Phx-Suns.Net

Butler is extremely injury-proned and his production is slipping. But he is still a solid scorer, good playmaker/ball-handler, and brings toughness. He is also a headcase and has been long before he got to Miami. Miami was a perfect fit until it wasn't (or until they didn't show him the money). I think he could give this team a bump this season, but I think that just turns us into a competitive first round out. He'll be a worse player next year, I don't think him and Durant will get along, and Bud won't survive (he'll be gone either at the end of this season or the next).

Butler (and the Heat) absolutely leaned into the load management stuff, and in retrospect, getting to the Finals with a 44-38 team was probably a detriment as it disillusioned them into thinking it's a viable, repeatable strategy.

Bud will be out by the middle of next season and Fizdale will take over the team at that point. Then we'll truly be in the 7th circle of hell.

Agree with both these takes. I do think that Butler actively disrespects the regular season, and some of the games he sits out are probably for load management than for actual injuries. His only one injury during the playoffs over recent years was last playoffs when he hurt his leg, where Riley called him out for talking trash while not playing -- and that specific Riley quote tells me that he is frustrated and Butler probably could have played more during the regular season.

I know that he has had a history of being a head case, but I also don't think he intends to bring chaos into a situation. I think he's just a hard headed person who at a very young age learned to resort to abrasiveness in conflict situations. It is a bit of a coin flip as to whether he will deal with any Durant or Booker interactions as conflicts that will trigger his abrasive response. So far from what I've seen in news reports and from what was posted in this very thread, he'll probably act the good soldier for a bit.

Do agree tho that we'll likely be a first round out despite all this trade and cap gymnastics. Here's hoping that the rumors that he and Durant will both take less money so we can come down from the second apron are true.

ShelC wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 21, 2025 7:51 pm

Bud will be out by the middle of next season and Fizdale will take over the team at that point. Then we'll truly be in the 7th circle of hell.

You are quite the optimist... in Eastern lore hell has 18 levels.

The 18th level comes in 2031.

Yall just down bad lol. It is what it is I guess.

Wally_West wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 21, 2025 7:59 pm

Yall just down bad lol. It is what it is I guess.

I'm honestly excited to see what happens

TOO wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 21, 2025 8:06 pm

Wally_West wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 21, 2025 7:59 pm

Yall just down bad lol. It is what it is I guess.

I'm honestly excited to see what happens

Certainly far more exciting than watching this current team play at the moment.

ShelC wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 21, 2025 7:51 pm

Bud will be out by the middle of next season and Fizdale will take over the team at that point.

Would that be so bad? I know you don't like Fizdale, but either Bud isn't coaching or the players aren't listening to him. At this point, Book and Durant are going to do whatever they want, so what harm would it do letting Durant's guy "coach" the team?

SunsShine wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 21, 2025 8:08 pm

TOO wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 21, 2025 8:06 pm

Wally_West wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 21, 2025 7:59 pm

Yall just down bad lol. It is what it is I guess.

I'm honestly excited to see what happens

Certainly far more exciting than watching this current team play at the moment.

I just hope everyone, especially the FO, understands that the moment is not the only moment that will ever exist.

I’ve been on the trade for Jimmy trade since day 1, was skeptical early if it could get done but got a lot more confident it was happening as the weeks went on. I was just worried that Pat was gonna be petty and trade him for bs just not make it look like Jimmy “won”, clearly not the case now. Fully expect this Jimmy deal to get done before Friday.

INFORMER wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 21, 2025 8:11 pm

ShelC wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 21, 2025 7:51 pm

Bud will be out by the middle of next season and Fizdale will take over the team at that point.

Would that be so bad? I know you don't like Fizdale, but either Bud isn't coaching or the players aren't listening to him. At this point, Book and Durant are going to do whatever they want, so what harm would it do letting Durant's guy "coach" the team?

It's everything all the dysfunctional, losing franchises do. Fizdale's a clown and you don't win when players choose a "player's coach" (code for a pushover) over someone who challenges them with accountability. That's the essence of all of this. Get a coach who will be a leader and challenge them and if you can't find that guy, get rid of the players who are the problem.

Mike Brown is available.

Wally_West wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 21, 2025 8:23 pm

I’ve been on the trade for Jimmy trade since day 1, was skeptical early if it could get done but got a lot more confident it was happening as the weeks went on. I was just worried that Pat was gonna be petty and trade him for bs just not make it look like Jimmy “won”, clearly not the case now. Fully expect this Jimmy deal to get done before Friday.

It sure seems like this is going to go down. Comments in other teams forums make it seem like Beal maybe to Bucks, Jimmy here, who knows other pieces?

Split T wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 21, 2025 9:16 pm

I feel like we’ve always had better luck in the latter part of the first round…. Great deal if it’s true.

Wally_West wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 21, 2025 7:59 pm

Yall just down bad lol. It is what it is I guess.

Not at all…. Im all for anything to get us out of this meandering state we’ve been in.

Split T wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 21, 2025 8:14 pm

Hopefully he'll wear Mavs or Warriors shoe colors the next few games.

I DON'T want him.