Sacramento wants Aaron Brooks

[Superbone]

http://twitter.com/#!/alexkennedynba

Via twitter:

AlexKennedyNBA Alex Kennedy
The reports that the Sacramento Kings will pursue Aaron Brooks are 100% accurate. The Kings have loved Brooks since he came into the league.

AlexKennedyNBA Alex Kennedy
Sacramento tried to buy a pick to draft Brooks in 2007 and they've tried to trade for him every time he's been on the block.

That is what is called leverage, baby! Let's see if this FO has the wherewithal to do anything with it.

 

[AzStevenCal]

http://twitter.com/#!/alexkennedynba

Via twitter:



That is what is called leverage, baby! Let's see if this FO has the wherewithal to do anything with it.

Maybe I'm missing something here but it seems to me that this "leverage" you speak of belongs to Brooks, not us.

Steve

 

[Griffin]

Maybe I'm missing something here but it seems to me that this "leverage" you speak of belongs to Brooks, not us.

Right. The only way the Suns could get anything out of Brooks is if he wanted to sign with a team over the cap, and the most they'd get out of that would be a second-round pick. But the Kings have enough cap space to sign Brooks to any contract they wish outright, without the Suns' help. Suns will have the option to match, of course, but they won't be able to get anything from Sacramento.

The more interesting question is if we lose Brooks who will be our backup point guard. Dowdell?

 

[Divide Et Impera]

I'd be fine with Dowdell as the backup PG. He's a very centered, fundamentally sound dude. I'd hang on to him. I prefer Dowdell over Brooks as a backup PG anyway.

If Brooks would oblige, I'd s&t him for Garcia. However, I don't see why the Kings want Brooks after getting Fredette in the draft. The only thing that makes sense is if they are through with Evans, which I don't see happening at this point.

 

[Mainstreet]

Right. The only way the Suns could get anything out of Brooks is if he wanted to sign with a team over the cap, and the most they'd get out of that would be a second-round pick. But the Kings have enough cap space to sign Brooks to any contract they wish outright, without the Suns' help. Suns will have the option to match, of course, but they won't be able to get anything from Sacramento.

The more interesting question is if we lose Brooks who will be our backup point guard. Dowdell?

Whatever happened to the sign and trade option? Also if the Suns match the Kings offer the Suns keep Brooks. JJ went to Atlanta because he did not want Phoenix to match the offer as a RFA so they ultimately did a sign and trade. If push comes to shove the Suns can keep Brooks. I'm not sure where the Suns are limited to receiving a second round pick for Brooks.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Whatever happened to the sign and trade option? Also if the Suns match the Kings offer the Suns keep Brooks. JJ went to Atlanta because he did not want Phoenix to match the offer as a RFA so they ultimately did a sign and trade. If push comes to shove the Suns can keep Brooks. I'm not sure where the Suns are limited to receiving a second round pick for Brooks.

Yes, we have the right to overpay him but I'm not sure that qualifies as leverage. We'd have a little leverage if Sacramento was over the CAP (so we could arrange/force a sign and trade) but as they are not, we have very few options. We can match and keep him but I don't think we benefit in any way from the Kings interest.

Steve

 

[JCSunsfan]

Aaron Brooks is a rfa so the Suns are in the drivers seat. It is NOT acceptible to have just Dowdell and Nash as the pgs. One wrong turn and Dowdell is playing 48 minutes. The Suns have to match and should unless the obtain another pg through trade. The Suns are playing it cool right now. They are not indicating much interest in Brooks, hoping that the offers are low. I do expect that Brooks will be on the roster in the fall, barring a trade.

 

[asudevil83]

Aaron Brooks is a rfa so the Suns are in the drivers seat. It is NOT acceptible to have just Dowdell and Nash as the pgs. One wrong turn and Dowdell is playing 48 minutes. The Suns have to match and should unless the obtain another pg through trade. The Suns are playing it cool right now. They are not indicating much interest in Brooks, hoping that the offers are low. I do expect that Brooks will be on the roster in the fall, barring a trade.

should the suns match a 4 year $25mil contract?

 

[Mainstreet]

Yes, we have the right to overpay him but I'm not sure that qualifies as leverage. We'd have a little leverage if Sacramento was over the CAP (so we could arrange/force a sign and trade) but as they are not, we have very few options. We can match and keep him but I don't think we benefit in any way from the Kings interest.

Steve

I was not addressing leverage but pointing out the Suns had a sign and trade option as well as the ability (if they were determined) to match the Kings offer and keep Brooks. The Suns are not limited to receiving a second round draft pick in a sign and trade. Whether the Suns are willing to exercise these options is another matter.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I was not addressing leverage but pointing out the Suns had a sign and trade option as well as the ability (if they were determined) to match the Kings offer and keep Brooks. The Suns are not limited to receiving a second round draft pick in a sign and trade. Whether the Suns are willing to exercise these options is another matter.

Except that without leverage, there is very little chance that we can exercise this option. Sacramento has no need of a sign and trade. From their perspective, they can give Brooks what he wants and sign him or they can give us what we want AND give Aaron what he wants. The threat that we might match their offer really only benefits Brooks. About the only leverage we have is that if we make a very small demand (a 2nd round pick for example) the Kings might be willing to do it in order to avoid a bidding war.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

should the suns match a 4 year $25mil contract?

I really don't know. Brooks was quite a disappointment last season but we've yet to see him healthy. If the training staff is confident this ankle problem is not going to linger, 6 million a year probably isn't unreasonable for him.

Steve

 

[Superbone]

Suns will have the option to match, of course, but they won't be able to get anything from Sacramento.

Why can't we match and then broker a trade?

 

[Mainstreet]

Except that without leverage, there is very little chance that we can exercise this option. Sacramento has no need of a sign and trade. From their perspective, they can give Brooks what he wants and sign him or they can give us what we want AND give Aaron what he wants. The threat that we might match their offer really only benefits Brooks. About the only leverage we have is that if we make a very small demand (a 2nd round pick for example) the Kings might be willing to do it in order to avoid a bidding war.

Steve

Well the Suns forced a sign and trade under the same circumstances with Joe Johnson. I am not talking leverage. I'm talking about concrete options. If the Suns are willing to match the Kings offer they can keep Brooks. They can also work out a sign and trade with the Kings.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Except that without leverage, there is very little chance that we can exercise this option. Sacramento has no need of a sign and trade. From their perspective, they can give Brooks what he wants and sign him or they can give us what we want AND give Aaron what he wants. The threat that we might match their offer really only benefits Brooks. About the only leverage we have is that if we make a very small demand (a 2nd round pick for example) the Kings might be willing to do it in order to avoid a bidding war.

Steve

No bidding war. They make an offer and we can match it or not. Its that simple. They would have to way over pay him to get him.

We need to that deal with NY. Two pgs for one. I just know that if we go into the year with just Nash and Dowdell, its going to be a disaster. Nash will play extended minutes and break down. Its a guarantee.

 

[Superbone]

Well the Suns forced a sign and trade under the same circumstances with Joe Johnson. I am not talking leverage. I'm talking about concrete options. If the Suns are willing to match the Kings offer they can keep Brooks. They can also work out a sign and trade with the Kings.

Which is what I'd call leverage since the Kings seem to want him.

 

[Griffin]

Well the Suns forced a sign and trade under the same circumstances with Joe Johnson. I am not talking leverage. I'm talking about concrete options. If the Suns are willing to match the Kings offer they can keep Brooks. They can also work out a sign and trade with the Kings.

That's a different situation, because the Suns could offer a longer, slightly more lucrative contract to JJ than Atlanta could, so JJ could force Atlanta into a sign-and-trade for his own benefit. In the case of Brooks, neither the Kings nor Brooks himself would stand to benefit anything from a sign-and-trade, so the Kings will likely sign him to an offer they think Suns won't match, most likely front-loaded. A new CBA of course might change things up a bit.

Why can't we match and then broker a trade?

We could, I suppose, but I think the Suns would have a wait a bit before being able to trade him in such scenario.

Edit: under current CBA, the Suns would not be able to trade Brooks after matching an offer sheet:

If the team matches an offer sheet, they cannot trade the player in a sign-and-trade arrangement

Also this:

There can be no compensation given to a team in return for their not matching an offer to a restricted free agent. For example, Houston could not sign Golden State's restricted free agent, then send Golden State a draft pick in exchange for their not matching the offer and retaining the player.

http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#Q37

 

[Mainstreet]

Which is what I'd call leverage since the Kings seem to want him.

So you started this mess about "leverage."

 

[Mainstreet]

In the case of Brooks, neither the Kings nor Brooks himself would stand to benefit anything from a sign-and-trade, so the Kings will likely sign him to an offer they think Suns won't match, most likely front-loaded. A new CBA of course might change things up a bit.

I'm just talking about what the Suns can do if they are willing to stand their ground. They need to make a stand sometime as other teams walk right over them. Actually the Suns FO must be the laughing stock of league. The Suns should be talking to other teams about Brooks that might have an interest.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I am feeling like a Cubs fan these days. Just futility, and it will be for years.

 

[Griffin]

I'm just talking about what the Suns can do if they are willing to stand their ground. They need to make a stand sometime as other teams walk right over them. Actually the Suns FO must be the laughing stock of league. The Suns should be talking to other teams about Brooks that might have an interest.

Well, the only thing they can really do at this point to "stand their ground" is to match any offer, for better or worse. Then play Brooks to get his value up and when he becomes trade-eligible again look for a suitor.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'm just talking about what the Suns can do if they are willing to stand their ground. They need to make a stand sometime as other teams walk right over them. Actually the Suns FO must be the laughing stock of league. The Suns should be talking to other teams about Brooks that might have an interest.

Well, you've pretty much put them in a can't win situation then. You're going to be upset with them if they let him walk. And I don't see you being any happier if the Kings offer him a lucrative contract and we match it. Also, we can talk to whoever we want but if we intend to move him, it has to be part of a sign and trade at this point. A sign and trade can only be accomplished if the player agrees to be traded there.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

Well, you've pretty much put them in a can't win situation then. You're going to be upset with them if they let him walk. And I don't see you being any happier if the Kings offer him a lucrative contract and we match it. Also, we can talk to whoever we want but if we intend to move him, it has to be part of a sign and trade at this point. A sign and trade can only be accomplished if the player agrees to be traded there.

Steve

I'd be happy if the Suns keep Brooks if they cannot do a sign and trade. JJ didn't want to play for Phoenix but the Suns called their bluff and got a nice trade package in return. I just do not want Brooks to walk for nothing.

I'm guessing you want the Suns to fold like a folding chair and let Brooks walk for nothing.

I can't imagine the Kings want to roll up the price on Brooks. A sign and trade might benefit everyone if the Suns can figure out a package.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I am feeling like a Cubs fan these days. Just futility, and it will be for years.

I'm not. It's kind of funny but a year ago I was taking some heat on this forum for being so negative. I made the point that we were due for some tough times and that people were expecting too much out of this team based on a WCF finals appearance that was in large part due to good fortune. I also made the point that by Christmas I'd be one of the more optimistic people here. I'm pretty sure I was mocked for that statement also.

We're not in very good shape but I'm comfortable in letting this front office do it's thing. Unlike many here I don't hold them accountable for the mistakes of the past. AFAIC, they started last season with a clean slate and IMO they haven't done so poorly to date. It remains to be seen whether Sarver will stay out of their way but I actually believe he will.

They've voiced a top-down positional change that the team will focus on defense. I know, it's been said before but again, this is a new Front Office so we'll see where that goes. And as far as feeling like the Cubs, I can still sit here and reflect fondly on the fun I've had watching the Suns play during this Nash era that so often gets bashed. No, we didn't win it all and yes, it's disappointing that we wasted some pretty decent opportunities but all but a handful of NBA teams would have loved to have our past decade.

We're about to pay a price, both for our recent successes and our recent failures but I'm a bit more optimistic about that than most also. I really do not believe it is just about the bottom line with Sarver. I think his ego is too big to ever let this play out like the Clippers of the 90's. IF he's hired the right guys, we'll be relevant again in 2 to 4 years and I'll still be in purple and orange, waiting for it. If he hasn't hired the right guys, he'll fire them and maybe it takes an extra year or two. And even then, I'm still not going anywhere (willingly).

Steve

 

[elindholm]

JJ didn't want to play for Phoenix but the Suns called their bluff and got a nice trade package in return. I just do not want Brooks to walk for nothing.

I'm guessing you want the Suns to fold like a folding chair and let Brooks walk for nothing.

I don't understand why you are blaming the Suns for circumstances they can't control. Johnson and his agent had an incentive to do business with Phoenix. Brooks and his agent don't.

A sign and trade might benefit everyone if the Suns can figure out a package.

It's true that open communication might work to everyone's advantage, but it's not the Suns fault if the Kings (or the Brooks camp) won't cooperate. Remember what happened the first time McDyess left Phoenix.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'd be happy if the Suns keep Brooks if they cannot do a sign and trade. JJ didn't want to play for Phoenix but the Suns called their bluff and got a nice trade package in return. I just do not want Brooks to walk for nothing.

I'm guessing you want the Suns to fold like a folding chair and let Brooks walk for nothing.

I can't imagine the Kings want to roll up the price on Brooks. A sign and trade might benefit everyone if the Suns can figure out a package.

No, I want to keep Brooks BUT I do NOT want to overpay him. We were better off if his only suitors came from the group of teams that are at or near the salary cap. It works to our disadvantage that his first public suitor is one that can afford to pay a little above market value for him. Also, if you look at their roster and look at our roster, I could see Brooks perhaps preferring to play with the Kings.

Steve