Suns 2024-2025 Season Discussions

[angel_ofthe_south]

Like a number of people, I don't find Booker so great, and I readily acknowledge that he is overpaid; but people on my previous Suns forum noted that I am good at seeing from more than one perspective. So, here is why I nevertheless don't really want to trade Booker, and understand Mat Ishbia's attitude toward him.

As far as I know, there are arguably only two "great" players in the Phoenix Suns franchise's entire history who played anything close to their entire career in Phoenix: Dick van Arsdale, and Kevin Johnson. Every single other important, popular, or statistically great Phoenix Sun I can think of came from somewhere else or was eventually traded: Paul Westphal; Charlie Scott; Connie Hawkins; Jeff Hornacek; Dan Majerle; Charles Barkley; Cliff Robinson; Jason Kidd; Steve Nash; Amare Stoudemire; Shawn Marion; Chris Paul; Kevin Durant. Therefore, Devin Booker is being offered the chance to go down in Suns history as one of the very, very few great Suns players who came and stayed without their Suns career being interrupted. To be one of the faces on the Suns' Mount Rushmore. That's probably attractive to him, because he seems quite amenable to staying.

I just wish he weren't paid so much for it. It's part of why I disrespect the NBA: no star player can be kept without tying up the payroll for him. The very few star players in their prime who will take less money to play for a team, such as Danny Manning, played decades ago. It doesn't happen now, probably because money is more a part of the NBA culture than it used to be.



*Will anyone point out that neither Dick van Arsdale nor Kevin Johnson started their careers with the Suns? DvD played for the Knicks for three years before the Suns took him in their expansion draft; and Kevin Johnson briefly played for the Cavaliers as a rookie before the Suns traded for him. Please don't bother. I ignore it, why don't you? Those two are the closest we have...except for Devin Booker.

 

[elindholm]

As far as I know, there are arguably only two "great" players in the Phoenix Suns franchise's entire history who played anything close to their entire career in Phoenix: Dick van Arsdale, and Kevin Johnson.

I'd add Alvan Adams, maybe not quite at van Arsdale's level, but close.

 

[Superbone]

I would think they'd want to make the KD trade before the draft unless we're not getting any picks back but that would be ridiculous. The draft is on the 25th (& 26th) of this month.

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[angel_ofthe_south]

I'd add Alvan Adams, maybe not quite at van Arsdale's level, but close.

Oops, yes. Sorry, Mr. Adams. Unlike even Dick van Arsdale and Kevin Johnson, Alvan Adams played every minute of his career here; and it's only him that Devin Booker would join. Not drafted by another team, and never traded.

 

[angel_ofthe_south]

I had no idea Booker averaged so many assists this season--7.1.. He may not be any point guard, but those are point guard-worthy numbers. He's perfectly good at sharing the ball.

 

[leclerc]

If only he could beat double teams.

 

[Finito]

If only he could beat double teams.

Or actually score in the clutch when it matters.

 

[Yuma]

I'd add Alvan Adams, maybe not quite at van Arsdale's level, but close.

His rookie season was lightning in a bottle. It was just too bad he couldn't put on the muscle to bang with the other monster 7 footers of his era. He was ahead of his time, too. His style of play would now be a NBA center. Very underrated Suns player.

 

[Yuma]

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Check out their career stat lines.

 

[Yuma]

MSN

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It's a miracle playing for this dumpster fire of a franchise he squeezed in an NBA Finals.

 

[Carolinacacti]

I had no idea Booker averaged so many assists this season--7.1.. He may not be any point guard, but those are point guard-worthy numbers. He's perfectly good at sharing the ball.

How many were to Durant? I could get the ball to that scoring machine

 

[GatorAZ]

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Check out their career stat lines.

Wade was all-NBA, all-defense and finals MVP in his prime:
.

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[Yuma]

How many were to Durant? I could get the ball to that scoring machine

Don't get me wrong, I loved watching Magic Johnson play. I still think he's one of the greatest PGs ever. However, I had that thought when he'd get 10 assists in a game and Kareem was on a heater! LOL!

 

[Yuma]

Wade was all-NBA, all-defense and finals MVP in his prime:
.

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I know. Which makes their career numbers so funny that they are so similar. You probably have seen them, but there's some crazy highlight videos of Wade when he was in college. I think he might have actually been one of the most underrated college players ever. His name is never brought up in discussions of all time great college players, then you watch these videos, and WOW!

 

[Superbone]

His rookie season was lightning in a bottle. It was just too bad he couldn't put on the muscle to bang with the other monster 7 footers of his era. He was ahead of his time, too. His style of play would now be a NBA center. Very underrated Suns player.

He WAS the Suns center.

 

[Yuma]

He WAS the Suns center.

I worded it wierd. What I meant is if he were drafted today, his style of play would fit better today as the Suns center than it did in the seventies. He was ahead of his time in style of play.

 

[Ronin]

Mike D’Antoni Says Shaquille O’Neal Led To Revolutionary Suns Offense

Mike D’Antoni took over as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns at the tail end of the 2003-04 NBA season. He had a tall task ahead, taking a team that had coasted towards the middle of the pack for years and turning them into a contender.

www.yardbarker.com

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Mike D’Antoni Says Shaquille O’Neal Led To Revolutionary Suns Offense

Mike D’Antoni took over as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns at the tail end of the 2003-04 NBA season. He had a tall task ahead, taking a team that had coasted towards the middle of the pack for years and turning them into a contender.

www.yardbarker.com

Makes sense

 

[Hoop Head]

Mike D’Antoni Says Shaquille O’Neal Led To Revolutionary Suns Offense

Mike D’Antoni took over as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns at the tail end of the 2003-04 NBA season. He had a tall task ahead, taking a team that had coasted towards the middle of the pack for years and turning them into a contender.

www.yardbarker.com

Shaq was traded out of our division before D'Antoni's first full season as coach and we signed Nash. Weird answer from him. It wasn't out of nowhere either as the whole Kobe free agency stuff was that summer and he teased coming here also as a way to leverage the Lakers into trading Shaq.

 

[Superbone]

It fits the phrase, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em but kind of in reverse. More like, if you can't beat 'em, get 'em. But I think we would have been better off sticking with the Matrix.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

It fits the phrase, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em but kind of in reverse. More like, if you can't beat 'em, get 'em. But I think we would have been better off sticking with the Matrix.

Trading for matrix has nothing to do with the article. Did you read it?

 

[Superbone]

Trading for matrix has nothing to do with the article. Did you read it?

No. Any other questions?