Bear Down Wildcats

Little late on this but... Lets start with the Cavs.

First of all, let me say I like the Mozgov addition. He helps on both ends of the floor, protects the rim and Blatt coached him on the Russian national team.

That said, moving that Memphis 1st (plus another, potentially) for him is a lot. If Gasol leaves, that Memphis pick could turn into a lotto pick, as it is protected 1-5 and 15-30 next two season and top 5 next two after.

Im not a big fan of the deal with the Knicks, although Smith is an upgrade over Waiters, due to his shooting. That said, Smith is the only player the last 5 years (I believe, maybe 3) to take 15+ 3s in a game, and has done it three times (including 22 in a game last year). His shot selection is terrible, and while that may improve with Lebron, im not counting on it.

Shumpert adds some length and athleticism on the wing, but ranks 192nd of 201 players in PPP allowed who have defended 200+ plays this season.

Add it up, and I think the Cavs went all in too soon. They gave up flexibility this summer and this is essentially their team moving forward. The Bulls can swap 1sts with them this season (very likely) and the Celtics own their 1st next season.

Blockbuster

Main Event wrote:Blockbuster

Love this. We were never getting that as a 1st, and Wright has poor-mans Chandler potential, adds defensive length and athleticism, and should benefit from Phoenix's spacing and PG play.

Len has played well, but he's not yet ready to be counted on defensively due to fouling. Plumlee is the same, and is now a quality 6 fouls and a talented hustle bum.

I'd secretly hoped this would happen, but figured it would cost the traded 1st and a prospect. Pleasently surprised.

TucsonClip wrote:

Great move by the Suns to acquire another asset in Wright, who is the best finisher in the entire league (statistically) and can provide some length at PF/C.

Also, Memphis looks formidable adding Green. He is the perfect fit for them on both sides of the ball.

Wright can't get here soon enough...

I always hoped the Suns would/could draft Wright when he was coming out. Took a while and he's not the player most thought he'd be, but glad he's finally on the team.

I like how athletic the post has become for the Suns with Wright added to Len & Plumlee, at a low cost.

Doc Rivers gets worked by McDonough...

I'll take Bullock for Shavlik, thank ya much...

None of them have any real young players we'd need and the Knicks and LA aren't trading there picks. Only means 1 thing......prepare to be bent over

Main Event wrote:

None of them have any real young players we'd need and the Knicks and LA aren't trading there picks. Only means 1 thing......prepare to be bent over

I think you could get Terrance Jones' and New Orleans' first round pick from the Rockets, but not if Dragic is openly stating he wont sign with the Rockets. From what I understand, if the Rockets got him they would own his Bird rigths.

http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2 ... -mcdonough

Source: Suns still pushing to appease Dragic with Thomas trade

what the...

Jefe wrote:http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2 ... -mcdonough

Source: Suns still pushing to appease Dragic with Thomas trade

what the...

I defended the IT signing when it happened ... online, somewhere ... but in retrospect what an awful move.

Boston might take IT for a couple of 2nd rounders, but I doubt Phx will be able to move him before Noon tomorrow.

They didn't see this coming with the signing of IT? Drajic is going to bend over the suns given the time limitations unless they can pull a rabbit out of there hat

When the Suns signed IT they thought they were losing Bledsoe. It hasn't worked out and the Suns have tried to tell Dragic they would move him to appease him.

Dragic has sort of been a cunt this whole time. The org has bent over backwards for him signing his shitty brother, attempting to sign the corpse of Channing Frye, and I believe they have tried to shop IT. In order to make Dragic happy they would have to get rid of IT and Bledsoe so he can be the lone lead guard. That isn't just realistic.

Dragic has sort of put the Suns in a hole, but not being cooperative and saying he just wants to go to the Lakers (lol enjoy playing off the ball with Kobe), Knicks (go suffocate in the triangle offense), or the Heat. None of those teams have realistic assets to make a deal that would make sense for the Suns and every other team that does (Kings, Rockets, etc..) he just says he won't sign there. I say just keep him if the Suns don't get the offer they want and lets see if he is ready to piss away a guaranteed 20 million in that 5th year.

I'm over it.

The Thomas signing was smart until they re-signed Bledsoe. They should have traded him as soon as the moratorium passed. The three guard lineup has been bad defensively, and I'm sure Dragic hates playing SF. Despite his statistical success, which for extended periods was roughly equivalent to his stats last year, his role shifted immensely.

But he's been a complete asshole the last 48 hours.

If Houston is willing to give up the NO 1st or Boston is willing to give up two late 1sts, I'll trade him now just to remove the potential cancer. He's a costly long-term commitment, and I want to see Goodwin and Bogdan get some real NBA minutes. Bullock, too.

I'd trade Dragic/Green/Plumlee to Houston for NO 1st/Johnson/Terry/Contract.

Then I'd spend all this year grooming Goodwin and Bullock at SG.

As the Sacramento Kings continue to be warned that Phoenix Suns guard Goran Dragic would have no interest in signing an extension with them, the team has become increasingly reluctant to pursue a trade, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

The Kings would’ve been willing to offer a package that included 2014 first-round pick Nik Stauskus and a future first-round pick, but discussions are dissipating with the trade deadline approaching on Thursday afternoon, league sources told Yahoo Sports.


The Houston Rockets have been repeatedly warned that Dragic would not re-sign with them if traded there, but general manager Daryl Morey has stayed in touch with the Suns on potential deal possibilities, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Nevertheless, the Rockets are uncertain where they stand in the discussions.


For now, Dragic has decided he wants the ball in his hands, and the offense flowing through him, something that can’t always happen with Bledsoe sharing the backcourt with him.


http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--s ... 09795.html

Sarver now saying he wont deal Dragic. If they can get 2 1sts from the Heat I don't know why you don't do that. No way Suns would even give him 5 years anyway. So whats the point?

Truth. Two 1sts at this point seems like a win. I'm over it, just get him out of town.

Dragic sure is being a lil bitch about this whole thing. Send his ass back to the eastern block for all I care.

One thing being lost here is the inclusion of McRoberts. He could be an interesting piece next season for the Suns not to mention a potential trade chip as well. Hes on the MLE but is a good passer who plays well in space, especially int eh pick and roll.

Solid backup for Markieff.

Suns shouldn't want the shit Miami wants to throw in that will be on the books next year. 2 shitty picks aren't worth the cap room.

Seriously, fuck the Suns

lol Danny Granger. What a complete clusterfuck. Thanks a bunch Dragic you cunt.

IT to the Sixers? Ennis to the Bucks? Brandon Knight to the Suns? WTF is going on?

Main Event wrote:

Was just about to post this. Not sure why Phoenix is so fascinated with Kentucky lead guards ...

Hell just broke loose

Talk about mixing it up real quick...

Wow.

A Knight-Bledsoe backcourt is dynamic and just awesome.

Knight is a good shooter and better off the ball. Bledose can play off the ball but a bit better with it. Both very good defenders. Perfect match, even better than Dragic IMO.

lol the Lakers pick to the Sixers apparently. The Suns are fucked. Dragic that pick for Knight and 2 shitty 1st rounders. Someone bring back Jerry's Kids to rant and rave.

Hate this team

TucsonClip wrote:A Knight-Bledsoe backcourt is dynamic and just awesome.

Knight is a good shooter and better off the ball. Bledose can play off the ball but a bit better with it. Both very good defenders. Perfect match, even better than Dragic IMO.

When I saw this the first thing I thought was 'The Suns were shopping IT and this situation came up where they could end up with Knight for IT and the Suns said 'F Dragic let's just trade IT for Knight, let Dragic walk (or trade for some small thing) and move forward with a Bledsoe/Knight backcourt.''

FWIW Gottlieb is saying on his show right now that Phoenix got better.

So the offseason is going to be re-sign Knight and make an all out run for an allstar forward right?

Rest of this season please bring on Goodwin and Warren so they can at least get some time.

I don't know, assuming Knight is signed, I think I'd rather have him as a good, known-commodity than the Lakers pick.

Boom! GD to Heat, IT to Celtics for Danny Granger, Norris Cole and 2 1sts.

Miami trade: The corpse of Danny Granger + 2 1sts & filler for Dragic Bros ...

Not great, but considering how Dragic shoved a hot poker up the Suns' ass 40 hrs before the deadline, that is probably about as good as any other team would have agreed to, so I actually give McDonough credit for getting a Dragic deal done and any sort of compensation given the restraints Dragic & his agent hung on Phoenix, and given the potential for Sarver buffoonery.

My reaction to today overall is the same as Joel Embiid's ...
Let's see if I have this right:

OUT: Dragic Bros, Plumlee, Ennis, IT, Lakers protected pick ...

IN: Brandin Knight, Danny Granger, Marcus Thornton, John Salmons (who will be waived) & 3 late 1sts (Two from Miami TBD, Cleveland's 2016) and $2.1MM cash to pay Granger.

3 players (1 starter, 2 role players), 2 "prospects" (true with Ennis, loosely used with Zoran) and a future early (but protected) 1st in exchange for 3 players (1 starter, 2 role players) and 3 late 1sts. Dragic is a better player than Knight right now, but Knight is 6 years younger, and likely a better fit next to Bledsoe. Won't miss Plumlee, glad IT is gone, Ennis was a strange pick but was always just an asset. Wish it was 2010 Danny Granger instead of 2015 Danny Granger but he'll provide wing depth, and Marcus Thornton gives the Suns another 3P shooter with an expiring contract & has been frisky lately. Suns give up some scoring but got younger & longer on the perimeter.

Overall, Break Even for me, which is a win considering they had less than 2 days to trade the Dragic brothers.

The Goat wrote:lol the Lakers pick to the Sixers apparently. The Suns are fucked. Dragic that pick for Knight and 2 shitty 1st rounders. Someone bring back Jerry's Kids to rant and rave.

Lakers will be keeping that Top-5 pick this year, so to me that's not as big a loss. Getting more 1sts to package for a player or an actual lotto pick makes sense.

Oh, and Fuck Jerry's Kids.

The Goat wrote:So the offseason is going to be re-sign Knight and make an all out run for an allstar forward right?

Rest of this season please bring on Goodwin and Warren so they can at least get some time.

I would think so. Agree on Warren and Goodwin needing time, but getting rid of IT and Dragic surely moves that along.

My Immediate thoughts:

I'm ok with it considering it had to be done.

I'm happy with Knight for Dragic, effectively. Strong shooter, likely better defender, younger with upside at a price that won't be quite as high as Dragic would have commanded at MAX.

The downside is Plumlee, Ennis, Thomas, Lakers 1st for Hamilton, Cavs 1st, 2 Heat 1sts, though there's no guarantee the Heat 1sts will be bad. Likely middling, maybe late lottery should Suns get some breaks. It's adequate but completely unknown, though that Lakers 1st looks like garbage if Lakers sign Dragic/Love and get a healthy Parker and Kobe back, so who ever knows.

All in all, factor in that the Suns basically have the following going forward, it was a better than good way to salvage a situation that had become completely toxic. Dragic and Thomas both were unlikely to be back, and with that known, a young, improving near All-Star, a prospect and three 1sts grants good flexibility and brings in near equivalent talent but talent with upside.

PG: Bledsoe, Bogdan
SG: Knight, Goodwin, Thornton (?)
SF: Tucker, Morris, Warren, Bullock
PF: Markieff
C: Len, Hamilton(?)

FA: Green, Wright
2015 Suns 1st
2016 Suns 1st
2016 Cavs 1st
2017 Suns 1st
2017 Heat 1st

2021+ Heat 1st

Not sure the CAP situation, but it appears like the Suns will have the space to offer a near-MAX to MAX deal to a SF or PF and still retain rights to extend Knight, depending upon qualifying offer hit.

The Suns will have near $15 million in cap space this summer by my estimates, including Knight's cap hold ($7.18), Granger's PO and the Suns picks

TucsonClip wrote:The Suns will have near $15 million in cap space this summer by my estimates, including Knight's cap hold ($7.18), Granger's PO and the Suns picks

That's what I thought, and this assumes no draft day trades to package a prospect and a pick to move up, shaving some more off the CAP.

Again, it's not a great trade, because of the unknowns, but because of the unknowns, technically this team now holds potential for greater upside.

It's a catch, for sure, but safe and 45-50 wins in the West doesn't get you much or very far for very long.

Risk is higher, reward is greater.

I'm good with it.

Already rumblings of a Cousins to Phoenix play this summer. Doubt it happens, but that's upside, for sure.

JMarkJohns wrote:

TucsonClip wrote:The Suns will have near $15 million in cap space this summer by my estimates, including Knight's cap hold ($7.18), Granger's PO and the Suns picks

That's what I thought, and this assumes no draft day trades to package a prospect and a pick to move up, shaving some more off the CAP.

Again, it's not a great trade, because of the unknowns, but because of the unknowns, technically this team now holds potential for greater upside.

It's a catch, for sure, but safe and 45-50 wins in the West doesn't get you much or very far for very long.

Risk is higher, reward is greater.

I'm good with it.

Already rumblings of a Cousins to Phoenix play this summer. Doubt it happens, but that's upside, for sure.

BOOGIE!!!!

That of course would mean the Suns would be one step closer to assembling a Calipari-Kentucky All-Star team ...

WTF did I just read about Chase Budinger to the Sixers?!? What gawdawful sin did he commit?!?