The Phoenix Suns battled with the Utah Jazz to snag the last seed for the 2012 Western Conference Playoffs and came up short, but how did they did in their off-season?
Additions and Subtractions: Drafted Kendall Marshall; re-signed Shannon Brown, signed/traded Luis Scola, Michael Beasley, Wesley Johnson, Goran Dragic, P.J. Tucker, Jermaine O’Neal; lost Steve Nash, Grant Hill, Josh Childress, Jerome Dyson, Aaron Brooks, Hakim Warrick, Brad Miller, Robin Lopez
The Steve Nash era is over in Arizona, and now the team re-geared for the future.
Nash is part of the Los Angeles Lakers team, and now Goran Dragic will be the starting point guard for the Suns. Dragic has spent a few years as a member of the Houston Rockets and started for Kyle Lowry when he was out for a bacterial infection. Dragic averaged 11.7 points, 5.3 assists and 1.3 steals a game last season and while he isn’t Nash, Dragic will lead the offense in Phoenix.
The Suns were able to draft Kendall Marshall, who plays the point guard position. While it would have been phenomenal to see Marshall mentored by Nash, Phoenix did well here in drafted a young point guard who is a great facilitator.
Phoenix also nabbed Luis Scola after the Houston Rockets amnestied him, and boy did they nab Scola on the cheap. Luis, despite his theatrics, is a brilliant player who shows tenacity and toughness when rebounding, despite lacking in athleticism. Jermaine O’Neal was picked up and will be another veteran guy for the team, as well as, someone who can add depth to their bench.
Finally, there’s this issue of Michael Beasley, the face of inconsistency. We can predict he may do better under a new coach and team, but then again, he could be the same Beasley. He’s extremely gifted offensively, but he never rises to the occasion. He allows other factors to design how his production plays out, rather than giving everything he has to the game. However, this could the time where this all changes.
With that being said, Phoenix fans is headed in a new direction, the first few years may be rocky, but long gone are the days of Steve Nash
Final Grade: B-
