Ok so I don't always understand the whole contract/money side of the NBA and therefore I'm kinda confused about a lot of the moves the Suns have made lately. Moves include:
1. trading forward James Jones and the draft rights to Spanish guard Rudy Fernandez, the 24th overall pick in the draft, to Portland for $3 million.
Thoughts on this move:
Phoenix keeps trading away young players and lots of draft picks (Loual Deng*!!!!!), so they keep getting older and that will bite them SOON. I think I've heard good things about Fernandez, so again another talented player for nothing. I'm not a huge James Jones fan because he supposedly had all this talent and was so complimentary but never produced when it mattered. I don't know how many times i heard an announcer say "Jones has been in a bit of a shooting slump lately" and I'm thinking when is he not. BUT what's the point of all these moves? 3 million dollars?
2. Signing Grant Hill.
Thoughts on this move:
Um I like it, it's fine, but i'm not jumping up and down. I'm quite cautious. If he stays healthy some pple thought he might be enough to finally get the Suns over the Spurs hump, which I thought was a little presumptious. I haven't seen him play since Detroit and all I ever hear is how injured he is and how it affects his game, how he's declined. I guess if he hasn't actually declined that much when not injured, then maybe it is a great move. But basically he's a complimentary role player now right? Well does it really make us any better if we get rid of 2 complimentary role players and add one? Kurt Thomas (next move) was very important on defense and was probably the only shooter who I felt would make it everytime he shot a jumper. James Jones? I never saw him play well, but he had decent stats, so he had to have played ok most of the time.
3. "The stockpiling Seattle SuperSonics acquired veteran forward Kurt Thomas and the Phoenix Suns' first-round draft choices in 2008 and 2010 on Friday in exchange for a conditional second-round draft choice in 2009. Seattle also used its $8 million trade exception with Phoenix to complete the deal."
Thoughts on this move:
Even if Thomas did throw a kink in the Suns running game, they just gave up a very dependable shooter and their only good low post defender. They also gave up 2 more chances to get younger and find an heir to Nash, when they need it more than ever. In return they get 8 mill and a SECOND round CONDITIONAL pick?!?!? wtf? Again, I understand sacrifices, but it seems that they again got NOTHING in return.
Basically it seems like the Suns gave up a couple of important role players and a butt load of picks for...11 million dollars? This is where I need help with the money side. They were going to be 10 mill over the luxury tax limit and now they won't be, but is it really that big of a deal to be over? I mean are there penalties or what? I don't understand. Seems like being in a little bit of debt in order to win a championship is a fair trade to me.
It seems to me that the Suns haven't addressed any of their needs over the last couple of seasons:
1. Find an heir or at least a backup to Nash: They keep trading away all draft picks, and as sensational as Barbosa is, he's not a PG. He can score, but the Suns don't play Suns bball whenever he's in.
2. Improve their interior defense - they have improved their overall d, but Timmy and the Tools (aka the Spurs), showed how vulnerable they are down low. Amare has not gotten better, they haven't really acquired anyone who's great at defending down low, and they just traded away Thomas who was their best.
3. Ease the Tensions between ego maniacs Marion and Amare - I don't know who's fault it really is, but it's apparent that these guys are butting heads. They could've solved problem #2 by trading one of them for Garnett, but didn't push hard enough I guess. As much as I love Marion and think his overall brilliance goes unnoticed, I think trading him to Boston or wherever for Garnett would've brought them the 'ship. Marion doesn't play as hard as he can all the time (hinted by Nash), is older than Amare, and seems have a little bit more of the ego problem than does Amare. Garnett doesn't have an ego and would've been fine with playing 2nd or 3rd banana as far as scoring goes in order to play for a winner again. He's a great defender and would've neutralized Timmy and maybe taught Amare a thing or 2 for the future.
So what are they doing? They say Kerr is a great basketball mind but I haven't really loved any moves they've made, and actually disliked most of them. Explain the financial stuff to me if you know and give me your overall thoughts.
Melissa Haro
Jessica Gomes
Best Players 6-5 and Under
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i can't understand the suns trade ro the sonics 2 1st rounds fora second 1 what are they smoking
Metfan4life is a…
East Elmhurst , NY
Total Comments (411)
That trade with the Sonics just perlexed me, still does. I do not pretend to understand the finer workings of the cap and finacial side of the game but from what Ive read, it all boils down to saving money. 8 mill from that trade exception + 8 mill luxury tax savings, thats 16 mill less the owner has to pay. Well, an owner who chooses to save a couple of millions at the expense of the future is a crapy owner imho.
As much as I like the Suns, it looks like they will be cellar dwellers in the west for a long time with that kind of ownership and management in the near future. They have one or maybe two last runs for a championship in them, but then the lack of young blood will kick in.
Naboo
Total Comments (63)
If the luxury tax is like it is in baseball, for "x" amount of dollars you go over the cap threshold, you have to pay "y" amount of additional dollars (luxury tax) to the league. I believe that a portion of that gets spread out in revenue sharing, if not all of it. I explained it in my salary cap blog for baseball.
I didn't get the idea of trading a solid vet, and an '08 and '10 1st rounder (is that right?) for an '08 2nd rounder. The only way they save money is through the dumping of Thomas. To give up two future 1st rounders should only count towards future caps, and not the current cap. Thomas for a 2nd rounder should have been the deal, if they were trying to dump some cap and pay less or avoid a luxury tax.
El Pollo Loco
Total Comments (385)
I'm glad everyone is as perplexed as I am. And yeah, Kerr might not be the great basketball mind everyone thought he would be. Maybe he's just trying to make them money or something.
vedderisbetter
Atlanta, GA
Total Comments (387)
i understand they are doing these to keep their core together and I think it was great that they got rid of Kurt Thomas because he's overpaid and not getting any younger but I think we gave too much just to pawn him off on another team.
Elway4Prez
Glendale , AZ
Total Comments (2503)
They got an 8 million dollar trade exemption in it, meaning they don't have to give up a player of equal monetary value. However, they must use this in a year, or else it expires.
eaglemaniac814 BS…
Altoona , PA
Total Comments (1025)
I'm going to say this and possibly risk having my cousins find out and disown me.
The Suns should of traded Marion. There is one thing I think is the down fall of bball divas (Marion, Kobe, grandpa Barkley, etc). They got the game but only play when they want to. They lean on solid teams for assists and when play is not good they blame the team. They create conflict and it's up to the team to keep it together while the Divas cry and throw tantrums. But we've seen it plenty of times. Let them be on there own and what happens? Kobe minus Shaq? Kobe cried uncle and rallied for Shaq to come back. Barkley took to eating Taco Bell and Commentating. It's gonna happen with Marion..had they traded him. All focus should have been on getting a wingman for Nash. He's a solid all around player with the best straightforward bbal play and use of his team. I think a decent wingman and no Marion could seal the team together for a good run this year.
vee007
Long Beach , CA
Total Comments (68)
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