Feb. 10, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA: Phoenix Suns center Marcin Gortat against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
LY W-L: 25-57
Key Additions: Jeff Hornacek (coach), Ryan McDonough (General Manager) Eric Bledsoe, Caron Butler, Gerald Green Archie Goodwin (draft), Malcolm Lee, Alex Len (draft), Miles Plumlee, Alex Oriakhi (draft)
Key Departures: Jared Dudley, Wesley Johnson, Jermaine O’Neal, Luis Scola, Sebastian Telfair
Analysis: The Suns have completely retooled their franchise, hiring former Utah Jazz guard and assistant coach Jeff Hornacek as their new head coach and hiring former Boston Celtics assistant general manager Ryan McDonough as their new general manager. The Suns have since used the fifth overall pick on Alex Len, helped facilitate the J.J. Redick-to-Los Angeles deal, netting them promising young guard Eric Bledsoe and have shipped forward Luis Scola, a luxury they were award during amnesty bidding last year, off to Indiana.
The Suns are now rebuilding around those two acquisitions. Bledsoe, the 18th overall pick of the 2010 draft, averaged 8.5 points, 3.1 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game as Chris Paul’s backup last season. Bledsoe shot 44.5% from the field, 39.7% from three and 79.1% from the free throw line. Bledsoe is an explosive athlete and can be used at either guard position. Bledsoe is joined in the back court by the Suns’ leading scorer last season, Goran Dragic. Dragic scored 14.7 points and dished out 7.4 assists per game last season. They also return veteran Shannon Brown (10.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg), acquired Gerald Green (7.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg) and Malcolm Lee (4.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg). P.J. Tucker (6.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg), who started 45 games for the Suns last season, also returns.
With the 13th overall pick in the 2012 draft, the Suns selected North Carolina point guard Kendall Marshall. Marshall was a fantastic college player, but struggled in his first NBA season. He was sent to the D-League and only appeared in 48 games for the Suns, averaging 3.0 points and 3.0 assists per game. The concerns about Marshall’s ability to shoot are very real and he didn’t do anything to help his reputation, shooting 37.1% from the field and 31.5% from beyond the arc.
The Suns are hoping for better results from their first round pick this season. Len, who at one time looked like he would be the number one overall selection, averaged 11.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game for Maryland last season. The 20-year old Ukraine native shot 53.4% from the field and 68.6% from the free throw line. Len is a big body and a capable shooter, but consistency is a big question mark. Although he had huge games (Len had 23 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks against Nerlens Noel and Kentucky in the season opener), he disappeared in losses to Boston College and Florida State, two teams who failed to make the NCAA tournament.
The Suns also added Kentucky guard Archie Goodwin and former Connecticut and Missouri big man Alex Oriakhi in the draft.
The Suns also added the expiring contract of veteran swingman Caron Butler (10.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg).
There Suns have a very solid center in Marcin Gortat, but with the drafting of Len, the Suns have been rumored to be shopping Gortat. The Suns should be to get some decent asset for the 29-year old Gortat, who averaged 11.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game last season. Joining Len and Gortat up front are the Morris twins, Markieff (8.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Marcus (7.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg), Michael Beasley (10.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and the newly acquired Mile Plumlee (0.9 ppg, 1.6 rpg).
The Suns also hope to return big man Channing Frye, who missed all of last season with an enlarged heart. Frye averaged 10.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game for the Suns during the 2011-12 season.
The Suns currently have 18 players so at least three players will be released or traded and three more won’t be on their active roster.
(Projected) 2013-2014 W-L: 23-59
The Suns are in the middle of a rebuilding process so Phoenix should expect another long season.
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