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

[Split T]

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)

I'm afraid we're probably stuck with knight for the time being, unless we want to just dump him for nothing. Orlando would probably do the expiring contract of Jeff Green for him. There not giving us any assets though. He's not causing problems, I say we hold on to him, maybe he figures out how to be useful at some point this season and we can trade him during the summer after teams looking for guards strike out in free agency.

[Mori Chu]

As much as I'd love to get rid of Knight, if we truly can't get back an asset for him, maybe we just need to figure out how to extract value out of him here. He's a decent insurance policy in case Bledsoe blows out his knee again, and he might be a positive contributor if his role were different, or he might grow into being a more positive contributor as he gets older and is with the team longer.

[Mori Chu]

We need a ... how-to-pass-the-damn-ball assistant coach or something. A guy whose ENTIRE job is to scream at them to pass the damn ball. 2-on-1 break? HtPtDB Asst. Coach yelling, "Bledsoe, PASS THE DAMN BALL!!!!!!" Somebody needs to drill it into their heads that they need to be unselfish and need to work together more on offense. No more 1-on-1, no more chucking. I think most of our roster is capable of this if we got after them and made it a high priority.

[Split T]

Derrick Jones Jr. is in the dunk contest. Going up against DeAndre Jordan, Aaron Gordon, and Glen Robinson III. He'll get more floor time in the dunk contest than he has all season.

[Split T]

Devin Booker just announced for the Skills challenge as well. IT4, Gordon Hayward, John Wall are the other guards. Davis, Embiid, Porzingis, and Cousins are the bigs.

3 pt contest is Klay Thompson, Kyle Lowry, Kemba Walker, Kyrie Irving, Wes Matthews, CJ McCollum, Nick Young, Eric Gordon

[pickle]

Why would a guy like Wall compete in these things?

[pickle]

I am a little late to the Cousins game (Chinese New Year holiday, didn't turn on my computer for a week), but I still wanted to add my 2 cents anyway.

I would absolutely not entertain such a deal, under any circumstances. I'm glad that it was just a rumor... Several of my basketball junkie friends sent the news my way and it was slightly depressing, and even more depressing that I have no confidence in our front office not to make such a deal.

Earlier in the season, I was under the impression that Cousins is a young man with a temper who has trust issues; if he could be put into an environment where he feels that the support group around him "has his back" then he could go to battle for them. A guy like that, I'm willing to move some assets for and think that maybe he can benefit greatly from a change of scenery. Over the past few days, I heard a few podcasts discussing this and many have said that every day in the Kings' organization everyone pretty much braces themselves for the next great temper tantrum from Cousins. And also that Corbin story. I would never want a guy like that in any place I work at, much less on a basketball team where everyone needs to instinctively trust each other. And we have so many youngsters. I'd take three Brandon Knights before I take on a single DeMarcus Cousins.

If there's really an offer on the table of Bledsoe and Len for Vucevic Hezonja and Orlando's 16 pick, I do that yesterday. Not only do we extract maximum value for Bledsoe, we won't have the issue of Len's contract hanging over our heads this summer, and we let Brandon Knight take over the starting pg reigns and maybe he turns into a coveted asset again (at least in terms of the statistics). Vucevic is pretty worthless protecting the rim, but that's okay. I'm willing to let this roster grow a bit and he can teach our youngsters a thing or two about positioning and low post offense.

[Split T]

Why would a guy like Wall compete in these things?

Not sure I understand. Why can't he compete?

[LazarusLong]

[quote="pickle"]I am a little late to the Cousins game (Chinese New Year holiday, didn't turn on my computer for a week), but I still wanted to add my 2 cents anyway.


If there's really an offer on the table of Bledsoe and Len for Vucevic Hezonja and Orlando's 16 pick, I do that yesterday.


Pickle: Happy Year of the Rooster!

The Orlando deal is speculation from a Zach Lowe column.

[pickle]

LL: Thanks. I know that it's Lowe speculation. I would love for it to be real tho, and I'd pounce on that deal.

T: I know that he can. I just mean that, for a player of his caliber, what is there to gain from competing in one of these things? Would he open himself up to more sponsorship off the court or something?

[Shabazz]

Basketball insiders reporting that the Wolves offered the other Shabazz for PJ Tucker.

I would pass on that.

[pickle]

I'd pass too. Soon-to-be contract headache with unclear role, especially with our current circumstances.

[SDC]

Basketball insiders reporting that the Wolves offered the other Shabazz for PJ Tucker.

I would pass on that.

PJ tucker for derrick williams

[djy2j]

Basketball insiders reporting that the Wolves offered the other Shabazz for PJ Tucker.

I would pass on that.

PJ tucker for derrick williams

Not sure if that was sarcasm or not but the Heat will end up waiving Williams to make room for Okaro White who they love. No need to trade for the dude.

[ShelC]

Haven't seen this post anywhere:

http://arizonasports.com/story/1011305/ ... lt-player/

McD isn't denying we're talking to the Kings about Cousins. A few quotes:

“That’s not something we’re necessarily scared of,” - dealing with a player with attitude issues (because the M****s Bros worked out great).

“I think coach Watson is probably either at or near the top of the list in terms of current NBA coaches who would be able to manage a difficult player,” McDonough said.

“Earl has a unique ability to be firm with players, be firm with people, be direct with them, but also get them to like him and respect him and even if they don’t always agree with the message, they respect that it’s delivered in an appropriate way and that they know that he has their best interests at heart.”

[JCSunsfan]

Haven't seen this post anywhere:

http://arizonasports.com/story/1011305/ ... lt-player/

McD isn't denying we're talking to the Kings about Cousins. A few quotes:

“That’s not something we’re necessarily scared of,” - dealing with a player with attitude issues (because the M****s Bros worked out great).

“I think coach Watson is probably either at or near the top of the list in terms of current NBA coaches who would be able to manage a difficult player,” McDonough said.

“Earl has a unique ability to be firm with players, be firm with people, be direct with them, but also get them to like him and respect him and even if they don’t always agree with the message, they respect that it’s delivered in an appropriate way and that they know that he has their best interests at heart.”

He said yes, they have talked. But they have talked to every team about every major player.

[Indy]

Haven't seen this post anywhere:

http://arizonasports.com/story/1011305/ ... lt-player/

McD isn't denying we're talking to the Kings about Cousins. A few quotes:

“That’s not something we’re necessarily scared of,” - dealing with a player with attitude issues (because the M****s Bros worked out great).

“I think coach Watson is probably either at or near the top of the list in terms of current NBA coaches who would be able to manage a difficult player,” McDonough said.

“Earl has a unique ability to be firm with players, be firm with people, be direct with them, but also get them to like him and respect him and even if they don’t always agree with the message, they respect that it’s delivered in an appropriate way and that they know that he has their best interests at heart.”

I obviously haven't seen this at all. But I am hoping that it is because it happens in the clubhouse, and the locker room doesn't leak. That would be a good sign. I just hope we see evidence of the players taking that feedback and doing something with it. I would hope that Knight has been the focus of many of these talks...

[Split T]

Haven't seen this post anywhere:

http://arizonasports.com/story/1011305/ ... lt-player/

McD isn't denying we're talking to the Kings about Cousins. A few quotes:

“That’s not something we’re necessarily scared of,” - dealing with a player with attitude issues (because the M****s Bros worked out great).

“I think coach Watson is probably either at or near the top of the list in terms of current NBA coaches who would be able to manage a difficult player,” McDonough said.

“Earl has a unique ability to be firm with players, be firm with people, be direct with them, but also get them to like him and respect him and even if they don’t always agree with the message, they respect that it’s delivered in an appropriate way and that they know that he has their best interests at heart.”

I obviously haven't seen this at all. But I am hoping that it is because it happens in the clubhouse, and the locker room doesn't leak. That would be a good sign. I just hope we see evidence of the players taking that feedback and doing something with it. I would hope that Knight has been the focus of many of these talks...

I think a good sign would be that we've had literally zero behavior problems this year. Knight, Dudley, and Len have all at times been either completely taken out of the rotation or had their minutes limited and we haven't heard a peep of complaints from them. I'm actually very impressed with how Knight has handled this season.

[JCSunsfan]

Haven't seen this post anywhere:

http://arizonasports.com/story/1011305/ ... lt-player/

McD isn't denying we're talking to the Kings about Cousins. A few quotes:

“That’s not something we’re necessarily scared of,” - dealing with a player with attitude issues (because the M****s Bros worked out great).

“I think coach Watson is probably either at or near the top of the list in terms of current NBA coaches who would be able to manage a difficult player,” McDonough said.

“Earl has a unique ability to be firm with players, be firm with people, be direct with them, but also get them to like him and respect him and even if they don’t always agree with the message, they respect that it’s delivered in an appropriate way and that they know that he has their best interests at heart.”

I obviously haven't seen this at all. But I am hoping that it is because it happens in the clubhouse, and the locker room doesn't leak. That would be a good sign. I just hope we see evidence of the players taking that feedback and doing something with it. I would hope that Knight has been the focus of many of these talks...

I think a good sign would be that we've had literally zero behavior problems this year. Knight, Dudley, and Len have all at times been either completely taken out of the rotation or had their minutes limited and we haven't heard a peep of complaints from them. I'm actually very impressed with how Knight has handled this season.

His on the court play needs to match.

[Split T]

Haven't seen this post anywhere:

http://arizonasports.com/story/1011305/ ... lt-player/

McD isn't denying we're talking to the Kings about Cousins. A few quotes:

“That’s not something we’re necessarily scared of,” - dealing with a player with attitude issues (because the M****s Bros worked out great).

“I think coach Watson is probably either at or near the top of the list in terms of current NBA coaches who would be able to manage a difficult player,” McDonough said.

“Earl has a unique ability to be firm with players, be firm with people, be direct with them, but also get them to like him and respect him and even if they don’t always agree with the message, they respect that it’s delivered in an appropriate way and that they know that he has their best interests at heart.”

I obviously haven't seen this at all. But I am hoping that it is because it happens in the clubhouse, and the locker room doesn't leak. That would be a good sign. I just hope we see evidence of the players taking that feedback and doing something with it. I would hope that Knight has been the focus of many of these talks...

I think a good sign would be that we've had literally zero behavior problems this year. Knight, Dudley, and Len have all at times been either completely taken out of the rotation or had their minutes limited and we haven't heard a peep of complaints from them. I'm actually very impressed with how Knight has handled this season.

His on the court play needs to match.

Not for me to be impressed with how he's handled his situation. Of course I'd love his on court play to be better, but it's irrelevant to his attitude.