Fox Sports: Suns have the third brightest future among lottery teams
Dec 21, 2016, 10:30 AM
Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker, left, drives on Minnesota Timberwolves' Zach LaVine during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 19, 2016, in Minneapolis. Booker scored 18 points while LaVine scored 23. The Timberwolves won 115-108. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
(AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Despite a tough season for fans and a poor record last year, the Phoenix Suns ended the 2015-16 campaign with some hope, as Devin Booker looked poised to become an eventual superstar.
Then the 2016 NBA Draft began and the Suns drafted Dragan Bender with the fourth overall pick, made some moves, and minutes later landed Marquese Chriss with the eighth overall selection.
Phoenix has three teenagers on its roster (Bender, Chriss and Derrick Jones Jr.), and two others who are just 20 years old (Booker and Tyler Ulis).
So it would seem the Suns have a very bright future, and the folks at Fox Sports agree.
They say the Suns have the third brightest future out of all of the lottery teams.
The Suns appear to be in a great position for future success, but there are too many veterans getting playing time at the expense of the rookies, at least in the early part of the season before the playoffs are completely out of reach.
Eric Bledsoe is a real first option, and guys like Devin Booker, Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss seem poised to develop into legitimate NBA talents. Earl Watson says all the right things as head coach, and the culture he’s trying to create should set the franchise up for long-term success.
They mention the playing time has been a problem, but that will likely change, as Watson told Doug and Wolf on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Tuesday that finding more time for at least Bender is important.
The two teams Fox Sports said have a brighter future are the Los Angeles Lakers (No. 2) and Minnesota Timberwolves (No. 1).
Watson probably wouldn’t disagree with that, as he said Tuesday Karl-Anthony Towns “is one of the best bigs I’ve ever seen in basketball, since I’ve played, coming into the league this early in his career,” following the Suns’ loss in Minnesota Monday night.
