ESPN writer: Phoenix Suns have second-worst roster construction in Western Conference
Aug 10, 2015, 11:48 AM
Utah Jazz forward Rodney Hood (5) defends as Phoenix Suns' Eric Bledsoe looks to pass during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, April 4, 2015, in Phoenix. The Suns won 87-85. (AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
In 2012-13, the Phoenix Suns won 25 games and appeared destined to remain at the bottom of the Western Conference for a few more years.
Then, in 2013-14, they surprised everyone by winning 48 games and barely missing out on the playoffs. Though disappointing, it appeared their rebuild was going to be quicker than anticipated and a run at being a contender was not too far off.
Last season, though, they slipped to 39 wins, which led to them signing Tyson Chandler as well as a slew of other free agents in the offseason.
The result of it all, at least on the court, remains to be seen. Some view a team that is led by Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight, Chandler, Alex Len and possibly Markieff Morris with depth that includes T.J. Warren, P.J. Tucker, Mirza Teletovic, Sonny Weems and Devin Booker as one that can end a playoff drought that has reached five seasons.
Others, like ESPN.com’s Bradford Doolittle, feel differently.
In an Insider piece ranking roster construction, Doolittle puts the Suns at 14th — in the Western Conference. The only roster he thinks is worse off than Phoenix is the Denver Nuggets.
The way Doolittle sees it, the Suns have zero elite players, zero superstars and zero upper-tier starters. What they have is three starters, four second-unit players and three deep reserves.
Two seasons ago, the Suns performed at a level greater than the sum of their parts. Last season, the opposite was true. This season, they need Jeff Hornacek to coax a repeat of his 2013-14 performance, as Phoenix’s roster doesn’t look as strong on paper as it did at this time a year ago. The pieces may well fit better, though the Suns’ two best players — Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight — have to prove they can play together. Nevertheless, with Tyson Chandler in the middle, the Suns look like they have a solid starting five. The concerns set in when you get to the second unit.
Doolittle leaves room in his piece for players developing into more than they are, and it wouldn’t be a bad bet to think Bledsoe, Knight or even Len are going to rise in status over the course of their careers.
But until they do, the team’s roster does appear to be lacking a true star-type player, the kind the best teams are build around.
At this point, it’s very possible the Suns greatly overachieved two seasons ago, with their oh so close playoff run being more of a fluke than a sign that the team was further along than everyone thought. Or, it’s also possible last season’s disappointment, which included some roster discord as well as a team makeover at the trade deadline, made things look worse than they really are.
We’ll find out when the season begins.
