Boris Diaw, Raja Bell, and Sean Singletary to the Bobcats. Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley to the Suns plus a 2010 second round pick. Wow.
You know what? That was EXACTLY what the Suns needed to do and kudos to Steve Kerr for having the balls to pull it off. And part of me thinks there is more to come...
Raja Bell has been complaining quite a bit this year, and that's really made me mad. Look, your role is to play defense and attempt to shut down the other team's main scorer. You haven't made shots hen they're open. Stop complaining. Boris Diaw, on the other hand, cannot co-exist with Amare. Just can't. He was an incredible player when Amare was out for the year but the other years he has proven he cannot play with Amare. One good game out of 15 at 9 million dollars a year isn't going to cut it.
This trade just rejuvenated the Suns. Last night at the game, we scored 120 points and there wasn't any jubilation. Suns fans feel that they were closer to winning two years ago and were desperately waiting to see a glimpse that we still have a shot.
Here is why I love this trade and what it does for the Suns:
- Gives us a 2 guard that is 4 years younger
- Gives us a 2 guard that can create his own shot
- Gives us a 2 guard that scores 20 points a game
- Gives us a 2 guard that spread the floor and isn't one dimensional
- We don't lose anything on the defensive end
- This will give Robin Lopez and Goran Dragic more minutes
- Jared Dudley, the Suns say, could be a starter in another year or two (see below)
- Boris Diaw wasn't working
- Gets rid of a "cancer" in the locker room that was Bell. Suns insiders say it was affecting the rest of the team and their play
- Gives us an insane trio or athletic slashers - Jason Richardson, Grant Hill, Matt Barnes - that's a tough match-up for any defense
- Nash has more players to run the floor with
- Gives us more speed and athleticism on both offense and defense
- Gives us our identity back
- It really makes them a complicated team for opponents to cover. Richardson is currently shooting 46% from three point land and is not nearly as one-dimensional as Bell was.
- We just got more athletic and younger.
Something in me says this will work. Greg Esposito at Fanster.com says the trade is this year's version of Brown/Gasol.
I sure hope he's right.
Video of Jared Dudley:
Video of Jason Richardson:
8 Comments:
I like this trade for you guys. I liked Jared Dudley a lot at BC and think he could be solid.
Overall, I love this trade! We traded a $9m/yr role player and an aging 2 guard for an explosive scorer who should fit right in on our team. Dudley remains a question mark. My only concerns are:
-Who is going to back up Amare? We're already thin the frontcount with Shaq sitting every couple games...
-We have a glut of wing players - Richardson, Hill, Barnes, Barbosa, Tucker, Dudley. Could we go small with Dudley at the 4? I'm not too familiar with him...
I'm in a wait and see mode. Boris was actually playing really well off the bench, and Raja was the heart of this team.
We're pretty thin now too.
Thanks for everyone's comments. I think we aren't as thin as people think and that J-Rich is better at 'd' than people think. We are one hell of an athletic team now.
Bell was complaining. Diaw can't play with Amare. Something needed to happen. Keep in mind, J-Rich scored 20 in Charlotte...not a good team with virtually no pg.
Sitting at the Suns game, I could tell Diaw was not dedicated or really took things as seriously as he needed to for getting 9 million a year.
Since the salaries are a wash, I think J-Rich will provide a HUGE scoring option and a clutch shooter.
I also think people will underestimate the impact that having a true scorer will have on Nash, similar to Joe Johnson.
You will soon come to learn that J-Rich cannot create his own shot. He shoots a lot, but his handle is weak. He's a pretty one dimensional player too. Not saying Phoenix made a bad trade, they made a great trade. But if you think J-Rich and Dudley are the missing pieces to a championship contender...your thinking is highly suspect.
And, the Suns are a really athletic team now? Grant Hill and Matt Barnes are super athletic? Come on dude. This isn't 1998. Grant Hill is a great player, but super athletic? You've got Amare and Richardson in the athlete department. Maybe Tucker. That's it.
Finally, Jared Dudley could have started on the Bobcats. Maybe the Thunder. Maybe the Grizz. Those are the only teams he maybe, emphasis on the maybe, could start for.
West Coast Slant,
Thanks for reading. I get what you're trying to say.
First, no where did I say this makes them a championship contender. But it does make them better than before.
J-Rich is younger, athletic, and can create his own shot more so than Bell. Our wing players (along with Barbosa)are as solid as they come.
As far as the Suns being an athletic team, how can anyone argue against that who understands basketball? I realize it's not 1998 but Hill can still score and he's proven that. Barnes had 25 and 10 against the Lakers (3rd best defense in the league). Plus, J-Rich is more athletic than Diaw and Bell.
Furthermore, Diaw and Bell were having very sub-par years. Bell is known as a defender but he has clearly lost a step. Diaw is the same 'ol Diaw - one day great, then next 14 not.
As for Dudley, the Suns are high on him but not for a couple years. I didn't say I think he could start now, not by any means. I'm not sure he'll get minutes at all.
Hey Ben,
I first want to say GREAT BLOG. This place beats the hell out of Dark Side of the Sun and I'm glad to have found an alternative. On the trade, though, I don't know. Its really hard to see players you love leave like this.
I had the Bucks game on DVR and finally watched it last night. Bell's three in the fourth quarter rang the chime for the last time and my heart sank. And despite FREQUENT missteps I was always a fan and apologist of Boris as well. I agree these players weren't at the top of their game anymore. Even still, do you solve every attitude and play problem with a trade?
MichiganSunsFan,
Thanks so much for reading and I'm glad you like the blog!
Regarding the trade, I'm just excited to see how they look tonight. It's been a while since we've had such a dynamic player at the 2 spot. Plus, I'm excited to see Jared Dudley since to be honest, I don't know much about him other than the Suns brass are high on him.
Shaq will be out tonight but I'm really excited, for the first time all season.
Post a Comment