*random* So did Sarver just torpedo the Suns' dynasty?

I guess when most people think of penny-pinching teams, orginations like NO or Memphis or the Clippers come to mind. But as I just recently found out, the number 1 penny-pinching organization is PHX, and Sarver should be run out of town for essentially killing his franchise's shot at winning multiple rings. Sarver bought the team in 2004, and look at these trades for $$$ his team did:

1. Luol Deng
-7th lottery pick, traded to Chicago for the 31st (became nate robinson) and a future first. The trade didn't really list $$$, but as far as I'm concerned money's got to be involved. Why else would you trade a top 10 pick for the worst 1st round pick and a future first?

2. Nate Robinson
-traded along with Q-rich for Kurt Thomas. Technically speaking just a salary dump, Q-rich was coming off a scoring binge and PHX probably didn't want to pay him money. Of course Thomas became the best player in this trade, but I definitely credit the GM from making lemonade out of lemons in this case.

3. Marcin Gortat
-probably something most people don't know. Traded to Orlando for future considerations...and probably some $$$ upfront. As you know PHX suffered without a real center on their line up. How does a starting 5 of Gortat, Amare, Marion, Bell and Nash sound?

4. Rajon Rondo
-yet another pick most people don't know. He came from the Hawks via the JJ trade, and was traded to the Celts for Cleveland's first round pick...and likely cash considerations.

5. Sergio Rodriguez
-bought by Portland

6. Rudy Fernandez
-bought by Portland

7. Let's not forget one of the worst NBA trades of all time:

Phx trades Kurt Thomas to the Thunder for two draft picks. Other trades may seem more disastrous however at least in trades like the Gasol Gift or the Eddy Griffin trade at least the trading team got an asset. In this case PHX just lost a good player and multiple picks for $$$, and to add insult to injury the Thunder flipped Thomas to the Spurs for even more assets, effectively getting Phx's two picks just for holding on to Thomas for a couple of days. So not only did PHX lose two picks and a good player, that good player ended up in their own conference was used against them.

Looking back at this list, it amazes me how many good players phoenix got over the years despite the fact that they were one of the top teams in the league during the Nash era. Imagine Gortat, Fernandez, Deng and Rondo on the PHX team today. Would Amare even considering leaving such a powerhouse team? How many rings would Nash have had in addition to his 2 MVPs? Alas, I guess we'll never know...