National Basketball Association

Phoenix Suns 2016-17 Season Outlook: Rebuilding A Franchise

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 12:47 a.m. ET

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The Phoenix Suns look to build off a strong first step towards a rebuild during the 2016-17 season

Last Season 23-59, 14th in Western Conference

Slowly, the Sun has set on Phoenix over the past few years and now this team is in the darkness. However, with the new youth movement in town the future is certainly bright.

Starting the season with league veterans Eric Bledsoe, Tyson Chandler and Brandon Knight, but with a poor record and injury problems, the team looked to a youth movement late in the season with Devin Booker, Alex Len and T.J. Warren getting time to shine.

With two first round picks added this summer (Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss), the Phoenix Suns continued the youth movement this offseason while adding some veteran leadership – a mixture of talent that hopes to regain some steam in the West.

Offseason Recap

Departures

Additions

Next: Team Roster/Depth Chart

Sep 28, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight (left) and guard Eric Bledsoe pose for a portrait during media day at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Phoenix Suns are a team that still has enough veterans to keep the team honest, but certainly has its share of young talent that is in line to get plenty of minutes during the 2016-17 season.

As of now, the roster and depth chart is beginning to take shape as follows (it should be noted that this is subject to change, of course):

Next: Strengths

Oct 3, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Dragan Bender (35) shoots over San Antonio Spurs forward Kyle Anderson (1) during the first half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Strengths: The Bright Future

The Phoenix Suns might not be the most watched team on NBA League Pass, but with the youth they have installed, they should be one of the most exciting watches this season.

As I noted in a previous Suns article, Devin Booker, T.J. Warren, Brandon Knight, Alex Len, Archie Goodwin, Dragan Bender, Marquese Chriss, and Tyler Ulis are all 25 years of age or younger. That is quite the core for a team looking to rebuild off its youth movement.

Booker has big scoring ability, Warren is a nice two-way player and even with the raw rookie trio this team will have plenty of opportunities to develop this season.

As long as this group develops and stays intact, the future is bright for the Phoenix Suns.

Jan 17, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) sits on the bench in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Phoenix Suns 117-87. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Weaknesses: No Chemistry

You have a young, unproven coach in Earl Watson, who thankfully was given at least a full season to see what he can do with this team You have a Eric Bledsoe who has all-star potential, but injuries linger with him.

The depth chart is a bit of a mess, finding who will mesh with who, as the chemistry builds.

Position battles of Len/Chandler, Bender/Chriss vying for playing time, and guard roulette which as of now has Brandon Knight taking on the sixth man role.

The fast-paced culture that the Suns have might still be there, with scoring aplenty, but Coach Watson has a defensive mindset, which he is striving to have the whole organization embrace.

This team hasn’t spent much time together as a whole and team chemistry is ideal in this league. If this team doesn’t click, it could get ugly, fast.

Nov 25, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (left) and Devin Booker against the New Orleans Pelicans at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Most Important Player(s): Devin Booker and Eric Bledsoe

I am cheating a bit, but I believe in order for the Suns to have any sort of success the backcourt duo of Booker and Bledsoe need to be the most important players in Phoenix. I fully expect Booker to lead this team in scoring. He’s a dead-eye shooter, which he can rely on while he develops other aspects of his game.

Averaging nearly 14 points per game in his first season, Booker finished third on the team in scoring. He averaged 17, 13, 22 and 18 points per game, respectively, in the final four months of the season, including 10 games of 25-plus points.

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Where Booker’s importance will lie will be improving on his 34 percent from three-point range, showing defensive abilities where he does need improvement and forming a backcourt relationship with Bledsoe.

Bledsoe has trouble staying on the court, missing 95 games total in his three years in Phoenix. Bledsoe has all-star abilities and like Booker, can put up big offensive numbers (averaging 18 PPG in his time with Phoenix.)

If Bledsoe and Booker can former any kind of real connection together, they have the potential to be one of the most feared backcourts in the NBA this season.

Season Prediction

Phoenix will be raw, they will look really bad at times and they will lose a lot of games. In the organizations eyes, I feel that they are ok with that because they have a plan in their minds. The young core will get plenty of minutes as they develop further.

As long as this team embraces coach Watson’s coaching philosophy and the team chemistry develops, it might not be as bad as people predict. But if not, it will get ugly…fast.

The Phoenix Suns won’t win much this year…or probably next year, but the future is bright.

Prediction: 23-59, 15th in the Western Conference

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