http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2004/co...tory?id=1827142 <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Phoenix Suns have traded away the No. 7 pick in Thursday's draft to the Chicago Bulls, ESPN.com Insider has learned. In the process, the Suns may be out of the running for Tracy McGrady. The trade, which won't be announced until Thursday, will give the Suns one of the Bulls' second-round picks (No. 31), a future first-rounder and an undisclosed sum of cash in return for the pick.</div>
Out of all the trades in the last few days, this one makes the least sense to me. The Suns are in desparate need of a quality PG, and they would have been able to draft either Ben Gordon or Devin Harris with the #7. So why do this? This trade makes no sense..
Maybe they really trust Barbosa now? Also it's supposed to be because of something with getting Tmac, and maybe they feel they can get Nash.
^ From what I've heard Orlando was very interested in that pick. Now that they traded that pick away, trade talks between Orlando and Phoenix may have ended. Damn, why didn't the Suns trade the pick for the Lakers' 27th and cash!?!? It seems like we're never a team to get great deals like this.
I've been trying to figure this out, but I can't. The Suns BETTER do something with the money they have now. And by doing something I mean getting someone better than Brent Barry. They trade a future first rounder just to get rid of Jahidi, they trade a first founder just to get....well, nothing. Bryan Colangelo trades first round picks like they're some sort of disease. A future first rounder is also owed to the Spurs, but that is top twenty-one protected. The best thing about this deal is that the Bulls most likely are going to be losers again so the pick will turn out to be a high one...this is assuming they don't make any big moves like are being rumored to improve themselves. God forbid the Bulls choose this year as a year to improve themselves. Another good thing, they get the number thirty-one pick. No McGrady. No Kobe. Nash might get traded away. Wallace has no use for Phoenix. What other free agents are there? I guess Brent Barry is as good as it gets.
But Brent Barry won't even be that great, I mean he can play the point, but I'd expect better than just Brent. Ah well, it happens.
Don't forget Dampier. He wants to get on an allstar team and if, cross your fingers, Shaq goes East then we could get him with the money. Ask the Sonics fans of the worth of Brent Barry. He is a veteran leader we need. There record without him was supposedly (according to a post in the sonics forum I read so don't quote me) much much worse when he was injured. Nash will only get traded if they can land Shaq or McGrady which doesn't sound likely from the gossip. We save money by not getting the lottery pick this year and we MIGHT be able to afford both Dampier and Nash if they'll come over (I was hoping someone more in the know about numbers, like og15 (or where is scorbutic) would be able to figure what they are demanding vs. what we can afford). I think we'll be like 16-17 million under the cap. I was hoping we could get rid of Eisley... I think Lovingston and Gordon would have been gone and we were the ONLY team to try out Harris twice. He is scrawny and his workouts were lousy according to rumor. Zarko will pan out so we don't need Childress no matter how cool he is. No McGrady. No Kobe. No big deal. We got JJ! We need to address point and center. Agreed that Wallace won't come here. Nash might. Dampier might if Shaq goes to the East. Okur might be good if he isn't riding the pine all the time. Barry is nothing to sneeze at. If we don't land Nash or Dampier then I will agree this was a lousy year (Utah trade, Bulls trade) for team growth options. One other point is that we are the youngest team in the league. Do we really need more rookies? When NAsh or Barry's contract is up there may be better points in the draft than this years crop. I may be a villain around here for doubting Barbosa openly, but that doesn't mean I don't like him. I like his game, I like watching him, I like his future. But he needs a couple years where he doesn't have the pressure of leading the team. If we had Barry he could go from backup to starting when he was ready as natural as can be when his game earned it. He gets in foul trouble too early to play 30 minutes often... He gets the steals, though. It's the set offense that's the concern. Leadership. Communication. Who thinks Okur is viable after his poor performance in the Finals. I think he was just rusty myself. Who do we get with a second round pick? Chan? We must have tried him out for a reason. I wish we could trade again and get a one of Utah's or Boston's late first round picks... I really like that Anderson Varejao guy as a backup to Amare. Great attitude just like fellow Brazilian Barbosa.
Dampier wants to make the All-Star team by going to the East, because he definately isn't making it in the West. The Lakers could trade Shaq to the East, but not East team has much to offer. Suns current salary is about 28 million, so we have about 22 million till we start going over the cap. Nash shouldn't get more than a 6-7 million a year deal, but he will likely get overpaid. Dampier also should only get a 6-7 million, but he'll likely get something like 8 million, so yes we can afford both. They both shouldn't get 11 million dollar contracts, since they aren't franchise players or something.
the nets might be able to throw something together... I hope Shaq goes East at least. It'd be nice to see a new face in the West All-Star lineup
I agree that we don't need that many more rookies, and I really like the team's nucleus as is...it's just a tad bit frustruating to see all these first round picks go away for what can turn out to be nothing. OG: My post regarding Brent Barry was mostly sarcastic. I won't be satisfied with just Berry. I think it will be a successful off-season though if the Suns compile an assortment of free agents with their money that can help the team. I'll pass on Dampier, though. From what I hear his asking price is too high.
OG: ? addressed to Og15? I am wondering at the moment if Nash wo9uld want to play for the Lakers... I'd like us to resign Dice as a veteran and a backup PF. What is the veteran minimum (per year) we can offer him if he wants to stay here? Also, sign Nash or Barry for veteran leadership and outside threat and starting point, and sign Dampier (we got some money to burn for all that we've done to create room) or Okur (my preference as he's younger and has the perimeter game and yet is good on the offensive glass according to the stats... Dampier would be killer bee though). I'm going with the 14.7 million I got from www.nba.com/suns/news/azcentral_040623.html. Anything else added to that? Could turn out good yet.
The Suns are taking a lot of heat with this move, but I like the trade they made. It makes a statement to the team they are not here to rebuild again by taking a rookie PG or C. The Suns are going to build this team around their three young stars via free agency. In order for the Suns to do this they need as much cap space as they can possibly shed. With this move they have about $16M to spend on this year's free agents. I think the Suns should take a look at Adonal Foyle to fill the center position. He's a tremendous defender and does not complain about not being part of the offense. While they are adding bulk they might as well throw an offer out to Greg Ostertag as well. Ostertag isn't a great player, but he's huge, clogs the lane, and is a solid shot blocker. After Steve Nash the pickings get slim for Point Guards, but the Suns still have Barbosa to fall back on and also Milos Vujanic.
Ostertag said he'd go to the Mavericks for any amount of money (reasonable of course), I think he'll probably be going there lol.
But does Dallas want Ostertag? Assuming they do and they don't get Shaq, then the Suns can go after Joel Pryzbilla instead.
