Phoenix Suns: 5 Lessons From 2015 NBA Trade Deadline

2. Playoffs Are A Long Shot

Sorry to burst your bubble, Suns fans, but this team just lost two quality point guards and an important backup big and only got one quality point guard in return. This team was already holding on for dear life in the Western Conference standings and now three important players are gone.

Even in a perfect world where Granger is able to come in off the bench and knock down threes, the Suns didn’t shore up any of their weaknesses at the trade deadline. They didn’t improve their rebounding, they didn’t improve defensively, they didn’t add any power forwards and if anything happens to Alex Len, Brandan Wright is the only one who can prevent a full-on tail spin.

Last night’s win over the Dallas Mavericks moved the Oklahoma City Thunder into the eighth spot by virtue of their tiebreaker over the Suns in head-to-head matchups. A win tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves would move Phoenix back into eighth, but for how long?

The Thunder have been surging and made all the right moves at the deadline, acquiring Enes Kanter, D.J. Augustin, Kyle Singler and Steve Novak without having to send out any vital pieces. They might have ousted the Suns even without making those moves.

The Los Angeles Clippers keep winning without Blake Griffin, the Portland Trail Blazers added Arron Afflalo, the San Antonio Spurs are still the defending champs and the Dallas Mavericks are too experienced to slip out of the playoffs.

Even if this team manages to come together and find that same kind of chemistry that the 2013-14 Phoenix Suns had, there will be an adjustment process with so many new faces and young players needing to step up. Enjoy what you see of Archie Goodwin, because the playoffs probably aren’t happening now.

Next: Lesson No. 1