The addition of Mikal Bridges gives the Suns a logjam at the forward spots and they still need to address their point guard situation, Scott Bordow of the Arizona Republic writes.
After the draft-night trade with the Sixers to acquire Bridges’ rights, the Suns now have five recent first-rounders – Josh Jackson, T.J. Warren, Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss being the others – angling for playing time in the frontcourt. GM Ryan McDonough said he might add a stretch four in free agency, Bordow continues, so they could use that depth in a trade, with Chriss and Warren the most likely to be dealt.
Despite selecting Frenchman Elie Okobo with the first pick of the second round, the Suns still need another veteran at that spot, and McDonough confirmed they could pursue a floor leader in free agency, Bordow adds.
We have more on the Suns:
- The Suns consider Bridges a “special player” and that’s why they were willing to deal the No. 16 pick and the Heat’s unprotected 2021 first-rounder for him, Bob Baum of the Associated Press reports. ‘‘We weighed the pros and cons of trading it heavily and carefully,” McDonough said. ”We were only going to put it in play if we had a chance to get a special player and that’s how we feel about Mikal.”
- With $15-$20MM available to pursue free agents, the Suns will be proactive in free agency, Baum adds in the same piece. ‘We’re going to continue to be aggressive for the next couple of weeks in free agency,” McDonough said. “We’ve got some money to spend and we’re looking to spend it on the best players we can get.”
- Joe Prunty, Corliss Williamson, Jamelle McMillan, Jason Staudt and Cody Toppert have officially signed up as assistants for new head coach Igor Kokoskov, Bordow tweets.
- It’s hard to imagine the Suns will retain center Alan Williams on his current deal, Bordow adds in another tweet. Williams, whose $5.52MM salary is not guaranteed, would get a full guarantee if he’s still on the roster through July 6. He’d be a third-string center behind Deandre Ayton and Tyson Chandler if he sticks.
Warren and Williams for Kemba Walker
Gonna have to add more than that but the fit isn’t bad. Kinda would prefer if they had a guy who mainly defends since you want the offence running through Booker mainly
Their defense should finally be significantly improved
BS. Bridges creates no logjam. Jackson and Bridges can compete for the starting 3 spot opposite Booker, and the other can back up both or they all play together in a smaller lineup (without a 4) or a bigger one (with Booker sliding to the 1 spot, which, as a ball dominator, he has played some).
Bender, Chriss or Warren can’t the 3 (or much of anything very well), so there is a logjam of mediocre players at 4, but that was true before Bridges was acquired.
I don’t think Warren and Williams could be traded for anything except the right to send someone a draft pick to take them.
Warren averages 18-20 a game the last two years there is no way the suns are sending a pick to get rid of him.
Ya as mentioned when they got him at the draft, they can just use a lineup of whoever their PG is, Booker, Bridges, Jackson, Ayton and have Warren give them some scoring off the bench
Way to go Macdonough for surrendering a valuable team asset in pursuit of “specialness”. That is for a GM who has proven themselves. The difference in value between Mikal and Zaire is marginal, not worth a 2021 1st. ZSmith is special too, they all are.
Booker is not sold on PHX, trade him instead. Suns should put a new regime in place before Mcdonough maxxes 37th-ranked 2G (by +/-) Booker and seeks a “special” 18yo in 2021.
So, no chance for Alan Williams, a bull in the paint. k
Marcus Smart is a good fit for them. He’s young, very good at defense and would be a good fit with Booker on offense.
I like the idea of Smart to PHX
Smart, Booker, Jackson, Warren, Ayton
That’s a hell of a starting five on O and what Ayton lacks on D can be made up for by the fact that Smart and Jackson are elite defenders at their positions and the NBA is leaning toward smaller lineups anyway.
Mcdumma once again doing a bonehead move to save his JOB.
That should be enough to obtain Melo from the Thunder….
x%sure, sure you don’t seem to like, Booker do you? Look BPM or VORP, don’t mean much really, last year RoCo had the 2nd best BPM of the RS, if I don’t recall badly, doesn’t make him the 2nd best player, right? This stat massively favors players in winning teams while goes very bad for players in loosing teams, & guess what Phoenix was the worst team in the league, so it is normal & rather good that he had a bad BPM. I do only care for the real stats, like PPG, RPG, APG, BPG, SPG, MPG, FG%, 3%, FT% & above all of them even PER, or other similar ways to compare players, so Booker for his age ain’t bad you know, almost 25PPG last season despite all the injuries, what a beast!
Let’s talk money. Booker will be an RFA in 2019. How high do you match at? He is eligible for 5yrs/$157MM– Wiggins money. The oRtg-dRtg per 100 poss also savages Booker.
I say build around Ayton, and by that standard, Booker is a playground player. They may not get along, and Booker sounds unsure of the Suns. I would call Orlando about trading for Isaac; they drafted a 5 not a 1.