SB Nation User Blog: iamtrevorpaxton

What To Do With Sasha?

iamtrevorpaxton — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 02:05:06 -0000

As everyone in the known basketball world knows, Sasha Pavlovic does not hold a basketball playing spot on the Suns' roster. Steve Kerr has come out and said it, and both Pavlovic and his agent have accepted that fact. Now, after news that Pavlovic had no spot on the Suns' roster (as if he ever did in the first place...we all knew the trade was strictly financial), the trade speculations began. Here's my take on what I think we should do with Mr. Pavlovic.

As the ESPN Trade Machine has so graciously approved, here's my proposal: send Sasha Pavlovic to the Golden State Warriors for Brandan Wright and Acie Law. From here, I will discuss why the trade works (and also why it doesn't work).

First and foremost, we have the...

Financial Aspects: Basically, the numbers line up. Sasha has a contract worth nearly $5 million ($4.95), and combining Wright and Law's contracts adds up to $4.8 million. That's the part of the trade that the Trade Machine looks at. We all know that, according to the Trade Machine, we can land LeBron on the Suns for someone like Jason Richardson. Just because the numbers line up doesn't mean it's going to (or ever should) happen.

However, since trading Shaq to Cleveland for two players that were clearly not in the Suns' plans for the future was a cost cutting move, trading one of those pieces to Golden State would largely be viewed as a financial, rather than a basketball, move. Let's pretend that we're Larry Riley (the GM of the W's) for a minute: last year, our team finished at a dismal 29 and 53. That's 29 wins, stacked up against 53 losses. The fans in Oakland are likely not very happy about it (who likes a losing team, except for Raiders fans, who are just insane to begin with), and once the pressure starts to mount, the finger starts being pointed at the GM.

Here's where Pavlovic comes in handy. Only $1.5 million of his contract is guaranteed. So, you trade away two players who aren't getting much burn anyway, and save yourselves upwards of $3 million dollars. That's a pretty penny. And, unless Steph Curry blows everyone out of the water and gets Rookie of the Year honors, with a phenomenal season, the Warriors are likely to get a little better, but still lose more games than they win. I know all the Warrior faithful out there will start throwing out things like "Randolph is going to explode this year!" and "Monta will be healthy, as will Maggette and Jackson, we're going to be a force to be reckoned with!" (This is a dramatization.), and while I agree with a few of the sentiments there, it's likely that something will happen, and the Warriors will miss the playoffs...again.

So, by cutting costs, saving the team money this year and next, the GM can say to his public, "Be calm. I know our team is not very good right now, but let me point you to the illustrious summer of 2010. Think of a time, much better than now. Remember the "We Believe" team? I sure do. By cutting costs and shedding a few contracts, albeit smaller contracts, we are clearing a bit of room to bring in a bigger name. A player that will help us turn around our losing ways. A player that will flourish under our system, led by our fearless captain, Don Nelson. I urge you to have patience with me, as I will have patience with this team."

Sounds good, right? Right. Now, this leads me to the...

Basketball Aspects: From a basketball standpoint, this improves the Phoenix Suns much more than it does the Warriors, though Mr. Hollinger claims that the trade doesn't affect the winning percentage of either team. Here's why both teams would do this.

Phoenix: It's clear that the Suns need another big man. While Wright is listed as a SF on ESPN, he has the size to play the PF (and maybe C in an uptempo system, though I don't know if he has the bulk to play with the other centers of the league). In Law, we also get a viable third option at PG, for the nights Dragic is underperforming, or, heaven forbid, either of our point guards get injured.

Golden State: Take a look at Wright's position (according to ESPN), and you'll find that the Warriors find themselves in the same situation as the Suns' SG position. As of today, the Warriors' roster shows four small forwards: Stephen Jackson, Corey Maggette, Kelenna Azubuike, and Brandan Wright. We all know that assigning a player a specific position in the rotation in "Nellie Ball" is about as solid as Ron Artest's rapping career. But even with moving 'Buike to the SG spot, and occasionally throwing Captain Jack into that slot, there's still quite a few players who play the same position as Wright. And, with Golden State's commitment to (and apparent giddy excitement over) Anthony Randolph, that leaves Wright with less of an opportunity to flourish.

As far as Acie Law is concerned, I think it's pretty well known that he's not the future point guard of the Warriors. So why pay another player just over $2 million that may just end up like Marcus Williams during the 2008-2009 campaign? Also, on top of that, Acie would likely be buried underneath a slew of other players (Anthony Morrow, Monta Ellis, Stephen Jackson, etc.) that would be handling the ball much more than he would.

So, just a trade suggestion to throw at you. Any and all comments are appreciated, and whether you agree with the trade or not, please keep the comments respectful.
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Amar'e Interview with Jim Rome

iamtrevorpaxton — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 02:59:19 -0000

Amar'e Interview with Jim Rome

Not a bad interview for the guy. I'd be lying if I said the guy wasn't a good PR guy. He seems like he's got a good head on his shoulders (which he always has, I'm just glad the eye surgery thing hasn't made him go stir crazy at all).

James Harden: 3rd Pick Bust or Future All-Star?

iamtrevorpaxton — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 22:39:55 -0000

Hello all. I am a Phoenix Suns fan (and Bright Side of the Sun regular), but another team I am quite fond of is my hometown Arizona State Sun Devils. I've lived in Tempe my entire life, and growing up in the town and seeing the team go through its ups and downs (but mostly downs), the second James Harden stepped onto the court, I was ecstatic. Finally, we had someone to couple with Jeff Pendergraph. Finally, we had a consistent and legitimate scorer. Finally, we had a bonafide college hoops star. Now, here's where I pose the question to all Thunder fans: what do you think of James Harden?

via justthetipoff.files.wordpress.com

James Harden, in his first year of college, averaged 17.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 3.2 APG, 2.1 SPG, while shooting 52.7% from the field (40.7% from downtown) and 75.4% from the free throw line. Hardly any numbers to scoff at. In his second year, he averaged 20.1 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.7 SPG, while shooting 48.9% from the field (35.6% from downtown) and 75.6% from the free throw line. While a few of his percentages dipped, keep in mind that he took 35 more shots (and 55 more three pointers), and still made them at a respectable clip. But, do you think that the Thunder made the right choice, given everyone else that was still on the board?

In my opinion, James Harden was the perfect pick for the Thunder. I think he has the best chance to have a legitimate All-Star caliber career out of anyone in the draft not named Blake Griffin. I think he will complement Russell Westbrook (who I am excited to see continue progress) very well in the backcourt. With KD, Harden, Westbrook, Green, and Krstic (I assume he'll be the starting center?) on the floor, I can see that starting five causing major problems in the future. However, since the Thunder have a lack of depth (minus Sefalosha and Shaun Livingston, if he's healthy), I project them to continue struggling for the near future. Though, with the addition of Harden, I see very good things coming from a very young, and very talented team.

So, I ask you again: is James Harden going to be a 3rd overall pick bust or is he going to have a long, All-Star team adorned career?

Poll

What's your take on Harden?

He's overhyped. I don't like him, and I think he'll be a bust.

1 votes

He's a solid player. Maybe not a future All-Star, but definitely a rotation player.

45 votes

He's the real deal. If Brandon Roy and Tracy McGrady had a lovechild, Harden would be it. Future All-Star lock.

41 votes

He is the second coming of LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, combined into one super player.

3 votes

90 votes | Poll has closed

Common Misconceptions About the Phoenix Suns

iamtrevorpaxton — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:11:19 -0000

Everyone in the league likes to have their team to pick on, to hate on, to (insert negative verb here) on. Unfortunately for the Suns, they are one of the easiest teams to do so, whether or not the statements made against them have much validity or not. I, along with Stan (and likely just about every reader here), grow weary of reading "no defense" this and "terrible GM/owner" that. Sure, we've made some mistakes in the past, and there are definitely areas in which the team can improve, but honestly...let's lay off a little. This is, in no way, a "stop hating, it's hurting my feelings" post, but rather a post to try and bring light to the accusations made against the Phoenix Suns.

There are an array of places where I could start, but I'll just go ahead and start with the GM/owner issue.

Steve Kerr and Robert Sarver are at two conflicting places, neither of which are helping the team: Kerr wants to build a team in the Spurs' image, and Sarver wants to cut costs, which is hurting the team (while preventing Kerr from doing what he wants).

While Kerr may have been trying to build a team in the Spurs' image last season with the Terry Porter hiring and Shaq trade (just before last season), it's hard to fault him on that. While yes, it wasn't exactly the smartest decision, as trying to change a team's identity in one year is nearly impossible to do and it was essentially taking the D'Antoni Suns' strengths and throwing them out the window, it made sense.

On one hand, we have a team that had beaten us 4 out of 5 possible times (2003, 2005, 2007, 2008). On the other hand, we have the rest of the entire basketball world shouting the words "defense wins championships", "the Suns can't win with their Run and Gun system", "Nash is too worn out in the regular season to do any damage in the playoffs", among other things. Why in the world wouldn't Kerr try and change that? Bringing in a defensive minded head coach (that had minimal success in Milwaukee) and bringing in a big man to rebound and clog the paint and curb two of our biggest weaknesses made absolute sense on paper. The only thing preventing Steve Kerr from being one of the greatest GM's of this decade is the fact that, for better or worse, this gamble didn't pay off.

On the Sarver note, how many seasons has he been paying the luxury tax since taking over the team in 2004-2005? (Feel free to enlighten me on this one...I couldn't find sufficient information for this one.) My guess is more than you (and your ESPN analyst) would think. Say what you will about him selling off so many picks, trading away so many players in what appear to be salary dumps, the guy is willing to pay for a team that he thinks has a chance at a championship. Regarding the Shaq trade (which is largely viewed as a cost cutting move), why would you keep a $21 million 37-year-old on your roster? It made absolute sense, and while it may leave us a bit thin at the front line, I'm glad we did it. Kerr and Sarver were willing to admit their mistake, take the flak for the gamble not paying off, and are working to try and keep the Suns competitive, while trying to build a young core.

The Suns don't play defense, and until that happens, they are destined to reign over the "Will Win a Ton of Games, but Fail in the Playoffs" category.

While this category has been much debated (both on these boards and elsewhere), I don't think the Suns could have been closer to winning a championship than in the 2005-2006 season, and that was missing key piece Amar'e Stoudemire. Arguably the Suns' best team in recent years was the 2006-2007 team, where a string of unfortunate events prevented us from winning it all (which I still wholeheartedly believe we would have).

I'm not here to say that we were "one Robert Horry hip check" away from a championship, or that we were "one microfracture surgery" away from winning it all, but the Suns, whether you'd like to believe it or not, were poised to win. We had the personell. We had a winning system. However, for whatever reason, it just didn't happen. You can blame it on bad luck or say that they were simply overmatched, but the truth of the matter is, the Phoenix Suns deserve more credit for the success they've had over the past 5 years than most give them credit for.

The Phoenix Suns team is a team full of aging veterans who are past their prime.

First off, let me get something straight here. The Phoenix Suns, after the departure of Shaquille O'Neal, have only two players over the age of thirty: Steve Nash and Grant Hill. Steve Nash, while playing in the Suns' uptempo system, is still one of the elite point guards in the game, and Grant Hill, for the first time in his career, played all 82 games last season. Both of these players deserve more respect than they are given, especially when dubbed the moniker "old". Sure, they might be older than most players on the court, and might be out of the league in a few years, but unless you're talking trading some young, franchise player-esque talent, there's no one else I'd rather have on our team. Both players bring veteran leadership, incredible poise, and an intense desire and love for the game of basketball...something that is quickly going out the window with today's "working for a paycheck" mentality.

Secondly, the Suns have a fairly young and promising core with players like Amar'e Stoudemire, Leandro Barbosa, Jason Richardson, Jared Dudley, and (whether you actually believe these guys are promising or not, they still have untapped potential that is still very accessable) Goran Dragic, Robin Lopez, and Earl Clark. Taking all of these young players, combined with our two "retirees", the Suns have an average age of 26.4. That's better than the current championship favorites: the Lakers (27), the Magic (27), the Cavaliers (27.33), and the Spurs (28.07). So, by the logic that the Suns are full of players that are past their prime, so are all of the teams that are heavily favored to win the coveted Larry O'Brien trophy.

Now, while you, Mr. John Q. Reader, may not think all of these things, there are people out there who do. People that have jobs at prestigious sports reporting companies like ESPN and Yahoo! Sports. People that write regularly for well respected and oft read basketball blogs. The sole point of this post is to try and offer a few rebuttals to the common misconceptions (or purposeful bashings) made against the Phoenix Suns.

What's the status of STAT?

iamtrevorpaxton — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:01:22 -0000

As most of us that have been following the situation closely, we're all sure that the 7-day period following Amaré's "routine procedure" has long been up. So what has the man that was banished to lying down for something like 22 of the possible 24 hours of the day done since then?

He's tweeted.

Now, this is where I get confused. Is today the first day he can get up and move around? Here are his twitter posts from about 3(ish) hours ago. These go in order of earliest to latest.

Amareisreal I had to keep my face down for 22 hrs a day.This was the hardest recovery I ever had to expierence. 22 hrs a day. http://twitpic.com/b0lui

Amareisreal I did made it through because of my faith, goals, strenght & hunger. This recovery was no joke. I'm glad it's over. Now it time to Work.1

Amareisreal "Look out NBA Amar'es Stoudemire has somthing to prove." That's right I said it. Praise be to God!! Raise & Shine Sun Tzu

Now, while there is an apparent lack of spelling (a la "new way to spen your money") with "Look out NBA Amar'es Stoudemire" (plural name?), "strenght & hunger" and "Raise & Shine" (unless he really meant to say 'raise' instead of 'rise'), let's look past those minute details.

It appears Amaré is preaching that he is recovered. Yet, while he's saying this, there is nothing on AZCentral.com or anything with a headline like "Amaré Stoudemire Ready to Get Back to Action" or "Amaré's Eye Completely Healed". I would have thought there would be more news about this momentous occasion.

Basically, I'm just really curious about this situation. So...as any news pops up, post it as a comment in this thread, as I'll be checking it more and more as the day goes on.

I'll also include a poll, only because I like polls.

Poll

What do you think the status of Amaré's eye will be, come opening day?

Completely healed, ready to start that "Gorilla Game" he never quite achieved.

42 votes

Technically completely healed, but with major side effects. He'll be about 80% as productive.

16 votes

Healed, but with major drawbacks. He'll be about 50% as productive.

1 votes

"Completely healed", in the T-Mac or Agent Zero sense. He'll go back under the knife within the first two months of the season.

7 votes

Something will happen to the eye in training camp, and he won't even be in the lineup for opening day.

2 votes

68 votes | Poll has closed

The Feel Good Suns

iamtrevorpaxton — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:42:45 -0000

So, Suns fans, it's looking like the 2009-2010 Phoenix Suns team is shaping up. (I still feel a little weird typing '2010', maybe that's just me.) And, inspired from a comment in another post, I'm here to provide a reason why this team is going to be the "Feel Good" Suns team. Nearly every era of Suns basketball has come with a title, a nickname of sorts, that describes the team. And, I am dubbing this team the Feel Good team.

Now, for the reasons why...

Steve Nash: After a turbulent offseason, where none of us fans a.) knew if Nash would be a Phoenix Sun one year (or even one month) from today, b.) knew if Nash even wanted to be a Sun one year from today, and c.) were even sure we wanted Nash on our team one year from today.

While it seemed that Phoenix was set to go into full rebuild mode, Kerr talking about wanting to sign and extend Nash for another two years seemed preposterous. Resign one of our oldest players for a considerable amount of money? Yes, he is one of the best point guards to ever play the game. It's true that without Nash, the last four or five years of success we've known don't happen. But why resign a player obviously past his prime?

That's where Kerr had us fooled. He wasn't going to blow up the team. And while it was never really in any of our minds that Steve Nash would not be playing in a Suns jersey for at least this next year, it's becoming more and more apparent as this offseason continues that Steve Kerr really does love this team. Resigning Steve Nash was a big sigh of relief (at least for this Suns fan).

Amaré Stoudemire: This one is a much more complicated, much more rewarding situation. There were the trade rumors on draft night that our (mostly) beloved Sun Tzu would be heading to Golden State for Andris Biedrins, Kelenna Azubuike/Marco Belinelli, Brandan Wright, and the #7 pick in this years draft...Stephen Curry. When it seemed like the rumors and contracts were all but signed, Golden State either pulled a fast one when it realized that including Curry in the mix was too much, or the Suns and W's just kind of let the trade fizzle out. There was undoubtedly interest from both sides, but it seemed like no one saw eye to eye.

Enter the Blog War of Summer '09. Enter more trade rumors which give the Suns the shaft, and pry away our "crown jewel" (of sorts) for chump change. While it's up for debate whether or not Amaré is really that integral to our franchise, and whether or not we should deal him for "the right deal" (which, let's face it, is about as promising as idly waiting for Mr./Mrs. Right to come along), I think one thing is certain: we need Amaré Stoudemire.

After all of the hoopla beginning in June, we just need the guy to come back and prove what he's worth. He's always been a committed player in nearly every offseason, adding a new dimension to his increasingly versatile game. He's always been a good person for PR, knowing what to say. He seems to be a fairly high character guy off the court, and while you might say, "he's going to chase the money, no doubt", I think he'll stick around if we can show him that we both respect him enough to pay him what he's really worth (which we'll find out how much that is after a few months this season) and commit to him being the future of our franchise. He's in his peak, and it'd be foolish to trade one of the best big men in the game for a chance at "young talent".

Whether you want to admit it or not, having Amaré back for this season was a big step in the right direction.

Grant Hill: Quite possibly my favorite Suns player in recent memory (Nash and Stoudemire are just too easy to pick), I was really hoping that Hill would be back on the team come October. There is no argument that Grant Hill is one of the classiest NBA players to date, and after the turbulent career he's had (heralded as the next Michael Jordan, injuries galore, to rebirth in the PHX), it seemed like everyone was set upon his return this fall. However, a few weeks ago, that notion seemed to be more and more incorrect.

New York offered him more money. Boston offered him a legitimate chance at obtaining a ring for a player that's more than deserving. I won't go into much detail (as it's already been beautifully done here), but I thought Kerr would have a Moron Point chalked up on his (now defunct) Moron Meter. It didn't seem like either side was pressing too hard, when they should have been. But, the Suns front office showed Grant just how much he means to us by giving him the respect that he deserves. I'm ecstatic to have Hill back, and I hope he can have the success (and lack of injuries) he had last year.

All of these stories could shape up for a pretty good feel good team, but the list continues with...

The signing of Channing Frye, who was apparently a beloved part of the Blazers' franchise (at least from a fan's perspective) and is a great character guy, with loads of personality. I don't see how this doesn't end well for the Suns.

The drafting of Earl Clark and Taylor Griffin. The jury is still very out on both of these players, but I'll be the first to admit, when the Suns drafted Clark, I was very happy. I watched a lot of Louisville games (since ESPN seems to have a love affair with East Coast teams) and began to really love watching Clark play. And, while I was extremely pleased with the drafting of Clark, I was (at the time) very upset with the choice of Taylor Griffin. I kept saying things like, "What is it with the Suns and choosing the lesser of two brothers?" and "Seriously?! When Patty Mills was right there for our taking?" I now retract (most of) my words. After seeing how hard Taylor has worked out for the Suns, just to have a shot at making an NBA team (a historically darn good one, at that), it's been apparent to me that he's the kind of player we want. We need the star power to give us credibility and firepower, but we need the role players to tie it all together. It's almost certain that Griffin doesn't have the greatest ceiling, but I like what the kid shows. He shows commitment. He shows desire. He shows that he's willing to do whatever it takes to try and help a team win.
The hiring of Alvin Gentry. He's a player's coach. He knows our system, and better yet, he's implemented some of his own philosophies to the widely known "7 Seconds or Less" system. He plays a fast game, but unlike before, he uses his bench so players don't wear out as quickly. He gives rookies and young players chances to prove themselves in actual game time, as opposed to "Hey look, we're losing by 30 points with 3:00 left in the game" garbage minutes. They might not stay in the game for very long, but at least he gives them the shot. He's instilled confidence and is working to get us back to that Phoenix Suns swagger of a few years ago. I like the guy. He knows what to say, and has got a bit of a sense of humor.

There are still moves that can be made to further this team, but for now...the Feel Good Suns are coming into shape. Prepare yourselves, Suns fans. You may just be surprised.

An Open Letter to Shawn Marion

iamtrevorpaxton — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:52:20 -0000

Dear Shawn,

As you have hit the free agent market in this penny-pinching economy, I'm sure quite a few things have passed through your mind. Different team scenarios, who you'd like to play for, who you think will give you an adequate offer; there are a slew of options to be had at this time. Yet, there's one fact that still remains: you're still a free agent, and the Phoenix Suns fanbase (and allegedly head management) would like you back in the Valley of the Sun(s). Please allow me to say a few things...

I know we've had our ups and downs, Shawn, and I know you were frustrated with being in the shadow of Nash and Amaré. But Shawn, you were a big part of our Big 3. You were what completed it, if not what started it. You stuck with the team through thick (2004-2005) and thin (2003-2004). What a difference one year can make. You were part of the heart and soul of this team. Without you, none of our success could have been possible. And Shawn, while the men in the front office doesn't regularly like to admit mistakes, I think we can all say that letting you go from our beloved franchise was ultimately a mistake.

Things between us weren't exactly choice around the time that you left, but Shawn, we've changed. We've grown as a franchise. We're more ready to be back in a relationship. When you left, we were all about chasing waterfalls, but at this point, we'd rather stick to the rivers and lakes that we're used to, so to speak. We thought that bringing in a "proven winner" would help us get over the proverbial hump, but all it did was cause more heartache and cause more Suns fans to want you back. Yes, Shawn, we want you back.

Whether or not you want us back, though, is an entirely different story. People have said different things, and most of us Suns fans would understand if you didn't want to come back. But, the point of this letter is to let you know that, despite what you may think, we would love for you to come back and don a Suns uniform. There would have to be a few things worked out, of course, but if you would give us another shot, we'd be willing to do the same.

Forever Yours,

A Loyal and Hopeful Suns Fan

2009 NBA Mock Draft

iamtrevorpaxton — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:36:51 -0000

I'm sure we've all read every mock draft there has been offered this summer, all scoured over player profiles and NCAA statistics, watched YouTube video upon YouTube video, trying to figure out what all these players are actually about. Now, I'm taking the time to write out what I think will happen on Thursday. I could be wrong, but hey, there's a first time for everything.

First Round

1. Los Angeles Clippers: Blake Griffin.

Just because if they don't, it'd be the worst decision since...well, ever.

2. Memphis Grizzlies: Hasheem Thabeet.

The Grizzlies need an elite low post defender, and Thabeet could be just that.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder: James Harden.

Harden fits in perfectly into the fountain of youth known as the Thunder.

4. Sacramento Kings: Ricky Rubio.

At this point, being the team with the worst record in the NBA last season (sorry you got screwed out of the top pick, Sacramento), the Kings need to get the best player available. At this point, Ricky Rubio has too much potential and upside for them to not pick him. Tyreke Evans is another option...but I think they'll go with Rubio.

5. Washington Wizards: Tyreke Evans.

While rumors have it that the Wiz are trying to sell their pick, if they do wind up holding onto it, they'd do well to pick up Tyreke Evans. They've got a plethora of PF/C projects (Javale McGee, Andray Blatche) and their starters (Antawn Jamison, Brendan Haywood), so drafting someone like Jordan Hill doesn't quite add up.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves: Stephen Curry.

The Timberwolves need an upgrade at every position not occupied by Al Jefferson. Adding a PG/SG tweener that can give them firepower from outside and possibly draw enough attention so Jefferson is left down in the post sounds like a good call to me.

7. Golden State Warriors: Jonny Flynn.

He's got a monster vertical and seems to be really quick...fits perfectly into the Warriors system. Just not into Don Nelson's.

8. New York Knicks: Jordan Hill.

While the Knicks have a definite need at PG, with all of the "Nash not wanting to sign an extension until the Suns future plans emerge" talks and his little confession on Late Night (about him loving the idea of playing for the Knicks), it would make sense to not draft a PG until that outlet is resolved. Jordan Hill would be a good fit in the uptempo system D'Antoni runs and would be a valuable player anyway, in case David Lee or Al Harrington don't return for whatever reason.

9. Toronto Raptors: DeMar DeRozan.

The Raptors need a super-athletic wing player, and since they've got Bosh down low and Calderon distributing, why not pick arguably the best athlete in the draft? He had a semi-disappointing freshman year at USC, which is why I think he'll be available at 9.

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Jrue Holiday.

I've heard that the Bucks aren't wanting to resign Ramon Sessions, and with the amount of time Luke Ridnour missed last season, they're going to need some PG talent. Holiday should fit the bill well for Milwaukee.

11. New Jersey Nets: James Johnson.

It seems like JJ has been improving his draft stock with his interviews, his "likability", and his ability to possibly create a mismatch at the SF spot. With the Nets already having a Harris/Carter backcourt, and Lopez working out fantastically for them, it would do them well to draft an athletic wingman who can both defend and score.

12. Charlotte Bobcats: Gerald Henderson.

I think Henderson is pretty much a lock for the 12 spot. Raja just isn't cutting it as he once could, and coming from a well-disciplined system in Duke, I think Larry Brown might just go out of his "no rookie" mentality and give this guy a shot.

13. Indiana Pacers: Brandon Jennings.

Brandon Jennings has too much upside to not be picked. And, with Indiana looking for a reliable (non-injury prone) option at PG, Jennings could very well be that person.

14. Phoenix Suns: Earl Clark.

There has been talk that the Suns may be looking to draft big again and go for one of the more true post players (Mullens, Hansbrough), but does a 6'10", athletic forward (who has been nailed with the tendency to disappear at times in games) sound familiar? If we can nab Clark and get him involved in a system that would encourage him to be his best, he could be a great player for years to come.

15. Detroit Pistons: Tyler Hansbrough.

With 'Sheed not sure on his future in the NBA (at least the last time I checked, he wasn't sure) and McDyess surely in his last year or two in the league (notwithstanding his late season surge), the Pistons will be looking to draft big. With Hansbrough, the Pistons know exactly what they're getting, and I think that he would fit in well into their system. He's America's Sweetheart, has passion for the game, and despite everyone doubting if his game would translate into the NBA, if given a shot, I think he'll be a solid rotation player.

16. Chicago Bulls: Terrence Williams.

While the Bulls have a wing scorer in Ben Gordon, and have a lot of years (and cash) tied up in Luol Deng, Gordon is seeking a max extension and Deng has now developed the penchant for being injured. Enter Terrence Williams. Played very well for a very good Louisville team, and even if Gordon and Deng are in Bulls uniforms next year, bringing him off the bench and having him learn from those two guys could be a very good thing.

17. Philadelphia 76ers: Ty Lawson.

Miller is getting old, and while I think they could go the DeJuan Blair route, why would they draft someone whose game I think is almost a carbon copy of Elton Brand's? The 76ers should draft Lawson for the following reasons: he's a great distributor, he won't have a problem not being the first option (because that is clearly Iguodala), and he seems to thrive in an uptempo system. All signs point to yes.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Miami Heat): BJ Mullens.

While I don't think the Wolves will hold onto their remaining two first rounders, I think they should draft a player with a decent upside and decent value. This person could be BJ Mullens. He's a 7 footer who has good hands and can finish as well as anyone. He didn't quite have a stellar year with the Buckeyes, but he also didn't get the touches or opportunities to showcase his abilities.

19. Atlanta Hawks: Eric Maynor.

It's no secret that Mike Bibby is getting old, and while he is still a fairly serviceable PG in this league, who knows how long that will keep up. With Atlanta having a bit of a youth movement going on, I think that drafting a PG for the future could do well. And, if he doesn't pan out, they can always try again in the 2010 draft, which is supposed to be much deeper.

20. Utah Jazz: Chase Budinger.

With Okur saying he wants to come back to the Jazz, Boozer still on the roster (though it's not sure whether or not he'll stay there), and Williams manning the point, the Jazz are left with a hole at wingman. They did very well to draft Ronnie Brewer, but with Kirilenko being injury prone and the possibility of him winding up on another team next season, the Jazz should go for a good scoring SF. Budinger, while not exactly exemplary on defense, is a good shooter and has decent basketball IQ. He was a lock for a top 10 pick a couple years back, but returning to college for a couple years has had its impact on his stock. Still, despite the fact that he comes from UofA (and I'm an ASU fan), the guy's got skills.

21. New Orleans Hornets: DeJuan Blair.

With Chandler going down last season, it was obvious to the Hornets that the combination of Hilton Armstrong, Melvin Ely and Sean Marks just can't cut it. Look for the Hornets to draft big, and though DeJuan Blair has his drawbacks, I think he's too good of a player for New Orleans to pass up.

22. Dallas Mavericks: Sam Young.

With most of the Mavericks wingman positions being aging veterans, look for the Mavericks to upgrade in this area. Young was the go-to guy many times on a talented Pittsburgh team, defends well, and looks like he should be a very good NBA player. Could very well be the sleeper of this year's draft.

23. Sacramento Kings (via Houston Rockets): Austin Daye.

Already having drafted their supposed PG of the future in Ricky Rubio, the Kings need to go after upgrades at other positions. They drafted well last year with Jason Thompson, and already have a talented SG in Kevin Martin, so I think the Kings will go after Gonzaga's Austin Daye. He's got great wingspan, great height, but he's a little too thin to man the PF spot right now. He needs to add bulk and get stronger, but once that inevitably happens, I think he'll be a smart pick by the Kings.

24. Portland Trail Blazers: DaJuan Summers.

Summers is an interesting prospect that had an up and down year on and up and down Georgetown team. While the Blazers drafted Batum last year, I think adding another young SF to the mix could do well. Or they could just draft a good player and package him with another one of their youngsters for a solid veteran. Either way, Portland wins.

25. Oklahoma City Thunder (from San Antonio Spurs): Jeff Pendergraph.

Being from Tempe and following ASU basketball, I always thought Pendergraph would be a mid second round pick. Though, at the combine and at various other workouts, it seems as though many teams are pretty high on him. He's determined, has a good skill set, and moves well. The Thunder are lacking a good PF type player, and while I think Pendergraph will be largely a bench player in the NBA, I think he will excel as that, especially on a team like the Thunder.

26. Chicago Bulls (from Denver Nuggets): Omri Casspi.

Haven't seen much of the guy, but from what I've read about him, he could be a good project for the Bulls.

27. Memphis Grizzlies (from Orlando Magic): Darren Collison.

Darren Collison is a good player and had a fairly good year at UCLA. His draft stock has slipped a little bit since last year, but I have no doubt that he can become a good rotation player in the NBA level. He'll never become a superstar, but his skill set should set him up to be a good backup, or maybe even a serviceable starter one day.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Boston Celtics): Wayne Ellington.

Again, the Wolves will not likely keep this player, but in case they do, they'll be getting a polished player in Ellington. He's not freakishly athletic, he's not a superstar defender, but the kid can shoot the ball. He'd be a good addition to the Wolves (as they lack a consistent outside shooter), but can also be a semi-valuable selling piece.

29. Los Angeles Lakers: Derrick Brown.

Don't look for the Lakers to shake much up, but I think adding another young wingman to the mix would be a good idea. Brown is a good athlete and has a pretty well rounded game, but isn't exactly stunning in any one aspect. Could be a good addition to learn under the Phil Jackson/Kobe Bryant team.

30. Cleveland Cavaliers: Jeff Teague.

While the Cavaliers had the best record in the league last year, there were obviously a few spots on their team that needed improvement. They lacked a dominant big man presence, and outside of LeBron James and (very rarely) Mo Williams, they didn't get much production from other players. I think the Cavaliers would do well to draft Jeff Teague, and bring him in as a pseudo-replacement for Wally Szczerbiak.

UPDATE:

Second Round

31. Sacramento Kings: Dionte Christmas.
32. Washington Wizards: Jonas Jerebko.
33. Portland Trail Blazers: Josh Heytvelt.
34. Denver Nuggets: Taj Gibson.
35. Detroit Pistons: Nick Calathes.
36. Memphis Grizzlies: DeMarre Carrol.
37. San Antonio Spurs: Jon Brockman.
38. Portland Trail Blazers: Patrick Mills.
39. Detroit Pistons: Danny Green.
40. Charlotte Bobcats: Robert Dozier.
41. Milwaukee Bucks: Leo Lyons.
42. Los Angeles Lakers: Sergio Llull.
43. Miami Heat: Jeff Adrien.
44. Detroit Pistons: Jerel McNeal.
45. Minnesota Timberwolves: Victor Claver.
46. Cleveland Cavaliers: Dante Cunningham.
47. Minnesota Timberwolves: Rodrigue Beaubois.
48. Phoenix Suns: Jodie Meeks.
49. Atlanta Hawks: Jermaine Taylor.
50. Utah Jazz: Toney Douglas.
51. San Antonio Spurs: Paul Harris.
52. Indiana Pacers: Vyacheslav Kravstov.
53. San Antonio Spurs: Sergii Gladyr.
54. Charlotte Bobcats: Eric Devendorf.
55. Portland Trail Blazers: Wesley Matthews.
56. Portland Trail Blazers: Milenko Tepic.
57. Phoenix Suns: Curtis Jerrells.
58. Boston Celtics: Terrel Harris.
59. Los Angeles Lakers: Courtney Fells.
60. Miami Heat: Chris Johnson.

Rumor Central

iamtrevorpaxton — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:53:40 -0000

So, as we have all noticed, there have been quite the slew of trade rumors being tossed around sites, most of which involve Amaré and Shaq. This thread is being started so as to (try to) keep track of the various rumors being thrown out. Time to get down to business!

The Wizards:

They give: Antawn Jamison, Mike James, and the #5 pick.
We give: Amaré Stoudemire.

While I echo the words of Stan in saying that this trade doesn't make a ton of sense, adding salary in a time when it's been stated that we're trying to cut expenses, I like this trade overall. Read more about this trade here.

The Bulls:

So, there have been a few trade rumors (or variations on a rumor) discussed, but I'm going to stick with the two that seem to actually have more roots than typical blog banter.

Trade 1:

They give: Luol Deng, Tim Thomas, and Jerome James.
We give: Shaquille O'Neal.

I like this trade, minus the obvious hole it leaves at starting C. Lopez isn't ready for that kind of responsibility, and pushing Amaré to the 5 and sliding a SF into the PF spot won't work. Remember what happened to Matt Barnes? Read more about the possible modifications to this trade here.

Trade 2:

They give: Tyrus Thomas, Tim Thomas, and John Salmons.
We give: Amaré Stoudemire and Alando Tucker.

I think I like this trade even more, but only if we can somehow get rid of Jason Richardson. We already have a logjam at the 2, and having to split minutes between Richardson, Salmons, and Barbosa would be a nightmare. Read the in depth analysis of this here.

The Celtics:

They give: Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen.
We give: Amaré Stoudemire and (maybe?) Leandro Barbosa.

This trade has made the least sense out of any of the many that have arisen in recent days. Yet, for some reason, it's still being talked about in Phoenix. Say the trade does happen...who are we left with at the 4? Try to make a free agent signing? Lou Amundson? And then we pick up Rondo...that basically leaves Goran Dragic as dead space. Then, at the 2, we have Ray Allen (who is an All Star and should be starting) and Jason Richardson, who would probably throw a fit if he wasn't starting. This makes no sense to me. Read more about it here.

The Cavaliers:

They give: Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic.
We give: Shaquille O'Neal.

With Ben Wallace considering retirement (and the slim chance that he says, "Sure, I'll retire and not take any money from you, when I could just as easily make you pay me") and the fact that I am already biased against players whose names start with "Sasha" and end with "-ic" (ahem, this guy), I think this trade isn't good for the Suns. If Ben Wallace were healthy and not considering retirement, I might be a little higher on this trade, as it would fill the void left by Shaq at the 5, but...that doesn't seem to be the case. It makes complete sense for the Cavaliers, but no sense for the Suns. We don't even save that much money. More on this here.

Let me know if I've forgotten any major trade proposals, but I think I covered most of the more recent ones. I could be mistaken, though. And, for fun...here's a poll.

Poll

Which, of these rumors, should the Suns try to pursue?

Amaré to the Wizards for Jamison, Mike James, and the #5 pick

92 votes

Shaq to the Bulls for Deng, Tim Thomas, and Jerome James

160 votes

Amaré and Tucker to the Bulls for Tyrus Thomas, Tim Thomas, and Salmons

82 votes

Amaré and Barbosa to the Celtics for Rondo and Allen

109 votes

Shaq to the Cavaliers for Wallace and Pavlovic

53 votes

496 votes | Poll has closed

i made a little suns mosaic thing on this site, using photos i didn't take (all credit to the...

iamtrevorpaxton — Thu, 14 May 2009 20:53:33 -0000

i made a little suns mosaic thing on this site, using photos i didn't take (all credit to the photographers). but, after i found all the links and clicked "create poster", i saved the file and set it as my wallpaper. not too bad.