Bickley: With pressure building, Suns must ace upcoming NBA draft

The NBA season was a coronation. The NBA draft is pure chaos. The speculation is far more entertaining than anything that occurred in the previous 10 months.

For a league struggling with competitive drama, let’s hope the talent of the incoming rookie class matches the intrigue and hype.

Consider:

David Griffin lost his job as general manager of the Cavaliers, after reports he was attempting to trade Kevin Love to the Suns for their No. 4 pick; Celtics architect Danny Ainge traded the No. 1 pick to Philadelphia, and has now stockpiled seven first-round picks in the next three years; and in New York, Phil Jackson has officially lost his mind, entertaining trade offers for Kristaps Porzingis, a 7-foot-3 superstar in waiting.

There was a time when I thought Love was a perfect fit for the Suns, believing he’d flourish in a freewheeling, up-tempo offense. But Love’s performance in the NBA Finals was erratic and underwhelming, and at age 28, he no longer looks like a franchise player or someone who fits the timeline of the youth movement in Phoenix.

Many believe the Cavaliers are desperate for the Suns’ draft pick, an asset they need to bring Jimmy Butler or Paul George to Cleveland, thereby pacifying LeBron James, who will be a free agent after next season. And if the Cavaliers want to send Kyrie Irving to Phoenix in a package deal that includes Eric Bledsoe, I’m all ears.

Porzingis is even more intriguing. He’s a monstrous player, with fluidity and skill that belies his size. Ryan McDonough should trade everything in the building to acquire him, with the exception of Devin Booker and the Gorilla. He’s that good.

There is also a great sense of urgency attached to this draft. The Warriors could be the next great dynasty in sports. The Rockets are on the rise. The Spurs are timeless, and could land Chris Paul as their next great floor leader. The Celtics have the assets to change the balance of power in the Eastern Conference.

Meanwhile, there’s the impending threat of the Lakers drafting Lonzo Ball, a pass-first point guard destined for NBA greatness, and following that up with free agent acquisitions of James and George after the 2017-18 season. 

That would change the game for everyone, including the Warriors. That’s why McDonough needs to ace this draft like never before.

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