The Great Suns Debate

In case you didn't notice, we now have two contributors to this illustrious site, yours truly (Smitty Lite) and my older, less intelligent brother (Smitty). I apologize in advance for his lack of writing skills, like i said he isn't as intelligent as myself. Then again, who is...

Anyway, in a surefire tactic to get him riled up and spark another debate between us, i thought i'd talk about the Suns some more, and their apparent recent attempts to move into the top ten in the upcoming NBA Draft.

It seems as though talks with the T-Wolves has cooled as of late, presumably because they want Amare' and Steve Kerr is sticking a giant finger at them (As i would also). As such, the Suns brought in several highly regarded prospects for workouts today in Phoenix, including Corey Brewer, Alando Tucker, Joakim Noah, Jeff Green, and Finland's Petteri Koponen. Also, yesterday Kerr and a couple of other Suns officials travelled to LA for a multi-team workout by China's Yi Jianlian.

All of this fuels much rumor that instead of trading for a top name player, a la Kevin Garnett, the Suns may be looking instead to trade for a high draft pick, possibly in a move to help their salary cap. While in theory this all sounds good, i still think it is a mistake.

The Suns are close, one of two or three teams set to contend for a championship each of the next two to three years. They are one piece, most likely a stud interior defender/scorer, away from being able to hold off San Antonio, and thus dispose of whatever team du jour the LEastern Conference manages to sputter out the next few years.

So why then would they turn to the draft, where in all reality no one is completely ready to play in the NBA, let alone have a major role on a contending team? Why not go after someone of KG's ilk, possibly even Zach Randolph or Jermaine O'Neal, to shore up their one hole? Yes, they may be over the salary cap (by a lot. A LOT). But, a championship more than pays off the taxes we would be forced to pay. Plus, it's a championship! How do you not go after it right now, instead of drafting a rookie and waiting for them to develop?! It makes no sense!

The Suns have gotten basically nothing out of the last two drafts, yet somehow that hasn't seemed to affect them one bit. I am fine getting nothing out of this draft as well, if we can land a big time player to bolster our interior. I think that gives us the best shot at a championship in the next three years.

And isn't that what it's all about? Winning Championships?