The wins Phoenix hoped to earn this season were instead replaced by an injury list that remained full through most of year. Eric Bledsoe, T.J. Warren, Tyson Chandler and Brandon Knight all missed chunks of the 2015-16 campaign with various maladies.
Those setbacks, however, did offer some of the Suns' younger talent an opportunity to grow. Devin Booker is the now the Suns' highest-scoring rookie since Michael Finley in 1995-96, and that's after sitting much of the first half of the season. Alex Len has proven capable of proucing double-doubles almost on a nightly basis.
Those steps, combined with the prospect of a healthy roster for next season, offer hope for the not-so-distant future. This week on the Burns & Gambo Show of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough said he's starting to see the long-term future of the team take place.
"We're getting to the point now where I think you're starting to see a young core develop and emerge with young guys like Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight, Devin Booker, T.J. Warren [and] Alex Len," McDonough said. "We'll have what looks like two lottery picks this year between our own and Washington's to potentially add to that core. That's what we're looking for. I feel bad that its' been such a tumultuous and kind of turbulent path to get here, but we want to build a team that has the capability to be successful for a long time going forward."
Another name that could be part of that core is Mirza Teletovic. The veteran forward is enjoying a career year off the bench for the Suns, averaging 11.8 points in just 21.0 minutes per game. Earlier this week, he set a new NBA record for most threes off the bench in a single season, a mark that has time to grow with three games remaining.
Teletovic signed a one-year deal with the Suns last summer after overcoming blood clots in his lungs. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, but McDonough believes the Bosnian forward and Phoenix could extend their relationship this offseason.
"Despite our team's record, I think he's obviously played well and he's had a good experience in Phoenix," McDonough said. "I think setting the record is a great thing for him and our franchise. I think if you ask Mirza, he'd like to be back. He's a guy we have strong interest in bringing back as well."