Phoenix Suns

[Ian Noble]

Phoenix Suns Open!
The Phoenix Suns are looking for a new GM!

Step 1: Reply to this thread to Apply
Outline your experience with the NBA and fantasy sports, which team you support, where you live etc.
Describe your plans for the Suns if you were to take over as GM.
Detail your experiences here at D5 so far, if any.

Step 2: Applications Close
Sunday 15th August

Step 3: GM Voting
Once applications close a poll will be added to this thread.
All existing D5 GMs will be able to vote to decide which application they like best.

Step 4: Voting Closes
Sunday 22nd August
The new Phoenix Suns GM will be announced!

What are we looking for:
Engagement, Activity and Knowledge
Someone who can show they will be an active member of Dynasty Five for a long time, to make the team their own, build a great dynasty and understand that it will be a job that will take many years! We want someone who wants to become part of the semi-roleplaying atmosphere of being a real NBA GM here at D5, who gets involved in rating players, day-to-day discussion and even posts media centre articles such as rankings, jersey switches, analytics, scouting reports or stories.

note: even if you miss out on this team, showing you're a committed, hard working GM will put you first in line for any future team openings and ahead of everyone else on the waiting list.

[Brad Stevens]

I would love the opportunity to join D5 & be the GM of the Phoenix Suns. I’ve been doing sim leagues for around 12 years & it is something I really enjoy. Some of you may know me as Pistol Pete from D720. I grew up in New Orleans thus I’m a Pelicans fan but was a MJ/Iverson fan growing up as the Hornets (now Pelicans) moved to town when I was in high school. I’m pretty analytics heavy as statistics is always something I’ve tinkered with on the side. I was even the statistics guy for a semi-pro basketball team for a couple of seasons.


I feel like my experience in D720 will serve well in taking over Phoenix as it is a similar scenario where I’m not starting with much. The team I had was pretty bare but I turned them in to a perennial playoff team that was competing every year. There was no easy fix but it took consistent value moves. I already have a system in place for draft values, Free Agency planning, etc. so I can hit the ground running there. I also helped in D720 as a PA, Trade Committee, enforcing rules, etc. so I can help in that capacity here as well. I feel like my system is unique, I respond quickly to inquiries, got along with everyone, & I can help the league.


I signed on as Utah Assistant GM in order to help Tim Duncan with whatever is needed & familiarize myself with rules until I got an opportunity to apply. I will be here even if I do not get the Phoenix GM gig as this is something I enjoy and will be here for the long haul in order to get a spot.

Additional Note - I think the primary focus for the initial 1-2 years is moving for the players you believe in but restricting yourself to the age window of the core (essentially rookie deal players).  Bad contracts can be taken for assets if the value is there as well.  FA is pretty limited during this period unless a circumstantial opportunity (usually applies to big markets) or possibly a guy coming off a rookie deal that is promising.  Once the core is built then win now moves can be made via trades/FA.  Having said that, I always try to "have my cake & eat it too".  Meaning I always try to simultaneously compete (after the initial rebuild) & build through the draft without sacrificing too much of one for the other.  This usually means a longer route to the top but also ensures you stay there longer.

[papab4yah]

Thank You Ian Noble for the Email and Invite

Wanted to make a elaborate post about why I want the suns Gm job as I love a under dog story but seeing there is gm's here that have been assisting, I am going to humbly bow out of this one but still keep me on the list or if anybody is looking for a wild card of a team assistant I'm down for that as well.

If my opinion counts for anything, I gm'ed with Pistol Pete and he's a good gm and very reliable and is fit for the job.

                                                                                                                                            Penny The Hardway

[Hanamichi Sakuragi]

Aug 7, 2021 22:10:26 GMT Brad Stevens said:

I would love the opportunity to join D5 & be the GM of the Phoenix Suns. I’ve been doing sim leagues for around 12 years & it is something I really enjoy. Some of you may know me as Pistol Pete from D720. I grew up in New Orleans thus I’m a Pelicans fan but was a MJ/Iverson fan growing up as the Hornets (now Pelicans) moved to town when I was in high school. I’m pretty analytics heavy as statistics is always something I’ve tinkered with on the side. I was even the statistics guy for a semi-pro basketball team for a couple of seasons.


I feel like my experience in D720 will serve well in taking over Phoenix as it is a similar scenario where I’m not starting with much. The team I had was pretty bare but I turned them in to a perennial playoff team that was competing every year. There was no easy fix but it took consistent value moves. I already have a system in place for draft values, Free Agency planning, etc. so I can hit the ground running there. I also helped in D720 as a PA, Trade Committee, enforcing rules, etc. so I can help in that capacity here as well. I feel like my system is unique, I respond quickly to inquiries, got along with everyone, & I can help the league.


I signed on as Utah Assistant GM in order to help Tim Duncan with whatever is needed & familiarize myself with rules until I got an opportunity to apply. I will be here even if I do not get the Phoenix GM gig as this is something I enjoy and will be here for the long haul in order to get a spot.

Are you going to tank for 3 years or 6 years?

[Brad Stevens]

Aug 7, 2021 23:16:44 GMT Hanamichi Sakuragi said:

Aug 7, 2021 22:10:26 GMT Brad Stevens said:

I would love the opportunity to join D5 & be the GM of the Phoenix Suns. I’ve been doing sim leagues for around 12 years & it is something I really enjoy. Some of you may know me as Pistol Pete from D720. I grew up in New Orleans thus I’m a Pelicans fan but was a MJ/Iverson fan growing up as the Hornets (now Pelicans) moved to town when I was in high school. I’m pretty analytics heavy as statistics is always something I’ve tinkered with on the side. I was even the statistics guy for a semi-pro basketball team for a couple of seasons.


I feel like my experience in D720 will serve well in taking over Phoenix as it is a similar scenario where I’m not starting with much. The team I had was pretty bare but I turned them in to a perennial playoff team that was competing every year. There was no easy fix but it took consistent value moves. I already have a system in place for draft values, Free Agency planning, etc. so I can hit the ground running there. I also helped in D720 as a PA, Trade Committee, enforcing rules, etc. so I can help in that capacity here as well. I feel like my system is unique, I respond quickly to inquiries, got along with everyone, & I can help the league.


I signed on as Utah Assistant GM in order to help Tim Duncan with whatever is needed & familiarize myself with rules until I got an opportunity to apply. I will be here even if I do not get the Phoenix GM gig as this is something I enjoy and will be here for the long haul in order to get a spot.

Are you going to tank for 3 years or 6 years?

I'm not one for tanking.  My previous team was forced to "tank" for 1 1/2 seasons (took over midway through one).  We made the playoffs every year after that.  This team is in a forced tank obviously but the turnaround may not be as dire as it seems once the work is put in.  I honestly feel like this team has more assets than what I took over in d720.  The picks & cap space is there as well.  Those are more difficult to overcome in my opinion.

[greatman]

Good Day!

As a former Dynasty Five, Dynasty Six, i would like to claim Phoenix Suns as my team. Ian Noble may forget who I am because that was long time ago. I am very active when it comes to this league. I am currently GM of NBA GM League. You can Miege there how active I am when it comes to everything.

I will bring this team to a championship. I will make this team the best team ever in this league. I am going to be the best GM ever in this league.

[Hanamichi Sakuragi]

Aug 7, 2021 23:38:12 GMT Brad Stevens said:

Aug 7, 2021 23:16:44 GMT Hanamichi Sakuragi said:

Are you going to tank for 3 years or 6 years?

I'm not one for tanking.  My previous team was forced to "tank" for 1 1/2 seasons (took over midway through one).  We made the playoffs every year after that.  This team is in a forced tank obviously but the turnaround may not be as dire as it seems once the work is put in.  I honestly feel like this team has more assets than what I took over in d720.  The picks & cap space is there as well.  Those are more difficult to overcome in my opinion.

Ian Noble this guy is not for tanking. Please don't pick him. Thanks.

[Ian Noble]

Brad Stevens please ignore Hanamichi Sakuragi, you can build your team any way you like.

[Bill Walton]

Hi folks,

I'd like to be the Suns GM. I'm the most tenured GM from D720 (Brian Scalabrine, Toronto Raptors).

I'd like to say a couple things of the top:

1. Brad Stevens, who is Pistol Pete in D720, is a great GM. We've absolutely done trades together, but for me, he fits in the category of "Damn--I like this guy but it's hard to get a deal done because he's too smart to lose a trade." He's consistently done a great job with the D720 wizards, and I think any league is lucky to have him.

2. I think the Suns are a great fit for the things I've done and practiced as a GM. I'm not out here trying to prove I'm the best, but for what I'm good at, I think the Suns make sense. I'll outline why below.

I started with the D720 Raptors in 2014. That began with a fantasy draft where I had the 28th pick in the draft. My team was built around Klay Thompson and Chris Bosh. For a couple years, we were at the top of the east. Then, as you might expect, the Bosh blood clot really threw a wrench in my plans. From there, we started the rebuild. Suffice to say, I have a lot of experience tanking. I've secured a top 3 lottery odds multiple times, but besides that, I've always left a space inside my squad to evolve.

What do I mean by that? Well, I think the best thing you can have as a GM of a rebuilding team is a willingness to pivot, and pivot back. We made the playoffs last year in D720, but this year, it looks like we have top 4 lottery odds. This is in some sense chaotic, but also, by design.

My biggest principle as a GM is that you should always gain value. Sometimes, that means buying a high level player when he's available, and selling him later, for a higher price. While I've done it with players who are better--the idea fits the mold of Presti with OKC... He got paid to take CP3 for Westbrook, and then got paid for CP3... Besides that, got paid to take Horford, and later sold Horford for profit. The other end of the spectrum is making smart fringe moves--you should be able to identify a value contract before it's valuable. You should be able to draft rotation players and sell them within the first two years of their contract, and have gained value. You should be able to be the first person to identify a guy who is going to have an increased role that makes him more valuable, and sell him when he pops. I've done all of these things. Not without mis-steps, but if you don't try to make these trades, they don't fall into your lap.

The Suns are bad. Quite bad. They don't have a star--not even close. Scottie Barnes is a nice prospect, but he needs work and improvement. He's less valuable than the fifth pick. If it were me, I probably would have seen what was available to trade back. Picks are kind of like buying a car and driving it off the lot, most of the time, the minute you drive it off the lot (take the pick) you've lost value that you can't replace.

With the Suns being a rebuilding team--my plan for them is simply stated, but difficult to execute:

1. Lose a ton of games (this I am certain I could do, I'm elite at this)

2. Acquire value before it's valuable (sometimes this is vets, sometimes it's UDFA, you have to take A LOT of swings before it works, but when it does... You've turned nothing into something, and that's the biggest success you can have while rebuilding.)

3. Once you have a young star, start building out the timeline around his second contract window. There's a great opportunity for a team that exists around a young star --and it requires being set enough to attract free agents to join a youngster before his second contract is on the books. It's not enough to just have the youngster, you need to have some other attractive pieces besides that, so the FA feels he's not just signed on to play with a single player. He just... Won't do that. It's imperative that before that restricted free agency happens for your young star, you have enough of a team to be able to lure a high tier FA.

I've made misses, but I've also made huge successes as a GM. Don't quote me exactly--but as far as I remember, I drafted: Brogdon at 33, Brandon Clarke at 10, Lauri Markannen at 10, Duncan Robinson at 53, SGA at 12, Haliburton at 11, LeVert at 22, Maxey at 21, Thybulle at 20 or something, and others... I don't have a perfect track record, but damn if I haven't made some great picks. Besides that, at this point in my experience--I want to use cap space to it's highest potential... Sometimes that's your classic "get paid to take a horrible contract" --which I've done plenty of times. But it's just as important, in my opinion, to be open to making FA signings that are under market and will be desirable to contending teams. I'm here for that.

Losing games is EASY, rebuilding is hard. I've done a lot of rebuilding, and I think my understanding of how a rebuild should be done is unique, guided by experience, and pointedly specific. I think that makes me a great candidate for the position with the Suns.

Besides that... I don't know how many folks in this league are present in D720, but I suspect anyone who is would vouch that I'm a VERY active GM. I suspect I'm in the top 10% of trades made every season, and I've been a GM that is quick to comment on threads and interact with others very consistently.

I'm present, I have a clear idea of how to rebuild, and I'll be very active in the league. I know Brad is a great candidate, and I'm sure others will apply as well, but I think my skill set matches the situation in Phoenix, and I'm a quality candidate as well.

[Reggie Miller]

Good day.

I received an email from our dear commissioner that the Phoenix Suns have a vacancy. I would like to apply as the franchise's GM.

Before I begin, just want to clear some things during my brief stint as New York Knicks GM. What happened in my first foray as D5 GM was a case of oversight from my end.

There were no updates in the summer league and the status of the coming NBA season was still up in the air. I inadvertently neglected checking on my team. I would like to rectify that if the league allows me for a second chance to be able to handle a team.

As for PHX, I would like to first point out that I am an offseason GM. This means that given cap and roster space, I would be aggressive in pursuing free agents. That is my draft style on an S1 league; my philosophy's the same with offseason FAs. This is opposite of what I was supposed to do with NYK, which had a decent lineup that had several guaranteed contracts.

Back to the Suns, there's no way to go but up. Jared Montini was one of the few GMs who reached out to me and guided me here at D5. I would do him justice by bringing his franchise to such great heights.

That would be all. Here's to hoping you consider my application and pitch.

[James Kay]

Aug 8, 2021 9:25:50 GMT Bill Walton said:

If it were me, I probably would have seen what was available to trade back.

....

3. Once you have a young star, start building out the timeline around his second contract window.
...

as far as I remember, I drafted: Brogdon at 33, Brandon Clarke at 10, Lauri Markannen at 10, Duncan Robinson at 53, SGA at 12, Haliburton at 11, LeVert at 22, Maxey at 21, Thybulle at 20 or something, and others... I don't have a perfect track record, but damn if I haven't made some great picks.

Just thought this was funny. Are any of these guys stars? Maybe SGA. Hard to acquire stars if you keep trading back, and I dont think Clarke, Lauri, Duncan, Levert, Thybulle, etc are stars to build around. Where does this young star materialize from if you keep trading back? IMO you have to swing big sometimes to get that first star, but in any case I thought this was a funny resume to bring up in conjunction with the claim that you need a big star that you somehow acquire by trading back.

Also funny to note that this is pretty much the exact playbook Jared has been doing. I think he's had his pick twice - in 2018 and in 2020. He picked Bamba at 4 in 2018 which is leaning towards bust but at 23 years old theres still some room for the pick to pay off, and in in 2020 he traded down from 10 to a high-risk high-reward pick with GSW's 2021 1st (which did not pay off, lol. Curry and KD both stayed healthy and actually won the chip here). So he effectively traded 2020 #10 for 2021 28 and 34.

All in all, it sounds easy to lose, get picks, get stars - but Jared's been trying to lose for 4 years straight. You (or some other GM) will at least have the blessing of all your picks, but Jared's tanking squad somehow almost made the playoffs last year.  And when he finally got the team bad enough to be the top odds of the lottery, he slid down to #5.

[Hanamichi Sakuragi]

Aug 10, 2021 0:08:37 GMT James Kay said:

Aug 8, 2021 9:25:50 GMT Bill Walton said:

If it were me, I probably would have seen what was available to trade back.

....

3. Once you have a young star, start building out the timeline around his second contract window.
...

as far as I remember, I drafted: Brogdon at 33, Brandon Clarke at 10, Lauri Markannen at 10, Duncan Robinson at 53, SGA at 12, Haliburton at 11, LeVert at 22, Maxey at 21, Thybulle at 20 or something, and others... I don't have a perfect track record, but damn if I haven't made some great picks.

Just thought this was funny. Are any of these guys stars? Maybe SGA. Hard to acquire stars if you keep trading back, and I dont think Clarke, Lauri, Duncan, Levert, Thybulle, etc are stars to build around. Where does this young star materialize from if you keep trading back? IMO you have to swing big sometimes to get that first star, but in any case I thought this was a funny resume to bring up in conjunction with the claim that you need a big star that you somehow acquire by trading back.

Also funny to note that this is pretty much the exact playbook Jared has been doing. I think he's had his pick twice - in 2018 and in 2020. He picked Bamba at 4 in 2018 which is leaning towards bust but at 23 years old theres still some room for the pick to pay off, and in in 2020 he traded down from 10 to a high-risk high-reward pick with GSW's 2021 1st (which did not pay off, lol. Curry and KD both stayed healthy and actually won the chip here). So he effectively traded 2020 #10 for 2021 28 and 34.

All in all, it sounds easy to lose, get picks, get stars - but Jared's been trying to lose for 4 years straight. You (or some other GM) will at least have the blessing of all your picks, but Jared's tanking squad somehow almost made the playoffs last year.  And when he finally got the team bad enough to be the top odds of the lottery, he slid down to #5.

Oh come on James. Stop attacking Tanking. Tanking is the only way to go. It is the real competition here in D5. 

[Bill Walton]

Aug 10, 2021 0:08:37 GMT James Kay said:

Aug 8, 2021 9:25:50 GMT Bill Walton said:

If it were me, I probably would have seen what was available to trade back.

....

3. Once you have a young star, start building out the timeline around his second contract window.
...

as far as I remember, I drafted: Brogdon at 33, Brandon Clarke at 10, Lauri Markannen at 10, Duncan Robinson at 53, SGA at 12, Haliburton at 11, LeVert at 22, Maxey at 21, Thybulle at 20 or something, and others... I don't have a perfect track record, but damn if I haven't made some great picks.

Just thought this was funny. Are any of these guys stars? Maybe SGA. Hard to acquire stars if you keep trading back, and I dont think Clarke, Lauri, Duncan, Levert, Thybulle, etc are stars to build around. Where does this young star materialize from if you keep trading back? IMO you have to swing big sometimes to get that first star, but in any case I thought this was a funny resume to bring up in conjunction with the claim that you need a big star that you somehow acquire by trading back.

Also funny to note that this is pretty much the exact playbook Jared has been doing. I think he's had his pick twice - in 2018 and in 2020. He picked Bamba at 4 in 2018 which is leaning towards bust but at 23 years old theres still some room for the pick to pay off, and in in 2020 he traded down from 10 to a high-risk high-reward pick with GSW's 2021 1st (which did not pay off, lol. Curry and KD both stayed healthy and actually won the chip here). So he effectively traded 2020 #10 for 2021 28 and 34.

All in all, it sounds easy to lose, get picks, get stars - but Jared's been trying to lose for 4 years straight. You (or some other GM) will at least have the blessing of all your picks, but Jared's tanking squad somehow almost made the playoffs last year.  And when he finally got the team bad enough to be the top odds of the lottery, he slid down to #5.

Good question. Imo, trading back is situational. It depends on the tier of talent that is available to you at where you're selecting. If you're at one in this draft, or even top three, you just make that damn pick, because those guys have real star potential. Five is a different situation--if you're not convinced that the guy everyone has pinned at five is better than the guys available at 7-10, you could stand to gain a lot by trading back. Picks are most valuable on draft day, and you can often take advantage of GMs who are jonesing to move up just to move up, and will overpay to do it.

Now, I like Barnes, truly. But, he's not such a ringer talent that you might not prefer to go Giddey, Wagner, Kuminga etc. Those deals aren't always available, but when they are, it's important to see if they're worth it. When you're a tanking team devoid of assets, you have to gain value wherever you can. Your goal isn't to land a piece, it's to land a cornerstone. Until you find that legit cornerstone, you scrub for value everywhere possible.

Then, once you have him (an SGA type, for example) then you start getting pieces around him. The picks I listed weren't trade downs necessarily (some were) as far as example of solid picks at their position. That's value, Bay Bay.

[Chauncey Billups]

Aug 10, 2021 0:34:00 GMT Hanamichi Sakuragi said:

Aug 10, 2021 0:08:37 GMT James Kay said:

Just thought this was funny. Are any of these guys stars? Maybe SGA. Hard to acquire stars if you keep trading back, and I dont think Clarke, Lauri, Duncan, Levert, Thybulle, etc are stars to build around. Where does this young star materialize from if you keep trading back? IMO you have to swing big sometimes to get that first star, but in any case I thought this was a funny resume to bring up in conjunction with the claim that you need a big star that you somehow acquire by trading back.

Also funny to note that this is pretty much the exact playbook Jared has been doing. I think he's had his pick twice - in 2018 and in 2020. He picked Bamba at 4 in 2018 which is leaning towards bust but at 23 years old theres still some room for the pick to pay off, and in in 2020 he traded down from 10 to a high-risk high-reward pick with GSW's 2021 1st (which did not pay off, lol. Curry and KD both stayed healthy and actually won the chip here). So he effectively traded 2020 #10 for 2021 28 and 34.

All in all, it sounds easy to lose, get picks, get stars - but Jared's been trying to lose for 4 years straight. You (or some other GM) will at least have the blessing of all your picks, but Jared's tanking squad somehow almost made the playoffs last year.  And when he finally got the team bad enough to be the top odds of the lottery, he slid down to #5.

Oh come on James. Stop attacking Tanking. Tanking is the only way to go. It is the real competition here in D5. 

Why are you so pessimistic?

[Jerry West]

Aug 8, 2021 0:50:27 GMT greatman said:

Good Day!

As a former Dynasty Five, Dynasty Six, i would like to claim Phoenix Suns as my team. Ian Noble may forget who I am because that was long time ago. I am very active when it comes to this league. I am currently GM of NBA GM League. You can Miege there how active I am when it comes to everything.

I will bring this team to a championship. I will make this team the best team ever in this league. I am going to be the best GM ever in this league.

I vote for this guy

[Ian Noble]

Reminder to self for next time: 1 week is too long to wait for candidates

[Ian Noble]

It's been a week and we have 4 applicants! It's now up to GMs to cast their votes!

---

Brad Stevens

Aug 7, 2021 22:10:26 GMT Brad Stevens said:

I would love the opportunity to join D5 & be the GM of the Phoenix Suns. I’ve been doing sim leagues for around 12 years & it is something I really enjoy. Some of you may know me as Pistol Pete from D720. I grew up in New Orleans thus I’m a Pelicans fan but was a MJ/Iverson fan growing up as the Hornets (now Pelicans) moved to town when I was in high school. I’m pretty analytics heavy as statistics is always something I’ve tinkered with on the side. I was even the statistics guy for a semi-pro basketball team for a couple of seasons.


I feel like my experience in D720 will serve well in taking over Phoenix as it is a similar scenario where I’m not starting with much. The team I had was pretty bare but I turned them in to a perennial playoff team that was competing every year. There was no easy fix but it took consistent value moves. I already have a system in place for draft values, Free Agency planning, etc. so I can hit the ground running there. I also helped in D720 as a PA, Trade Committee, enforcing rules, etc. so I can help in that capacity here as well. I feel like my system is unique, I respond quickly to inquiries, got along with everyone, & I can help the league.


I signed on as Utah Assistant GM in order to help Tim Duncan with whatever is needed & familiarize myself with rules until I got an opportunity to apply. I will be here even if I do not get the Phoenix GM gig as this is something I enjoy and will be here for the long haul in order to get a spot.

Additional Note - I think the primary focus for the initial 1-2 years is moving for the players you believe in but restricting yourself to the age window of the core (essentially rookie deal players).  Bad contracts can be taken for assets if the value is there as well.  FA is pretty limited during this period unless a circumstantial opportunity (usually applies to big markets) or possibly a guy coming off a rookie deal that is promising.  Once the core is built then win now moves can be made via trades/FA.  Having said that, I always try to "have my cake & eat it too".  Meaning I always try to simultaneously compete (after the initial rebuild) & build through the draft without sacrificing too much of one for the other.  This usually means a longer route to the top but also ensures you stay there longer.

---

greatman

Aug 8, 2021 0:50:27 GMT greatman said:

Good Day!

As a former Dynasty Five, Dynasty Six, i would like to claim Phoenix Suns as my team. Ian Noble may forget who I am because that was long time ago. I am very active when it comes to this league. I am currently GM of NBA GM League. You can Miege there how active I am when it comes to everything.

I will bring this team to a championship. I will make this team the best team ever in this league. I am going to be the best GM ever in this league.

---

Bill Walton

Aug 8, 2021 9:25:50 GMT Bill Walton said:

Hi folks,

I'd like to be the Suns GM. I'm the most tenured GM from D720 (Brian Scalabrine, Toronto Raptors).

I'd like to say a couple things of the top:

1. Brad Stevens, who is Pistol Pete in D720, is a great GM. We've absolutely done trades together, but for me, he fits in the category of "Damn--I like this guy but it's hard to get a deal done because he's too smart to lose a trade." He's consistently done a great job with the D720 wizards, and I think any league is lucky to have him.

2. I think the Suns are a great fit for the things I've done and practiced as a GM. I'm not out here trying to prove I'm the best, but for what I'm good at, I think the Suns make sense. I'll outline why below.

I started with the D720 Raptors in 2014. That beg`an with a fantasy draft where I had the 28th pick in the draft. My team was built around Klay Thompson and Chris Bosh. For a couple years, we were at the top of the east. Then, as you might expect, the Bosh blood clot really threw a wrench in my plans. From there, we started the rebuild. Suffice to say, I have a lot of experience tanking. I've secured a top 3 lottery odds multiple times, but besides that, I've always left a space inside my squad to evolve.

What do I mean by that? Well, I think the best thing you can have as a GM of a rebuilding team is a willingness to pivot, and pivot back. We made the playoffs last year in D720, but this year, it looks like we have top 4 lottery odds. This is in some sense chaotic, but also, by design.

My biggest principle as a GM is that you should always gain value. Sometimes, that means buying a high level player when he's available, and selling him later, for a higher price. While I've done it with players who are better--the idea fits the mold of Presti with OKC... He got paid to take CP3 for Westbrook, and then got paid for CP3... Besides that, got paid to take Horford, and later sold Horford for profit. The other end of the spectrum is making smart fringe moves--you should be able to identify a value contract before it's valuable. You should be able to draft rotation players and sell them within the first two years of their contract, and have gained value. You should be able to be the first person to identify a guy who is going to have an increased role that makes him more valuable, and sell him when he pops. I've done all of these things. Not without mis-steps, but if you don't try to make these trades, they don't fall into your lap.

The Suns are bad. Quite bad. They don't have a star--not even close. Scottie Barnes is a nice prospect, but he needs work and improvement. He's less valuable than the fifth pick. If it were me, I probably would have seen what was available to trade back. Picks are kind of like buying a car and driving it off the lot, most of the time, the minute you drive it off the lot (take the pick) you've lost value that you can't replace.

With the Suns being a rebuilding team--my plan for them is simply stated, but difficult to execute:

1. Lose a ton of games (this I am certain I could do, I'm elite at this)

2. Acquire value before it's valuable (sometimes this is vets, sometimes it's UDFA, you have to take A LOT of swings before it works, but when it does... You've turned nothing into something, and that's the biggest success you can have while rebuilding.)

3. Once you have a young star, start building out the timeline around his second contract window. There's a great opportunity for a team that exists around a young star --and it requires being set enough to attract free agents to join a youngster before his second contract is on the books. It's not enough to just have the youngster, you need to have some other attractive pieces besides that, so the FA feels he's not just signed on to play with a single player. He just... Won't do that. It's imperative that before that restricted free agency happens for your young star, you have enough of a team to be able to lure a high tier FA.

I've made misses, but I've also made huge successes as a GM. Don't quote me exactly--but as far as I remember, I drafted: Brogdon at 33, Brandon Clarke at 10, Lauri Markannen at 10, Duncan Robinson at 53, SGA at 12, Haliburton at 11, LeVert at 22, Maxey at 21, Thybulle at 20 or something, and others... I don't have a perfect track record, but damn if I haven't made some great picks. Besides that, at this point in my experience--I want to use cap space to it's highest potential... Sometimes that's your classic "get paid to take a horrible contract" --which I've done plenty of times. But it's just as important, in my opinion, to be open to making FA signings that are under market and will be desirable to contending teams. I'm here for that.

Losing games is EASY, rebuilding is hard. I've done a lot of rebuilding, and I think my understanding of how a rebuild should be done is unique, guided by experience, and pointedly specific. I think that makes me a great candidate for the position with the Suns.

Besides that... I don't know how many folks in this league are present in D720, but I suspect anyone who is would vouch that I'm a VERY active GM. I suspect I'm in the top 10% of trades made every season, and I've been a GM that is quick to comment on threads and interact with others very consistently.

I'm present, I have a clear idea of how to rebuild, and I'll be very active in the league. I know Brad is a great candidate, and I'm sure others will apply as well, but I think my skill set matches the situation in Phoenix, and I'm a quality candidate as well.

---

Reggie Miller

Aug 9, 2021 13:04:35 GMT Reggie Miller said:

Good day.

I received an email from our dear commissioner that the Phoenix Suns have a vacancy. I would like to apply as the franchise's GM.

Before I begin, just want to clear some things during my brief stint as New York Knicks GM. What happened in my first foray as D5 GM was a case of oversight from my end.

There were no updates in the summer league and the status of the coming NBA season was still up in the air. I inadvertently neglected checking on my team. I would like to rectify that if the league allows me for a second chance to be able to handle a team.

As for PHX, I would like to first point out that I am an offseason GM. This means that given cap and roster space, I would be aggressive in pursuing free agents. That is my draft style on an S1 league; my philosophy's the same with offseason FAs. This is opposite of what I was supposed to do with NYK, which had a decent lineup that had several guaranteed contracts.

Back to the Suns, there's no way to go but up. Jared Montini was one of the few GMs who reached out to me and guided me here at D5. I would do him justice by bringing his franchise to such great heights.

That would be all. Here's to hoping you consider my application and pitch.

[Ian Noble]

Brad Stevens has a clear lead, but Bill Walton's had 3 votes over the last two days!

[Bill Walton]

Aug 19, 2021 8:35:21 GMT Ian Noble said:

Brad Stevens has a clear lead, but Bill Walton's had 3 votes over the last two days!

.... Don't call it a comeback?

[Brad Stevens]

Aug 19, 2021 14:02:52 GMT Bill Walton said:

Aug 19, 2021 8:35:21 GMT Ian Noble said:

Brad Stevens has a clear lead, but Bill Walton's had 3 votes over the last two days!

.... Don't call it a comeback?

Yes, please don't.  I'll be here for years.

[Ian Noble]

Welcome to the Phoenix Suns organisation Brad Stevens!

May your reign be long and prosperous

We're just entering a 6 week quiet period before Off Season Free Agency begins in October, but you can still trade during this time and of course chat in Discord/the forums

Any questions just ask

[Brad Stevens]

Thanks everyone.  I feel very fortunate to land the Phoenix GM job & want to thank Tim Duncan for the opportunity to be Ast GM in a short stint.  Not only am I excited to join D5 as a GM but the Phoenix opening was the perfect fit for me as I can build a team from the ground up.  I also want to mention Bill Walton as he would have been a great addiiton to the league as well.  I was nervous for two weeks but I hope he gets the next opening.  I'm eager to get to work but I won't move too fast for the first 2-3 weeks for several reasons.  Having said that, I do foresee lots of moves this offseason if the price is right  .