Markieff Morris Watch

[specialsauce]

Of the two guards, I would keep Bledsoe. Knight is way too streaky, takes way too many bad shots, and just makes so many boneheaded decisions. I can't say Bled takes bad shots very often. He's really cut down on getting himself caught in the air this year and has been really consistent. He still turns the ball over but he just seems to have the "it" factor where as Knight seems mentally weak. I would definitely keep Bled to pair with another star if possible.

Don't get me wrong, for the right package you can have anybody on the team not named Booker.

[Shabazz]

Of the two guards, I would keep Bledsoe. Knight is way too streaky, takes way too many bad shots, and just makes so many boneheaded decisions. I can't say Bled takes bad shots very often. He's really cut down on getting himself caught in the air this year and has been really consistent. He still turns the ball over but he just seems to have the "it" factor where as Knight seems mentally weak. I would definitely keep Bled to pair with another star if possible.

Don't get me wrong, for the right package you can have anybody on the team not named Booker.

I think it's also important to consider how Bledsoe looked two years ago when evaluating Knight (who is two years younger).

[EDC]

I love his comments about how he is ready to play. If that was the case you wouldn't be sitting on the bench waiting to be traded.

[Shabazz]

http://espn.go.com/blog/marc-stein/post ... g-to-begin

The Houston Rockets, in a total non-surprise for anyone who has tracked their movements during the Daryl Morey era, are looking for a deal as hard as any team in the league as NBA trade season heats up.

More than 110 players who signed new contracts last summer became eligible to be dealt Tuesday. And Houston, as our own Calvin Watkins summed up neatly earlier this week, is ready to move.

Morey actually came into the season believing that he finally had a roster to contend for the championship without midstream tweaking, but a 13-14 start that cost Kevin McHale his job after 11 games and includes two losses to the Brooklyn Nets and three more to the Denver Nuggets quickly forced a re-think.

Yet it turns out that a trade that intrigues Houston greatly and might well have gone down this week, according to league sources, still can't happen, thanks to the NBA's (occasionally) complex trade-eligibility rules.

As ESPN.com reported Dec. 6, Houston has serious interest in the Phoenix Suns' very available Markieff Morris.

And a Rockets offer of Corey Brewer and Terrence Jones, sources say, has not only been seriously discussed, the teams could get that deal done.

The problem: Brewer isn't quite clear to be dealt yet. Because the Rockets re-signed Brewer to a salary ($8.2 million) that exceeds his prior salary ($4.7 million) by more than 20 percent -- and because Houston is over the salary cap -- Houston can't deal the veteran swingman until Jan. 15 as opposed to Dec. 15.

Meh. I'm not so interested in Brewer unless it comes with the ability to offload Tucker. Brewer doesn't move the needle enough to justify the time he'd take from the young guys.

[Ring_Wanted]

Not the package I want. You are adding an upgrade at SF over Tucker, though. Jones is an impending big contract. DMo instead and I could add something to make it happen.

[Indy]

He's really cut down on getting himself caught in the air this year and has been really consistent.

I can't agree with this part. He still jumps up into the air (with no intention of shooting) way too often and gets stuck. I have noticed that he isn't getting as many TOs as a result of it this year, but I think that is because the team is expecting him to do it and get open enough when he does.

[specialsauce]

Maybe so, or maybe he has better awareness of where his "out" is in case he gets stuck? Either way, it's not resulting in as many fast break TO's as it had last year.


I know where Bled was 2 years ago. I just think he's the far superior talent. There's a reason both Mil and Detroit gave up on Knight. I just think he's soft. I've never questioned Bleds toughness.

[JCSunsfan]

It should be Jones and Lawson for Kieff and PJ (maybe thrown in Price). I do believe Lawsons contract next year is a team option. So basically he is an expiring.

So. Houston gets some pg depth while unloading Lawson. They also get Kieff long term off the bench. He is healthier than Jones, can produce at a decent level especially against backups, and they do not have to pay him this summer what they would have to pay Jones. Phoenix gets a contributor in Jones who add a different wrinkle to the roster. And who knows, maybe Lawson picks it up a little and they get a little value for him. If not, opt out of his deal this summer and move on.

[Nodack]

I am ok with both those guys. Nobody is perfect. I used to bash KJ all the time because he always pulled a hammy when we needed him most. I bashed Nash because he would dominate the ball and when he was doubled teamed or when out of the game the rest of the team had no idea what to do with themselves.

These guys have their weaknesses like everybody else. Nash in his ring of honor speech talked about how every team has strengths and weaknesses and how the trick is figuring out everybody strengths and putting them in a position to exploit those strengths while minimizing their weaknesses. That's where the coach and team part comes in.

Trade talk= Waste of time

[specialsauce]

You just compared Bledsoe and Knight to Nash and KJ???

[Indy]

Trade talk= Waste of time

What is it about trying to improve the team that makes you so sad? Is it you just feel we should just be happy with what we have and take it? Just curious, and seriously asking.

[AmareIsGod]

He's really cut down on getting himself caught in the air this year and has been really consistent.

I can't agree with this part. He still jumps up into the air (with no intention of shooting) way too often and gets stuck. I have noticed that he isn't getting as many TOs as a result of it this year, but I think that is because the team is expecting him to do it and get open enough when he does.

The most ridiculous offense I've seen of this so far (and in some time really from anyone in the league) was when we played Dallas and DWill let the inbounds pass roll all the way past the half court line, basically, and scooped it up scoring an easy layup 3 seconds later with no resistance at all. Bledsoe has the insanely stupid idea of replicating on the ensuing inbounds, I'm assuming to get revenge by doing the same thing, gathers the ball after it rolling past midcourt and in almost one motion, leaves his feet, jumps and twirls in the air with nowhere to go and throws it right to Dallas. That was the point I turned the game off. Our basketball IQ is beyond laughable and coach lets shit like this happen repeatedly, game after game.

[EDC]

I really don't want Houston's garbage. We don't have to be in a hurry. It isn't like Kieff's contract is expiring anytime soon. I would rather another pick than some average player.

[Mori Chu]

Not very excited about Jones and Brewer, the more I think about that trade. I guess it'll be good to just get rid of Markieff, but I am not super excited about either of those assets.

[pickle]

Trade talk= Waste of time

What is it about trying to improve the team that makes you so sad? Is it you just feel we should just be happy with what we have and take it? Just curious, and seriously asking.

My guess is, what he's saying is that, sitting from where we are, simply as fans with no real input or sway into potential deals, it's a waste of time to discuss what we should or could do. We should just sit back and discuss when the deals are done.

[TOO]

Trade talk= Waste of time

What is it about trying to improve the team that makes you so sad? Is it you just feel we should just be happy with what we have and take it? Just curious, and seriously asking.

My guess is, what he's saying is that, sitting from where we are, simply as fans with no real input or sway into potential deals, it's a waste of time to discuss what we should or could do. We should just sit back and discuss when the deals are done.

Imagine how boring would forums be without speculation..

[pickle]

I think as fans of the Suns, we may fall a little bit into the trap of focusing too much on the weaknesses of our players, and overlooking their value. I have been as hard as anyone on this board in terms of voicing my displeasure with our two pg system and their play, but at the same time, they also have some real strengths; plus, any guards we want to take back are going to have their own issues as well.

I used to be a very casual (albeit passionate) fan, in that I just watched Suns games and celebrated any win, regardless of the way we got it. I never understood the intricacies of strategy or specific skill sets; the only thing I recognized was the final box score. Since our team has been so painful to stomach over the last few years, I've tried to get a deeper understanding of the game of basketball and have watched some other teams in the process. While I don't have the time to watch game tape every night, I have tried following more players than just the Suns this year, and based on what I have seen, I do think that while our criticisms of Bledsoe and Knight, in a vacuum, are fair, we tend to fall prey to the "grass is greener on the other side" syndrome.

Payton is younger and bigger than both Bledsoe and Knight, but then Payton also shoots about 40% from the field and 65% from the line. Schroeder is an intriguing talent stuck behind Teague, but then he's never really run a team full time and I haven't noticed him playing tough defense. Lawson's off-court baggage may exceed even Kieff's, only to be matched by Marcus (yeah, I blame Marcus more than Markieff, maybe I'm biased).

The closer I look at the team and the problems we have, the more I understand Inf's frustration with the whole franchise. These players on our team all have specific talents, but our current coaching staff has not demonstrated an ability to maximize those talents (Kieff notwithstanding), so if and when we make trades, I am also not confident that we can maximize whatever we get back. Our front office has also not shown a consistent plan in acquiring talent to fit the coaching staff's style; if they get someone that is to Hornacek's liking, does that mean we are committed to Hornacek long term? What if we don't re-up with him at the end of this season?

Other than moving Kieff just to get that rock off the Suns' collective backs (chests?) the next thing I want to see is some coherence out of the front office and coaching staff, so that at least we can evaluate any personnel moves and player growths under context.

As for trading away Kieff, while I'm okay with him riding pine, it certainly would be nice to get something in return for him. I can live with both Terrence Jones and Donatas Motiejunas. Jones might get a raise at the end of this year, but it's better than an UFA who we have no control over whatsoever a la Ryan Anderson. And we can always flip Brewer to a team that needs his energy off the bench, if we are so inclined.

(Edited to make the post slightly more coherent)

[Indy]

Great post pickle.

[pickle]

Great post pickle.

Thanks Indy. And where is Inf? Haven't seen him around in a long time.

[Superbone]

Great post pickle.

Thanks Indy. And where is Inf? Haven't seen him around in a long time.

He's intimidated by your thorough analysis.