The Suns make the playoffs
Everyone knows the Phoenix Suns probably won’t make the playoffs. The Western Conference has nine teams who won 46 or more games last season. LeBron James joining the Lakers adds them to the group of teams competing for the playoffs. The Mavericks and Clippers still have a chance, too.
Meanwhile, the Suns are coming off of a league worst 21 win season, and despite some significant additions, they’re almost definitely not 25 wins better. So how can they get in?
Deandre Ayton would have to be a legitimate star right from the tip on October 17. Trevor Ariza and Ryan Anderson have to carry the young guys when things get tough. Devin Booker needs to look like one of the league’s top players. Josh Jackson and Mikal Bridges have to play solid, well-rounded basketball.
Perhaps just as importantly, Igor Kokoskov has to be one of the league’s best coaches. He has to put his players in positions to succeed, and they all have to step up. If Kokoskov could be a great coach, the rest would be so much easier.
Playing competitive basketball, sporting two top players, having a good group of rotation guys, and playing under a top coach could turn the lowly Suns into the playoff Suns. And it would make recruiting a star free agent a real possibility.