Suns News: Week 23 3/27-4/2

[INFORMER]

Has McDonough not made a single comment about Bledsoe being shelved for the rest of the year?

[In2ition]

Has McDonough not made a single comment about Bledsoe being shelved for the rest of the year?

I believe he talked about tracking his usage this year and it being really high, so they want to save him and his knees from overuse this year, when they have no chance at meaningful games any longer. Or something like that.

[Cap]

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/n ... /99269194/

[INFORMER]

Thanks cap. I completely missed that and had gone through the news threads looking for something said on the record about the decision.

[Mori Chu]

I wonder how Bledsoe really feels about being benched. I mean I'm sure he "gets it" and all, but there are plenty of bad teams that are not resting their starting PG for a third of the season. I hope we aren't poisoning the water with him for next year.

[In2ition]

Damn, I nearly fell for this. http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2017/ ... d-question

[Split T]

Haha, but they should have put the game on Monday to make it more believable. Suns play Houston on Sunday

[JCSunsfan]

No! I like Jimmy but he's not a fit here. Booker's our 1A guy, don't need Butler.

What current young Star or young near Star could be available or the Suns should go after this off-season? Or do you all think that they need to wait 1 more year?

No more quick fixes. Do it the right way!

What's the "right way"? Lay out the plan.

1. Draft. Fultz, Ball, Jackson.
2. Trade. Depending on the draft, our trade bait would be Bledsoe, Chandler, Knight, Warren, two Miami picks, Suns picks. Drummond would be interesting, but I would not give much. I do not know who else would be on the table. I do not a player who will be a FA soon. That is too short-sighted and too risky.
3. Free agent. Blake Griffin? Other free agents should be high level stars under 29. It is OK to go with a player in his upper 20's. He will probably have 7 years left and an older star (but not in his 30"s) would be a good addition for this team.

There is merit in waiting and seeing how this team starts to come together.

1. First round pick.
2. Development of Chriss and Bender.
3. Any remaining hope for Len.

I just think it is time to stop tanking (after this draft).

[Cap]

I wonder how Bledsoe really feels about being benched. I mean I'm sure he "gets it" and all, but there are plenty of bad teams that are not resting their starting PG for a third of the season. I hope we aren't poisoning the water with him for next year.

There are two reasons he is being benched.

First is concern over his health and longevity. This is for his own good, and he should appreciate it. Bummed about missing some meaningless games at the end of a crappy season? If it protects his knees, it means he gets to play more games in the long run.

Second is concern that he's too damn good and costs us ping pong balls when he plays. This is a compliment, and hopefully he can accept it as such.

[Ring_Wanted]

On the other hand, he could be scared that Booker is taking over the franchise. The FO now has to plan everything with the Kid in mind, and he could perfectly become a casualty since his passing is not enough to justify removing the ball from Booker, and his 3pt makes it hard to play him off the ball. That's even before considering what the draft may deliver, but I believe we need to trade him regardless.

[In2ition]

I was really surprised to hear that Watson thinks that Chriss is going to end up being one of the best ever at his position when it's all said and done. It's not like his minute distribution makes wondering which camp he was in prior to the draft, but this pretty much confirms it that he was a Chriss fan before the draft and is probably a reluctant coach of Bender.

[ShelC]

I was really surprised to hear that Watson thinks that Chriss is going to end up being one of the best ever at his position when it's all said and done.

I'm not surprised he said it, but I can pretty much damn well guarantee Chriss won't be one of the best ever at his position. Not hating on the kid, but IMO it's not there. And I do have concerns that Watson will play favorites with Chriss and Bender. Bender was the FO pick, Chriss was Watson's guy. Hopefully Watson does what's best for both players and the organization.

[In2ition]

I was really surprised to hear that Watson thinks that Chriss is going to end up being one of the best ever at his position when it's all said and done.

I'm not surprised he said it, but I can pretty much damn well guarantee Chriss won't be one of the best ever at his position. Not hating on the kid, but IMO it's not there. And I do have concerns that Watson will play favorites with Chriss and Bender. Bender was the FO pick, Chriss was Watson's guy. Hopefully Watson does what's best for both players and the organization.

Those are my concerns too. Before Bender went down with the bone spurs, when he played and got minutes, I thought he outplayed Chriss. As soon as that happened, here came the quick hook..."Can't let that happen". Then you also got the quote from Watson talking about not wanting all the young guys to arrive at the same time, which IMO told me that he was trying to force and control the process on who he wanted to arrive and who he didn't. I hope for the best and hope that Chriss does become one of the greatest ever and it's for the Suns, but I also hope for the best with Bender too. I hope that he also grows into one of the best ever at his position, even if it's a different position than Chriss.

[EDC]

The way he doled out minutes early in the season and his statement about not having them arrive at the same time is very disconcerting. He has the excuse of Bender is returning from an injury to limit his minutes the rest of the season. Hopefully we will see him playing up near 30 minutes a game in the last few. If he stays limited to under 20 a game we should be concerned.

Both Chriss and Bender need to join Booker and TJ at the 30 minutes per game mark next season. Hopefully Watson won't get in the way of that. Hopefully McD is on top of it and will clear the way for that to happen.

[EDC]

Did anyone listen to the interview? I really don't want to listen to all the family talk.

Did they discuss Bender at all? I mean your top draft pick just came back from injury and had a good first showing.

[In2ition]

Did anyone listen to the interview? I really don't want to listen to all the family talk.

Did they discuss Bender at all? I mean your top draft pick just came back from injury and had a good first showing.

I listened, and I didn't hear them mention him at all, but I wasn't sure so I tweeted Doug and he didn't respond...not surprised though.

[JCSunsfan]

Did anyone listen to the interview? I really don't want to listen to all the family talk.

Did they discuss Bender at all? I mean your top draft pick just came back from injury and had a good first showing.

I listened to it all. There wasn't as much "brother love" talk as normal, but it was still there. Bender doesn't get the minutes because he is white, I am sure of that.

On a serious note, Bender is a little younger than Chriss. That might have something to do with it.

[In2ition]

Did anyone listen to the interview? I really don't want to listen to all the family talk.

Did they discuss Bender at all? I mean your top draft pick just came back from injury and had a good first showing.

I listened to it all. There wasn't as much "brother love" talk as normal, but it was still there. Bender doesn't get the minutes because he is white, I am sure of that.

On a serious note, Bender is a little younger than Chriss. That might have something to do with it.

I thought about that for about half a second, but you have to remember that he has been playing longer than Chriss, has more experience and a higher bball iq and feel for the game, so wouldn't that have come into play? Maybe you're right, and it's just a physical and emotional maturity thing that's in play because of chronological age.

[JCSunsfan]

Did anyone listen to the interview? I really don't want to listen to all the family talk.

Did they discuss Bender at all? I mean your top draft pick just came back from injury and had a good first showing.

I listened to it all. There wasn't as much "brother love" talk as normal, but it was still there. Bender doesn't get the minutes because he is white, I am sure of that.

On a serious note, Bender is a little younger than Chriss. That might have something to do with it.

I thought about that for about half a second, but you have to remember that he has been playing longer than Chriss, has more experience and a higher bball iq and feel for the game, so wouldn't that have come into play? Maybe you're right, and it's just a physical and emotional maturity thing that's in play because of chronological age.

Yes. But Bender's body is still immature.

[JCSunsfan]

BTW. Quick, off the top of your head, guess who has the second highest PER on our team. Bledsoe has the highest.