Valley of the Suns
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How the Suns can survive the Warriors era

By Matthew Daniels

PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 08: Jared Dudley #3 of the Phoenix Suns and Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors reach for a loose ball during the first half of the NBA game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on April 8, 2018 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 - APRIL 08: Jared Dudley #3 of the Phoenix Suns and Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors reach for a loose ball during the first half of the NBA game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on April 8, 2018 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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The Warriors are arguably the best team in NBA history, and they’re only getting better. How can the Phoenix Suns compete in this era?

So, you had high hopes for the upcoming NBA season? You thought, “hey, maybe things will be different this year”. You also thought teams might start catching up with the Warriors. Then… KABOOM. DeMarcus Cousins dropped a nuke on the NBA and completely ruined everything.

Now, I want you to close your eyes for a moment. Metaphorically of course, as you need to read. Regardless, imagine instead of a nuke, it’s the Golden State Warriors. You hear the roar of Oracle Arena and you get blinded by Adam Silver’s bald head as he leads Curry chants.

You don’t know what to do. Do you try to take on the Western Conference All-Stars to the best of your abilities? Do you buckle up and hope they beat you by less than 50? For this franchise, neither is an option. Not to fear, ladies and gentleman. I have devised the perfect plan to combat the 2018 dream team. For a team like the Suns, the ‘duck and cover’ is the only gameplan that makes sense.

To get a bit more serious, there actually is a plan. The Suns need to use this time to quietly stack their team. As of now, the Suns’ main pieces are Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, and Josh Jackson. From this season to about 2020 is where the Suns need to put in work. Klay Thompson‘s contract is up after next season, as well as Cousins’. And Kevin Durant and Draymond Green‘s are up after the 2019-20 season.

By the 2020 season, The Warriors all-star team will all be in their 30’s, making it much less likely that all of them will resign. In addition, the team, in theory, can’t add any more All-Stars, which means teams will eventually catch up.

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For the Phoenix Suns, this means the best strategy is pulling as much talent together as possible and developing talent already on the team. Booker will be entering his prime by 2020, giving them a top shooter who has developed into a leader. Ayton will be entering his third season, and Jackson should develop into a solid starter. Past those players, it’s up to management to put together a team that can hold their own against whatever teams are atop the NBA.

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