If Amare walks where does that leave the Suns?

[MaryvalesFinest]

Ok let's say the worst scenario comes where Sarver doesn't want to pay Amare so they just let him walk. They will be a little bit over the midlevel on the cap and chances are end up using that capspace to extend Frye, give Lou a long term deal and maybe sign one other role player if they have enough left over. Chances are they wont be able to sign anyone else considering the cap is going down and they will use the money on Lou and Frye.

The realistic lineup for next season would be

C-Frye/Lopez
PF-Lou/Clark
SF-Hill/Dudley
SG-J-Rich/Barbosa
PG-Nash/Dragic

Along with one or two of the three rookies (Suns have 3 second rounders this year)

So just wondering how everyone would feel about that team. Anyone think that team could actually compete for a playoff spot? Would it be a mid-late lottery team? One of the worst teams in the league?

What do you guys think?

[justinb80]

I would assume that if Amare just walks, you could look for the Suns to get in on the free agent action, particularly for a more mid-level FA like Rudy Gay. I think they'd be in the lottery, but not quite the cellar.

[-SDU-]

suns will target (but never get) wade

if amare goes we will just use capspace to pursue another FA

its quite well thought that the suns arent as high on amare as he is on himself

[MaryvalesFinest]

I would assume that if Amare just walks, you could look for the Suns to get in on the free agent action, particularly for a more mid-level FA like Rudy Gay. I think they'd be in the lottery, but not quite the cellar.

Yeah he would look good in a Suns uni but he'll probably get a contract between the 10-14M range and that's more than the Suns have of capspace even if Amare walks and Tucker's option is declined.

[MaryvalesFinest]

suns will target (but never get) wade

if amare goes we will just use capspace to pursue another FA

its quite well thought that the suns arent as high on amare as he is on himself

I could be wrong but even if Amare walks and Tucker's option is declined they would still have less than 8M in cap room? I'm not entirely sure on that but if that's the case I assume they extend Frye and sign Lou to an extension. Or they could trade Nash for capspace and let Amare walk if their sure they can get him but I don't see it happening.

[Sun Scorched]

Frye has a player option. If I were the Suns I would encourage him and his agent to take the option after which we would sign him to an extension, call it 2 years at such and such. That way we retain the flexibility to pursue a quality FA in 2010. If Frye is smart, he'll know where his bread is buttered.

Lou won't cost a lot to retain, my guess would be we could sign him for something similar to the bi-annual exception.

In terms of Amare:

Situation One
Amare walks. Not terrible, not ideal. It frees up some cap space and we can easily attract a mid-level talent with the amount of playing time we would have to offer combined with the ability to play with one of the best distributors in the game.

Situation Two
We're honest with Amare and we tell him we are not interested in signing him to a max contract and then ask him which teams he would prefer to play with. We then attempt to structure a S&T with his preferences so that: a.) he can retain his Bird rights and recieve a contract similar to what we could give him and, b.) we can get expirings and a pick or two for our good faith effort.

Situation Two would have essentially the same effect as One, with the added benefit of landing Amare in one of Chicago, New York or South Beach and receiving picks and a young piece or two in return.

Send Amare (again, S&T) to one of (x team) and receive:

New York
Larry Hughes, Wilson Chandler, pick(s)

or

David Lee (S&T), Wilson Chandler, pick(s)

Chicago
Brad Miller, Tyrus Thomas, pick(s)

Miami
Quentin Richardson, Udonis Haslem, Mario Chalmers/Dequan Cook, pick(s)

[Sreister]

Frye has a player option. If I were the Suns I would encourage him and his agent to take the option after which we would sign him to an extension, call it 2 years at such and such. That way we retain the flexibility to pursue a quality FA in 2010. If Frye is smart, he'll know where his bread is buttered.

Lou won't cost a lot to retain, my guess would be we could sign him for something similar to the bi-annual exception.

In terms of Amare:

Situation One
Amare walks. Not terrible, not ideal. It frees up some cap space and we can easily attract a mid-level talent with the amount of playing time we would have to offer combined with the ability to play with one of the best distributors in the game.

Situation Two
We're honest with Amare and we tell him we are not interested in signing him to a max contract and then ask him which teams he would prefer to play with. We then attempt to structure a S&T with his preferences so that: a.) he can retain his Bird rights and recieve a contract similar to what we could give him and, b.) we can get expirings and a pick or two for our good faith effort.

Situation Two would have essentially the same effect as One, with the added benefit of landing Amare in one of Chicago, New York or South Beach and receiving picks and a young piece or two in return.

Send Amare (again, S&T) to one of (x team) and receive:

New York
Larry Hughes, Wilson Chandler, pick(s)

or

David Lee (S&T), Wilson Chandler, pick(s)

Chicago
Brad Miller, Tyrus Thomas, pick(s)

Miami
Quentin Richardson, Udonis Haslem, Mario Chalmers/Dequan Cook, pick(s)

I've never thought of it before, but your option 2 actually sounds pretty legit. I'm not sold on all the drama he causes and the pre-modonna statements he make and I think the organization looks at that, as well as his history of injuries that will hang over his head for quite a while.

The way I look at it, is that Amare will continue to come out with guns blazing and turn some heads. This really bodes well for us for 2 reasons.

1.) He raises his own stock
2.) Teams come to grips that the FA class isn't going to be there (a la Budget constraints and FA's resigning with their respective teams) and decided to trade picks and whatnot for solid players (Amare)

Both of these really help in getting the most of out Amare, assuming we want to, of course.

As for trades, NY would be a kinda perfect option, they don't have a lot of quality players that we would want, but assuming they don't grab a playoff spot, they're looking at the lottery, and a pretty decent pick at that. So we could get their pick, Chandler, and throw someone else in there and I'd say that's a pretty solid core to rebuild with.

[sunsfever68]

Rudy Gay will not want mid tier free agent money. Mid tier we're talking 7 8 million a year. He's going to want probably 12 a year I'd assume or more.

If we could get the cap space to get him I'd like to but I doubt we will. I'd be all for trading j rich for expirings and picks then signing gay but we kinda have a taller version of him in Earl Clark already unless he projects to be our future starting 4.

[TXSun]

same topic different thread.

[Kerrsed]

I've never thought of it before, but your option 2 actually sounds pretty legit. I'm not sold on all the drama he causes and the pre-modonna statements he make and I think the organization looks at that, as well as his history of injuries that will hang over his head for quite a while.

The way I look at it, is that Amare will continue to come out with guns blazing and turn some heads. This really bodes well for us for 2 reasons.

1.) He raises his own stock
2.) Teams come to grips that the FA class isn't going to be there (a la Budget constraints and FA's resigning with their respective teams) and decided to trade picks and whatnot for solid players (Amare)

Both of these really help in getting the most of out Amare, assuming we want to, of course.

As for trades, NY would be a kinda perfect option, they don't have a lot of quality players that we would want, but assuming they don't grab a playoff spot, they're looking at the lottery, and a pretty decent pick at that. So we could get their pick, Chandler, and throw someone else in there and I'd say that's a pretty solid core to rebuild with.

Utah owns NY's 1st round pick next year.

Lee would be great. Nate would be great (i just pissed off half the Suns board). Chandler would be great. Thats about all i would take from NY.

Deng/Thomas/Hienrich/Draft picks are all we could really get from CHI. Deng would be great. Thomas might be a good fit in our system (and it seems he is at odds with CHI FO). If we made a move trading JRICH or Barbosa else where, Kirk would be nice to bring off the bench.

I could see Amare reaking havoc on the league with Wade in MIA. But i am not to thrilled with what we could get in return. They will hold on to Chalmers. He is their primary PG. Arroyo might be good.

Dirk is a unrestricted FA with a ETO next year. What are the chances we get Nash to talk him into switching to a Suns Uni? Nash/JRICH/Hill/Dirk/???? With Dirk on the team we need a banger/rebounder (aka not Frye). Maybe Lopez rounds out.

[sd1306]

His deals are SH*T for the Suns. If they don't plan on keeping him, and don't think he will stay, they would just trade him to Miami at the deadline for Beasley. That's better than ANY of those other crap deals you showed.

[Sreister]

I've never thought of it before, but your option 2 actually sounds pretty legit. I'm not sold on all the drama he causes and the pre-modonna statements he make and I think the organization looks at that, as well as his history of injuries that will hang over his head for quite a while.

The way I look at it, is that Amare will continue to come out with guns blazing and turn some heads. This really bodes well for us for 2 reasons.

1.) He raises his own stock
2.) Teams come to grips that the FA class isn't going to be there (a la Budget constraints and FA's resigning with their respective teams) and decided to trade picks and whatnot for solid players (Amare)

Both of these really help in getting the most of out Amare, assuming we want to, of course.

As for trades, NY would be a kinda perfect option, they don't have a lot of quality players that we would want, but assuming they don't grab a playoff spot, they're looking at the lottery, and a pretty decent pick at that. So we could get their pick, Chandler, and throw someone else in there and I'd say that's a pretty solid core to rebuild with.

Utah owns NY's 1st round pick next year.

Lee would be great. Nate would be great (i just pissed off half the Suns board). Chandler would be great. Thats about all i would take from NY.

Deng/Thomas/Hienrich/Draft picks are all we could really get from CHI. Deng would be great. Thomas might be a good fit in our system (and it seems he is at odds with CHI FO). If we made a move trading JRICH or Barbosa else where, Kirk would be nice to bring off the bench.

I could see Amare reaking havoc on the league with Wade in MIA. But i am not to thrilled with what we could get in return. They will hold on to Chalmers. He is their primary PG. Arroyo might be good.

Dirk is a unrestricted FA with a ETO next year. What are the chances we get Nash to talk him into switching to a Suns Uni? Nash/JRICH/Hill/Dirk/???? With Dirk on the team we need a banger/rebounder (aka not Frye). Maybe Lopez rounds out.

Yeah, I knew I was guessing when I said for their first round pick, I wasn't for sure about it. But regardless, I think if Amare come back to his former self, and we SHOW no interest in trading him, then some teams will come knocking and we'll get as much as possible out of him.

I think the FA's, or lack thereof, will be key to getting the most out of Amare by either signing him semi 'cheap', a team willing to lock him in a sign and trade, or proves to us he can change (again) and keep him.

[ginobiliflops]

Amar'e won't walk.

[Kerrsed]

Amar'e won't walk.

I hope not.

[rsavaj]

Coro said Bosh would be a good target.