Yeah i used to think that but now that DMo is producing in his natural position i think Morey will be less willing to include DMo for a guy he can sign in the offseason via FA. DMo is the reason I was ok with moving Asik. I think with Howard's age and injury history you need to have another competent 7 footer on the roster. The fact that DMo can play both PF/C makes him very valuable to us.
Given Dmo (24) / Harden (25) / Howard (29) age....I don't think its far fetched to believe DMo can become our second cornerstone behind Harden. Howard's game will not age well.
Mostly because they don't really have a true dominant defensive big so they have to win games by running you off the court. I do think Phoenix would love to have a true big if they can get one. A couple things here though before you get excited- -Phoenix would probably trade for him, but they aren't that desperate, and they can just wait till this Summer when he's a free agent. -Phoenix has alot of what the Rockets have to offer as far as picks go, and some young talent. I don't really see why Phoenix & Indiana would need to involve the Rockets as a 3rd team But I think there is a need here for Phoenix so I wouldn't rule out the Rockets trying to get in there somehow as a 3rd team. Maybe Minnesota with Pek, or Brooklyn with Brook Lopez. I dunno. Its something to watch for sure, but I wouldn't hold my breath thinking the Rockets are going to automatically going to be the best fit as a 3rd team.
Howard turned 29 the other day. He doesn't have a lot of postseason miles...he should be in his prime for the next 3-4 years assuming that he can stay healthy.
Brook Lopez is a salary dump waiting to happen. If PHX called Brooklyn offering one of those guys and another small salary for Lopez, the first words out of Billy King's mouth would be, "DONE!" Lopez is a salary dump possibility. I'm convinced that if Brooklyn could get a second rounder and expiring contract salary for him that they'd do it at the deadline after not finding anything better. Brooklyn is a salary dump waiting to happen. The Russian wants to sell. They gotta clear it out to see for great value. Clear out the cap, save tens of millions on salary and luxury taxes and SELL THE TEAM! That's why I'm not talking about Brook Lopez as a perfect trade candidate here in a salary dump. We will probably be able to send the $10.72 million in expiring contracts and one youngster and add him without giving up either DMO, the Pels pick, or any other significant asset. And that's a perfect play for this team. He's got one year left after this one. But we've got the Pels pick to add to him and possibly another youngster or two to trade for a truly great player next summer. Once again, if Billy King gets an offer like what you're suggesting, the deal will close in 15 seconds. He'll do it in a heartbeat.
Absolutely agree. Agree, and Thomas's contract has value while Bledsoe has potential to be a dominant two-way PG. McDonough definitely played hard ball with Bledsoe. No GM wants to give out max contracts based on potential to injury-plagued, high energy players. Ultimately, McDonough decided it was more prudent to pay the max than lose out an opportunity to acquire future returns for Bledsoe. (that's my opinion) Dragic is 28 and is a proven All-NBA PG. He also single-handedly kept Phoenix afloat in the playoff picture (until weeks before the season ended) when most analysts projected them to have 20-30 wins. Like you say, other teams will offer Dragic a max (or near max) contract, and they would be smart to do so. This is the issue. Right now there doesn't seem to be a buyer's market for elite bigs. Aldridge is staying put. Marc Gasol isn't going anywhere. DeAndre isn't the answer. Perhaps the situation in Cleveland proves untenable for Love. The Cavs appear to be on the rise, but the season is still early and their interior defense is very soft. Maybe Riley decides Wade is done and it's time to reboot with youth. This may open up options for a Bledsoe-Bosh swap. Intriguing, but unlikely. Other less attractive options include Brook Lopez (ridiculous contract), Drummond, Greg Monroe, etc. Read somewhere that the Lakers would be interested in trading for Dragic. Of course, they've got nothing the Suns would want or need outside of Julius Randle. Dragic doesn't seem like a bright city lights kinda guy. Can't see him extending there to play with Kobe either.
This is the NBA. If your second best player is 50% better than DMo and the west remains this competitive down the road you're looking at the 11th seed. How many teams would DMo start for in the west right now? You guys are cray.
Morey may want another salary so he doesn't have to flip Papa at the deadline, just the new player and Terry.
I meant Morey's personal deadline which finishes just 1 day before the real deadline. As per Asik's case last year.
Agree to disagree. Look at the numbers Marc Gasol posted last season; 14.6 points and 7.2 rebs... I think most people would agree that Gasol was their best player last year. DMO has averaged those numbers the last handful of games. Note that does not mean i believe DMo is on Gasol's level. But i do think he can have a similiar impact down the line.
Bottom line is Goran will probably go to the team that offers him the most money next summer. He did it last time, and he will do it again. The Rockets won't have the cap room necessary to sign him, so we must trade for him. Just a few teams with max cap space next summer: Atlanta (depends on Millsap's new contract) Dallas Phoenix Detroit Indiana (maybe) Lakers All of these teams would LOVE to have Dragic. The threat of him leaving isn't an illusion.....it is very real. I do not see Phoenix giving a max contract to a guy they don't put in to close out EVERY game. If you believe in someone enough to give them a massive contract, then it doesn't matter who else is on your team....that player should be on the floor during the closing minutes.
Bottom Line: Quality bigs are high-demand/low availability, quality point guards are low demand high availability When you understand that fact......it means overpaying for mediocre bigs.
I would think that the Suns could get one of: Marc Gasol Kevin Love Greg Monroe Lamarcus Aldridge Paul Milsap For the max. Some obviously more likely than others.
Excuse me but I call bs on this statement. He HAS shown that flash this year, (small sample but there) and certainly last year he brought his b+ game in the first round many times. Don't PANIC !
This thread is wearing me out. Bring in the micro-managers ! Morey just giterdun and we can pile onto the next thread. lol.
For the Suns to even offer the match next summer to Aldridge, Millsap, Love, or Gasol they've got to drop Tolliver (no big deal), drop Goran, trade away all their draft picks, and then hope and pray the salary cap goes up above $71 million. And then convince one of those guys to come sign in PHX. To give Monroe a max deal they most likely have to do the same things and hope the cap goes up to around $68 million. And right now the cap is projected to go to $67 million. So essentially, they've got to trade Goran, Tolliver, and all their draft picks next year for Monroe. Detroit says deal.
