Suns News: Week 6 11/19-11/25

[O_Gardino]

What are the alternatives to Canaan?

• Melton
• Okobo
• Tighten the rotation. More PointBook, more Crawford.
• Make a deal
• Any other suggestions?

Josh Jackson in the minutes that Crawford is on the floor.

Troy Daniels.

I like these.

There are lots of alternatives, and I don't like that Igor doesn't seem to experiment at all.

Canaan is the least flawed overall, but he isn't good at any one thing, and on some nights he just doesn't add anything at all. Melton is a much better defender than Canaan, providing energy that the team really needs. Okobo is a better scorer off the ball, cutting and moving to the open spots which is something this team really needs. We know Daniels can shoot, so if we are just using Canaan to spot up and he is getting torched on D anyway, why not see if Daniels can knock down some shots? If Josh id having a goodish game, and Canaan is having a terrible one, why not try some minutes with Josh at point?

Igor should have a better feel for the players and the needs of the 5 on the floor. If a guy is having a terrible stretch of basketball, try something else.

[Indy]

Our players that have good impacts on the game are:

Book, Bridges, TJ, Ayton and Holmes.

The first 4 can get a ton of minutes, but Holmes is limited to backing up Ayton.

You need 240 minutes a night. Even if you can figure out a way to play some minutes with Ayton and Holmes on the court together to get the minutes up for Holmes, and play Bridges more, you have:

Code: Select all

PLAYER   MINS
Book      36
Ayton     32
Warren    32
Bridges   30
Holmes    20
Josh      24
---------174

You still need another 66 minutes a night. That is 3 more guys at over 20 minutes a game.

Let's say you still play Ariza 30 mpg, you still need 36 more minutes. Nobody else on this team is ready for NBA-level basketball for 36 minutes night, or even two more guys at 18 minutes each.

Our roster is broken and we need better players. Just think how much better we would be if Jamal and Josh were our 9th/10th guys at the end of the bench, instead of guys we rely on to spell our starters.

[Drewsprocket]

Canaan is waived! Drum roll on incoming trade? Or was this to avoid guaranteed $ and make way for Point Book and Okobo off the bench?

[Indy]

We had until January to cut him without his deal guaranteeing. So this was Igor showing Jones that he isn't worth having on the team right now. We are not winning, and we need better players.

[O_Gardino]

Canaan is waived! Drum roll on incoming trade? Or was this to avoid guaranteed $ and make way for Point Book and Okobo off the bench?

Very curious what happens next. There's no reason to wave Canaan unless you want to bring in 2 players. We have an open roster spot from buying our Chandler, and we have to pay the $ to someone anyway. You can bench Canaan without waving him. So, what's next?

[ShelC]

I think Crawford sees a bump in minutes, maybe Jackson becomes ball handler with the 2nd unit and Okobo/Melton get some run.

[JCSunsfan]

Canaan is waived! Drum roll on incoming trade? Or was this to avoid guaranteed $ and make way for Point Book and Okobo off the bench?

Very curious what happens next. There's no reason to wave Canaan unless you want to bring in 2 players. We have an open roster spot from buying our Chandler, and we have to pay the $ to someone anyway. You can bench Canaan without waving him. So, what's next?

I think there is going to be a lot of trades and movement around the league after December 15. This does allow the Suns to be ready to pick up a player that might be cut. It also gives Canaan a chance to find another job.

[ShelC]

We had until January to cut him without his deal guaranteeing. So this was Igor showing Jones that he isn't worth having on the team right now. We are not winning, and we need better players.

The timing is interesting and this shouldn't be overlooked. Even with our PG situation, we cut the only PG we were playing. Could be something more to this, or not. Wouldn't be surprised either way.

[Wormwood]

Gambo reporting that no trades are imminent, and that we're going to give Melton and Okobo more time.

This makes little sense if we're trying to win: Okobo and Melton both have terrible RPM and net +/- per 48 numbers.

After Warren, there is a steep drop off. Crawford certainly isn't an answer, and you cannot say Okobo is definitively better than Canaan.

Weird, weird move unless there is some sort of follow up.

Name Net +/-
14 Daniels, Troy SG 4.80
6 Bridges, Mikal SF 2.12
1 Booker, Devin SG -5.12
3 Ayton, Deandre C -5.81
4 Warren, TJ SF -7.15
12 Holmes, Richaun PF -10.86
7 Anderson, Ryan PF -10.98
5 Canaan, Isaiah PG -12.11
15 Bender, Dragan PF -13.02
9 Okobo, Elie PG -13.29
2 Ariza, Trevor SF -13.88
8 Jackson, Josh SF -15.14
13 Melton, De'Anthony PG -18.29
10 Crawford, Jamal SG -18.33
11 Chandler, Tyson C -36.18

[In2ition]

Gambo reporting that no trades are imminent, and that we're going to give Melton and Okobo more time.

This makes little sense if we're trying to win: Okobo and Melton both have terrible RPM and net +/- per 48 numbers.

After Warren, there is a steep drop off. Crawford certainly isn't an answer, and you cannot say Okobo is definitively better than Canaan.

Weird, weird move unless there is some sort of follow up.

Name Net +/-
14 Daniels, Troy SG 4.80
6 Bridges, Mikal SF 2.12
1 Booker, Devin SG -5.12
3 Ayton, Deandre C -5.81
4 Warren, TJ SF -7.15
12 Holmes, Richaun PF -10.86
7 Anderson, Ryan PF -10.98
5 Canaan, Isaiah PG -12.11
15 Bender, Dragan PF -13.02
9 Okobo, Elie PG -13.29
2 Ariza, Trevor SF -13.88
8 Jackson, Josh SF -15.14
13 Melton, De'Anthony PG -18.29
10 Crawford, Jamal SG -18.33
11 Chandler, Tyson C -36.18

I don't think these stats are trustworthy at all. We've been playing much better since they started doing Point Book, with the exception of when they went back to Canaan starting that one game in Chicago.

[Drewsprocket]

After reading a lot more about Fultz, I’m more and more worried we give up on JJ and take on more salary this summer. $10 million/year is a lot for a rehabilitation project player with likely mental performance problems (and is possibly in denial about it).

[TOO]

Gambo reporting that no trades are imminent, and that we're going to give Melton and Okobo more time.

This makes little sense if we're trying to win: Okobo and Melton both have terrible RPM and net +/- per 48 numbers.

After Warren, there is a steep drop off. Crawford certainly isn't an answer, and you cannot say Okobo is definitively better than Canaan.

Weird, weird move unless there is some sort of follow up.

Name Net +/-
14 Daniels, Troy SG 4.80
6 Bridges, Mikal SF 2.12
1 Booker, Devin SG -5.12
3 Ayton, Deandre C -5.81
4 Warren, TJ SF -7.15
12 Holmes, Richaun PF -10.86
7 Anderson, Ryan PF -10.98
5 Canaan, Isaiah PG -12.11
15 Bender, Dragan PF -13.02
9 Okobo, Elie PG -13.29
2 Ariza, Trevor SF -13.88
8 Jackson, Josh SF -15.14
13 Melton, De'Anthony PG -18.29
10 Crawford, Jamal SG -18.33
11 Chandler, Tyson C -36.18

Not that weird when you consider he's a journeyman who has never shown anything close to being a legit rotation player. Gotta see if you have anything in Okobo or Melton, no reason to have them buried behind a guy with no future here. This move had nothing to do with winning or losing imo.

[MightyMoog]

Very weird. I was all for benching him, but waiving him? From a basketball standpoint, I’m happy as I’d rather not see him play at this moment. But from a personal standpoint, that really sucks, he had a great comeback and now to be out of a job?

[Wormwood]

Waiving him like this was pretty freaking cold. This isn't exactly how you build a rep as a place that treats their players well. Or with basic human respect, for that matter.

[Shabazz]

Waiving him like this was pretty freaking cold. This isn't exactly how you build a rep as a place that treats their players well. Or with basic human respect, for that matter.

I think it may be the opposite. He may have asked to be waived. Igor probably told him he's about to lose his spot in the rotation and he wanted an opportunity to play elsewhere.

And he's a player on a minimum, non-guaranteed salary. Waiving those players is as much a part of the business as dribbling.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Waiving him like this was pretty freaking cold. This isn't exactly how you build a rep as a place that treats their players well. Or with basic human respect, for that matter.

No one is going to trade for him without the Suns giving up a draft pick or having to take on some kind of salary burden.

What other option did they have?

I'd agree if it were someone like Crawford, who's well regarded around the league. But Canaan? The rest of the league does the same thing to guys of his ability.

[AmareIsGod]

Waiving him like this was pretty freaking cold. This isn't exactly how you build a rep as a place that treats their players well. Or with basic human respect, for that matter.

Lol Worm. That's funny. Even coming from you.

[Nodack]

My band just picked a gig for the Suns. They went with the 25 piece band. Sweet! I’m probably not supposed to divulge that info but I will leave out the date and place so I should be safe.

[In2ition]

My band just picked a gig for the Suns. They went with the 25 piece band. Sweet! I’m probably not supposed to divulge that info but I will leave out the date and place so I should be safe.

Cool. Let us know when, so we can try to make it.

[Nodack]

Probably not unless I find out it’s a public gig.