Four More Years

[bigfoot]

Thoughts on what it is going to be like for the Suns over the next four years ...

Realistically I don't see our team recovering to any significant level of competition. For the next four years the NBA power houses will be

1) Clippers
2) Thunder
3) Rockets (Harden/Lin/Howard - Yes Dwight will bail on Kobe/Nash)
4) Miami

Second Tier teams will be

5) San Antonio
6) Knicks
7) Nets
8) Warriors
9) Chicago

Basement dwellers in the West will be

1) Suns
2) Lakers
3) Mavs
4) Kings

Just not enough Superstars to go around. It will be hard to attract all-star talent free agents. Unfortunately the eastern conference cellar dwellers will get most of top draft picks because they suck more.

Suns still have a ways to go to hit the bottom of the barrel. New Orleans is there and will be a good team within two years.

[mybloodisorange]

Yes rebuilding takes time. This offseason will be crucial in determining the speed of our progress.

[JustAwesome]

Lakers and Mavericks won't be in the basement for too long.

[lebronjames6]

Miami 4th?

I agree with Clippers being first if they keep everyone and add players on the cheap like Miami does(Allen, Miller, etc) to add to the star power. I just don't think Crawford will stay there. Didn't he want to be on the Suns? I remember last season he was telling Gentry and others that he wants to be in Phoenix. Crawford's averaging 20 a game in low minutes. Should of signed him instead of Beasley or even Brown.

Also, Spurs will be relevant for probably another year...they can't keep up with all these young blood's(uncle drew) in the west.

[thamadkant]

Hence I wanted the suns to beat the lakers to a rebuild... Need about 2-3 years ahead of them...

Because if suns and lakers are vying for same FA stars... lakers win.

Also star rookies coming off 1st contracts... Suns need to a head of the big market teams because those teams have advantages...

Need to seriously get a stud pick this year and next.

Good thing Nash trade got Suns 2015 lakers pick.. Should keep them at bay that year and push suns ahead them.

2013 - top 5 pick
2014 - top 5 pick
2014 - FA sign 1-2 stars and aim for playoffs

2015 - compete and aim for top 4... lakers hit lottery and their pick goes to suns.

By then Thunder, Clippers, heat etc will be on the way down

[rsavaj]

While I agree the future looks bleak, it's premature to forecast even the next two years. The NBA landscape can change in an instant. Lotto/mediocre teams can become contenders/champions because of a single trade(Lakers: Gasol, Celtics: Garnett, Clippers: Paul, etc.) or because of a timely FA signing(Suns: Nash).

[schnakenpopanz]

and i entered the thread thinking "is this about obama"?

[asudevil]

Lakers and Mavericks won't be in the basement for too long.

the Mavs i can see playing the FA market back towards being a good team. but the lakers? you really need to explain that one to me.

lets say the Lakers miss the playoffs. they've got Kobe/Gasol/Nash making $59mil. that's it, that's the salary cap. they still have Howard to resign. SOOOOO, lets say the Lakers just amnesty Gasol, but they have to resign Howard still....and now they are at the cap again.

Honestly what can they do to reverse themselves. They've got Metta, Blake, Duhon....and Gasol if they decide to use him as trade bait. and, really, who's going to trade for ANY of those guys?

they dont have their 2013 or 2015 picks, so they have no added incentive for trades.

because they paid the LT, the only get the mini-midlevel exception $3mil/3years

[Gorilla Warfare]

Unless we get a top 5 player in the league we will never win a championship.

Sad but true.