Phoenix Suns Path Cloudy as Ever
With the Free Agency only beginning the Suns still seem to be on a lost path, a path they have been strolling on for years since Robert Sarver has taken over. It's always been unclear whether the Suns are ready to blow the team up and become a lottery team or whether they still have fuel in the engine to entail just one more journey to the playoffs.
This upcoming season this may not seem likely with the presence of Amar'e Stoudemire missing. Although it is true that Nash has helped Amar'e Stoudemire a lot throughout his career there is no one with his dominance to replace him. No one to exhibit electrifying posterisations, no one to dominate the team in the paint while the rest of the team has his back spread out along the three-point line, and most of all, there is no more Nash and Amar'e pick and roll, one of the most deadly pick in roll duo in all of NBA history.
With the recent signing of Hakim Warrick, some say he will be a decent replacement for Amar'e Stoudemire, but it is clear that Hakim Warrick just does not have the dominance in the paint to replace Amar'e Stoudemire, not even close. Warrick has shown his resemblance to Amar'e through his athleticism, but many question his ability to finish the play. Since Hakim's sophomore year in Memphis, he has yet to prove to the Grizzlies, Bucks or Bulls that he is a worthy enough of a power forward. Two of those teams failed to make the playoffs, and the other only made it by one win. If anything, Warrick would fit as a suitable back-up power forward playing under someone like David West.
Yet the fate of the Suns season does not only rely in Hakim Warrick but also in the rest of the team, mainly Jason Richardson or whoever coach Gentry decides to assign the No. 1 option title to. The No. 1 option of this team MUST step up their game and remain consistent. If it is Jason Richardson, it will be a tough role for him, considering his tendency to remain inconsistent season after season.
At the end of the day, when you look at the Suns' off-season it hasn't been all that bad. They managed to keep Channing Frye, sign Hakim Warrick for a cheap price, signed Scottie Reynolds to the Summer League team, and drafted Gani Lawal. If you ask me, those four additions (possibly three) are a plus for the Suns in spite of the loss of Amar'e. If Reynolds does make the roster, he would serve as a great training body for the Suns in practice, possibly earning a bit of playing time as a combo-guard. Gani Lawal was expected to be a late first-round pick, but like Lance Stephenson, he managed to drop down to the mid-second round for the Suns to snatch him.
This team really does need to put in a lot of effort in practice, but if things are done correctly, I'm sure the Suns will be capable of surprising the fans once again.
