Phoenix possible trade partner for backup SF?

[nickagneta]

So we know Phoenix is always a team looking for ways to save money. Here is what we know about what their current team is looking like:

PG: Steve Nash($10.3 mil)/Goran Dragic($1.9 mil)
SG: Jason Richardson($14.4 mil)
SF: Grant Hill($3.2 mil)/Jared Dudley($2.1 mil)/Josh Childress($5.75 mil)/Hedo Turkoglu($11.3 mil)
PF: Hakim Warrick($4.25 mil)/Earl Clark($1.9 mil)/Taylor Griffin($0.8 mil)
C: Robin Lopez($1.9 mil)/Channing Frye($5 mil)/Dwayne Jones($1 mil)

Others that may be in Phoenix: Louis Amundson(Returning UFA?), Jarron Collins(Returning UFA?), Gani Lawal(2nd round pick), Dwayne Collins(2nd round pick)

By my calculations that $63.8 million tied up in salary next year with only 3 guards on the entire roster. They have to be thinking about turning some more of that huge trade exception they got from the Knicks into a backup SG or third string combo guard since I do not believe they own an MLE because they were under the cap.

But what they do have is an abundance of SFs and a PF/C that they could S&T that might be appealing to people, especially the Celtics.

So if Phoenix doesn't see a team out there looking to just dump a SG for a trade exception what they might want to do is trade some players to the Celtics for Rasheed's contract and the non-guaranteed contracts of Oliver LaFayette and Tony Gaffney to clear salary cap space to sign another free agent as the backup SG if they like one out there that fits their style like Josh Howard or Roger Mason.

So would Phoenix do something like:

Boston sends Rasheed Wallace, Tony Gaffney and Oliver Lafayette ($8.65 mil in salary)

Phoenix sends Grant Hill, Jared Dudley and a S&T Louis Amundson for 2 years/$2.5 million per year?

Celtics end up

Rondo/Bradley
Allen/Hill
Pierce/Dudley/Harangody
Garnett/Davis
O'Neal/Amundson/Perkins/Erden

C's could then sign Eddie House at a vet minimum to be the 3rd string combo guard and someone like Craig Smith or James Singleton or Shelden Williams to be the 3rd string PF

[moiso]

The trade looks beneficial to the C's but Grant Hill won't be traded.

[Rondo2287]

TP Nick,
I really like it for us.  Im not sure if Phoenix would do it, but I would really like that lineup on our end.  Anything to get dudley back here.

[Evantime34]

I don't think they trade Hill but I bet Dudley could be had.

[Greenbean]

I don't think they trade Hill but I bet Dudley could be had.

After losing STAT, I bet they would consider throwing Hill a bone and trading him to a contender.

[StartOrien]

There's something here, but I'd have to think that the Suns are going to want to bring Armundson back this season.

[Jon]

Hill won't want to come here.  He chose Phoenix last year thinking they didn't really have a shot at a title.  Can't see him changing his mind. 

Also, I don't think they have quite as much 3 depth as you make it out to be.  Hill (as you note on your Celtic depth chart) and Childress can both play the 2.  And I really wouldn't be surprised to see Hedo get at least half his minutes at the 4 spot.  In fact, I wouldn't be shocked to see them start him at the 4. 

Given that fact, I'm not sure they're eager to make trades. 

[nickagneta]

Hill won't want to come here.  He chose Phoenix last year thinking they didn't really have a shot at a title.  Can't see him changing his mind. 

Also, I don't think they have quite as much 3 depth as you make it out to be.  Hill (as you note on your Celtic depth chart) and Childress can both play the 2.  And I really wouldn't be surprised to see Hedo get at least half his minutes at the 4 spot.  In fact, I wouldn't be shocked to see them start him at the 4. 

Given that fact, I'm not sure they're eager to make trades. 

Here's the way I see it. Phoenix is going to play a three man rotation for the most part at the 2-3 position, JRich, Hedo and Childress. They have over $30 million invested in those three. I just don't see a lot of time being available to Hill or Dudley.

I also think there is absolutely zero chance they play Hedo at the 4 on any type of regular basis. Warrick will be their starting PF and he's not a good rebounding PF. Hedo is an awful rebounder for someone his size because of his lack of rebounding desire and perimeter game.

They are also pretty high on Clark and have Channing Frye who could slip into a PF position for them

Here's how I see their rotation

Nash/Dragic
Richardson/
Turkoglu/Childress
Warrick/Clark
Lopez/Frye

That's nine men deep and Alvin Gentry is pretty much a 9 man rotation type of guy. Something has to give and the players I see them looking at as expendable, mostly because they just spent millions upgrading the position, are the 3 spot, Hill and Dudley.

It doesn't matter if Hill doesn't want to leave Phoenix, if he's under contract, the only alternative he has is retire and give up over $3 million. Or he could go to Boston, a team he wanted him last year and who he contemplated joining.

Phoenix might want to hold on to Amundson but given their past frugality and how they detest the luxury tax area, perhaps erasing a bunch of salary off their books means more to them than their 2nd to 3rd string center/power forward.

[WeMadeIt17]

Jared Dudley would be ideal to have behind Pierce. Again another Posey kind of guys with good Defensive skills and can spot up and hit the 3. Would be happy with getting him and siging a vet like Wilkens and have our bench be

Nate
Wilkens/Bradley (if he shows he can join the rotation.)
Dudley
BBD
JO/Perk

That would be one of the better benches in the league.

[Greenbean]

Hill won't want to come here.  He chose Phoenix last year thinking they didn't really have a shot at a title.  Can't see him changing his mind. 

Also, I don't think they have quite as much 3 depth as you make it out to be.  Hill (as you note on your Celtic depth chart) and Childress can both play the 2.  And I really wouldn't be surprised to see Hedo get at least half his minutes at the 4 spot.  In fact, I wouldn't be shocked to see them start him at the 4. 

Given that fact, I'm not sure they're eager to make trades. 

Here's the way I see it. Phoenix is going to play a three man rotation for the most part at the 2-3 position, JRich, Hedo and Childress. They have over $30 million invested in those three. I just don't see a lot of time being available to Hill or Dudley.

I also think there is absolutely zero chance they play Hedo at the 4 on any type of regular basis. Warrick will be their starting PF and he's not a good rebounding PF. Hedo is an awful rebounder for someone his size because of his lack of rebounding desire and perimeter game.

They are also pretty high on Clark and have Channing Frye who could slip into a PF position for them

Here's how I see their rotation

Nash/Dragic
Richardson/
Turkoglu/Childress
Warrick/Clark
Lopez/Frye

That's nine men deep and Alvin Gentry is pretty much a 9 man rotation type of guy. Something has to give and the players I see them looking at as expendable, mostly because they just spent millions upgrading the position, are the 3 spot, Hill and Dudley.

It doesn't matter if Hill doesn't want to leave Phoenix, if he's under contract, the only alternative he has is retire and give up over $3 million. Or he could go to Boston, a team he wanted him last year and who he contemplated joining.

Phoenix might want to hold on to Amundson but given their past frugality and how they detest the luxury tax area, perhaps erasing a bunch of salary off their books means more to them than their 2nd to 3rd string center/power forward.

While I think you are right here Nick, your analysis also highlights how thin they are at the 4 making me think  they would want a player (BBD?) in return and not just salary relief.

[Kane3387]

I think Hedo will play the four much like Lewis does in Orlando and Odom does in LA. I see hom being the point forward instead of Hill to take away some ball handling duties from Nash. They will probably try to use him in a lot of pic-n-pops with Frye and pic-n-rolls with other players and have Nash spot up much like Jameer did in Orlando. I doubt Phoenix trades anyone especially Dudley because he is very cheap unless they get value in return. We don't really have a player to trade them unless it is a Nate S+T.

Phoenix Starters:
Nash, J Rich, Hill, Hedo, Frye or Lopez

Bench:
Dragic, Childress, Dudley, Warrick, Frye or Lopez

Clark is likey the 11th man to begin with and will be fighting for time or waiting for an injury to another player ahead of him in the rotation.

The Suns do not need financial relief and are likely not going to be a trade partner.

One trade I have thought of, if Portland needs cap relief, would be Sheed, Baby, and a pick of some kind for Fernandez and Pryzbilla.

[Who]

Jared Dudley would be an excellent addition.

Good to very good defender. Very good rebounder. Excellent complementary offensive player with superb shooting ability. Very efficient. Intelligent decision maker, avoids mistakes well. An excellent role player.

[Kane3387]

Hill won't want to come here.  He chose Phoenix last year thinking they didn't really have a shot at a title.  Can't see him changing his mind. 

Also, I don't think they have quite as much 3 depth as you make it out to be.  Hill (as you note on your Celtic depth chart) and Childress can both play the 2.  And I really wouldn't be surprised to see Hedo get at least half his minutes at the 4 spot.  In fact, I wouldn't be shocked to see them start him at the 4. 

Given that fact, I'm not sure they're eager to make trades. 

Here's the way I see it. Phoenix is going to play a three man rotation for the most part at the 2-3 position, JRich, Hedo and Childress. They have over $30 million invested in those three. I just don't see a lot of time being available to Hill or Dudley.

I also think there is absolutely zero chance they play Hedo at the 4 on any type of regular basis. Warrick will be their starting PF and he's not a good rebounding PF. Hedo is an awful rebounder for someone his size because of his lack of rebounding desire and perimeter game.

They are also pretty high on Clark and have Channing Frye who could slip into a PF position for them

Here's how I see their rotation

Nash/Dragic
Richardson/
Turkoglu/Childress
Warrick/Clark
Lopez/Frye

That's nine men deep and Alvin Gentry is pretty much a 9 man rotation type of guy. Something has to give and the players I see them looking at as expendable, mostly because they just spent millions upgrading the position, are the 3 spot, Hill and Dudley.

It doesn't matter if Hill doesn't want to leave Phoenix, if he's under contract, the only alternative he has is retire and give up over $3 million. Or he could go to Boston, a team he wanted him last year and who he contemplated joining.

Phoenix might want to hold on to Amundson but given their past frugality and how they detest the luxury tax area, perhaps erasing a bunch of salary off their books means more to them than their 2nd to 3rd string center/power forward.

He used a 10 man rotation all season and all playoffs...

[Kane3387]

Jared Dudley would be an excellent addition.

Good to very good defender. Very good rebounder. Excellent complementary offensive player with superb shooting ability. An excellent role player.

Sorry bro, not to be a downer but it isn't going to happen. Dudley is a rare "bang for your buck" player and those guys aren't just thrown aside or given away.

Really sad we wasted our LLE on Daniels last summer. Really sad!

[Who]

Jared Dudley would be an excellent addition.

Good to very good defender. Very good rebounder. Excellent complementary offensive player with superb shooting ability. An excellent role player.

Sorry bro, not to be a downer but it isn't going to happen. Dudley is a rare "bang for your buck" player and those guys aren't just thrown aside or given away.

Really sad we wasted our LLE on Daniels last summer. Really sad!

I'm not optimistic either. Too valuable a player to discard.

I cannot for the life of me understand why Phoenix signed Josh Childress though. Hopefully there will be some interesting quotes in that press conference about what they're planning on doing.