Paul Coro

azcentral sports

LAS VEGAS – The Suns planted a seed Saturday when they started three teenagers in an NBA Summer League win at UNLV.

They hope it sprouts to light and is ready for the the brightest stage someday. They also believe in early blooms. Few others do.

The Suns do not have to look far from NBA Summer League base for doubters. Nearby Las Vegas sports books peg them to be one of the NBA’s worst teams. MGM Grand and Westgate give them the longest championship odds with Brooklyn (1,000-1), as does MGM Grand with Brooklyn and Philadelphia (250-1). Caesars Palace at least puts the Suns' 250-1 odds ahead of one team, Brooklyn (500-1).

No one will predict a title in Phoenix next year, but many Suns feel like onlookers forget how much injuries affected last season’s 23-59 outcome and how the 2013-14 team doubled the predicted win total amid similar low expectations.

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“We expect to be a lot more competitive next year than people outside of our organization feel,” Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough said.

For Suns coach Earl Watson, it feels like when he was on a team that moved from Seattle to Oklahoma City in 2008. Thunder fans felt familial about growing with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Jeff Green.

“I’ve never done anything in my life just to be OK,” Watson said. “My patience for myself is at zero. My patience for my players is at 100. It’s up to our staff to get their development to be quick, but, like Coach (John) Wooden said, not hurry.

“You know I’m not trying to go home in April.”

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The Suns have missed the past six playoffs and will have a hard time convincing many that adding two teenagers from the draft’s top 10 and bringing back 30-somethings Jared Dudley and Leandro Barbosa from the Suns’ last playoff team will change that.

Watson said what he did in coaching free agency is being overlooked. He added two former NBA head coaches, Jay Triano (Toronto) and Tyrone Corbin (Utah and Sacramento), after playing for each during his career in Portland and Utah, respectively. Many rookie head coaches are hesitant to surround themselves with capable replacements.

To him, it was the bench staff equivalent of luring Kevin Durant and Dwyane Wade. Watson said this summer goes beyond landing the right people for their bus. It is putting them in the right seats on the bus.

“We have to surrender to the now,” Watson said. “The now is we’re not even close.”

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So the staff starts with the details. They stop practice play repeatedly until the minutia is done correctly. They preach teamwork and unity, seen in the players' summer group excursions and how players rush in summer league play to pick up fallen teammates. Even the energy in summer practices was “off the charts," Watson said.

Veterans have bought in. Eric Bledose, Dudley, Brandon Knight, Alex Len and T.J. Warren were in Las Vegas on Saturday to watch the youngsters play.

“It’s a perfect time to be a Suns fan,” Dudley said. “They might not have been as successful when it comes to the playoffs but if you look at it right now, they had a great draft. You have two kids coming in on top-10 picks. You have someone like Eric Bledsoe, who, when healthy, is one of the best point guards that I’ve seen. You can even ask John Wall. When we (Washington) played against him, it was a struggle. Chris Paul (as Dudley’s Clippers teammate) struggled versus him.”

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Watson said young NBA players become professional adults quickly, as early as 22 or 23. The Suns have eight players who are 23 or younger.

“Never miss a step but dream big,” Watson said.

Reach Paul Coro atpaul.coro@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-2470. Follow him atwww.twitter.com/paulcoro.