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Phoenix Suns: Reliving a Better Rebuild

By Michael Dunlap

Oct 6, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash (10) during the first half against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 6, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash (10) during the first half against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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One thing is certain about the 2015-16 Phoenix Suns season — it’s going to happen. Whether it’s going to be more like the feelgood 2013-14 season or more like the nightmare that was 2014-15 remains to be seen. Suns fans are patiently waiting to see how the rebuild continues, though it’s not looking like the early 2000’s when the Suns set themselves up for seven years of fun.

Let’s flash back to the 2001-02 season for a minute, shall we? Yes, way back to when Vinny Del Negro played six minutes for the Suns.

GOING FOR YOUTH

The Suns were fresh off 51-31 season that saw them bow out of the playoffs in the first round. They had a talented but troublesome leader in Jason Kidd, a young star in the making in Shawn Marion and not much else to be excited about.

View image | gettyimages.com

After an uneventful 2001 draft that saw the Suns grab Alton Ford with the 51st pick, the Suns decided to change direction. In July of 2001, Phoenix made a big trade, sending Jason Kidd to the New Jersey Nets for young star Stephon Marbury (regards to Chris Dudley, Johnny Newman and Soumaila Samake, who were also part of the deal).

The Suns weren’t done, as they did more wheeling and dealing, sending Clifford Robinson away in a deal for Jud Buechler and John Wallace. That trade turned out to be more important than we all thought.

In November 2001, Phoenix moved Buechler, Del Negro and some cash for Bo Outlaw and a 2002 first round draft pick — but more on that later.

They started relatively hot, winning 12 of their first 19 games, before things started to go sideways. When February 20th came around, they were 25-28 and looked like a lottery team. A deal was struck with the Boston Celtics, with Tony Delk and Rodney Rodgers being moved for Randy Brown, Milt Palacio, a 2002 first round draft pick and a big shooting guard out of Arkansas by the name of Joe Johnson.

The rest of the year went as expected, as the Suns finished 36-46, missing the playoffs.

The good news was, the Suns had a solid young core of Stephon Marbury, Shawn Marion and Joe Johnson to go with aging former-star Anfernee Hardaway. They also had two first-round picks in the upcoming draft and it looked like they were ready to reverse their fortunes.

A TRANSCENDENT TEENAGER

June 26, 2002 was a big day for the franchise (no, it wasn’t the Casey Jacobsen selection — can’t believe Tayshaun Prince went next). They stepped out at No. 9 and went with the 19-year-old Amar’e Stoudemire, out of Cypress Creek high school.

The 2002-03 Suns were young and exciting. Marion (24), Marbury (25), Stoudemire (20) and Johnson (21) led the young team to a 44-38 record and a shot at the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs (losing in six games).

If you’ve forgotten just how good those guys were, let me refresh your memory. Marion averaged 21.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.2 blocks. Here’s the list of players who have matched that line since then:

  • Nobody

Marbury had a huge year in his own right, scoring 22.3 points to go with 8.1 assists and 1.3 steals. Stoudemire won the Rookie of the Year, averaging 13.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks and it looked like the Suns were going to be a force for a decade.

The Suns whiffed on the 2003 NBA Draft, taking Zarko Cabarkapa with the No. 17 pick (right in front of David West). They did improve though — trading a 2005 first rounder for Leandro Barbosa.

GOOD WORK, START OVER

To say the 2003-04 Suns season didn’t go as planned would be an understatement. Coach Frank Johnson got canned after 21 games (going 8-13) and a Stoudemire injury in December ripped a gaping hole in the team’s proverbial jugular. Just after the new year, the Suns (again) decided to shake things up. This time didn’t go as well.

Phoenix sent Hardaway, Marbury and Cezary Trybanski away for a pu-pu platter that included Howard Eisley, Charlie Ward, Antonio McDyess and two first round draft picks. They weren’t done.

In February, they sent Tom Gugliotta, a 2005 second round pick and the two Knicks picks to the Utah Jazz for Keon Clark and Ben Handlogten. Woof.

Things would get better soon, as the team would draft Luol Deng No. 7 in the 2004 NBA Draft — sorry Suns fans — then traded him away for a guy named Jackson Vroman and Nate Robinson.

HAPPINESS IS A POINT GOD

Oh holy Nash, Oh sweet point God, Oh the good times are here agaaaaaaaain.

I’m not sure that’s the whole song, but you get the point. Enter Steve Nash, not coincidentally the best free agent the Suns have signed in decades.

View image | gettyimages.com

Imagine a luxury automobile with no engine. You can’t throw a Honda Civic engine in a Ferrari and expect performance. Nash brought the V8 to match the Suns Ferrari frame. Phoenix had youth and they had talent, but they had nothing to hold it together until Nash arrived.

Suddenly, the Suns were fun again and Nash was getting the best out of everyone on the court. They started the year 31-4 (not a typo) and were beating the tar out of folks. Of those 31 wins, only four were by less than seven points.

The starters stayed healthy, missing only 14 games between the five of them and Nash won the MVP. Let’s leave out the part about them losing in five games to the Spurs in the West Finals.

We should only be so lucky to relive those days (and hopefully with a much better ending).

Next: 25 Best Players to Play for the Phoenix Suns

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