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Phoenix Suns forward Luis Scola (14), of Argentina, drives against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Nick Collison during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
listen Listen: Lon Babby, Suns President of Basketball Operations
Lon asks Doug & Wolf to explain the Manti Te'o hoax, then gets into how the Suns evaluate potential draft picks. He also gets into the state of the team and what we can expect to see going forward.

Phoenix Suns president of basketball operations Lon Babby said the goal all along has been to be a competitive team.

At 13-27 and 8.5 games out of the Western Conference's final playoff spot, the Suns have been anything but, at least as far as their record is concerned.

So from here the team's goals -- at least for this season -- may have changed a bit. Early this week head coach Alvin Gentry said the team is on the verge of a "youth movement", meaning the team's sights may already be set on the future.

Which, if things continue on their current course, will feature many draft picks -- including at least one high lottery selection.

"I'm steadfast," Babby told Arizona Sports 620's Doug and Wolf about his desire to hold onto the team's picks. "That's not to say we wouldn't move them in extraordinary circumstances, but it would have to be very extraordinary circumstances because that's going to be the lifeblood of how we get better."

Babby's approach differs from the one the team took in the mid 2000s, as they went through a four-year stretch of not keeping any of their first round selections. Those decisions came at a time when the team was among the NBA's best, but likely helped lead to it becoming one of its worst.

So Babby's approach, while necessary, is also somewhat refreshing. Sure, he wants the team to win now, but understands it's not worth sacrificing the future for.

"Our eyes were always on the future and the future was going to be by accumulating these draft choices, which we did last summer, and we'll try to continue to do," he said. "And now that we have them and now that, really, as disappointing as this season has been so far, the sliver lining is that our draft choice may become that much more valuable."

As of now the Suns have the fourth-worst record in the league. Though the NBA's lottery system would not guarantee a top-five choice for the team, chances are good they'll be picking higher than they have since they made the seventh choice in the 1988 draft.

And as Babby tells it, the Suns fully intend on making that choice for themselves.

Adam Green, Web Content Editor - ArizonaSports.com

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    azgbayfan wrote...
    Don't bank on the draft
    I have no problem with the Suns trying to rebuild with draft picks but if you are banking on getting a player to build your franchise around for example Le Bron James or Kevin Durrant the Suns could easily get burned. Right now the Suns have the 5th pick. If you go back 12 years and look at those 12 5th picks only 2 are stars. Dwayne Wade and Kevin Love and last time I looked Love hasn't lead his team to anything and has been injured a lot. The draft is full of freshman and sophmores that are not ready mentally or physically for the NBA. The Suns need to be careful
  • Abuse
    Gpa28 wrote...
    DRAFT PICKS
    as always draft picks are a crap shoot. Fortunately more times than not they have a positive result. Getting a player to build around, thats the tough part and the gamble. As an example look at Basley and Johnson. At present both seem to be a bust, not living up to expectations. Maybe tthe expectations were to high for these guys. Next summer there could also be an above average player to be aquired. Playing the bench makes so all the "Cheeses" can see what they really have.
  • Abuse
    JoeMedal wrote...
    Re: Don't bank on the draft
    You do realize they're not just talking about this year alone, but the next couple years, too. Obviously this upcoming draft doesn't have much star power, but if they get the right picks over the next few years, they could build a solid nucleus for success. Also, there's always that possibility for a surprise star. Also, look at Lillard. No one picked him to be anything and he's the runaway ROY as of right now. Many years ago, the Suns drafted some no-name out of Santa Clara, I think he turned out all right. Right now, the Suns don't have much choice but to gamble with drafting their future.
  • Abuse
    BirdmanKickedYourAZ wrote...
    McLemore!
    I predict as David Stern's final act as commissioner, he will rig the draft to allow the Suns to get McLemore to atone for his sins.
  • Abuse
    mesa mad man wrote...
    draft
    i think this years draft could be much better than people are expecting. some of the one and done players (im looking at Kentucky) have definately underwhelmed thus far. I think this is more a factor of the team they are on and being a bad mix together. Some of those guys have tons of talent and I would be shocked if at least two of them dont turn into all stars (Goodwin, Poythress, Noel). You throw in Mclemore, Shabazz, even Smart, Plumlee, Zeller or Bennett. Id be ok drafting any of those players. If we manage to get two lottery picks, could rebuild in a hurry.
  • Abuse
    Jim R. wrote...
    Re: Don't bank on the draft
    No one was banking on Kobe before the Lakers grabed him at #13 or even Micheal Cooper (taken at #60 - boy did a lot of clubs have egg on their face for blowing him off).
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