While tanking has obvious merit for a rebuilding NBA team, there has to be some point at which it stops. The hope is that a tanking team gets to the point where their losing bears enough fruit to field a competitive roster and transition seamlessly toward winning. This Suns season has the feeling of a year in which the team, for better or worse, has decided it is done losing intentionally.
The question remains whether drafting Deandre Ayton first overall was the climax to the Suns’ tanking or just another pick. By consolidating their assets to acquire Mikal Bridges, Trevor Ariza, Ryan Anderson and De’Anthony Melton, Phoenix surely looks to have a more competitive roster than in 2017, but predicting the Suns’ eventual success this season is more difficult than pointing to their additions and assuming more victories in the record.