NBA Tank Rankings: It begins

May 17, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Orlando Magic general manager Rob Hennigan represents his team during the NBA draft lottery at New York Hilton Midtown. The Philadelphia 76ers received the first overall pick in the 2016 draft. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

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Feb 2, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver (left) with general manager Ryan McDonough following the game against the Toronto Raptors at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Phoenix Suns

No ambivalence to be found here, unless there is. It’s hard to say. I’m ambivalent about it.

The Suns are still dealing with the hangover of having an unexpected good year. Now everyone expects an unexpected good year. What they get instead is this:

18-39
3-10 since the end of January
Devin Booker looking kind of prickish, calling out somebody as if he’s somebody
$12,000,000+ to Brandon Knight
Alex Len

At least Derrick Jones Jr. was in the dunk contest. Sure, he’s only played 24 minutes all year, but they count. I counted them.

Now that the dunk contest ended in a somewhat disappointing fashion, the most exciting part of their life until the draft is finding out who might give something worthwhile for P.J. Tucker. His numbers aren’t massively enticing, but his reputation as a quality wing defender certainly is. You can’t get enough 3-and-D guys, though his 3 is significantly outweighed by his D.

Outside of that? Eh. Maybe Chriss will show some development. Maybe Bledsoe will get another triple-double. Maybe Dragan will have more hot flashes than sunspots. None of these things make attempting to win more games seem any more betterer than sloughing off success in hopes of the future.

The Suns are here because they shouldn’t want to be anywhere else. They owe nothing, and have more first rounders incoming. It’s worth trying to get into the supposedly loaded draft and hopefully build up around Booker, the healthy part of Bledsoe, the hope of Chriss, and whatever comes after. What’s coming now should stop.

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