Phoenix Suns: Setting Expectations For Trade Deadline

Questions About This Team’s Ceiling

If the Suns continue down this path — re-signing Dragic, pairing him with Bledsoe and/or Thomas, letting Markieff and Len develop while Goodwin and the younger players work for limited minutes off the bench — how long will it take for us to know when this young team has hit its ceiling?

Len could be a difference-maker defensively, but we have know way of knowing how quickly he can develop into a franchise center, especially with the clock ticking on Dragic’s prime. Bledsoe is barely tapping into the height of his potential, but are we sure he’s a franchise player yet? The Morris twins have been dynamite this year offensively, but can they defend and rebound well enough to help the Suns take the next step forward?

The rest of the Western Conference is ripe for the taking over the next few years. The San Antonio Spurs will be a completely different team by then. Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol‘s primes are nearing their end with the Memphis Grizzlies. The Dallas Mavericks are approaching Dirk Nowitzki‘s last ride.

Chris Paul‘s best years with the Los Angeles Clippers are behind him, as are Dwight Howard‘s with the Houston Rockets. And the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team many thought would become a dynasty a few years ago, are one Kevin Durant announcement away from fading into a one-man Russell Westbrook show.

In other words, the landscape of the West could look very different in a few years if these young Suns assemble the right group and build that chemistry up. But figuring out who belongs in that group is problematic.

Goodwin (20), Ennis (20) and Warren (21) could all be useful trade chips, but dealing away a young asset like Goodwin (and even Warren) feels like a mistake unless they’re included in a package for a bonafide star given how great they could become.

Taj Gibson is one potential upgrade that’s been mentioned, but he’s no star. To put this in perspective, what if the Cleveland Cavaliers fall short this year and Kevin Love truly is unhappy with a diminished role? What if Love becomes available as a free agent this summer? Stylistically, he’d be a perfect fit in Phoenix as a stretch-four in the pick and pop, like a Channing Frye on steroids who could actually rebound.

This is all a long-winded way of reinforcing the point that standing pat at the deadline and keeping this current financial situation intact might not be the end of the world.

Next: The Trouble With Goran And Gerald