The Phoenix Suns could benefit from the recent decision by the NBA board of governors to pass reforms in two important aspects of the game.
The league recently passed reforms to alter the current structure of the NBA lottery and how teams rest their players. These changes may appear to come at a bad time for a rebuilding team like the Phoenix Suns. However, bad it may appear for the Suns, there are some aspects from these reforms that the franchise could really benefit from.
Lottery Reform
In these changes, the worst three teams at the end of the season would have the same 14 percent chance to land the top pick. This evening out at the top three picks gives teams at the middle of the lottery a better shot at a top selection.
The Suns will definitely benefit from these changes when they go into effect in the 2018-2019 season. With the injuries and the stronger Western Conference, the Suns are bound to be one of the worse teams in the conference this season. That means they have a decent shot of getting a top five pick in the 2018 draft. To go off of what Valley of the Suns’ writer Brooks Ohman’s points out about the Suns could start improving after this season. After one more season of the old lottery rules, the Suns should be focusing on improving in future seasons. Still in a strong West, the Suns could be in the mid-lottery for at least two years after this season. In this regard, the franchise would benefit from the increased odds for the mid-lottery teams.
More from Suns News
- Ranking the Phoenix Suns’ 5 holiday games in 2023-24
- Zion Williamson gets compared to Phoenix Suns legend
- Suns player preview: Bol Bol can be the perfect role player
- Former Suns’ guard shows he is officially done with Phoenix
- NBA insider guarantees Suns’ rival won’t make blockbuster trade
Player’s Resting
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has now gained the power to fine teams for resting players for no particular reason. Now the Phoenix Suns will have to monitor themselves with this rule based on how the team handled veterans last season. However, this new ability that Silver has will be able to help the team in another aspect. Phoenix is not a huge market and it showed last season when the Suns ranked 19th in the league for attendance. With the threat of the fine teams like the San Antonio Spurs, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Golden States Warriors won’t rest players against the Suns. In turn, it should help attract fans to come watch the NBA’s top players compete against the Suns.
Next: Top-5 rookies in Phoenix Suns history
The reforms passed by the owners came at the best time possible for the rebuilding Phoenix Suns. Even though it might have been bad for the Suns if these changes were put into place a few years ago, it’s more than beneficial now.