The Phoenix Suns will be the center of a youth movement next year, with two lottery picks — power forwards Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss — entering the fold, along with second round pick Tyler Ulis. They may not be in playoff contention next season, but they could be a fun team, especially as they move further beyond the toxic atmosphere that ended the Jeff Hornacek/Morris twins/too many point guards era. In a classic move to jump start team bonding, Eric Bledsoe — probably the best player on the team — organized an outing to San Diego.
.@EBled2 has organized team workouts in San Diego this week – I love the leadership he's showing to this young team. pic.twitter.com/T9wsDuafR6
— Suns Nation (@SunsNationNBA) June 27, 2016
And paid for the younger guys to be able to join them.
— Noah (@noahmcook) June 27, 2016
Spin together, Win together. @EBled2 @Goodknight11 @DBender03 @Quese_22 @alantwilliams @DevinBook @TylerUlis3 @Suns pic.twitter.com/dsHUH1dWk5
— Mike Elliott (@realcowboy79) June 27, 2016
Coming into a season with low expectations and young talent is exactly how Phoenix surprised and delighted everyone just a couple of years ago when they nearly made the playoffs in what was supposed to be a tanking season. They were a fun team playing with nothing to lose with a couple of dynamic guards, and with Bledsoe, Brandon Knight (who could use a bounce-back season) and Devin Booker, we could be looking at another repeat. At the very least, they’re working on the “fun” part:
Paintball with the team. #WeArePHX pic.twitter.com/V1594AxJjO
— Book (@DevinBook) June 28, 2016
Nothing brings a team together like collectively deciding to gang up on one rookie and mercilessly power-wash his torso with pastel paint. Our money is on Bender getting the rookie treatment.