Why the Kapono to Philly trade is good for the Suns
by Phoenix Stan on Jun 9, 2009 12:35 PM MDT
in Commentary
36 comments
Word around the twitterintertubewebnet is that the Raptors are trading sharp shooting Jason Kapono to the 76ers for the paint banging hustle of Reggie Evens.
If the deal is straight up, then the Raptors will be trading $12m in salary over two years for $10m in salary over two years. Not only will the deal net the Raps $2m (unless there's other components involved that we don't yet know about) but it gives the Mighty Dinos of the Great White North the interior toughness they are severely lacking. The 76ers get a shooter that they desperately need as well.
But who cares about them. What's in it for the Suns?
All summer I have been using my soap box to push for the Suns to stand pat with their core players with the exception of Jason Richardson.
He's not a good fit on this team for two obvious reasons: He's a sub par defender which the Suns can't afford to have in the back court with Nash and he needs the ball a lot to really be effective offensively. It helps that the Suns have Barbosa who can play either 1 or 2 and has been improving defensively.
With the Raptors losing the outside shooting of Kopono they have an even bigger hole at the two guard position.
Last season they mostly ran with Anthony Parker who's a nice defensive 2 but did not deliver enough of a punch from the wing. Plus, he's an unrestricted free agent. That leaves the Raptors right now with back court of Jose Calderson, Roko Ukic and Mr. Marcus Banks.
This team NEEDS Jason Richardson. JRich and Caldron are a great pairing with Jose's naturual inclination to distribute the ball and JRich's natural inclincation to shoot the ball and Jose is a better on ball defender then Nash so JRich wouldn't be as exposed playing with the Raps.
Best of all, the Raptors have $8m to $10m in cap space so they can trade for JRich without having to give up any players. The Suns in turn don't have to take back matching contracts so they can clear a lot of salary with a move.
There are a lot of combinations available here. How about:
- JRich and the #14 for Joey Graham and the #9 (my favorite)
- JRich for Marcus Banks and the # 9 (scary huh but think about it)
- JRich for Graham and Nathan Jawai
There are several ways to slice it that end up sending Richardson to Toronto where's he's a much better fit and freeing up salary for the Suns to sign a lower cost defensive oriented shooting guard to play behind Barbosa.
For an up to the minute look at all the team's salary situation, check out the Salary Tool from Wyn at Canis Hoopus
0 recs |
36 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
I would do the trade for the #9 and Marcus Banks. I’d personally rather keep two draft picks. Use one to get a PG and one to get DuJuan Blair. Marcus Banks was an alright shooter and off-the-ball guard when he was here.
by jburning on Jun 9, 2009 1:15 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Banks is a puzzle for me
I was always impressed by aspects of his game. His defense. His outside shooting. And he had solid handle and could occasionally drive the ball. When you look at guys in the league like Mike James and Antonio Daniels you would think that Marcus would be at least as good as them.
For the longest time I figured he and D’Antoni just didn’t click and that he would do ok somewhere else. Not great but at least ok.
But then in Miami he can’t get any playing time either and couldn’t beat out guys like Chris Quinn. Now, I have no idea what his deal is. There must be more to that guy (in a negative way) that we don’t know about.
It would be tough to take him back and pay him almost $10m for two years unless Gentry (who did coach him here in Phx) thinks that he can get more out of him. No one is going to take him in a trade unless he gets playing time somewhere and does well. At this point his contract is poison.
Still, would it be worth it to get the #9 and save about $10m in salary? I don’t really know that I have an opinion on that either way for sure.
Blogging Suns Basketball
by Phoenix Stan on Jun 9, 2009 2:20 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah but
There’s no way that the raptors would be willing to trade away the #9 pick for JRich without getting another mid round first back…
by Adi C on Jun 9, 2009 2:35 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
agreed
No way the Raptors give up their first without getting one back, they might go for JRich for Graham and Jawai tho……the fans love the Kapono trade and are looking for more activity and BC is talking more trades.
It’s a good idea ’cause they need the offence.
by overthere on Jun 10, 2009 4:47 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Can you be more specific?
Blogging Suns Basketball
by Phoenix Stan on Jun 9, 2009 2:21 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would rather trade Nash and get a defensive pg
Jrich is still young and good
by bradley281 on Jun 9, 2009 3:29 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
You’d think.
Take care of the little things, and the big things will take care of themselves.
by SunDolphin on Jun 10, 2009 8:21 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Makes sense for Canada
Just get a decent replacement for Marion and another big man, maybe just resign Mensah-Bonsu. That should be a eastern conference playoff team easily.
by runningdonut on Jun 9, 2009 4:35 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
it just makes me a little queezy to think that Raja and Boris eventually turned into Joey Graham and the #9 pick… but at this point I probably have to agree with it.
Awhile back they were talking about some interest in JRich by the Twolves. Is there still any potential with that move?
by AZ2DC on Jun 9, 2009 5:06 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
AT THIS POINT.....
I think we should just hope that Kerr doesn’t make any trades at all this off season given his past track record.
Nash/Rich/Hill/Amare/Shaq is probably the best team we can possibly have this year.
by bradley281 on Jun 9, 2009 6:25 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Possibly I was reading the raps were looking at DeRozen so they may try an trade for J-Rich which is a more proven player with him they make the playoffs an with those two picks if we are able to get Jennings and Clark im willing to take Banks because he is half the salary of J-Rich and a yr less and those two can be building blocks to go with amare..then by Portlands pick an get Daye you will thank me in 3 yrs hes good..
by Lebrontophx2010 on Jun 9, 2009 7:01 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
If not what about Jason Richardson for Camby on the Espn trade machine it worked the clippers would re-unite J-Rich with Bd and they are overloade in the frontcourt and Phoenix gets a big who is defensive minded an then we trade Shaq
by Lebrontophx2010 on Jun 9, 2009 7:02 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
I like that one
hmmmm. Camby only has one year left on his deal. He’s not a great on ball defender or pick and roll guy any more but he still rebounds and blocks shots. If you could get DeAndre Jordan too that would be a steal. Doubt they give him up though.
Blogging Suns Basketball
by Phoenix Stan on Jun 9, 2009 10:22 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm pretty sure ...
Camby is the last big the Clippers would prefer to trade, particularly since they’ve got talent at the 2/3 position and don’t really need JRich.
by jburning on Jun 9, 2009 10:29 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nice
Now that I like. In fact, that may be the best thing we have seen yet. The clips are waaay top heavy especially with Griffin coming in. They could use Rich. And we could really use Camby. If we had Camby we could get away with trading Shaq even. Problem is, would the Clips do it?
Go read a book!
by N8lol on Jun 10, 2009 2:44 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
No way the clips do this
Not only will they not be dealing after hauling in an entire new team last year but they have Eric Gordon solidified as their SG of the present, future, forever. EG was probably the most underrated rookie of last year’s class.
by turs12 on Jun 11, 2009 4:02 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree w/ that
re: Gordon. Love the kid.
But he can play PG too so in theory he can back up both Baron (who’s going to miss time anyway) and JRich and be basically the 3rd guard like LB is (was) for the Suns.
I think the issue would be more around Richardson’s contract (not that that’s ever stopped the Clips from making a deal) and their desire to move Zebo or Kaaman before giving up Camby.
Blogging Suns Basketball
by Phoenix Stan on Jun 11, 2009 6:10 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Richardson for Marion?
Could it be done?
by hookedonphoenix on Jun 9, 2009 8:53 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Marion's
a free agent. If we eliminate salary we could afford him, but i think he’s done with Phoenix
by Funky Flapsack on Jun 10, 2009 11:26 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
i think phoenix is done with marion.
i am, at least.
by iamtrevorpaxton on Jun 10, 2009 1:50 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Trade 2 is best
Graham would make a good addition to the line up, but I think we should give Dudley more of a shot in the 3 position. I like trade 2 best. We keep our 14th pick, and get #9, and get someone who is half way decent for our third string back court.
by SunsFTW on Jun 9, 2009 9:34 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
None of the above
J-Rich is not as bad of a defensive player as people make him out to be. The team went into total flux shortly after he arrived. Learning defensive assignments with a new team is tough enough in the middle of the season. And with the Suns going into pure offence more mid way though, well, J-Rich never really had that much of a chance to learn the system. I say give him a chance with a full training camp before bailing out on him. He has legit offensive skills and rebounds well for a SG. Most importantly, he is right about the age when players hit their prime.
And I wouldn’t trade anybody to move up in the draft unless we were talking about a top three pick. This years draft is one of the weakest in a long time. The #9 pick is not going to be a whole lot better than the #14. Graham and Banks are both downgrades to J-Rich.
by phosrik on Jun 10, 2009 1:57 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Well Put
I was on board with trading J-Rich but I think you’re right.
Did everyone forget how he was practically our second best rebounder?
I also remember how huge having JJ as a third scorer was – he saved more than a few games for us in 2004. I think J-Rich can do that
by UASun on Jun 10, 2009 6:27 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Can’t say there is any way I can see the Graham/Jawai working for the suns. Graham has disappointed in Toronto and Jawai has had heart problems. Oh and follow the links on Jawai’s name above to his D league thoughts
by overthere on Jun 10, 2009 5:24 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
That was a rant
I couldn’t care less about Jawai, but obviously the blogger who wrote that should find a job and spend less time on the internet.
Take care of the little things, and the big things will take care of themselves.
by SunDolphin on Jun 10, 2009 8:32 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why shouldn't the Raptors just draft a player like DeRozan or Henderson that are probably available when they pick?
They need to shore up their wings, but JRich would be a pricey option for that.
by Norsktroll on Jun 10, 2009 6:44 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
A rookie
isn’t going to have that kind of impact
Blogging Suns Basketball
by Phoenix Stan on Jun 11, 2009 1:15 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
