Around the League: Week 10 12/17-12/23

[Superbone]

Ariza in his first game back with Washington played 38 minutes, scored 19 points on 6 of 17 shooting, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 6 steals in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks. F you!

He had similarly gaudy numbers in his first game for us, too. I am not really mad at Ariza for playing well in his opener in Washington. Guys get excited to debut for their new teams. That's human nature. And his comment about the "struggles" here ... well, we ARE struggling. I don't think he said anything particularly offensive or untrue. I do think he could have played harder in his last weeks here, but I can kind of understand a guy his age not wanting to give 110% for a team that is going nowhere and has no core on defense or offense for him to fit into.

I agree with this. By all accounts, the guys liked him and he was always talking to them and helping them out. That doesn't mean it wasn't the right time to trade him though.

I don't agree with all of it. For 15 million, you better bust your butt every night.

[Split T]

Ya, I don’t think he was causing problems, but it did not seem like he was giving full effort.

[AmareIsGod]

What makes everyone think he was a model teammate and someone young players could look up to? Not playing hard, leaving practice before all of the other players, breaking huddles first before his teammates, being unhappy. I'm not sure why everyone seems so quick to give him credit for anything at all. Good riddance.

[BlaCkAdDa]

Just a bad fit and he's actually not that good

[JeremyG]

Ariza in his first game back with Washington played 38 minutes, scored 19 points on 6 of 17 shooting, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 6 steals in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks. F you!

6 steals. LOL.

Im curious what aspect of Phoenix Ariza really didn't appreciate--did he clash with Booker/Ayton, or have a problem with the culture in the locker room? Was it problems with the coach? Did he have a problem with Sarver that wasn't reported? I don't get where all the anger and animosity is coming from.

According to Gambo, he was upset about our league-worst practice facilities, no team chef, etc., and said that if he had visited first he would never have signed here.

[Shabazz]

What makes everyone think he was a model teammate and someone young players could look up to? Not playing hard, leaving practice before all of the other players, breaking huddles first before his teammates, being unhappy. I'm not sure why everyone seems so quick to give him credit for anything at all. Good riddance.

Yup. He complained about his situation, but he was supposed to be part of the solution. If Dragan Bender or Troy Daniels half-ass it, you sit them on the bench. When your prized free agent signing and supposed culture-setter dogs it, the consequences are felt across the entire organization.

[In2ition]

Ariza in his first game back with Washington played 38 minutes, scored 19 points on 6 of 17 shooting, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 6 steals in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks. F you!

6 steals. LOL.

Im curious what aspect of Phoenix Ariza really didn't appreciate--did he clash with Booker/Ayton, or have a problem with the culture in the locker room? Was it problems with the coach? Did he have a problem with Sarver that wasn't reported? I don't get where all the anger and animosity is coming from.

According to Gambo, he was upset about our league-worst practice facilities, no team chef, etc., and said that if he had visited first he would never have signed here.

To Trevor's defense, these things are entirely in Sarver's control. If he wants the Suns to be known as a first class organization, he can't half ass the details. And when they do build the practice facility, it better be fully functional with the new gamification options to stay with the curve.

[JeremyG]

Ariza in his first game back with Washington played 38 minutes, scored 19 points on 6 of 17 shooting, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 6 steals in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks. F you!

6 steals. LOL.

Im curious what aspect of Phoenix Ariza really didn't appreciate--did he clash with Booker/Ayton, or have a problem with the culture in the locker room? Was it problems with the coach? Did he have a problem with Sarver that wasn't reported? I don't get where all the anger and animosity is coming from.

According to Gambo, he was upset about our league-worst practice facilities, no team chef, etc., and said that if he had visited first he would never have signed here.

To Trevor's defense, these things are entirely in Sarver's control. If he wants the Suns to be known as a first class organization, he can't half ass the details. And when they do build the practice facility, it better be fully functional with the new gamification options to stay with the curve.

It kind of scares you when it comes to free agency, doesn't it? Ariza isn't even a star, and he couldn't handle it. And Booker liked Dudley's tweet the other day about the practice facility being the league's worst.

If, under the proposed deal with the city, Sarver is going to pay for the new practice facilities, then why hasn't he already built them by now? Is it just so he would have a negotiating chip with the city for the arena renovations?

This could partially explain why no free agents want to come here.

[bajanguy008]

https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/1075456250513711104

[Shabazz]

https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/1075456250513711104

Good thing we didn’t give up 4 first-rounders and Ayton for him.

[Superbone]

https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/1075456250513711104

Good thing we didn’t give up 4 first-rounders and Ayton for him.

Uh... yeah.

[In2ition]

6 steals. LOL.

Im curious what aspect of Phoenix Ariza really didn't appreciate--did he clash with Booker/Ayton, or have a problem with the culture in the locker room? Was it problems with the coach? Did he have a problem with Sarver that wasn't reported? I don't get where all the anger and animosity is coming from.

According to Gambo, he was upset about our league-worst practice facilities, no team chef, etc., and said that if he had visited first he would never have signed here.

To Trevor's defense, these things are entirely in Sarver's control. If he wants the Suns to be known as a first class organization, he can't half ass the details. And when they do build the practice facility, it better be fully functional with the new gamification options to stay with the curve.

It kind of scares you when it comes to free agency, doesn't it? Ariza isn't even a star, and he couldn't handle it. And Booker liked Dudley's tweet the other day about the practice facility being the league's worst.

If, under the proposed deal with the city, Sarver is going to pay for the new practice facilities, then why hasn't he already built them by now? Is it just so he would have a negotiating chip with the city for the arena renovations?

This could partially explain why no free agents want to come here.

This does kind of scare me. Him using the building of the practice facility in his negotiations with the city come off as a way for him to go cheap on his part of the stadium renovation. Instead of him having to put in $80 mil as a part of the renovation of the arena and the practice facility a separate entity, he is acting like it's part of the deal. He might as well have Talking Stick build the practice facility on the reservation by the resort, unless the players have specifically asked that it be near the arena and downtown.

[Split T]

Lol at Jaylen Brown making the list and Tatum listed as an untouchable.

How TJ doesn’t get honorable mention is interesting.

[Mori Chu]

LMAO @ Jayson Tatum at #9 (above Kevin Durant, James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, among others). When you read Simmons you have to basically delete/omit any Celtics-related content. He's completely incapable of rating them properly.

[LazarusLong]

Re: Simmons ... Celtics fans can be fairly insufferable.

It's OK that Simmons admits his bias, but then he revels in it.
It's like a person admitting he has bad breath, but then comes closer to you to deliberately offend while talking in your face ...

[Superbone]

Ariza in his first game back with Washington played 38 minutes, scored 19 points on 6 of 17 shooting, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 6 steals in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks. F you!

Ariza's 2nd game with Washington: 36 minutes, 15 points, 1-8 from 3, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals in a loss to the Rockets.

[bajanguy008]

poor guy

https://twitter.com/CBSSportsNBA/status/1075838050373197824

[Flagrant Fowl]

Remember when we traded two first round picks to get rid of Kurt Thomas? And he could still actually play in the league. Shit. That sucked.

[bajanguy008]

Just here checking some of the 1st half of this TNT game and seeing some of our Ex Suns getting in on the action
Knight, House n Jones Jr
I mean they weren't exactly bad guys and as I typing CP3 leaves with a hammy so guess Knight looking at some PT

[iLLmatic]

poor guy

https://twitter.com/CBSSportsNBA/status/1075838050373197824

Should have never traded for or resigned him. I'm just glad we cut bait when we did.