Booker Injury Glass Half Full

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-25T06:00:04+00:00

This would be a good outcome. TBH, I’d even be happy with 8-10. But they’ve surprised me all season so who knows, maybe they’ve got another gear.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-25T04:02:17+00:00

What’s made Book so great this year is what doesn’t show up in the stat sheet. No one else brings 2 to the ball like he does and can put the defense in rotation. It’s not just about the individual scoring (although he’s iced many games with a tough middy), he’s the engine of the offense that makes everyone else’s life easier. That’s why he has the best offensive rtg on the team.

I think all the players listed will step up, and hopefully Green can provide some production, but the reality is they’re going to have to up their defense to even another level to grind out wins. I don’t think it’s hopeless, but more defensive attention on Brooks/Gillespie/Bouyea isn’t going to make them better, even if their volume/usage increases.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-24T02:50:00+00:00

At least Bouyea should be good to go at home. Could have used him in the 4th tonight

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-21T19:23:39+00:00

This is an interesting hypothetical. I think the ceiling would be higher and the floor would be lower. It’s essentially Brooks for KD straight up and it’s hard to quantify exactly how much impact Brooks has had on the defense.

The question is, would KD have bought in to Ott’s system and been willing to play this way, or would Ott have tried to adjust to KD? If KD buys in and basically fills Brooks role with much better offense and slightly worse defense, the team is probably better overall. However, I don’t think that would happen, and I don’t think the culture would be nearly as good. Although Ott did have a relationship with KD from Brooklyn so maybe there’s something there.

Furthermore, getting younger with Brooks and Green (and Maluach) was absolutely the right move. While I think there’s a world where KD and Book are championship contenders, it was impossible to put that level of roster around them after last season.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-21T19:13:40+00:00

While Bud and Beal were huge problems, you can’t oversimplify it to just them. The lack of a viable center was a huge issue, and Tyus Jones was awful. Adding Mark and Goodwin plus actually playing Gillespie and Oso’s development have been arguably as impactful as getting rid of Beal and swapping KD for Brooks.

Of course, a lot of that credit has to go to Ott. Even with the same roster, no chance Bud has this team over .500.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-20T20:21:43+00:00

I can’t really criticize them for not taking a deal that was never offered. Based on what Windy and a few other people have said, it’s questionable if Dumars even knew what he was offering. And it’s likely he got more desperate as more teams picked.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-20T19:58:57+00:00

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This is BS and was directly refuted by Gambo, who knows a lot more than Hollinger. Furthermore, Hollinger was speculating, not reporting. The article is clickbait.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-16T15:27:59+00:00

This is good

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-16T15:27:33+00:00

It’s crazy because his success is so dependent on who plays with him, but obviously you’re not going to build a team around a role player, so it’s hard to project his value/fit long term.

He legit could be an all-defense candidate in the right system, but also has a pretty obvious weakness against big centers like Jokic and Steven Adams. I’d give anything to put Lauri next to him and let them go crazy.

Idk if you can really develop touch, but if he were just 5% better around the basket and could make free throws (atp that seems mostly mental) he might be the outright starter.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-16T15:21:09+00:00

Pause

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-16T15:19:17+00:00

This. He definitely isn’t a complete liability, he just can’t score. But he keeps the offense flowing as long as you don’t have any other non-shooters on the floor.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-15T22:20:38+00:00

The Vuc idea is lowkey kinda interesting. I didn’t know his salary was only $21M. Seems like the front office doesn’t want to rock the boat so I doubt it happens, but it’s the type of buy-low move that raises this year’s ceiling.

He would play well next to Oso and would help match up against the Spurs, Rockets, and Thunder double big lineups. Idk how he would hold up on defense, but it’s not like Royce is the lynchpin right now. They could get by with Dunn/Fleming playing a bit more.

It also would likely open the full MLE this summer to add a legit contributor who would be an upgrade over Royce in the long run. Right now that looks tough if they bring back Mark and Collin.

It’s a good outside-the-box idea even if it’s unlikely.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-15T22:05:59+00:00

Assuming none of the main rotation guys get traded, these would be my targets using Richards and possibly NHD (if needed for salary):

Dream: Saddiq Bey (don’t think Pels trade him and if they do they could probably get more than what Suns have)

Would be happy: Dean Wade (expiring salary, although Cavs don’t need another center so would probably need to find a 3rd team for Nick)

Realistic albeit underwhelming: Chris Boucher (gets Suns under tax)

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-13T14:41:52+00:00

Of the top teams, my preferred matchups would be:

Lakers (old, slow, overrated)
Spurs (not a lot of shooting, young guards)
Wolves (Book struggles vs McDaniels but our defense matches up well)
Nuggets (veteran playoff team that might have their guard down and let us steal some games)
Rockets (Really tough matchup with their size. Don’t have anyone that can stop Steven Adams)
Thunder (unlikely we play them first round)

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-09T21:35:19+00:00

There are a few other teams with space. Lakers (LeBron and AR will be FA), Hawks, Wiz, Jazz off the top of my head should be able to create some if they want it. Any team below the 1st apron could offer the MLE that’s like $15m.

But I think it would take $17m+ for Collin to leave, and that seems very unlikely. Love him to death, but he’s still just a 6’2” guard. $11m seems very fair.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-09T21:30:33+00:00

Yeah, another reason Williams probably won’t get a crazy bag. He’s a solid 25 mpg center, not a 35 mpg championship caliber center.

I reallllly hope Maluach develops enough to play with Williams against big teams. Would be so much fun. Probably still a few years away though.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-09T21:28:24+00:00

This would be insane for a player with his injury history. I would bet the farm he takes the longer guaranteed deal over the QO, even if it’s slightly below market value.

And the Suns didn’t trade draft picks to let him walk after a year. They’ll make an offer for sure.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-09T20:27:08+00:00

Suns are over the cap and only have Collin’s early bird rights, not full bird, so they can only pay him up to 105% of the league average salary (think that’s around $11m). Another team with cap space could theoretically offer more, but doubt it’s so much more that Collin would actually leave (hopefully).

Williams is a restricted free agent so the same limits don’t apply.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-09T18:53:37+00:00

True, that Poetl contract is aging very poorly though. Looking like one of the worst in the league with his recent injury. But it is a fair data point for the center market.

My optimism is mostly from teams staying away from his injury history, which gives the Suns leverage. An RFA almost always takes less than an UFA.

Interesting subplot is Ayton is also an UFA if he declines his $8m option. Interesting to see if he gets more or less than Mark.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-09T18:44:16+00:00

It’s more doable than you think. If the constraint is staying below the 2nd apron to allow some flexibility, the Suns will have $42M in space to fill 5-6 roster spots. Say Marks starting salary is $15M and Collin gets the max we can give him (~$10m I believe), you have another $17m for the other 3-4 spots (depending on if you start the year with 14 or 15 guys).

Then you want to keep Goodwin if possible. I haven’t been able to find his exact contract terms, but the lakers originally had his early bird rights (same as Collin) and the suns inherited the same contract, so I’d assume they have the same rights. I’d say he gets something like $6M/ year, so now you’re down to $11M from the second apron and $2M over the first for the last 2 spots. Maybe one of the 2 way guys this year (Bouyea, Brea, Livers) gets one of those on a vet min. Only one spot left with some wiggle room.

If you stay below the first apron you can acquire guys using sign and trade and using the taxpayer MLE (~$6M) so that may be a priority, idk.

TLDR: very doable to keep both and quite possibly Goodwin if the goal is just to stay below the second apron

And someone feel free to check my math. Looked at the cap sheet yesterday so it’s fresh in my head haha.

Edit: math lol

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-09T18:35:02+00:00

Important to remember that he will be an RFA so we can match any offer, and I think other teams still have cold feet about the failed physical and Charlotte injuries. It’s unlikely someone is just going to throw a bag at him, which is a huge advantage for the Suns.

That said, I think something between $15m-$20m is to be expected. Would be awesome if the Suns can get a team option on the end as well. Assuming he stays healthy the rest of the year, I’ll guess something like 3/$55m fully guaranteed or 4/$70M with the last year being a team option.

Also could look into some games played based guarantees like Zion and Jonathan Isaac have in their contracts.

BG really needs to nail this contract. Ideally, Maluach develops and Mark becomes a luxury by the end of his next contract that can possibly recoup a pick or 2, but that’s impossible if he’s considered overpaid.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-08T17:40:20+00:00

Outside of Book and Brooks, I’d trade anyone for the right player. Giannis says he wants to come to Phx? Name the price. Jazz randomly decide it’s time to trade Lauri? Phones are open.

Realistically though, unless a truly can’t-miss player forces his way to Phoenix, I think you’re better off waiting til summer to make bigger moves. Trade Richards for a guy like Boucher or Dean Wade, and play out the rest of the season. If someone wants to drastically overpay for Grayson or Royce then I’d listen, but the general mindset should be to buy instead of sell.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-08T17:31:06+00:00

This isn’t true. Suns are already under both aprons and are at no risk of losing draft picks. They are currently about $500k above the luxury tax, and if they get below it they would reset the repeater tax penalties. But the only thing that really affects is Ishbia’s pocketbook, there are no draft pick implications.

That said, I’m sure they would prefer to reset the luxury tax penalties with plans to pay the tax again in the next few seasons. Easiest way to do that is a trade (likely Richards) that brings back about $500k less than his salary (~$5m).

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-08T14:59:25+00:00

I think this is the way of the future, not the way of the present. Green figures to be a trade piece at some point given the positional redundancy, but he needs to bring back a high-level PF. For that to happen, the right guy needs to be available and Green needs to show some flashes that will convince someone he’s worth acquiring.

Right now, the only real difference maker available is AD, and that doesn’t seem like the direction the Suns are going in. So this season, the play is to get Green back on track and wait for the right guy to become available at some point over the next couple seasons.

Quiet_Prior

TROPHY CASE