The Suns Strategic Offseason

I have already talked at length about the core of this team and the talent that it encompasses. We may have had the most solid lineup in the league entering this offseason so any moves that management made would have had to minimize any collateral damage adding multiple players might cause. Giving up a player or two in a trade would have compromised the chemistry and team dynamic that makes the Suns so special. Taking on an untested rookie just to have the guise that you are making the team better or having a "successful" offseason because of his upside is not what a contending team does. Now is not the time to assimilate a new player into the NBA. That takes time, patience, and hard work which the Suns do not want to be distracted with at this time. Instead, Suns management played intelligently with what they had. The team didn't need much, a capable backup point and getting a backup center/forward would be a luxury. With not much wriggle room under the cap, the decisions made would have to be done efficiently.

First they went into negotiations with Tim Thomas, a potential team cancer and inconsistant career bust. Since Tim publicly stated he would play in Phoenix for cheap, the team started negotiations with a low offer considering they were also looking for a backup point and thought the cap would be set much lower. Tim reneged on his offer and immediately signed with the Clips. Good Riddance.

Next the team courted John Salmons, a combo guard who came off a mediocre career year. It seemed that things were going well and he was all but locked up. He then defected to Toronto before screwing them and heading to Sac town. Another bad apple i'm glad isn't on the team. Besides, I think management was reaching for a Joe Johnson type with this one.

The team then got a call from Marcus Banks' agent stating that he was interested in backing up Steve. This is gold. Banks could have signed a much bigger contract and started for another team but, after playing for two bad teams, he was really eager to play for a great organization and learn the point from the best. This signing is like getting a high first round pick who has already been acclimated to the NBA. He was also puting up decent numbers in Minnesota with 12ppg, 4.7apg, and 2.9 rpg. This is the perfect player for the Suns at this point and they got him at a great bargain. He isn't a polished offensive point guard but he plays big, is very quick, and is great on defense. With Banks in for Steve, he won't give near what Steve does offensively but he also won't be a defensive liability on the court either. He sounds like the perfect compliment to Steve. And, when he plays alongside Barbosa's offensive gifts, we will have an amazing second unit backcourt.

We also got a guy named Sean Marks who is a 6'10", 250lb F/C. I don't know much about him but he did play for the Spurs so I would guess that he definitely has some potential. Besides, many championship caliber teams have a Nazr Mohammed, DeSagana Diop, Rasho Nesterovic, and Alonzo Mourning type to come in and play some D and bang around for some minutes every game.

This gives us a four man guard rotation, and the flexibility to play a solid four man rotation at PF/C or more depending on how Marks plays. And we have a capable backup SF in James Jones. This team sounds deep to me. Not to mention we will have three first round draft picks in next years deep draft including one lottery pick. So, if we really need to draft a player and work on assimilating him into the league we always have next year. Just imagine the possibilities to trade up in next years draft.