NBA News: Offseason

[Cap]

OMG. McD is still pushing the "almost an All-Star in the East” thing:

“I think Brandon is a competitive guy, he’s started most of his career in NBA. I feel like Suns fans haven’t seen the real Brandon Knight,” McDonough said.

He continued, “he was a borderline All-Star a year ago in Milwaukee. He was the player that Dwyane Wade said, I think Dwyane was injured or somebody on the Eastern Conference All-Star team was injured, they asked him who do you think should make the team and he said ‘Brandon Knight.'”

http://arizonasports.com/story/710295/s ... on-knight/

[O_Gardino]

Well, it's part of his job to talk up the value of our players. Let's hope Brandon is traded to some team that thinks he is an allstar.

[In2ition]

OMG. McD is still pushing the "almost an All-Star in the East” thing:

“I think Brandon is a competitive guy, he’s started most of his career in NBA. I feel like Suns fans haven’t seen the real Brandon Knight,” McDonough said.

He continued, “he was a borderline All-Star a year ago in Milwaukee. He was the player that Dwyane Wade said, I think Dwyane was injured or somebody on the Eastern Conference All-Star team was injured, they asked him who do you think should make the team and he said ‘Brandon Knight.'”

http://arizonasports.com/story/710295/s ... on-knight/

The thing I get most out of this is the question, "Why is McDo relying on Wade for his player evaluations?"

[ShelC]

He sounds like a Brandon Knight fanboy...like "See! Even Dwyane Wade thinks he's a really good player!"

"No, I've never actually seen Brandon Knight play but I saw a quote from Dwyane Wade...."

[carey]

SIgh. This is a little silly. So none of y'all ran here to post what Wade and Jimmy Butler said about Booker? But because it's Brandon Knight we'll dump all over it. We sure are selective in what type of praise we'll lend credence too even when it's from the same person.

[ShelC]

It's because it's coming from our GM gushing over his guy. Players showing respect to other players is one thing. I was a huge Brandon Knight fan when he was on my fantasy team playing for the Bucks, but I never saw him as this one of a kind talent.

[In2ition]

SIgh. This is a little silly. So none of y'all ran here to post what Wade and Jimmy Butler said about Booker? But because it's Brandon Knight we'll dump all over it. We sure are selective in what type of praise we'll lend credence too even when it's from the same person.

Sure it's a little silly. It's fine for Wade to say this guy or that guy is good. I'm cool with that, but I don't want to hear my GM use a player's opinion on a player as a justification.

[Superbone]

OMG. McD is still pushing the "almost an All-Star in the East” thing:

“I think Brandon is a competitive guy, he’s started most of his career in NBA. I feel like Suns fans haven’t seen the real Brandon Knight,” McDonough said.

He continued, “he was a borderline All-Star a year ago in Milwaukee. He was the player that Dwyane Wade said, I think Dwyane was injured or somebody on the Eastern Conference All-Star team was injured, they asked him who do you think should make the team and he said ‘Brandon Knight.'”

http://arizonasports.com/story/710295/s ... on-knight/

I like the BASE acronym better anyway.

[Superbone]

SIgh. This is a little silly. So none of y'all ran here to post what Wade and Jimmy Butler said about Booker? But because it's Brandon Knight we'll dump all over it. We sure are selective in what type of praise we'll lend credence too even when it's from the same person.

You got that right, brother!

[pickle]

Well, it's part of his job to talk up the value of our players. Let's hope Brandon is traded to some team that thinks he is an allstar.

what he said.

I'm glad to see that we are tempering expectations rather than grooming silly aspirations for the playoffs. But what's a GM supposed to do? He can't quite talk down his players, can he?

[INFORMER]

SIgh. This is a little silly. So none of y'all ran here to post what Wade and Jimmy Butler said about Booker? But because it's Brandon Knight we'll dump all over it. We sure are selective in what type of praise we'll lend credence too even when it's from the same person.

Sure it's a little silly. It's fine for Wade to say this guy or that guy is good. I'm cool with that, but I don't want to hear my GM use a player's opinion on a player as a justification.

It's silly not to distinguish between what a GM says a press conference versus what someone posts on a message board.

[INFORMER]

I like George Hill. He's a versatile player and a long defender who is willing to play any role that the team asks of him. He may not be a scorer one can rely on to generate offense, but he is a threat from three and can effectively slow or even shut down smaller opposing guards, or defend the 2 capably, especially in today's NBA. The only net negative with his situation is that he's 30 years old. He would be a perfect compliment to a guy like Bledsoe in the back court. Or Booker for that matter.

There are a number of role players I'd love to have to start a team, so that once you add one or two stars you instantly make that team a perennial power. That list includes guys like Marvin Williams, George Hill, Kris Middleton, Patrick Beverley, Taj Gibson, Thad Young, and any number of other players who may not be considered stars and have flaws in their game, but play solid defense and don't have exceptional holes, and most of all are net positives in the chemistry and effort departments.

Honestly, I would probably only have Middleton on my team. You couldn't pay me to have Pat Beverley on my team.

[OE32]

SIgh. This is a little silly. So none of y'all ran here to post what Wade and Jimmy Butler said about Booker? But because it's Brandon Knight we'll dump all over it. We sure are selective in what type of praise we'll lend credence too even when it's from the same person.

Sure it's a little silly. It's fine for Wade to say this guy or that guy is good. I'm cool with that, but I don't want to hear my GM use a player's opinion on a player as a justification.

It's silly not to distinguish between what a GM says a press conference versus what someone posts on a message board.

How about what someone says during a radio interview?

[Indy]

SIgh. This is a little silly. So none of y'all ran here to post what Wade and Jimmy Butler said about Booker? But because it's Brandon Knight we'll dump all over it. We sure are selective in what type of praise we'll lend credence too even when it's from the same person.

Sure it's a little silly. It's fine for Wade to say this guy or that guy is good. I'm cool with that, but I don't want to hear my GM use a player's opinion on a player as a justification.

It's silly not to distinguish between what a GM says a press conference versus what someone posts on a message board.

How about what someone says during a radio interview?

I would hope that Ryan would be promoting our team in both scenarios. Let's just hope all the GMs in the league listen to that radio interview and think, you know what, Wade is a champion, and a really smart guy. Maybe we should put a package together for Knight.

[ShelC]

Good article on Kerr and Bob Meyers. I pulled the relevant Suns stuff but just a good article overall about life and basketball.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/16182 ... s-together We let a good one go in Kerr.

When Kerr became coach of the Warriors, he had one initial goal in particular: to establish a healthy relationship with Myers, who had recently fired coach Mark Jackson. Kerr, whose stint as a general manager in Phoenix was clouded by his clashes with coach Mike D'Antoni, recognized they needed to develop a collaborative partnership.

"It's just so important,'' Kerr says. "I failed in Phoenix to establish that rapport with Mike, and I think Bob would tell you on some level he failed to do it with Mark. So we both came in a little wounded in certain ways, and aware of the importance of our relationship."

[Indy]

I think that relationship is the most critical in an org, a close second to the owner/GM. If those two roles (GM/Coach) are on the same page, and have each other's backs, they can control the owner to a large extent. I have plenty of doubts about Ryan and Watson, but I like that they seem to be on the same page, and are at a point in their careers where they can grow together.

[Superbone]

I think that relationship is the most critical in an org, a close second to the owner/GM. If those two roles (GM/Coach) are on the same page, and have each other's backs, they can control the owner to a large extent. I have plenty of doubts about Ryan and Watson, but I like that they seem to be on the same page, and are at a point in their careers where they can grow together.

Me too. After the draft, I'm feeling a little better that we're playing the long game and that McDonough has had some influence on Sarver to be patient. We'll see what happens in free agency and trading but I hope they don't go crazy. I'd be happy with just signing Teletovic or Leuer and being done with it. I also wouldn't mind sending one of our lead guards out for something useful.

[Indy]

Leuer is still young and looking for PT and his next contract after the one this summer. Considering we just drafted two PFs and have 3 Cs under contract, I think he should go elsewhere.

[Superbone]

Leuer is still young and looking for PT and his next contract after the one this summer. Considering we just drafted two PFs and have 3 Cs under contract, I think he should go elsewhere.

Yeah, I'd prefer Teletovic to be honest.

[Sunsfan4life]

Sixers planning on making "Serious" push for Harrison Barnes. Gross.