Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz Building In Middle, But Differently

The Phoenix Suns get an up-close look at the Utah Jazz and what “building from the middle” in the NBA Draft can become

At Phoenix Suns media day, general manager Ryan McDonough made mention of “building from the middle” in relation to the NBA Draft. It’s a strategy where the team does everything they can to compete, but because of a lack of talent, they end up in a very late lottery spot. The Utah Jazz have also used this strategy, but with different results.

As organizations, the Suns and Jazz have had a lot in common in recent years. Neither has had playoff success (nor appearances) in the last three seasons. Neither have been able to lure elite free agents and neither have been a desirable place for veteran role players to take discounts.

HOW THE UTAH JAZZ WERE BUILT

Apr 4, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) and Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) look on against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. The Suns won 87-85. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

From a draft standpoint, the Jazz have done a serviceable job bringing in guys who have turned into serviceable starters. In fact, four out of five of their starters came in via the draft or draft-day trades:

Trey Lyles, 2015 No. 12 pick
Rudy Gobert, 2013 No. 27 pick (draft day trade)
Alec Burks, 2011 No. 12 pick
Gordon Hayward, 2010 No. 9 pick

The other starter (Derrick Favors) was brought in during his rookie year, as part of the Deron Williams deal. Dante Exum would likely start over Lyles if he were healthy, and he too was brought in via the draft (No. 5 in 2014).

Surrounding them are a cast of guys that only the most hardcore NBA fans even recognize, with Bryce Cotton, Rodney Hood, Joe Ingles, Trevor Booker and Tibor Pleiss listed as the backups (via ESPN.com).

That base of players isn’t championship worthy. In fact, most would argue that the ceiling for that base would only keep the Jazz exactly where they are — a middling team hoping they get marked improvement from their youngsters in an effort to sneak into the No. 8 seed. This is what building a starting lineup from the middle looks like.

HOW THE PHOENIX SUNS WERE BUILT

Sep 28, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight (3), center Tyson Chandler (4) and guard Eric Bledsoe (2) poses for a portrait during media day at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

The Suns do have one advantage over the Jazz and that’s location. The Phoenix area is a terrific place to spend the NBA season, as moderate temperatures, better nightlife and relatively cheap living are of interest. They also have more upside, due in large part to trades made to acquire Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight.

Let’s look at the Suns starters and how they were acquired:

Eric Bledsoe, 2013 offseason trade
Brandon Knight, 2015 deadline trade
P.J. Tucker, 2012 free agent
Markieff Morris, 2011 No. 13 pick
Tyson Chandler, 2015 free agent

Just one “from the middle” draft pick in the starting lineup. Instead, the Suns have their draft picks largely on the bench to provide solid depth — Devin Booker (2015, No. 13), T.J. Warren (2014, No. 14), Alex Len (2013, No. 5) and Archie Goodwin (2013, No. 29 acquired via draft trade).

Instead of depending on middling draft picks ascending to stardom by throwing them into the fire, the Suns have created the luxury of time — letting the rookies get acclimated to the NBA game before really depending on them.

HOW VETERANS CAN HELP THE PROCESS

The Jazz have zero players with more than five years of NBA service, so who do they turn to for leadership? Favors, Hayward and Booker are entering year six, but none of them would be considered a well-traveled veteran who could school the rookies on what it takes to succeed in the NBA.

Phoenix learned their lesson about lockerroom presence in 2014-15 and targeted two veterans — Chandler and Ronnie Price, who have 25 years of NBA service under their belts. Chandler is a decorated NBA champion who has played with a who’s who of NBA talent. Price is a grizzled veteran who has had to claw and scrape his way onto NBA rosters for a decade and can be a great help to young players learning to be professionals.

Building from the middle is possible in today’s NBA, but a team can’t solely rely on it. Addressing specific needs and using those middle first-round draft picks as valuable depth and rotation guys is the much better way to go.

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