The last time the Phoenix Suns were relevant in the playoff picture, Steve Nash was working his magic on one of the most memorable offensive juggernauts in NBA history. But with another NBA draft approaching, what if I told you that Nash’s Suns would have been even better had the front office not screwed the pooch over and over again?
This is not an advertisement for one of Bill Simmons’ 30-for-30 documentaries. This is a statement of fact: if the Suns could go back in time and redo 2004-07, Steve Nash might have a title (or more) to his name.
Through a series of selfish draft-day trades and baffling mental blunders, the Suns exchanged the chance at a sustainable long-term future, more often than not, simply for some extra cash. They say money can’t buy you love, but it also can’t buy you championships. (Or at least, not in the NBA. Maybe in baseball.)
On Tuesday, Suns fans will gather around their TVs, secretly hoping Phoenix defies the nearly insurmountable odds and climbs to a top-three spot in the 2015 NBA Draft Lottery. But if (and when) the Suns end up with the 13th overall pick, at least fans will be able to take some comfort in the fact that that team’s current general manager has a plan in sight.
It’s easy to criticize Ryan McDonough after the Isaiah Thomas acquisition jettisoned Nash’s successor, but perhaps a trip down memory lane will remind fans that as unfortunate as those circumstances were, they were NOTHING compared to a series of draft-day trades that may have cost Nash a chance at a ring.
Without further ado, here are the five worst draft-day trades in Phoenix Suns history — which just so happen to all come within a four year window during Nash’s prime.
Next: No. 5