Time for Suns to develop youth, not look for free agents

Next comes the tough part for the Suns.

After having an aggressive mindset during last Thursday’s draft night, the potential reward from what Phoenix has put in place the past two summers in Devin Booker, Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss is going to take time and pain. A six-year playoff drought most likely isn’t going to end this season and that it doesn’t is best for the long-term health of the organization.

In 23-year-old Alex Len, 22-year-old T.J. Warren, 21-year-old Archie Goodwin, 20-year-old Tyler Ulis, 19-year-old Booker, 18-year-olds Bender and Chriss, Phoenix has seven players that need to play through struggles and mistakes.

Brandon Knight is 24 years old, but according to Basketball-Reference, his teams have been almost two points worse per 100 possessions with him on the court in his five NBA seasons.

Is he willing to accept a lesser role off the bench that allows his defensive flaws and offensive inconsistencies to be masked? Does he take a step forward as an individual, within a team concept, making him more impactful in a positive way?

These are questions we don’t have answers to — but they matter in terms of what his future should be with the Suns organization.

Eric Bledsoe is 27, P.J. Tucker is 31 and Tyson Chandler is 33 years old.

Bledsoe shouldn’t go anywhere right now because his value isn’t where it can be, and the Suns need someone to take on a large role in the offense while allowing others to play in their correct role. But looking to move Bledsoe for younger pieces that better fit the timeline of the core should be under consideration in the future.

Tucker is in the final year of his contract and his ability to play the three and four has value. He also can set a good example on the court for the youngins on how to compete on a nightly basis.

Chander said during an interview with ESPN’s The Jump he would revisit his future after the draft and free agency. If Chandler’s preference is to compete for a playoff spot in the present, what happened on draft night wasn’t what he was looking for.

When free agency opens at 9 p.m. PT Thursday night and the Suns (hopefully) continue to put their focus on the future, it’s probably in the best interest of both parties to move on, unless Chandler is open to an off-the-bench mentor role.

The Suns no longer need to be looking for 30 minutes a night from a veteran at any position during free agency. All seven players in the 23-and-under group should get real playing time. Tucker, Chandler, Bledsoe and Knight are all going to get significant run if they’re not moved.

The past two offseasons, general manager Ryan McDonough has pulled out all the stops to try to get a star to the desert. Outside of Kevin Durant, which isn’t a realistic possibility, there isn’t another player that can put the Suns on a no-brainer path to contention.

Al Horford and Nicolas Batum are both excellent players, who would both make Phoenix a better team, but the timing isn’t right.

It’s time for the Suns to start to let their core form organically and stop with the shortcuts. This might not be an easy step to take, but it is the right one.