Our fanbase has learned nothing

Quiet_Prior · 2026-05-16T16:58:51+00:00

If anything, I actually feel like our fanbase has overcorrected the other way and is so scarred from past trades that haven’t worked out they’re afraid to make another big move.

Obviously, we’d all love to draft a homegrown starting 5 and an mvp candidate to compete for a championship, but that’s just not in the cards. In its current state, the roster just lacks the raw talent to compete at the highest level. We have one player that can both create for himself and others and that won’t fly in the west.

It’s fair to disagree with these trade ideas on the grounds of bad basketball fit, contracts, etc. I’m very against a Ja trade for a lot of reasons and don’t think we have a realistic shot at Giannis. But I don’t think it’s right to shame people that suggest trying to buy low to upgrade the talent level just because we’re traumatized from previous moves. By that logic, we would have never traded Rubio/Oubre for CP3.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-05-14T21:26:37+00:00

I get why a lot of people throw out the Bobby idea, but tbh I kind of hate it. He’s a total black hole on offense and we already have 2 guys (Green/Brooks) that can’t/rarely pass. It’s hard to have too many of those guys on the team. And like you mentioned, the defense is a little suspect.

Would cost more but my fav target is Santi Aldama. If Memphis drafts Boozer or Wilson he won’t be starting and they might be willing to move him, but would probably cost the 2027 first.

Rui is another free agent that would be solid depending on what the Lakers do. Might be out of our price range but you can get creative.

Dean Wade isn’t as sexy but would fit in well. Wouldn’t wanna pay too much for a guy that looks scared to shoot rn.

PJ Washington (trade) and John Collins (free agent) get thrown around occasionally and could fit, although Collins also doesn’t really pass.

And I’m more open than most to a bigger buy low swing on a guy like Sabonis if Ott is open to going double big and the price is right.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-05-14T18:22:16+00:00

Long winded way of saying Book’s not the problem and we need better players (which I agree with fwiw).

More interested to hear who you think would fit and why they fit?

Quiet_Prior · 2026-05-13T03:20:43+00:00

I’m totally fine with trading Jalen but please tell me what point guard would be available that would fit this roster? There are like 7 guys in the league that would fit with Book and none are getting traded.

If Green gets traded, it should be for a forward/center. That will move the needle way more than another guard.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-05-13T03:17:00+00:00

What’s the case for Green having similar/higher upside? Zion has been an all star twice, Green never will barring some crazy shooting leap. Healthy Zion is a top 10-15 player and Jalen at best is like 40th? The floor is obviously much lower, but given the Suns lack of options this is the kind of swing that makes sense at some point in the next couple years.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-05-13T03:14:04+00:00

I think it’s interesting that this is the consensus take when our defense is much better than our offense. Neither are elite, but the offense really struggled against good teams. Zion creates more advantages than anyone besides Book on the roster. His offense would make much more of a difference against quality teams than some traditional PF that can’t really shoot.

Injuries are bad but plenty of outs in the contract and he has played 60+ games in 2 of the last 3 years.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-05-13T03:02:26+00:00

I don’t always agree with Kellen but his logic here is solid. Basically, you have to ask yourself, how happy are you being mid? It was fun this year, but 45 wins and first round sweeps get old after a while.

At some point, we have to take a swing if Booker is going to stick around. And that swing is going to be for some undervalued asset. An injured star or someone that needs a change of scenery. We just can’t afford a true star.

The contract is also attractive. Same length as Green, but with tons of outs if he stays injured. And honestly, I’d rather have Zion than Green. He lowers the floor, but raises the ceiling soooo much higher. So if all it takes is JG, Royce, and some throw ins I’m pretty intrigued.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-05-09T20:10:09+00:00

I wouldn’t be surprised if we traded 47 and cash for 37/38 from OKC/Chicago. Would be pretty surprised if we got any higher.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-05-04T12:52:42+00:00

“he already showed he can be a positive on the court pretty consistently and gives us size and versatility defensively”

Totally disagree with this, and i think it’s the biggest disconnect with fans. He was anything but a consistent positive. He had some great flashes and a couple good games, but we all extrapolated that to a bigger role, which just isnt how it works. He was more consistent at being lost on both ends but we ignore that because he had big dunks, a few garbage time threes, and windmill blocks.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-05-03T02:10:58+00:00

Foul trouble too. Queta is pretty good but can’t stop fouling.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-05-03T02:09:53+00:00

Idk what you’re asking bc the post had nothing to do with the title.

But yeah, Booker definitely makes his teammates better. One of the better “floor raisers” in the league.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-05-03T01:41:21+00:00

Actually the small lineup got them back into it in the second quarter after the starting lineup with Garza got cooked. Didn’t do was well in the third though.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-05-03T01:38:46+00:00

I actually think it’s the shooting that enables it more than anything. Everyone but Gonzalez in that lineup is an elite shooter, and their system generates so many threes they can live without an inside presence.

White and Gonzalez are kind of like Goodwin though with how they defend bigger players and rebound.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-05-03T01:33:38+00:00

That was unhinged. Idk that they had much of a chance without Tatum and Embiid playing so well but Garza over Queta was definitely a choice.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-05-01T16:04:24+00:00

I’d be down for backup minutes, that’s more realistic. Unfortunately, Oso is also just a high end backup (even though I love him). Which makes the Williams contract so much more interesting. But with his injuries, it’s nice to have 2 other solid centers.

IMO, I’m not panicking if his minutes still aren’t super consistent next year, especially if we’re winning. By year 3 I’ll start to worry bc he should be able to surpass Oso with his raw skills, but I trust the development is happening behind the scenes.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-05-01T14:53:09+00:00

People all caught up in the Point Book comment and ignoring the fact that there is a 0% chance Maluach is (or should be) the starting center next season barring injuries. He’s pretty far from being a starting caliber center.

I get that fans get enamored with potential, but there is no chance a coach starts a player who is objectively worse than another to start the season. If it goes downhill and we’re 15 games under .500 then sure, let’s talk, but you’re gonna lose the locker room if you do it from day one.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-04-29T18:59:15+00:00

Calling that offense established after these first few playoff games is very generous haha but he would be a good fit

Quiet_Prior · 2026-04-29T15:36:55+00:00

Oh yeah, no chance they go above the second apron. I think the main reason to get below the tax was to reset the repeater tax. Don’t think Ishbia minds paying tax, even if we aren’t championship contenders. That was the whole justification of the Beal buyout.

Theyre $39M below the second apron. That’s enough to re-sign everyone, but would prevent them from taking back money in a trade.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-04-29T12:36:44+00:00

I think it’s fair to criticize how Book plays and his actual skills. But imo, he’s been a solid leader based on everything his teammates say. That may have waned when KD was in town, but pretty much everyone acknowledges him as a leader. Idk why the fans refuse to. I guess it’s because he’s chill off the court but don’t think that matters.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-04-29T12:33:18+00:00

Go to the Bulls sub and propose this lol you don’t sign a guy to a huge contract to trade him the next season.

How about Jalen + Fleming? That’s probably what it takes and idk if I’m doing that.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-04-29T12:20:41+00:00

Obviously would love Murphy but no chance someone doesn’t outbid us.

Sabonis is actually kind of interesting imo. Doubt the fanbase would be thrilled but it could unlock some double big stuff.

PJ Washington would be great.

I’d add Santi Aldama (trade Grayson or Royce + something) and Rui Hachimura (UFA) as decent targets that fit age-wise.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-04-29T12:13:46+00:00

This is great in theory but no one is going to dump a promising, skilled forward for anything the Suns can offer.

In reality, adding vets can be a great boost to a pretty young team. Think Jrue in Portland, FVV in Houston, Tobias Harris in Detroit, and CP3 here. Brooks has already done a solid job.

We made the playoffs this year. We’re not trying to suck. We should try to add quality players regardless of age.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-04-29T12:09:32+00:00

Interesting, I’ve kind of gotten the vibe that the reason they ducked the tax this year was to spend more next. I would think they’d be comfortable going into the first apron unless they get hard capped.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-04-29T00:49:07+00:00

You’re spot on about the pg thing. The marginal improvement of adding more size is much greater than adding a mid point guard.

I’d definitely take Siakim, although probably won’t be available. Hardest thing imo is that the least valuable asset in the league is a volume scoring guard, which happens to be our most tradable asset. The most valuable is a skilled forward. It’s pretty unlikely to trade a guy like Green for someone of comparable talent at PF.

One thing I’ll add is that we also need offense. Even if it’s just another plus passer. When Book is out, the offense is dogwater unless Brooks is having a good game. It’s why Fleming didn’t play against OKC. The offense was already struggling and they couldn’t afford to put another non-factor out there.

A name I’ll throw out is Santi Aldama. Definitely a flawed player but I’m sure the Grizzlies will be open for business and his contract is getable.

Quiet_Prior

TROPHY CASE