<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">If Luc Longley was sufficient for three Chicago titles, Suns coach Mike D'Antoni figures Jake Voskuhl, Maciej Lampe and Jackson Vroman could do it for Phoenix. That qualifying "could" is enough for the Suns to continue to look for a big man upgrade now that they have secured free-agent targets Steve Nash and Quentin Richardson. It goes beyond using the veteran's minimum as the Suns explore possible trades for a front-line center like Cleveland's Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Portland's Theo Ratliff or Golden State's Erick Dampier. Ilgauskas and Ratliff are in the final years of contracts paying them eight-digit salaries, meaning Shawn Marion could be involved. Marion will make $69.2 million over the next five years. Dampier, an unrestricted free agent, would have to come in a sign-and-trade, but other teams have more interest than Phoenix. Ilgauskas, 29, overcame feet injuries to play 81 games in each of the past two seasons. He averaged 16.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks during that span. Ilgauskas will make $14,625,000 this season, but Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund has said he wants him to finish his career in Cleveland. "They (the Suns) have interest, but we have not gone farther with anything yet," said Luciano Capicchioni, who represents Ilgauskas along with Herb Rudoy. "A lot of teams have expressed interest in Z. It's a little bit too early." Ratfliff, 31, is considered one of the league's best shot blockers and could run with the Suns' new look. Since becoming a full-time starter in the 1997-98 season, Ratliff has averaged 3.3 blocks per game. His final contract year will pay him $10,937,000. Portland traded Dale Davis in the Nick Van Exel deal, leaving the Trail Blazers with Ratliff, Vladimir Stepania and draftee Ha Seung-Jin at center. Dampier, 30, averaged 12.3 points and 12.0 rebounds last season, far exceeding anything he did in his first six seasons. He opted out of his contract's final two years, worth $15.7 million, and turned down Golden State's extension offers. If Phoenix grabs a center at the veteran's minimum for one year, the top candidates are New Orleans' Robert Traylor, Dallas' Scott Williams, Toronto's Corie Blount and Atlanta's Zeljko Rebraca. Only Rebraca is a restricted free agent. Traylor, who met with Phoenix brass in Las Vegas in mid-July, reportedly is leaning toward an offer from Cleveland. Atlanta's Joel Przybilla, another restricted free agent, is a possibility, but only if he showed he has fully recovered from last season's knee injury. </div> I think Z is the biggest possiblity to pull off a trade for. He is older now and questions about how he can hold up makes him an easy trade target to try and get. He was a all star two seasons ago so if he stays healthy is a very big contributor. I dont think they can get dampier they dont have enough money and the warriors probable wouldnt be intrested in a trade for joe johnson do to the fact they have j-rich already so they dont need him really. Blount would also be easy to quire he would probable sign for the vet minimum so that wouldnt be to much money. So I do think that phonex will pull off either a free agent signing or a sign and trade to get some big man this off season to complete there team. There current team has no one who can really contend with the big men out west... Suns roster POS NAME AGE G Leandro Barbosa 21 F Zarko Cabarkapa 23 G Howard Eisley 31 G/F Casey Jacobsen 23 G/F Joe Johnson 23 F/C Maciej Lampe 19 F Shawn Marion 26 G Steve Nash 30 G/F Quentin Richardson 24 F Amar? Stoudemire 21 C Jake Voskuhl 26 F Jackson Vroman 23
Im going to go with Theo Ratliff over the rest of them, because he can block shots has a lot of NBA experience and is in the last year of his contract. Theo has been averaging 3.3bpg since he stepped into the starting role, Amare wants a legit center and Theo would be a good fit.
Ilgauskas is way out of reach in my eyes. Why, would the Cavs trade their premier center for someone they don't really need? This would be the dumbest thing the Cavs could possibly do other than trading Lebron.
I just dont think Marion should be trade unless they get a 20 and 8 guy back to. They do need a center though,they really dont need a C that can score and wants his shots so I would go after Theo,even though he gets traded a lot he is stiall a solid defender and a great shot blocker,maybe if they salries match sign and trade Darius Miles and send him and Theo for the Matrix that is not that bad of a deal ,but I have heard some rumored crazy deals for the Suns involoving Shawn Marion.
It's about 2 hours from Tuscon, and about 8 from Los Agneles. Back on topic, whatever the Suns do, they cannot trade Marion. It would seriously hurt their chances of success. No matter how many great players you have, they play better when they've played together for a long time. Nobody's been a Sun longer than Matrix, so he knows what he's doing out here. If they do go for a C, it should just be a veteran-min. kinda guy. An addition instead of a compromise.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">Latest rumor is Marion being sent to the Hornets for Magloire.</div> Source?
Go after Damp If I were the Suns with Marion's hugh contract to try and move I would go after Dampier and Ratliff, but if you have a chance to get Maglorie do it...I would but Ratliff over Dampier because Ratliff has been on a good team before (01 Sixers) and he can block shots like crazy, who would come down the lane with Amare and Theo there...It all depends what direction the Suns want to go in, if they want a rebounding C go with Dampier, if they want a center who can block go with Theo, if they want a center who can do both get Maglorie...To get Maglorie its going to be hard because I think the Hornets would want the suns to take on a larger contract in David Wesley with the deal... <u> Suns Wish List</u> 1. Jamaal Maglorie 2. Theo Ratliff 3. Erik Dampier
you gotta source shape? Im just saying that would be a pretty sweet deal for the suns. Magloire's an Allstar and so is Nash, Q, JJ, and Amare got pretty good chances of being all stars too. Imagine a starting line of allstars in Phoenix........... im dreamin but w/e.
The guy that would be number 1 on my list is Theo Ratliff. He's one of the top defensive big men in the league, and will be the final piece to their starting lineup. You don't need much boards from him, with Q and Amare pulling down over 16 per night, and he'll save you a tonne of points. If I were Phoenix, Ratliff would be the guy im going after infront of Z and Damp.
Before people have been saying that without a quality center, a team can't compete in the west. Now there are hardly any quality centers LEFT in the west (on a consistant basis anyway). So if phoenix were to get one of the better ones.. mmmm I see possibilities here.
Maybe I am wrong but I think the Suns are better off saying like this. If we trade the Matrix a all-star we should recieve a really good center or a PF who can play center. Marion isnt someone u wanna throw away for someone like Ratliff.
The suns downfall was always a lack of a big man in the middle. I think they would be great if they aquired Ilgauskas or magaloire.
