Around the League: Week 6 11/19-11-25

[TOO]

If Washington is blowing things up I'd look at Beal. Could a Beal-Booker backcourt work? Probably take a lot to get him, but a Beal/Booker/Bridges/Warren/Ayton core is pretty solid.

Doesn't solve the PG issue...

And I dont wanna hear about Bookers assists, there is more to being a PG than getting assists on guys knocking down open 3s.

[Drewsprocket]

I don’t think Booker is going to stomach this whole season winning 20 games. Look around, the writing is on the wall: it’s a players league. Stars want talent and to play with their friends. He got his deal and unless he starts competing he’ll want out. No one is trading away the farm for stars who want off their team. The suns absolutely have the Milwaukee pick to burn and Josh Jackson to nab the best PG they can get.

[O_Gardino]

I don’t think Booker is going to stomach this whole season winning 20 games. Look around, the writing is on the wall: it’s a players league. Stars want talent and to play with their friends. He got his deal and unless he starts competing he’ll want out. No one is trading away the farm for stars who want off their team. The suns absolutely have the Milwaukee pick to burn and Josh Jackson to nab the best PG they can get.

Only if he's a good PG on a good deal, and there's a good chance he sticks around. If the best we can get is Ish Smith, we need to keep the pick.

[Split T]

If Washington is blowing things up I'd look at Beal. Could a Beal-Booker backcourt work? Probably take a lot to get him, but a Beal/Booker/Bridges/Warren/Ayton core is pretty solid.

Doesn't solve the PG issue...

And I dont wanna hear about Bookers assists, there is more to being a PG than getting assists on guys knocking down open 3s.

I don't subscribe to the we need a traditional PG idea. Beal and Booker can both play with the ball in their hands. Get a 3rd guard that is more of a true PG and it'd be fine.

[Cap]

If Washington is blowing things up I'd look at Beal. Could a Beal-Booker backcourt work? Probably take a lot to get him, but a Beal/Booker/Bridges/Warren/Ayton core is pretty solid.

Doesn't solve the PG issue...

And I dont wanna hear about Bookers assists, there is more to being a PG than getting assists on guys knocking down open 3s.

If Washington blows things up this summer, we have the cap room to absorb Wall’s contract while sending back Anderson’s. If we win the Zion lottery, would you do it? Wall-Booker-Bridges-Zion-Ayton, with JJ, TJ and Holmes coming off the bench... starting to look like a team.

[INFORMER]

If Washington is blowing things up I'd look at Beal. Could a Beal-Booker backcourt work?

I was asking myself the same question. Ultimately, the problem I have with it is that it would be a costly move and we still wouldn't be addressing any of our needs.

[Shabazz]

If Washington is blowing things up I'd look at Beal. Could a Beal-Booker backcourt work?

I was asking myself the same question. Ultimately, the problem I have with it is that it would be a costly move and we still wouldn't be addressing any of our needs.

I could be sold on it depending on the cost. Booker doesn't necessarily need a traditional PG near him. He needs another player that can create offense.

[Ring_Wanted]

Booker is no the only factor if we are making a trade. Others need to be fed, especially Ayton. Wall's drive and kick and pick and roll game would look great here. That contract is a concern given his injury history, but I could live with it. The attitude would be more of a problem to me, but maybe he is just burned out os WAS and needs a new start.

One thing is gor sure. If we keep sucking, Booker is going to demand a trade.

[carey]

Booker is no the only factor if we are making a trade. Others need to be fed, especially Ayton. Wall's drive and kick and pick and roll game would look great here. That contract is a concern given his injury history, but I could live with it. The attitude would be more of a problem to me, but maybe he is just burned out in WAS and needs a new start.

One thing is for sure. If we keep sucking, Booker is going to demand a trade.

That's the thing though, Ring. You can't untangle the contract from the injury history from the attitude. All those things combine to make him a player you just can't deal for even if you're sending out your unwanted garbage. The only circumstances you could sign off on it for would be if you thought trading for Wall was getting you a championship. I can't think of any contenders that could delude themselves into thinking that. A Paul-Harden-Wall line-up doesn't work. Ditto for Westbrook-Wall. Murray-Harris-Wall? I can't find anything that works for him.

I'm not worried about Booker demanding a trade. His extension hasn't even kicked in yet. We have 5 more years to make it right by him.

[ShelC]

That's the thing though, Ring. You can't untangle the contract from the injury history from the attitude. All those things combine to make him a player you just can't deal for even if you're sending out your unwanted garbage.

Exactly....he's got the trifecta you don't want: Massive contract, injuries and bad attitude/leadership. Can't touch him.

I do think we need to start making moves sooner than later to compete - not at the cost of rebuilding the right way but we need to rebalance the roster and add talent.

[England Sun]

I think because we've had nothing happen from the new front office to date they are waiting until December when there are more cards we can play.

As Shell says, Wall is untouchable for me. Imagine making that move and he breaks down again, this board would be full of the 'I told you so's' and 'we should have waited' armchair GM's. IF we don't make the move and he remains healthy and productive then it will be more about luck than good judgement.

It makes sense, however hard it is to stomach, to wait until Ariza can be used as well as Anderson for trade purposes. It is clear what our holes are at the 1 & 4 and what we need.

If we can solve one of these challenges this year without limiting what we can do moving forward then that's fine, preferably the 1 but no clear individual or organisation comes to mind.

There is no way we solve the 1 & 4 this year without seriously damaging our flexibility in the future.
Relying on the draft again with the new odds is ludicrous. If the ping pong balls fall for us two years in a row then great, but we are not Cleveland!

[Split T]

The only chance Washington has of moving Wall is if a team gets desperate to just be decent. He's a good player, but paying good players the super max is the easiest way to cap your team in mediocrity... And that's not even mentioning the attitude/injury issues.

Orlando is the only team that comes to mind, besides us, who might get desperate and make a move. Their pg situation sucks and they've been trying to make the playoffs for longer than us, I think. I still think they'd be stupid to do it and really stupid if they gave up any of their young pieces in the trade (Gordon, Isaac, Bamba)

[O_Gardino]

John Wall is this generation's Carmelo Anthony.

[INFORMER]

If Washington is blowing things up I'd look at Beal. Could a Beal-Booker backcourt work?

I was asking myself the same question. Ultimately, the problem I have with it is that it would be a costly move and we still wouldn't be addressing any of our needs.

I could be sold on it depending on the cost. Booker doesn't necessarily need a traditional PG near him. He needs another player that can create offense.

True, but I am not a fan of putting two volume scorers in the backcourt together. I think that is what has hurt Portland and Washington. It's too easy to devolve the team's offense into one of those guys going one on five the entire game. That's not how you win.

[In2ition]

If Washington is blowing things up I'd look at Beal. Could a Beal-Booker backcourt work?

I was asking myself the same question. Ultimately, the problem I have with it is that it would be a costly move and we still wouldn't be addressing any of our needs.

I could be sold on it depending on the cost. Booker doesn't necessarily need a traditional PG near him. He needs another player that can create offense.

True, but I am not a fan of putting two volume scorers in the backcourt together. I think that is what has hurt Portland and Washington. It's too easy to devolve the team's offense into one of those guys going one on five the entire game. That's not how you win.

So you don't think a backcourt of Booker and Lillard could work in Phx?

[Superbone]

If Washington is blowing things up I'd look at Beal. Could a Beal-Booker backcourt work?

I was asking myself the same question. Ultimately, the problem I have with it is that it would be a costly move and we still wouldn't be addressing any of our needs.

I could be sold on it depending on the cost. Booker doesn't necessarily need a traditional PG near him. He needs another player that can create offense.

True, but I am not a fan of putting two volume scorers in the backcourt together. I think that is what has hurt Portland and Washington. It's too easy to devolve the team's offense into one of those guys going one on five the entire game. That's not how you win.

Works pretty well for the Warriors. But they have 3 volume scorers when healthy.

[INFORMER]

Orlando is the only team that comes to mind, besides us, who might get desperate and make a move. Their pg situation sucks

Does it? I get that they don't have a marquee name, but D.J. Augustin is shooting 46% from 3 has a 4.6:1 assist to turnover ratio. Jerian Grant is a solid backup and Fournier can handle the ball and make plays. I don't think they are in that bad of shape.

[INFORMER]

So you don't think a backcourt of Booker and Lillard could work in Phx?

What do you mean "work"? Would they make the playoffs every year? Absolutely. Would they compete for a championship? I'm not confident they could. They would be horrendous on defense.

[INFORMER]

Works pretty well for the Warriors. But they have 3 volume scorers when healthy.

Nope. Klay Thompson isn't a volume scorer. He is a catch-and-shoot pure shooter. That makes a big difference. His default isn't to spend a possession pounding the ball, looking to take his man one on one.

Ditto for Curry. He can take his man one on one, but he also will get a lot of his offense running off of screens and catching and shooting. What also works in the Warriors favor is that Curry is possibly the greatest shooter of all time, and Durant is an all-time great too.

[carey]

True, but I am not a fan of putting two volume scorers in the backcourt together. I think that is what has hurt Portland and Washington. It's too easy to devolve the team's offense into one of those guys going one on five the entire game. That's not how you win.

Do you mean Western conference #1 seed Portland?