Is the Blur and/or the Toast headed out?

Well here we are again Suns fans. Another disappointing year followed by a summer of renewed hope that our beloved organization will make the offseason moves necessary to bring Nash and Co. over the top

While few would argue the notion that some moves need to be made for the Suns to truly make their championship run, questions remain regarding who should be moved and for what price. At the forefront of this discussion are our own Brazilian Blur (Leandro Barbosa) and French Toast (Boris Diaw).

Cited by ESPN, Realgm.com, and the Arizona Republic, both players seem to be on the trading block for picks in this years draft and/or additional players. In this post, I hope to brake down the three different trade proposals that are seem to currently be on the table and rate them on a scale of 1 to 5 angry squirrels (1 = acquiring Stephon Marbury, 5 = trading Vin Baker for a first round pick).

TRADE PROPOSAL #1
Teams Involved: Phoenix Suns / Portland Trailblazers

Portland Gets:
Leandro Barbosa

Phoenix Gets:
Martell Webster
Player to be named
2008 Draft Pick (1^st Rd, Pick 13)

Conclusion:
While Martell Webster did have to miss the last seven games of the season due to an irregular heartbeat, he’s young (21), tall (6’7’’), a good rebounder and defender, accurate from downtown (39%), and in the last year of his contract. While Leandro Barbosa is big on potential, he has been that way for the past 4 years. His sloppy defense and reckless playmaking, coupled with the departure of father figure/security blanket Dan D’Antoni, means that this squirrel gives this trade a 4 angry squirrel green light.

TRADE PROPOSAL #2
Teams Involved: Phoenix Suns / New York Knicks

New York Gets:
Leandro Barbosa

Phoenix Gets:
Player(s) to be named
2008 Draft Pick (1^st Rd, Pick 6)

Conclusion:
While the 6^th pick in this years draft is substantially better than the 13^th, the squirrel thinks the profitability of this trade for the Suns really depends on the player(s) to be named. Considering the fact that all of the players under contract in New York are either a) overpayed or b) a thug (with the possible exception of David Lee), I’m not sure the pick fully offsets what else the trade may bring. Still, the 6^th pick in the draft is worth the risk. Result, a 3 angry squirrel green light (5 angry squirrels if they throw-in David Lee).

TRADE PROPOSAL #3
Teams Involved: Phoenix Suns / Toronto Raptors

Toronto Gets:
Boris Diaw

Phoenix Gets:
T.J. Ford
2008 Draft Pick (1^st Rd, Pick 17)

Conclusion:
Are you kidding, a competent backup point guard the Suns have been lacking AND an additional first round draft pick for Boris freaking Diaw!? Face it, if Diaw isn’t the focal point of the offense, the chances of him mailing-in any given game is about 75%. (including playoffs) If there is a first round pick and a semi-competent NBA player offered in a trade for Boris Diaw, you take it… immediately. Automatic 5 angry squirrels.

IN SUMMARY:
If this squirrel has his way, the Suns would now be without Diaw and Barbosa in exchange for the 13^th, 15^th, and 17^th pick in the draft (plus Ford, Webster, and PTBN). According to mock drafts, that means that the Suns have a reasonable chance to a) bundle two picks into trading up for a better pick, or b) obtaining players like Brandon Rush, Donte’ Green, Roy Hibbert, or DeAndre Jordan. Couple that with lessening their luxury tax penalty by investing in less-expensive rookie contracts, the squirrel believes that these trades need to get done!

Now that the squirrel has stated his opinion, he wants to hear yours! What do you think about the possible departure of Diaw and/or Barbosa?