FanPost

Sorry Cecil but the Phoenix Suns should be big game hunting next year.

Disclaimer:
This is my first post and I see myself being horribly unorganized and terrible at punctuation. That being said, the goal is to not sound crazy or unrealistic as far too many "I want the best player in the game" posts do.

I would like to discuss the following issues.
1. Salary
2. Free agency
3. Free agent destinations
4. Barriers

1. Salary

In order to talk about something that clearly does not yet exist (like future salary caps) we have to make a few assumptions.

A. Future salary cap and luxury tax numbers will be around 89 million and 108 million respectively.
http://www.blazersedge.com/2015/4/17/8447785/nba-salary-cap-projections-2015-2016-2017-2018-luxury-tax

B. I can correctly input salaries from into my calculator for the 2016-2017 NBA season with rookie salaries included. The number I came up with was 68,169,257 with Mirza being the only rotation player coming off the books.
http://www.basketballinsiders.com/projecting-2015-2016-max-salary-tiers/

C. I found an appropriate resource listing all the potential future max salaries for players. For the sake of decreasing the math I will be using 90 million as the salary cap as used on this page.
http://www.basketballinsiders.com/projecting-2015-2016-max-salary-tiers/

This left me with the following conclusions
A: Suns have 21,830,743 dollars to spend with only Mirza coming off the books

B: Suns can have a max salary with additional 7.4 million with the removal of Markieff (29,230,743 to spend)

C: Suns could have 2 max salaries with the removal of Markief, Weams, Tucker, (37,470,743) and one of Bledsoe (51,470,743) , chandler (49,885,743) or Knight (50.076993). If need be Archie Goodwin's salary can provide an extra 2,094,098 through wave or trade.

D. I am making a rather large assumption that if the salary cap is set to have a significant increase, and there are very few marquee free agents, any of the above players could be traded easily for cap space or possible draft picks. There are also a number of draft picks in the suns arsenal that could get a player like Chandler moved if need be.

2. Free agency

Congrats if you haven't declared the post ludicrous and left already!

Free agency is about to become a salary grab with the majority of teams having significant salary space over the next few years. This year is particularly important because there are so few players worth significant raises and so many teams with significant cap space. In such a market it is most important to go after the highest tier of players since they are capped at how much they can make rather than significantly overpaying for tier 2 to tier 3 players because of the market. That and... they are star players...

The most important aspect and largest assumption of this post is the ability to attract Al Horford. Admittedly he is in a pretty good situation right now in Atlanta. I would not be surprised if this is only a possibility if the Hawks are once again lackluster in the playoffs while the suns have a surprisingly successful season. Just like last season, I do see the suns trying to sign Horford and using him as a lure for another marquee free agent.

My proposal is that we offer him the full 25.3 million that he could command according to a 90 million dollar salary cap. This gives us essentially the same lineup with a clear albeit significantly more expensive upgrade at the 4. A lot for a 30 year old player with injury issues (who tears a pectoral muscle? Twice???). I'm not here to re-write the book on him as there are many articles but I believe he is a smart all-star quality player that provides the following.

A. Floor Spacing
B. Rebounding
C. Off ball play
D. Defense
E. Passing

Honestly I would be happy just staying with Horford as we have only lost keef in the deal but the suns are big game hunters and will go after the double max of Durant and Horford. My irrational brain will try to make it feasible.

Free Agent Destinations?

The important question is what sets the suns apart from the other suitors? My first argument would be that the suns have the greatest mixture of current talent, young talent and assets in order for a star to be competitive now and in the twilight of their career. Additionally due to all the core players either being locked into long term affordable contracts or are under rookie contracts there is increased financial flexibility with an increasing cap. Ill start with my proposed depth chart (without roll players to fill out the roster)

PG: Bledsoe, Knight
SG: Bogdan or Booker, Knight
SF: Durant, Warren
PF: Horford
C: Len

Strengths-
A. Defense- Each starting position is covered by a plus defender giving rise to possibly the leagues best defense.
B. Size- A very large team that due to Horford and Durant's agility does not sacrifice perimeter defense for size.
C. Shooting - If Len adds a 3 pointer to his game as is suggested then the entire team (minus warren) is capable of stretching the court
D. Complementary players - Only Knight, Durant and Bledsoe are players that demand the ball to make an impact.
E. Lineups: Out of the 8 core playersOnly Booker and Len play only one position allowing to team to switch on defense and adjust lineups accordingly.

Possible players for using salary cap exceptions include David West, Mirza, Marvin Williams, JJ Hickson, Trevor Booker, Marreese Speights, backup pg with a pulse.

Does OKC have a stronger core?

For comparisons sake the OKC are a team that sports a player currently better than any of ours in Westbrook and a very good complimentary star in Ibaka. What i'm banking on is that over the successive years they will command max salaries themselves allowing very little wiggle room for roster improvement and a mounting tax that the thunder have been shown to not want to pay. The play of Kanter and the success of this year are very integral to this plan. If they make WCF he is not going anywhere.

4. Barriers

1) I took way too many liberties saying we even have a chance at Horford.
2) Requires the suns to have a very successful season.
3) The front office known for upsetting players would be at it again with Tyson chandler or Knight after 1 year.
4) Current suns players also have a poor history record.
5) If either the hawks or OKC have a great season there is no possibility.