Suns News: The Offseason (2015)

[virtual9mm]

Knight 5/70
Bledsoe 4/57 (remaining of 5/70)
Dragic 5/90

Rank the contracts.

There isn't enough data to know for sure. That being said:

- Dragic: excellent PG for a specific system, where he gets to be the main ballhandler and is surrounded by shooters at the other 4 positions. Killer finisher at the hoop but needs lots of space in which to operate. Not a great pick-and-roll PG but proficient at the pick-and-pop. Used to be considered a good defender but has slowly degraded in this regard. He's someone you have to build a system around. Lucky for him, the league is moving in this direction, and Bosh is a perfect 4 for him to play with. I have lingering injury concerns about him -- his history of ankle injuries strongly suggests ATFL/CTFL tears that will someday have to be surgically reconstructed via the Brostrom procedure (I had one done).

- Knight: excellent long-range and mid-range shooter, has difficulty finishing at the hoop. Considered possibly the best pick-and-roll guard of the three, but nevertheless is considered a bit ballhoggedy, which is the reason why Milwaukee traded him. Looked really bad with the Suns before he went down, but it is entirely possible that he could be as effective alongside Bledsoe as Dragic was.

- Bledsoe: would be considered a very good PG if it were not for his turnover problems. The solution is quite simple, for him not to leave his feet on deep drives to the hoop, where the vast majority of his TOs happen. Looks like a mini-LeBron when he's engaged, yet has motivational problems during a large proportion of his games. Excellent defender who would be well suited to being a #3 or perhaps a #2 on a title team. What he needs are cutters and shooters for him to pass off to after he penetrates, to help break his habit of TOs. Perhaps his biggest shortcoming is his weakness as a shooter. Potential injury issues may resurface.

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Dragic is probably worth the most, as he's someone who could carry a mediocre team. He would need to have a system constructed around him, though, something like what Nash used to have here except that you'd have a stretch 4 instead of an Amare. Not sure if he's good enough to be the focal point of a system that would work well enough to go deep, deep into the playoffs. So, his value to a bad to mediocre team would be higher than his value to a contender, IMHO.

In stark contrast, Bledsoe could very easily be a #3 on a contending team. He simply does not have the same ability as Dragic to elevate a bad team into mediocre status. The big knock on him is that he needs to have a secondary ballhandler on the floor with him at all times, as he's not a pure PG.

If Knight could cure his habit of taking too many long jumpers, he could potentially work with a dominant big man down low. I'll have to reserve my judgment until I see him run pick-and-rolls with Chandler or Len.

Overall, based on incomplete data especially on Knight:

Bledsoe 4/57 > Dragic 5/90> Knight 5/70 although I think that Dragic is the best player of the three.

[carey]

if mcdo is serious about making the playoffs, sign amare to a 2/10mil offer to come off the bench.

Or *start him* and let Kieff play the 6 man role. Chandler is an anchor and can cover for Amare's defensive lapses. No one has ever doubted Amare's ability to put the ball in the bucket. We could more or less try to replicate Dallas title run.

If only we had an elite traditional point guard to pass him the ball.... where could we have gotten one of those from?

I went and watched some videos after I read what you wrote above. I wanted to see exactly what you were seeing in Amare to feel like he could still start on a Western Conference team. He can still do some things once you're in a half-court offense. His jumper is still really strong (thanks Phil Weber!) and he can still dunk a little though not nearly as powerful as when he was young and healthy. He can still do the little spin move in the lane and now he has kind of a mid-range floater he employs when he can't overpower a player. That said, the guy just doesn't have the wheels anymore. He's going to slow the offense down. A lot. So it really depends on what system they want to run. 7 Seconds or Amare doesn't seem to be in the cards. I do think he can come in and play 18 minutes a game and be effective. I think as much as he likes to shoot the ball he can even average 10 a game doing that. If you're serious about winning though you can't play the guy starters minutes and have him guard the murderers row of WC PFs (Griffin, Favors, Z-Bo, Dirk, LMA, Davis, Towns, Ibaka.)

[ShelC]

Having watched Amar'e the last few seasons, his post game has actually improved a bit to where he can post and make a quick move with either hand. His first step is just OK now, not where it was when he could get past anyone. He's also lost some off his vertical so he can't rise up and dunk in traffic like he used to and is more susceptible to getting stuffed near the rim. The jump shot will always be there tho for popping out, so he and Chandler could make a nice duo if we have a legit PnR guard.

His defense is still tuuurible.

[Mori Chu]

if mcdo is serious about making the playoffs, sign amare to a 2/10mil offer to come off the bench.

Or *start him* and let Kieff play the 6 man role. Chandler is an anchor and can cover for Amare's defensive lapses. No one has ever doubted Amare's ability to put the ball in the bucket. We could more or less try to replicate Dallas title run.

If only we had an elite traditional point guard to pass him the ball.... where could we have gotten one of those from?

Start Amare Stoudemire? In 2015-16? No offense P219 but I really dislike that idea. I do have fondness for Amare, but he is not a starting quality NBA PF any more. Plus, that'll just make Markieff even more disgruntled. I just don't think I like the idea of a 2015 Amare+Tyson frontcourt.

[carey]

Start Amare Stoudemire? In 2015-16? No offense P219 but I really dislike that idea. I do have fondness for Amare, but he is not a starting quality NBA PF any more. Plus, that'll just make Markieff even more disgruntled. I just don't think I like the idea of a 2015 Amare+Tyson frontcourt.

Didn't work for the Knicks when they also had Carmelo.. in the East.

[carey]

https://twitter.com/DaveKingNBA/status/618503479951163393 https://twitter.com/TheMattPetersen/status/618503607009177600 https://twitter.com/Espo/status/618503622200967169

[In2ition]

I am conflicted on whether or not I like hearing that Len is working on his three pointers. I want him to keep getting stronger and working on his low post game and mid-range shot, but at the same time hearing that he's been working on the 3 I hope means that the other portions are working well. idk

[carey]

https://twitter.com/TheMattPetersen/status/618505976828686336https://twitter.com/TheMattPetersen/status/618506720462016512

[In2ition]

https://twitter.com/TheMattPetersen/status/618506720462016512

Honestly, he should be. He's the best player and only returning regular season starter on the roster. I want everyone else to break out and show us all more, but the focal point should be Len.

[TOO]

I am conflicted on whether or not I like hearing that Len is working on his three pointers. I want him to keep getting stronger and working on his low post game and mid-range shot, but at the same time hearing that he's been working on the 3 I hope means that the other portions are working well. idk

The low post game is a dying off, I'm not a bit surprised that Len is trying to keep pace with the current NBA trend.

[Cap]

A reliable three-point shot for Len would be huge, especially if we want to play him next to Chandler and Warren.

[In2ition]

I am conflicted on whether or not I like hearing that Len is working on his three pointers. I want him to keep getting stronger and working on his low post game and mid-range shot, but at the same time hearing that he's been working on the 3 I hope means that the other portions are working well. idk

The low post game is a dying off, I'm not a bit surprised that Len is trying to keep pace with the current NBA trend.

There's certainly a lot of truth to that, but I was thinking in terms of steps in building his skill base. I don't want him to miss a step and turn him into Alec Brown.

[In2ition]

A reliable three-point shot for Len would be huge, especially if we want to play him next to Chandler and Warren.

I wouldn't be surprised if we heard soon that Warren came back with an improved 3 point shot.

[Mori Chu]

I don't think there is a lot of value in Len chucking 3-pointers. He should play like a center. He's huge and has great height and length and strength. He should be close to the basket. Develop a mid-range jumper, fine; but threes, nah. Waste of time and bending his game to fit the mismatched group of players we happen to have on the roster right now.

[ShelC]

I don't know why the f*#k we always insist on our bigs being able to shoot 3s. It'll be nice having Chandler around the rim and, ya know, actually playing like a defensive center.

[TOO]

I don't know why the f*#k we always insist on our bigs being able to shoot 3s. It'll be nice having Chandler around the rim and, ya know, actually playing like a defensive center.

Hrmm.. Len wont be shooting 3's on defense, I don't see the problem.

[In2ition]

He's a center. I would like him to be so good in the post, mid range and on the offensive boards that he becomes a gravity for the defense to collapse on him to open up the outside shooters, not vice versa.

[Cap]

I question the assumption that developing a legit three-point shot would have to come at the expense of other parts of his game.

We're not going to plant him in the corner on every possession and forget he's a center. But if he can spend the extra time working on that shot, and can float out there when the situation calls for it, it will make him a more effective player. He's more agile than a lot of the players who are going to be guarding him, and being able to pull them away from the paint allows him to exploit that advantage more. That's all in addition to issues of fit with the current roster.

[The Bobster]

Bill Laimbeer and Jack Sikma both learned how to shoot 3's and those guys were as tough as you get.

He doesn't have to stand out there all game like Channing Frye, it's just another dimension that a big man can add to stretch the defenses.

[Mori Chu]

Yeah, but the problem is, he hasn't even developed his regular game yet. He hasn't nailed his mid-range jumper. His footwork isn't all there. He doesn't have post moves. He hasn't mastered positioning, boxing out, rebounding, finishing, put-backs.

If he were pretty good at the above, then fine, add a 3-point shot rather than stagnating your game. But he doesn't even have the basics of a center's game down yet. Like anybody, he has limited practice time and attention span to work on anything. Why squander any of that precious time on a stupid shot that he won't use in the games to any positive effect?