Phoenix Suns : what kind of offseason should we expect?

[Drucci]

I'm a fan of the Suns because I discovered the NBA by watching their games and I really liked their run & gun style of play and their players. Since then, they are losing earlier every year and now , they will miss the playoffs, even if they are not mathematically out of the race (losing in Sacramento really doesn't help...).

So, I wonder what you guys think : what should the team do this summer? Fire Kerr? Trade Stoudemire (since it almost happened before the deadline), let Nash go? Other ideas or options?

The management really hasn't been good, trading draft picks like Rondo's for nothing... Since the owner of the team, Sarver, has made a priority of saving money, I'm quite worried that he may allow Kerr to blow out the roster and to do his best to "rebuild" by saving a lot of money.

Personnaly, I think that they should get all their players back (sign an extension for Nash, re-sign Hill) and try their luck for the last time next season. They have done well under Gentry, back to the run & gun. Plus, Shaq and Stoudemire contracts end in 2010 (and neither one is going to stay) so it'll be a salary relief.

Anyway this season has been a huge disappointment so next year can't be worse... unless Kerr trades Shaq for Mark Blount during the offseason. It was revealed that Phoenix seriously talked to Miami before the deadline, trying to do a O'Neal/Marion trade, like last year!

[indeedproceed]

[cordobes]

They don't have the slightest chance of competing with the current core. None, zero. It's over for them, as it's over for Dallas. Finito. Kerr had a marginal chance of turning them into a contender this Summer, but he blew it (although I admit he'd never had the assets to do a better job in any case). But hiring Porter was an unforgettable mistake.

They should rebuild around Amare or around who they are able to get by trading him. No need to let Hill or Nash go, they're good players that can help the young lads to grow. And they really need every help they can in that department, considering the basketball ability of their youngsters. 

[indeedproceed]

They don't have the slightest chance of competing with the current core. None, zero. It's over for them, as it's over for Dallas. Kerr had a marginal chance of turning them into a contender this Summer, but he blew it (although I admit he'd never had the assets to do a better job in any case). But hiring Porter was an unforgettable mistake.

They should rebuild around Amare or around who they are able to get by trading him. No need to let Hill or Nash go, they're good players that can help the young lads to grow. And they really need every help they can in that department, considering the basketball ability of their youngsters. 

A sign and trade with detroit...Amare for Wallace+either Prince or Hamilton...that would make them a 4 seed in my mind.

[indeedproceed]

They don't have the slightest chance of competing with the current core. None, zero. It's over for them, as it's over for Dallas. Kerr had a marginal chance of turning them into a contender this Summer, but he blew it (although I admit he'd never had the assets to do a better job in any case). But hiring Porter was an unforgettable mistake.

They should rebuild around Amare or around who they are able to get by trading him. No need to let Hill or Nash go, they're good players that can help the young lads to grow. And they really need every help they can in that department, considering the basketball ability of their youngsters. 

A sign and trade with detroit...Amare for Wallace+either Prince or Hamilton...that would make them a 4 seed in my mind.

And get rid of Jason Richardson.

[Lucky17]

Tough question, given their roster/payroll, and the economic climate in the league. Years of auctioning off draft picks has really hamstrung them.

Nash and Shaq will still help fill the seats and make the team relevant, but not championship contenders, and once both leave, there's no one waiting in the wings (I'm not sold on Dragic's future).

Barbosa is an intriguing player, but not a PG (or a leader). Someone has to QB that team.

Lopez, Dudley, and Tucker are all young players on the cheap that will help fill out a roster, but none are really starters in this league.

I'd actually shop Amare hard this offseason and rebuild with (hopefully) a young player(s) picks gained in return. I'd also consider trading the expiring contracts of Nash or Shaq (assuming there's a market for either) during the middle of next season.

It's going to be tough for Kerr, for sure.

[RebusRankin]

I think they'll blow it up.

Kerr is a lousy GM, imo.

[Fafnir]

I think they'll blow it up.

Kerr is a lousy GM, imo.

Yeah. I think being the Suns GM is a job that is pretty thankless though. Selling first round pick after first round pick just seems crazy. Its one thing to do it one year, but over and over again?

First round picks who work out are incredibly valuable as they're relatively cheap and you have them locked for four years. Rajon Rondo is vastly underpaid for his production for example.

[Finkelskyhook]

Shaq is going to be traded to LA, NY, or Miami for bad expiring contracts and probably a draft choice or considering Kerr's collossal ineptitude, to Detroit in a sign-and-trade for Iverson.

The only sure thing, IMHO, is that Shaq will be somewhere else. 

[QuinielaBox]

They could have drafted Rondo to groom behind Steve Nash...... But NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! They gifted him to the Celtics for Cash in the name of saving money. That and bad trades like Raja Bell and Boris Diaw to the Bobcats for Jason Shareef Richardson and picking up an Overaged, overpaid Diesel Truck which seemed like a bad chemistry experiment.

It is back to square one for the Suns as they will be competing with the Clippers and the Kings for worst records in the league next year. There will be no talent on the team.

[TatteredOnMySleeve]

They shouldve kept Boris Diaw and traded amare

And as far as what they should do this offseason...rebuild or rehire dantoni

[QuinielaBox]

They shouldve kept Boris Diaw and traded amare

And as far as what they should do this offseason...rebuild or rehire dantoni

I agree with you (TP) on keeping Diaw and trading Amare (to Detroit for Rasheed and CAP SPACE) 

[KungPoweChicken]

I don't understand why Phoenix let go of Rondo and Deng but then later took on Shaq's enormous contract. Needless to say, wasn't wasteful spending exactly what they were trying to avoid?

I would fire Steve Kerr immediately. Ever since he got the job, I thought he ruined the team. Phoenix's best bet would be to get young talent for Nash, Oneal, and Richardson. If Stoudemire is happy playing for a lottery team for the next three years, keep him and build around him. Stoudemire is your guy as long as he keeps his belly-aching to a minimum.

[Drucci]

Sigh, I was hoping a win from the Suns tonight in Dallas to keep a last hope of getting in the playoffs but the Suns are getting crushed right now... 81 points for the Mavs at the half! And already 16 assists for Kidd... The Suns just kill me.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I thought the Suns were done last season, and coming into this season I thought that was the case. But apperently they were for the wrong reasons. I thought Shaq's deterioration was going to be the reason, but he's played well this season so I was proven wrong in that account. Still the Suns suck.