Suns need to part ways with Robin Lopez

By John Gambadoro/Arizona Sports
Published: January 25, 2012 @ 11:58am
Phoenix Suns' Robin Lopez (15) drives against Philadelphia 76ers' Nikola Vucevic during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Phoenix Suns' Robin Lopez (15) drives against Philadelphia 76ers' Nikola Vucevic during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
It is time for the Phoenix Suns to recognize that Robin Lopez will never amount to anything more than a below- average backup center. And once they do that they need to find a team that is willing to trade for the 7-footer who was the 15th pick in the 2008 NBA draft out of Stanford.

Lopez is hurting the Phoenix Suns. He is taking playing time away from players more deserving of it and his volatile demeanor is a negative in the locker room. His intentional bumping of an official in a game against the Toronto Raptors should be the last straw.

There is no place for Lopez's antics on this team and he is likely to be suspended and fined for his actions Tuesday night. I understand he is young and has size and that you hate giving up on a first-round pick. But the Suns have given up on plenty of first-round picks lately - see Earl Clark, Alando Tucker, Casey Jacobsen, Zarko Cabarkapa etc…

Lopez is averaging 4.8 points and 3.3 rebounds in 14 minutes per game. His career averages are 5.8 points and 3.3 rebounds. I'm sure they can get that type of production signing someone out of the D-League.

Phoenix decided not to sign Lopez to a contract extension by Wednesday deadline, so he will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season. I had heard rumblings of him wanting in the neigborhood of $6 million per season on a multi-year deal.

The Suns did the right thing because Lopez is a dime a dozen player, not worthy of a contract of any length of time for any significant money. Find a taker, trade him now.

John Gambadoro co-hosts Burns & Gambo, 11-2 p.m. weekdays on Arizona Sports 620. He can be reached with your questions and comments by e-mail here, you can follow him on Twitter @Gambo620, or you can be friends with him on Facebook. All of John Gambadoro's past columns.

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  • A six pack would be too much!
    Bossfan (January 25, 2012 1:03 pm)
    In the words of Buddy Ryan, "I would trade this guy for a six-pack." Face it he flat out sucks. Name me one player that the Suns have drafted under Sarver that has pained out? Sarver is a joke. He could not find water if he fell out of a boat. Cut him now, release him, do whatever, but do not pay this clown. Bumping a referee? I got an idea, Robin how about you bump the opposing team and get some rebounds. No, that would show you have heart.
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  • Qs to Gambadora - you said
    hugUhbear (January 25, 2012 1:58 pm)
    "Lopez is hurting the Phoenix Suns. He is taking playing time away from players more deserving of it and his volatile demeanor is a negative in the locker room" ---The more deserving players he is taking time away from; you arn't referring to Frye are you??
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  • Can we get value for him?
    DanTheTimid (January 25, 2012 3:07 pm)
    I think we MIGHT be able to get something for Lopez, he's still attractive do to his size and the fact there are many coaches out there who believe they can pull out of players the hidden talent other coaches can't, and if such teams exist, I really think you've gotta make something happen. Honestly, with Gortat, Lopez would be a luxury to keep around if he was actually playing decent, but as he's been stinking up the place theres really no place for him on this team. Better to get something for him if you can then to just let him walk.
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  • And what was the preseason buzz?
    OpinionH8d (January 25, 2012 7:52 pm)
    The biggest impression made in preseason was supposed to have been Lopez. What happened? I knew that was a horrible pick as soon as it was announced. Can't think of a team that's worse with draft picks than the Suns.
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  • Start with Lopez
    esc R. (January 25, 2012 8:31 pm)
    and send out nash and hill too. blow this team up and rebuild through the draft. This team is too old and unathletic. These younger bad teams run all over the suns. There is not much talent on this roster. This year and next years draft would be great to rebuild through.
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  • Getting rid of Robyn does not solve problem
    hugUhbear (January 25, 2012 10:53 pm)
    The problem begins with this qs. How did the Suns FO DECIDE on Lopez? Marreese Speights(16), Roy hibbert(17), JaVale McGee(18), JJ Hickson(19), Serge Ibaka(24), Nicolas Batum (25),George Hill(26), DeAndre Jordan(35). ----We drafted Lopez instead of these guys, which says we have a much bigger problem than Lopez.
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  • All the draft picks traded & sold
    hugUhbear (January 25, 2012 10:56 pm)
    after Sarver took over makes me think he gutted our talent and scouting evaluators. We need to be able to depend on our scouts loking at the draft selections skillset. There are only 50ish to look at. Something is terribly wrong with the Suns talent evaluators. that is where the problem gets fixed. Pay for excellant scouts and talent evaluators and it will reap huge rewards.
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  • Very true
    dannyrocks1984 (January 25, 2012 11:51 pm)
    I have to agree with Gambo on this one. Earlier in the season, it appeared that Robing may have turned a corner. He was playing well and appeared to be enjoying himself more on the court than he ever had before, but now he has come back down to Earth. All he does is take up space. He doesn't have much skill, or if he does, he hasn't learned to take advantage of it and he has had plenty of time to do so by now. He needs to go.
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  • We are in No Man's Land
    kdaddy (January 26, 2012 5:17 am)
    In the NBA you never want to be a .500 team because you can't rebuild with lottery picks to get a chance to pick up a potential star in the draft. We have one star (Nash) and a bunch of good role players. Also, you can't rebuild around Nash long term because he is 38. Rebuild now and go a different direction. We are into a shortened season and going into a deep draft and we will have a lot of cap space. Get draft picks and go after new Free Agent Stars in the summer.
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  • Let lopez go
    pearly (January 26, 2012 2:32 pm)
    Gambo I am in complete agreement we need to let Lopez go. I was at the game and could not believe he was trying to intimidate the ref but intentionally bumping him. What a waste.
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