Just saw this on Sportscenter, but it sounds like JRich and Jared Dudley are headed to Phoenix in exchange for Boris Diaw, Raja Bell, and Sean Singletary. If this is true, what does this do for each team? Thoughts, opinions?
I think offensively it is, and he would have fit in better last year than this year. However, with a defensive oriented team, trading away your best defender doesn't make sense. I realize they get the best player in this deal in JRich, but unless Terry Porter realizes that his way isn't the right way for this roster, it's not going to be much of an upgrade, if it is one at all.
I think that the Suns should just get rid of Shaq and play the fast tempo they used to play. They would be way better especially now that they got JRich
The Suns won't get rid of Shaq because there not going to find many teams that can afford his $20mil this year and the next, especially in these economic times. They won't get rid of him anyways, because they brought him in to play a specific style. Even though it's not working at the moment, they won't admit to it. Plus, they might as well give it a whirl, because they weren't going to win with D'Antoni's style of play anyways.
i think there will be a slight improvement for the bobcats and no real improvement for phoenix. this at least give charlotte another legitimate nba player and diaw/bell combined should give them more than jrich did. jrich is a good scorer but it looks like kerr is just trying to throw big names together and hope they work out. now the suns are going to be either really small or just bad in the post off the bench and they get a sg who would have been perfect under d'antoni but now isn't going to have near the opportunities he would like. and i wonder how amare feels about the suns bringing in another big name when he wants to be "the man".
They shouldn't have traded for Shaq... pg: Nash sg: Richardson sf: Barnes pf: Marion c: Stoudimire That would be one nasty run and gun team... J-Rich isn't that good though. He puts up pretty stats but I don't think he impacts the game that much. He never did much in Golden State, and didn't do much in Charlotte either.
Boris Diaw is going to do great in Charlotte. Larry Brown loves these utility guys, he is going to get a ton of playing time because the Bobcats need a lot of holes to fill and Diaw can be plugged into any of them.
Raja Bell is gonna be big for Larry Brown, a defender who can stick a three. Diaw will also see his production increase as he will get the PF minutes ahead of May, and he'll play SF for when Wallace is on the bench, OR they can go slightly bigger and move Wallace to the SG and Diaw to SF at times. JRich will only help Phoenix if they run it.
diaw only really plays pf effectively at all. not enough shooting and can't defend the perimeter well enough to play well at the 3 and doesn't have the size or strength to play inside at the 5.
Diaw is damn near useless and making a ridiculous amount of money. Bell is toast. JRich is a quality starter. This was, in short, a steal for the Suns.
I agree that Bobcats got better end of deal. Kerr probably just sabotaged Terry Porter's philosophy like he did with D'Antoni. He's bringing in players that fit other schemes from who their actual coach wants. Bell was their best all-around half court player with his D and great shooting ability. He's also the heart and soul that made the Suns plays with passion if you watch them. When he would get going, the Suns would start to dominate, I've seen this quite a few times this year. Bobcats also will save $$$ I think, no?
nah the bobcats won't save anything. bell makes just over 10 million for the next two years. diaw makes 36 over the next four(assuming he picks up the 9 million player option 4th year). jrich makes 40 million over the next 3. in all i think the bobcats end up losing a couple million in the deal.
Am I the only one here that thinks Suns got ripped off? Common, think about it, they give up their only best defender and a great forward in Diaw who provided quality play off the bench. In return, they gain a little offense with J-Rich, but is that what they need? Stoudamire is already complaining about wanting to be the star player out there, and getting J-Rich won't help satisfy his needs/wants. Yes, Phoenix will be much better offensively, but what about the defense? Who will be the tough, physical wing defender that will replace Bell?
Well, the Suns were ranked...I believe 26th in backcourt scoring this year, so JRich will definitely help that. As mentioned though, he's going to hurt the overall defense of that team, as well as the chemistry.
When you have Shaq and Stoudemire and even Robin Lopez (great shotblocker) in the paint, your perimeter defense isn't as important. It's a lot easier to play tight D on your man when you know that there are two huge and intimidating centers behind you, just waiting for him to blow past you. Obviously it's always good to have a great perimeter defender as well, but as I said it isn't as important in their case. Especially with a good defensive coach like Porter. The Suns needed a scorer on the perimeter, a guy then can turn to when the opponent has their paint clogged. Nash can give you a three here and there and some nice drive and kicks, but they didn't have any go-to-guy on the perimeter. Now they do. With Richardson, who can shoot and drive well, teams won't be able to focus all their attention on the paint, freeing up space for Stoudemire and Shaq. Overall a great trade for Phoenix. Charlotte get some solid vets, but I really don't see which direction that franchise is going.
