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The Phoenix Suns' trade of Robin Lopez to New Orleans brought them former top-five pick Wesley Johnson and a draft pick.

But it left them a hole at backup center.

Lopez had filled the role for a season-and-a-half, mixing moments of excellence with nights of disappointment. Still, for all his faults, competent seven-footers don't exactly grow on trees, and the Suns did want to bring the former Stanford Cardinal back.

listen Listen: Lon Babby, President of Basketball Operations
Lon Babby calls in to Doug and Wolf to talk about the Robin Lopez and the three team trade.
Now they're left to move on, and the list of available bigs is not exactly an inspiring one. So where will the Suns turn in their search for someone to play behind starter Marcin Gortat?

"We have to hope that Channing [Frye] is healthy sooner rather than later," Babby told Arizona Sports 620's Doug and Wolf Friday. "He has played the five in the past and can do it again.

"Scola can play some five."

That would leave the Suns playing some version of "small ball", as both Frye and Scola are more suited to play the power forward position.

"[General manager Lance Blanks] is going to spearhead a search to make sure we probably bring in another big," Babby added. "That's certainly an area where we need help, but I don't think it will be anything dramatic.

"That's the risk of losing someone like Robin, no question about it."

13 Comments   |   Join the conversation »
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    hugUhbear wrote...
    Warrick's small contract is gone. We pick up a
    July 27, 2012 5:11 pm
    1stRd#4 SF(Wes Johnson).. and get a 1st rd pick (#15 or greater). We lose a 24YO 7-0 mobile defensive Center. How often do we pick those type of players up, Suns history says very rarely. Lopez was critisized often, inappropriately IMO; We now have no "TRUE" center and none that can be a rim protector or shot blocker or post defender of big men. Lopez only wanted 5M/year; less than Frye and yet we got rid of Lopez over Frye; you say good riddance, I say that is a mistake..The Suns made another Mistake
  • Abuse
    DZAZ99 wrote...
    Hassan Whiteside
    July 27, 2012 10:45 pm
    Nice upside, cheap. This should be a no-brainer.
  • Abuse
    RemyG wrote...
    Not Even Slim Pickings
    July 28, 2012 1:28 am
    The market for a serviceable center is bone dry. Birdman doesn't play like a center, and has discipline problems. Magloire can play a little D, but he is a little old, and has no offensive skills aside from dunking. Przybilla always gets hurt. There is nothing out there. Maybe Tim Kempton wants to come out of retirement.
  • Abuse
    mesa mad man wrote...
    like i said in the initial post regarding lopez
    July 28, 2012 8:17 am
    "as a backup there are still some decent prospects out there worth a 1 year contract to test (Milicic, Orton, Hollins). The guy id watch is Hasaan Whiteside. upside, athletic, great replacement at a fraction the price.". Dont count out Oden in my opinion either.
  • Abuse
    JW L. wrote...
    Bring in Shaq
    July 28, 2012 8:36 am
    Sure, he was already over the hill when he retired, and he probably couldn't run all the way down the court without wheezing, but at least he would put butts in the seats. And, he probably will be at least as good as whoever the Mediocre Suns bring in as the backup anyway.
  • Abuse
    Hummer71 wrote...
    O'Neil
    July 28, 2012 11:33 am
    Sounds pretty crazy but can the Suns trainers magic touch squeeze another year out of Jermaine O'Neil? They did some magic with Shaq a few years ago.
  • Abuse
    hugUhbear wrote...
    PS..Honestly, take a look at it and tell me
    July 28, 2012 11:36 am
    you honestly think that Frye should be staying over Lopez. Scola we just won and Morris is actually developing, before our eyes. Frye has a surgically repaired shoulder and should have been released/traded/ rather than losing a burgoning 24yo 7-0 defensive center. I think trading him to NO or just resigning Lopez for 5M and then hunting a team to take on Frye would be more appropriate than giving that NOLA team cover to say that we did the deal 4Robin but gav u cover with Gordon to in effect giv your owner cover 4 wantin2AB a big spender. Lopez has value Frye never ever will.
  • Abuse
    DrSublime wrote...
    centers
    July 28, 2012 11:45 am
    I'd be happy w/ any of these as a backup Kyrylo Fesenko DeSagana Diop Milicic, Darko Daniel Orton Whiteside, Hassan and maybe even Eddy Curry or Greg Oden
  • Abuse
    Tennisgrandpa wrote...
    OK OK
    July 28, 2012 12:03 pm
    First off, to even mention Frye's name in the same sentence with the term power forward is laughable. He might was well be 6'5" standing around the 3 point line, his height means nothing there. Secondly, have you peoiple been watching? Lopez has been an under-achieving bum and could be replaced by ANYONE. Did he have flashes at times, yeah but so did Michael Olowakandie. Lopez is a second team player at best. You don't build a team around second team players.
    Dale
  • Abuse
    the cooker wrote...
    Forget Lopez
    July 28, 2012 1:30 pm
    The dude showed up 4 nights a YEAR. Keep seeing people talking up Morris, for what? He is the 2nd coming of Frye, thinks he is a 3 point shooter and wonders what rebounding means.
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