Valley of the Suns
Fansided

Even after slow start, all is not lost for the Phoenix Suns

By Kory Miller

PHOENIX, AZ - NOVEMBER 10: Interim head coach Jay Triano of the Phoenix Suns reacts during the first half of the NBA game against the Orlando Magic at Talking Stick Resort Arena on November 10, 2017 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. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - NOVEMBER 10: Interim head coach Jay Triano of the Phoenix Suns reacts during the first half of the NBA game against the Orlando Magic at Talking Stick Resort Arena on November 10, 2017 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. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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3. The Phoenix Suns will be in every major trade rumor for the next two years

ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 06: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics reacts to the referees during the game against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena on November 6, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 06: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics reacts to the referees during the game against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena on November 6, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

The Suns now lead the league in future tradable assets. After getting the protected first from Milwaukee in the Eric Bledsoe deal the Suns now have seven first round picks in the next four drafts. Combine those with all of the young talent on the team (outside of Booker and Josh Jackson, who should both be un-tradeable) and the Suns can legitimately make an offer for any superstar that comes on the trade market. If the Suns keep their picks, there is plenty more young talent on the way to the Valley of the Suns. Whichever scenario plays out, the future is exciting.

After their hot start, the team has slowed down and the W/L category is showing it. But there is still plenty to be optimistic about even if we don’t see this on twitter quite as often as we’d like:

It should also be noted: (and while I am not drawing a direct parallel, there are definite similarities) in 2003 when Frank Johnson was fired after only 21 games; the team traded away Stephon Marbury and Penny Hardaway; they didn’t have a true point guard for the rest of the season (Leandro Barbosa); Mike D’Antoni finished 21-40 and did not look like the answer as head coach after his 61 games interim stint.

Suns fans were not happy with the direction of the team, the franchise had promised less than a year earlier after a massive contract extension that Marbury was the face of the franchise and yet he was suddenly off the roster leaving the team rudderless, and D’Antoni did not seem to be the right guy at head coach moving forward.

Yet that offseason, all it took was one surprising acquisition (Steve Nash), and a very young team suddenly became an extremely competitive one.

Next: Should the Suns trade for Julius Randle?

If the Suns are either able to trade for or sign that next great acquisition either this coming offseason or next, then the parallels will be all the more strikingly similar, and all of the failures of the recent past will be the mistakes needed to finally achieve the success fans of the franchise have longed for.

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