05-03-2020, 10:12 AM
(This post was last modified: 05-03-2020, 11:53 AM by DanSchwartzgan.)
I'll start by saying I'm a big Bridges fan. But, we can forget about that one ever happening.
Let's review why Hollinger (not anyone on this board, but former NBA executive John Hollinger) thought Oubre might be available in a trade to Dallas for Wright, #31 and the Jackson salary filler. Note that this was on a Phoenix site, not a Dallas site and no one has objected in the comments section of the article. Here is what Hollinger said:
"That's an interesting proposal. Would need another small contract to make the $$ work (Justin Jackson, let's say). Mavs have Golden State's 2nd rd pick (likely 31) to even out the deal. Wright would be a great fit as combo guard off bench."
Here is the thinking as to why moving Oubre is thought to be a good idea:
1. There is a logjam at SF on the Suns roster. Bridges and Johnson are being forced to get minutes at PF to get on the floor.
2. Phoenix can control Bridges and Johnson at a reasonable cost while building around Booker and Ayton. Phoenix doesn't need to spend $15-$20 million on Oubre to fill this spot. It is already filled with people already on the team.
3. Phoenix can not control Oubre and there is a good chance he walks for free in a year. He can't be extended (as was wrongly stated here) and they have no matching rights to make him stay. So, the theory is it is better to get something for him now instead of waiting and seeing him walk for nothing.
4. Phoenix has a large hole at PF and 3rd guard (and no, there isn't a young "lottery" guard waiting in the wings for this spot as was incorrectly stated in this thread). There is no good reason to spend big on Oubre when Bridges is arguably better and the money can be spent to fill a greater need.
5. Phoenix has the cap room to fill one of those holes and the trade of Oubre to fill another.
If you read any of the Phoenix rumors, there are all sorts of other Oubre trade ideas out there...including Aaron Gordon. It is reasonable to say such and such deal is better than Wright/31/JJ. But, I've seen nothing to refute Hollinger's position that such a package isn't reasonable. It fills one of their holes with a MLE type cost (what you would expect to pay for a good third guard), It relieves a log-jam at a position without eating into 2020 space. It allows them to have space in either 2020 or 2021 to fill the huge hole at PF. It gives them a pick that many consider to be more valuable than a late first (especially to a cheap owner like Sarver).
I think the question for Phoenix isn't whether they would do this. I think it is whether they can find something better. Recall that the team that gets Oubre also doesn't have any matching rights...just EB. It is hard to see superior assets coming to Phoenix unless those assets are in the form of a fairly high dollar player that the other team wants to be rid of.
Let's review why Hollinger (not anyone on this board, but former NBA executive John Hollinger) thought Oubre might be available in a trade to Dallas for Wright, #31 and the Jackson salary filler. Note that this was on a Phoenix site, not a Dallas site and no one has objected in the comments section of the article. Here is what Hollinger said:
"That's an interesting proposal. Would need another small contract to make the $$ work (Justin Jackson, let's say). Mavs have Golden State's 2nd rd pick (likely 31) to even out the deal. Wright would be a great fit as combo guard off bench."
Here is the thinking as to why moving Oubre is thought to be a good idea:
1. There is a logjam at SF on the Suns roster. Bridges and Johnson are being forced to get minutes at PF to get on the floor.
2. Phoenix can control Bridges and Johnson at a reasonable cost while building around Booker and Ayton. Phoenix doesn't need to spend $15-$20 million on Oubre to fill this spot. It is already filled with people already on the team.
3. Phoenix can not control Oubre and there is a good chance he walks for free in a year. He can't be extended (as was wrongly stated here) and they have no matching rights to make him stay. So, the theory is it is better to get something for him now instead of waiting and seeing him walk for nothing.
4. Phoenix has a large hole at PF and 3rd guard (and no, there isn't a young "lottery" guard waiting in the wings for this spot as was incorrectly stated in this thread). There is no good reason to spend big on Oubre when Bridges is arguably better and the money can be spent to fill a greater need.
5. Phoenix has the cap room to fill one of those holes and the trade of Oubre to fill another.
If you read any of the Phoenix rumors, there are all sorts of other Oubre trade ideas out there...including Aaron Gordon. It is reasonable to say such and such deal is better than Wright/31/JJ. But, I've seen nothing to refute Hollinger's position that such a package isn't reasonable. It fills one of their holes with a MLE type cost (what you would expect to pay for a good third guard), It relieves a log-jam at a position without eating into 2020 space. It allows them to have space in either 2020 or 2021 to fill the huge hole at PF. It gives them a pick that many consider to be more valuable than a late first (especially to a cheap owner like Sarver).
I think the question for Phoenix isn't whether they would do this. I think it is whether they can find something better. Recall that the team that gets Oubre also doesn't have any matching rights...just EB. It is hard to see superior assets coming to Phoenix unless those assets are in the form of a fairly high dollar player that the other team wants to be rid of.