Chapter 716 [Sun's New Lineup, Scheduled for Seventy Wins]

In July, there were a number of trades after the NBA free agency opened.

The Suns are the focus, in the past, they were all small fights to change the lineup, this time their lineup changed a lot, and half of them chose to leave. Two of the veterans have announced their retirement, while the others want to go to other teams to get more balls.

Being part of a dynasty team, even if it's just a marginal person, can be highly rated, and there must be a team that offers them that their rich playoff experience can improve their overall strength.

The Trail Blazers poached forward James Jones, 10 million for three years.

Brian Colangelo certainly didn't match, Jones didn't know how much effort was left after getting three championship rings, and his role was very one-dimensional, he could only catch and shoot threes, and it was easy to find a replacement.

The Timberwolves poached point guard Steve Blake from a mid-level contract. Originally, the mid-tier Timberwolves would have been used on Mike James, but now management wants a defender with championship experience who won't mess around, rather than James' kind of statistic brush.

This kind of contract will not be considered by the Suns, and Blake is also a single-role type, dribbling the ball over half court and then catching and shooting. He rarely breaks through and is not the kind of defender who can lead the whole team. The Suns won't be playing dual point guards for too long.

Blake is a good fit to join the Timberwolves, he and Josh Howard have a good understanding, and Garnett, a star power forward who is good at playing, the Timberwolves must be good in the new season.

The Timberwolves have the strength to enter the playoffs next season, but Garnett's chances of winning the championship with the Wolves are basically zero, and he can pass the first round to be considered a success.

Sunfringe man Josh Powell also has a home, which was poached by the Mavericks and signed a two-year contract to strengthen his interior strength. Both of the Mavericks' centers are blue-collar, and Powell is a big man who can shoot from the ground up and can partner with Nowitzki when playing small-ball tactics.

Powell was already happy to get this kind of contract, he was lucky to win a championship ring and fulfill his dream of playing in the NBA.

The person the Mavericks want most is Howard, and coach "Little General" Johnson is very optimistic about Howard's future, but the Suns will never assist the Mavericks, who are also in the West, which will directly create a competitor. The Mavericks also don't have a solar-eyed player, and the draft pick is too low.

Nene accepted a five-year, $50 million contract from the Nuggets, and the Suns dropped him. He can do his job, Stoudmayer can do it, Vallejo is already playing at a level, and it is impossible to be a fringe man next season.

Although Valejo's offensive ability is average, it is difficult to put up luxury statistics, but experts have recognized his defensive role, and there are statistics to prove it. After Xiao Si was injured, the Suns' interior line lost fewer points.

The Suns first extended Haslem's contract in full mid-range, and then added fresh blood to the free market, looking for someone who had not won a championship before and who fit the system. The Suns are not looking for high-paid players, and with three top-paid players and a mid-range player on the team, the only way to find a star is through trade.

Millsap, Roy, and Lowry signed with the Suns after Summer League, all on standard four-year rookie contracts.

Tim Thomas agreed to the Suns' offer and joined with a low salary of 4 million in 2 years. No team was willing to give him a big contract, his professional attitude was questioned last season, and other teams didn't want him, thinking he was a thorn.

He had previously taken a long-term contract with a high salary, and he was not short of money, and if he wanted a championship, the Suns were the best choice.

If it weren't for the lack of power forward on the Bulls' interior and the achievement of results, it is estimated that Thomas would have to be cut in the medium term. He was able to stay because the Bulls didn't have Rohr Deng on the team.

Swingman Anthony Parker, who returned from Europe, signed a two-year, $4 million contract with the Suns.

Parker is very satisfied with this contract, he has never proven himself in the NBA, if he goes to other teams and has to play in the summer league or preseason first, the Suns are directly willing to sign him, very sincere.

Boss Brian is also very satisfied, this is Guo Xu's three-point shot, he hasn't missed it, and it's very cheap to sign a three-point shot for 2 million.

It doesn't make much sense to sign a long-term contract with Parker, who will be 33 years old in two years, so it's better to develop a new man, and if he lacks a wing three-pointer, he will sign someone through the draft.

The Suns flanks need to sign for the past two seasons, and Ariza is a free agent next summer, so it's hard to renew his contract. Ariza has neither extended his contract early nor proposed a trade, he wants to help the Suns win four consecutive championships, and then he will go wherever the team gives him more money.

The third free agent signed by the Suns is Clifford Robinson.

Robinson is 40 years old, 208cm tall, weighs 102 kilograms, and mainly relies on mid-to-long-range shooting to score, and is a well-known veteran in the league. He played for the Suns in the 1997-01 season, and as he neared retirement, he wanted to return to the Suns and try to pick up a championship ring in the final years of his career, which was his last chance.

In 1994, Robinson, who played for the Trail Blazers, was a Western Conference All-Star, was named to the All-Defensive Second Team twice, and won the Sixth Man of the Year award in 1993.

Robinson is also an iron man, having played in 1,198 games throughout his career, missing just 19 games, and was averaging 7.5 points per game for the Nets as a bench last season at the age of 39.

He's good at the high post style of Rasheed Wallace and can teach some experience to the Suns' young players. In 2004, he ranked 21st in NBA history for his total three-pointers, and the tallest ever to shoot more than 900 three-pointers.

Bryan is willing to give away some favors, Robinson can be a fringe bastard, and Phoenix fans know him and like him.

The Suns' final signing went to veteran David Wesley, the strong two-way guard who played for the Rockets last season and was nicknamed Mickey Mouse. He's 36 years old, his form has dropped significantly, and he wants to get a championship ring before he retires.

Anyone who knows the ball can see that the Rockets led by Yao Mai will definitely not be able to beat the Suns next season, and there will be no chance at all.

Wesley has little effect, and can occasionally play with Guo Xu as a double guard, has certain organizational skills, and is good at catching and shooting.

The Suns have taken eight players and added seven new players, with the last spot being empty and being considered for reinforcements in the middle of the season to better cope with injuries.

The management was scared last season, and no one was sure that the Suns players would be able to stay healthy next season, and injury troubles were the enemy of the defending champion team.

In July, the Suns' lineup for the new season was decided.

Centres: Stoudayer, Vallejo, Clifford Robinson.

Power forwards: Tim Thomas, Haslem, Millsap.

Small forwards: Ariza, Marion.

Shooting guards: Brandon Roy, Raja Bell, Anthony Parker.

Point guards: Guo Xu, Kyle Lowry, David West.

The Suns don't need too many people at the No. 3 position, as long as Marion stays healthy, his physical strength can play 35 minutes with ease, and Parker can also play small forward. The Suns won't be short of people, they will just not have enough playing time.

When Ariza can't play too long next season, she can just go up for a while after about 15 minutes of each game.

No basketball pundit dares to underestimate the Suns anymore this year, with both All-Star absences winning the championship and losing just two games in the playoffs. Next season, many people feel that the solar can easily win the championship, and they can also break the winning record in the regular season, and their offense is stronger.

With this squad depth, Guo Xu feels that other teams really can't play, and it will be difficult for the league to blow the Suns even if they blow the black whistle next season, and seventy wins are predetermined, and it is unlikely that it will be lower than this number if you play casually.