Suns Interested in Alonzo Gee
2012-05-07
Late last week, Fox 8′s John Telich reported that “at least three teams” were interested in Gee with the Suns being joined by the Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons. Brendan Bowers of Stepien Rules followed this up by reporting that the Suns were in fact in the lead for Gee’s services, set to offer the athletic wing approximately $4 million per year with the length of the deal unknown.
Two things: (1) Gee is a restricted free agent, so the Cavs will have the opportunity to match whatever offers other teams make, and (2) $4 million per year sounds a little high, but reasonable. I would bring Gee back for $12 million over three years or whatever the Suns offer looks like.
I love Gee and watching him the past two years (this year especially) was awesome, as he gave the Cavs some of the few highlights that didn’t involve the name Kyrie. But I don’t think he’s worth more than $4 million an year, and probably not even that. I’ve heard the $12 mil for 3 years number floated around over at FTS and that’s probably the limit on what I think his contract should be; ideally it’d be less, but that’s not unreasonable. The argument that I don’t like is not actually based on Gee, it’s the “where else are… Read more »
All I hear is confirming my comment: “we’re afraid to lose Gee, let’s be sure he doesn’t leave.” I like Gee, but $4M on a multiyear deal is a bit much for an unproven player. Maybe $3M with some team options for more after the first year or two… I don’t want to lose him, but I don’t want to overpay. This is exactly how the owners (and GM’s) created their salary mess. **** I saw the Cavs in the 80s but the modern Cavs have a real issue with luring good FAs to the team (even with Lebron). If… Read more »
I keep hearing that because Gibson makes around 4 mil, we should therefore pay Gee about that much. Are you all missing the part where Boobie is way overpaid? You don’t give $4 mil a year for multiple years to an okay player with no upside. Boobie should be a warning against that, but somehow he’s become the example of why we should do it.
Losing Gee would hurt but overpaying him would be more detrimental long term. The $12 million over three years mentioned earlier sounds about right. That rate will be better spent on him than Boobie because Gee’s a more versatile player. They can’t over pay him though. Gee reminds me of Scott Burrell. Same size and very similar game. Burrell had a few quality years with the Charlotte Hornets, but he was never a start and eventually faded.
I’d be fine with spending $4 mil to keep Gee. Boobie is making $4.5 and most bench role players make similar amounts. I wouldn’t go over $5 mil and would prefer they use that money to attract a FA or buy another draft pick if it comes to that.
My first thought here is that if we’re that worried about losing Gee, why wouldn’t we just draft Jeffery Taylor? He basically does everything that Gee does as well or better. Of course, we don’t *know* that he’s an NBA player like we do with Gee, but I think the upside on his offense is a lot greater.
Last year a team of Kyrie, TT, Andy and a bunch of rookies actually played very well for stretches. 4 Mil is a certain overpay of Gee, and I don’t personally think he’ll be that hard to replace. Add to that core a top pick (who will have a similar if not as dramatic impact as Kyrie), plus some depth with the later picks and I think this team is improved. Perhaps not playoff ready yet, but who cares if we take another year to develop the team and add more talent to it.
Hot Sauce –
I’m not advocating over paying him. I’m simply saying if we lose him, that’s one less ligit NBA player on our team. A team of Kyrie, TT, Andy, and a bunch of rookies isn’t exactly gold.
Mallory,
Your argument makes no sense. You first premise is that Gee is overrated and not “that talented,” and somehow that leads to the conclusion that its terrible to lose him because we need talent at the 3 spot. If he is not that talented, why do we care if we lose him, especially if it allows us to gain more money to sign someone with more talent?
Dan –
Losing Gee isn’t bad because he’s that talented (believe me, I’m the head of the we-overrate-Gee fan club) but when you look at this roster, we’re in desperate need of talent. Losing Gee takes talent away from our thinnest position.
I witnessed games in Richfield in the 80’s (…and even one or two in the 70’s). Was Hot Rod Williams’ last contract with the Cavs not a bit crazy back then?
I saw the Cavs in the 80s but the modern Cavs have a real issue with luring good FAs to the team (even with Lebron). If you disagree please list the quality young FAs drooling at the chance to play in Cleveland right now. No one wants to waste their prime years playing for a team that as mentioned above needs 7 players and 2-3 years to compete. Gee is still growing into his game and not a bad deal at 4M IMO.
Why is everyone terrified of losing Gee? How sad we are being terrified of losing LeBron (justifiably), now we’re afraid of losing Alonzo freaking Gee? He’s a bench player for a playoff team. Would it be nice to keep him? Yes. This is the perfect example of how the NBA owners got themselves in a salary mess. Overpaying for someone who is not worth it. Whomever gave the example of the Suns’ contracts hit it on the head. We don’t pay for performance anymore in the NBA, we pay to keep players from leaving because teams get scared for some… Read more »
How about we sign and trade Gee for their first rounder? That would probably never happen but if he opts to go to Phoenix, I hope we can get something out of it.
Gee has played well for stretches for this team but ultimately he is a bench player on a good team so this is not the worst news ever. Even at 4 mil a year that would be an overpay, so if Phoenix really feels like shelling out the money I don’t think losing him will have a terribly large effect on the team.
Gortat would be the perfect compliment to TT but I don’t know why the Suns would do that.
@HoopsDogg Gortat would be great, Dudley would be okay, Not so sure about Lopez
I’d offer Gee about $4 mil. Boobie made about 4.4 mil this past year and is in line to make 4.7 next year. If the offers go over $5 million per year, I’d rather use that money to try to get a top-tier free agent or save it for the future.
Phoenix is the king of overpaying midlevel players. It’s comical. I wouldn’t put anything past them with how much they gave Josh Childress, Channing Frye, and Hakim Warrick. If we could sign and trade for Gortat, Dudley, or Lopez, though this could be a good thing.
losing gee is not terrible. Its bad, but its better to be rid of him than pay him 6 million, which phoenix would be crazy to do. If we lose him to a deal like that, i will have no qualms giving that money to a better player and being done with it. Would it be nice to keep gee around for a reasonable price? Of course. Is retaining a player, whose best-case scenario is the 5th or 6th best player on a contender, on a team 2 or 3 years outside of contention, something to fret about? I don’t… Read more »
This TERRIFIES me. God forbid some crazy team (like Phoenix, who has a recent history of being crazy) offers Gee 6 or 7 mil (or more!) knowing that we’ll match anything less. If this happens, we’re in a pretty terrible situation.