2025 NBA Offseason News

[JeremyG]

Who are you taking: Amare in his prime or Ayton from 2021-2022 season?

Ayton for sure—better defense and rebounding, which is what I want from a big. Plus much more efficient offensively.

Sometimes I’m convinced this is just a bit.

Also your much more efficient offensively statement is just not true.

Amare TS%/TS+/USG during his prime:

.617/117/28.3
.637/118/25.8
.656/122/28.2
.617/113/24.2
.615/113/27.3

.606/113/26.2(Suns career)

Here’s Ayton:

.608/109/21.2
.568/101/23.7
.653/114/18.2
.656/116/21.4
.617/106/22.9

.622/109/22.3(Suns career)

Not to mention Ayton should be in his prime now and he’s getting worse:

.587/101/20.4(Portland Career)

Not only did Amare basically have the same peak in raw TS%, he did it in an era that was much less efficient and he did it on a much higher usage rate. I’m sorry, but there’s zero argument for Ayton offensively over Amare.

By the way, Amare made 4 All-NBA teams(1 1st, 3 2nd) and received MVP votes in 4 different years.

Based on your reasoning though, I’m shocked you aren’t the biggest Tyson Chandler fan…he was more efficient than both, a better rebounder than both, and a better defender than both. He should check all your boxes.

We don’t know what Ayton would have done with Nash.

But it’s not just about Ayton. I never liked Amare when he was here. And I was ecstatic when we got Tyson Chandler, it’s just too bad he was past his prime by the time we finally got him.

He had Chris Paul

Come on, you know there was never a Suns player who was better at getting his teammates easy looks and elevating players than Steve Nash.

[TOO]

AyToN LeD uS tO ThE FiNaLS.

[TOO]

Ayton for sure—better defense and rebounding, which is what I want from a big. Plus much more efficient offensively.

Sometimes I’m convinced this is just a bit.

Also your much more efficient offensively statement is just not true.

Amare TS%/TS+/USG during his prime:

.617/117/28.3
.637/118/25.8
.656/122/28.2
.617/113/24.2
.615/113/27.3

.606/113/26.2(Suns career)

Here’s Ayton:

.608/109/21.2
.568/101/23.7
.653/114/18.2
.656/116/21.4
.617/106/22.9

.622/109/22.3(Suns career)

Not to mention Ayton should be in his prime now and he’s getting worse:

.587/101/20.4(Portland Career)

Not only did Amare basically have the same peak in raw TS%, he did it in an era that was much less efficient and he did it on a much higher usage rate. I’m sorry, but there’s zero argument for Ayton offensively over Amare.

By the way, Amare made 4 All-NBA teams(1 1st, 3 2nd) and received MVP votes in 4 different years.

Based on your reasoning though, I’m shocked you aren’t the biggest Tyson Chandler fan…he was more efficient than both, a better rebounder than both, and a better defender than both. He should check all your boxes.

We don’t know what Ayton would have done with Nash.

But it’s not just about Ayton. I never liked Amare when he was here. And I was ecstatic when we got Tyson Chandler, it’s just too bad he was past his prime by the time we finally got him.

He had Chris Paul

Come on, you know there was never a Suns player who was better at getting his teammates easy looks and elevating players than Steve Nash.

Chris Paul took the Suns to the best season they ever had. Next.

[Split T]

Maybe Nash was better, but if he was it wasn’t by much. Chris Paul is also an all-timer when it comes to getting big men easy looks.

And I know you understand basketball. Amare created so much of that offense because he was willing to attack anyone, it wasn’t just Nash. You keep using the excuse that no one has allowed Ayton to be a focal point, but you think maybe there’s a reason?

I feel like we’re gonna get to 20 years past his career, he’ll have never topped his 2021 playoff run as our 3rd option(you really gotta stop saying Ayton took us to the finals. CP3 and Booker took us to the finals with help from the other guys) and you’ll be saying it was just because no one gave him a chance. He’ll have played with 5 or 6 teams and there will always be an excuse.

He could’ve been great, he didn’t care to be great though. Which is fine…but he’s just an average nba player at best.

[The Bobster]

Chris Paul at his peak was better than Steve Nash at his peak. Of course Paul was past his peak when he got here and Nash reached his here with the Suns.

Kevin Johnson and Jason Kidd weren't too bad either.

[TOO]

Chris Paul at his peak was better than Steve Nash at his peak. Of course Paul was past his peak when he got here and Nash reached his here with the Suns.

Kevin Johnson and Jason Kidd weren't too bad either.

I miss prime Jason Kidd. Still my favorite Suns PG ever, all defensive teams, MVP candidate, he was so good.

[Kryptonic]

Chris Paul at his peak was better than Steve Nash at his peak. Of course Paul was past his peak when he got here and Nash reached his here with the Suns.

Kevin Johnson and Jason Kidd weren't too bad either.

I miss prime Jason Kidd. Still my favorite Suns PG ever, all defensive teams, MVP candidate, he was so good.

Yea… up until the domestic dispute. He was a lot of fun to watch. His dimes were filthy but the fact he could get as many boards as he did impressed me for a pg.

[JeremyG]

Chris Paul at his peak was better than Steve Nash at his peak. Of course Paul was past his peak when he got here and Nash reached his here with the Suns.

Kevin Johnson and Jason Kidd weren't too bad either.

I miss prime Jason Kidd. Still my favorite Suns PG ever, all defensive teams, MVP candidate, he was so good.

Yea… up until the domestic dispute. He was a lot of fun to watch. His dimes were filthy but the fact he could get as many boards as he did impressed me for a pg.

Yep, and his best years might have been in New Jersey, but imagine if his great 3-point shooting years had coincided with his prime.

[Superbone]

Maybe Nash was better, but if he was it wasn’t by much. Chris Paul is also an all-timer when it comes to getting big men easy looks.

And I know you understand basketball. Amare created so much of that offense because he was willing to attack anyone, it wasn’t just Nash. You keep using the excuse that no one has allowed Ayton to be a focal point, but you think maybe there’s a reason?

I feel like we’re gonna get to 20 years past his career, he’ll have never topped his 2021 playoff run as our 3rd option(you really gotta stop saying Ayton took us to the finals. CP3 and Booker took us to the finals with help from the other guys) and you’ll be saying it was just because no one gave him a chance. He’ll have played with 5 or 6 teams and there will always be an excuse.

He could’ve been great, he didn’t care to be great though. Which is fine…but he’s just an average nba player at best.

I can't wait to be having this conversation 20 years from now!