Phoenix Suns: 5 Quick-Fire Moves Suns Can Take to Get Back to NBA Playoffs

The Phoenix Suns, unlike many teams in the NBA, are not entering the season with too many bright hopes.

However, there is a distinct possibility that if the Suns really want to, they can make a push for the playoffs this year.

Last year, the Suns missed the playoffs by six games after choking at the very end of the season.

Six games is not an impossible margin to overcome, and considering this is a shortened season, every game will matter more.

The Suns can get on a roll as easily as any team in the league, and if they can put on a hot streak, they are that much closer to the final eight.

Please note that these are all individual scenarios.

Keep Steve Nash

Let's get the easy stuff out of the way.

The Suns are not making the playoffs without Steve Nash at point guard. He is the emotional leader of this team and still has the ability to perform at a high level.

Just last season, Nash led the league in assists (the second season in a row he had that honor), and even though he is not getting any younger, he has not shown signs of slowing down.

If the Suns want to make the playoffs, this is a must.

Acquire Nene

Nene is the most sought-after free-agent center this offseason (apologies to Marc Gasol). He is a solid contributor and would be great for the Suns.

He and Steve Nash would put on an amazing show together, and this team could become a lock for the playoffs, as it will finally have the post presence it has missed.

However, this is only a distant possibility, as it seems that Nene wants as much money as he can possibly get, which does not bode well for Phoenix's chances.

Nonetheless, it is still a distant possibility and one that seems most likely.

Acquire Jamal Crawford

This is probably one of the strongest possibilities for the Suns.

Crawford is a solid shooter and a great scorer if put in the right system, and sitting in the corner waiting for Nash to pass just might be that system.

First off, he would be promoted to starter and add to the dynamic mix of Nash, Channing Frye and Jared Dudley on the court and make their three-point game unstoppable.

This would also elevate Nash's assist numbers and give him a strong chance of repeating as the passing champion.

With this signing, the Suns would put themselves in the hunt for the eighth spot and maybe even a little higher.

Sign Arron Afflalo and Tayshaun Prince

Bold?

Remember this article is about the Suns making the playoffs.

Arron Afflalo is a solid young player who can do a little bit of everything on the court, and his jumper would only improve in the desert.

Tayshaun Prince, on the other hand, is a great leader who can still put up very solid numbers if given enough touches.

He is a model of consistency, and if the Suns pull out this move, then they look like a very solid team. Oh, and come playoff time they will have not one, but two, veterans leading the team in Nash and Prince.

Both of them are hungry and know that their time is running out, so look for them to put up the fight of their lives in the postseason. 

Sign Caron Butler and Carl Landry

This is the definition of a long shot, but it's not impossible.

The Suns would just have to steal Caron Butler from the Mavericks in order to acquire a solid offensive threat, and they will add Carl Landry while every other team is scrambling for Kris Humphries.

Both players didn't have great seasons last year, and Butler is coming off a major injury that kept him out for a good portion of the year, including the NBA Finals.

Phoenix can help these two relatively young men get their careers back on track and start putting up the numbers they want.

That is all! Thanks for reading, and if you enjoyed, feel free to Like Me on Facebook and please leave a comment down below with your thoughts.