Suns 2024-2025 Season Discussions

[GatorAZ]

Sam Vecenie on his pod he’d have Camara on his all-defense team if the season ended today. He prefaced it by saying Wemby and AD missing time factored into it but still. Woof.

 

[95pro]

I get it. I just read a few talking heads discussing that around when Beal was benched. I can't recall who exactly but they were local media, like Gerald Borquet types. I wish I would have shared some of the takes here but it was pretty contentious at the time regarding Beal and Nurkic so I felt it best not to bring another Suns player into the foray.

I will add that it wouldn't surprise me because the Suns are so terribly managed. Nothing would be that surprising at this point.

And guess who was benched today lol

Sam Vecenie on his pod he’d have Camara on his all-defense team if the season ended today. He prefaced it by saying Wemby and AD missing time factored into it but still. Woof.

That’s amazing since Camara has many accolades NOT for defense. His game was predicated on his offense.

His pick reminds me of the TJ Warren selection. Both under the radar, smaller schools, but plenty of offensive accolades.

 

[Germz249]

Sigh..

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[Hoop Head]

Sigh..

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After seeing CP3 and KD jaw at each other the other day, I'm curious if KD made a push for Paul to go. We know KD was part of recruiting Beal, that's been revealed. There's the Phoenix side though that didn't really get any coverage since Monty was fired and we were all celebrating Shamet being gone.

We really didn't give up much for KD in terms of tradeable value. A handful of second round picks and second dibs on swap rights aren't much. Paul being dealt was a key part.though.

 

[clyde2tw]

This team's only chance to win anything is to have at least 2 of RO, Allen, Tyus shooting 3s well enough, and Book in normal shooting form. Against good teams, we also need to play better defense.
After the AS break, none of them shot well, we won vs Bulls because Tyus is replaced by Beal in starting lineup to limit the former's damage of missing shots, and Book getting his touch back a bit.
Benching Tyus may help him loosen it up. His starter performance is actually hurting his value in the summer, he better prove to be the best sub PG out there to pull in a decent contract then.
Dunn is just not good enough on both sides of court. I hope Martin can play soon so that Dunn can be sent to G-league to refine his game alongside Ighodaro

 

[Mainstreet]

If the Durant trade wasn't bad enough, the return on the Ayton trade was the dagger in the heart.

 

[Hoop Head]

If the Durant trade wasn't bad enough, the return on the Ayton trade was the dagger in the heart.

The Beal trade ranks #3 behind those 2 deals, IMO. The Ayton trade was bad and dumb but I think it could have avoided the dumb label if we kept Camara out of it.

What's forgotten is we also ended up with Little and Keon Johnson were also sent to Phoenix. Both ended up waived. Neon almost immediately and Little after a year. Little had a lot of guaranteed money left on his deal and we stretched him but are still on the hook for $3.1 million annually through the 28-29 season. Keon Johnson however was waived quickly and he's started 33 games in San Antonio this year averaging 10 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2 asts, and 1 stl in 23 minutes a game through 53 games. He was on his rookie deal, which ends after this season. We didn't even try.

Keon Johnson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com

Checkout the latest stats of Keon Johnson. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, draft status, shoots, school and more on Basketball-Reference.com

www.basketball-reference.com

 

[Mainstreet]

The Beal trade ranks #3 behind those 2 deals, IMO. The Ayton trade was bad and dumb but I think it could have avoided the dumb label if we kept Camara out of it.

What's forgotten is we also ended up with Little and Keon Johnson were also sent to Phoenix. Both ended up waived. Neon almost immediately and Little after a year. Little had a lot of guaranteed money left on his deal and we stretched him but are still on the hook for $3.1 million annually through the 28-29 season. Keon Johnson however was waived quickly and he's started 33 games in San Antonio this year averaging 10 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2 asts, and 1 stl in 23 minutes a game through 53 games. He was on his rookie deal, which ends after this season. We didn't even try.

Keon Johnson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com

Checkout the latest stats of Keon Johnson. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, draft status, shoots, school and more on Basketball-Reference.com

www.basketball-reference.com

There was a whole string of blunders in 2023 when one sorts them out.

I can't give James Jones a bye on all those trades, much less the 2020 draft.

 

[Hoop Head]

There was a whole string of blunders in 2023 when one sorts them out.

I can't give James Jones a bye on all those trades, much less the 2020 draft.

I'm at the point where I think McD would be an upgrade over JJ, honestly. JJ has fumbled so many times. He's given some good sound bytes regarding building a team like his 5 x 3 model but there has been no point under JJ's time as GM has the team actually been 3 deep at more than 3 positions. Plus that idea of team building disregards chemistry and continuity. He preaches those 2 things when he fails to make a move but never when we're actually winning also. The guy is a salesman, that's it. He's convinced Ishbia he's the right man for the job, the same way he convinced Sarver. I'm glad most fans see through it now because he needs to be the first person fired when the season ends.

 

[AzStevenCal]

There was a whole string of blunders in 2023 when one sorts them out.

I can't give James Jones a bye on all those trades, much less the 2020 draft.

I wouldn't give him a bye on any of the decisions they've made, I'm just not convinced firing him fixes the problems. I'd get rid of everyone involved in these decisions, minus the owner of course.

 

[Suns_fan69]

The Beal trade ranks #3 behind those 2 deals, IMO. The Ayton trade was bad and dumb but I think it could have avoided the dumb label if we kept Camara out of it.

What's forgotten is we also ended up with Little and Keon Johnson were also sent to Phoenix. Both ended up waived. Neon almost immediately and Little after a year. Little had a lot of guaranteed money left on his deal and we stretched him but are still on the hook for $3.1 million annually through the 28-29 season. Keon Johnson however was waived quickly and he's started 33 games in San Antonio this year averaging 10 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2 asts, and 1 stl in 23 minutes a game through 53 games. He was on his rookie deal, which ends after this season. We didn't even try.

Keon Johnson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com

Checkout the latest stats of Keon Johnson. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, draft status, shoots, school and more on Basketball-Reference.com

www.basketball-reference.com

Wait, San Antonio has Keldon Johnson, not Keon. You linked Keon, who's on Brooklyn

 

[clyde2tw]

The Beal trade ranks #3 behind those 2 deals, IMO. The Ayton trade was bad and dumb but I think it could have avoided the dumb label if we kept Camara out of it.

What's forgotten is we also ended up with Little and Keon Johnson were also sent to Phoenix. Both ended up waived. Neon almost immediately and Little after a year. Little had a lot of guaranteed money left on his deal and we stretched him but are still on the hook for $3.1 million annually through the 28-29 season. Keon Johnson however was waived quickly and he's started 33 games in San Antonio this year averaging 10 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2 asts, and 1 stl in 23 minutes a game through 53 games. He was on his rookie deal, which ends after this season. We didn't even try.

Keon Johnson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com

Checkout the latest stats of Keon Johnson. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, draft status, shoots, school and more on Basketball-Reference.com

www.basketball-reference.com

#1 blunder was the Beal trade. #2 the Ayton one. KD trade could be done better with minor twists, like using Saric instead of Crowder and getting Yuta instead of Warren.
We lost to Nugs 2:4 with CP3 sidelined and Booker viciously injured by Green in game 4. If we had Hachimura from a hypothetic trade for Crowder and Yuta who was hot alongside KD that season, we might have had a chance to beat the Nugs. So, the main blunder was the deals in the ensuing offseason, where it was rumored that Mavs was interested in Ayton (+Shamet and 2nds for Irvin s&t). Imagine we had done that and opted out of CP3 contract, we'd then have had the KD/Book/KI big 3, with still the exceptions to sign a C and other pieces, most crucially Camara stil here.

 

[Hoop Head]

Wait, San Antonio has Keldon Johnson, not Keon. You linked Keon, who's on Brooklyn

My mistake. I did link the right player and mentioned the correct stats but my mind was on Keldon for some reason. Thanks for the correction, I appreciate it. That does make the sting a little less since Brooklyn sucks and starting 60% of their games whole averaging 10 ppg isn't the same as it would be in San Antonio, who is deeper and better.

Main point is he isn't/wasn't useless. He's received more playing time then Little, who we kept for a season so before waiving him.

 

[Chaplin]

If not for his contract and his health issues, I think Brad is currently our best player.

 

[Carolinacacti]

If not for his contract and his health issues, I think Brad is currently our best player.

He still has IT that's for sure.

 

[Superbone]

He still has IT that's for sure.

I had NO idea that he's good with computers! Huh.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm at the point where I think McD would be an upgrade over JJ, honestly. JJ has fumbled so many times. He's given some good sound bytes regarding building a team like his 5 x 3 model but there has been no point under JJ's time as GM has the team actually been 3 deep at more than 3 positions. Plus that idea of team building disregards chemistry and continuity. He preaches those 2 things when he fails to make a move but never when we're actually winning also. The guy is a salesman, that's it. He's convinced Ishbia he's the right man for the job, the same way he convinced Sarver. I'm glad most fans see through it now because he needs to be the first person fired when the season ends.

Oh yes, the 5 X 3 roster. I'd nearly forgotten.

Adding more size to the roster always seems to be an afterthought.

Nick Richards was supposed to be only an emergency fix.

 

[Superbone]

Oh yes, the 5 X 3 roster. I'd nearly forgotten.

Adding more size to the roster always seems to be an afterthought.

Nick Richards was supposed to be only an emergency fix.

Those 5X3 cards are pretty small.

 

[Mainstreet]

Those 5X3 cards are pretty small.

Yeah, I've noticed the roster (5 X 3) has been getting smaller.

 

[Adrian]

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[Yuma]

Oh yes, the 5 X 3 roster. I'd nearly forgotten.

Adding more size to the roster always seems to be an afterthought.

Nick Richards was supposed to be only an emergency fix.

I am almost betting Richards will be gone this off season since the rest of his contract is non guaranteed. Honestly, he hasn't been the answer at center. A couple good games, but no consistency. Hoping maybe Allen or O'Neale can get us a B level Center. I am settling for less than A level at this point.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

if dunn doesn't play bud is done

 

[Mainstreet]

I am almost betting Richards will be gone this off season since the rest of his contract is non guaranteed. Honestly, he hasn't been the answer at center. A couple good games, but no consistency. Hoping maybe Allen or O'Neale can get us a B level Center. I am settling for less than A level at this point.

If the Suns trade Richards, that would be another silly move by the Suns front office. His contract for next season is only $5 million.

I'm hoping James Jones is gone first.

 

[Yuma]

If the Suns trade Richards, that would be another silly move by the Suns front office. His contract for next season is only $5 million.

I'm hoping James Jones is gone first.

IDK, the only way we can get a really good center option is by aggregating salaries. The only way we can doing that is to get under the second apron. Just been noticing the last three guys we obtained have non-guaranteed contracts that get us under the second apron. Sorta lines up as a move they will make. Who knows though? We may just stay in the second apron and struggle more for this next season again.

Or trade KD for many pieces in return. We desperately need defense. Try and get defensive guys with length back? Maybe just having Beal and Booker will be enough firepower on starting offense?

 

[Mainstreet]

IDK, the only way we can get a really good center option is by aggregating salaries. The only way we can doing that is to get under the second apron. Just been noticing the last three guys we obtained have non-guaranteed contracts that get us under the second apron. Sorta lines up as a move they will make. Who knows though? We may just stay in the second apron and struggle more for this next season again.

Or trade KD for many pieces in return. We desperately need defense. Try and get defensive guys with length back? Maybe just having Beal and Booker will be enough firepower on starting offense?

The Suns can get under the 2nd apron without trading Richards. Actually, I hope they extend him. Even if the Suns find a starting center they like better, they will still need backups. Look what the Suns got in return for trading Ayton.