Phoenix Suns playing themselves out of high lottery pick: 'It's not OK to lose'

The Suns are playing their way out of a high lottery pick, and that’s fine with interim coach Jay Triano.

Eight NBA teams had records worse than Phoenix’s 16-26 mark entering Tuesday's games. But even that record is misleading. Take away the three losses under former coach Earl Watson and the nine games Devin Booker missed with a strained left adductor muscle and Phoenix is a respectable 13-17.

That’s not the way to win a lottery.

For Suns fans who dream of Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley III, Trae Young or Luka Doncic, winning games isn’t doing Phoenix any good. But that perspective is lost on Triano.

“I understand that’s the overall vision,” Triano said, “but myself, the staff and the players are too competitive to say, ‘Oh, it doesn’t matter if we lose. We’re just trying to develop players.’

“We’re trying to win games. That’s why I’m pissed off after a loss, so are the players and everybody else. I don’t think it’s good to develop an ‘Oh, we’re building’ attitude. Underground that’s what we’re doing but we’re still going to try to win every game. I just think it’s a real important thing as we develop that we develop a competitive attitude as well. Not ‘it’s OK to lose.’ No, it’s not OK to lose.”

The Suns also have the ability, if they choose, to trade out of their draft slot. Phoenix will have its own pick, likely Miami’s first-round selection – it’s top-seven protected – and possibly Milwaukee’s first-round pick, if it falls between Nos. 11 and 16.

Phoenix could use those assets to try to trade up in the first round or acquire an established player in his mid-20s who still fits into the organization’s timeline.

Veteran forward Jared Dudley said he understands why fans covet a top-five pick but as he sees it Phoenix already has a star in Devin Booker and, in Josh Jackson, Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss, young players who can be important pieces of the Suns’ future.

“You try to tank to get a top-five pick if you don’t have a star,” Dudley said. “Shoot, what bigger star are you going to get right now at 21 than Book? That’s the star you have.”

Besides, Dudley said, the Suns should be thinking about a playoff spot rather than the draft lottery. Phoenix is 5½ games behind New Orleans for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

“We’re too good to get a top-five pick,” Dudley said. “I think we’re good enough that if we keep improving and maybe add a piece or two we can go to the playoffs.”

Backcourt mates?

The Suns will be in the market for a point guard in the offseason. Oklahoma’s Trae Young is averaging 29.4 points and 10.2 assists per game while drawing comparisons to Golden State’s Steph Curry. Oh, and he has a fan in Booker, who met him at a Nike camp and stays in touch via text messages.

“He’s been playing unbelievable. He’s must-see TV right now,” Booker said. “Everybody’s been tuning in and watching him. I know him a little bit personally. He’s texted me a bit during the season; we’ve texted a little back-and-forth. Not saying, ‘I want you to be a Phoenix Sun,’ but keep doing what you do, chase greatness. That’s what he’s doing. I’m really proud of him.”

Chriss update

Second-year forward Marquese Chriss has a right hip flexor strain and is considered day-to-day. His status for Friday’s game against the Houston Rockets is uncertain. Chriss injured the hip in the second quarter of Phoenix’s win over Oklahoma City on Sunday.

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