Phoenix Suns: Signs Point to Hedo Turkoglu Becoming a Major Disappointment

I'm as big a Suns fan as anyone.

(Note: This gets me disparaging comments when I write articles about other teams because, well, apparently I can't possibly know anything about someone else's favorite team. I find this hilarious, considering those same detractors probably also read Wilbon, Simmons, and other writers who aren't remotely ashamed of being homers. But I digress.)

Being a Suns fan, I harbor hope for when Phoenix won't be the longest existing NBA franchise without a title. I take the optimistic point of view whenever I can.

Last year, I ended up looking like a genius, defying everyone's pessimistic outlook and picking the Suns to make the conference finals. Boo-yah.

After this summer's free agency died down, I felt similar. The Suns had a lot of feel-good guys and a superbly deep and athletic bench. 

The one guy I wasn't sure about was Hedo Turkoglu, only the biggest acquisition of the Suns' offseason. I knew he could play well, that he has played well, but I couldn't decide if we would play well—scenery change be damned.

Now I think I know. I think he'll flop.

Miserably.

The regular season hasn't started yet, and already foul whiffs of disappointment are in the air. For example, here's a gem from Turkoglu himself, talking to the AZ Republic about teammate Grant Hill recently turning 38 years old:

 "He's set an example for a lot of young guys in how you approach the game and take care of yourself," Turkoglu said. "No matter what happened, he never gave up and kept playing because he loves it. He's in the best shape I've ever seen him. I hope I get some of his passion and desire and then I'll be able to play that long, too."

Um, red flag anyone?

A player penciled in as one of your main guys should never, ever, ever say he "hopes" to gain passion and desire. He should already have it, ooze it, share it himself. The main guy should give passion and desire to the role player, not the other way around.

Otherwise, he shouldn't be your main guy (or get paid like one either).

I wish I could say I'm shocked. But I'm not. I've watched Turkoglu play in the preseason, and it's like seeing myself running laps for middle school gym class at 8 am. I'm only half awake. That's what Turkoglu looks like.

Contrast that to Steve Nash, Grant Hill, Jason Richardson, or even Robin Lopez. They look wide awake. Fully engaged and alert. Into and loving the game. 

Remember, I'm a Suns fan, so I want Turkoglu to be that way. I just don't think he will.

Here's another revealing quote, perhaps just as revealing. It comes from Steve Nash, who has always honestly conveyed what he thinks both by what he says and what he doesn't say.

 Nash said the following concerning Turkoglu's in-progress adjustment to the team:

"It could take the whole season really to get comfortable, but I'm sure we'll play at a pretty good level shortly," Nash said. "I feel really confident playing with him."

First of all, love the back-pedaling by Nash after his initial statement. It's like he realized what he was saying (again, before the season has even started), then went the opposite direction to keep fans from panicking into thinking: "Wait, even Nash doesn't feel confident about this? We have Turkoglu for how long and for how much, again?!"

(It's through 2014 for $9.8, $10.6, $11.4, and $12.2 million respectively, by the way.)

Remember also, Nash's comment about taking "the whole season to really get comfortable" comes with only one change to the starting lineup. That's it.

Says a lot, doesn't it?

So where does this leave me? A little more pessimistic the Suns in general. A little more desperate for Hakim Warrick to tap into his quasi-Amare potential that's been sleeping for five years. A little more hopeful for Goran Dragic to continue evolving into a lefty, white version of Kevin Johnson.

I feel more comfortable desperately hoping in those things, because hoping Hedo returns to Orlando form seems pretty remote right now.

Remember, I want Turkoglu to prove me wrong. Even if he has to learn passion and desire from Grant Hill (shoot me), that's fine. As long as he does.

If he doesn't, don't count me among the surprised and disappointed.

Just disappointed.