LBJ, Flash, CB4: Future Suns?

by UASun on Feb 28, 2008 3:49 PM MST

I know everyone is sacred of the Shaq trade after the past few games, but has anyone looked at the long term picture?

In three years, Shaq, Nash and Bell's contracts will all come up, resulting in about 38 million off the cap
Diaw will be in the last year of his contract, making him very good trade-bait
The same summer, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh all become free agents

Are you telling me we couldn't lure one of those three out west? Phoenix has always been a free-agent draw, and they'll also be able to team up with Amare and Barbosa. Even if the Shaq trade works out horribly, we are still in a position for a relatively quick rebound.

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True

It's very true, but it will take some foresight. It's tough to see, though, because so much is always in motion.

Mmmmm ... Guinness

by JSun on Feb 28, 2008 4:22 PM MST reply actions

And that's two full seasons away

not to mention this year's playoff's.

I agree that Phx has a real chance to get LeBron to come West and play w/ Amare but I sure hope we don't have to suffer through a year or two of Heat like suck before that happens.

And btw all those contracts would still have been coming due at that time if Shaq weren't here assuming we didn't resign Marion after this season and didn't take on something long term.

Phoenix - where rookie love happens

by Seth Pollack on Feb 28, 2008 4:39 PM MST reply actions

don't hold your breath

huge free agents trades rarely happen. last year the biggest free agent signing was Rashard Lewis, and he is arguably only the third best player on his new team. The only reason the Suns were able to make such a great free agent signing in Nash was because Cuban thought he was washed up, i doubt we'd be so lucky with any of those three. it's fun to think about but superstars rarely switch teams because of free agency

by Stymo on Feb 28, 2008 5:23 PM MST reply actions

superstar acquisitions

I beg to differ. We have two great examples right on this team in Hill and Shaq. JJ may not qualify as a superstar, but for Atlanta fans he is. And how about Tom Chambers, who was a bona fide superstar in Seattle? Also, even though he didn't pan out, Penny Hardaway was a superstar at the time of his aquisition. Those with the priviledge to see him pre-injury would agree.

When you include trades, you have Chamberlain (twice), Abdul-Jabbar, Charles Barkley, and Oscar Robertson, Hall of Famers traded in their careers. When Bill Walton was traded, both teams had every expectation that Walton would regain his form, as evidenced by the huge package of players traded for him. Not to mention Jason Kidd (three times). The trade of All-star forward Dave DeBuschere from Detroit to New York ignited a championship, as well as the Knick's acquisition of Earl Monroe a few years later. The Knicks pulled a heist of Bernard King sometime later (It is hard to remember, but the Knicks front office used to be one of the best in the league). Of course, who can forget the suns getting their pocket picked by Red Auerbach in two separate trades for All-stars Paul Silas and Dennis Johnson. These are all at least all stars and mostly superstars.

You never know what could happen.

'07-'08 Suns: It's clobberin' time!

by Hawk42 on Feb 29, 2008 8:24 AM MST up reply actions

actually...

i don't include trades. obviously superstars get traded, just look at the past month. the post was talking about the suns signing a superstar free agent. We signed Hill when he is no longer a superstar and is now a role player, and i'm guessing you meant when Shaq signed with LA. Yes that was one of few huge superstar free agent signings. all i'm saying is that in today's NBA huge free agent signing rarely happen, many players sign extensions before they even reach free agency or choose to stay with their current team when they do (and we got penny in a trade)

by Stymo on Feb 29, 2008 10:43 AM MST up reply actions

FA superstars

Penny was a free agent acquisition that technically became a S&T. A S&T fits more of the definition of a free agent signing. Here are the words in your post:

"huge free agents trades rarely happen"

I am sorry if I misunderstood, when I saw the word 'trades' in the post, I was led to believe you meant to include trades in your analysis. My apologies.

My reference to Hill was when Orlando signed him, not our acquisition of him. He was definitely a superstar then.

Regardless, I think there is as good of a chance as any for a superstar to change teams. As a fan, you can only hope for it, but as a GM, you need to pursue it no matter how rareley it might happen.

'07-'08 Suns: It's clobberin' time!

by Hawk42 on Feb 29, 2008 12:14 PM MST up reply actions

but no ring for steve

hey new to the site, i've always been a big fan and its usually the first place i go after suns games are over. while i do agree it's a pretty quick rebound, i think that it would kill me if nash retired without a ring. after destroying the jason kidd suns with trading for stephon marbury, nash was the one who brought us back to the forefront of the nba again.

also, assuming nash doesn't decline too much, a big if i admit, we don't know if we'll need to resign him or not. also one of our draft picks might require a max extension (haha just seeing if you guys were still awake). maybe if bryan colangelo was our gm, i'd have a little more faith, but the jury's still out on our new brain trust

by najmsh on Feb 28, 2008 5:24 PM MST reply actions

Had the same thought

About Nash not getting a ring. Then I remembered that most of us have big dreams that we have our hearts set on that never get fulfilled. We learn to find our joy in the things that really matter. Nash will too should he have to retire ring-less. In fact, he'll probably handle it better than most--it seems like he has a nice, healthy grip on life outside the basketball court.

Besides, he's still got a couple of years to get one, maybe longer if he still wants to play after his contract is up. Sure, we're fresh off two games that make it look like that window is already closed to the point that there's just barely a sliver of space for air to get through. But if there's one thing Nash is good at, it's squeezing through the tiniest of openings to get what he wants when you least expect it. :)

by TexSUN on Feb 29, 2008 9:01 AM MST up reply actions