The Phoenix Suns have two very specific problems that they likely will not be able to fix this season: the need of a strong leader and point guard, and a consistent secondary scorer to take more pressure off of Devin Booker.
We all, in the Valley of the Suns, recall that the Suns were in hot pursuit of Kyrie Irving, the very epitome of a strong leader at point guard, as well as a strong scorer that could have taken a considerable amount of pressure off of Booker. Reports were that the Cleveland Cavaliers wanted from the Suns the 4th overall pick in the draft, which would have amounted to Josh Jackson, with Eric Bledsoe and some other pieces as well.
Of course, the Suns demurred and declined to make the trade, allowing Boston to swoop in and make the trade for the Irving, leaving the Suns with their pick, as well as a growingly disgruntled point guard who would eventually force his way out.
But now that we see how strong the Boston Celtics are behind their newfound star point guard and the combination of Josh Jackson’s slow start as well as the Bledsoe trade demand, the Phoenix Suns should have pulled the trigger.
The reasons are many, but I’ll offer my top few: