[Source](https://open.spotify.com/episode/3rB1Apn6N8Y3sqWAHGrbP5?si=CYFiYrXuSkuFxRbz-uSczw&t=120&context=spotify%3Acollection%3Apodcasts%3Aepisodes)
>For a year now we’ve kind of assumed that the best scenario for the Suns was that somebody else would max out DeAndre, the Suns would just match the offer. They’d save a year and they’d save about $45 million.
>But when sign-and-trade started to become a possibility — Look, the Suns still don’t want to pay a center $30 million (per year). This was not what they wanted to do. They don’t believe in that. They like the Kevon Looney angle: let me pay a center $10-12 million and his backup $5 (million) and I’ll spend that money elsewhere.
Let me get this straight:
The Phoenix Suns do not believe in paying a center a maximum contract, yet used the first overall pick on a center (*over Luka Doncic, btw*) that eventually ended up playing well enough to sign a $133 million offer sheet, which you matched???
by lopea182
38 Comments
Weak
Pay your center position 80m+ like a real franchise
December may not come soon enough
Who’s going to play for $5??
The warriors didn’t draft Kevon Looney #1 overall.
So that’s where you fucked up.
Then why draft one as a number 1 pick then?
Then trade him
I can’t imagine many teams wanting Ayton at 30m+ a year.
I love Looney but imagine CP3 trying to run PnRs with him lmao
Anyway the original sin was drafting Ayton. James Jones and Monty only got their current positions after that draft, so it’s understandable they wouldn’t have the same opinions as previous management, but that was always going to lead to a tough situation.
yea that really aligns with drafting the guy over luka 🤣🤣
They don’t believe in Ayton or they don’t believe in Centers for a championship contender?
If that what they believe Why the Fuck didn’t they draft Luka in 2018?
Former Suns GM Ryan McDonough was the one who drafted Ayton. James Jones didn’t value the centre as much therefore the Suns got into this position.
Khem Birch makes like 7 mill, I think an Ayton for Khem swap is quite fair
> the Kevon Looney angle: let me pay a center $10-12 million and his backup $5 (million)
We call it the Zubac angle but yeah.
Their reservations about Luka must have trumped their philosophy, but the philosophy is sound imo. What was the last chip winner who paid big money for their centre? Better to spend small money for a replacement level centre and put the excess into wings or guards.
Center market for reference, although most are known to be pretty team friendly contracts.
Nurkic 15m
Turner 17m
Robert Williams 10m
Jakob Poeltl 10m
Sabonis 18m
Capella 18m
JJJ 28m decreasing to 23m
I can understand that line of thinking, but you have to be absolutely elite at the other positions to pull it off as a contender. Other teams have done it at other positions in the past, it’s just a matter of making sure the weaknesses can be covered up and everyone else plays up.
And even then, center *has* been a problem for the Warriors due to their approach to it.
Then why not sign and trade with the pacers.
That’s the right way to do it in most cases – when your center is not an All Star. In those situations, you’re better off playing center-by-committee finding 2-3 guys who bring different skillsets and who fill the weaknesses of the other. Costs less too.
See: Celtics in 2019-20 after they lost Horford to Philly. Three big rotation of Theis (switching defense, some floor spacing), Rob Williams (rim protection, vertical spacing), and Kanter (rebounding, some post scoring); you can sprinkle in some Grant Williams at the 5 minutes too. Total salary: 13M. Season result: Top 5 offense and defense. Postseason result: Game 6 of the ECF
Regardless of whether or not it’s right to spend so much money on a big contract, making such a big fuss over it and basically making it clear you don’t think he’s worth it is just a fucking stupid idea.
The old regime drafted Ayton number 1. Not Monty/JJ but go ahead and spew that suns hate.
> They like the Kevon Looney angle
Ah ok so the only thing they are missing is the greatest pair of shooters of all time and Draymond green. Surrounded by a lot of other high level role players. Got it.
You draft him #1 overall and then proceed to make him the third option, essentially. He has limits on how his ceiling can go because he further down on the food chain. At the end of the day, they made the bed, time to sleep in it.
Consider the source. Gambos only in with the organization is the asshole that is about to sell. If we gonna just start posting this idiots takes from his radio show, we all will be swimming in these posts.
The Suns should just trade him.
Finally getting a top pick justttt when an insane specimen (but flawed player that plays a non premium position) is wrapping up his one year at the team owner’s alma mater is absolute peak Phoenix Suns.
So glad Sarver is gone, man.
Warriors also drafted wiseman #1 and have draymond green. Definitely can afford to cheap out a little a Center lol.
>They like the Kevon Looney angle: let me pay a center $10-12 million and his backup $5 and I’ll spend that money elsewhere
except it’s the other way around…. they’re paying their center $7M and the backup $10M and the backup was drafted 2nd which isn’t exactly far from 1st so you know they have high hopes for wiseman.
Timberwolves gm: “pathetic”
I love how Suns are getting hated for this reporter talking out of his butt. Nothing real reported or credible, just his thoughts. No quotes or comment, bro just went on Twitter and typed something out.
Where DO they want to spend money
and there’s no good reason why.. the center is far and away the most impactful position defensively. not only is Ayton a good paint protector, he’s also the rare center that has elite mobility. this enables him to execute every conceivable PnR coverage, even the most demanding and aggressive ones
not only has he excelled at the finisher role that they gave him, he also showed he can expand into a initiator creator role. surely FOs can’t possibly be as narrow-minded as forums and social media..
Any front office that passed on luka is dumb asf and shouldn’t be trusted, maybe one of the most sure fire picks ever and they take some other guys lmao
Then why tf would you draft a center #1…..
these guys are idiots to not draft doncic then. why would they waste number 1 pick on a center?
Ok, but you have to match so you can trade him. If you get a jar of buttons for him it’s better than letting him walk for nothing *cough* Mavs *cough*
Geez, if only there were some other player they could have taken with that pick. Too bad deandre was clearly the best and only draft pick, in that, the year 2018.
Oh well, It was him or Bagley.
Nurkic + Josh hart for Ayton