Phoenix Suns: Biggest strengths and weaknesses for 2017-18

Entering another rebuilding season, here’s a look at the three biggest strengths and weaknesses of the young Phoenix Suns for 2017-18.

Coming off a 24-win season, it’s pretty fair to say the Phoenix Suns — sporting largely the same team as last year — have far more weaknesses than strengths. As the 2017-18 campaign approaches, expectations are low for the Suns, even as they enter their 50th season as an NBA franchise as the fourth-winningest team of all time.

Unfortunately, the cyclical nature of the league and years of trying to build through the middle have returned the Suns to tougher times. Phoenix hasn’t made the postseason since 2010, and that franchise-worst playoff drought isn’t likely to end in 2018.

However, for all their notable flaws, the Suns have been a more enjoyable team to watch since last year, when all pretense of the 8-seed was thrown out the window and the team — front office, coaching staff and players alike — fully committed to the youth movement.

With Devin Booker, Josh Jackson, Dragan Bender, Marquese Chriss, Tyler Ulis, Alan Williams, T.J. Warren, Davon Reed, Alec Peters, Derrick Jones Jr. and Alex Len all being 24 years or younger, this team is going to take its lumps. At this point, Eric Bledsoe, Tyson Chandler and Jared Dudley are the only rotation players over the age of 24.

With that being said, this team’s successes and failures can’t be chalked up to youth alone. In preparation for the upcoming season, here’s a look at three specific strengths and three specific weaknesses for the Phoenix Suns.