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Phoenix Suns Offseason Guide
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1 year agoon
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JoshuaPhoenix Suns Offseason Guide
Phoenix Suns Offseason Guide
This is the official Phoenix Suns guide that will break down everything from Monty Williams to Chris Paul, to Deandre Ayton. While many have been speculating and calling for the Suns to trade Ayton, keep/trade Paul, or fire Monty and James Jones; this comprehensive guide will give you a breakdown of all the scenarios, which ones will most likely happen, and where Phoenix will go from there.
This guide will begin with the front office and coaching staff, then it will move into topics revolving around the players.
The state of the front office, James Jones:
While I believe James Jones, acting general manager of the Phoenix Suns, is safe and not going to be fired by owner Mat Ishbia, the speculation has grown since losing to the Nuggets in six games. The Game 6 blowout was hard to watch for Suns fans and it grew into questioning both Monty Williams and James Jones.
This has also led to people speculating Isiah Thomas, who is a friend of Mat Ishbia, to come in as the guy to replace James Jones. Would it be both titles Jones currently possesses? Potentially, however, Phoenix has no desire to shake up their team that much.
As mentioned previously, my opinion is the Suns will keep James Jones because you can’t be reactionary after one season. Knowing what we know about the Suns in this season, it would be unfair to fire Jones all because they got booted in the second round.
While frustrating as it has been for the past two seasons, James Jones single-handedly turned out this organization and made them into a playoff-contending team. His brilliance reshaped the future of this once-hopeless organization.
In terms of the Kevin Durant trade…
The Kevin Durant trade was a trade made by Mat Ishbia, Ishbia decided to make the trade and be bold. While it remains to be seen how this trade unfolds, in terms of their chances of winning a championship, many felt as though James Jones pushed this trade. However, that is simply not the case.
Did James Jones want a generational talent? Most likely, but he was hesitant on trading away Mikal Bridges – the current star player for the Brooklyn Nets.
Here is what Mat Ishbia said about Kevin Durant coming to the Suns and how that’ll affect Phoenix:
“Hoping with Kevin on the team, with all our other great players, we can do great things this year and next and beyond. Excited to have him here, and the whole team is ready to play hard for the rest of the season and compete.”
I asked Ishbia that question on February 16th, 2023.
Conclusion:
Expect James Jones not to be fired and remain here for the foreseeable future; understand that Ishbia knows the talent and skill Jones holds, and he wouldn’t want to jeopardize his team for his friend – who originally played in the NBA and managed a team before.
Ishbia is not a power-trip owner, he will make the right decisions. With that said Jones will remain a part of this Phoenix organization.
Monty Williams has been fired, where do the Suns go next?
The head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, Ty Lue, has been in hot water since being eliminated in the first round. Injuries played a role in them being eliminated in five games, however, many are wondering if Lue is on the chopping block next.
If that is the case, then expect Mat Ishbia and the Suns to try to lure him away from California and into Arizona. Per Marc Stein, the Suns will try to do just that as he is one of their main candidate targets.
It was reported during the evening of Saturday, May 13th, Monty Williams and the organization parted ways. While it is a bummer to have such a great man depart the franchise, Phoenix must focus on its future and its aggressiveness in trying to find a new head coach.
The Suns could go down these possible routes for a new head coach:
Ty Lue
Mat Ishbia is looking for a head coach that can take the Suns to the next level, to the championship level. Monty Williams, despite his track record of being a winner, has been seen as a coach who is very good and a great guy. However, not seen as a coach that can wield his team into The Finals and win it all.
Lue, on the other hand, was that guy and can still be that guy. Give him a healthy (and complete) roster, with two healthy superstars (Kawhi Leonard and Paul George battled injuries constantly during his three years with L.A., and you have yourself a championship team.
Ishbia had an up-close view of what Lue can do and must have seen something special from him as they are winning to go all-in financially and play it a little more risky to get their next coach. Lue is a proven winner who has not lost his touch, he can command the locker room into being a championship locker room.
Ty Lue will be pursued mightily by the Phoenix Suns, expect that to happen. CourtSideHeat currently projects Lue to be the favorite to land Phoenix’s head coaching job.
Nick Nurse
Like Ty Lue, Nurse won a championship as a head coach when he did it with the Toronto Raptors back in 2019. Nurse and Leonard was a great example of a head coach and superstar player duo, which took the league off-guard as to how good they truly were.
Nick Nurse has been seen as a guy who could command this team into winning their first championship in franchise history. Not only does he have the pedigree, but his overall experience and willingness are what is going to separate Nurse from the rest of the NBA coaches.
Expect the Suns to highly consider giving him a couple of interviews and potentially the job. Nick Nurse is a highly skilled coach that has won two championships in his career, the first one being in the G-League and the second one coming in the NBA with Toronto.
It can also be said that Nurse had a tougher ring because he was a rookie with Kawhi Leonard coming to the team for his time; not a lot of familiarity in the locker room at that time, to say the least.
Adrian Griffin
This may be a wildcard of a candidate for the Suns, but let’s say Phoenix entertains the possibility of Griffin becoming their next head coach.
What makes Griffin so interesting as an up-and-coming head coach is his ability to develop players and get them on the right track. Depending on the views Mat Ishbia holds for the draft, if the Suns were to be involved in developing players more then that would be right up Griffin’s expertise.
Also, if the Suns decide to keep Deandre Ayton (will talk about that later in this guide) then Griffin can try to develop him further (even though he isn’t exactly in the beginning stages of his NBA journey) to see if Deandre Ayton can perform better and give better effort/quality to his game.
While a wildcard and almost a bold move for the Suns, it would be interesting to see Phoenix go down because this potential head coach would suit the Suns almost perfectly.
Disclaimer: Mat Ishbia, given his win-now mentality, might not go down this route if comparing this route to the two other routes mentioned before Adrian Griffin. Wouldn’t 9/10 people take the more experienced, already won a championship guy over the new guy that needs time to adjust?
Is the veteran on the move?
Mat Ishbia is in attack mode, he wants the Suns to win now or to have every opportunity to win a championship, but does that mean moving on from Chris Paul?
Paul revived his career after many were counting him out when he was with the Houston Rockets, had a solid run with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and now is with the Phoenix Suns. With that being said, his old age has finally caught up to him.
The 38-year-old could be traded or released by the Suns if they deemed it necessary to remove him from the team. Could Phoenix go younger and not want to finish the contract of CP3? Most definitely, and there are most definitely big-time names out there the Suns are eyeing up.
Fred VanVleet (Toronto Raptors), Terry Rozier (Charlotte Hornets), and Kyrie Irving (Dallas Mavericks) have all been linked to the Suns and them being a possibility to joining The Valley. Rozier and Irving would both be through trades, whereas VanVleet would come in free agency.
Here are the possible routes the Suns could choose regarding Chris Paul:
Chris Paul remains with the Suns and Phoenix builds the roster so that he can remain a starter
This possibility could be explored as Paul is a positive influence in the locker room with valuable experience that is gained through years of playing and being one of the greatest point guards of all time. Paul has some gas left in the tank, the organization could get another season out of him as a starter.
The biggest challenge to this route is that the Suns will have to build a fully compatible roster that fits the needs of Chris Paul, which is easier said than done. Not only does the starting line have to play exceptionally well without worrying about Paul, the same goes for the bench.
Phoenix needs a consistent, reliable backup point guard that can be a younger version of Chris Paul. If they can transform this team from the bench going up, then this route could happen.
Again, if Ishbia wants to be loyal to Paul then the clear answer to getting better is allowing the team to flourish without worrying about Paul come May.
Chris Paul remains with the team, but he becomes the backup point guard
Due to his age and where he is mentally and physically in his career, being a backup point guard is not the worst idea for both side. Paul averaged 13.9 points, 8.9 assists, and 1.5 steals per game this season; those are very respectable numbers that can translate well on the bench.
Chris Paul’s role with the Suns in this scenario is him being a mentor for younger players, allowing the first line to flourish and bring back up the second line to make the Suns stronger and more efficient, which will provide so many bonuses for the Suns – which is something they lacked in this season if talking about the bench.
The only downside to this route is the money side involving Chris Paul, while the contract’s third year is not fully guaranteed, he is still making $15.8 million for the 2023-24 season. Some will find that expensive for an aging, backup point guard. But, this question needs to be asked, will Mat Ishbia go deep into the luxury tax to keep Paul here and his valuable pros?
If the Suns are forced to do the full $30 million, which wouldn’t be the case, then it would be a no-brainer and they will have to cut loose the aging future Hall of Famer. As at what point does it become too much financially for a backup point guard? Chris Paul is absolutely one of the best, but not at that price tag to be back up and that old.
However, taking money out of the equation (living in a perfect world where money doesn’t dictate how things are operated), would be a win-win for both sides. Chirs Paul finishes as a member of the Phoenix Suns, the team retains his skills and his value as a member of this roster, and it could lead to bigger dynamics the Suns could tap into.
The Phoenix Suns cut ties and buys him out of his existing contract to be free to any team that wants him
Mat Ishbia could buy him out of his current contract or he could try to trade him away. It has been reported on numerous occasions, dating back to this past season’s trade deadline, the Suns were shopping Chris Paul and almost struck a deal to trade him away. This time around, reports are coming out in full force saying the Suns will be “aggressively” shopping him.
Either way, Phoenix could decide to move on. This appears to be the most likely scenario out of the bunch; given the fact he is aging, he isn’t the same Chris Paul who joined the Phoenix Suns, and that contract is unbearable as a backup. It hinders the flexibility the Suns have to make impactful moves and avoid completely going into rebuild mode.
It should be noted his stats have seen a decrease, which is the very opposite higher-ups want to be seen from a starter and locker room general.
If the Suns traded Paul, what could they get for him?
Pheonix will not get a first-rounder or a superstar for Chris Paul, even if they included their draft picks. As of right now, Phoenix’s draft capital is horrific after making the Kevin Durant trade with Brooklyn.
The most you could get for Chris Paul, at this point in his career, is a bench player that has value to the Suns. For example, if the Timberwolves did a deal with the Suns, they would add Mike Conley to that deal to get the likes of Josh Okogie, a draft pick, and Chris Paul.
While the deal would have to expand on both sides to make it worth each other’s wild, Minnesota (even the Lakers) could try to have some fun and trade for the future Hall of Famer.
Conclusion:
Chirs Paul will likely be traded, why? Because the Suns want to get something in return and maybe the aggressors this time around in the offseason, which may include multiple players to get a CP3 deal done. Again, Minnesota could see Deandre Ayton, a high-valued pick, and Chris Paul go to Minnesota for Phoenix to receive Karl-Anthony Towns and maybe a point guard with some value attached to his name.
So, in the end, Chris Paul will most likely be traded as the Suns are in attack mode and want to be as aggressive as possible to compete for a ring.
Want to be aggressive? Trade Deandre Ayton…
Monty Williams soured on Deandre Ayton after the 2021 NBA Finals, it poured over till the final days of Monty Williams’s run with the Suns. Many believed Ayton to be on the move if Monty stayed for the ride, however, since Monty is no longer here, does that mean Ayton is staying?
Deandre Ayton never fitted in the system provided by Williams, Monty’s system was made for a traditional big-man – not necessarily tailored to the skillset of Deandre Ayton. Given how Deandre Ayton has played, responded to the criticism, etc, there is a possibility the Suns outright trade him.
Would it be far-fetched to say the Suns are done with Ayton? Not, but, while looking at possible routes of trading him, maybe a new head coach is what Ayton needs to shine bright.
Coaching first, Ty Lue:
Let’s say the Suns lured Ty Lue out of Los Angeles, would he make Deandre Ayton a better player? Systems matter and coaches believing in that specific player matters; to say the least, Lue would be a motivator and strategist to pushing Ayton to the next level.
What people saw in Los Angeles was a great sample of what could be done in Phoenix, obviously having better (and healthier) talent. Look how much better Ivica Zubac played under Ty Lue than Luke Walton (former head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers), why was that?
It was because Zubac was able to be traditional and fit his role through the coaching of Lue, he did the same thing with Kevin Love when he was with Cleveland. Lue knows how to work with big men and make them more valuable than their previous worth, which is why Phoenix is targeting him.
I believe Phoenix would benefit by keeping Ayton if, and only if, Ty Lue can guarantee some noticeable changes in Ayton’s game. Can he make him more physical, have more effort, and be the top guy that was selected first in his draft class? Important questions that need important answers.
Let’s say coaching won’t change Ayton, then trade him:
While the value of Deandre Ayton has gone down, multiple teams (Mavericks and Bulls) have been interested in Ayton and are willing to entertain potential deals to acquire the former number-one pick.
There is still value and if the Suns want to shake things up and they believe it is time to move on from Ayton, then their best course of action would be to trade him. Sadly, Phoenix was backed into a corner when they decided to pay him the extension. Couldn’t let him walk for nothing in return, so this could be their chance to get rid of him and get someone else.
You need a big man that is more capable of being physical, and dynamic, and a proven center that isn’t afraid to defend a larger or craftier opponent. Three-point shooting, if embracing the NBA’s new culture, would be ideal as well. I would recommend the Suns obtain Christian Wood, a player misused by Dallas.
It can be a sign-and-trade deal that ships Ayton to the Mavericks and Christian Wood to the Suns; while the deal would be more sophisticated than a player-for-player transaction, it sets up the basis of what the main meaning of this trade is supposed to be.
Should the Suns try to trade him for real?
I believe the Suns are tired of Deandre Ayton and are ready to move on from him, the same can be said with Chris Paul. Mat Ishbia is a smart man, same with James Jones, and they will do whatever it takes to win a championship.
Even if that means getting rid of their former number-one pick, he hasn’t panned out the right way so it isn’t affecting them too much. As long as they get good assets/pieces in return. Christian Wood is my number target if I were the Suns, he would fit the system of the Suns and fit right in with the starting unit.
Will the Suns pull the trigger? Most likely, in my opinion, but they will be fielding all different kinds of offers and will weigh them until the draft and then make their move. Sometimes cutting ties with a “core” player has to be made so a team doesn’t sacrifice everything for a mediocre player.
What will the Suns do with their bench?
- Torrey Craig
- Bismack Biyombo
- Josh Okogie
- Damion Lee
- Saben Lee
- Darius Bazley
- Terrence Ross
- T.J. Warren
These eight players are going to be free agents as the Suns no longer have them on their payroll. It is being speculated majority of these players won’t be returning; names such as Damion Lee, Saben Lee, TJ Warren, Darius Bazley, and Terrence Ross.
However, could that list change depending on the makeover Ishbia gives the Suns and who he hires as a coach? Definitely, but let’s focus on fixing the Suns in the best possible way, first involving the bench.
Point Guard:
- Cam Payne
- Dennis Smith Jr.
I believe having Smith Jr. and Cam Payne will be a huge boost to the Suns’ bench regarding point guard, why? Because Phoenix can experiment with the rotations and allow the third and second line of point guards to be interchangeable, which can bring better matchups and chemistry for the Suns.
Dennis Smith Jr. has had glimpses of being that rotational guard for a team, currently the Hornets, and I believe he can transition well to playing for the Suns.
When he is getting quality minutes and action, Smith Jr. can get a team 10/5 per game. Cam Payne and Chris Paul average around those numbers.
Shooting Guard:
- Cam Johnson
- Seth Curry
In an ideal world, Phoenix getting back Cam Johnson would be incredible as he provides a level of shooting that was desperately needed this season on the bench. Same if Phoenix acquired Seth Curry, he is a shooter that can be the bench guy for Phoenix.
Both will be able to handle the bench load and make sure the Suns’ momentum doesn’t get lost when Devin Booker and Kevin Durant come out of the game – if talking about scorers and keeping momentum in their favor.
Getting Johnson away From Brooklyn will be difficult as he will command a huge payday from Brooklyn and other interested teams. Pheonix may not be able to contend with offering him a huge contract, it all depends on what they do with their roster – mainly Ayton and Paul.
Getting Curry will be easy, his market isn’t as big as Johnson’s market. We already know how well Johnson fits in with the Suns, but what about Curry? His main skill is shooting the ball, shooting threes, he will fit in with Phoenix as this organization desperately needs three-point shooting off the bench.
Small Forward:
- Jae Crowder
- TJ Warren
While it is highly improbable the Suns will be able to win back over Crowder, given their current relationship status, having him back on this team will be a huge boost to the bench.
Crowder is that scrappy, gritty-gutty player that will get a team those man-like rebounds and hit those three-pointers in the clutch. He is a skilled veteran that saw success with the Suns, never rule it out as Phoenix and Crowder will be huge for their bench.
With Crowder being signed, Phoenix can bring back Warren. Personally, I like Warren and he showed glimpses of his bubble days. I would re-sign him, allow him to continue to come off the bench, and have him work alongside Crowder.
Warren is the type of player to give a team those buckets when it is important, he will play hard (with great effort), and make his minutes count. Let’s say the Suns keep Josh Okogie as the starting small forward, or get someone better than Okogie, can you all imagine how the Suns will operate with these three men controlling the frontcourt?
So much action will be happening as Phoenix will never be lacking in the department of scoring, rebounding, and hustle plays.
Power Forward:
- Torrey Craig
- Jalen McDaniels
Both McDaniels (76ers) and Craig (Suns) would be great additions and keeps for this bench, how so? Both can provide scoring and rebounding; plus, both their defensive skills are pretty good to make the bench isn’t sliding, or when the Suns are trying to get back into a game that can happen.
Both players have that competitive edge which was seen throughout this entire season; something the Suns pride themselves on and want to see in all their players, big or small.
Not only are the Suns filling out the roster, but they are doing it with a purpose and it being impactful. Plus, the contracts wouldn’t be that expensive at all. Again, depending on what they do with Ayton/Paul/Shamet, Phoenix could have the potential of getting these two on board.
Money-wise, they fit right in.
Center:
- Thomas Bryant
- Jock Landale
The Suns need physicality and the ability to play on both sides of the ball, amongst many other qualities in their centers. With that said, why not have Landale and Bryant on the bench?
Jock Landale has shown to the Suns and their fanbase that he can play ball, be physical, be consistent, and have a game that can disrupt some of the biggest names in the game. He’s a solid athlete that brings tremendous qualities to this bench. The same goes for Thomas Bryant.
Bryant’s game has been evolving and he has shown glimpses of being that full-time backup that can bring considerable force/impact to the Suns’ bench. His low-post game has been evolving, the paint is pretty much his when he plays, and he has durability like never seen before in a player like him.
He can score on the move, just like Landale, as both players complement each other nicely. The Suns would be copying and pasting a slightly better Jock Landale if they signed Thomas Bryant.
Conclusion:
In a perfect world, not caring about the unknowns surrounding money and players coming and going, that would be my well-constructed bench. It provides maximum relief to the starting unit as offense and defense will be covered. Many two-way players will be added that can stretch the possibilities of what Phoenix can do, which is something they lacked severely during this past season.
Also, the players I want to bring in will give the Suns a new level of defense that they desperately needed. Offensive players will always be found, but can you find good defensive players? Sometimes yes and sometimes no, which is the tricky part. However, in the end, these players I have selected complement the Suns’ needs in more ways than you could count for.
This bench, in my opinion, is a better bench than what the Suns had back in 2021 during their incredible run to The Finals.
Real quick, should the Suns trade Landry Shamet?
Undoubtedly, yes. They should 100% be looking to explore possible trade options for Shamet, I do not believe in the value of Shamet. He is not worth the extension he was given in 2021, with that said, teams may take on the contract and his defense.
Sadly, his defense couldn’t make up for his inadequacies as his flaws offensively were killing the Suns. Sure did he give them good runs offensively? Yes, but that was very rare and limited. There was no trade-off of starting or giving Shamet minutes; he was given minutes because of how short-handed and lack of depth on their bench.
For most Phoenix could get for Shamet, fans are looking at possible second-rounders. Maybe a mediocre rotational player, if a team has to offset the trade with another contract, but you are more looking at the picks.
James Jones does not value the draft as others do around the league, we do not know how Mat Ishbia values the draft. So this Landry Shamet trade, and overall shopping him, will be made or break on how serious Phoenix is about the trade. Do they care about draft picks and building through that process?
In conclusion, Shamet will be traded as his value with Phoenix has been lost and many are recognizing it. They’ll try to flip him for picks or for a very mediocre player that could be used for depth, or they’ll just cut that player after the trade.
Concluding this guide:
This guide will now be wrapping up as we’ve gone through the front office, coaching possibilities, possible routes with Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul, who to sign to make their bench better, and Landry Shamet. This guide was meant to show you all options available to the Suns, which ones were most likely, and how to rebuild this team from the bench going up.
Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul mock trades will be made in the future, this guide was meant to show you how these puzzle pieces could (or could not) fit in their massive puzzle.
The Suns have a lot of decisions to make as they do not want to rebuild, in fact, it is the exact opposite. Mat Ishbia wants to win, same with James Jones, so they have no interest in settling for mediocrity or rebuilding for a couple of seasons. Nor would the fans of Arizona want to see the Suns rebuild again and be a disappointment.
More guides will be coming out this offseason regarding many other teams; for example, the Bucks, Knicks, and 76ers will all be getting their own offseason guide. Even though this guide could be the greatest guide of them all, which is fair to say given the state of the Phoenix Suns.
People should expect the Suns’ rumors and reports to start coming out as the week progress, we could see some big moves happen during or after The Finals.
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How Karl-Anthony Towns Negatively And Positively Impacts The Knicks
Published
2 weeks agoon
October 5, 2024By
JoshuaIt is no secret that the New York Knicks won the trade involving Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo being sent to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Karl-Anthony Towns. They’ve set themselves up for a competitive run to the Finals.
However, despite having the tremendous upsides of Towns, there are some noticeable concerns that need to be addressed before writing their names into the championship history books.
This article will walk through all the negatives and positives surrounding the 28-year-old, then, come the end, I will draw a conclusion on whether or not they are a Finals-bound team.
Positive: A position of need has been fulfilled
New York lost Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Mitchell Robinson will be out until December with his looming ankle injury; this left a large hole in their center position.
Their solution? Trading for Karl-Anthony Towns, which was a brilliant move. Minnesota, after acquiring Rudy Gobert, tried playing Towns at the power forward position. To say the least, it was an awful move. Why? Because Towns is a natural, and more comfortable, center.
New York is putting him back into his natural element, which is a phenomenal win-win for each sides.
Before Towns, their center room consisted of Mitchell Robinson, Jericho Sims, and Ariel Hukporti. For those that don’t know, Hukporti was selected in this year’s draft with the 58th pick.
Robinson is hurt, so that would mean they would either have Sims start or pull Precious Achiuwa from the four to play the five. I don’t have to explain in great depth why that would have been a chaotic nightmare for management and head coach Tom Thibodeau.
In the end, the positional upgrade and stress taken off by acquiring Towns is something worth more than gold. A heavy weight has been lifted off the shoulders of many.
Positive: Towns is way better player than Julius Randle for New York
This statement I made has multiple layers that needed to be unpacked. Firstly, Towns is the better shooter. There’s a reason why many said there was a Randle problem in New York, it wasn’t because he was this significant player dominating the space.
Towns is a far more consistent shooter than Randle has been in his career; one is a 52% shooter, while the other is a 47% shooter. From deep saw Towns 6% better than Randle. Towns is literally a stretch big that wasn’t limited to one role.
Secondly, Randle was never successful or effective in the pick-and-roll game. Something that is almost an underrated skill of Towns is his ability to work the pick-and-roll so well. For majority of his time in Minnesota, the Timberwolves never had a successful guard to compliment Towns in that capacity.
Now, that is not a knock against Anthony Edwards. Please do not misconstrue what I am saying; of course, Edwards has the ability to do it. However, poor spacing, involving Rudy Gobert, killed any possibilities of that happening.
New York has incredible spacing and an incredible guard that is Jalen Brunson to get the job done. This will be scary hours in New York for opposing defenses to try to scheme against.
Thirdly, and this a massive one, especially for the front office, contracts. Heading into this season was Randle’s final guaranteed year, there were so many questions focused on if he would re-sign if it meant taking less money. The kind of sacrifices Brunson and Mikal Bridges are making.
Speculation arose on whether or not Leon Rose and the Knicks would want to go all-in on a number two player that they already had issues with and not fully invested.
With Towns, he’s entering his huge four-year deal worth $220 million. Forget about the money right now, what is really important are the years in the agreement. New York doesn’t have to worry about a big piece leaving anytime soon.
Negative: Roster depth & financial flexibility has been compromised
While this isn’t directly the fault of Towns, New York has taken away some of their depth to acquire him. This raises a red flag for when injuries happen and overall roster rotation.
They essentially traded two pieces for one piece; getting rid of DiVincenzo certainly didn’t help, however, it’s understandable on why they pulled the trigger when given the context of the deal not happening without him apart of it.
Even with the context, one of their biggest issues last season was depth. That was one of the key factors in them not making a deep playoff run, it was evident since the very beginning.
Here is their entire depth chart:
- Miles McBride
- Cam Payne
- Tyler Kolek (second-round rookie)
- Landry Shamet
- Pacome Dadiet (first-round rookie)
- Precious Achiuwa
- Kevin McCullar Jr. (second-round rookie)
- Jericho Sims
- Ariel Hukporti (second-round rookie)
Their front-court is very scarce, with a lot of it being filled by rookies. The back-court is also very interesting to look at because the second and third units may not be able to carry as much as their talent will allow them to.
This puts more pressure on the starters and McBride, who will now see an increased role. Was he expecting it? We will see as the season unfolds.
All of this is to say that the New York Knicks and their fan base must proceed with cautious optimism, as there is a lot of hopeful wishing going on right now with their backup units.
Now, what about their financial flexibility?
By New York getting Towns, with his massive $220 million contract over the next four years, they have put themselves in an unforgiving hole of (almost) zero financial flexibility or independence.
This season, he is making $49 million. This will be the cheapest season, as each season will see a four million increase in his pay. His final season will cost New York $61 million. For a fuller understanding of this, Towns will be 32 years old. Something to consider.
Fun fact, half of their cap space is being spent on Towns and OG Anunoby. The more terrifying part is realizing their history with injuries.
Then pile on the soon-to-be Mikal Bridges contract extension, which will push them into the second apron, New York is forcing themselves into keeping this roster for the long haul. Or at least the starting lineup and other key contributors.
They could face the same level of inflexibility as Mat Ishbia’s Phoenix Suns; there are concerns there.
Negative: Adding Towns doesn’t add another shot creator
Karl-Anthony Towns is a wonderful offensive player, there is no doubt in my mind or the mind of the New York Knicks. However, it’s not like they traded for a player who can generate their own shot out of thin air.
One of the only positives Randle had in his arsenal was his ability to create his own shots and not rely on others, or specifically the point guard, to create them for him. Towns not so much, which could prove to be challenging.
Now, could Towns’ spacing abilities counteract this issue? Yes and no, while it will for sure help, Brunson is still going to have to put in more work regardless of the spacing.
A lot of the Knicks’ players are reliant, and almost fully dependent, on the playmaking and shot creation abilities of Brunson. That isn’t always sustainable, but there are feasible ways out of those tough scenarios.
The reason why this is a negative, besides the obvious, is seeing how this will affect Brunson. Before with Randle, he had those breaks; now, he won’t be having them as much with Towns.
Is this a good trade off for better pick and rolls with better spacing? It can be, but it all depends on coaching and personnel.
What fans have to worry about is how it will affect them in the postseason, not the here and now – speaking of the regular season.
Conclusion:
Is this team Finals-bound? They can be, but so many things have to go their way and they have some tough teams to face once in the postseason. For example: the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, and even the Indiana Pacers.
Rosters have changed, teams have adapted, and that includes their benches. The long-term, and short-term, success of this team depends on a lot of factors. A lot of the factors that were covered in this article; plus, factors, like defense and chemistry, that will need to be addressed as the season progresses.
New York is taking a serious gamble, which heavily impacts their future one way or another, and all eyes will be on the Knicks.
Do cracks begin to show? Yes, but, in this deal, they got the best player.
How you must look at it, is this: they were never sustainable with Randle, when healthy and when not, they’ve gained a player that compliments New York better.
Towns has significant defensive issues, he is a worse liability than what many think, but the right scheme and defense will minimize the issues.
This trade shows them going all-in, while remaining conservative, as this proves to the world they are serious about a championship by raising the risks even higher with the reward paying off greatly.
If injuries are kept at a low, and the team gels to the Knicks’ liking, then I could see this team compete in the Eastern Conference Championship. However, the margin for error is very slim now, especially given the reasons above.
In the end, this was the right move by the Knicks. It filled holes in their roster, upgraded a player, and gives them a better chance for the postseason. A lot of the issues were there when Randle was there; funny enough, some of the issues that he caused have been fixed.
Featured
Why Tyus Jones Is The Point Guard The Suns Always Needed
Published
3 months agoon
July 31, 2024By
JoshuaThis past Saturday, fans of the NBA and the Phoenix Suns saw the shocking news that Tyus Jones would be signing with Mat Ishiba’s organization. This was a move that many felt was very improbable due to money, but Phoenix somehow convinced him to take a one-year, $3.3 million deal.
Jones has been a very underrated, underappreciated point guard in the past couple of seasons. There is no bias to that statement, it is simply a fact. He’s only 28 years old, is a 12/7 player, and has propelled his career from being a backup to a full-fledged starter.
While what I have listed is all well in good, not taking away anything, but how does he help the Phoenix Suns? How does Jones bring this team together and much better than what they were last season? Is he their PG savior?
All those questions and more will be answered below.
The skills Tyus Jones possesses:
Ball Protection
He became a full-time starter with the Washington Wizards last season, and it was one of the most impressive point guard seasons I’ve seen in a while. Particularly in this area, why? Jones recorded 485 assists against 66 turnovers; that’s a 7.35 ratio, which is best mark in NBA history.
To provide more context of how stunning that is, only talking last season, Jones was first and Chris Paul was fourth. Paul’s assist to turnover ratio was 5.1, the Point God himself wasn’t close to Jones. It’s extraordinary to dish out seven passes before committing a singular turnover.
Was it a fluke? Absolutely not, here are some more numbers: in 2018-19, he set an NBA record with a 6.96 AST/TO ratio. Later, in 2021-22, Jones topped it with a 7.04 AST/TO ratio. As his minutes and exposure to the court grew, so did his numbers and consistency to the game.
Also, he’s led the league in AST/TO ratio for five straight season. He’s no joke, an absolute stud playmaking-wise.
Pushing The Pace
The Suns have found a happy median between the erratic play of Cam Payne and the slow play of Chris Paul. Jones won’t take 10 seconds to get up court and get a play ready, and he won’t rush it by sprinting with the ball up the court in 1.2 seconds to make a bad decision.
Pushing the pace will keep Phoenix flowing in a positive direction on fast-breaks and bringing the ball up the court on usual inbounds. What he did in Memphis with the Grizzlies was absolutely fantastic, and was a sizable chunk of his game.
In the final season with Memphis, they were fifth in pace (possessions per 48 minutes), which featured him being second in fast-break points. About 20% of his offense accounted from scoring on fast-breaks and transitions.
Jones has played in different styles of tempos and can adjust very well to head coach Mike Budenholzer’s tempo. His excellence on pushing pace has been seen through his overall basketball IQ and how he handles the ball as a primary facilitator and floor general.
Shot Creation & Ball Handling
As a full-time starter, fans have seen his shooting performances on the rise. In 2022-23, Jones averaged 10.3 points on 43.8% from the field. In 2023-24, Jones averaged 12.0 points on 48.9% from the field.
His ball handling skills has allowed him to create shots, create space, and get pretty good looks. That is why he’s able to have such a high percentage from the field; it should also be noted that the more he dribbles the more efficient he is scoring-wise.
After taking two dribbles then the shot, Jones converts it at a 51.6% success rate. Let’s say it’s three or more dribbles, he’s still knocking them down at a 49.1% success rate. The model of today’s NBA is to catch-and-shoot or take one dribble only, but Tyus Jones is completely different.
This is what has made him so effective and dangerous around the perimeter and beyond the arc. It is visually and statistically proven. These two features of his game has sent him from being a backup trying to prove himself to a full-blown starter that can lead a team in a positive, unselfish way.
How does Tyus Jones help the Phoenix Suns?
If anyone has lived under a rock for the past season when it comes to Phoenix basketball, let me painfully fill you in on the horrors this team had to go through. Mind you, I’m a diehard Suns fan, so this kills me.
Anyways, the Suns were the most hideous team with no continuity or consistency as an offensive group due to having no point guard that led to high turnovers and defensive breakdowns. We collapsed in the third quarter, offensively and defensively, but if we survived that quarter, it would definitely die in the fourth quarter.
Turnovers were a massive problem, as stated above, with the Suns averaging 14.1 turnovers per game. No franchise can be a sustainable, winning, championship-contending team if they are committing that many turnovers.
Plus, having no true point guard couldn’t facilitate or help function the rest of the pieces on the court. It looked to appear that this team had no chemistry, intensity, or understanding of the game of basketball.
Devin Booker was not the answer; Bradley Beal was not the answer; nor was Kevin Durant, Isaiah Thomas (wasn’t even given a shot), Grayson Allen, nobody was the answer.
So, how does Tyus Jones become Phoenix’s savior?
He’s a true point guard who doesn’t need to always score and will, in fact, look to get the primary scorers open and able to get “easier” shots. There will be less frustration from players, more chemistry, pressure will be taken off of the “Big 3” to move around the ball, less iso-ball, and other things along those lines.
Fans, reading this article and knowing Jones already, know who Jones is and will always continue to be. His playing style is incredible and it will fit within Phoenix’s scheme of the coaches and the players.
With him running the offense, there won’t be 14 turnovers per game anymore. There won’t be constant traps and pressures put on Phoenix’s players when bringing up the ball. What makes this even more beautiful as a fan of the Phoenix Suns is knowing that everyone will be involved, there will be no more (to limited) iso-ball, and stars can return to their natural roles.
Conclusion
This isn’t rocket science, right? Phoenix always needed a point guard, a true play-making guard. James Jones has finally found him and has finally be able to sign him. Everything I’ve listed in this article from his main skills to the problems of the Phoenix Suns all go together because the problems can be solved with his talents.
Phoenix struggled in the third quarter because they didn’t have a point guard, same goes for their fourth quarter struggles. When a team can’t pass the ball, and has to play hero-ball to generate scoring opportunities, they are bound to collapse and stall out like an old car.
The health of this offense, and this team in general, needed a point guard. We found that out with Chris Paul, now we’ve found a younger and almost better version of him for the modern-day Suns.
There was no secret code to figuring out how to “fix” the Suns; they just needed a point guard, a reliable and beyond ready-to-play point guard.
I’ve always wanted him here in Phoenix, and, now, management has secured him.
Featured
Why The Knicks Adding Mikal Bridges Makes Them Title Contenders
Published
3 months agoon
July 9, 2024By
JoshuaMikal Bridges was traded to the New York Knicks for the price of five first-rounders and Bojan Bogdanovic, which isn’t much in the eyes of New York.
They don’t need the picks, and while Bogdanovic was great to have, he was very much replaceable when a player like Bridges could land. I say all this to say that General Manager Gersson Rosas hit the jackpot, which sets them up for many years of potential championship runs.
In today’s article, I will be breaking down why Bridges is an excellent fit for New York, why the Knicks are now a legitimized threat in the East, and how their starting five can take on the reigning champs – the Boston Celtics.
What does the 27-year-old add to this franchise?
First of all, here is the official trade for anyone that is curious:
Knicks traded Bojan Bogdanovic, Shake Milton, Mamadi Diakite, five first-rounders, a first-round pick swap, and a future second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for Bridges, Keita Bates-Diop, and a future second-round pick in exchange.
I wanted to clarify this trade. Critics call this move the best move this offseason because it truly is a steal. We can talk about his lack of a resume from his time with the Phoenix Suns to now, but that isn’t his fault.
Who is Mikal Bridges? He is an underrated two-way player who elevates a team’s defense with the ability to score an efficient 20 points per game; plus, his skill as a shot creator and space creator is another reason why so many teams wanted Bridges on their team. Pay attention to teams like the Houston Rockets.
But how does this positively impact the Knicks?
Jalen Brunson is the primary scorer, has been, and always will be, so don’t think Bridges will come in here and disrupt that in any shape, form, or fashion. It will be the complete opposite. Bridges is a full-on team player. He will complement and benefit Brunson as a secondary creator who will take pressure off Brunson.
Beyond his offensive aspect, let’s talk about his defense. When Bridges was with Phoenix, nobody knew he had the capability to score in high volumes. Statistically, he averaged roughly 12 points during his time with the Suns. What people did talk about was his defensive presence, intensity, and how much of a nightmare he was covering pretty much anyone (within reason).
Also, let’s be fair to Bridges: his offensive game came in the final season with Phoenix due to injuries and other factors, as that’s when his potential scoring was revealed to the world. It then exploded when he arrived in Brooklyn. So, this tells his story, and his style is even better.
However, back to defense. Bridges is a pivotal piece due to him being a scrappy player who will always fight for loose balls, rebounds, try to get steals/blocks, and stuff that doesn’t get recorded.
Plus, his style of basketball is very intriguing, especially since he can play multiple positions. Bridges is essentially the “glue” on any team he is on. This is why front offices and head coaches value him and hold him in such high regard; his overall play in this game is beyond exceptional.
Everything I have listed offensively and defensively positively impacts New York because this is everything they wanted in a player and value. Now, there is one more factor that sealed the deal in this whole transaction.
The Nova Knicks have the greatest chemistry ever
Since their time at Villanova, Brunson, Bridges, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo have been teammates or friends. Now, they’ve all rejoined each other to create the “Nova Knicks,” which has become popular since the trade before day one of the 2024 NBA draft.
Teams worry about putting players together and seeing how they build chemistry, react, roles, and egos, and how that all translates to winning basketball games. It’s hit-or-miss; sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t. The Knicks, however, don’t have to worry about that.
First, most of this team doesn’t have impeding egos that ruin franchises. I don’t think of anyone who does. Second, when you have high-level athletes and players connected for years, that is going to make the integration process very easy and winning games even easier.
With the preexisting chemistry between those four players and the ones already being constructed through the entire roster, this team will be locked in for game one of the next season.
This team being dangerous is no longer a what-if but a reality
The chatter of New York is a team that can’t get out of the second round, striking no fear into the hearts of their opponents, and being the same old failing Knicks is no longer here. It shouldn’t be, as this team has changed and has improved drastically through a couple of moves in the draft and overall offseason.
Sticking with Bridges, though, their starting five is beyond dangerous. They’ll be starting Brunson (PG), Bridges (SG), OG Anunoby (SF), Julius Randle (PF), and Mitchell Robinson (C). Many teams can’t compete with, as that is one heck of a starting lineup.
Who in the East can beat them outside of Boston? New York was the second seed last season; they won 50 games. Now, they’ve made improvements by adding Bridges, and they didn’t have to unload their roster like Phoenix did for a big-name player.
If these teams couldn’t drag them down last year, what makes anyone think it will be different this season? Yes, teams did make moves. However, they did lose pieces. While New York did lose Isaiah Hartenstein, they still have Mitchell Robinson. Robinson is a solid center who, when healthy, is a double-double machine that is an incredible rim protector.
My point is this: New York didn’t clear the house to land a solid piece. Not only did they stay as a 50-win team, but by getting Bridges, Leon Rose has increased their games of winning by at least five. New York could see themselves as a 55-60 win team next season, not even exaggerating.
The addition of Bridges only made them scarier; there was no need to take a step back. This was a strategic move to keep them contending without sacrificing a known name. Given who Mikal is and who the Knicks were last season, this should frighten teams and fanbases heading into next season.
Can the Knicks beat the Celtics?
I love talking about the Knicks and their chances of winning a championship, but their number one enemy in the East is the Boston Celtics. While I would want to ride the hype train longer, we need to be ultra-realistic.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown’s Celtics are the reigning champs; Boston has one of the most impressive groups the NBA has seen in a while. Like other teams, they aren’t going anywhere, as the Knicks are building up their team to dethrone the champs.
Personally, I am not going to take the Knicks over the Celtics. There are several reasons, but nobody can stop Boston. Not the Mavericks, Nuggets, 76ers, Suns, Bucks, Timberwolves, absolutely nobody can. Boston could make a dynasty out of this, or at least a two-three championship run.
So, for right now, I’m taking Boston over New York. Let’s wait to get ahead of ourselves until we see them go head-to-head next season. It’s not diminishing the Knicks, but nobody can beat the Celtics.
Conclusion: The Knicks are title contenders
While I said they can’t beat the Celtics, I never said they couldn’t win a ring or compete for one. Even though nobody can beat the Celtics, few teams can match up against New York.
The Knicks made the East grueling during the regular season, which won’t change. If they can stay healthy, which looks very good, they can be number two in their conference again. Opposing teams will have to get through New York, which’ll be a struggle.
Even teams in the West have to watch out for New York. New York is a growing threat, doing everything perfectly in the offseason and trying to replicate their success from last season. Fans will be witnessing prime New York years; it will start next season, as this team has all the makings to win a championship.
Randle and Anunoby are going to be healthy, and Brunson will continue to be healthy. Bridges is Iron Man; nothing stops that man. Robinson will be a productive center, boosting the Knicks in many ways. Hart will continue his high-minute, high-production nights. The entire team will be functioning in a high capacity.
There is no better time to be a Knicks fan than right now; I’m excited, as this year will be a fun ride.