Suns Rumors

Western Notes: Bryant, Clippers, Nuggets

October 4th, 2015 at 8:30pm CST by Will Joseph

Kobe Bryant has embraced his role as a mentor for a young Lakers team that is counting on D’Angelo Russell (who is 19), Julius Randle (20) and Jordan Clarkson (23) to step up, Baxter Holmes of ESPN.com writes. After practices, Holmes adds, several players have been gathering, whether back at the team hotel or elsewhere, just to talk with Bryant.

“The other day, we sat around and talked for about 2 1/2 hours,” Bryant said. “They just wanted to know some of the things that I’ve been through, some of the things that I’ve learned, some of the things that I can help them with. The game really connects us.”

Here’s more on the Western Conference:

Kevin Eastman is now an assistant coach for the Clippers after previously serving as assistant vice president of the franchise, Dan Woike of the Orange County Register tweets.
Nuggets coach Michael Malone has prioritized getting to know his players, learning about their lives, their likes and dislikes, their families and what in general makes them tick, Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post relays in an entertaining read.
Eric Bledsoe, who is set to make $13.5MM next season in the second year of a five-year, $70MM deal, showed a commitment to the Suns this summer when he stayed in Phoenix and there are indications that his game could take another step forward this season, Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic writes.
The Kings have multiple options at the starting power forward position as complements to All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins, Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee writes. The team has looked for a power forward with shooting range, or one who can contribute defensively, Jones adds. Willie Cauley-Stein, Kosta Koufos, Quincy Acy, and small forward Rudy Gay are all in the mix, according to Jones.

Pacific Notes: Johnson, Morris, Barnes, Collison

September 30th, 2015 at 2:59pm CST by Chuck Myron

Wesley Johnson grew tired of the individualism on the Lakers last season and sought a change this summer, as Janis Carr of the Orange County Register details. Johnson signed with the Clippers, citing the persistence of the front office that took a similar tack in its pursuit of Josh Smith, and the swingman praised the clear set of expectations that Doc Rivers has laid out for him, contrasting it to what he thought was a disjointed Lakers offense, Carr observes.

“You would go out there and want to play the right way, but everyone wanted to prove themselves,” Johnson said, according to Carr. “So nobody really knew what was going on. Nobody ever knew, so it was hard for anyone to come in and get into a good rhythm or flow. Nobody was playing together.”

See more from the Pacific Division:

Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic finds the sudden change of heart from Markieff Morris hard to believe, but Morris and Suns officials recently engaged in a lengthy conversation and expressed a mutual desire to make their partnership work, sources tell Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders. “I’m excited. Happy to be back. Happy to be with my team,” Morris told Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic (Twitter link).
Harrison Barnes would have been pleased to sign for $10MM a year as of this past June, a source told Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group. The former seventh overall pick more recently turned down a four-year, $64MM offer from the Warriors, as Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reported.
Darren Collison signed with the Kings in 2014 chiefly so he could start, but he’s a long shot to remain the team’s starter this season with new signee Rajon Rondo aboard, as Ailene Voisin of The Sacramento Bee examines. Collison wants to start, but he’s not about to rock the boat, either, Voisin writes.
Robert Upshaw was red-flagged over concerns about the health of his heart during predraft workouts, and though doctors eventually cleared him, he believes the time he had to step away from draft prep set him back, as he explains to Pincus, who writes in a piece for the Los Angeles Times. Upshaw went undrafted and signed a partially guaranteed minimum-salary deal with the Lakers. “It was zero basketball activity, zero activity,” Upshaw said. “It’s hard to get in shape and it’s easy to get out of shape. I got out of shape really fast, it was a month’s time where I was just barely doing anything.”
The contracts that Juwan Staten and Tony Mitchell signed with the Warriors are non-guaranteed for the minimum salary and cover only one season, reports Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders (Twitter link). Ben Gordon‘s full contract details are still unclear, but half of his salary becomes guaranteed if he sticks for opening night, according to former Nets executive Bobby Marks (on Twitter).

Markieff Morris On Suns: ‘I Want To Be Here’

September 28th, 2015 at 2:55pm CST by Chuck Myron

2:55pm: Morris said he’s “super-excited” to play with offseason signee Tyson Chandler, and he called this year’s team the best Suns squad he’s been a part of, according to Coro, who writes in a full story.

“The ultimate goal is to make the playoffs,” Morris said. “It’s not about me. It’s about my teammates and the organization. I’m just looking forward to a great year and hopefully we can make the playoffs this year.”

12:12pm: Markieff Morris declared “I want to be here” as he addressed reporters at Suns media day today on the eve of training camp, according to Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic (Twitter link), declining to otherwise address his tumultuous offseason relationship with the Suns. Morris demanded a trade in August, weeks after the team dealt his twin brother to the Pistons. Morris had said even as he made his trade demand that he would show up for camp, but it’s surprising to see him seemingly put it behind him after doubling down earlier this month, tweeting that, “My future will not be in Phoenix.” That remark drew a $10K fine from the league, so perhaps it’s the threat of punishment that has the power forward changing his rhetoric.

Suns GM Ryan McDonough and coach Jeff Hornacek brushed off the idea of lingering animosity, in keeping with the optimism they’ve consistently shown about reaching a reconciliation, as Coro relays (Twitter links). The Suns have reportedly been disinclined to give in to Morris’ demand.

“He’s certainly not the first and won’t be the last player to be upset with the front office,” GM Ryan McDonough said, according to Coro. “It happens.”

McDonough wasn’t apologetic about failing to give Morris advance warning about trading his brother, however, in comments that Coro tweets. Morris expressed displeasure as he made his trade demand that the Suns didn’t run his brother’s trade by him.

The former 13th overall pick had planned not to talk to the Suns front office and to answer Hornacek only with one-word responses, as John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM reported. It’s unclear if he’s changed that stance. In any case, he’s due $8MM this season in the first year of a four-year, $32MM extension that he signed at the same time his brother inked a four-year, $20MM extension with the team in the hopes that the pair would be together for the long term.

Do you believe that Morris truly no longer wants to be traded, or do you think this storyline will come up again? Leave a comment to share your thoughts.

Pacific Notes: Butler, Hibbert, Leuer

September 23rd, 2015 at 9:29pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Kings‘ locker room could be rather volatile this season given some of the strong personalities present, and the team is likely to rely on veteran forward Caron Butler to act as a stabilizing influence, Alec J. Neuharth-Keusch of USA Today writes. Butler, who inked a two-year, minimum salary deal with Sacramento this offseason, understands that he was brought in more for his intangibles than for his statistics, the USA Today scribe notes. “Off general principle, you get a certain respect for being around for so long and guys just respect you,” Butler said. “But at the same time, you gradually come to the position to address issues vocally. I’m more of a guy that likes pulling guys to the side to just talk to them one on one and educate them.”

Here’s more out of the Pacific Division:

One storyline for the Lakers during the 2015/16 campaign will be how well center Roy Hibbert will fit in with the team, and if he’ll play his way into being either a part of the franchise’s future, or become a possible trade deadline asset, Mark Medina of The Los Angeles Daily News writes.
Jon Leuer, after having spent the last month working out in Phoenix, is excited about what he can do in the Suns‘ offense given his strong outside shooting, Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic writes. “Seeing how we can get up and down, just being able to run the floor and play at this pace are things that will really help,” Leuer said. “I feel one of the undervalued parts of my game is how I can get out and run. And seeing where the shots will come and how they come is something I feel really comfortable with.” The 26-year-old was acquired in a draft day trade with the Grizzlies. Coro recently took part in our interview series, “The Beat,” and weighed in on a number of topics related to the Suns.
With the team’s stars now surrounded by a solid and versatile supporting cast, the Clippers will be expected to advance deep into the playoffs, writes Tim Bontemps of The New York Post (Facebook link) in his season preview. If Los Angeles is unable to do so, it may be time for the franchise to consider making significant roster changes, Bontemps adds.

Suns Notes: Teletovic, Morris, Chandler

September 20th, 2015 at 9:35pm CST by Will Joseph

After battling breathing issues last season, Mirza Teletovic, whom the Suns signed to one-year, $5.5MM deal, believes his 3-point shooting ability should help him fit in nicely with his new team, Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic writes in a worthwhile feature on the player from Europe. Teletovic chose a one-year deal in Phoenix over multiyear offers from the Kings, Bucks and his former team, the Nets.

“Coach Jeff [Hornacek] has the center rolling and the four-man [power forward] popping and spreading the court,” Teletovic said. “They like shooting 3s. I like the energy around the team. Goran really liked the place and the people around the place. And Phoenix had wanted me before I went to Brooklyn [in 2012].”

Here’s more on the Suns:

While what happens with Markieff Morris is the obvious daily storyline to watch regarding the Suns, the New York Post’s Tim Bontemps writes (on Facebook) that since Morris has a team-friendly long-term contract, Phoenix has no need to rush into a trade just to make one.
Nothing the Suns did — or didn’t do — during the summer suggests the team is headed in the right direction, writes Shaun Powell in his 30 teams in 30 days series for NBA.com. Powell criticizes a few of the Suns’ biggest moves this season, notably the decision to sign Tyson Chandler, who is 32, to a four-year contract worth $52MM. Besides Chandler’s age, Powell questions the move because it takes minutes away from Alex Len. Powell also second-guesses the Suns’ decision to re-sign Brandon Knight because, according to Powell, the team gave him the kind of money that the Bucks wanted to avoid.

Pacific Notes: Babb, Crawford, Morris, Cauley-Stein

September 20th, 2015 at 10:18am CST by Arthur Hill

The Warriors intend to keep Chris Babb and evaluate him in training camp, according to Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. The 6’5″ guard, who spent most of last season with the Celtics’ D-League affiliate in Maine, was acquired in the July 27th deal that sent David Lee to Boston. Babb signed a multi-year deal with the Celtics in April, and Washburn writes that the organization liked the effort he gave. Babb, who participated in the D-League All-Star Game, was recalled in April but didn’t appear in any games with the Celtics. He played 14 games with the team during the 2013/14 season, averaging 1.6 points.

There’s more news from the Pacific Division:

The Clippers‘ best move may be to trade Jamal Crawford for a big man to back up DeAndre Jordan, writes Jesse Blancarte of Basketball Insiders. Crawford, who will make $5.675MM this season in the final year of his contract, has been the subject of trade rumors, although coach Doc Rivers said recently that he is unlikely to be dealt. Blancarte contends that Cole Aldrich doesn’t give the Clippers enough insurance off the bench and thinks the team should combine Crawford’s contract with C.J. Wilcox‘s and pursue another frontcourt player like the Heat’s Chris Andersen or Josh McRoberts, the Blazers’ Chris Kaman, the Bulls’ Taj Gibson or the Suns‘ Markieff Morris.
Despite repeated trade demands, Morris will likely remain in Phoenix until at least Christmas, according to Doug Smith of The Toronto Star. In his weekly mailbag column, Smith also says native Canadian Steve Nash is unlikely to ever join the Raptors organization. The columnist points out that Nash, who is rumored to be in line for a part-time player development consultant position with the Warriors, is pretty established in Southern California.
Despite his “raw” offensive skills, Willie Cauley-Stein is rated as the Kings‘ best offseason addition by Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders. In the site’s season preview for Sacramento, Pincus says the rookie center out of Kentucky can became an important part of the Kings’ lineup if he reaches his defensive potential.

Pacific Notes: Griffin, Kobe, Chandler

September 19th, 2015 at 3:11pm CST by Eddie Scarito

High-flying power forward Blake Griffin would ideally like to remain with the Clippers for his entire career, Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders relays. “Yeah, I mean L.A. is my home now,” said Griffin. “This is where I got drafted and I’ve been here since the beginning. I’ve been with this franchise during some bad times. You know, it hasn’t always been like it is now; anytime you have a chance to go from that to this, you feel invested. I’m not looking to go anywhere. With that being said, you never know [in this business]. But I’m happy here, I love it here, and I would love to finish my career here.” Griffin’s current deal runs through the 2017/18 season, though that final year is a player option worth $21,373,952. Be sure to check out the full interview Griffin did with Kennedy, as it is certainly worth a read.

Now here’s more out of the Pacific Division:

Kobe Bryant is expected to be fully healthy at the start of Lakers training camp, but coach Byron Scott intends to carefully limit the veteran’s minutes this season to maximize what could potentially be Bryant’s final NBA hurrah, Bill Oram of the Orange County Register writes. “We’ve got to stick to the guns,” Scott said. “If we agree on a certain amount of time we’re going to stick to it. I know Kobe’s a competitor and he’s going to play as many minutes as you want him to play. I’m also a competitor, so I want to win and I know having him on the court gives me the best opportunity to win. If this is his last year. I want him to go out standing. I don’t want him to go out hurt.“
Even though center Tyson Chandler is past his prime he brings with him exactly what the Suns need — stability to the pivot, spectacular interior defense, and leadership, the crew at Basketball Insiders opine in their season preview of the team. They also believe that the eighth seed in the Western Conference is likely to come down to a fight between Phoenix and the Jazz, with how well Utah compensates for the loss of Dante Exum being a big determining factor.

2015 NBA Draft Grades: Pacific Division

September 18th, 2015 at 7:31pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The 2015 NBA Draft is squarely in the rearview and a number of draftees have already provided a taste of what is to come with their summer league play. I held off on my grades until now because I wanted a better context in which to evaluate each team’s selections, with free agency and summer league providing greater perspective. Sometimes, selecting the best available player isn’t the best course of action and it is wiser to nab a player who fits a clear need, which should always be considered when rating how each front office fared in the draft. I’ve already run down my thoughts on the Atlantic, Central, and Southeast Divisions, and next up is a look at the Pacific Division:

Golden State Warriors

Team Needs: Frontcourt depth.

Draft Picks:

No. 30 Overall — Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA

The Warriors didn’t have many needs entering this year’s NBA Draft, which is usually the case with teams that win an NBA title and aren’t hit with a wave of free agent defections afterwards. This allowed Golden State to take a gamble on Looney with the final selection of the first round. The forward out of UCLA is unlikely to contribute much, if anything, during the 2015/16 campaign, courtesy of a hip surgery in August that is expected to keep him out of action for four to six months. However, this isn’t a huge blow to the team, since Looney wasn’t likely to see much playing time anyway this season on a stacked Warriors squad.

Missing training camp and most, if not all, of the 2015/16 season certainly won’t help speed Looney’s development along, but the Warriors can certainly afford to be patient with the young player. As a freshman at UCLA, the 19-year-old averaged 11.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.3 steals in 30.9 minutes per night, earning Second Team All-Pac-12 and Pac-12 All-Freshman Team honors along the way.

Questions still exist about Looney’s NBA position, as he is saddled with the dreaded tweener label. He doesn’t quite shoot well enough to be a small forward on a full-time basis, and he’ll need to add bulk to his 220 pound frame if he wants to survive prolonged exposure to some of the league’s bigger, stronger power forwards in the paint. But all quibbles aside, Golden State landed a talented young player with a tantalizing upside using the last pick of the first round. The team will probably just have to wait a couple of seasons before its investment in Looney will pay off.

Overall Draft Grade: B. It’s difficult to find fault in the NBA champs landing a player who possesses lottery-level talent at the bottom of the first round. It’s a solid gamble by GM Bob Myers, though it’s unclear what position Looney is best suited for in the league.

Los Angeles Clippers

Team Needs: Depth at center.

Draft Picks:

No. 56 Overall — Branden Dawson, F, Michigan State*

*Acquired from the Pelicans in exchange for cash.

The Clippers were without a first-round pick this year because their pick went to Boston as compensation for the hiring of Doc Rivers. The Celtics used that selection, No. 28 overall, to nab long-range bomber R.J. Hunter out of Georgia State. It’s difficult to make a case that Rivers wasn’t worth the sacrifice, especially given how he held the Clippers organization together amid the Donald Sterling scandal. It can also be argued that not having a first-rounder helped the franchise in a way, seeing as how it didn’t need to hand out another fully guaranteed deal, a benefit because the Clippers are nearly $11MM into luxury tax territory.

The franchise was also without a second-round pick, though Rivers was able to purchase one from New Orleans. While there weren’t many alternatives still left on the board at No. 56, I’d argue that the team could have saved its money and not missed a beat. Dawson is an excellent athlete who is a strong rebounder, though he’s too short at 6’7″, or 6’5″ without shoes, to be an effective power forward in the NBA. The former Michigan State Spartan isn’t nearly a good enough shooter to play the three, which will certainly limit his usefulness. Dawson is more than likely ticketed for the D-League or overseas, and it would be quite a surprise if he makes an impact in the league anytime soon.

Overall Draft Grade: B-. I bumped up the Clippers’ grade from a C- because of Doc Rivers, who is arguably more valuable than any player the team would have nabbed at No. 28 overall. But the addition of Dawson feels unnecessary given the team’s frontcourt depth, as well as his size and offensive limitations.

Los Angeles Lakers

Team Needs: Talent and depth at every position.

Draft Picks:

No. 2 Overall — D’Angelo Russell, G, Ohio State
No. 27 Overall — Larry Nance Jr., PF, Wyoming
No. 34 Overall — Anthony Brown, SF, Stanford

The Lakers entered this draft with needs at virtually every spot on the court. The team had to make a choice between big man Jahlil Okafor, who is regarded as the best offensive center in the entire draft class, and Ohio State playmaker D’Angelo Russell, who rocketed up draft boards as the 2014/15 season progressed. It was a tough call, and it will be a few seasons before we’ll know if the Lakers made the correct choice.

Still, Nabbing a point guard makes sense, especially in today’s backcourt-driven NBA. Russell is a fantastic passer and defender who can also shoot the lights out when he’s on. But he’s extremely raw, and he did not fare that well in summer league play. Lakers fans believing he’ll be a savior this season should dial down those expectations quite a bit. Russell has star potential, though it will likely be a rough ride at first. It’s easy to make an argument that the team should have taken Okafor, especially given the lack of true centers making their way into the NBA nowadays, but I can’t fault the Lakers for taking a chance on Russell, who is one of my favorite players in this year’s crop of draftees.

The selection of Nance at No. 27 was a surprise, and a bit of a head-scratcher given the team’s many needs. Nance is an intriguing player, thanks to his high motor, impressive wingspan and NBA-ready frame, but he’s not a good enough outside shooter or post player to make an impact on offense. A number of other players who were still available at No. 27 appear to have higher upsides and more useful skills than Nance does, and that’s why I’m down on the Lakers making this pick.

I’m more enthusiastic about the selection of Brown at No. 34 overall. While the former Stanford wing lacks elite athleticism, he has a high basketball IQ, and he’s a solid outside shooter. Brown is unlikely ever to be a starter in the NBA, but he has the makings of a solid future rotation player. He’ll need to log some serious time in the D-League to aid his development, however.

Overall Draft Grade: B+. The Lakers may regret passing on Okafor, but Russell is an intriguing, exciting young prospect who should give the fanbase hope for a better tomorrow. I’m not sold on the selection of Nance, especially given some of the players still available at that draft slot.

Phoenix Suns

Team Needs: Outside shooting, rim protector, backcourt depth.

Draft Picks:

No. 13 Overall — Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky

The Suns are still in the process of picking up the pieces from their failed multiple point guard experiment, and the team’s roster is in a state of flux. One glaring hole the team has is the lack of a wing who can stretch the floor and make other teams pay from beyond the arc on a nightly basis. Well, Phoenix certainly did its best to address that need in this year’s draft, landing Kentucky freshman Devin Booker at No. 13 overall. I’m still a bit surprised that Booker slipped past the Hornets at No. 9 overall, seeing as Charlotte also needs shooters, and Booker is arguably the best long-range bomber in this year’s draft class.

Booker is a smart player who has nearly perfect mechanics on his jump shot, and he moves extremely well without the ball. The question mark with Booker is his lack of elite athleticism and quickness. That’s not to say that he’s a lumbering player, but he may have some difficulty guarding some of the more explosive wings in the league, and I’m not sold that he’ll be able to create his own shot off the dribble consistently. Still, he should quickly evolve into one of the better spot-up shooters in the league.

My only issue with the Suns selecting Booker is that Kelly Oubre, who is a superior defender and athlete, was still available at No. 13. Oubre isn’t in Booker’s class as a shooter, but his all-around game is more enticing, and I believe that Oubre has a much higher upside than Booker does overall.

Overall Draft Grade: B+. Phoenix lands the best shooter in the draft, though minor concerns exist regarding Booker’s speed and athleticism. The Suns definitely addressed one of their primary needs, and it’s hard to take them to task for it. Overall, this is a very solid pick for Ryan McDonough.

Sacramento Kings

Team Needs: Stretch four, rim protector, outside shooting.

Draft Picks:

No. 6 Overall — Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky

The Kings hope that they solved one of their most pressing needs by nabbing Cauley-Stein with the sixth overall pick. Sacramento has been looking to pair center DeMarcus Cousins with a rim-protecting big for the last two seasons, and Cauley-Stein was the best one available in this year’s draft. Cauley-Stein is perhaps the most NBA-ready player in the entire draft, and I’d be surprised if he is not starting from day one. Concerns exist about his offensive skills, which mainly consist of cashing in on lobs and transition buckets at this stage. But he’s an excellent athlete and a fantastic defender who reminds me quite a bit of Tyson Chandler. It took Chandler a few seasons in the league to become a solid player, and I expect the same for Cauley-Stein, who’s nonetheless almost assuredly a player who will have a long, productive NBA career if he remains healthy.

I have two potential concerns regarding this pick, though. First, if Rondo is not the long-term answer at point guard, Sacramento may end up kicking itself for passing on Emmanuel Mudiay, who went to the Nuggets at pick No. 7. Mudiay is a mystery at this point, but he has the physical tools and ability to become a major star in the NBA. My second concern is how Cauley-Stein, who arrives with some question marks regarding his attitude and love for the game, will fit in with what could be an extremely volatile locker room in Sacramento this season. If things turn toxic there, it will be interesting to see how Cauley-Stein reacts and if it sets back his development.

Overall Draft Grade: A-. Sacramento lands one of the best defenders in the draft, as well as fills one of its most glaring needs. Hopefully, the team won’t come to rue the day it passed on Mudiay to land Cauley-Stein.

Top Bloggers: Dave King On The Suns

September 17th, 2015 at 1:30pm CST by Chuck Myron

Dave King

Anyone can have a blog about an NBA team, but some set themselves apart from the rest with the dedication and valuable insight they bring to their craft. We’ll be sharing some knowledge from these dialed-in writers on Hoops Rumors in a new feature called Top Bloggers. As with The Beat, our ongoing series of interviews with NBA beat writers, it’s part of an effort to bring Hoops Rumors readers ever closer to the pulse of the teams they follow.

First up is Dave King of SB Nation’s Bright Side of the Sun, where he serves as managing editor. You can follow Dave on Twitter at @DaveKingNBA, and click here to check out his stories.

Hoops Rumors: Do you think the Suns will ultimately give in to the trade demand from Markieff Morris, and if so, what could they get for him?

Dave King: I have tough time predicting the front office’s moves, as most people do. They didn’t move Eric Bledsoe last year when many said he was on the block, and they’ve yet to move Morris. On the other hand, they’ve traded guys no one thought they’d trade. The only telegraphed moves the Suns have made were the Goran Dragic/Isaiah Thomas trades at the deadline, given all the lead-up to it. And, as you might expect, telegraphed moves are rarely good moves.

I think they would trade Morris for a comparable player in a heartbeat. They might even move him for a prospect with a slightly higher ceiling, even if that means less production in 2015/16. The Rockets, for example, have four power forwards under contract: Donatas Motiejunas, Terrence Jones, Clint Capela and Montrezl Harrell. All are on rookie deals right now, so they don’t need to trade anyone, but the Suns would do well to acquire any of them for Morris. Houston will lose one or both of D-Mo and Jones next summer when they hit restricted free agency and the offers start coming in that Houston can’t match.

There’s probably 25-30 power fowards out there that would be comparable to Morris, which leads us to the Suns’ problems with trading him. If you’re an NBA team with a comparable guy already on the roster and he’s NOT a head case, why swap him to acquire Morris?

Hoops Rumors: The Suns made five-year, $70MM commitment to Brandon Knight after he played only 11 games in a Suns uniform following the trade this February. Is he the right complement to Eric Bledsoe in the backcourt?

Dave King: We won’t know if Knight is a great complement to Bledsoe until the season starts, but I believe they will each put up 18 points and 5 assists a game regardless. That’s their history, and the Suns’ scheme will allow them to continue that trajectory. If the Suns want to make the playoffs, though, one or both will have to improve significantly in one or both areas (scoring/playmaking), and I’m not sure that will happen. The good news is that they are both on the upswing of their careers.

Hoops Rumors: What becomes of former No. 5 overall pick Alex Len after this summer’s signing of Tyson Chandler to a four-year contract? Can Len fulfill his potential while he’s on the same roster as Chandler?

Dave King: This is a good question. In a perfect Suns world, Len becomes a force off the bench for one or two years and gets a chance to become consistently healthy, while Chandler leads the Suns to the playoffs as the starter. Then in 2017, Len takes over as the long-term starter (when he’ll still be just 24 years old) while Chandler shifts to a bench role in his old age. By 2017, a $13MM contract for a center will be comparable to today’s $8MM contract, which is commonplace among fading star centers in their final years.

Worst case, Len never develops and Chandler gets hurt. But then, they’re no worse off than last year.

Hoops Rumors: The Suns have a team option on Jeff Hornacek for 2016/17, but until they pick it up, he’s a lame duck for this season. Hornacek’s agent also denied a report that he declined to interview for the job at Iowa State. Will Hornacek be coaching in Phoenix for much longer?

Dave King: I sure hope so. Hornacek is not the problem (See Dave’s article from today on this topic right here.)

His main shortcoming, if you will, is expecting players to act like adults and having little patience for those who don’t. He wants to be a teacher and facilitator, not a dad. When they complain, he brushes it off rather than handling the kid like a millennial who needs constant reinforcement. But other than that, Hornacek is a perfect coach. He’s clever and willing to take risks, and somehow has coaxed a 87-77 record from a bunch of inexperienced non-stars in a league dominated by stars. Give him a single All-Star and you might just see sustained playoff appearances. Give him two, and who knows how far he’d take it.

Hoops Rumors: How far away are the Suns from convincing a marquee free agent to sign with them, as LaMarcus Aldridge nearly did this summer? Was Aldridge an outlier, or will we see others follow in his footsteps and seriously consider Phoenix in the years to come?

Dave King: Players go for the money and the quality of the presentation. As long as the Suns stay on the right path, players will see themselves as the final piece to a good puzzle. There won’t be any problem with recruiting, just as there wasn’t this summer. The Suns nearly stole the show with Aldridge and Chandler, coming up just short.

Hoops Rumors: What are reasonable expectations for the Suns this season?

Dave King: If each player just repeats their game from last season, reasonable expectations are another .500-ish season and a 9/10 seed in the West. There still aren’t any All-Stars on the team, and still no proof they can overcome that shortcoming any better than previous years. If Bledsoe, Knight or another player or two develop really quickly, or if Chandler has a reprisal of his Defensive Player of the Year season, the Suns can easily slip into the bottom half of the West playoff bracket.

Pacific Notes: Morris, Kobe, Nash, Thompson

September 17th, 2015 at 11:30am CST by Chuck Myron

Suns free agent signee Tyson Chandler is optimistic that the team and Markieff Morris can resolve their differences, having gone through a tenuous time himself years ago when New Orleans traded him to the Thunder only to have Oklahoma City nix the deal, as Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic details. Phoenix doesn’t intend to fulfill the trade demand that Morris has made, Coro writes, which jibes with his report from earlier and what Grantland’s Zach Lowe heard, even though Morris reportedly plans on greeting the Suns front office with silence and coach Jeff Hornacek with only one-word answers if they bring him to camp.

“It’s not about them,” Chandler said to Coro about Suns executives. “That’s no offense to Ryan [McDonough], the GM, or the owner. Players play for players and the coaches. You’ve got a bond. Management has nothing to do with anything that goes on when you’re on the court. That’s just my thoughts. I’m not saying this for anything against Keef either. He’s a man and he has to go through his own process. But he can be special and I know he will. I feel like all this stuff will be forgotten once we kick off and we’re having success.”

See more from the Pacific Division:

The Lakers announced a nine-month recovery timetable when Kobe Bryant had surgery to repair his torn right rotator cuff in January, which would have made his return in time for camp a close call, but he’s been medically cleared for all basketball activities, Bleacher Report’s Kevin Ding hears.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr is high on what Steve Nash can bring as a part-time player development consultant for the team, though he cautioned in an interview with Tim Kawakami of the Bay Area News Group that the deal to hire him for that role isn’t official. Kerr added that he won’t ask Nash to return to play, as the Mavs reportedly considered doing. “In Phoenix we grew very close and he’s probably the smartest basketball player I’ve ever been around in my life, not only the way he played but the way he prepared and trained and thought about the game,” Kerr said to Kawakami. “I just felt like if we could just get him to help out, just be around our guys occasionally and develop relationships, spend some time on the floor with them occasionally, it’d be a big help.”
Kerr expressed his desire for continuity, though he does envision a role for trade acquisition Jason Thompson, as he said to Kawakami for the same piece. The coach was also quick to point to his fondness to James Michael McAdoo, who has only a partially guaranteed deal with the Warriors.

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