NBA Blockbuster: Richardson to Suns, Bell Shipped Out

[FanIn80]

http://www.tsn.ca/nba/story/?id=2591...headlines_main

To Phx:
Jason Richardson (!)
Jared Dudley
2nd Round Pick

To Cha:
Raja Bell (!)
Boris Diaw (!)
Sean Singletary

Edit: [snip] Trading Bell (especially after trading away Marion last year) will really kick their already lousy D in the teeth.

Hopefully Richardson is worth it.

[Philly06Cup]

I blame the Suns faltering on Shaq. A big lumbering guy put into a run and gun team. Doesn't fit. So now they've lost their identity. Diaw is expendable with Shaq, and Raja was unhappy, and doesn't fit in the half-court style. Richardson should help that.

[killer_carlson]

wow...

Diaw and Bell would fit the Raptors perfectly. I dunno if colangelo has the horses to get it done though. he won't trade Bargiani, Bosh, or Calderon, but the rest of the roster is crap.

[Jason14h]

Phoenix absolutely rapes Char! Richardson is exactly the type of player the raptors needed. He shoot 45% from 3, and can put the ball on the ground and drive.

Bell is 32, and getting worst every year. Diaw's play style reminds me of Bag's a bit, mostly the confusion, bad D, and bad shot selection.

I wonder what the Raptors would have had to trade to get Rich? Parker and ???

[Hustle]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Phoenix absolutely rapes Char! Richardson is exactly the type of player the raptors needed. He shoot 45% from 3, and can put the ball on the ground and drive.

Bell is 32, and getting worst every year. Diaw's play style reminds me of Bag's a bit, mostly the confusion, bad D, and bad shot selection.

I wonder what the Raptors would have had to trade to get Rich? Parker and ???

I've never been a fan of Diaw. He's got all the raw skill in the world, but can never seem to put it together. It's the loss of Bell that might be interesting. I love Richardson as a player, and the guy is a game-changer IMO.... but the Suns have a god-awful defense and losing Bell doesn't help that.

Long story short, it's an interesting move.. but I don't think it helps them get over the hump against the other powerhouse Western teams.

[Jason14h]

Bell's D is a far cry from what it was 2 years ago. He is an above average defender at best.

If Amare would stop pouting this team could be compitive with the powerhouses, but I agree, I see a 7-8 finish for them and first round loss

[Hustle]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Bell's D is a far cry from what it was 2 years ago. He is an above average defender at best.

If Amare would stop pouting this team could be compitive with the powerhouses, but I agree, I see a 7-8 finish for them and first round loss

Yep, Bell's play has regressed as of late. That said, an average defender would make him among the best on the Suns (and i'm saying this as a Suns fan ). I love watching the Run and Gun game the Suns play, and Richardson is perfect for that.... i'm just a bit concerned on the defensive side of things. Bell's defense has regressed but he brought that mentality to the team.

I just don't know how Phoenix can play this upbeat ball and beat the Lakers, Hornets, Spurs etc in a 7 game series.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Technically, Diaw isn't that big of a deal when they still have Barbosa...

One's a guard, one's a forward... so you'll have to explain that one to me.

Originally Posted by Philly06Cup

I blame the Suns faltering on Shaq. A big lumbering guy put into a run and gun team. Doesn't fit. So now they've lost their identity. Diaw is expendable with Shaq, and Raja was unhappy, and doesn't fit in the half-court style. Richardson should help that.

You can track it back further to the conflict between GM Steve Kerr and (former) coach Mike D'Antoni. Kerr wanted to assert himself as a new GM, and acquiring Shaq was his idea. D'Antoni was against it, but Kerr did it anyways. End result was D'Antoni's departure, and that was where they really lost their identity, as it came from D'Antoni's system.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by SebC

One's a guard, one's a forward... so you'll have to explain that one to me.

Yeah, I have no clue. For some reason, I thought I remembered him coming off the bench for Nash, before Barbosa really took off.

You're right, though. Of course.

[Iggyscoresgoals]

Its not all Shaq's fault, the Suns just don't have the right roster to play the type of system it takes to win. Matrix fit there system well, and you trade him for a lumbering Shaq. Now they hire a coach who wants to run a half court game, which they cannot do, and now Kerr trades one of his best defensive players in Bell for a scorer in Richardson. This team is confused, they tried to build a new identity, and now they scrap it this quick into the season, and get a guy that fits the run and gun style.