Suns Off Season Changes for 2025: Trades, Buyouts, GM, Coaches, etc.

Covert Rain

Father smelt of elderberries!
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2005
Posts
38,467
Reaction score
18,037
Location
Arizona
But the entire logic of that awful trade was that Booker is a 2nd tier star and Durant was going to carry the team... but Durant can't... because he isn't that guy, he never has been and never will be.
That’s fair but part of that logic is that Book is just a tier below those guys and just needed another star next to him to get it done. That has not manifested either.
 

Cheesebeef

ASFN IDOL
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2003
Posts
94,097
Reaction score
74,176
That’s fair but part of that logic is that Book is just a tier below those guys and just needed another star next to him to get it done. That has not manifested either.
Yup… to slightly adjust one of the all-time Phoenix sports quote classics:

They AREN’T who we thought they were!
 

Raindog

I didn't come here to be liked!
Joined
Apr 22, 2008
Posts
5,671
Reaction score
7,343
Who do you want at 2?
I would guess Harper... who could essentially be another, younger Booker... or maybe a younger Edwards? Not sure there is anyone who is all that in this draft after the first two picks. We really need a package of stuff to make it worthwhile to trade Booker.
 

Covert Rain

Father smelt of elderberries!
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2005
Posts
38,467
Reaction score
18,037
Location
Arizona
Supposedly, this is why the Suns made the trade for Durant.
That's why they made the trade for CP3 and Durant. That's why they added Beal. The idea is if you surround Book with higher tier players he can get it done.
 

Ronin

Captain obvious
Super Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Oct 12, 2006
Posts
153,670
Reaction score
72,989
Location
Crowley, TX

Mulli

...
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2004
Posts
53,252
Reaction score
5,550
Location
Cold Harbor
Omg AD to either of those teams would be hilarious and sad at the same time
 

BirdGangThing

Murd Watcher
Joined
Dec 27, 2019
Posts
20,806
Reaction score
27,007
Location
Arcadia
i hope ish isn't pulling a nico at this very moment with some trade being already made in secrecy - that no one has a justifiable chance to make fun of before happening

some self proclaimed genius level solution to a our problems

with gregory and jj whispering "bravo sir" softly and in unison accompanied with a subordinate golf clap

"bravo sir"
 
Last edited:

Hoop Head

ASFN Icon
Joined
Feb 4, 2005
Posts
20,368
Reaction score
16,454
Location
Tempe, AZ

I'd take Flagg over AD. It would be a gamble but I'd sooner bet Flagg develops into a star vs Davis stays healthy.
 

Hoop Head

ASFN Icon
Joined
Feb 4, 2005
Posts
20,368
Reaction score
16,454
Location
Tempe, AZ
Bridges gets 5 firsts, and you get 3 1sts for Booker? Not nearly enough.

It's not that they're firsts so much as what team owns those firsts. Firsts from New York are worth less than the Suns own firsts. We'd then have a reason to tank since we'd control our own picks instead of losing to send that pick to another team.
 

ASUCHRIS

ONE HEART BEAT!!!
Joined
Sep 2, 2002
Posts
18,135
Reaction score
17,648
It's not that they're firsts so much as what team owns those firsts. Firsts from New York are worth less than the Suns own firsts. We'd then have a reason to tank since we'd control our own picks instead of losing to send that pick to another team.
I get the relative value of the picks, but I'm hoping to get more than that for a guy that is considered a top 15 player and franchise icon in his prime.
 

Hoop Head

ASFN Icon
Joined
Feb 4, 2005
Posts
20,368
Reaction score
16,454
Location
Tempe, AZ
I get the relative value of the picks, but I'm hoping to get more than that for a guy that is considered a top 15 player and franchise icon in his prime.

Understandable. There would be salary to make it happen also and ideally not dead cap money either like a year or Fred Van Vleet and Jock Landale to match salary. I like Jalen Green to an extent and think he'd need to be included with those picks. I don't view Green as a long term player here but he has value we could get more from as a stop gap.

The main thing is getting back in the driver's seat with control of our own picks. Anything else is gravy. Not controlling our own picks makes tanking unreasonable.
 

Raindog

I didn't come here to be liked!
Joined
Apr 22, 2008
Posts
5,671
Reaction score
7,343
Agree with the foregoing. Trade Booker for 3-4 picks (our own), plus a youngster with potential (Sheppard?), and whatever expiring contracts are necessary. Then Durant for about the same, maybe fewer picks but more young talent.

Then get to work on really scouting guys who will be available at 10 and 29... not James Jones "scouting" by watching YouTube videos, but actually scouting. Hopefully, you find a couple raw gems, like the Suns used to be able to do during the JC days.

Do all that, and with any luck, within two or three years, we might have a foundation of up and coming talent AND a wealth of cap space to use. Maybe not contenders, necessarily, but something to keep the fanbase engaged again.
 
OP
OP
Mainstreet

Mainstreet

Cruisin' Mainstreet
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2003
Posts
124,036
Reaction score
64,380
That's why they made the trade for CP3 and Durant. That's why they added Beal. The idea is if you surround Book with higher tier players he can get it done.

Of course, the 2020-21 and 2021–22 Suns with Booker, Paul, Bridges and Johnson were much more successful than the ones with Durant and the later addition of Beal.
 

Finito

ASFN Icon
Joined
Oct 23, 2005
Posts
21,256
Reaction score
14,055
Agree with the foregoing. Trade Booker for 3-4 picks (our own), plus a youngster with potential (Sheppard?), and whatever expiring contracts are necessary. Then Durant for about the same, maybe fewer picks but more young talent.

Then get to work on really scouting guys who will be available at 10 and 29... not James Jones "scouting" by watching YouTube videos, but actually scouting. Hopefully, you find a couple raw gems, like the Suns used to be able to do during the JC days.

Do all that, and with any luck, within two or three years, we might have a foundation of up and coming talent AND a wealth of cap space to use. Maybe not contenders, necessarily, but something to keep the fanbase engaged again.

You think you’re getting 6-8 picks plus young talent? Lol

We have zero leverage teams know we are desperate AF hell just to cut salary at this point.

We are selling at pennies on the dollar. Durant and Booker aren’t close to what they were worth 3 years ago
 

AzStevenCal

ASFN IDOL
Supporting Member
Joined
Apr 2, 2004
Posts
37,688
Reaction score
17,970
You think you’re getting 6-8 picks plus young talent? Lol

We have zero leverage teams know we are desperate AF hell just to cut salary at this point.

We are selling at pennies on the dollar. Durant and Booker aren’t close to what they were worth 3 years ago
How do you know? Maybe Isiah Thomas has buddied up with some other owner, an owner with a lot more money than sense?

But seriously, teams that feel they are close and are desperate to win a championship can talk themselves into some pretty risky moves. We just have to hope we find one of those teams.
 
Top