The Phoenix Suns are a team in transition heading in to the 2016-17 NBA season. Now two years removed from one of the most surprising playoff pushes in recent history, the Suns will attempt to forge a new identity with an intriguing cast of young talent and veteran players on the roster. A combination of shortsighted trades and injuries really tore things apart in Phoenix a year ago, but it might have provided the push this franchise needed to turn its attention to the future with a chance to accelerate its rebuild.
Offseason Changes
The Phoenix Suns traded up in the NBA Draft to get two top-10 picks. They then selected big man Dragan Bender fourth-overall and reached a deal with the Sacramento Kings to acquire the eighth-overall pick to draft power forward Marquese Chriss. Phoenix wasn’t done there, though, as they managed to add promising point guard Tyler Ulis with the fourth pick of the second round. Bender, Chriss and Ulis are each loaded with potential and the Suns have to be thrilled about landing that trio. The Phoenix Suns also brought in a couple of veteran role players in Leandro Barbosa and Jared Dudley, who will provide veteran leadership and experience coming off the bench.
Strengths
There is a ton of talent in the backcourt rotation with Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight returning from injury to join Devin Booker and Ulis. Booker in particular was a bright spot in his rookie season as he was in contention for the Rookie of the Year award. If he can build on what he did down the stretch a year ago, he could eventually become an All-Star.
Up front, the Suns are loaded with potential, even if little of it has come to fruition. Former lottery pick Alex Len really hasn’t become much in the NBA but he’s still around. The Phoenix Suns also added a couple of big men in Chriss and Bender. The idea is that someone from this group should emerge to not only become a competent starter but hopefully be a centerpiece of the roster.
Phoenix has the potential to be an exciting transition team that thrives on the fast-break with an intriguing combination of athleticism and shooting ability. Dudley, Barbosa and Tyson Chandler will help mentor the young talent on the roster while providing some quality minutes off the bench.
Weaknesses
The Suns are loaded with potential but they are severely lacking in terms of established star talent. Booker might be close and they landed a strong rookie class, but outside of Bledsoe, there isn’t one player on this roster that is clearly established as a star in this league. The coaching staff would be smart to commit to a full youth movement and give the young players every opportunity to develop so it will be interesting to see how they manage the minutes. Earl Watson is an inexperienced coach so there is some skepticism surrounding his ability to maximize the potential of this roster.
Watson has big job in front of him as he has to help the Phoenix Suns figure out their identity. Bledsoe is the main man but who supports him and Booker? Who will be taking the key shots at the end of the game? Who is the top post presence? Who is going to provide a spark off the bench? These are all questions that a young team has to figure out before they can get back into the conversation of being a .500 team.
Outlook
There is reason to be optimistic about a young core that features Booker, Knight, Bledsoe, Bender, Chriss and Ulis but none of those players are established as a true NBA star just yet and despite the promise there will be growing pains along the way. Phoenix has done a good job surrounding the young talent on its roster with strong veteran leadership and that should accelerate the process, but don’t expect this team to contend for a playoff spot this season. There are far too many question marks surrounding the Suns to think they can win enough games to finish in the top-eight in the Western Conference. However, Phoenix clearly appears to be headed in the right direction with a focus on the future heading in to the 2016-17 season.
Prediction: 3rd in Pacific Division; 13th in Western Conference
