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Phoenix Suns: Why ESPN’s Prediction is Spot On for Franchise

By Tim Holstad

PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 12: T.J. Warren #12 of the Phoenix Suns boxes out against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 12, 2017 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 12: T.J. Warren #12 of the Phoenix Suns boxes out against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 12, 2017 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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ESPN just released their summer forecast for the Western Conference. Where do the Phoenix Suns sit and did ESPN get their predictions right?

With ESPN just releasing their Summer Forecast for the Western Conference there are not really many surprises to be found in their predictions. Perhaps the New Orleans Pelicans are a little too low and maybe the Utah Jazz are a little too high. All in all, they pretty much hit the nail on the head. That includes their forecast of what the Phoenix Suns will do next season.

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The Suns are projected to win only four more games than last year, going from 24 wins to 28 this season. Perhaps more importantly though, they are expecting Phoenix to be last in the Western Conference. There are several reasons why but the biggest expectation is that the Suns are probably going to tank again, likening their “Timeline” movement to “Trusting the Process” in Philly.

While it is unclear as of yet whether the Suns might sit their veterans again in favor of their younger players, especially late in the season. It is clear that this roster is still far too young to even sniff the playoffs in an absolutely loaded Western Conference. Even putting Eric Bledsoe and Tyson Chandler back into the rotation this season, it is not like the team was winning even with them on the court. Bledsoe is one of the best players in the league that cannot make an All-Star team and Devin Booker is the clear cut future for this team.

Josh Jackson does not add the most firepower offensively and at least for this year, he will not be much more than a glorified PJ Tucker with more athleticism. His shot needs a lot of work. He will need time as a rookie to figure out the speed of the game and find a go-to niche while he improves the parts of his game that are still lacking. In the meantime, he is a great defender with athleticism through the roof and that will certainly help cover Booker’s defensive inefficiency.

The Suns have numerous other young players that are still developing, not just as players, but as men as well. Marquese Chriss showed troubling signs of stagnation in the preseason, while Dragan Bender took some encouraging steps forward. Tyler Ullis has already proven that, at worst, he will be one of the better backup point guards in the NBA. Derrick Jones Jr., Davon Reed, and Alec Peters are all young players that have the potential to develop with more playing time.

The question is, will they get that playing time this year? My guess would be yes. As I said before, this team is not making the playoffs barring the Monstars returning and stealing all the talent from the top teams in the West. Another possibility of them making the playoffs would be every single star imaginable goes down with a season-ending injury in the first month of the season. Phoenix has good pieces in place, however those pieces are positioned to hit their peak several years from now.

Not to mention the top of this upcoming draft is loaded with players projected to be franchise type players especially at the center position, the one position Phoenix is still kind of lost at. Adding the likes of DeAndre Ayton or Mohamed Bamba would give the Suns the kind of starting five that most teams would salivate just thinking about.

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It is hard to say whether the 28 win projection will be accurate. It could be that the bottom of the West all hovers around 30 to 35 wins or it could be that the last three or four teams all have absolutely dreadful seasons. However, I think ESPN hit their forecast on the head when it comes to the Phoenix Suns and frankly, I am fine with it. The Suns cannot hope to compete in the Western Coference as it now stands. However, the way the Suns are building their team has many Suns fans hopeful for the future in what is otherwise a pretty dreary present at the moment.

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