.

[TOO]

Great article. Really shows how far Bledsoe has come and how good he's been this year. I'd move him for that Orlando package, Bledsoe and Len for vucevic, hezonja, and their first, but I'm in no rush to move him. I think he's a solid point guard! We can always trade him later after we know what we have in this year's draft. If we draft Josh Jackson, we're gonna need a pg and knight and ulis are not the answers

That leads to an interesting question--assuming there are no major roster moves the rest of the season and the Suns get the first pick in the draft, who do you pick?

I still dont think Bledsoe is the long term answer, so Ball or Fultz. After watching more Fultz I'm leaning more towards Ball if we can get him.

[Split T]

Great article. Really shows how far Bledsoe has come and how good he's been this year. I'd move him for that Orlando package, Bledsoe and Len for vucevic, hezonja, and their first, but I'm in no rush to move him. I think he's a solid point guard! We can always trade him later after we know what we have in this year's draft. If we draft Josh Jackson, we're gonna need a pg and knight and ulis are not the answers

That leads to an interesting question--assuming there are no major roster moves the rest of the season and the Suns get the first pick in the draft, who do you pick?

I still dont think Bledsoe is the long term answer, so Ball or Fultz. After watching more Fultz I'm leaning more towards Ball if we can get him.

One of the great things about the pg's in this draft is they are all big. Down the road I think all of them will be able to defend multiple positions. Smith and Fox are 6'3, Fultz is 6'4, Ntilikina and Ball are 6'5 - 6'6, Ntilikina and Fultz both have huge wingspans as well and play taller than they are.

[carey]

Great article. Really shows how far Bledsoe has come and how good he's been this year. I'd move him for that Orlando package, Bledsoe and Len for vucevic, hezonja, and their first, but I'm in no rush to move him. I think he's a solid point guard! We can always trade him later after we know what we have in this year's draft. If we draft Josh Jackson, we're gonna need a pg and knight and ulis are not the answers

If that were legitimately on the table you do that now no questions asked. Idgaf about the rest of this season. Run Devin Booker at PG for the next 33 games if you want so he can practice ball-handling.

Fultz (Ball) - Ulis
Booker - Knight - Mario
Warren - Bender
Chriss - Dudley
Chandler - Vooch

We'd probably suck for one more year but after that.. that team could be something. Plus Orlando is the 4th pick now and that could get you Jackson or Markkanen or Isaac. I don't know how much better adding Bledsoe and Len would make them. Would they make the playoffs in the East w/ a late push? Or would we pick in the 10-12 range?

[sunshoopjunky]

I wish Watson would keep his mouth shut.

THIS

[Split T]

Great article. Really shows how far Bledsoe has come and how good he's been this year. I'd move him for that Orlando package, Bledsoe and Len for vucevic, hezonja, and their first, but I'm in no rush to move him. I think he's a solid point guard! We can always trade him later after we know what we have in this year's draft. If we draft Josh Jackson, we're gonna need a pg and knight and ulis are not the answers

If that were legitimately on the table you do that now no questions asked. Idgaf about the rest of this season. Run Devin Booker at PG for the next 33 games if you want so he can practice ball-handling.

Fultz (Ball) - Ulis
Booker - Knight - Mario
Warren - Bender
Chriss - Dudley
Chandler - Vooch

We'd probably suck for one more year but after that.. that team could be something. Plus Orlando is the 4th pick now and that could get you Jackson or Markkanen or Isaac. I don't know how much better adding Bledsoe and Len would make them. Would they make the playoffs in the East w/ a late push? Or would we pick in the 10-12 range?

I don't think they make the playoffs, they're probably only 5 or so games out, but they've got 6 or 7 teams to pass. Miami is playing very well, Milwaukee and Charlotte will turn things around, and it'll probably take bledsoe a bit to gel with his new teammates. I imagine the pick would end up in the later half of the lottery though. Without Bled, we'd be a bottom 3 team for sure, probably bottom 2 and be guaranteed a top 5 pick. Add say the 10th pick to that and we could put together a nice young core.

[Split T]

http://arizonasports.com/story/1012180/ ... kie-month/

Chriss just named Western Conference Rookie of the month for January.

Chriss averaged 8.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 20.5 minutes per game in January. He shot 46 percent from the floor and 34.2 percent from three

How bad is this rookie class? Especially the 2016 draft class?

Embiid is the runaway ROY, but he was drafted in 2014. Willy Hernangomez has been solid, but he's 2015 draft class. The best player in this years draft class has been Malcolm Brogdon, a 2nd rounder.

[AmareIsGod]

http://arizonasports.com/story/1012180/ ... kie-month/

Chriss just named Western Conference Rookie of the month for January.

Chriss averaged 8.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 20.5 minutes per game in January. He shot 46 percent from the floor and 34.2 percent from three

How bad is this rookie class? Especially the 2016 draft class?

Embiid is the runaway ROY, but he was drafted in 2014. Willy Hernangomez has been solid, but he's 2015 draft class. The best player in this years draft class has been Malcolm Brogdon, a 2nd rounder.

Chriss may be the dark horse for ROY. That 2016 Class was deep!

[Shabazz]

All of this would seem to make Bledsoe an intriguing trade candidate as the deadline approaches in three weeks. (Nobody wants Brandon Knight, by the way.) It's just hard to find a good fit.

(sigh)

[Superbone]

Watson is more blunt: "I can almost guarantee Devin and Eric will be on the same team next year," he said.

There's your answer.

Is that an answer? How much input does Watson get when determining who stays and who goes? I imagine that he has a voice in the decision, but McD's apparent approach to players feels much less impersonal. My guess is if a somewhat decent offer is made of Bledsoe (or Chandler or Tucker for that matter), then McD will pull the trigger.

In fact, one could argue one of the biggest issues with the current iteration of the Suns FO is they can often be too trigger happy--semi blowing up the team every few years or so in order to pick up another 1st or 2nd round pick.

I read it more as Watson getting his information from McD. Bledsoe has always seemed to be McD's guy.

[AmareIsGod]

All of this would seem to make Bledsoe an intriguing trade candidate as the deadline approaches in three weeks. (Nobody wants Brandon Knight, by the way.) It's just hard to find a good fit.

(sigh)

If only McD was the GM for another team. He'd do whatever it took to get Knight off our hands. Guaranteed.