When you stink up the joint and compile high draft picks for multiple seasons in the NBA, you're supposed to turn a corner and rise in your respective conference — unless you're the Phoenix Suns.
Since missing the playoffs by one game at 48-34 in 2013-14, the Suns have come nowhere near making a playoff appearance. They've peaked at 39 wins and won no more than 24 games in each of the last three seasons. They also project to finish below that mark again this season. Currently 11-47, the Suns are the 15th seed in the Western Conference and own the second-worst record in the NBA.
Now, the Suns do have talented young players, as well as some proven commodities in place.
Shooting guard Devin Booker is averaging 24.9 points per game for a second consecutive season. He's one of the best scorers in the NBA, an underrated passer (Booker is averaging a career-high 6.7 assists per game this season), and the face of the Suns franchise. Sure, he's an inconsistent defender, but Booker's ability to score at an elite level gives the Suns something to boast about.
Rookie center Deandre Ayton has been as advertised. While there's room for growth defensively, the number one overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft has been a force to be reckoned with on the offensive end. Averaging 16.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, he's been a go-to scorer in head coach Igor Kokoskov's offense while hitting the boards on both ends.
Forward T.J. Warren has quietly blossomed into one of the best two-way forwards in the association. Averaging 18.0 points per game while shooting 48.6 percent from the field and 42.8 percent from beyond the arc, he has been an integral part of the Suns offense while also being arguably their best defender.
Forward Josh Jackson has endured a discouraging sophomore season. Averaging just 11.2 points per game while serving as an inefficient shooter, he's struggled to take the next step in his game offensively. On the other hand, he's an athletic forward who's capable of playing swarming on-ball defense.
As a part of a trade that sent Trevor Ariza to the Washington Wizards, forward Kelly Oubre Jr. was sent to Phoenix, and he's been an encouraging development. Averaging a career-high 15.0 points per game, Oubre has come off the bench and provided the Suns with instant offense and a surge of energy. A restricted free agent at year's end, the Kansas product is making a case to stick with the Suns past this season.
While he's averaging just 8.3 points per game, rookie wing Mikal Bridges is a reliable defender who, in time, should be able to become a more efficient outside shooter.
Unlike the rest of his young teammates, third-year big man Dragan Bender hasn't found much success in the NBA. Bender, who was supposedly going to be the next Kristaps Porzingis, is averaging just four points per game in 23 games played this season, has never averaged above 6.5 points per game, and struggles to get playing time. The former number four overall pick struggles on both ends and likely won't be re-signed when his rookie contract expires.
Despite Bender's continued struggles and Jackson's up and down 2018-19 campaign, some will still argue that the Suns have a bright future given their young core. Here's the problem with that argument: their young core hasn't played the Suns out of the NBA's cellar.
Going into Tuesday night the Suns were 28th in the NBA in opponent points per game (115.8), 29th in opponent field goal percentage (48.3), and 25th in opponent three-point shooting percentage (36.5); they've been unable to hold their opponents to a considerable amount on that end of the floor. At the same time, despite individual production, the Suns have also been an unreliable bunch offensively.
Going into Tuesday night they were 24th in points per game (105.9), 17th in field goal percentage (45.7), and 30th in three-point shooting percentage (32.7). So, what does this all mean? Is it misleading information? A sign that the Suns are still years away from posing a playoff threat? Are they an overrated unit?
When the term “empty numbers” is mentioned, it's in reference to how statistics players are putting up are pointless, or overblown, because their team isn't a playoff-caliber unit. For a Suns team that is likely going to finish with less than 25 — and potentially 20 — wins for a fourth consecutive season, it's officially time to ponder whether this team is on the right path and if their players' production is overrated.
The Suns have made little to no impact transactions in years past, outside of signing Ariza to a one-year deal this past offseason — who they ended up trading to the Wizards. No one viewed the Suns as a threat in the West going into training camp, but it was feasible to think they could rise in the conference and play competitive basketball. Fortunately for the Suns, their inability to compete gives them a reasonable chance of winning the NBA lottery — except that has been the case the last three years, and it's done nothing to positively impact their win-loss total.
To be clear, the Suns aren't the only team in the NBA who is tanking, or is perceived to be doing as such. The New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, and Atlanta Hawks continue to reach new levels of ineptitude on a nightly basis this season and are putting all their cards on the table when it comes to draft positioning. Intentionally losing, or putting a team on the floor that's going to struggle over the course of an 82-game season, is an awful look for an organization, but a high draft pick has become the Holy Grail of assets in the NBA.
At first glance, a grouping of Booker, Ayton, Warren, and Jackson should put a team in the playoffs in the near future. A talking point with the Suns has been how all they need is a point guard to compete. Well, that would make sense if they were on the outskirts of the playoffs, or gradually improving, but no such scenario is in front of them. In fact, the Suns are projected to finish with fewer wins than they did the year prior for a second consecutive season.
The Suns are poised to have an enticing draft pick this summer. What will the talk be concerning their franchise in the offseason? The same as it has been in years past: they have a deep core that's going to soon make noise in the West. But there's no reason to believe that next year will actually produce a vastly different outcome than this season; there's never any collective growth with this team.
The Suns have talented individuals, but it's supposed to, at some point, produce wins. Right now, the Suns are merely the model for how tanking doesn't always pay dividends in the NBA.
Follow Us
Subscribe