Suns have a new GM!

[Yougi]

Here I am, hopefully going to put my X-box 360 to good use! I have started a dynasty, and have felt like posting it here. Therefore, the Phoenix Suns have a new GM!

Phoenix Suns hire Canadian GM

A year after letting Steve Kerr become part of their team, the Phoenix Suns realised they had made a bad decision. After trading away Shawn Marion for Shaquille O'Neal, slowing down the Suns, Kerr traded Boris Diaw and Raja Bell to Charlotte in order to get Jason Richardson. At the end of the season, Kerr was let go.

Now, the Suns surprised everybody by hiring Canadian Yougi V, hoping he will turn the franchise in the right direction, just like it was in the time of Brin Colangelo. Yougi was so chosen because of his great experience as a GM, since he won Montreal's NBA Live league 7 years in a row.

It was announced, however, that Kerr will remain part of the team as an assistant to V.

[Yougi]

Shortly after being hired as a GM, Yougi V decided it was time to erase some errors in the past of the Phoenix Suns.

He arrived in Kerr's office. Kerr had kept the biggest office, but V didn't care: all that was important for him was to show him he was the real boss, even though Kerr had been one of his favorite players for a long time.

"Steve! I have made a few calls, and Shaq is on the block. If ever anybody calls you, give them my number. Aight?
-But... Shaq is a centerpiece of this team!
-Was Steve, was! This team is going back to run and gun style."

Yougi then went to his office. As he sat down, the phone rang.

"Mr. V? Billy King here. I heard you're shipping Shaq around?
-That is correct.
-What about Joe Johnson and Salim Stoudamire for Shaq?
-Hmmm... I'll keep this one on the shelf for now, but definitely needing consideration. Thank you Mr. King. I'll call you back in an hour."

A few other phone calls arrived, but nothing of much interest. And Joe Johnson was an admirable player... And an incredible trade chip.

He opened his computer, looked up for another number.

"Mr. Dunleavy? Yougi V, from the Suns. I'd be interested in Marcus Camby. You know, to actually have a defensive player on this team.
-I'm afraid there isn't a player on your roster that really catches my interest.
-What about Joe Johnson?
-What?
-I have an offer for Shaq. Joe Johnson. What about you give up Kaman and Camby for him?"

And that was a bigger deal. But now, he was stuck with Kaman, who didn't really interest him... What he needed was a shooter.

"Mr. Paxson?
-That's me!
-Yougi V here. With Hughes, Hinrich and now Rose, would you be willing to part ways with Gordon?
-Ben is not going anywhere?
-What about if you get Chris Kaman and a pick for him?"

He hesitated. But when all was said and done, Gordon would stay a Bull.

A few phone calls later, he tried to dial Donnie Nelson, from Dallas. Nelson agreed to send Eric Dampier and Gerald Green to Phoenix for Chris Kaman. What began as a small trade was doomed to become a 5 team deal: Dampier was of no more interest than Kaman!

After a few minutes, Yougi was on the phone with one of his idol.

"Mr. Bird? Yougi V. I'd like to tell you that you were a rolemodel for me growing up.
-Thank you son! What can I do for you?
-I have heard rumor that you'd be interested in Eric Dampier?
-Yes. And?
-I'm working on a big deal that would make me get Dampier, and I guessed you might want to be part of it. You know you have one hell of a lockjam at the point, right?
-And?
-What about you unload TJ Ford?
-For Dampier? That will not happen!
-What about for Barbosa?"

Yougi could not believe he actually said that.

"And we'd keep Dampier to even salaries," he added.
-Ford for Barbosa and Dampier? That would be robbing you son. And I like you, don't want you to lose your job yet.
-Add Kareem Rush then. And thank you."

Deal!

As he lowered the phone, Kerr jumped in the office.

"I don't know what you did V, but I got someone on the line interested in TJ Ford.
-Oh. Good news! Would you transfer him to me?"

Yougi punctuated that sentence with one of his deadliest smiles. He had won.

"Mr. V? Chris Mullin here, from Golden State. I was in negociations with Mr. Bird over Ford, but he told me I had to talk to you now.
-Indeed. Ford will arrive here in a five team deal.
-With whom?
-Atlanta, Dallas, Indiana and the Clippers.
-I want Ford.
-Whom would you offer?
-None of my players would fit salary-wise.
-Then... What would you offer?
-If you can get me Marvin Williams, I'd offer you Jamal Crawford for him and Ford."

Depending on how hard it was to get Marvin, Crawford would add a very good sixth man. He'd actually be an upgrade over newly departed Leandro Barbosa. Plus, he was a fan favorite everywhere he went.

"Mr. King? Yougi V. What about you add Marvin Williams and I add Matt Barnes?
-We'd have a deal!"

He didn't know what he was agreeing to.

Yougi put his feet on his desk, relaxed for a bit.

Being a GM wasn't so hard, after all!

[Yougi]

Blockbuster deal!




Three days after gettin his job as GM, 19 years old Yougi V pulled the trigger on a six team, thirteen players deal, the biggest in NBA history! The only other time a thirteen player deal happened, the Miami Heat acquired Antoine Walker and Jason Williams, and were on their way to winning the NBA Title.

Here is the description of the deal for each team.

Phoenix: Gets Jamal Crawford, Marcus Camby, Gerald Green, Kareem Rush, Salim Stoudamire for Shaquille O'neal, Leandro Barbosa, Matt Barnes
Atlanta: Gets Shaquille O'neal, Matt Barnes for Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams, Salim Stoudamire
LA Clippers: Gets Joe Johnson for Chris Kaman, Marcus Camby
Dallas: Gets Chris Kaman for Gerald Green, Eric Dampier
Indiana: Gets Leandro Barbosa, Eric Dampier for TJ Ford
Golden State: Gets TJ Ford, Marvin Williams for Jamal Crawford

On the side, Phoenix also acquired Darko Milicic from Memphis for Gordan Giricek and Eric Piatkowski.

Grades:

Atlanta: D. They lose their franchise player for one that will retire in the next few years. Unless Shaq teaches Al Horford how to average 25 points and 12 rebounds player, not worth it.

Clippers: C. They went from being the deepest team in the middle to having to start Yaroslav Korolev at PF.

Dallas: B. They upgraded a lot from Dampier to Kaman, yet I think the loss of Gerald Green will matter more than it looks like.

Indiana: A. They go back to starting Jamal Tinsley, but Jarett Jack might get the job throughout the season. Barbosa will make this team a lot deeper, and Dampier is a sure upgrade over Rasho.

Memphis: F. They lose their starting center to get two back-ups, one of them not even sure to ever play.

Golden State: A. Ford for them might return the kind of team we saw with Baron Davis. They also got Marvin, who might become the second coming of Al Harrington.

Phoenix: It's up to you, readers. What do you think of those trades from Phoenix's point of view?

[Yougi]

After this trade, Yougi hadto decide what to do with that MLE. He took a sheet of paper, scribbled the new line-up on it.

Nash/Crawford/Stoudamire
Richardson/Rush
Hill/Green
Camby/-
Stoudemire/Milicic

Wow. He needed another back-up in the middle. And a defensive stopper on the wings. He called Kerr:

"Steve, book me appointments with defensive stoppers on the wings and some good post players. I'm out for lunch, I'll be back in an hour."

When he came back, a good numbers of them were in the gym, in practice Suns uniform. Coach Porter arrived a few minutes later, and called some drills. Two of them caught Yougi's eyes. He let the others practice, just in case, and appointed those two in his office, one after the other.

Eddie Jones entered the office first. The GM threw a contract on the desk.

"Mr. Jones, I'll be interely honest: my team needs a defensive stopper, and could use an extra marksman. And you're both. What about a 5.6 million dollars contract for a year? It's the MLE, and all I can offer you."

It wasn't very long before a signature appeared on the dotted line.

Maurice Taylor was the second to come in, as he had shown incredible stamina for a guy his age. That was what the Suns needed. He was offered 1.1 million dollars for a year, the veteran minimum, and he acted as his new teammate just did.

When Taylor left, Yougi took out the piece of paper on which was his line-up.

Nash/Crawford/Stoudamire
Richardson/Hill/Rush
Jones/Green
Camby/Taylor
Stoudemire/Milicic

That made more sense.

[Yougi]

Phoenix Suns vs Seattle Supersonics
Final score: PHO: 105, SEA: 80

Player of the Game: Steve Nash: 24 points, 10-16 FG, 11 assists, 12 steals
Other good performances:
Amaré Stoudemire: 31 points, 13-15 FG, 8 rebounds, 4 assists
Jamal Crawford: 21 points, 9-16 FG, 4 steals
Jeff Green: 18 points, 7-10 FG

Deceiving Performance : Jason Richardson: 2 points, 1-8 FG, 3 turnovers, 3 personnal fouls

Yes, you've seen that: Steve Nash broke the record for most steals in a game!

Phoenix Suns vs Los Angeles Lakers
Final score: PHO: 95, LAL: 78

Player of the Game: Darko Milicic: 24 points, 10-13 FG, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks
Other good performances:
Andrew Bynum: 16 points, 8-10 field goals, 6 rebounds
Derek Fisher: 17 points
Pau Gasol: 13 points, 8 rebounds

Deceiving Performance : Kobe Bryant: 9 points, 4-15 FG

An atrocious game, when nothing was going in... Except for Bynum and Darko! Amaré had 8 points, Nash had 11, J-Rich had 10... pretty bad shooting game.

Short reports, but those games were already played. You might get a few other short ones, but I'll try to upload a big report a week.

Next game: vs. the Cavs!

[Fcuk Orlando]

I like what you did with the jerseys , and fyi you made a typo because Memphis was not involved in the trade at all and you gave them an F

[Cartar]

I like what you did with the jerseys , and fyi you made a typo because Memphis was not involved in the trade at all and you gave them an F

Memphis was involved in a separate trade, where Phoenix acquired Milicic for Giricek and Piatkowski.

[Yougi]

@ Mavericks fan: Thanks, and like ratrac said, he was involved in a side trade. I take it as my bad for being too lazy to do another post. And the jersey thing is soo easy, but at the same time so cool to do!

@ Ratrac: Thanks for the clarification!