Suns News: Week 12 1/11-1/17

[Nodack]

http://espn.go.com/blog/nba/post/_/id/1 ... s-friday-9

Suns GM Ryan McDonough: ‘We’ll be aggressive’: The Phoenix Suns are going to be a team to watch on the NBA’s trade market this year and Ryan McDonough’s appearance on Burns & Gambo on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM did confirm that the Suns general manager has been active. “I think you’ll see the talks heat up again,” McDonough said. -- ArizonaSports.com

[JCSunsfan]

Non-sequitur, perhaps... but who says no the following trade:

BOS gets: Keef + CLE pick (and anything you could buy with them)
PHO gets: Option to swap PHX pick with BKN pick in this year's draft

?

Hmmm. Could be Kieff for nothing. But it is an intriguing idea. The Cleveland pick is likely not worth much. Boston would not do it for just Kieff. I think it's about 50-50 that the BKN pick is better than ours.

I might take that one.

[JCSunsfan]

http://www.sportingnews.com/nba-news/46 ... don-knight

Worth a read on the current Suns.

Start with the much-discussed collapse of forward Markieff Morris’ trade value. Morris actively sought a trade in the offseason, appeared to be playing with half-effort to open the year, posted terrible numbers and was considered toxic as a trade asset. But around the league, Morris is still viewed as a potentially valuable stretch-power forward, one who could bring the Suns more value than expected as we approach next month’s trading deadline.

“He’s young, he can fit into that four-spot and has the potential to stretch the floor with his shooting if he gets into a better situation,” one league executive said. “His contract is not that much of a problem (three years, $24 million after this season) and everyone knows what his upside is.”

The notion that the Suns can’t even give away Morris because he’s had a poor attitude is overblown. And, the league executive said, veterans such as Mirza Teletovic and P.J. Tucker have been discussed as trade targets, too, though the Suns are delaying discussions about those players until they're more certain that a playoff run can't be mounted.

They can't possibly believe that, can they?

Oh cmon! Of course not. Look at the games, look at the body language of the coach and players. They started thinking about tanking when Bledsoe was first injured. They committed to it when he decided to have the meniscus repaired and be out for the year.

Everyone sort of relaxed at that point and settled into their new role. Talk about firing Horny stopped.

[JCSunsfan]

We are officially the doormat of the entire league.

http://www.nba.com/2016/news/powerranki ... 04/week10/
NBA rank 30th
Phoenix (12-25)
Pace: 101.0 (3) OffRtg: 100.9 (21) DefRtg: 105.4 (24) NetRtg: -4.5 (24)
Well, indeed things did indeed get worse after the towel throwing and assistant-coach firing. The Suns were actually competitive against the Cavs and Thunder last week, but gave up 142 points to the Kings and trailed the Lakers 74-36 on their way to losing their ninth straight game. Tyson Chandler has looked terrible and the Mavs won't trade for him for another few years, when he's in the final season of his contract.


30. Phoenix SunsRick Scuteri/Associated Press
Last Week: 30

Last week's No. 30 ranking felt a little punitive, like we were maybe sticking it to the Phoenix Suns not just for losing a bunch of games, but for losing them with such a messy, outwardly dysfunctional style. It was like we put the Suns on timeout, like we wanted them to think about what they'd done.

You want to squander some legitimate, playoff-worthy talent in a year when something like 41 wins might be good enough for the eighth seed? You want to toss towels at coaches? Fine. Five minutes in the corner!

To keep the Suns in the final spot for another week, it was going to take some harder evidence.

Like this: Phoenix's 2-12 record since Dec. 15 is the worst in the league, and no team (no, not even the Sixers) has a worse net rating than the Suns' minus-12.2 in that span, per NBA.com.

Welp!

That was easy.

See you next week Suns.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/powerrankings
NBA rank 28
It's pretty rare when you can say a team is overdue for a panic trade. Their front office should be getting those annoying reminder pop-ups on their phone every 15 minutes that just read "TRADE SOMEONE, ANYONE, NOW."

http://www.foxsports.com/nba/power-rankings
Rank 25
SUNS (13-27) HIGH: 12 / LOW: 26
The entire league is waiting for the Suns to get the ball rolling on the trade market, or so it seems. Whether Phoenix cuts bait with Markieff Morris or holds out for a real asset in return will set the tone for transactions over the next month and could have a real impact on the playoff hunt after the All-Star break. View season trend.

You don't panic when you are tanking. You wait and get the deal you want because the losses only help.

[OE32]

You don't panic when you are tanking. You wait and get the deal you want because the losses only help.

While McD certainly would have preferred a different type of season, in a sense, he's very well-positioned. A diverse range of assets, plenty of teams still in the playoff hunt, and league-wide knowledge that there's value to be had in trading with the Suns.

[carey]

Oh cmon! Of course not. Look at the games, look at the body language of the coach and players. They started thinking about tanking when Bledsoe was first injured. They committed to it when he decided to have the meniscus repaired and be out for the year.

Everyone sort of relaxed at that point and settled into their new role. Talk about firing Horny stopped.

Right. It's just the coach isn't really coaching that way. Is he? He isn't giving the young guys enough run. Playing guys that clearly won't be here next year in service of trying to achieve a goal that is clearly out of reach.

[Mori Chu]

Right. It's just the coach isn't really coaching that way. Is he? He isn't giving the young guys enough run. Playing guys that clearly won't be here next year in service of trying to achieve a goal that is clearly out of reach.

Maybe Coach can relate to that.

[Nodack]

He seems to play everybody to me. They are down to 11 guys playing. Booker, Goodwin and Warren all played over 20 minutes. At this point any healthy body is getting minutes. I don't see much of an issue with minutes.

PHOENIX SUNS (13-28)
FIELD GOALSREBOUNDS
POS MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A +/- OFF DEF TOT AST PF ST TO BS BA PTS
P. Tucker F 26:50 3-8 1-3 0-0 -17 2 3 5 2 3 2 1 1 0 7
M. Morris F 21:49 2-10 0-0 5-5 -27 1 8 9 4 1 1 1 0 1 9
T. Chandler C 23:38 2-4 0-0 2-2 -20 1 8 9 2 1 0 1 0 0 6
D. Booker G 24:27 2-9 0-4 5-6 +4 1 4 5 0 3 0 3 0 0 9
B. Knight G 40:24 7-15 2-7 0-0 -13 0 0 0 4 4 2 4 1 0 16
A. Goodwin 20:21 1-8 0-1 0-0 -15 1 2 3 3 0 0 0 0 1 2
L. Brown 04:57 1-2 0-0 0-0 -7 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
T. Warren 20:03 5-9 1-2 2-4 +8 0 3 3 1 4 1 0 1 1 13
S. Weems 23:37 4-6 1-1 1-2 0 1 5 6 5 2 2 3 0 0 10
J. Leuer 12:42 3-5 1-2 0-0 +1 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 2 0 7
M. Teletovic 21:12 5-13 4-7 8-9 +11 1 1 2 1 2 0 0 0 2 22
A. Len DND - LEFT HAND SPRAIN
Total 240 35-89 10-27 23-28 9 36 45 24 22 9 14 5 5 103
39.3% 37.0% 82.1% TEAM REBS: 12

[Superbone]

I think they do. In that McDonough interview that was posted a while back (where he talked about the bottoming out may have been delayed by a couple of years) he talked about they're only 4 or 5 games out of the 8th seed and making a run at that is their preferred option. We need to pile up some more losses so there is NO doubt what the best course of action is.

I just assumed they said that because that's what they HAVE to say. You still need to sell tickets, tanking or otherwise. If McDonough really believes that a run is possible with Bledsoe out for the year, Knight running the show, and no one able to close out games then it might be time for Sarver to show him the door. I like what he's done in the draft, I like about half his trades, but his FA signings have all blown up in his face. Could be time to stick a fork in the McDonough era.

If I remember rightly he said something like "we're only 4-5 games back, so if we can make a run and get into the playoffs that would be our preference".... so I wouldn't be surprised if Sarver won't let him pull the pin on the season until playoffs are completely out of the picture. Just speculating on my point, but that was the vibe I got listening to it.

I can remember when it was, "we're tied for the 8th spot" and then "we're only a game out" and then "we're only a couple games out" until the latest, "we're only 4-5 games back". Anybody see a trend here?

[carey]

Suns season's 1st half among club's worst in many ways: http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/n ... /78932532/

[Indy]

Is there really any benefit to making a trade now? If teams are interested in our guys, won't they become even more valuable nearer to the deadline? Of course, the value could drop of that team either falls out of contention or clearly doesn't need help, but I think that is unlikely.

My goal for 2016-17:

Find a taker for Chandler (don't really care what we get as long as it is either a non-expiring rookie deal, or an expiring vet).

Get something of equal value back for PJ or Mirza (preferably both!)

Trade Keef for a bag of dicks (and make Babby suck them all)

Get rid of Knight. Please. Pretty please. I would say Bleds too, but I think that is too wishful of thinking considering he is injured (yet again).

[SwingMan]

Between the two, Knight definitely needs to go - not only has he severely regressed, but dude can't defend for shit and his 100% hero ball shit sucks the life out of what little offense remains.

Though Bledsoe drives blind in the half-court, at least he offers up great defense and his shot selection (and mid-range jumper) has shown steady improvement. Hell, even his decision making is better than Knight's. This is Knight's 5th year in the league - there's no excuse for his lack of development.

Trade him and Markieff for expirings and picks - same for Tucker, at this point.

[carey]

Fwiw, I don't think Knight has regressed. I think he is what he always was. There's a reason the Suns are his 3rd team. He's a guy that is fairly good, but nothing special. Whose liabilities as a defender and decision maker will keep a team from being anything other than pedestrian if he's the full-time PG. Will the Suns get away with playing him at the 2 for the remainder of his contract? Maybe, but Bledsoe can only guard so many bigger guards before he wears down and we are right back here in this position. I don't envy the position McDonough is in. Both his marquee signings this Summer have backfired and the Suns are setting records for their futility. I think it might be time to move on from McDonough and bring in an experienced guy that can rebuild this team the right way.

[Superbone]

I don't know if I can totally blame McDonough. I have a feeling that Sarver isn't giving him full control.

[SwingMan]

Fwiw, I don't think Knight has regressed. I think he is what he always was. There's a reason the Suns are his 3rd team. He's a guy that is fairly good, but nothing special. Whose liabilities as a defender and decision maker will keep a team from being anything other than pedestrian if he's the full-time PG. Will the Suns get away with playing him at the 2 for the remainder of his contract? Maybe, but Bledsoe can only guard so many bigger guards before he wears down and we are right back here in this position. I don't envy the position McDonough is in. Both his marquee signings this Summer have backfired and the Suns are setting records for their futility. I think it might be time to move on from McDonough and bring in an experienced guy that can rebuild this team the right way.

I meant regressed as in from where he was in Milwaukee last season - otherwise, I'm more or less at the same place with Knight.

Far as Chandler goes, I chalk it up to apathy, starting with Morris dogging it and snowballing from there to where I see Chandler's body language saying "Why the fuck should I even try to anchor a non-existent defense? Motherfuckers aren't even trying to feed me on offense anyways, so fuck it." Being as he can still be a hell of an asset to Len and how this season has turned into one big clusterfuck, I'm all for keeping him around.

McDonough's definitely prone to outbreaks of fanboy fantasy league bullshit (Isaiah Thomas, exhibit A and, to a lesser degree, Knight), but he's drafted reasonably well - now, if we happen to snag the #1 overall pick and select Kris Dunn, yeah, dude needs his ass kicked off the planet.

[INFORMER]

My goal for 2016-17:

Find a taker for Chandler (don't really care what we get as long as it is either a non-expiring rookie deal, or an expiring vet).

Get something of equal value back for PJ or Mirza (preferably both!)

Trade Keef for a bag of dicks (and make Babby suck them all)

Get rid of Knight. Please. Pretty please. I would say Bleds too, but I think that is too wishful of thinking considering he is injured (yet again).

That's my wishlist too. I'm hoping for a Bledsoe trade during the preseason.

[pickle]

My goal for 2016-17:

Find a taker for Chandler (don't really care what we get as long as it is either a non-expiring rookie deal, or an expiring vet).

Get something of equal value back for PJ or Mirza (preferably both!)

Trade Keef for a bag of dicks (and make Babby suck them all)

Get rid of Knight. Please. Pretty please. I would say Bleds too, but I think that is too wishful of thinking considering he is injured (yet again).

That's my wishlist too. I'm hoping for a Bledsoe trade during the preseason.

Mine as well, though I'd probably move Keef before PJ, since that might improve the mood on the team somewhat, give the rotation a bit more consistency, and also allow PJ to play a bit of the four and showcase more value. As I type this I realize that the scenario in my head has always been Kieff for some future pick, maybe a couple of second rounders. If he brought back another 4 that further mucked up the rotation, then yeah, let's move PJ first.

Feels like bad form to move a bunch of guys that we just signed this last summer, but basketball-wise seems like we ought to just do it.

[SDC]

Fwiw, I don't think Knight has regressed. I think he is what he always was. There's a reason the Suns are his 3rd team. He's a guy that is fairly good, but nothing special. Whose liabilities as a defender and decision maker will keep a team from being anything other than pedestrian if he's the full-time PG. Will the Suns get away with playing him at the 2 for the remainder of his contract? Maybe, but Bledsoe can only guard so many bigger guards before he wears down and we are right back here in this position. I don't envy the position McDonough is in. Both his marquee signings this Summer have backfired and the Suns are setting records for their futility. I think it might be time to move on from McDonough and bring in an experienced guy that can rebuild this team the right way.

i dont think so too. i think he is trying to get traded, just like keef.

[Ring_Wanted]

Mozgev and a first for Tucker and Kieff?

Have to do it as two trades, looks like, but would work. Maybe Varajeo but his contract sucks and he's kind of redundant with Chandler.

And Mozgov isn't? No thanks. I'd rather continue to develop Len.

I'd rather have a TE and a pick. Mozgov can be sent to a third team since he seems to be on demand.

[Mori Chu]

Centers take a long time to develop. We gave up a little too early on Robin Lopez. I don't want to do the same with Len.