Suns News: Week 21 3/13-3/19

[carey]

https://twitter.com/DaveKingNBA/status/843312427555000321

[Mori Chu]

Hmm. Wikipedia says: Played at Virginia Tech. 4-year senior. In senior year, averaged 13.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 31 games (30 starts). Was playing for the D-League's Windy City Bulls.

[O_Gardino]

We have to have that 15th roster spot full. Might as well bring in a scholar wit a great tattoo.

[Ring_Wanted]

Random thought: if Dallas ends up getting a so-so lotto pick, perhaps they are game for a trade involving Mathews-Devin Harris (cut)-'17 pick for Bledsoe and Knight.

I'd love to get rid of Bledsoe and add another pick in this draft, but Matthews is a colossal waste of money and serves no purpose on this roster. I'd prefer not to do that deal.

I see it as Mathews for Knight, and that is a big time win in my book (although if McD can dump him for free, I am all ears), plus overall we'd be saving money. I think Wes would have a role here, easily. His days as a third option are gone, but he still plays pretty good defense and makes threes. He'd be a nice complement to Booker.

[In2ition]

What do you guys think of these Watson to UCLA rumors? There is speculation that Alford goes to Indiana, now that they fired Tom Creen. He was almost run out of town last year and has redeemed his status at UCLA after Ball and co. have turned it around. If he leaves, the speculation is that Watson would be the first choice to replace him.

[carey]

What do you guys think of these Watson to UCLA rumors? There is speculation that Alford goes to Indiana, now that they fired Tom Creen. He was almost run out of town last year and has redeemed his status at UCLA after Ball and co. have turned it around. If he leaves, the speculation is that Watson would be the first choice to replace him.

I think he is a great choice but I don't buy it.

Who would you pick to coach the Suns if that happens? Will be some interesting coaches available. I'd think about asking a well respected college guy like Tom Izzo or Jay Wright if they were interested. My guess is we promote from within & go with Triano then possibly see if we can lure Nash back in some capacity.

[In2ition]

What do you guys think of these Watson to UCLA rumors? There is speculation that Alford goes to Indiana, now that they fired Tom Creen. He was almost run out of town last year and has redeemed his status at UCLA after Ball and co. have turned it around. If he leaves, the speculation is that Watson would be the first choice to replace him.

I think he is a great choice but I don't buy it.

Who would you pick to coach the Suns if that happens? Will be some interesting coaches available. I'd think about asking a well respected college guy like Tom Izzo or Jay Wright if they were interested. My guess is we promote from within & go with Triano then possibly see if we can lure Nash back in some capacity.

I would like to see Majerle get the gig, but at the same time I'd love to see him take GCU to the dance next year. He's proved himself to be a good college coach and do a good job developing players. I think he would fit in well with the young Suns.

[LazarusLong]

What do you guys think of these Watson to UCLA rumors? There is speculation that Alford goes to Indiana, now that they fired Tom Creen. He was almost run out of town last year and has redeemed his status at UCLA after Ball and co. have turned it around. If he leaves, the speculation is that Watson would be the first choice to replace him.

It's what it is: a rumor. Some sportswriters getting together over drinks and spitballing "what if"

[LazarusLong]

What do you guys think of these Watson to UCLA rumors? There is speculation that Alford goes to Indiana, now that they fired Tom Creen. He was almost run out of town last year and has redeemed his status at UCLA after Ball and co. have turned it around. If he leaves, the speculation is that Watson would be the first choice to replace him.

I think he is a great choice but I don't buy it.

Who would you pick to coach the Suns if that happens? Will be some interesting coaches available. I'd think about asking a well respected college guy like Tom Izzo or Jay Wright if they were interested. My guess is we promote from within & go with Triano then possibly see if we can lure Nash back in some capacity.

College coaches often struggle, because NBA is a players' league.

As for the Suns, for them to be relevant again, you need a basketball mensch who has a solid, long-term vision as well as the ability to handle Sarver. Otherwise, it's SSDD, just with interchangeable players....

[JCSunsfan]

What do you guys think of these Watson to UCLA rumors? There is speculation that Alford goes to Indiana, now that they fired Tom Creen. He was almost run out of town last year and has redeemed his status at UCLA after Ball and co. have turned it around. If he leaves, the speculation is that Watson would be the first choice to replace him.

I think he is a great choice but I don't buy it.

Who would you pick to coach the Suns if that happens? Will be some interesting coaches available. I'd think about asking a well respected college guy like Tom Izzo or Jay Wright if they were interested. My guess is we promote from within & go with Triano then possibly see if we can lure Nash back in some capacity.

I would like to see Majerle get the gig, but at the same time I'd love to see him take GCU to the dance next year. He's proved himself to be a good college coach and do a good job developing players. I think he would fit in well with the young Suns.

I was not in favor of hiring Majerle years ago. But I think he has developed as a leader on the coaching level. I heard an interview with him the other day and he clearly would love to coach in the NBA. He does not like recruiting. But he has a deep loyalty to Jerry Colangelo, so that could be an issue.

[JCSunsfan]

What do you guys think of these Watson to UCLA rumors? There is speculation that Alford goes to Indiana, now that they fired Tom Creen. He was almost run out of town last year and has redeemed his status at UCLA after Ball and co. have turned it around. If he leaves, the speculation is that Watson would be the first choice to replace him.

It's what it is: a rumor. Some sportswriters getting together over drinks and spitballing "what if"

I think its more than that. The Indiana job is open. There are lots of good reasons why Alford would take that job. Watson has been quite open about how much he would love to coach UCLA. It seems there is an affinity there for him as well.

For the Suns, it would be an opportunity. They can celebrate with Watson on getting his dream job, and then make the coaching change that they would eventually have to make anyway. Watson has done a good job changing the locker room atmosphere. But now they need a coach with more substance.

Think we could steal Spoelstra? I would also love to get Ettore Messina.

[LazarusLong]

I get that the Indiana job is open. Alford, though, is not a lock.

And if that domino does fall, then there still is a variety of deserving candidates for the UCLA job.

Watson has never coached in college, and his pro coaching record is 31-72.

UCLA is one of the most storied programs in the history of college basketball.

I would think they might want to go with a proven winner, not just a nice guy.

[ShelC]

God I hope UCLA hires Watson. Spo is never leaving the Heat. I'd be open to bringing back Majerle.

[Indy]

God I hope UCLA hires Watson. Spo is never leaving the Heat. I'd be open to bringing back Majerle.

Yeah, I have no idea why Spo would leave there. He is basically the Pop or Sloan of Miami. He isn't leaving.

[djy2j]

McDo has proved to be above average at drafting, below average at everything else. If it were me I'd let him draft this year then give him the boot. I appreciate that he has acquired a handful of draft picks but I don't trust him to do anything with them other than use them for what they are, drafting players.

We were late to the "acquire as many assets as possible" party. He wants to cash them in during a period where there are no stars available.

He swung and missed on Aldridge and is now saddled with Chandler.

He tried to build a team around 3 star point guards, an idea that was a complete failure other than the picks he salvaged which will be in the 15 to 20 range down the road.

The Morrii situation. Embarrassing.

Axing Hornacek and passing over all the assistants (Majerle) in line to promote Watson who hasn't shown me anything other than being able to keep a losing team from killing each other.

Probably missing a few things but these seem to be his main goofs.

[Indy]

McDo has proved to be above average at drafting, below average at everything else. If it were me I'd let him draft this year then give him the boot. I appreciate that he has acquired a handful of draft picks but I don't trust him to do anything with them other than use them for what they are, drafting players.

We were late to the "acquire as many assets as possible" party. He wants to cash them in during a period where there are no stars available.

He swung and missed on Aldridge and is now saddled with Chandler.

He tried to build a team around 3 star point guards, an idea that was a complete failure other than the picks he salvaged which will be in the 15 to 20 range down the road.

The Morrii situation. Embarrassing.

Axing Hornacek and passing over all the assistants (Majerle) in line to promote Watson who hasn't shown me anything other than being able to keep a losing team from killing each other.

Probably missing a few things but these seem to be his main goofs.

1) So happy we struck out on that deal. So happy.

2) Chronology is a bit off. Dan was gone before Horny was here.

[In2ition]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that Majerle was around when Hornacek was fired. Majerle left after Lindsey Hunter took over.

[Split T]

McDo has proved to be above average at drafting, below average at everything else. If it were me I'd let him draft this year then give him the boot. I appreciate that he has acquired a handful of draft picks but I don't trust him to do anything with them other than use them for what they are, drafting players.

We were late to the "acquire as many assets as possible" party. He wants to cash them in during a period where there are no stars available.

He swung and missed on Aldridge and is now saddled with Chandler.

He tried to build a team around 3 star point guards, an idea that was a complete failure other than the picks he salvaged which will be in the 15 to 20 range down the road.

The Morrii situation. Embarrassing.

Axing Hornacek and passing over all the assistants (Majerle) in line to promote Watson who hasn't shown me anything other than being able to keep a losing team from killing each other.

Probably missing a few things but these seem to be his main goofs.

How I see it, is he's finally starting to put into action his initial plan with our team. He always wanted to build through the draft and collect assets. The 2013-14 season threw things off a bit. We were much better than expected, we had a fun team, and we tried to build on it. While Lebron probably never really considered us, somehow we kept popping up on his short list and we thought we were 1 player away from being a legit contender. While we didn't get the missing piece, we picked up a good player on a bargain contract(IT) and thought we'd repeat 13-14 and try again in free agency.

I won't rehash the disaster that the 3 pg system was, it clearly failed and I think McD forgot that basketball players are real people and not just video game assets. Still, we regrouped, cleared out the pg's that weren't happy(Dragic and IT) and tried again to add the missing piece(aldridge). From all accounts, Aldridge was incredibly close to signing with us. Would Bled/Knight/Warren/Aldridge/Chandler have been a contender? Maybe not, but we would have been a lot better(granted injuries still would have decimated that team).

However, I think we have finally(thank goodness) given up on the quick fix solution to our teams struggles and are letting this team build slowly through the draft. I'd give McD at least another couple years to let this grow organically. Booker was a hit, Chriss/Bender/Ulis is still up for debate, but there are some promising signs. With those 3, our top 5 pick this year, and the two firsts we have next year, we'll have 6 chances to add another couple studs. If McD can't turn those 6 assets into anything, then I think we move on.

[JCSunsfan]

McDo has proved to be above average at drafting, below average at everything else. If it were me I'd let him draft this year then give him the boot. I appreciate that he has acquired a handful of draft picks but I don't trust him to do anything with them other than use them for what they are, drafting players.

We were late to the "acquire as many assets as possible" party. He wants to cash them in during a period where there are no stars available.

He swung and missed on Aldridge and is now saddled with Chandler.

He tried to build a team around 3 star point guards, an idea that was a complete failure other than the picks he salvaged which will be in the 15 to 20 range down the road.

The Morrii situation. Embarrassing.

Axing Hornacek and passing over all the assistants (Majerle) in line to promote Watson who hasn't shown me anything other than being able to keep a losing team from killing each other.

Probably missing a few things but these seem to be his main goofs.

Wasn't Dan passed over for Lindsey Hunter? That was before McD.

[sunshoopjunky]

Our moves haven't worked out.

You say that like it has just been by happenstance. It hasn't. The roster management has been horrendous, there have been some inexcusable trades (and lack thereof), and Ryan seems to have no clue how to construct a team.

I think that the Celtics have out "asseted" us for the last few years and that has handicapped Ryan's ability to make a franchise changing play. I am excited about being out from under that a bit more after this draft. I think Ryan has been incredible in the draft. He has done well with contract negotiations. He does well with the media and seems to be a good buffer between Sarver and the staff. I think Ryan should stay if he is cheap because we have a ton of growth invested in him just like Alex Lin