Phoenix Suns: 5 Takeaways From Exit Interviews

1. Patience Remains A Virtue

Tanking is an ugly practice for many, and it doesn’t get much better for the NBA’s fourth all-time winningest franchise that’s never won a championship and just so happens to be located in a city where sports fandom can be as fair-weather as the sunny sky itself.

But as Phoenix enters its 50th season without a title, McDonough has gotten the organization on the path he originally set out on in 2013-14: poised to rebuild through the draft.

The Suns may be facing their seventh straight season without the playoffs, which is the longest drought in franchise history, but with a young core showing signs of promise for the future, the more patient approach makes sense.

"“It’s not always a linear progression,” McDonough said. “If you look at Oklahoma City’s model, which we’ve studied, if you look at Golden State’s model, which we’ve studied, I think a lot of people wouldn’t realize how few games Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook and Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson won their first few years. Obviously if some of our guys end up in the stratosphere of those MVP candidates, then we’ll have done well and that bodes well for the future.”"

Aspirations to be like the Warriors and Thunder may seem lofty, but the point still stands: Building through youth is sustainable, and the progression could be very rapid when you’ve got a future star like Booker (and maybe even Chriss) getting hearty minutes at such a young age.

The Suns only improved on last season’s win total by one game, but the team also rested Bledsoe, Chandler and Knight after the All-Star break.

With the Suns breaking NBA records for the youngest starting lineup in league history, it’s not surprising they struggled to win games down the stretch. The trial by fire was good for the youngsters, but similar methods from other young cores like the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves didn’t yield very different results.

"“Let’s not sugarcoat it: It suppressed our win total a little bit,” McDonough admitted. “How long does it take? It’s a good question, I don’t know. This is a multi-year process. However, if we’re good over the next couple years I think we’ll be good for the next 10 years after that.”"

Devin Booker, Marquese Chriss, Dragan Bender, T.J. Warren, Alex Len, Tyler Ulis, Derrick Jones Jr. and Alan Williams are all under the age of 24. The Suns will be adding a top-three pick to that core in a loaded draft this summer, plus they could very easily land more assets in a trade involving Eric Bledsoe or Tyson Chandler.

Phoenix will be hoping Chriss or Bender turns into a future star to pair with Booker, but they could very easily locate another one in the draft this year.

"“It’s happening in front of your eyes and it’s great to watch,” Watson said of the youth movement. “I’m not sure if our true fans don’t see it. Maybe the fan that comes in every once in a while might question it, but the fans that have been a part of the process and have unconditional love for these players, they see it happening immediately.”"

Those more casual fans may be fixated on ending the playoff drought and getting back to the postseason, but McDonough’s latest approach requires a more deft hand and a more patient fan base.

The goal is not to just sneak into the playoffs, but to actually bring Phoenix its first NBA championship.

"“If you look at the top of our conference, the top four teams — what do they have in common? They all have multiple future Hall of Fame players in their prime,” McDonough said. “So that’s what the competition is, and it’s daunting. To get to that level — not only to just make the playoffs but to have a chance to win in the playoffs — that’s what you need. It’s a process.”"

Most people shudder at the word “process” based on the Philadelphia 76ers’ ongoing rebuild, but McDonough was quick to point out the team won 48 games and missed the postseason as recently as 2013-14 — the second time in NBA history 48 wins wasn’t good enough for a playoff spot.

With so many young pieces, all of their own future first round draft picks and a pair of first-rounders coming from Miami, the Suns have the assets to swing a franchise-altering trade if the right opportunity presents itself. So far, that just hasn’t happened.

"“That’s the age-old dilemma and I don’t have a perfect answer for you,” McDonough said. “I think the most likely scenario is we continue to draft and develop and be patient, but this year, especially around the draft, we’ll have a lot of options to accelerate our timeline if we want to do that. If we are patient and we get to where we think we can go, that’s more sustainable.”"

Next: NBA Awards Season - Top 10 Rookie Of The Year Candidates

The Suns’ roster may look different in 2017-18 based on what happens with Bledsoe, Knight and Chandler this summer, but more than likely the dedication to patience and the youth movement will remain.