PHX Suns thread 2010-11

[CKR13]

Nash thoroughly disappointed

Steve Nash expressed frustration of the Phoenix Suns' 2010-2011 season and said that his potential assist title for the season is empty. In a short interview with the Arizona Republic, Nash said:

"Maybe when I'm done, but right now, not making the playoffs makes everything feel like it doesn't matter anymore. We went through so much change, and (Boston's Rajon) Rondo was racking up the assists at the start of the year. It's weird to be in this position, but it feels awfully irrelevant and hollow."

[CKR13]

Suns looking forward to next season

Head coach Alvin Gentry and Team President Lon Babby pointed the following to look forward to for the 2011-2012 Season:

+ Steve Nash will still be with the team.

+ Aaron Brooks is a part of the core.

+ Wing scoring wanted

+ Post or Wing player wanted

Phoenix Suns talk about initial offseason targets

The Suns came to work Thursday to talk about next season, whenever that might begin, and how they can avoid being uninvited to the playoff party again.


With a lockout and eventual makeover to the collective-bargaining agreement possible, how the Suns will go about pulling off another franchise turnaround contains some mystery.

Six years ago and last year, the Suns followed non-playoff seasons with conference-finals runs, but it will require some CBA or trade creativity, a wise lottery pick and a possibly a free-agency gamble to pull off something like that again.

The Suns' clear path for now is that they need to add a go-to scorer, more size and improve defensively, in attention and scheme as well as personnel.

"Had we snuck into the playoffs, we would not have been honest with ourselves about where this franchise is and where we need to go," Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby said. "We're going to find the solutions, but we've got a lot of work to do."

The only immediate changes would come with the June 23 draft, where the Suns will pick 13th if their 2.2 percent chance of moving into the top three via the May 17 draft lottery does not occur. The Suns also continue to analyze various scenarios with a new CBA, which will have a lower salary cap to further restrict what the Suns can spend.

"We've got to be little better from the standpoint of being able to have a go-to guy where we don't count on Steve (Nash) to create every play at the end of the game and to make every shot in situations like that," coach Alvin Gentry said. "That's something that we have to look at. We have to get better overall size-wise. But if we add size, it has to be good players. We can't be adding size just to be adding size. We have to continue to get better defensively. I was a little bit disappointed this year, because I thought we took a step back from where we were."

And for those who have not heard Nash and the Suns all season, that was a reference to Nash as part of their future once again. After the season ended with a 40-42 record Wednesday, Nash said, "This is my team. I feel like this is my home as a basketball player, and I want to try to get back to the playoffs with this team."

Gentry opened his media session Thursday by saying, "Yeah, Steve's coming back." Babby again called Nash "the sun, the moon and the stars."

"I just can't imagine a scenario where he won't be back, but there's honestly uncertainty about everything," Babby said. "We want him back. We recognize his value here. We may have to find better ways to utilize him and to utilize the pieces around him. We probably put too much burden on him this year. Anybody who begins the analysis of the Phoenix Suns and where we're headed with anything that suggests Steve Nash is the problem and not the solution is looking at it backward."

Babby said the Suns need wing scoring and a post or wing player who scores in isolation and in crunch time.

Where defensive improvement comes from is more nebulous. They hope emphasis and structure is the answer. But they also must bring in better defenders, a trick when also wanting to add a go-to scorer.

Babby said guard Vince Carter understands that his contract "creates a problem." Carter has an $18 million salary for next season, but the Suns acquired him because he could be waived by June 30 and owed only $4 million.

Babby said he "can't contemplate the notion of going forward without" Grant Hill, the team's only unrestricted free agent, but will relinquish negotiating with Hill because he is his former client and is represented by Babby's former firm.

On trading Goran Dragic and Orlando's No. 23 pick for Aaron Brooks to make a playoff push, Babby said the "jury is out" on the deal, but Gentry said he thinks Brooks is part of their future. Brooks will be a restricted free agent, allowing the Suns to match any offer from another team.

Babby and Gentry independently defended Suns Managing Partner Robert Sarver's commitment to investing in a winning team.

"I have not found anything financially that we've asked him to do, as far as improving the team, that he hasn't been willing to do if it made sense," Gentry said.

-AZCentral

[Khalid80]

Suns' Hill elected to spot on Hall of Fame board

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) -- Grant Hill has been elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's board of governors, the first active player to earn a position.

The Phoenix Suns' forward was elected to a three-year term, the Hall of Fame announced Tuesday. Hill will serve as one of 22 members of the board, chaired by Jerry Colangelo.

Hill is a seven-time All-Star and the NBA's co-rookie of the Year in 1995.

Among the responsibilities of the board of governors are the management of the Hall of Fame and the election process.

http://www.nba.com/2011/news/04/19/hill-hall-of-fame-board.ap/index.html

This just comes to show how the NBA entrusts that Hill is a commendable candidate who is able to take on such a presitigious position

[CKR13]

Nash gets a lap dance from Nicki Minaj

Well, Steve Nash is single after all....

Had the Suns been in the playoffs....

[durden_tyler]

Just trade the guy already, Phoenix. Do yourself and Stevee a favor and just let him go.

[CKR13]

Lesser Twins

Rumor has it that the Phoenix Suns are scouting the Morris twins of Kansas that will be in the coming NBA draft. Marcus Morris and Markieff Morris, either of the two could be serviceable to the rebuilding Suns. Let us hope that the Suns are not granted the lesser twin this time.

Where back in the 2008 NBA draft, the Suns selected Robin Lopez and Robin's twin, Brook Lopez went to the New Jersey Nets. Years forward, Phoenix got the lesser twin. Pray that they won't get the lesser twin come 2011.

[CKR13]

Steve Nash Documentary? If so, Finally!

This has been circulating on youtube, that is said to be a teaser for an Official Steve Nash Documentary that is rumored to be in the production stage. The Clip opens with Actor Owen Wilson, a self confessed Steve Nash fan talks about Nash and after the cut, the scene heads to Nash.

[CKR13]

Pietrus opts in

Guard Mickael Pietrus has exercised the fourth year Player Option on his contract.

[CKR13]

Suns add defensive coach

Phoenix Suns head coach Alvin Gentry has formally announced that former Houston Rockets assistant coach Elston Turner has joined his staff.

[CKR13]

Nash willing to play overseas

The agent of Steve Nash has told the Arizona Republic newspaper that Nash is considering to play in Europe or China if the lockout breaches the date of the NBA regular season.

[CKR13]

Gortat not signed in Russia

Contrary to the reports that center Marcin Gortat has signed with Spartak SP, the agent of Gortat Guy Zucker confirmed that the news is not true.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rumors/post/Suns-Gortat-not-headed-to-Russia?urn=nba-370396