NLL Insider - Team by Team: Phoenix Sunsby jmac, updated on Monday, October 16 2017, 03:24 pm EST
Season Highlight: Season Lowlight: The expectations were reasonable for Phoenix, with fans and GM alike expecting the Suns to make the playoffs. Pennywise signalled as much, moving current first round pick to bring in win now talent. However, chemistry didn’t really click throughout the whole season for the Suns. Add to that a host of heartbreaking close losses and injuries to a somewhat shallow squad, it saw that plummet to 14 games under .500 to finish the 2016-17 season. Best/Worst Trade: Best trade – The Boston Celtics send Al Horford to the Phoenix Suns. The Phoenix Suns send a 1st-Rounder (Pho) and 2nd-Rounder (Pho) to the Boston Celtics. Phoenix also later sent Ed Davis and 35 GM to Boston to complete the deal.
The Suns, after a year of hindsight, absolutely fleeced the Celtics in this deal. Horford is as good as he has ever been and fits the ever-evolving NLL like a glove, having a diverse set of skills and extremely high basketball IQ. It gave Phoenix a second star player to play alongside Kemba Walker and much kudos has to be given to them for being able to close the deal after months of negotiations. With both Walker and Horford, the Suns were able to convince Wilson Chandler to stay and encourage the brass to go after guys like Clarkson and Gortat. Boston, after feeling they had to cut cap somewhere, ended up with a fist full of not much, after moving on the first rounder (pick 11 I believe) to another team, blowing the 35 GM points on FA day and having nothing to show for it and they still currently have the 2ndrounder. Ed Davis’ had the worst season of his career and if wasn’t injured, he was busily finding ways to see his ratings plummet.
Whilst Joakim Noah is injured half the time, and has a terrible contract, when he does play, he is a monster on the glass and the defensive side of the ball. Leonard, on the other hand, makes almost as much money as Noah and has been unable to progress and develop at all as a player in almost half a decade in the league. Jodie Meeks was injured and had no real impact on the league last season. Best FA Signing:
Worst FA Signing: Star:
Surprise:
Goat:
Draft Report Card: (via Merencio) Phoenix Suns No. 44 – Davon Reed No. 55 – Aplha Kaba Reed was actually picked at 32 in the NBA and dropped 12 spots to the Suns who pulled the trigger on good value and a player who can pretty much score from anywhere in the court, though he’s a bit older than most prospects, he has a good chance to be Malcolm Brogdon-like, because of where he was picked. Then at 55, the suns tool the actual Mr. Irrelevant of the NBa in Alpha Kaba, who’s also in the running for coolest name of the draft and actually a good prospect from the Mega Leks factory who’s a 6-10 guy with great length, rebounding numbers and promising shooting touch although a little on the skinny side. Grade: C
Looking to the Future: The Suns are in the best position to make the playoffs out of the last few seasons. In the past few years they have been able to accrue enough win-now talent to hopefully consolidate a middle playoff spot. Horford, Walker didn’t have enough help last year and the chemistry just wasn’t there. Now, they trot out a very complete starting five and some boosted depth with the acquisitions of Clarkson, Gortat. Playoffs or bust, but I believe they will be there and they could be a fun team, too. Whomever starts on the bench out of Clarkson or Hardaway Jr will likely threaten for sixth man. Upcoming Free Agents: Tim Hardaway Jr (RFA) – Hardaway Jr had somewhat of a breakout season last year. With Phoenix holding the right to match any offer, expect him to stay a Sun. |
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