Phoenix Suns: 5 reasons they won’t make the playoffs in 2017-18

1. The Suns probably don’t want to make the playoffs

It’s difficult being a Suns fan. Aside from the fair weather fandom that comes with a city as hot as Phoenix, this franchise is entering its 50th season of existence. That’s half a century without a championship, and the team is entering what looks like an eighth straight year without the playoffs.

However, as much as it stinks for the fans, there is a plan in place this time. Unlike years past where the Suns were undergoing those foolish rebuild-through-the-middle attempts only to fall short, this iteration has a promising young core in place.

It’s going to take some time for them to develop, but that’s how championship teams are forged nine times out of 10: through the draft and with a little patience.

That’s what the 2016-17 season was all about, and that focus won’t change in 2017-18. The Suns may not want to tank again, and head coach Earl Watson has cited the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors many times as teams that made the leap to prominence in the third year with their star player(s).

But even if Booker does reach his ceiling in Year 3, this is only the second year of the Suns’ full-scale youth movement, so this team probably won’t sniff the playoffs. And guess what? That’s probably for the best if the goal is to eventually win an NBA championship.

The mighty Warriors and other super-teams aren’t going anywhere, which is why the Suns are prioritizing player development and a long-term approach. Part of that is nailing first round draft picks. The Suns just so happen to own their own 2018 first-rounder, which projects to be a top-five pick…in a 2018 NBA Draft class that’s loaded in the top five.

Would it be awesome to see Devin Booker lead this young Suns team back to the playoffs in 2017-18? Absolutely. Unfortunately, it’s not realistic. To that end, why not let those youngsters take their licks and capitalize on another franchise pillar in the draft like Luka Doncic, Otto Porter Jr. or Tempe native Marvin Bagley III?

Any one of those would combine with Booker, Josh Jackson, Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss to form one of the most intimidating young cores in the association. That’s the kind of roster that could grow together and be a regular contender for the next 5-10 years.

The Suns have their own 2018 first-rounder, plus a top-seven protected pick coming from the Miami Heat. If the playoffs are out (which they almost certainly are), it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Suns start tanking again down the stretch to capitalize on a top-heavy draft.

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Then — and only then — would the Suns have the tools to put together the kind of third-year leap the Thunder and Warriors made. Bearing all this in mind, Phoenix probably doesn’t even want to make the playoffs based on what could be available in next year’s draft.