Phoenix Suns: 5 big goals for 2018-19 NBA season

1. Build an identity

For the past few years, various issues have left the team without a sense of direction. Marcus Morris and Markieff Morris signed for below-market value to play together, and then Marcus was traded, which caused Markieff to want out too.

Just last year, Eric Bledsoe didn’t wanna be here either.

Coaching turmoil hasn’t helped the situation. The Phoenix Suns have employed four different head coaches over the last three years and none have been particularly successful.

After the hiring of coach Igor Kokoskov, the Suns really need to build a defined culture and identity. It can be whatever the organization chooses: toughness, speed and pace, shooting, defense, literally anything. As long as the Suns firmly know who they are, that’s a good thing.

They also need to combat the “culture of losing” that surrounds bad teams. It might not have necessarily ever set in, but every team that is as bad as they were last year starts to feel its effects a bit.

Kokoskov needs to galvanize the troops and remind them that this year, they’re really playing to win.