As a diehard suns fan, it kills me to see this decline, and there better be a gem out of Phoenix’s young guys, because other wise, it’s going to get bad.

First off Steve, I wasn’t trying to claim that Coach D has any bearing on this years batch of free agents. My point was that in the past it was a major issue as to why they missed out on certain free agents. It may not have been clearly stated.

John, to your point about Hill, Skinner, Giricek. Yes Hill is an example of a major player with a lot of interest choosing the Suns. I think Skinner and Giricek probably weren’t fielding many lucrative offers with the guarantee of more playing time than the Suns were willing to offer. By no means were they primary targets of the Suns either. They both were second tier, “if we have to” options. Both worked out pretty well in the end but weren’t the exact piece the Suns were looking for.

Hopefully Kerr has some contingency plans this off season that will work out just as well.

by becoming one of the top 4 teams in the tough west by midseason in terms of wins-loss record–and show other available free agents that we have the potential to win it all. playing for a relevant team is a huge attraction for some of these players who may be seeking their first title.

there are 2 big reasons why nobody wants to take a salary cut to play for this team anymore, in this order:

1) most nba players think this team is NOT a contender anymore and is on the decline.

2) mike dantoni is gone. the fun is gone. the idea of playing for porter is just not the same.

So you’re saying that the departed coach’s style of play and rotation, and I emphasize departed, is one of the reason’s free agents are scared off? That’s simply asinine. I think these players know that D’Antoni is NO LONGER the coach of the team.

I think the main reason, outside the cap slot, player’s are signing elsewhere is their perception that the Suns can’t win a championship. The main cause of that perception should be pointed squarely at Amare Stoudemire. His self centered style of play and complete lack of effort on defense are the reason this team has failed and will continue to fail. No one can put a team over the top when only 4 guys plays defense, and not very well, while one lazily hangs around the paint in a feeble attempt to block a shot occasionally. It’s time to call a spade a spade. Stoudemire is an albatross.