Hedo Turkoglu and the Phoenix Suns: Flying Under the Radar

He hasn't even put on his new team's jersey, yet people are already predicting an NBA championship for Hedo Turkoglu and the Phoenix Suns next season.

Oh wait, that's LeBron James and the new-look Miami Heat.

That's right, the Suns are the team that is supposed to finish ninth in the western conference and miss the playoffs.

It's late August and, once again, the Phoenix Suns prepare for the new season with low expectations. Three months ago, they were a team that was a Ron Artest tip-in at the buzzer away from maybe making a trip to the NBA Finals.

Very little has been made about their offseason acquisitions, for instead, all the talk has centered around Amar'e Stoudemire and his departure to the New York Knicks during last month's free agency period.

Standing Tall and Limited

Now, no one is trying to compare Hakim Warrick to Stoudemire, or even Hedo Turkoglu for that matter.

There is no doubt that the Suns lost a huge piece in Stoudemire, but maybe Amar'e, like many former Suns, seems a lot better playing next to Steve Nash in a system designed for big men and shooters who run the floor.

To say that the Suns should pack up the circus and leave town before they even begin training camp, all because Stoudemire is no longer there, seems ridiculous, especially coming from the same media that criticized Amar'e to no end about his lack of defensive intensity and rebounding prowess.

Offseason Additions

There will be several new faces in purple and orange next season.

Besides their two second round draft picks and undrafted signee Matt Janning, the big names appear to be Hedo Turkoglu, acquired via trade with Toronto, Josh Childress, via the Atlanta Hawks, and Hakim Warrick, via free agency.

Warrick has never truly developed an NBA body, and has very little of an offensive game. Phoenix hopes he can provide some rebounding help and disrupt things around the rim on defense.

Josh Childress, an athletic swingman returning to the league after a short stint in Europe, will likely play a similar role to the one Shawn Marion played a few years ago.

Now before you rip me apart for writing that last statement, I realize that Childress will not be a 20-10 guy night in and night out like Marion, but he will help defend the other team's best perimeter player and finish at the rim, as well as beyond the arc on the break.

Turko-Who?

Finally, we arrive at the Turkish sensation, Hedo Turkoglu.

At 31, some will tell you he has seen his best days, but if watching players like Shaquille O'Neal and Grant Hill over the past couple of seasons has taught us anything, it's that Phoenix might as well be the fountain of youth.

Even 36 year-old Steve Nash is still playing All-Star worthy basketball, and arguably the best of his career.

So, Turkoglu had a forgettable season last year with Toronto—who's to say that he doesn't recreate some of the magic he had with Orlando two years ago.

While Turkoglu had his lowest points per game average (11.3 ppg) last season since 2004 with the San Antonio Spurs (9.2 ppg), he also had his lowest minutes per game average (30.7) since his first season with the Magic in 2005, nearly six minutes less per game than he averaged with the Magic in 2009 (36.6 mpg).

His lack of production can be linked to several factors. The two most obvious are the number of health issues Turkoglu fought with all last season, surprisingly playing in 74 of 82 games, and the conflict between Hedo's style of play and what the Raptors were trying to do offensively.

Either way, if we have learned nothing else from Channing Frye's rebirth a season ago, it's that a big man who can shoot the deep ball has a place in Phoenix.

Playoffs or Lottery?

Ah, the million dollar question, what to make of the 2010-11 Phoenix Suns?

Will they continue to relish in their role of underdogs and claim a top-seed out west?

Or, will they spiral into a free fall as unproven teams like the Hornets and Rockets pass them in the standings?

Last season, the Suns were supposed to be playing with ping pong balls, but instead, they managed to win 54 games, lock up the third seed out west, and challenge the Lakers for the conference crown.

Like Shaq and Grant Hill resurrecting their careers, and Channing Frye bringing more rain than Phoenix has ever seen in one year, if watching the Suns has taught us anything, it's that a surprise is anything but predictable.