To say that the Phoenix pick has been a frustrating one is a
understatement.  Let me tell the story:  Saturday morning I get
mail from the Phoenix GM:

  Jack Chu

telling me that he is selecting:

  Walter McCarty, SF, 6-10, Kentucky.

He also says that the Analysis is "forthcoming".  I fully expected
to have said analysis when I logged in on Monday morning.  It was
not there.  I sent mail to Jack asking where the analysis was.  
Late Monday (so late that I did not see the mail until Tuesday),
I get mail saying that he was off to Las Vegas and would do the
analysis in 5 days when he got back.  To say the least, I thought
this to be rude and inconsiderate.  Jack had all weekend to write
the analysis, not to mention that I tell all GM's that they should
pretty much have the damn thing written *before* the draft starts.

Anyway to make a long story shorter, I found the 5 days delay 
unacceptable and asked Ellie Culter (the Boston GM) to write
the analysis.  The only problem is that she was stuck with the
pick of McCarty (because I had already gotten the Charlotte pick
and did not want to redo it).  Anyway here is a great big net
raspberry to Jack :-(>) PTTTTTHHHH.   Here is also a very special
thanks to Ellie!!

=====================================================================
Summary:
This was supposed to be Charles' year -- his last best chance at a
ring. Hot Rod Williams had been acquired in the Majerle trade to shore
up the center. Danny Manning was due back. Michael Finley landed in
their lap.

But the injuries... The Suns missed 296 games due to illness/injury
(only the Nets had more, and at least they ended up in the lottery).
Hot Rod Williams, most of the time. Kevin Johnson, most of the time.
Mario Bennett, most of the season. Danny Manning, most of the season.
The front court injuries, especially, left Charles to shoulder even
more of the load than usual. Some days saw them suiting up only 8 or 9
players.

They finished at a disappointing .500, and were defeated by the Spurs
in the first round of the playoffs. They actually may have gone
further, but Michael Finley sprained his ankle. After the season was
over, Charles started to squawk publically about being traded, dissing
the Phoenix management.  Besides injuries, reality was that although
Charles won lots of games, he also lost some.

They fired coach Paul Westphal in the second half of the season. Bad
move, imho. Injuries were the whole story, not coaching. Cotton
Fitzsimmons took over - did anybody think it was really going to 
be long term? After the end of the season, Danny Ainge was hired as an
assistant and heir-apparent to the head coaching throne.

The roster is a mix of rookies and 10+ year veterans. Rookies include
Finley, Bennet, Rencher, Carr; while Williams, Tisdale, Barkley,
Kleine, and AC Green (can you say aging front court?) all hover around
the 10-year mark. The Suns are a team in transition. Their two
all-stars are injured, older, and not planning to stay around for much
longer. The pieces that were assembled to help Charles and KJ win a
title (Williams, Tisdale, Manning) are old and/or injured. The nucleus
to look at are the kids. They aren't going to win anything anytime
soon. They need some new big men, some outside shooting, and a
commitment to defense.

The Good:
Michael Finley! The Suns scooped him when he inexplicably dropped to
#21 in the draft. Elliot Perry continued his stellar play when KJ was
out.  

The Bad:
They fired Paul Westphal! C'mon guys. Losing due to injuries is
different than losing -- although he didn't do to great a job selling
the team on defense: other than Finley and Perry, the Suns defense was
pretty bad, especially in the paint. With Majerle gone, Ainge retired,
and KJ injured, the Suns 3-pt shooting disappeared. 

By Position:

PG:
All-star Kevin Johnson, when healthy, was the starter. He suffered his
usual injuries, and next year may be his last in the NBA. Elliot
"Socks" Perry picked up the slack (as usual) I have great admiration
for this kid. He plays so well, then the minute KJ is back, it's bench
city. But he is still always ready, and never looks rusty. Aquired
Terrence Rencher in February, and put him on IR March 1st. The gutsy
guard from Texas could be a good player for them.

SG:
Finley and Wesley Person shared the spot. Person hasn't panned out as
strong as I'd hoped - give him another year. He's been a streaky
shooter and quiet on D. They need more of a presence at the 2, and a
consistent 3-point threat. Finley is terrific, but not a steady
shooter. With a sprained ankle keeping Finley out of the playoffs,
rookie Chris Carr came off the bench for 17 points.

SF: 
Michael Finley! Great D, scorer, intense. He was the starter out of
the gate, and played close to 40 minutes most every game. Remember him
playing D on Jordan? What a steal. This is the pick that allowed them
to trade Majerle in good conscience. I couldn't believe he dropped to
#21. He played at both SG and SF, though needs to improve his shooting
(great slashing scorer and leaper).

PF: 
Barkley had his best year since winning MVP in '93. He joined the 
10,000 point/20,000 rb club. What can you say about Charles? Unclear
if he'll be in Phoenix next year. His back seems in better shape than
it was at the end of last season, and there doesn't seem to be any
question about him playing in the NBA next year. He wants a ring.
Where could he get one... San Antonio? Chicago? New York? Orlando?
Rookie Mario Bennett was out with knee surgery most of the year, but
showed flashes of becoming a solid contributor. AC Green was his
steady, yet aging, self. Manning played here when he was healthy.

Center: 
HotRod Williams was the idea here, but spent a chunk of time on the
IR.  Joe Kleine was the only true center. Tisdale played the bulk of
his time in the middle, and the Suns got killed. No interior D.

Coach: 
Paul Westphal, Cotton Fitzsimmons, and next year, heir-apparant Danny
Ainge. Why they fired Westphal is beyond me. It always seems like a
step backwards to re-install a previous coach.  Nobody thought
Fitzsimmons was the key to turning around the season.  They should have
let Westphal ride it out.  Although I look forward to Danny taking over
at some point. 

Moves:
Traded Dan Majerle, Andrew Lang, and a conditional 1st pick for John
"Hot Rod" Williams. Will Barkley stay? They'll likely sign free agent
Chris Carr; don't know about Rencher - depends on how healthy he is and
what KJ is up to. They need front court help, particularly center. How
about signing Mutombo?

Needs:
Center! And other frontcourt help. A 3-pt shooter. A consistent,
good-shooting two guard.


Draft pick:
Walter McCarty, Kentucky. BPA. 
McCarty can give them a scoring punch, and add to Finley's defense.
It's not the clog-the-paint bang-'em-up D, but speed, finesse, and
steals. He can shoot the three, take it to the basket, and is a great
leaper.  Put him with Barkley, Finley, KJ/Perry, and a center, and
that's not half bad.

Others considered.
Vitaly Potapenko (the "Ukraine Train") to add a fresh coat to the aging paint.

Kobe Bryant - if he's there, would be a nice addition to the
backcourt. They can afford to wait, as they aren't going anywhere
anytime soon.

Dontae Jones - gutsy SF, could fit in if Finley can improve his
outside shooting at the 2.

Ryan Minor - ditto

Steve Nash - if he falls this far, the Suns might take him. KJ's
status is shaky, and although they have Perry, Nash could be really
solid for them.  

Who the Suns will probably take: 
Depends on the Barkley situation; either BPA (McCarty, Nash, Evans,
Bryant) or the best big 4-to-5 player avail (Potapenko, Jermaine O'Neal).