The Phoenix Suns have entered a phase of transition within the organization, as they once again build around the generational talents of 28-year-old Devin Booker. It is clear the front office are now taking a more long-term approach to the roster building, with three incoming rookies, a pair of returning second year prospects and 23-year-old Jalen Green filling out much of the roster.
It also speaks volumes that the three supposed available players via trade from Phoenix right now are all veterans who could help the right contending team. Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale and Nick Richards all thought to be available at the right price. There isn't going to be a lot of winning in The Valley in 2025-26, but there will still be reasons to celebrate.
Shawn Marion's eligibility for Hall of Fame reason to smile.
Although the Suns aren't expected to win more than 30 games, good news could soon be on the way in the form of Shawn Marion possibly being nominated for the Hall of Fame. That's according to Tom Haberstroth and Dan Devine on a recent episode of their podcast on Yahoo! Sports. He's certainly got a chance, and he's followed all of the steps to this point to justify getting there.
Marion went into the Suns' own Ring of Honor last season - a wonderful achievement and celebration of what he means to the franchise - and he is about as beloved a former player as you will find in Phoenix. This despite never winning a championship there, and instead going on to do so with the Dallas Mavericks. In fact we pushed for his inclusion in the hall over two years ago.
Not that fans in Phoenix ever begrudged him that, he gave his all to the pioneering era of "Seven Seconds of Less" basketball that the Suns unleashed on the league. History has also been kind to the two-way menace with one of the more unique shots in league history, because of what he would be worth in today's league.
Marion being his generation's answer to Mikal Bridges, at a time when that kind of play wasn't applauded as much. He was also better than Bridges at his peak, an athletic freak who could easily have been the guy on other teams. Instead he played on some amazing Suns rosters, which fans will have to remember as they endure a couple of seasons of losing once more.
A lot of the talk on this class is going to revolve around Andre Iguodala, the NBA Finals MVP whose career was split in two. He was the best player in Philadelphia while also having a brief stint in Denver with the Nuggets, before becoming the ultimate - and overqualified - role player and glue guy for a Golden State Warriors' dynasty.
Marion might not have a Finals MVP to his name, but his career is also easily defined by two teams in the Suns and Mavericks. He was a four-time All-Star - all coming in Phoenix - and was routintely one of the best defenders in the league. All while giving the Suns over 18 points a night in 660 regular season games. Marion has to go in, and it will be a great day in The Valley when he does.