Breaking Down the Potential of the 2010-2011 Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns were overlooked at the beginning of the 2009-2010 NBA season. They were also overlooked in the middle and at the end of the season, despite having the third best record in the NBA Western Conference.
Although there was not much respect for the squad this year, that will not be the case during the 2010-2011 NBA season because the team has the potential to be even better.
This past season was a breakout year for plenty of Suns players. Channing Frye developed a deadly three point shot, Jared Dudley emerged as one of the team’s best defenders (and long range shooters), Goran Dragic showed that he will be a solid NBA player for years to come, and Robin Lopez stood out as a potentially dominant big man of the future.
The team also got great performances in times of need from players like Louis Amundson, Leandro Barbosa, and “die hard” veteran Grant Hill.
What will make this team so special next year?
Precisely, it's that almost all of these players will be back in uniform for Phoenix next season.
Grant Hill is expected to accept his player option. Although Channing Frye is expected to opt out of his deal, he has expressed strong feelings about returning under a longer deal.
Dragic and Lopez will be Suns for a long time, which is probably some of the best news fans can hear. Nash and Barbosa have two more years left on their contracts.
The only players that the Suns would have to re-sign are Louis Amundson and Amare Stoudemire. Amundson should and will be handed a bigger, but still inexpensive, deal.
Amare's situation is a little more complicated. The Internet is flooded with articles speculating about where he will play next. Even with him opting out and Phoenix failing to retain him, they can still make a move for Dirk Nowitzki or another dominant free agent.
Phoenix has plenty of reasons to look forward to a promising 2010-2011 season. They might not have beaten the mighty Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, but when you get Kobe Bryant to say, “This team can beat us," in some way, you have won.
