Heading into the 2015-16 campaign, the Phoenix Suns are facing a five-year playoff drought in the middle of general manager Ryan McDonough’s rebuild. After the team finished with a 25-57 record in 2012-13 — the second-worst record in franchise history — McD was brought in to strip down the roster and start over from scratch.
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McDonough set the Suns up for a tankerific 2013-14 season, but almost out of nowhere, the team was actually good, finishing with 48 wins and narrowly missing out on the playoffs in the loaded Western Conference. Building from the middle up has been an unorthodox process, but after a successful offseason, the Suns seem poised to finally end the playoff drought.
Now before you go and start with your best Jim Mora impression, hear me out. The Suns are coming off one of their most disappointing seasons in recent memory, but that’s only because the season before showed such promise and took everyone by surprise.
However, McDonough and the Suns front office were able to identify the team’s areas of need and address most of them this summer, setting Phoenix up for a resurgent year in 2015-16. Phoenix won’t be contending for a championship anytime soon, and losing out on LaMarcus Aldridge obviously still stings.
But thanks to new additions, internal development and the lay of the West, the Suns have their sights set on the playoffs next season. Unlike in years past, it’s a realistic expectation too.
Next: New Additions
New Additions
Landing LaMarcus Aldridge would have propelled the Suns into the upper echelon of Western Conference teams. Ever since Steve Nash left, the biggest area of need for this team has been adding a superstar. The closest Phoenix ever got was Third Team All-NBAer and the league’s Most Improved Player in 2013-14, Goran Dragic, but Nash’s spiritual successor is long gone now.
Still, even after missing out on one of the best three power forwards in the game right now, the Suns addressed their other areas of need with a few signings that weren’t as flashy.
The headliner of the group is obviously Tyson Chandler, which might not impress McDonough’s biggest skeptics since Chandler’s a 32-year-old center signed to a four-year deal. But Chandler is a great fit in Phoenix both on and off the court, especially for a young team that desperately needed veteran leadership last year.
Chandler: “I think it’s very important that you set a culture from Day 1 and that’s what I plan on doing” #Suns
— Valley of the Suns (@ValleyoftheSuns) July 9, 2015
Chandler is an NBA champion, a former All-NBAer and a former Defensive Player of the Year. He averaged a more than respectable 10.3 points, 11.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game with the Dallas Mavericks last season and shot 66.6 percent from the floor. He’s no longer in his prime, but Chandler is a high character addition who will provide rebounding, interior defense, locker room leadership, and efficient offense out of the pick and roll.
Chandler figures to address a lot of weak areas of last year’s Suns team, but McDonough did an excellent job rounding out the roster as well. Phoenix was the league’s worst three-point shooting team after the All-Star break, which is why additions like stretch-4 Mirza Teletovic and Sonny Weems should fit right in.
For the Suns to be effective with a dual point guard backcourt, their penetrators need guys to open up driving lanes by spacing the floor as three-point threats. Phoenix is still missing that Channing Frye-type player in its starting five, which is why missing out on the pick-and-pop potential of Aldridge hurts so much. But off the bench, the Suns should enjoy some increased firepower.
The 4 FA additions by the Phoenix Suns: Tyson Chandler, Mirza Teletovic, Ronnie Price and Sonny Weems (h/t @VNdsgn) pic.twitter.com/JrAKItRHpG
— Inside the Sun (@_insidethesun) July 9, 2015
Teletovic only shot 32.1 percent from long range last season, but he was clearly hampered by his health issues that wound up sidelining him for the remainder of the season. The year before, he drilled 39 percent of his 4.8 three-point attempts per game. If he can return the court and be himself again, he’ll be a useful stretch big off the bench.
As for Weems, he could be one of the first guards off the pine for the Suns and he might be able to log time at both the 2 and the 3. He’s only a 24.1 percent shooter from distance during his NBA career, but a few years overseas helped him expand his game to three-point territory. Over the last four years in Euroleague, he shot a respectable 36.8 percent from downtown.
Finally there’s Ronnie Price, a seasoned vet who doesn’t make a lot of mistakes and plays defense. The Suns won’t expect much from him as their new backup point guard, but even though he can’t shoot, his experience and his steadiness will help the Suns keep the ship afloat when Bledsoe or Knight need a breather
Not one of these additions turns the Suns into contenders overnight. But by bolstering the rotation and adding a bonafide double-double machine and floor leader in Tyson Chandler, Phoenix finally has a more appropriate blend of youth, experience, athleticism and shooting.
Next: Internal Development
Internal Development
Youth is still one of Phoenix’s defining traits, and it’s both a great assets and flaw. But it’s worth acknowledging that quite a few of those young players could be due for substantial growth this season.
Last year, Eric Bledsoe joined Russell Westbrook, James Harden and LeBron James as one of the only four players in the NBA to averaged at least 17 points, six assists and five rebounds per game. After concerns about his knee, he also played in 81 games, with the only game he missed being for the birth of his son.
Though there were some nights when he just didn’t look motivated or like he had enough energy, that’s to be expected since it was his first full season as a starter. Bledsoe is only 25 years old and still has room for growth, especially now that Phoenix’s long-term backcourt has been solidified.
Knight and Bledsoe on twin deals...the new dynamic duo of the Suns backcourt (hopefully) for years to come.
— Sean Sullivan (@SeanSullivanNBA) June 29, 2015
Re-signing Brandon Knight is key to building that backcourt chemistry, and since he’s only 23 years old, his underwhelming time with the Suns last season should be chalked up as nothing more than a small and injury-riddled sample size. Knight has the kind of leadership qualities, playmaking ability and perimeter shooting that the Suns would love to groom into something special as he continues to develop.
There’s a sizable contingent of Suns fans that are disappointed Alex Len‘s growth may be put on the back-burner with the arrival of Chandler, but since Len’s only 22 years old, those concerns should instead be channeled into excitement that he’ll have a personal mentor of Chandler’s caliber.
If Len — who gobbled up rebounds at NBA Summer League despite failing to dominate offensively — were to ever become a Defensive Player of the Year like Chandler once was, I think most Suns fans would be ecstatic about that.
Chandler says his biggest priority is making Alex Len the best player he can be and that they’ll both benefit from the relationship. #Suns
— Valley of the Suns (@ValleyoftheSuns) July 9, 2015
Finally, there are the wet-behind-the-ears Suns like T.J. Warren, Archie Goodwin and rookie Devin Booker. Warren probably has the most potential for the upcoming season based on his strong close to his rookie season and his stellar play at Summer League. If he continues to get buckets the way he has in 2015, the Suns will have a hard time keeping him off the floor.
Phoenix’s rookie showed flashes in Las Vegas as well. Booker’s elite shooting translates to the NBA level right away for a team that needs perimeter weapons, so even though he’s still only 18 years old and has a lot to learn, he could easily be seeing regular minutes by season’s end.
As for Goodwin, he’ll have his work cut out for him to prove he belongs in the rotation despite not having a consistent three-point shot. But his shooting stroke looked vastly improved at Summer League, so even though he similarly failed to dominate in Vegas as you’d expect a third-year player to, it’s still far too early to give up on him at age 20.
With so many players looking to take a step forward this season, there will be a lot of growing pains this season. But if Bledsoe and Knight can develop that chemistry, they’ll form a formidable backcourt duo — and all of this is without mentioning the 25-year-old Markieff Morris, who had a terrific offensive season last year despite all the off-court drama and can still improve as well.
Next: Locker Room Chemistry
Locker Room Chemistry
It’s no secret that the Suns had their fair share of chemistry issues last season, especially after that tumultuous roster shakeup at the trade deadline that left a bad taste in everyone’s mouths. Hell, walking from the Al McCoy Media Center to the Suns’ locker room felt like leaving the Shire for Mordor by season’s end.
Trading away Marcus Morris understandably pissed off his twin, but the Suns may be on to something by splitting up a pair of embattled brothers who were clearly not a good influence on each other. The deal was made to clear up cap space for Aldridge first and foremost, but even after missing out on LMA, it was a good move that could do wonders for the locker room chemistry if Keef can get back onboard with what the front office is trying to accomplish.
That’s obviously a big “if,” but shipping away Mook rids the Suns of a player who yelled at he his head coach during one game this season and is still facing felony aggravated assault charges.
This sense of entitlement from a mediocre, replaceable player like Marcus Morris is why I'm glad he's gone. pic.twitter.com/jVtNnCaTYk
— sreekar (@sreekyshooter) July 10, 2015
Keef faces those same charges, but he’s the more talented of the two Morrii, so keeping him over Mook was a no-brainer.
For those concerned that Marcus was the key to Markieff realizing his full potential, it’s also worth pointing out that a regression in Keef’s game simply because his twin brother is no longer around would be one of the more absurd things to happen to the career trajectory of any NBA player. You don’t suddenly forget how to play basketball without your brother around.
Potential Markieff Morris issues aside, the Suns’ chemistry should be a lot better this season without three point guards jostling for touches. Bledsoe and Knight will have their chance to build cohesion, everyone’s contract situation is taken care of and the team can focus solely on winning. With veterans like Tyson Chandler and Ronnie Price overseeing the process, all signs point to Phoenix having a resurgent season, even in the cutthroat West.
Next: The Lay Of The West
The Lay Of The West
Speaking of the West, a considerable amount of Phoenix’s projected improvement this upcoming season lies in the simple fact that the bottom of the conference is not as strong as it was back in 2013-14 when it took 49 wins to make the playoffs. The West is more top-heavy now, giving the Suns their chance to avoid setting a new franchise record for longest playoff drought.
The Suns have virtually zero chance of winning a playoff series as currently constructed. The Golden State Warriors are the defending champs, the San Antonio Spurs completely reloaded, the Oklahoma City Thunder are healthy again, the Houston Rockets landed Ty Lawson, the Los Angeles Clippers bolstered their bench and the Memphis Grizzlies aren’t going anywhere.
But outside of those six teams, the last two spots in the West are up for grabs.
Don't tell anyone, but I've become cautiously optimistic about the Suns chances of sliding into the playoffs next year.
— Scott Howard (@ScottHoward42) July 10, 2015
After missing out on DeAndre Jordan, the Dallas Mavericks will be depending on Chandler Parsons, an on-his-last-legs Dirk Nowitzki and Wesley Matthews, who is coming off a scary Achilles injury. They could make things interesting depending on how much Dirk has left in the tank, but I don’t see the Mavs being a playoff team next year.
Sir Charles In Charge
The Portland Trail Blazers, another playoff team from last season, lost four of their five starters. Unless Damian Lillard morphs into a Monstar, the Blazers will be one of the worst teams in the West. The Los Angeles Lakers have some promising young players and actually did relatively well in free agency despite not landing a superstar, but come on. They’re not a playoff team either.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are still far too young. The Denver Nuggets are keeping around Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler, but trading Lawson means they’re ready to commit to a longer rebuild behind Emmanuel Mudiay. They won’t be a playoff team this season, leaving the Suns, New Orleans Pelicans, Utah Jazz and possibly the Sacramento Kings to wrestle over those last two playoff spots.
The Jazz have a promising young core and the Pelicans should build on their success from last season behind new head coach Alvin Gentry and the monster that is Anthony Davis, but the Suns should be right in the mix with those two teams. After an offseason that addressed so many problem areas and solidified the team’s core for the foreseeable future, anything less than a playoff appearance next season would be a disappointment.
Next: Is Mike James A Possibility For The Suns?