Lon Babby Not The Problem

Upon discovering that the Phoenix Suns extended Lon Babby’s contract through the 2014-2015 season, Planet Orange moaned and groaned in displeasure. To quote the extraordinarily loud Stephen A. Smith “Let me educate you.”

Lon Babby is not the problem…Nope…Not a bit…Not at all…No….

Keep in mind when Lon Babby got the keys to the team he was given a plate of steaming hot pile of excrement. Before Babby was hired to be the head of the Suns basketball operations, the Suns had already made the Hedo Turkoglu trade, they’ve already signed Hakim Warrick to his multi-year deal, they’ve already signed Josh Childress to that senseless multi-year deal, and above all else Amar’e Stoudemire have already punched his ticket to the Broadway.

So when it’s all said and done, after all those asinine signings, the Phoenix Suns turned to Lon Babby like an eight-year old boy who broke his toy and telling his mommy to fix it for him. That’s essentially what the Suns organization did. They asked Babby to a broken toy that was all but beyond repair.

Jan. 24, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA: Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver in the second half against the Los Angeles Clippers at the US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Clippers 93-88. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

We all know where the problem stems from in the valley of the Suns, Robert Sarver. Sarver is the culprit, not Babby. Sarver was the one who ran Jerry Colangelo out of town, he’s the one who essentially traded Loul Deng for a shiny penny, and he’s the one that created the mess that Babby now has to clean up.

I can rant about Sarver until the sun burns out(no pun intended)  but under these circumstances he’s not the only problem. The other elephant in the room is Lance Blanks.

Blanks communication issues has become common knowledge. I mean come on, the Suns have been losing all season, and out of all people, Blanks gets into a shouting match with Jermaine O’Neal? The leader in the locker room and the guys who’s been as solid as any player on the Suns this season? And the whole Dan Majerle situation, give me a break! The Majerle was one of the most mishandled situations in Phoenix Suns history!

Oh yeah, did I also mention that Lance Blanks drafted Kendall Marshall because Marshall was a quote on quote winner?

“He is a winner and I don’t think you can talk about that enough,” Suns General Manager Lance Blanks said on draft day. “This is a young man that is going to be able to right the ship in difficult times. Like Markieff (Morris) last year we felt he was much better than his draft position.”

No disrespect towards Kendall Marshall and Markieff Morris but Morris is in his second-year and thus far he has a career field-goal percentage of 40% as power-forward. Markieff Morris was better than his draft position? Then explain to all of us why Kawhi Leonard, Nikola Vucevic, Iman Shumpert, Tobias Harris, Kenneth Faried, and Chandler Parsons were taken after Morris. All six of those players has been far better NBA players than Morris.

As for Kendall Marshall, he’s averaging 2.7 assists per game, and 7.6 assists per 40 minutes. He may have been a winner in college but he’s got a zip code or two to go before becoming a starting caliber point guard and a winner in the NBA. Right the ship in difficult times? I’m sorry I forgot the Suns were atop the western conference. Oh wait! That’s right! We’re on the bottom!

Lance Blanks contract runs through the 2013-2014 season, but if Sarver has even one shred of wisdom in his body he’d give Blanks the pink slip at the conclusion of the season and begin the search for a new GM.

Jan. 24, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA: TNT announcer Charles Barkley court side prior to the game between the Phoenix Suns against the Los Angeles Clippers at the US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Clippers 93-88. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Charles Barkley has made it known that he’d like to work for a team and if Barkley steps in as the Suns GM, maybe, just maybe the Suns can finally rise once again.

“That’s my hometown team,” Barkley said. “I live in Phoenix. I watch the Suns religiously. And I’m very disappointed in their direction. They’re not competitive. Even the really bad teams like Cleveland and Sacramento have players to build around. The Suns? Their best players are Goran Dragic and Marcin Gortat.”

Lon Babby has done a tremendous job since coming to Phoenix, not only has he freed up significant salary cap space but he’s also accumulated multiple first-round draft choices moving forward which are vital for any rebuilding process; the Suns could potentially have three first-round draft choices in this upcoming draft.

Babby may not have the best eye for talent but one could argue that Babby has been the only force that’s pushing the Suns in the right direction. Sarver certainly isn’t it, neither is Blanks. Babby can’t right the ship alone, he needs help. After all, even batman had Robin…