It looks like the Suns are continuing the trend of undersizedness and mismatches, but I don't think they'll improve defensively since KT will have to play against forwards much taller than him and play PF when Amare's shuffled to C. The Suns can do anything right now, but it all depends on 32 yr old Nash and his legs.
JJ will be 36 years old next. He will lose a step or two for sure next year, and people were complaining that he had lost a step or two on defense last year.
Looks like the Suns are the team giving up the first rounder. http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/36324/20050623/the_first_to_report_the_deal_richardson_traded_to_knicks_for_thomas/
Soooooo... The Lakers are picking 5th now? http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2005/index http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft/d05/tracker/round?round=1
Zeke is cleary trying to put together the smartest basketball team he can find. Marbury, Crawford, Q, Taylor, Sweetney, JYD, Tim Thomas-that team makes our Francis/Mobley team look like the Jazz of the 90s.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2093093 I think the title is a typo. The story says the Knicks get the pick.
Apparently the Knicks and Suns are going to swap future first rounders, at least thats what I just heard on the radio (and I live in NYC). The deal is still pending Richardson passing a physical, and there are rumors in NY that he won't. Typical NY media. It'll almost definitely go down. How is this a bad trade for NY, I'm kind of confused. They have a 32-year old power forward with a 5" vertical who gets 2 offensive rebounds in 40 minutes and they parlay that into the NBA's league leader in 3 pointers and arguably the best rebounding guard in the NBA (behind only Tmac, Kidd, I'd say). Houston is going to get bought out, Penny is going to retire, Tim Thomas' days in NY are numbered (he's an expiring contract, meaning IT will trade him for a player locked into a ridiculous long-term contract, further hindering the Knicks' cap). That means you have Marbury, Crawford, Q, and Ariza. Rose and JYD can play on the wing if need be, but they're better suited as undersized 4s b/c of their physical style. The Knicks will probably draft Frye or the Spaniard Vazquez in the lottery and a guard with the Spurs pick (Luther Head? Hodge? Eddie Basden?) giving them a big man and the last guard in the rotation. Also, this opens up time for Sweetney at the 4, who's 40 minute numbers last year were 16 and 10. That doesn't seem bad at all, in my opinion.
I am not surprising to see Isiah drooling over the possibility of acquiring a guy like Richardson. A talented scorer, notorious for being a loser, that he doesn't really need. Seems to fit the bill for an Isiah Thomas "brilliant" move.
Johnson is a restricted FA. I am sure the Suns want him for less, but the Suns would match a 5 year max deal another team could offer if they have to. I think something under the max starting but for 6 years, like 50-60 mil range total (perhaps with a player option), is what both sides will agree to. With the new CBA the raises are limited to 8% by new teams and only 5 year contracts. This does two things, makes that 6th year with 10% raises even if starting salary at less than the max look better to players, and it makes matching a max contract less risky (only 5 years) and less expensive (less raises and less years). This is a no brainer for known player whose worst case you secure a very good verstile young player, and best case you secure a great, all-star, young player. I have been trying to nail it in folks head for a month or so that there was no way Phx doesn't keep Johnson, but now surely there can be no question about it. It will be interesting to see if they still keep Hunter (anyone know if he is restricted or URFA?), that depends entirely on how the market plays out and Phx's draft. Phx would like to have him back as the back up 5 (and only true 5) but won't pay him more than what they think he is worth. Hunter is 50/50 to return I think. Jackson and Thomas are a couple year rentals of role players. With the draft picks the Suns have, plus using the MLE, they can likely find substitutes when needed. Nash is the only critical player who is key and older, but in Joe Johnson and Barbosa they have guys with talent who could grow into that role while Nash starts slowing. He is still an excellent back-up who shoots extremely well, better than Q. Phx front line because much tougher defensively and much better rebouding. Jim J. only has to spell Marion at the 3 OR Johnson at the 2 like 10 minutes each come playoff time, he can do that very well. They probably want to add another swingman this year or next to groom into Jim J's role and for depth/injury concerns, but that should not be hard for them (draft/FA). I don't think it is bad for NY, maybe Q will flourish more not having to be the 4th or 5th option as he was in Phx. But I also think it is good for Phx as well. Q is the leading the league in 3 points made because he leads in attempts, but he was well behind JoeJ, JimJ, Nash (all above 40%) and even behind Barbosa and McCarty in conversion rate. Q also had the worst point-per-shot average of the major Phx players, shot a poor 39% from the field, and was the 4th best FT shooter in their line-up, barely ahead of Amare (.739 to .733, Kurt shots an even better 79%). I don't think Phx loses much offensive efficiency in this deal and they get a lot of toughness and rebounding. They can now always stick Amare on the opponents weaker 4/5. The AZ Republic says conditional 1st from NY I can't imagine Phx had to put more into the deal given the age differences. I could see the swap (to Phx advantage), but we will see what the deal is. If Phx does not outright get a future 1st rounder I think NY did very well to pull this deal off, but I still like from Phx's side too so long as they get some additional pick compensation.
Count me among those who see this as good for the Suns. I see Kurt Thomas playing mostly at center on the current roster, although it's not his natural position, because he's a good defender in the low-post and can rebound. The key thing to me is his mid-range shooting. I've wanted Thomas on the Rockets because his mid-range shooting would help create space for Yao inside just as Juwan does for us currently. With Thomas a threat to drop in the open jumper, Amare can move back to PF but still have space inside to drive by his man. After all, Amare will still be surrounded by four proven shooters when he gets the ball, all but one on the perimeter. However, I'm no basketball expert, so I'm heartened to see some of the pessimism in this thread for the Suns, since I don't like them and don't want to see them improve. I hope Kurt sucks for them, but right now, I see this as a very good trade for the Suns in terms of fit, if not in terms of talent. For the Knicks, they get better talent and can take on the extra salary since they're so far above the salary cap anyway. I'm slightly disappointed, since I wanted and thought we had a good chance to acquire Thomas from the Knicks. I'm convinced that we'll bring in a veteran PF to start in front of or backup Juwan. It'll be interesting to see who it ends up being.
I think you are underestimating the Suns payroll situation. 2005: Marion $14MM, Nash $10.5MM, Amare $15MM?, JJohnson $12MM? This is $51MM in just 4 players. In 2008, Nash & Marion are $29MM by themselves and all four could total $60MM. This is a huge burden. I think they must get rid of Marion or they cannot sign Joe Johnson to a near-max deal along with Amare.
Hunter is unrestricted. He came off a 1 year minimum deal. His agent has already turned down their "offer" of the 1.7M exception. His agent said he can get more. I believe he can too. Hunter will probably get a 3 year deal worth 7M-10M from somebody. Not really worth a longer term deal since he has never played more than 14 minutes a game. He would be a nice backup to Yao.
Amare is still on his last rookie contract year for 05/06. He will go to 11-12M (I guess) in 06/07 season.
Isn't Crwaford like 6'5" or 6'6"? And why does everyone think he and Q can't play together? Q is kinda big and a lil bit slow for a 2 guard. With his size and post up skills, he's very capable of playing the 3 however. And he's also a good rebounder. A lineup of Marbury Crawford Q Thomas/ Mo/ Sweetney Frye wouldn't be too bad.
I just don't understand why everyone thinks this is such a great trade for the Suns. Sure it makes them appear more balanced on paper, but that they weren't last year is exactly why they were so lethal. You all are saying that Kurt Thomas will improve their defense. When was the last time a horrible offensive team added a so-called defensive big man and became good defensively? You saw what happened in Dallas. If the entire team doesn't commit to a defensive mindset, adding an aging big man won't make a difference. You're best players have to commit to defense and Nash can't and Amare won't. You all are saying that "well, what big deal is it? they'll just run 4 men on fastbreaks while KT waits back." That IS a big difference. The reason the Suns won 60 games this year was because EVERYONE on the other team had to get back or it was OVER. They were attacking with reckless abandon with absolutely no regard for the consequences. If all 5 of your guys didn't get back, someone was chucking up a 3 or Amare was dunking the ball. I can guarantee you that by the end of the year, Kurt Thomas will be looking like an old man and the Suns will be regretting it. Oh well, this just helps the Rockets. Yao will just eat Kurt Thomas alive like he does Amare. Except this time, he won't get winded trying to chase Amare down on fastbreaks. Amare will get his anyways. Yao used to shut down Amare you say? Well then just have him cover Amare in the halfcourt while your power forward gets back and tracks him on fastbreaks. Remember how Marion ran circles around Howard and the other garbage we were running out there? Well now you put T-Mac on him. The Suns' single biggest advantage over the Rockets was having 'Q' out there. Joe Johnson is better than him so we had to put McGrady on him. I remember a game in Houston when 'Q' ate Jon Barry alive on the low block. Really, I don't see how anyone can think this is a good deal for Phoenix. If they wanted big men, I'm sure they could have drafted some stiff to bring off the bench. They didn't have to gut their starting lineup, taking away their only advantage.
Even with the 1st going from the Suns to the Knicks, I still like this trade from Phoenix's perspective. I almost don't even view Q as an asset with that contract. I think he's worth about half that. Seemed like every time I would look at a Phoenix boxscore he would be 5-14, 7-20, or something like that. And like a poster said previously, that was with all the open looks, and fast break opportunities that the Suns' offense afforded him. I think they were happy to get out from under that contract. KT while not a shot blocker is a tough, fundamentally sound rebounder with a good 15-18ft shot, which will make it harder to double Amare. And don't be sure that the Suns are done retooling. There's been rumors of a Marion for Dalembart(re-signed) trade. That would enable Phoenix to return Amare to the 4, and field a lineup of say Nash, JJ, JJ, Amare, and Dalembart with K.Thomas being an excellent backup at the 4/5. This would make them much better in the half court game. I think the Suns are trying to win now while Nash is still producing at a high level. At any rate I think the trade favors Phoenix short-term because I think KT is a better player than Q, and will be for at least 2 years or so. His type of game doesn't deteriorate as quickly either.
