Shams: Suns trade for Miles Bridges

[AzStevenCal]

Personally, I think the Suns will do better than 38 wins. But there are certainly reasonably projectible circumstances where they don't - injury and chemistry issues being chiefly among them. How things actually shake out will depend on a lot of variables.

Anyone acting like the Suns are shoo-ins to match or exceed last year's results are being more than a little presumptuous IMO. There's no guarantee that a core that's mostly leaning into getting older and has some questionable skill gaps is going to produce a guaranteed successful season. And the assumption that the younger guys are going to improve, or even get the playing time to have a chance to improve, is no sure thing, either.

It's not impossible that the Suns will do well enough to at least be a play-in team. But betting the farm that they will exceed that standard is simply not prudent at this juncture.

I love our roster and on paper it really does look like we have competition and talent at each position. But some of this talent is still very much on the come. And our best players have troublesome injury histories or glaring deficiencies. So yeah, anyone betting their house on the Suns this season might want to re-think it. I like our chances but I go into every season looking for a reason to like our chances.

 

[Phrazbit]

I think you are guys are overweighting the KD trade.

I know it's not worth rehashing, but I don't think many trades get worse.

The most painful parts of that trade still have not happened.

It's a mortgage on an uninsured house that burned to the ground.

 

[Hoop Head]

He wasn’t really “relying” on anything. He just said the suns were projected there. And based on Vegas, he’s right. That is where they’re projected.

He's using those points to present or strengthen the position he's putting forth. I don't see the issue with saying he's relying on them. We can discuss the semantics behind "rely" or we can stay on topic, which is whether or not you agree with the so called experts that we'll miss the playoffs.

I believe we're a lock for the play-in, so 7-10 seed. I'll gladly bet against the over/under as I did last year and made a nice chunk of cash. I'll repeat the $100 I put on it last year. Short of Booker missing 30+ games I think we win 40+ games.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I know it's not worth rehashing, but I don't think many trades get worse.

The most painful parts of that trade still have not happened.

It's a mortgage on an uninsured house that burned to the ground.

I used to believe that, now I'm not at all sure of it. I still believe the KD trade was an exercise in arrogance and ignorance and one of the most lopsided trades ever. And we followed that up with some desperate personnel moves in an effort to make the KD acquisition work. We all saw how those worked out.

Anyway, once we stopped trying to build around KD, I've loved most of our moves. And they've shown the ability to put together a competitive roster even with those apron challenges. I don't see why that approach would necessarily fail over the next seven years? Sure, Booker and a couple others will likely age out while we're still relying on the undrafted and underdrafted - but we also have some young talent and we've regained some pre-apron flexibility.

Yes, we are still at a disadvantage - I just don't think it's anywhere near as bad as it first appeared to be. This new cba really knocked us for a loop but IMO that same cba introduces opportunity too and this FO seems able to take advantage of those opportunities.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

idk what our record was on the second nights of back to backs (without mark williams) last year - but i think miles will also help us out on those fronts

 

[Chaz]

The Suns needed scoring from the forward position in the worst way last year. I don’t know that Bridges is the exact player they needed but he is exactly the type of player they needed. I think he is a consistent scorer, provides rim pressure, is a willing passer, and a post up threat with transition mismatches. I think he is going to provide the balance that the offense needs. Hopefully the defensive standard shown by Brooks and Goodwin encourage him to pick up on that end.

I don’t think there was a better player to fit what the Suns needed that was available. Did they overpay? Maybe. TBD. I think that the idea of the ’33 pick is more valuable than the actual pick.

For the off court issues are obviously reason for pause. He seems to have some remorse and good behavior since so I am willing to let him earn some trust back. Again TBD. Hopefully he doesn’t embarrass the Suns or himself with his future actions.

 

[JCSunsfan]

The Suns needed scoring from the forward position in the worst way last year. I don’t know that Bridges is the exact player they needed but he is exactly the type of player they needed. I think he is a consistent scorer, provides rim pressure, is a willing passer, and a post up threat with transition mismatches. I think he is going to provide the balance that the offense needs. Hopefully the defensive standard shown by Brooks and Goodwin encourage him to pick up on that end.

I don’t think there was a better player to fit what the Suns needed that was available. Did they overpay? Maybe. TBD. I think that the idea of the ’33 pick is more valuable than the actual pick.

For the off court issues are obviously reason for pause. He seems to have some remorse and good behavior since so I am willing to let him earn some trust back. Again TBD. Hopefully he doesn’t embarrass the Suns or himself with his future actions.

I was kinda hoping for Cam Johnson, but he is nowhere as physical as Miles is. Not sure what other forward that was available would fill the bill.

Fleming has the body for it, but he plays like a small forward. Koa is like a Miles Bridges clone.

 

[Chaz]

Koa is a Miles Bridges clone and heir apparent IMO. Fleming needs to develop some go to offensive moves around the basket but as a 3 and D player he is ready for some more minutes.

I love Cam Johnson but he doesn't have the post up game to collapse the defense like Bridges will. He would basically be a better Royce instead of the different type of forward that is needed to balance the Booker backcourt.

 

[taz02]

We desperately needed to get bigger and tougher inside and we've done that. We finally have two quality starters and capable backups in the front court. When was the last time that was the case?

What is the consensus here, playing Oso and Man on the floor together? I wonder if it would work, with Mans 3-point shooting and Oso's passing.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Personally, I think the Suns will do better than 38 wins. But there are certainly reasonably projectible circumstances where they don't - injury and chemistry issues being chiefly among them. How things actually shake out will depend on a lot of variables.

Anyone acting like the Suns are shoo-ins to match or exceed last year's results are being more than a little presumptuous IMO. There's no guarantee that a core that's mostly leaning into getting older and has some questionable skill gaps is going to produce a guaranteed successful season. And the assumption that the younger guys are going to improve, or even get the playing time to have a chance to improve, is no sure thing, either.

It's not impossible that the Suns will do well enough to at least be a play-in team. But betting the farm that they will exceed that standard is simply not prudent at this juncture.

Wouldn't bet my house on the over. but it's one of few bets I would feel comfortable putting some money on.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

We desperately needed to get bigger and tougher inside and we've done that. We finally have two quality starters and capable backups in the front court. When was the last time that was the case?

What is the consensus here, playing Oso and Man on the floor together? I wonder if it would work, with Mans 3-point shooting and Oso's passing.

Oso's splits are too good to ignore - he needs to play. It would be nice to see if he can play at the 4, although minutes there will be at a premium with Bridges/Fleming there.

 

[leclerc]

Without Booker (or old man Devin) how good are we in 2033? I think we'll regret doing that ish trade. Allright, Durant gamble failed. Chalk that up as a rookie mistake for a new nitwit owner. Keep trading away future first round picks when you're NOT EVEN CLOSE to winning a championship. I don't know man. Gregory seems fine. Ish...

 

[Mainstreet]

I used to believe that, now I'm not at all sure of it. I still believe the KD trade was an exercise in arrogance and ignorance and one of the most lopsided trades ever. And we followed that up with some desperate personnel moves in an effort to make the KD acquisition work. We all saw how those worked out.

Anyway, once we stopped trying to build around KD, I've loved most of our moves. And they've shown the ability to put together a competitive roster even with those apron challenges. I don't see why that approach would necessarily fail over the next seven years? Sure, Booker and a couple others will likely age out while we're still relying on the undrafted and underdrafted - but we also have some young talent and we've regained some pre-apron flexibility.

Yes, we are still at a disadvantage - I just don't think it's anywhere near as bad as it first appeared to be. This new cba really knocked us for a loop but IMO that same cba introduces opportunity too and this FO seems able to take advantage of those opportunities.

Somehow, someway the Suns pulled out of their downward spiral when they traded him.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

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[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I know it's not worth rehashing, but I don't think many trades get worse.

The most painful parts of that trade still have not happened.

It's a mortgage on an uninsured house that burned to the ground.

I don’t think anyone would argue those two points. But we are discussing what type of owner/front office we have. They made a terrible blunder with their first big deal. They followed it up with a smaller bad deal (Beal) and then another smaller bad deal (Ayton), but those are now a couple/few years ago and more recently their deals and planning show a lot more creativity and have proven better than projections. People learn. Right now it looks like that’s what’s happening.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I don’t think anyone would argue those two points. But we are discussing what type of owner/front office we have. They made a terrible blunder with their first big deal. They followed it up with a smaller bad deal (Beal) and then another smaller bad deal (Ayton), but those are now a couple/few years ago and more recently their deals and planning show a lot more creativity and have proven better than projections. People learn. Right now it looks like that’s what’s happening.

Every ownership makes bad deals. Ishbia went all in for a championship with Durant and it blew up. Everything else after that was some sort of damage control. Call it ignorance and move on. Jerry Colangelo had his share of bad deals as well.

 

[Phrazbit]

I don’t think anyone would argue those two points. But we are discussing what type of owner/front office we have. They made a terrible blunder with their first big deal. They followed it up with a smaller bad deal (Beal) and then another smaller bad deal (Ayton), but those are now a couple/few years ago and more recently their deals and planning show a lot more creativity and have proven better than projections. People learn. Right now it looks like that’s what’s happening.

Yeah, they've got in mind how to build a more cohesive roster (although I don't like the Bridges and Green fit), and they stopped going after coaches just because of their name.

That is good.

But the asset management... we continue to strip the cupboard bare, giving up unprotected first rounders so we can get players like Nick Richards and Miles Bridges.

I suppose I will have my answer in a year. They're going to have some tough decisions to make with Green, Brooks and Bridges financially and I hope the answer isn't to just throw money around and bury us in the apron again.

 

[Yuma]

Yeah, they've got in mind how to build a more cohesive roster (although I don't like the Bridges and Green fit), and they stopped going after coaches just because of their name.

That is good.

But the asset management... we continue to strip the cupboard bare, giving up unprotected first rounders so we can get players like Nick Richards and Miles Bridges.

I suppose I will have my answer in a year. They're going to have some tough decisions to make with Green, Brooks and Bridges financially and I hope the answer isn't to just throw money around and bury us in the apron again.

I think they are playing it as they are fine money wise at this very moment. No hurry to make a move. See what happens this season. Guys develop, injuries, do the parts fit together, etc? That's going to lead to what types of moves they make. If they wait a season on Green, he becomes a $40 million expiring contract. Teams want expiring contracts, and at the $40 million range, that could be potentially a good player, or couple of players. I am all for waiting on Green trade for one more season. If we trade him now we give up assets to move him. If we wait, we get back assets. Let's just ride this season out, unless it's a total train wreck.

 

[Hoop Head]

I think they are playing it as they are fine money wise at this very moment. No hurry to make a move. See what happens this season. Guys develop, injuries, do the parts fit together, etc? That's going to lead to what types of moves they make. If they wait a season on Green, he becomes a $40 million expiring contract. Teams want expiring contracts, and at the $40 million range, that could be potentially a good player, or couple of players. I am all for waiting on Green trade for one more season. If we trade him now we give up assets to move him. If we wait, we get back assets. Let's just ride this season out, unless it's a total train wreck.

Green can opt out this next summer. If he thinks he'll be dangled as trade bait next year then odds are he'll opt out and control where he lands,

 

[Yuma]

Green can opt out this next summer. If he thinks he'll be dangled as trade bait next year then odds are he'll opt out and control where he lands,

Not so sure he's going to get $40 million from another team. Plus the Suns have been historically good with working with agents on trade destinations. Look at KD. We traded him where he wanted to go, not necessarily where we could have got the best deal. Although, if a Green trade works, or Green suddenly becomes a franchise player for us, the deal is looking pretty sweet for us with Brooks and Maluach as the other pieces.

If he walks, I know some guys will moan we missed getting assets for him, but that's $40 million off the books. That's like losing TWO Bradley Beal salaries!

 

[Phrazbit]

I think they are playing it as they are fine money wise at this very moment. No hurry to make a move. See what happens this season. Guys develop, injuries, do the parts fit together, etc? That's going to lead to what types of moves they make. If they wait a season on Green, he becomes a $40 million expiring contract. Teams want expiring contracts, and at the $40 million range, that could be potentially a good player, or couple of players. I am all for waiting on Green trade for one more season. If we trade him now we give up assets to move him. If we wait, we get back assets. Let's just ride this season out, unless it's a total train wreck.

Expiring contracts are not what they used to be on the trade market lately. Typically it seems like bad money gets swapped for bad money, maybe just of a different structure.

I agree, I hope they ride this out, but the attachment of another first round pick to the Bridges trade makes me think they’re pretty locked in.

Green can opt out this next summer. If he thinks he'll be dangled as trade bait next year then odds are he'll opt out and control where he lands,

He would have to play at an All-Star level to exceed his current contract… so, great. I’m fine risking that.