The Phoenix Suns are finishing up yet another season what will result in the team missing out on the playoffs altogether. In fact, Phoenix heads into this weekend’s action with the worst record in the NBA.
That doesn’t mean the future isn’t bright for this talented young squad. Despite dealing with injuries this season, Devin Booker seems to be a franchise-type player.
Phoenix will also likely have three top-15 picks in the 2018 NBA Draft, including the potential No. 1 overall selection. With the expiring contracts of Tyson Chandler and Jared Dudley, this team might even be able to turn those two players into more draft capital.
Needless to say, it’s going to be an interesting summer in the desert. According to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, that could include Phoenix going after All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins in free agency.
“There’s also the ultimate gamble of pursuing unrestricted free agent DeMarcus Cousins; multiple league sources said the Suns pursued Cousins prior to the 2017 deadline,” the scribe notes.
Normally a team like the Suns wouldn’t be an attractive destination for someone of Cousins’ ilk. That’s until we realize that the NBA’s most-talented center is coming off an Achilles injury and might not be in position to demand a long-term max deal from a contending team. With ample cap room and a whole lot of draft capital, the Suns become more attractive by the minute.
Now, take into account the Phoenix metropolitan area, and it surely is a region star players might want to take advantage of.
It’s going to be intriguing to see how the entire Cousins’ situation plays out. Prior to suffering said injury, he was looking at a max deal in free agency. With a rehab that’s going to take him through the summer, that may no longer be in the cards. This gives a team like Phoenix at least a fighting chance to land him.