About a week and a half ago, I explained what the Phoenix Suns offseason would look like.
So far what I expected to happen is pretty much starting to play out besides Eric Gordon not getting an extension done with the New Orleans Hornets.
On Monday, Hoopsworld.com reported in this article that Phoenix is open to re-signing Steve Nash this summer when he is an unrestricted free agent for between $8 and $10 million.
From a talent stand point Nash is better than any player the Suns are going to sign this summer. If they keep Nash and sign a couple decent free agents, they can definitely compete for one of the final playoff spots in the Western Conference.
Going along with what it seems the Suns plan is, they are going to be filled with contracts that aren't worth what they are paying. Signing players who are unrestricted free agents or restricted free agents usually leads to an organization overpaying because there is competition for them on the open market.
The two best contracts the Suns have are Jared Dudley and Marcin Gortat. The Suns acquired Dudley while he was on his rookie deal and signed him to an extension. Gortat was one of the unusual situations where he was a good value as a free agent and the Suns were able to get him in a trade.
Phoenix overpaid for Josh Childress (RFA), Hakim Warrick (UFA), and Channing Frye (UFA).
The rest of the roster outside of Grant Hill, whom they also overpaid to keep, are players on one-year deals who weren't in demand.
The clear cut best value because of how the NBA salary structure is set up is players on their rookie contracts. The Suns have one player on their current roster that will be on his rookie deal through at least next year (Markieff Morris). That is tied for last in the league with the Los Angeles Lakers and Atlanta Hawks. Every other team in the league has at least two or more players on their rookie deals. The average amount of rookie contracts per team in the NBA is 2.5 (that are under contract through at least 2013).
The reason this is so important is not only are you getting value per dollar production, but players on their rookie contracts are the most valuable in trades.
This is why the rebuilding process in the NBA is the hardest out all the major sports. It takes time and patience to acquire assets. Being able to build a team like the Miami Heat is not the norm. The way to build a roster is to go through what the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder went through. It's long, miserable and painful, but it is the correct way to build a team.
Until Robert Sarver and the Phoenix Suns front office accept this the Suns will never be anything more than a decent team.