<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Nash, Richardson make Phoenix a contender By Warren Blatt, NBA Editor Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Phoenix Suns were able to make two significant free agent signings this offseason and should be serious threat in the Western Conference in the 2004-05 season. Phoenix inked guards Steve Nash and Quentin Richardson to lucrative, multi- year deals. The 30-year-old Nash had spent the previous six seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, while Richardson, who was a restricted free agent, was able to sign with the Suns when the Los Angeles Clippers decided not to match Phoenix' offer. The 24-year-old Richardson is Phoenix' most recent acquisition. He officially became a member of the Suns on July 29, as the Clippers allowed him to move on with his career. "I just want to extend my gratitude to Bryan (Colangelo) and Coach (Mike) D'Antoni and everybody out there who was pulling for me to be a Sun," said Richardson. "It was a long and hard process with ups and downs throughout. BC came through. Everything the Clippers through at him, he had answers for them. We got it down at the end of the day." Originally selected out of DePaul by the Clippers in the first round (18th pick overall) of the 2000 NBA Draft, Richardson is coming off the best season of his four-year career. He played in 65 games in 2003-04 for the Clippers and averaged career-highs in points (17.2 ppg), rebounds (6.4 rpg), assists (2.1 apg) and steals (1.03 spg). </div> Link
They can compete now,they are a young team and have a good vet PG in Steve Nash who can be the leader to this team along with Shawn Marion. They have great scorers,young stars and solid vets,if the Suns could get a solid C they could be serious contenders soon,IMO.
If they can trade JJ (they definately need Marion) and get a decent big man, the team can go decently far.
buckets_42 please fix that sig before people start busting on you. You spell gaurd like this - GUARD. And this thread is a joke because the Suns will not even come close to winning the West.
Why do you consider this thread a joke,the Suns have a promising team with young players that could be big,no body once said that they would win the West but that they can compete.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting buckets_42:</div><div class="quote_post">thanks grudo, but I do think that Phoenix is a contender.</div> Marion is worth a lot more than JJ, so maybe something like Marion for Dampier? Or sign Keon Clark, not great but ok. Pg-Nash Sg-JJ Sf-Richardson Pf-Amare C-Dampier That is a pretty imposing lineup, they can score definetly, we'll have to see about their defense.
I don't know about a contender yet, but the team can be in a year or two except Nash will be declining then, but if Barbosa also becomes potent at PG it will be good. Before we can't be a contender though, a solid Center is needed on the team, doesn't need to be a star just a guy to play defense, and rebound, it can be anyone from Adonal Foyle to Mark Blount to Erick Dampier, a player liek that. Even Brendan Haywood could fit the role well.
That may be the case; however they added a veteran PG like Steve Nash and a young underrated SG in Quentin Richardson. Not to mention, Joe Johnson came out of his shell last season, so that should do the Suns some good. And with that being said, they have Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion, so what more can you ask for? I agree, they won't come close to winning the West, but I don? think statement will be as accurate in another two years or so. But Suns fan haven't had anything to celebrate about in a while, so they may be real eager to cheer about something with their latest acquisitions. I think this upcoming season they won?t have anything more to cheer about then a First-Round Playoff appearance. But as time goes on, I think they could have a shot at the title, all they need is a decent big man in the middle.
This team will be strong at rebounding from the PF, SF, and SG positions, but they are still a big man away from going far in the playoffs. Amare can't shoulder all the load down low, and Nash is still a risk to injury.
