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3 years in the making

The year was 2013 and the Suns had parted with their 1^st round pick to get Gerald Green.  He didn’t perform nearly as well as Phoenix had hoped, and that pick ended up being the 21^st pick.  In that year’s draft, a young man from the University of Michigan was selected with the 17^th pick by New Orleans, a Mr. Timothy Hardaway, Jr.  The Suns had been working the phones all morning, in an attempt to try to get in a position to pick Hardaway and had 2 potential suitors, but Tim would have to have fallen into the 20s for the Suns to have a shot. 

The Suns did attempt to procure Tim Hardaway, Jr from New Orleans numerous times over the year and a half he was with the team, but the owner at the time was steadfast against moving him.  Or, maybe he was just against moving him to me, LOL!

Then, he ended up with Indiana in an unbelievably lopsided trade that helps secure a playoff spot for the Pacers.  The Suns approached GM Sheed quite often, but they just could not connect the dots and make a trade happen.  Then, the Suns had to watch yet another team deal for Tim.  The Pistons traded for him, but the GM that got him was not going to be there long.  The Suns had made efforts to get Hardaway yet again, but the GM had already left his position.  GM Laddas took over the Pistons and soon after, Hardaway was in the wind, off to San Antonio. 

Finally, the stars seemed to align, along with Phoenix’s glut of wing players making a trade not only possible, but actual. 

So, let’s look at what the Suns traded away to get their “Eleanor”, C.J. Miles.

C.J. Miles has been with the Suns since early 2015, when he was traded to Phoenix along with Kemba Walker and Kosta Koufos in a multi team megadeal including Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Miami.  Names being thrown around were Tim Duncan, Rajon Rondo, and Draymond Green.

Suns management is sad to see Miles leave, but CJ has seen his numbers steadily decline in Phoenix.  There have been grumblings that he may decline his player option and chase the big money that this year’s free agency seems to promise.  His 3-point marksmanship will be missed and the Suns wish CJ the best, giving him an opportunity to chase a ring with a true title contender, instead of struggling to get into the playoffs with this ragamuffin bunch of current Suns.

So, we move on to our newly acquired Sun, Tim Hardaway, Jr.  We expect that Tim will get about 20 minutes per game in a 6^th man type role, playing SG with some SF mixed in.  We believe that his playmaking ability should help the Suns 2^nd unit, which has seemed to struggle at times, with no true playmaker off the bench.

Phoenix also received Spencer Dinwiddie in the deal.  Spencer is a 6’6 combo guard that will likely be a reserve player for Phoenix.  He is on a multiyear deal, so Phoenix will hope to see him develop and earn some playing time.  GM Pennywise has mentioned that he would not be averse to re-trading Dinwiddie within the 48-hour window, if a team in need of this type of guard were to come knocking.