How the Phoenix Suns can make the playoffs in 2019

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PHOENIX – MAY 29: The Phoenix Suns Gorilla gets the crowd ready to host the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Six of the Western Conference Finals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs on May 29, 2010 at U.S. Airways Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2010 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) /

It has been a long time since the Phoenix Suns made the playoffs: 2010 – eight full years. But there is a chance that they make it there this coming season.

While there are a few remaining stragglers who think the Phoenix Suns should tank at least one more time to have the opportunity to select another star collegiate player like R.J. Barrett or Zion Williamson, although many Suns fans believe that the time has come for the franchise to finally make the playoffs again, a place they practically used to live, and a place fans want them to stay.

The first way they can make that happen is if they can trade for a star

This one is easy. NBA teams need at least two stars to make the playoffs, and three to be competitive. The Suns already have one star in Devin Booker (when he is healthy), and they hope that they have at least one more in either Deandre Ayton or Josh Jackson.

However, at the moment, Jackson is probably still too young and inexperienced, and Ayton hasn’t even played a game. Yet even if he played at a Shaquille O’Neal rookie-level this season, he probably still doesn’t provide enough to pull the team over the top.

No, the Suns need one more, bonafied star, a veteran who is already elite, and who – when paired up with Devin Booker – will help pull them over the top right away.

One option is certainly to make a strong push for Damian Lillard, as the pairing of he with Booker would be an elite backcourt, comparable in overall talent to even the best backcourts in the NBA.

Admittedly, there is no guarantee that they can get Lillard, and such a trade would probably cost the Suns at least Josh Jackson (obviously Booker and Ayton are obviously off limits).

But, if the Suns can get someone of his caliber (Lillard was an All-NBA First Team player in 2017-18 – the Suns haven’t had a First Teamer since Amar’e Stoudemire and Steve Nash both made it in 2006-07), especially early on in the season which would allow the team long enough to gel together and win enough games, that player would almost guaranteed to be the kind of player the Suns need to get over the playoff hump.

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