Suggestions for Phoenix Suns 2010 offseason
Do you feel lucky? -Clint Eastwood in ‘Cool Hand Luke’
Welcome to another Phoenix Suns postseason. At this same time last season I released a checklist of things for the Suns to do in the offseason to be successful this past season. Get rid of Shaq. Check. Sign Nash. Check. Make Gentry the permanent coach. Check. As a result of these and other suggestions the Suns had a better season than anyone expected, advancing to the western conference finals. Here’s hoping the Suns follow the new blueprint yours truly is happy to share with the world.
The first thing the Suns have to do is bring in a strong General Manager. Steve Kerr gets a solid C grade for his work in the valley. He pulled the trigger on the deal that brought Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley to town, sending away Raja Bell and Boris Diaw. Great deal looking back on it now. He also hired Terry Porter and sent away Shawn Marion to get a decrepit Shaquille O’Neal. Terrible moves on both fronts. Kerr didn’t take the lowball offers for Amare Stoudemire offered by a number of teams, choosing to stand his ground and risk losing Amare for nothing in return. That move ensured a wildly successful season but can also be a curse if Amare walks, leaving the Suns holding the bag. The Kerr tenure is a push. A solid ‘C’. Similarly, owner Robert Sarver needs to open his checkbook this offseason and get quality talent in or sell majority ownership to someone who will.
The Suns need to talk to Kevin Pritchard, the young gun who just was released by Portland. Pritchard brought in solid character guys and turned Portland from the ‘Jailblazers’ to one of the up and coming players in the western conference. Talk to Danny Ainge. The ship is sinking in Boston. Rasheed Wallace is retiring, Ray Allen is a free agent, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce aren’t getting any younger and now they’re starting to no-show in the playoffs. Pierce is also a free agent. Its time to rebuild in Boston and now would be a good time for Ainge to head to greener pastures . Just something to think about, nothing wrong with just sending a phone call out that way.
Should the Suns offer Amare Stoudemire a max contract? In a word, no. I am a big Amare fan. The problem is that Amare has peaked already. He has only recently got the spring back into his step two years removed from his microfracture knee surgery. His court vision finally cleared in the second half of the season a year after his eye surgery. His body has already started to break down. Stoudemire’s next deal will take him into his thirties and even now his desire can be called into question. There’s no doubt he carried the Suns in the second half of the season but for a player with such immense athletic gifts, how can he NOT be averaging a double double? Amare averaged 23 points and 8.9 rebounds and one block for the season. Not good enough. When you have to install Robin Lopez for rebounding, that’s not a good sign.
If not Amare, then who? The Suns have the money to sign one player to a max contract and with a team that made the conference finals it shouldn’t be a hard sell. Before we get to the most legitimate prospects, one suggestion. Make an offer to LeBron. We know his mind is set on Chicago or New York and I see him in a Knicks uniform next season. Even so, put someone on a plane and pitch the man already! In Phoenix, LeBron wouldn’t have to worry about having a sidekick coming with him, he’d already have the league’s best point guard in Steve Nash, Jason Richardson, the deepest bench in the league, an arsenal of three point shooters that will open the lanes wide enough for him to drive a truck through, and a fast break offense that would highlight his high-flying ability more than any other team can. Move Frye to Amare’s slot, put Lopez at Center and you have a championship. Case closed. Pitch the man!
Now on to the best candidates to replace Amare:
- Chris Bosh. Bosh is who Amare should be. He averages 24 points, 10.8 rebounds and one block a game. Bosh is a year younger an inch taller and doesn’t have the injury problems. Bosh seems transfixed on Miami but that’s why someone needs to shine the light from Phoenix and pitch the man!
- Dirk Nowitzki. Dirk may be looking to opt out this postseason. Where better than to go than to join his favorite running mate Steve Nash? With Dirk on the floor the Suns could field five players who can all shoot the three with deadly accuracy if Channing Frye is at center. Take a minute to let that thought wash over you. The downside is Dirk is 32 and we don’t know how much gas is left in the tank but back alongside Nash, it could be the fountain of youth for him. Dirk has hit the glass ceiling in Dallas and at seven feet tall he would make a nice twin tower next to seven footer Robin Lopez at center.
- Carlos Boozer. Boozer is a defensive force. He averages 19.5 points, 11.2 rebounds per game. He can be had for less than the maximum which should make Robert Sarver happy. Boozer is an intimidator and would look really good backing down Bynum and Gasol.
- David Lee. Lee is a bright young stud who averages 20.2 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. He also would not require a max deal.
- Yao Ming. He gets injured too much but he averages 19.7 points, 9.9 rebounds and almost two blocks a game. The Suns game speed may be too fast for him but after a season on the injured list, he would be a great reclamation project.
So there you have it, the top five replacements should Amare leave town. If all else fails, sign Paul Pierce for three years. Keep the bench intact by resigning Amundsen and Frye then add one of these pieces and the Suns will make championship runs in the playoffs. If one of the top three choices sign, a banner will finally find its place into the Purple Palace. Three words, pitch the man!
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