In my best Allen Iverson voice: Timelines?
We really talking about timelines!?
Seriously there are some things better than winning. Don’t get me wrong I have hated the last half decade of Suns basketball. Despite the record, this franchise does not have a losing culture but lately they seem to wear it well. But now not the time for winning.
Now is the time to aim for more ping-pong balls.
I am not one to believe in fate, but sometimes fans might fail to remember that the Suns have had plenty of chances to get the number one pick in years past.
Phoenix Suns
Yet there are a few things to point out such as the Suns owner Robert Sarver’s ties to the University of Arizona and how it just so happens that the projected number 1 pick in the NBA Draft this summer is DeAndre Ayton. He happens to be a 7 foot 1 center/anything else he puts his mind to, superstar. The chance to get the franchise’s center of the future is too tempting to tempt fate and win when they should be losing.
The heartache of not winning the lottery over the years that Suns fans have had to endure over are often fortunately overshadowed by a lot of amazing selections later in the draft.
However, the entire franchise’s history of draft failure can be traced back to it’s first loss, that of a coin flip. If you haven’t heard the story of Lew Alcindor it’s a hard pill to swallow as a Suns fan.
In recent years the Suns have had a good track record in the draft, highlighted when a Shark felt he would be over paying Steve Nash, an original Suns draft pick, allowing the point guard to make his way back to Phoenix. He, combined with Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion, formed a winning combination, the franchise’s first official Big 3.
All three of those players were draft picks of the Phoenix Suns. Despite the fact they let Nash go and got him back, it goes to show sometimes all it takes a little luck.
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Ultimately if you’re a Suns fan you want the team to complete this season tanking, playing hard but losing, giving them the best odds and taking Ayton number one. And that’s only if you can convince NBA Commissioner Adam Silver that you’re not aiming for ping-pong balls these last few games.
Phoenix needs to continue to trust the process – or whatever clever moniker they want – and tank, but play hard.