Dragging back your past isn’t typically the best idea on any occasion, but when you’re talking about Phoenix Suns basketball, there can be some exceptions.
The past decade of Phoenix Suns basketball hasn’t necessarily been the prettiest. We started off with the decade with a Western Conference Finals appearance, back when the ‘Seven Seconds or Less” Suns of Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire were thriving. Slowly, as players got older, the Suns team format shifted from out-of-prime has-beens in 2010, to full-on tank mode in 2015. Tank mode would continue till the end of the decade, but the end is still certainly insight.
Right, let’s talk about the now. It’s not surprising to see a Suns beat-writer rambling on about how this team is ripe for the future. Well, for Suns fans there is a fair bit to look forward to. You’ve got a dominant scorer in Devin Booker, who’s slowly developing as both a passer and a defender.
You’ve got a dominant paint presence in Deandre Ayton, who has proven that he can go with all the league’s best bigs. You’ve got Kelly Oubre Jr., who has shown an enigmatic and energized playstyle that can’t be matched. It’s safe to say that the Suns have got it all laid out.
But what if they could magically bring back one former player who they dealt away in the past. Players that ‘didn’t want to be there’ during their tenures, or players who were traded for cash considerations while they were developing into a lethal shooter.
Now we’re not going to count retired players, so Steve Nash, Amar’e Stoudemire and Charles Barkley will have to sit this one out. These players that we’re counting could’ve made things a little smoother in Phoenix, but they’re not all essential. Thinking about putting former players into current teams really calls for some great fantasy situations.
So, let’s get into it, shall we?