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ESPN gave the Phoenix Suns’ offseason a “C” grade

By Joseph Lowery

PHOENIX, AZ - JUNE 23: Josh Jackson of the Phoenix Suns talks to the media during a press conference after being introduced to the team on June 23, 2017 at the 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 - JUNE 23: Josh Jackson of the Phoenix Suns talks to the media during a press conference after being introduced to the team on June 23, 2017 at the 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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With the offseason coming to a close, ESPN has graded the Phoenix Suns’ offseason as a C.  A C? Really? Let us take a look at why that grade is so absurd.

Before we get into the reasons why this grade is so wrong, let us take a very brief look at the Phoenix Suns‘ offseason moves. In no particular order here are the highlights:

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The Suns drafted Josh Jackson fourth overall. They also picked up Davon Reed, who figured to get significant minutes this season before his injury, and Alec Peters, a Kevin Love clone, in the draft.

Phoenix was also able to nab former NBA and Suns player James Jones to join their front office, which added a new, as well as, fresh perspective to the same front office that has walked the halls of Talking Stick Resort Arena for several years now.

Lastly, Ryan McDonough was able to re-sign Alan Williams to a team friendly three year, $17M deal.

Where exactly is the downside in any of these major moves? Well, according to ESPN, after the draft, the Suns basically “sat the offseason out.”

Out of context that can certainly sound like a bad thing. But, when you take into account the age and relative inexperience of the Suns’ roster where waiting for the right time to make a dramatic move takes precedence over making a dramatic move simply for the hell of it, “sitting out” was definitely a smart move.

This roster is not ready to compete yet. Signing a big free agent like Paul Milsap or Blake Griffin might have helped Phoenix sneak into the bottom of the Western Conference playoff bracket this season, but to what end? To get blown out by the Warriors in Round One and lose any cap space for the 2018 offseason?

No thank you.

In the same vein, the Suns were rumored to be interested in both Kristaps Porzingis and Kyrie Irving. Clearly, both of those two young stars would have been an immediate boost to the squad. Although again, the question is, at what cost? Devin Booker and/or Josh Jackson?

The front office was wise to “sit out” those trades.

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If drafting a top young player, making a smart addition to your front office, and re-signing a key role player is a “C-grade” offseason, then I am not quite sure what an “A-grade” should look like.

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