Fansided

NBA Draft Lottery riggings we want to see

By Brad Rowland

Mar 11, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) in the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers during the SEC tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) in the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers during the SEC tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 13, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) reacts after taking a jump shot against the Los Angeles Clippers at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns won 114-105. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 13, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) reacts after taking a jump shot against the Los Angeles Clippers at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns won 114-105. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

Phoenix Suns

The Suns are just… weird.

Phoenix was the envy of the league in 2013-2014, coming out of absolutely nowhere to win 48 games and earn Jeff Hornacek “genius”-level respect around the league. Then, expectations rose and the Suns underachieved the following season, winning only 39 games. Finally, Phoenix cratered in a huge way in 2015-2016, slogging to 23 wins amid multiple injuries, and Hornacek is no longer the guy, ceding the seat to Earl Watson.

Adding to the weirdness factor is that the Suns have three veterans locked up to long-term, eight-figure contracts in Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight and Tyson Chandler. The Chandler deal is objectively ugly at this point, and while Bledsoe is the team’s most talented player, he battles consistent injury issues. Beyond that trio, the Suns do have two young assets in Alex Len and, more importantly, Devin Booker, but there are changes to come in Phoenix, even outside of this year’s NBA Draft.

With all of that said, Phoenix could really use another young star to build around.

Booker is a player that NBA diehards absolutely love given his young age and shooting ability, but he probably isn’t a “number one” long-term, and either Simmons or Ingram (the shooting!) would be impressive alongside Booker. There isn’t any obvious way to slot either top pick in with this current roster, but they are both talented enough to force action elsewhere, and Phoenix has been an NBA staple as a competitive franchise for a long time. It would be nice to see that again.

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