Phoenix Suns: Complete 2017 offseason grades

Overall

Rounding out McDonough’s season was signing Summer League standout Mike James to one of the NBA’s new two-way deals, which allow players to fluctuate back and forth between the official roster and the G League. With Reed and Knight both injured, Phoenix also signed the undrafted Peter Jok to a non-guaranteed deal, which basically amounts to a training camp invite.

All in all though, there wasn’t much activity for the Phoenix Suns this summer. They came away from the 2017 NBA Draft with three new rookies, including one who could become a franchise pillar alongside Devin Booker. To that end, it was a successful offseason for a franchise that’s finally learned to be patient.

The other victory lies in that very virtue. McDonough has been chasing blockbuster trades ever since he arrived in the Valley, and it appears as though both he and owner Robert Sarver are finally committed to a more measured approach through the draft and talent development. As such, their free agency was almost completely uneventful.

It will be awhile before the Suns are back in the playoffs, let alone a Western Conference contender again, but the future is bright.

Phoenix resisted the urge to blow all their young talent and future draft assets on a temporary stopgap star like Kyrie Irving and stayed committed to the vision of finally winning a championship — a vision that, unfortunately, won’t come to fruition until the reign of this Golden State Warriors juggernaut ends.

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In the meantime, it’s smarter to hunker down in the foxhole, let the youngsters grow together and see what the Suns have got. Re-signing Alan Williams was good for continuity and team morale, and Len’s restricted free agency worked out just fine, even in the worst-case scenario where he never pans out and the team cuts ties next summer

It’s impossible to give the Suns a grade in the “A” range due to their lack of activity in free agency. They didn’t really get that much better compared to last season, and there are still a few talented free agents they should consider signing as veteran leaders.

However, the vision is finally starting to come together with the drafting of Josh Jackson and another year under the belts of Booker, Bender and Chriss. By remaining patient and emphasizing #TheTimeline, the Phoenix Suns get the highest grade possible among teams that pretty much no-showed free agency.

Next: 10 young NBA players in need of a breakout season in 2017-18

Final Grade: B+