(02-09-2023, 06:56 AM)LukaMVP Wrote: [ -> ]last season the suns looked better than us on paper and we ended up on the winning side. KD can be a game changer though.
But the suns had Bridges(top 3? Luka defender in the league), Johnson, Crowder. And they were thin on depth last year. Now, they have zero depth or defense. And CP3 is a year older and much worse this year. I’m not scared
Only way our series with Phoenix gets more interesting is if we get Crowder from BKN.
Luka - Booker rivalry - check
Irving - Durant storyline - check
Crowder revenge games - check
Luka-Kyrie will feast just like Luka-Dinwiddie-Brunson feasted against Paul/Booker/Ayton. Only problem would be we can't double Booker anymore.
(02-09-2023, 07:17 AM)HAguiar95 Wrote: [ -> ]Only way our series with Phoenix gets more interesting is if we get Crowder from BKN.
Luka - Booker rivalry - check
Irving - Durant storyline - check
Crowder revenge games - check
Luka-Kyrie will feast just like Luka-Dinwiddie-Brunson feasted against Paul/Booker/Ayton. Only problem would be we can't double Booker anymore.
And we can't put DFS at KD ...
(02-09-2023, 03:26 AM)F Gump Wrote: [ -> ]Nets have no FRPs of their own for many years (2028), compliments of James Harden, so they can't tank to any real benefit. It will be interesting to see how they play it from here, with no real star to build around, and no chance at lottery luck either.
Nets have rebuilt a pretty salty team on the fly. Not championship caliber but enough that the picks that Houston acquired aren't going to be high in the lottery.
Suns went all in with two geriatrics
This is from the Woj article on the deal. Phoenix came close to a deal for Collins. Not sure what the package would have been, but it appears Cam Johnson was not as highly valued in Phoenix as I would have thought. I've seen some speculation that Ayton could be flipped for Capela/Bogdanovic.
Talks had progressed and stalled, and the Suns appeared to be pivoting toward a three-way deal that might've landed them Atlanta's John Collins sometime Thursday morning, sources said. On the direction of his new owner, Mat Ishbia, general manager James Jones texted Nets GM Sean Marks sometime after 11 p.m. ET -- and it wouldn't be long until Ishbia and Nets owner Joe Tsai had cobbled together the final elements of the blockbuster trade, sources said.
(02-09-2023, 08:25 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: [ -> ]I've seen some speculation that Ayton could be flipped for Capela/Bogdanovic.
Hawks forum is full of this speculation, starting already last summer
(02-09-2023, 08:25 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: [ -> ]This is from the Woj article on the deal. Phoenix came close to a deal for Collins. Not sure what the package would have been, but it appears Cam Johnson was not as highly valued in Phoenix as I would have thought. I've seen some speculation that Ayton could be flipped for Capela/Bogdanovic.
Talks had progressed and stalled, and the Suns appeared to be pivoting toward a three-way deal that might've landed them Atlanta's John Collins sometime Thursday morning, sources said. On the direction of his new owner, Mat Ishbia, general manager James Jones texted Nets GM Sean Marks sometime after 11 p.m. ET -- and it wouldn't be long until Ishbia and Nets owner Joe Tsai had cobbled together the final elements of the blockbuster trade, sources said.
I don't see them flipping Ayton now, but that's just me. I expect him to be more engaged now with KD in the fold.
Also, other West teams will be scrambling to find wings that can try to match up with KD. He's still a problem to guard. Stay tuned...
Sorry, but I'm having trouble wrapping my head around PHX giving away 4 FRP for a 34y/o, often injured KD. To pair with a 37 y/o, hanging on by his fingernails CP3.
My question is whether this really makes KD happy. He's a weird critter and seems to get moody sharing the spotlight.
Does not help PHX financially and I don't think this will prove out well on court.
From sportrac.com :
But it’s the tax numbers that really pop out here:
In adding that $8.8M of salary, the Phoenix Suns’ projected tax bill for 2022-23 increased from $35.5M, to $67.6M. Their 2023-24 tax space dwindled down to a projected $2.5M.
The 8.8M is the difference between outgoing and incoming salaries.
(02-09-2023, 09:34 AM)michaeltex Wrote: [ -> ]Sorry, but I'm having trouble wrapping my head around PHX giving away 4 FRP for a 34y/o, often injured KD. To pair with a 37 y/o, hanging on by his fingernails CP3.
Agree. I think they have a two season window. After that it will take long time to recover. Just Booker and Ayton is not enough and they traded all real talent and picks.
(02-09-2023, 09:38 AM)omahen Wrote: [ -> ]Agree. I think they have a two season window. After that it will take long time to recover. Just Booker and Ayton is not enough and they traded all real talent and picks.
It's almost like the new owner wants to show just how much he is willing to spend to win. Going to be hard to compete with Ballmer though. Or the Allen's in Portland. Or any of several other multi-billionaires.
I think KD left a better team than he went to in all honesty.
(02-09-2023, 08:25 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: [ -> ]This is from the Woj article on the deal. Phoenix came close to a deal for Collins. Not sure what the package would have been, but it appears Cam Johnson was not as highly valued in Phoenix as I would have thought. I've seen some speculation that Ayton could be flipped for Capela/Bogdanovic.
Wood+THJ for Ayton PLEASE
(02-09-2023, 09:34 AM)michaeltex Wrote: [ -> ]Sorry, but I'm having trouble wrapping my head around PHX giving away 4 FRP for a 34y/o, often injured KD. To pair with a 37 y/o, hanging on by his fingernails CP3.
Looking at KD's injury history and you just gotta wonder:
2014-15: Jones Fracture
2016-17: Left MCL Sprain+ Bone bruise (60/82 games played)
2018-19: Strained right calf (missed 2 playoff series before returning for the finals)
2018-19: Torn right Achilles
2019-20: Missed whole year recovering
2020-21: Left hamstring strain (35/75 games played)
2021-22: Left MCL sprain (55/82 games played)
2022-23: Right MCL sprain
(02-09-2023, 10:38 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: [ -> ]https://imgur.com/TNvi5m6
Joke’s on that guy. He doesn’t even know how to spell Kevin Durant! GO BACK TO SCHOOL, GUY!
Would the Warriors have any interest in Wood? My target there is Kuminga. I think that he could be the DFS replacement with a lot more upside. He has the size and length to contend with the best wings and he is taking steps forward.
My assumption is the Warriors want to hang on to him, and if they did move him they would have their sights set higher than CWood.