It’s time for the Suns to clean out their closet

It’s was a busy weekend for me personally and for the Phoenix Suns. As the Suns were managing to lose both of their games, I was barely managing to move into a new apartment.

Now, this wasn’t a new experience for me. I’m like the Wilt Chamberlain of moving…I’ve put my stuff in more boxes than I can count. Inevitably though, every time I pack I have to sort through everything I own to figure out what things I might want to keep and get rid of the things that just don’t fit, that aren’t useful or that aren’t my style anymore .

As I packed my belongings, the Suns were pretty much packing it in on Sunday with their loss to the lowly Kings. The lackluster performance made me wonder, what do the Suns have to go through that doesn’t fit, isn’t useful or just isn’t their style anymore, and what might they want to keep?

Like I did with my own things, I decided to mentally sort the Suns into the four different piles.

The doesn’t fit pile: Matt Barnes, Alando Tucker and Shaquille O’Neal.

Matt Barnes is the pair of pants you get on sale for cheap, but when you get them home, you realize they just don’t fit right but you can’t return them because there is a no refund policy. While Matt Barnes has had what some people are calling a “career year”, he has never quite fit in on the team. He brings energy but his hot and cold shooting style and his over-eagerness to shoot has hurt the Suns more often than it has helped them. He is a starter once again because of the injury to Amare Stoudemire, but If the team can keep Grant Hill, he will be a man without a position once again. Having two guys with the same skill set is a waste, especially when one, Grant Hill, is more consistent from the field.

Alando Tucker is like the sweatshirt you really like and would love to keep because it’s just a good quality garment. When you try it on however it just doesn’t quite fit over those love handles you’ve grown. Tucker is a great guy, as documented on Suns.com, but he has never quite fit the Suns. When the Suns drafted him 29th overall last year, they thought he could help contribute. In his two seasons he has appeared in 31 games for the team and only averaged 4 points. He looked good in the NBADL, but for whatever reason it hasn’t translated onto the court with the Suns.

Saying Shaq doesn’t fit is a tough one. He’s the pair of pants you wear a few times that appearance-wise looks great but something about them just doesn’t feel right (you know the pair I’m talking about, the one that is constantly riding up and irritating you). Shaq has rejuvenated his career here in Phoenix and has been extremely entertaining in his time with the Suns, but something has felt out of place. His presence has seemed to changed the way Steve Nash operates on and off the court and while he has done everything the Suns have asked he is still probably better suited for a half court game. If the Suns were to keep him, I’d be happy, but he probably still belongs in this pile.

The “Isn’t Useful” pile:Robin Lopez and Stromile Swift

Robin Lopez is like that crazy Hawaiian shirt you bought while on vacation. You bought it because you were there and you felt you needed to at least get something to commemorate the trip even if it wasn’t quite what you wanted. The Suns probably drafted Lopez earlier than he should have been because they needed a big man at 15. The player they really wanted wasn’t there anymore. Yes, he is still young, so it is difficult to say he isn’t useful but he has done nothing to prove the contrary this season. The team cutting their losses probably won’t happen but maybe it should.

Stromile Swift is the shirt you buy because you just stained the one you were wearing and you have a big meeting. You need the replacement but you don’t really care what it is. Swift was the only option with real NBA experience when Amare Stoudemire went down with his eye injury. He really hasn’t had much of an impact in his stint in Phoenix (or any of his other NBA stops for that matter). When Amare comes back, he becomes completely useless.

The “maybe I’ll keep this” pile: Goran Dragic, Amare Stoudemire, Jason Richardson and Grant Hill

Dragic and Richardson are both like the newer furniture you’ve bought that you aren’t quite sure are going to fit in your new place but that haven’t been around long enough to get rid. Dragic has shown flashes of being a serviceable young point guard. Richardson has shown the ability to take over a game but at other times has looked bad (see Lebron rejecting his 360 dunk). Both are worth keeping around to see what they could do next year with the team.

Amare Stoudemire is like the commemorative plates you bought. Sure, they’re neat and they get noticed, but you are still waiting for them to give you a full return on your investment. You keep them knowing full well that it may never happen. It would be nice to keep Amare around to see if he will ever reach his full potential, but this may be the offseason for the Suns to cut their losses and move in a new direction.

Grant Hill is the old dependable pair of jeans. You love them, you use them all the time but you know they are nearing the end of their career. They have fallen apart in the past and you’ve managed to patch them up but they aren’t quite what you remember. In the end, you probably keep them around because they’ve been good to you and they are reliable. This is how the Suns should view Hill. He’s dependable, and although he is at the end of his career, you know he will bring it every night.

The “keep at all cost” pile: Steve Nash, Leandro Barbosa, Jared Dudley and Lou Amundson

Steve Nash is your favorite shirt. No matter what happens with you it you are keeping it until it no longer resembles it’s former self and has completely fallen apart. The Suns have to keep him no matter what because, even if they are rebuilding, Nash is the face of the franchise and the fan favorite. They need to use the Diamondbacks/Luis Gonzalez situation as a guideline on what not to do.

Leandro Barbosa is like the fast new sports coupe you bought at an affordable price. There is no way you are getting rid of it because you know it’s the best vehicle you can get at that price and if you did you’d have no way to move to where you are going. Barbosa’s salary is very reasonable for a player with his upside. His combination of speed, shooting and defensive potential makes him a cornerstone of any rebuilding or retooling process. He is the most important thing the Suns should keep.

Jared Dudley and Lou Amundson are like your comfortable recliner. They are not always pretty but they are always there when you need them. They offer support and rest when when you are tired or down and are a key piece of any ensemble. Both guys are young, full of potential and provide the team with energy. They are the kind of building blocks the Suns need to keep moving forward.

The one benefit I had that Steve Kerr, Robert Sarver and the Suns don’t have is that I knew exactly where I was moving, what things would fit where and how I would like it. So lets get ready for the first big purchase for the new place. For me, it is patio furniture. For the Suns, it most likely will be the NBA Draft Lottery. Hopefully we both make our purchases wisely.

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