Sir Charles in Charge
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NBA Hope Index: How far is each team from a ring heading into 2017-18?

By Jonathan Macri

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 12: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers defends Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of the 2017 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 12, 2017 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 12: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers defends Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of the 2017 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 12, 2017 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX, AZ – APRIL 07: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns reacts to fans after scoring against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of the NBA game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on April 7, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Thunder 120-99. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – APRIL 07: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns reacts to fans after scoring against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of the NBA game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on April 7, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Thunder 120-99. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

12. Phoenix Suns

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY SportsHere’s what I wrote about the Phoenix Suns way back in March:

If even one of Bender/Chriss can develop into a borderline All Star-type player in the next two seasons to join Booker and if Warren keeps progressing, the Phoenix Suns will have something real on their hands… and that’s not even considering what they might get if and when they decide to move on from Eric Bledsoe, or the Miami picks that are coming down the pipeline.

Between that point and now, Devin Booker went off for 70 points, their young forwards continued to generate little excitement, they drafted Josh Jackson, and then flirted with flipping him for Kyrie Irving.

So no, the Suns haven’t finally figured it out. Robert Sarver is still the West Coast version of James Dolan and Ryan McDonough is still the guy who gave away Isaiah Thomas and traded THE Lakers’ pick for Brandon Knight before handing him $60 million.

Still…after the handful of top young cores in the league, Phoenix’s is right there on the next level. Booker isn’t an elite building block in his own right, but he’s a threat to lead the league in scoring one day, which might be good enough. They should have another top five pick on the way, and will have a relatively clean cap in two years when whatever this core is starts to bear fruit. There are a lot worse places to be.

Path to Glory: Booker keeps growing, whoever they get in the 2018 Draft is a franchise-changing star, one of Jackson/Chriss/Bender becomes a borderline All Star, and in 2019 Kyrie Irving decides he’s had enough of twelve degree February mornings.

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