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Three reasons why the Phoenix Suns Made a Mistake with Kyrie Irving

By Taylor Stevens

CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 19: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots over Tyson Chandler #4 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Quicken Loans Arena on January 19, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 19: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots over Tyson Chandler #4 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Quicken Loans Arena on January 19, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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It’s official, the Kyrie Irving trade debates to the Phoenix Suns are over and he will make his new home in Boston after a blockbuster deal. But did the Suns miss out?

This deal was shocking to nearly everyone across the NBA as it happened quickly and between two teams that competed in the Eastern Conference Finals last season.

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The Phoenix Suns were consistently thought of as the best potential trade partner for the Cavaliers, but obviously they came up short. Phoenix decided to trust in “The Timeline”  rather than trade assets to acquire Kyrie Irving.

Here are three reason why the Suns dropped the ball.

  1. How often does Phoenix have the opportunity to bring in an All-Star?  Unfortunately, rarely, if ever. Here is a player who has gone to four All-Star games, who has already won an NBA Championship, and is still only 25-years-old. If you remove the name “Kyrie Irving” from the discussion and simply state the facts, nearly every Suns fan would push to drop everything and get a deal done. Instead the Suns decided to make excuses as to why he was not the absolute perfect fit in Phoenix. The Suns decided to pass on an elite young talent who has proven his ability to compete and carry his team at the highest levels.
  2. This could have established Phoenix as a premier free agent destination. It is no secret that players are becoming increasingly more interested in playing for “super teams” in order to compete for a title. With an Irving and Booker backcourt, the Suns might have had enough to lure in another great free agent to compete much sooner. With the strong potential backcourt, the Suns could have created a super team of their own without having to wait for the youth to develop.
  3. Irving would have brought excitement and coverage to Phoenix. While I am not a fan of making a move solely to get butts in the seats, it is not a bad byproduct either. Irving could have brought much needed attention to the Valley of the Suns, which could lead to Booker actually making the All-Star team sooner than he would have otherwise. That attention would have helped to keep existing players and bring in new players as it would increase the off court financial opportunities.

It is impossible to say whether or not the Phoenix Suns made a mistake, especially since the asking price was so high. However, one thing is clear: there was an opportunity to bring in a star that is so desperately needed in Phoenix and a deal could not get done.

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In the coming weeks, when Suns fans complain about the roster’s lack of star power or the inability of the team to appeal to big name free agents, we need only blame the Phoenix Suns for not cashing in on this golden opportunity.

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