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Phoenix Suns: 2016-17 Season Outlook

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 21, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) dribbles the ball up the court in the first half of the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) dribbles the ball up the court in the first half of the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /
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Phoenix Suns
Mar 4, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Phoenix Suns center Alex Len (21) is congratulated by center Tyson Chandler (4) during the second half at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Three Key Storylines: 1. What’s The Goal For This Season?

Just because the Suns are well-poised to launch into their youth movement doesn’t mean they’ll be eager to embrace that longer path, however. Keep in mind, this is a franchise with an impatient owner and a fan base that has not made the playoffs in six — going on seven — years.

The Suns are the NBA’s fourth winningest franchise of all time, but they’ve never won a title. They haven’t appealed to marquee free agents since the days of Steve Nash and that’s unlikely to change anytime soon — unless someone like Devin Booker lives up to the hype and becomes a bonafide star.

In any case, the Suns will be straddling the line between appeasing the older starters who want to be a playoff-competitive team and feeding the youngsters the developmental minutes they need to accelerate the rebuild.

In looking at the roster, it’s easy to pick out the youngsters that the Suns hope will be foundational pieces of a playoff team one day. Booker (19), Len (23), Warren (23), Bender (18), Chriss (19) and Ulis (20) all enter the season 23 years or younger. Even guys looking to prove their long-term place in Phoenix like Archie Goodwin (22), Brandon Knight (24) and Alan Williams (23) are under 25.

But with a projected starting lineup of Bledsoe (26), Knight (24), P.J. Tucker (31), Jared Dudley (31) and Tyson Chandler (33), the Suns could very well fall into the trap they’ve fallen in far too often since McDonough took over: fruitlessly chasing a playoff spot, falling short and missing out on a top prospect in the draft.

The Suns righted that situation last season, but it was borne of injuries and Markieff Morris drama, not intention. Phoenix is perfectly positioned to embrace their status as a rebuilding team, but whether or not they actually do so by giving big minutes to the young building blocks remains to be seen.

Next: Storyline 2: Booker vs. Knight

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