The Playoff Race - Update: Rudy Gobert out for 4-6 weeks

Games at home like tonight against the Hawks are must wins. Can’t afford to lose out on easy wins. The hawks are terrible. Great opportunity to work on something new on offense.

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Interesting to note that Portland and Utah, which are notoriously difficult places to play, have already play 8 and 9 home games compared to our 5.

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While that's a good point I could turn it around and say our schedule has been easier than most teams so far. Don't get me wrong, I'm pumped with the way we're hanging in there while Rondo is out, but just like Portland and Utah have had a favorable schedule so far with more home games being played to start the season, we've also had a favorable schedule in that we've played a good bit of bad teams.

We still need to step up our game once Rondo comes back and we really need some backup help for AD/Boogie.

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The backup big needs to be able to play both the C and PF positions. Greg Monroe would be perfect, then we can use our expirings and first to get a wing at the deadline.

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What would you use to get Monroe? I thought the way we almost got him was by trading Asik/Ajinca and a first for him. If we do that, we can't get a wing because we no longer have that first. I have a feeling we'll have to choose one or other.

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Suns are (or were) supposedly discussing a buyout.

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Yeah, we may hit the bench depth lottery twice in one season. I don't see anyone trading for Monroe because he makes $18M. What team (a) wants/needs Monroe, (b) will give up assets for him, and (c) has $15M+ in expiring money to trade?

The only way he would be traded is if the Suns are willing to take on some bad contracts from a playoff team. I do not see them doing that. The Suns have a lot of assets/picks already and cannot use/develop all of their young talent. They are not going to limit their flexibility just for another non-lotto pick. They can always take on bad contracts in the offseason for a late 1st if they want.

Pels have to be in consideration if a buyout occurs thanks to him being a nola guy. Hopefully there is offset language in the buyout so that we cannot be outbid for his services. Also we have to hope he is willing to accept a significant backup role to the dominant bigs we have and resist his agent who probably wants him to be a starter/closer.

Well, that'd be awesome if we could get him then. But I imagine we'd still have to shed some salary before the deadline if we brought him in. I know he'd be cheap, but I doubt he's cheap enough that we'd avoid the tax if we didn't shed salary after getting him.

We might have to use Moore or Clark to dump Ajinca.


Philly - Moore/Mirotic
Chicago - Ajinca/Okafor
Pels - one of Luwawu/Korkmaz

Considering how much Chicago seems to want Okafor this seems like a fair trade, Mirotic for Ajinca/Okafor. Philly gets 2 vets to help them make the playoffs for a toxic guy they've been trying to trade for over a year and a young guy that may not play post trade. The Pels get a prospect and salary relief. I feel like the Pels win this trade and should give up more value but when I see what the other teams get and who "deserves" more than they got, I don't see anyone who really lost considering Okafor's low trade value and Philly trying to win now.

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I think this is pretty much always the case, right?

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Not always. I cannot remember who it was, but recently I remember someone got to double dip.

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It makes our bench that much thinner and it hurts our 3 pt shooting

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You say that today, but think forward a month when Rondo will have been back 3 weeks and hopefully he brings out Good Jrue. Rondo/Nelson should take 48 minutes, maybe more with 3 guard lineups. Holiday should be playing at least 32. That leaves 16 Guard minutes and say 12 3 guard lineup minutes. That's 28 MPG and between Clark/Moore/Allen. So at full health I think they can afford to lose one of Clark/Moore, especially if Miller is still playing well in a month.

I'm really encourage by how this team has played on the road...once Rondo is back they should get more consistent at home

Yeah Moore is easily our 4th best player by.a long shot. Far better than Clark. I'd be very hesitant to lose Moore.