Celtics future bright as Suns

[cltc5]

The full article is here on Yahoo: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/suns--surprising-season-began-with-change-in-philosophy-025610267.html

But here's some noteworthy excerpts:

Here it was early May, and Sarver sat inside his banking office across the street from U.S. Airways Center and let a 33-year-old Boston Celtics executive deliver him the path for chance in relentless detail. Ryan McDonough had a championship pedigree, a well-regarded draft record and the stomach to ask a prospective owner some tough, probing questions to make sure he even wanted this job.

I needed to get a team with a GM and a coach who would have a good working relationship," Sarver told Yahoo Sports.

For all the suspicions about the Suns chasing a draft lottery tanking strategy, McDonough made it clear to Babby and Sarver that he'd never be a part of it. In working with the Celtics, in studying the NBA, McDonough had learned that pursuing pingpong balls isn't a strategy to get out of the lottery – it's typically a ticket to return year after year.

The Suns are currently 17-10 in the Western Conference, a fifth seed at Christmas.  A year after winning only 25 games.

[cman88]

well, the suns this year are whta I hope the celtics are next year.

the key has to be adding a high-upside player though...Suns added Bledsoe who looks legit which is a large part of their success

[Birdman]

depends what they do this offseason

[Bosstown]

Makes me think of if that Doc/KG deal went down and if we got Bledsoe and Jordan maybe we'd be in a even better position than we are now.

[obnoxiousmime]

Makes me think of if that Doc/KG deal went down and if we got Bledsoe and Jordan maybe we'd be in a even better position than we are now.

The only reason Doc is in LA making 6 million a year from the cheapskate Sterling is because Paul threatened to leave. They preferred a cheaper non all-star coach, but gave the impression of seriously pursuing Doc in an attempt to make Paul think they were serious. That's why the process took forever with details being leaked from the Clippers side every day.

Their best case, preferred scenario was signing a cheap coach. Their second-best scenario, if they were really FORCED to sign Doc, is that the negotiations get so public and messy that the Celtics would just waive Doc outright or trade him for less than a first rounder.

I don't think they were ever seriously considering trading Bledsoe AND Jordan for Garnett. Then once Doc thought he was going there, he obviously wanted to keep Bledsoe as a trade asset but I believe he did want to also replace Garnett with Jordan since he didn't believe Jordan could play his defense.

Whether the Clips would have ever seriously considered Garnett for Jordan just because Doc wanted it is unknown but it became a moot point as the very public negotiations sabotaged any chance of them discreetly getting a player/coach combo deal past the NBA.

Anyway the Celtics called the Clippers bluff by insisting they were fine with Doc returning even with his damaged reputation. Eventually Paul forced Sterling's hand and they relented on giving a first rounder AND paying Doc his 6 million/year.

Even though Jordan is still kind of inconsistent I think Doc probably is relieved, considering how poorly Garnett is playing. At least Jordan is young and has trade value and doesn't need to take games off to rest.

[esel1000]

Suns didn't have to deal with an awful conference they actually had a chance of winning and losing out on the lottery with (i.e us). Though its not like Len is doing much for them

[JBcat]

Makes me think of if that Doc/KG deal went down and if we got Bledsoe and Jordan maybe we'd be in a even better position than we are now.

The only reason Doc is in LA making 6 million a year from the cheapskate Sterling is because Paul threatened to leave. They preferred a cheaper non all-star coach, but gave the impression of seriously pursuing Doc in an attempt to make Paul think they were serious. That's why the process took forever with details being leaked from the Clippers side every day.

Their best case, preferred scenario was signing a cheap coach. Their second-best scenario, if they were really FORCED to sign Doc, is that the negotiations get so public and messy that the Celtics would just waive Doc outright or trade him for less than a first rounder.

I don't think they were ever seriously considering trading Bledsoe AND Jordan for Garnett. Then once Doc thought he was going there, he obviously wanted to keep Bledsoe as a trade asset but I believe he did want to also replace Garnett with Jordan since he didn't believe Jordan could play his defense.

Whether the Clips would have ever seriously considered Garnett for Jordan just because Doc wanted it is unknown but it became a moot point as the very public negotiations sabotaged any chance of them discreetly getting a player/coach combo deal past the NBA.

Anyway the Celtics called the Clippers bluff by insisting they were fine with Doc returning even with his damaged reputation. Eventually Paul forced Sterling's hand and they relented on giving a first rounder AND paying Doc his 6 million/year.

Even though Jordan is still kind of inconsistent I think Doc probably is relieved, considering how poorly Garnett is playing. At least Jordan is young and has trade value and doesn't need to take games off to rest.

I thought I remember Doc saying he wanted Jordan there to work with when it all it went down.  Anyway, I'm happier with the package we got from the Nets even with how well Bledsoe is playing.

[obnoxiousmime]

I thought I remember Doc saying he wanted Jordan there to work with when it all it went down.  Anyway, I'm happier with the package we got from the Nets even with how well Bledsoe is playing.

Yes of course he said that after the Garnett portion of the deal fell through.

The Bledsoe/Jordan deal was never something Clippers ownership wanted. It was something Vinnie Del Negro wanted to save his job so he tried to leak it to pressure Clippers management to make the "win now" move. He didn't succeed and was eventually fired.

Once the Celtics decided to rebuild and Doc decided to leave, they pursued it but I don't think it was ever realistically going to happen unless Paul specifically demanded it and they could get it by the NBA rules.

[Celtics4ever]

Bledsoe is an definite upgrade over AB and could be even over RR.

Makes me think of if that Doc/KG deal went down and if we got Bledsoe and Jordan maybe we'd be in a even better position than we are now.

I too think this.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I really have no idea how the Suns are doing what they're doing. 7 games above .500 in a tough conference? And the only real "name" they have is Bledsoe?

Funny to see this thread today, because I was just thinking about the Suns yesterday, wondering how they're pulling it off. I watched some of their game yesterday, and then checked out their roster—pretty good backcourt with Bledsoe and Dragic, but after that? The Morris brothers, Miles Plumlee, A.J. Tucker ... seriously? Some decent youngsters, but how are they winning with that roster?

[Eddie20]

Bledsoe is an definite upgrade over AB and could be even over RR.

Makes me think of if that Doc/KG deal went down and if we got Bledsoe and Jordan maybe we'd be in a even better position than we are now.

I too think this.

Not sure about this. I like Bledsoe, but he will be looking for big money this off-season. So you would have upwards of 20M just on he and Jordan. I still think that Nets picks (especially the ones from 16-18) is a better return going forward.

[Bosstown]

Bledsoe is an definite upgrade over AB and could be even over RR.

Makes me think of if that Doc/KG deal went down and if we got Bledsoe and Jordan maybe we'd be in a even better position than we are now.

I too think this.

Not sure about this. I like Bledsoe, but he will be looking for big money this off-season. So you would have upwards of 20M just on he and Jordan. I still think that Nets picks (especially the ones from 16-18) is a better return going forward.

Really? Your Psychic?

[Eddie20]

Bledsoe is an definite upgrade over AB and could be even over RR.

Makes me think of if that Doc/KG deal went down and if we got Bledsoe and Jordan maybe we'd be in a even better position than we are now.

I too think this.

Not sure about this. I like Bledsoe, but he will be looking for big money this off-season. So you would have upwards of 20M just on he and Jordan. I still think that Nets picks (especially the ones from 16-18) is a better return going forward.

Really? Your Psychic?

Hello pot...meet kettle.

Not sure how your post, the one in bold, differs from mine as they're both based from opinion.

[pokeKingCurtis]

Bledsoe is an definite upgrade over AB and could be even over RR.

Makes me think of if that Doc/KG deal went down and if we got Bledsoe and Jordan maybe we'd be in a even better position than we are now.

I too think this.

Not sure about this. I like Bledsoe, but he will be looking for big money this off-season. So you would have upwards of 20M just on he and Jordan. I still think that Nets picks (especially the ones from 16-18) is a better return going forward.

Really? Your Psychic?

Hello pot...meet kettle.

Not sure how your post, the one in bold, differs from mine as they're both based from opinion.

He's a better psychic than you are!

[ScottHow]

I'm thoroughly impressed with the suns this year, but I wonder if they can continue this play throughout the season