Suns Off Season Changes for 2025-26

[JCSunsfan]

The best reason I have heard for trading for Kuminga was made by @Hoop Head.

Kuminga would help the Suns more at a position of need than Allen and O'Neale.

Actually. O Neale might be better. He is an all around player who passes, plays D, and can shoot outside. Its just that O Neale is not part of our future plans and is in the way of developing younger players. I would trade O Neale and Grayson, I am just not sure I want to pay that much salary for Kuminga. Sending out the players is fine.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I don't disagree that I have a narrow view of players I would want to pursue, especially in light of what is available, and in our current situation we need to be very weary of any long term commitments, especially ones that will cost what few assets we possess.

If you look among the flashier names I've crapped on in recent years... Kuzma, Poole, Jerami Grant, Zach LaVine, now Kuminga... they're all cut from similar cloth, dudes who put up numbers, their teams play better without them and got paid or acquired by their current clubs out of desperation.

Committing money to players cut from Kuminga's cloth is how a team becomes the Kings, or the Wizards or the Hornets or the Blazers, or the Bulls, teams perpetually settling to overpay for marginal talent, because that is what is available and locking themselves into a longer cycle of being trash.

We are better off sitting on our thumbs than paying 20-30 million a year for a stagnant player who has no "pluses" in his skill set, and that ignores that we would have to give up more assets just for the right to offer him a trash contract.

I agree with this. I guess I am schizo on this.

 

[Mainstreet]

Actually. O Neale might be better. He is an all around player who passes, plays D, and can shoot outside. Its just that O Neale is not part of our future plans and is in the way of developing younger players. I would trade O Neale and Grayson, I am just not sure I want to pay that much salary for Kuminga. Sending out the players is fine.

It's all about getting something of value or fill a need if the Suns trade Allen and O'Neale. I doubt there are any teams that would absorb their salaries without draft picks or a young player attached.

It's easier to swallow paying Kuminga when compared to paying those players.

 

[JCSunsfan]

It's all about getting something of value or fill a need if the Suns trade Allen and O'Neale. I doubt there are any teams that would absorb their salaries without draft picks or a young player attached.

It's easier to swallow paying Kuminga when compared to paying those players.

Oh. Cmon. Their salaries are cheap based on what you get. There is no way we would have to give up compensation to move them. Lots of contending teams need a Grayson or Royce for depth.

 

[Phrazbit]

Oh. Cmon. Their salaries are cheap based on what you get. There is no way we would have to give up compensation to move them. Lots of contending teams need a Grayson or Royce for depth.

Are they?

Allen is a spot up shooter, nothing more, he’s paid like a starter but he shouldn’t start. Royce is an okay defender, who provides some 3 & d quality but is really a 7th or 8th man on a decent team.

IMO, both those contracts are underwater, not disastrously so, but they’re marginal assets at best.

 

[Hoop Head]

Are they?

Allen is a spot up shooter, nothing more, he’s paid like a starter but he shouldn’t start. Royce is an okay defender, who provides some 3 & d quality but is really a 7th or 8th man on a decent team.

IMO, both those contracts are underwater, not disastrously so, but they’re marginal assets at best.

I agree on Grayson but not Royce. He's making less than the MLE and he is a proven 3&D wing with experience. He's exactly the sort of guy contenders will look to add at the deadline and should be retained for that reason. I'm not opposed to trading him at all but his value will peak in late January or early February.

I can see him fetching a youngster who is developing slow or a bunch of 2nd rounders like a Jae Crowder to Milwaukee deal.

 

[clyde2tw]

At 25m per, Kuminga would be an acceptible rist, particularly replacing Allen who gets paid 19mil in final year of contract. Problem is GS has a better shooter in Hield. So, it's more likely of Brooks + Oso or Richards for him. I'd then hesitate a bit more.
Another concern, Green has tons more talent we need to try unfolding, by letting him do mistakes. Kuminga is more raw and needs such treatment even more.

 

[PHI PHX PHAN]

Simmons sucks. I don't know whether some of you just came from a time machine from 5 years ago or what, but he is barely barely hanging onto an NBA roster spot.

I understand that sentiment but even at this stage his skillset holds some intrigue/value; especially with this type of roster.

He'd basically be Draymond in the form of a pg.

I think thats what even got him a look from the front office to begin with.

Aside from him I'm enamored with the idea of a point forward more than anything.
I don't know how realistic it would be but the idea of Giddey intrigued me the most.

 

[PHI PHX PHAN]

i don't wanna trade any lottery tickets just yet - greyson oneale brooks etc sure but not fleming who we moved up to get - not nhd because we don't know who he is yet and damn sure not brea or maluach

this isn't to say that they are untradeable - but it's not like we need some final piece to finish some imaginary puzzle - lol we're still in the research and development stage

but i don't think golden state gonna be too into oneale - maybe greyson and/or brooks

I think Brooks, Richards, and Allen will be our biggest tradeable assets come mid season.

Like you said, we're in R&D stages.

I'd prefer to roll with what we have and get an idea of Ott as a coach and what he is trying to establish.

 

[Proximo]

I agree with you. I was trying to be generous about his value. If he is what he is, then as SS

Kuminga can score 20 a game playing dumb basketball and securing losses. With the contract he is demanding, Kuminga is just not worth it. He is what he is and its not that good.

Again - he is 23. Look at all the stars in the league and see how many were efficient at that age - almost none.

Saying he can't and won't improve seems ludicrous to me unless he truly doesn't care like Ayton - which I don't think is the case.

 

[Proximo]

I understand that sentiment but even at this stage his skillset holds some intrigue/value; especially with this type of roster.

He'd basically be Draymond in the form of a pg.

I think thats what even got him a look from the front office to begin with.

Aside from him I'm enamored with the idea of a point forward more than anything.
I don't know how realistic it would be but the idea of Giddey intrigued me the most.

Whatever, you should let it go, because Gambo said there is zero interest.

 

[Goldfield]

I agree on Grayson but not Royce. He's making less than the MLE and he is a proven 3&D wing with experience. He's exactly the sort of guy contenders will look to add at the deadline and should be retained for that reason. I'm not opposed to trading him at all but his value will peak in late January or early February.

I can see him fetching a youngster who is developing slow or a bunch of 2nd rounders like a Jae Crowder to Milwaukee deal.

I’m a Royce O’Neal fan.

 

[Phrazbit]

Again - he is 23. Look at all the stars in the league and see how many were efficient at that age - almost none.

Saying he can't and won't improve seems ludicrous to me unless he truly doesn't care like Ayton - which I don't think is the case.

Kerr benching him for long stretches of the season makes me question Kuminga's mentality.

 

[Mainstreet]

Oh. Cmon. Their salaries are cheap based on what you get. There is no way we would have to give up compensation to move them. Lots of contending teams need a Grayson or Royce for depth.

Teams blink about taking on additional salary unless they can swap players that fill needs. Contenders aren't in position to absorb large salaries and non-contenders aren't in the market for older players without additional compensation, especially on multi-year contracts.

Allen will turn 30 in October, and O'Neale is already 32. Plus, Allen's near $17 million contract and O'Neale's $10 million dollar contract are not chicken feed under the CBA.

It will take the right trade to move them. That's probably why the Suns are looking at Kuminga.

 

[Proximo]

Kerr benching him for long stretches of the season makes me question Kuminga's mentality.

Yeah, but then he put him in for a few playoff games and he performed quite well.

It's really hard to know what is actually going on, but the risk reward is well worth it in my opinion.

 

[Proximo]

So apparently the Suns were offered New Orleans 1st next year unprotected and the 23rd pick for the 10th pick - the same deal they later made.

I think the Suns made a mistake not taking that, but I guess only time will tell for sure.

 

[Yuma]

Yeah, but then he put him in for a few playoff games and he performed quite well.

It's really hard to know what is actually going on, but the risk reward is well worth it in my opinion.

It's easy to look at the stuff he does well, because we want to improve in those areas, so the assumption is he is a ready fix for that. However, as other have pointed out, then he lacks on the stuff our team is good at. So it's a true plus/minus situation. If he was decent in other areas, but then fantastic in what we need, yes that would be great. Plus, the attitude of the team is we want guys to have the junkyard dog mentality on defense. Does he fit that mold? IDK. I feel like guys like Ryan Dunn, Brooks, Oso, etc, fit that mold better. You trade for Kuminga and you have to play him. SO which guys that fit the new alignment will he replace? I'd rather develop Dunn, Flemming, Maluach, Brea, etc., and they will be lacking minutes as it is behind vets we do have. I'd only take him IF GS comes way down on their expectations of what they want in return.

 

[GatorAZ]

So apparently the Suns were offered New Orleans 1st next year unprotected and the 23rd pick for the 10th pick - the same deal they later made.

I think the Suns made a mistake not taking that, but I guess only time will tell for sure.

Big mistake but hope Malauch works out. We can’t afford to be passing on assets with the upside of being unprotected.

 

[Phrazbit]

Yeah, but then he put him in for a few playoff games and he performed quite well.

It's really hard to know what is actually going on, but the risk reward is well worth it in my opinion.

He only put Kuminga back in the lineup after he had no choice because they were ravaged by injury. Kuminga took part in their 4 straight losses to get eliminated, coming off the bench for some guy named Jackson Davis.

Their trade "demands" are hogwash, they want nothing to do with Kuminga, and at the contract Kuminga reportedly wants, neither should we.

 

[Hoop Head]

That's a fair offer for the pick and I'd be upset if Maluach wasn't there and they turned it down. As is though I don't trust the Suns to use the extra pick wisely so I believe passing was the best decision.


Maluach falling to use was a blessing. We didn't need another Halliburton situation where we pass on a highly touted prospect.

 

[Phrazbit]

So apparently the Suns were offered New Orleans 1st next year unprotected and the 23rd pick for the 10th pick - the same deal they later made.

I think the Suns made a mistake not taking that, but I guess only time will tell for sure.

Maluach had better pan out, because barring some miraculous extended healthy run from Zion, that Pelicans team is going to be absolute dog crap.

The Pelicans poaching Nelson off us to be their trainer sure didn't pan out for them, basically every player on their roster misses 30+ games a year.

 

[Carolinacacti]

Id like some news. I know the guy from Europe came to town. Is he working out at the facility and are other players their? Roni got any thing. Is Booker in town? now is the time to get your crap ready your paid a lot.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Maluach had better pan out, because barring some miraculous extended healthy run from Zion, that Pelicans team is going to be absolute dog crap.

The Pelicans poaching Nelson off us to be their trainer sure didn't pan out for them, basically every player on their roster misses 30+ games a year.

And who would the Pelicans have drafted with that pick?

Maluach, no doubt.

I doesn't necessarily take a lot of picks to rebuild a team. It takes making good picks.

 

[Yuma]

I couldn't find the info, but Kellan Olsen said UofA was in the college playoffs one year and Wisconsin beat them in an upset. Supposedly Nigel Hayes-Davis, from what I am reading his last name may have been different then, had a hot game that eliminated UofA. So Kellan Olsen knows a lot about this guy since he has casually followed the guy's career since then. Supposedly he has totally transformed his body to be able to play with top level players in Europe.

I did see where Nigel Hayes-Davis was on one of the Olympic squads in warm ups to test the 2024 squad and played against Lebron, etc. Supposedly played well against the US squad.

 

[Adrian]

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