Suns 2024-2025 Season Discussions

[BooksOrangePlanet]

im watching suns pelicans post game and the crowd behind them - everyone and their literal grandma is wearing book jerseys - idk if he's tradable - idk if they'd think the fan base would take it especially after a year like this

 

[Germz249]

If Bud is gone then I would think JJ is gone also.. you can't go through 3 coaches in 3 years and still hold your GM position.. at some point you have to be held accountable..

 

[SirStefan32]

im watching suns pelicans post game and the crowd behind them - everyone and their literal grandma is wearing book jerseys - idk if he's tradable - idk if they'd think the fan base would take it especially after a year like this

I know I am in the minority, but if I were in charge, I am not trading Book. He put up with a lot of crap in his career and never complained once. Just about every other player would have left five times by now. In my book, he's earned the right to be a Sun for however long he wants to be a Sun. His issue is that he takes on the personality of the "other" top guy. He was focused and on top of everything with Paul. With KD, he acts exactly like KD. You gotta get a focused, disciplined "other" star, and surround them with length, size, and defense.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I know I am in the minority, but if I were in charge, I am not trading Book. He put up with a lot of crap in his career and never complained once. Just about every other player would have left five times by now. In my book, he's earned the right to be a Sun for however long he wants to be a Sun. His issue is that he takes on the personality of the "other" top guy. He was focused and on top of everything with Paul. With KD, he acts exactly like KD. You gotta get a focused, disciplined "other" star, and surround them with length, size, and defense.

I wouldn't want to trade Devin but I really don't see a way around it. But if he really wants to stay through a prolonged rebuild I guess that will have to be added to the 'should we trade him' equation.

I think it's clear that Booker can't lead us to a title but you can't move forward if you keep trading away your best players simply because they aren't quite at that level. But we've dug an incredibly deep hole and I don't think we crawl out without getting future value from the assets we have now that won't still be assets when we've crawled out of this hole.

 

[Mainstreet]

I wouldn't want to trade Devin but I really don't see a way around it. But if he really wants to stay through a prolonged rebuild I guess that will have to be added to the 'should we trade him' equation.

I think it's clear that Booker can't lead us to a title but you can't move forward if you keep trading away your best players simply because they aren't quite at that level. But we've dug an incredibly deep hole and I don't think we crawl out without getting future value from the assets we have now that won't still be assets when we've crawled out of this hole.

I'd like to start by trading Durant and go from there.

I'm hoping the Suns can keep Booker.

 

[95pro]

I say we give Beal and ultimatum, either we trade you or sit you. We sit and tank your value so bad that you won’t get another decent contract. The only thing you will be good enough for is a vet minimum.

The sad thing is the league knows he’s trash. But I would explain to him that Book is the face of the franchise and we need to move things along here.

 

[Hoop Head]

I say we give Beal and ultimatum, either we trade you or sit you. We sit and tank your value so bad that you won’t get another decent contract. The only thing you will be good enough for is a vet minimum.

The sad thing is the league knows he’s trash. But I would explain to him that Book is the face of the franchise and we need to move things along here.

Beal has the leverage. I wouldn't escalate the issue. He could be an amazing Sixth Man and did a good job while he was in that role. He earned the starting job back, IMO.

I think a real conversation needs to happen where he is asked for a list of teams he'd approve tho and give us time this off-season to find a deal that doesn't require attached assets to unload him. If a deal can't be found though we need to ensure he's willing to give 110% in the 40% of the games he's playing in. It's not a great situation for either of us and I doubt he's happy with how things have gone. It's about working together to find a solution vs creating a bigger problem. What you described seems to be the nuclear option and shouldn't be employed until we're ready to talk buyout.

 

[1tinsoldier]

we owe Booker nothing. ZIP. He owes us everything. He's the only player who never had a problem negotiating his contracts -- Sarver's favorite. And the local media has treated him like a prince. They're so good at hyping him that the talking heads here are afraid to criticize him and are, yet again, talking about trading anyone and everyone but him. While the national media knows the score -- he's not clutch, he's a defensive liability, he's not a leader, he's not an All-Star, he's not even the player he was, he's grossly overpaid and his salary prevents the Suns from building a team that can win.

 

[Mainstreet]

I say we give Beal and ultimatum, either we trade you or sit you. We sit and tank your value so bad that you won’t get another decent contract. The only thing you will be good enough for is a vet minimum.

The sad thing is the league knows he’s trash. But I would explain to him that Book is the face of the franchise and we need to move things along here.

I think the Suns need something in between.

With his salary, he may not be able to be traded, especially without assets being attached. The Suns knew the situation when they traded for him.

When healthy, I don't Beal the player is a problem.

 

[95pro]

Beal has the leverage. I wouldn't escalate the issue. He could be an amazing Sixth Man and did a good job while he was in that role. He earned the starting job back, IMO.

I think a real conversation needs to happen where he is asked for a list of teams he'd approve tho and give us time this off-season to find a deal that doesn't require attached assets to unload him. If a deal can't be found though we need to ensure he's willing to give 110% in the 40% of the games he's playing in. It's not a great situation for either of us and I doubt he's happy with how things have gone. It's about working together to find a solution vs creating a bigger problem. What you described seems to be the nuclear option and shouldn't be employed until we're ready to talk buyout.

I understand the reality. It’s just thinking out aloud what I wish could happen with the Beal situation.

But he has to know that him next to Book is not a good fit. And that he will always be second. I guess he doesn’t care because he’s still getting paid.

 

[GatorAZ]

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Plus 2029 Lakers pick and 2031 Mavs 1st (unprotected)

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

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Plus 2029 Lakers pick and 2031 Mavs 1st (unprotected)

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[Hoop Head]

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Plus 2029 Lakers pick and 2031 Mavs 1st (unprotected)

That's intriguing. I think we'd need to tweak it a little. I'd say Lively is the better prospect compared to Gafford. He may not be an All-Star Center but his ceiling is higher than Gafford.

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[GatorAZ]

That's intriguing. I think we'd need to tweak it a little. I'd say Lively is the better prospect compared to Gafford. He may not be an All-Star Center but his ceiling is higher than Gafford.

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AD wants to play the 4 so I think they’d rather give up future picks over Lively. From the Suns perspective it depends on what you value more.

 

[Hoop Head]

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AD wants to play the 4 so I think they’d rather give up future picks over Lively. From the Suns perspective it depends on what you value more.

Lively is the better 5 for sure but Gafford is also a 5. I'd shoot for Lively as a centerpiece of a Mavs deal. I think he has a bright future. I'd try like hell to get him in that deal. I'd probably settle for your initial offering if there was another pick or two though. I think the Suns should go in hard on a player like Lively and negotiate picks to make up the difference between him and Gafford.

Gafford is a decent player. I have seen more of Lively though and am sold on him entirely while I view Gafford as more of a stop gap/Marcin Gortat type of Center. He'd be fine for a couple of seasons but ideally you'd have someone better or with more upside in that role.

 

[Adrian]

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[Adrian]

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[Adrian]

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[BooksOrangePlanet]

bol bol will be budnished before season's end

 

[Mainstreet]

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We keep being told how much of a train wreck both Sacramento 3.5 games up on us, and Portland 1 game back of us are. Both teams they keep saying can't make the playoffs. I think the media is actually whitewashing our squad's chances of getting in. We are 3.5 games back of the 10th spot! WTF?

I think all the teams above the Suns in the standings are trying to win.

 

[Yuma]

I think all the teams above the Suns in the standings are trying to win.

Yes they are. But everyone keeps saying both teams can't get in because they are flawed. What makes the Suns any better. Our record is what it is. We aren't making it in barring an amazing undefeated streak commencing. LOL!

 

[Mainstreet]

Yes they are. But everyone keeps saying both teams can't get in because they are flawed. What makes the Suns any better. Our record is what it is. We aren't making it in barring an amazing undefeated streak commencing. LOL!

I'm not thinking the Suns will make the play-in. However, some other teams who own their draft picks could benefit from losing.

Portland could go either way.

Yes, the Suns are seriously flawed.

 

[Cheesebeef]

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Cool. And we’re what… 2-5 in those games, against some bad teams.

 

[SirStefan32]

As far as Beal goes, I think the Suns are stuck with him for at least one more season. There are two problems- his contract and his no-trade clause. As far as the no-trace clause, I think the Suns need to make it clear they are not going to extend him. As a regular free agent, he is going to have a very hard time finding a team with enough cap room to give him a good contract. His best bet is to get traded to a team that can use bird rights to sign him to his next contract. I think it would be in his best interest to get traded to a team that wants him.

That said, I don't think his NTC is the problem. I think the real problem is that he is just not good or healthy enough for anyone to actually want him and his contract. Someone might take him the offseason after next one as an expiring contract, but at that point there is no incentive for him to wave his NTC.

At best, he is going to be here next year, and most likely is that the Suns are stuck with him until his contract expires. Perhaps letting his contract expire and clearing some cap room might be the best they can hope for. I just don't see how they can get rid of him, even if he waived his NTC. I actually don't have a problem with Beal. He seems like a good guy, decent player, and a true professional. The problem is that he is on an insane contract, and he can't stay healthy for five games straight. You can't build a lineup with him in it because there will be no continuity due to him missing one third to one half of the games.

 

[Yuma]

As far as Beal goes, I think the Suns are stuck with him for at least one more season. There are two problems- his contract and his no-trade clause. As far as the no-trace clause, I think the Suns need to make it clear they are not going to extend him. As a regular free agent, he is going to have a very hard time finding a team with enough cap room to give him a good contract. His best bet is to get traded to a team that can use bird rights to sign him to his next contract. I think it would be in his best interest to get traded to a team that wants him.

That said, I don't think his NTC is the problem. I think the real problem is that he is just not good or healthy enough for anyone to actually want him and his contract. Someone might take him the offseason after next one as an expiring contract, but at that point there is no incentive for him to wave his NTC.

At best, he is going to be here next year, and most likely is that the Suns are stuck with him until his contract expires. Perhaps letting his contract expire and clearing some cap room might be the best they can hope for. I just don't see how they can get rid of him, even if he waived his NTC. I actually don't have a problem with Beal. He seems like a good guy, decent player, and a true professional. The problem is that he is on an insane contract, and he can't stay healthy for five games straight. You can't build a lineup with him in it because there will be no continuity due to him missing one third to one half of the games.

I see two ways this plays out. Either they get under the second apron, try and grab a big to accompany the big three until Beals' contract runs out. That fits giving KD a two year extension as Ishbia has been saying, At that point, both Beal and KD will have played out the contracts. Beal has a player opt in for the 2026-2027 season. KD is signed through the 2025-2026 season.

The second way is they trade KD and build around Booker and Beal. They will be stuck with Beal through that 2026-2027 season.

Either way, I don't think they can trade Beal, either.

Front office changes might or might not happen. I think they ride one more season with Bud. Coaching changes have not worked yet.