First of all, if this happens, thank you thank you thank you Mike D'Antoni for eveything you've done for the Suns and Phoenix. If you leave for the Knicks or any other team, I wouldnt blame you, because, evidently, if you stay in PHX the refs, Steve Kerr, and the league office will continue to steal Championships away from you...It might just be time to move on. Who does PHX hire? How about Coach K...I dont like Duke as much as the next guy, but Coach K learned D'Antoni's running stlye during the world championships and Coach K will instantly improve the defense. It would be a perfect fit.
First of all:
So, we all know how hard it is to get through the West, but a little thing Suns fans an Mike have found out: It's impossible to get through the West if you're playing against the Refs and the League Front Office too. David Stern and the Refs are holding hostage the NBA Finals trophy that the Suns earned last year and the year before:
It is now known that no player from the Atlanta Hawks or Boston Celtics will be suspended for leaving the bench during the scuffle in game 4. Hmm, thats interesting because when the Suns were on the verge of beating last years championship Spurs, the league decided to intervene and suspend three Suns players for......LEAVING THE BENCH!!! THanks Mr. Stern, we appreciate your support. You add all the horrible calls at the end of Game 5 last night plus the terrible calls from last year against the Spurs and Suns fans are not happy with the Association right about now.
I'm gonna be cool with all of this in about 2 hours or so, but I'm not a huge NBA fan...However, the outrage will live on for a lifetime for diehard Suns fans and it's horrible that has to be the case.
Before I get to the real issue of the Suns future, I need to say this. I HATE seeing the Suns lose, but I cant help but be a little happy because I love seeing Shaq lose...In my mind, Shaq will always be a Laker and everytime I see Shaq in a PHX uniform I want to throw up or throw something at my TV. I understand Shawn Marion needed to go, there were issues, but trade for anyone but Shaq, how about TRADE for a draft pick!!! Build a future, thats what real GMs do, Mr. Kerr! Utah has been so good for so long because they dont make dumb sell the house deals...they make smart build your team deals. Anyway, Steve Kerr, you havent been a Sun long enough to know on of the cardinal rules: YOU DONT TRADE A REAL SUNS PLAYER AND ALL-STAR WHO MEANS A LOT TO THE COMMUNITY FOR AN EX-LAKER, NO MATTER WHO IT IS OR WHAT POSITION. That trade was almost as bad as selling your soul to the devil and thats pretty much what it was in the eyes of a Suns fan and Laker hater.
Now to the exciting part:
Heres what you need to do Mr. Kerr!: Trade Steve Nash, Shaq, and our first round pick for the First pick in the NBA Draft: Get Michael Beasley. Now hold on Nash fans: Steve Nash is only getting older and worse by the year and we need to get something for him while his value is still pretty high. Anyway, if we can't get that deal done, then trade for Greg Oden or LaMarcus Aldridge. If the Beasley deal could possibly happen, it would ensure a successful future for the Suns and the lineup next year would look like this: PG Barbosa, SG Bell, SF Diaw, PF Stoudemire, C Beasley....that lineup could win a championship in two or three years if we have depth. I know that trade is a long shot and it would likely have to include one of our younger players, Barbosa or Diaw, but if I were Steve Kerr, thats what I would do.
Revisiting the '98 NBA Lockout
Comments (18)
Assuming the Heat are the number one pick holders, why would they want Shaq back?
J. HOVA: ES MUY BIEN | 04/30/08, 02:31 PM
Report Offensive CommentEven better why would you trade Nash? I understand moves have to be made but I would keep Nash and O'Neal. You do not need to blow up the Suns. Just make minor moves.
Get rid of Diaw. Get some shooters and hire a coach that can implement a decent half court offense.
You wrote a good blog, but I disagree wholeheartedly with your approach on fixing your team. That starting 5 of yours would be horrible.
J. HOVA: ES MUY BIEN | 04/30/08, 02:34 PM
Report Offensive CommentAll you need is a shooter and a versatile defender on the wing. Use Diaw as trade bait and get you a Josh Howard via trade or Josh Smith in Free Agency to be the athletic slasher Nash needs. After that, get a quality backup PG and a jump shooter and you'll be in contention The problem PHX has is that Sarver is trying to win on the cheap.
Panel of Pooled Ignorance | 04/30/08, 02:42 PM
Report Offensive CommentStart a lineup next year with this:
PG: Nash
SG: Bell
SF: Josh Smith
PF: Amare
C: Shaq
Bring back Eddie House and draft Chris Dougles-Roberts at 15, and you're a contender.
Panel of Pooled Ignorance | 04/30/08, 02:47 PM
Report Offensive CommentTo bad they have no money
E4P Is Not So Mad For Max | 04/30/08, 03:02 PM
Report Offensive CommentI doubt you can get Josh Smith but Panel is pretty good on the assessment.
J. HOVA: ES MUY BIEN | 04/30/08, 03:37 PM
Report Offensive CommentLoving the bring back Eddie House thing. SUN DEVIL!!!! Getting CDR would be straight, but I question his clutch abilities and the Suns already have enough problems not being clutch...other than Nash.
It isnt going to benefit the Suns' future to keep Nash or Shaq. Im more worried about the future, because It's a long shot for them to win a championship in the next 3 years. Unless Amare steps up his defense.
THe Ryan Clady picture guy makes a good point....No way they have enough cap room to get Josh Smith.
AS for getting a quality backup PG....WHAT?? We havea quality backup PG...I guess he's more of a SG, but Leandro Barbosa is a really good player.
DCsunDfour21 | 04/30/08, 04:09 PM
Report Offensive CommentI am sick of the Suns fans crying like a buch of babies. Instead of talking a good game why not try playing one for a change.
The Choo | 04/30/08, 04:43 PM
Report Offensive CommentI'm really tired of hearing all the whining about the Suns getting screwed by refs - we ALL get screwed by the refs and you can't tell me the Suns didn't just loose to a better team, last year and this year. Sure, there were some bad calls against them, but for every bad or missed call against the Suns I can show you 5 illegal screens from Nash not called, 5 charges from Amare not called, etc. Nash pushed Ginoblili down TWICE the other night - in front of the ref - when the ball hadn't been put into play yet and the refs blatantly didn't call it.
Now, I 100% agree the league is WRONG and being hypocrites by not sticking with the RULES with Garnet. This is a slap to all Suns fans (because of last year) and I think ALL NBA FANS should let the league know this wrong. We need more consistency from our NBA refs and better leadership from the top office. Period.
I also don't think you need to make many changes to the lineup - they just need to find their identity and stick with it. Once Shaq came into the picture they didn't quite know how they wanted to play - became predictable somewhat - which makes it a little easier to beat them. I like the idea of adding Josh Smith, or someone young/athletic like him. I'm sure the Suns will still be a force next year.
SPURSFAN 101 | 04/30/08, 04:47 PM
Report Offensive CommentFirst of all, don't tell me Nash pushed Ginobili down...Ginobili flops if theres a 2 MPH wind. Same with Duncan, Uberto, Bowen, Horry and especailly PArker....You think your team is getting fouled, but all they are doing if flopping. THe refs get tired of seeing Manu flop, thats why they didnt call it.
You're whole team is built on Flopping....it's not Hollywood, it's Texas, the Spurs are a disgrace...They are the dirtiest and most kniving team in the NBA. Honestly, who calls the league office to complain about how Shaq steps over the line a mili second before the ball hits the rim? stupid...The Spurs put on this front like they are the perfect little team, but they do shaddy things on and off the court.
THe Spurs aren't better, they just know how to get the Refs and the NBA to believe they are better...period.
Having said that, as a player, Tim Duncan is amazing. He has a knack for destroying other teams momentum. Its unbelievable. As for everyone else on that team...I dont respect them, thats just me.
DCsunDfour21 | 04/30/08, 05:02 PM
Report Offensive CommentYou and your Suns are just sore loosers. You punch a guy in the head, elbow him in the face, push him in the back to ground, and then accuse him of "flopping" - that's pathetic. Nash drops the ball of behind him to a cutter (usually Amare) while he put both hands out and pushes the defender out his way - very illegal screen - and he NEVER EVER gets called for it. He does this EVERY GAME. Once AGAIN, you guys got out played, out coached and out done by a MUCH BETTER team. Keep whining about "flopping". That's only thing you ARE good at.
SPURSFAN 101 | 04/30/08, 05:19 PM
Report Offensive CommentRaja Bell sure would look good in a San Antonio Spurs uniform!
dymonhed | 04/30/08, 05:23 PM
Report Offensive Commenthaha
DCsunDfour21 | 04/30/08, 06:51 PM
Report Offensive CommentSo would Dennis Rodman...
DCsunDfour21 | 04/30/08, 06:53 PM
Report Offensive Commentwhy would a writer for SI say that D Antoni has been fired? Why would a sports writer know this before D Antoni? Get you facts straight before you write you article.
boobpy | 04/30/08, 11:10 PM
Report Offensive Commentwhy would a writer for SI say that D Antoni has been fired? Why would a sports writer know this before D Antoni? Get you facts straight before you write your article.
boobpy | 04/30/08, 11:13 PM
Report Offensive CommentI hope you arent talkin about me getting my facts straight...because I only proposed this as a question and stated numerous times: "if it happens..."
DCsunDfour21 | 05/01/08, 10:37 AM
Report Offensive CommentWhen is the #1 pick in the draft ever for sale? It doesn't work that way in the NBA. The only time a trade is even feasible is if it involves another player picked in the top 5. No amount of former all-stars and late 1st round picks could pry the #1 choice away from the team that so desperately needs a long term investment.
chicagogr81 | 05/03/08, 03:19 AM
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