Dave Burns filled in for Gambo. No calls, no texts, and no word from Gambo today. Not yet anyway…

No deals for the Phoenix Suns either, although the rumors are aplenty. A popular one making the rounds Wednesday was Amare to Houston for the remnants of Tracy McGrady and package of role players. Ash quickly shot that one down, but was not able to rule out the other one, per Chad Ford:

One rumor that won’t go away has the Suns and Thunder talking about a draft-day swap that would give Oklahoma City the 14th pick and land the Suns the Thunder’s 25th pick and, more importantly for the Suns, the return of their first-round pick in 2010. The Suns traded that pick to the Thunder several years ago as part of the Kurt Thomas trade. The pick is unprotected next year, and with the Suns flirting with rebuilding, they don’t want to lose it.
Sources say the Thunder have an eye for Ohio State center B.J. Mullens and likely will take him if he’s available at No. 14.

Wouldn’t that be the irony of ironies for the Suns: Their present roster is messed up because they got rid of so many draft picks, and now their future may hinge on selling another draft pick. If the Chad Ford report is to be believed, Oklahoma City is very interested in the 14th pick and will give back their selection in 2010, one that Ash and Burnsy agree is hindering the rebuilding process now. So, can Suns fans stomach giving up another high draft pick in order to get back next year’s? Burnsy would. Ash is onboard as long as the Suns are onboard for a complete roster overhaul (including sending Nash to Portland). Just get busy dying in other words…

Speaking of rebuilding, the D-Backs may be one step closer to doing so. This after their ace, Brandon Webb, is one step closer to major elbow surgery. So the unthinkable is really thinkable now: Could the D-Backs really pick up the 8.5 million option on a pitcher with a bum shoulder?? Burnsy says best case is that Webb returns to by March and then spends the next three months performing like the pitcher he used to be. Even still, would another team even part with prospects for a pitcher with major injury issues, as well as free-agency less than a year away? Ash doesn’t think so, but he does think the D-Backs need to take the chance and pick up Webb’s option at year’s end.

ESPN baseball analyst TIM KURKJIAN joined the guys, and joined with the guys’ opinion that no option with Webb seems to be a good one for AZ. He also thinks no trade involving Doug Davis, Jon Garland, or Felipe Lopez will net much in the way of prospects.

Rising NBA prospect JEFF PENDERGRAPH called in a day ahead of one of the biggest days of his life. Pendergraph projects as a 2nd or late 1st Round selection in tomorrow‘s draft. Ash thinks he has a good chance of being a good role player at the next level.

Hall of Fame pitcher FERGIE JENKINS had more than a good career with the Cubs. He joined the guys on-site to discuss the state of baseball, including Sammy Sosa and steroids, as well as Donald Fehr.

 

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