PHOENIX SUNS

Suns’ Lon Babby: Rebuilding never moves as quickly as you’d like

Dec 27, 2012, 1:23 AM | Updated: 1:23 am

As the Suns continue to rebuild during the post-Steve Nash Era in Phoenix, they are finding the process to be a long and arduous one.

With an 11-17 record, the Suns’ focus isn’t so much on contending for a title as it is getting back to the playoffs after a two-year absence.

“Our job is to get better every day and there are a number of ways to do that. The first and foremost is to develop the players that we have and now we’ve put a lot of time and energy into doing that and I think there are signs of progress,” Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby told Arizona Sports 620’s Doug & Wolf Wednesday. “You never move as quickly as you’d like, though.”

When Nash bolted for Los Angeles, he took the Suns’ remaining star power with him. Babby said that kind of top-tier talent is hard to come by.

“It’s challenging to find a player of that caliber and I think the vast majority of them actually come through the draft,” Babby said. “I think if you look team-by-team as to where those star players come from they often come through the draft and they don’t always have to be top five picks and quite often they aren’t top five picks.

“I think we have to continue to do a great job of drafting, scouting both pro players and college players and just be ready to jump and seize the opportunity and take a risk here and there and try to develop the guys that we have.”

Phoenix Suns

Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns warms up before the start of game one of the Western Conferenc...

Kellan Olson

Kevin Durant preaches execution over ‘rah-rah speeches’ for Suns

Kevin Durant did not choose to emphasize communication much as a key for the Suns to stay consistent and instead focused on execution.

1 hour ago

Grayson Allen #8 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball during the second half in game one of the We...

Kellan Olson

Suns’ Grayson Allen questionable after re-injuring ankle vs. T-Wolves

Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen is questionable for Game 3 against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday after re-injuring his ankle.

2 hours ago

Aircorg the corgi predicts the Phoenix Suns to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in six games....

Haboob Blog

The TikTok corgi is here if you are a Suns fan in need of hope

If you want to grasp at a final hopeful straw regarding whether the Phoenix Suns can extend their playoff run, the TikTok corgi is here.

1 day ago

Devin Booker's playable character in Call of Duty...

Bailey Leasure

Call of Duty teases Devin Booker as new playable character

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker will be available as a playable character in Call of Duty starting in May.

1 day ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Empire of the Suns: Reaction to Suns still turning the ball over as of Game 2 of the playoffs

The Timberwolves scored 31 points off turnovers as the Phoenix Suns fell apart in Game 2 of the first-round series. Kellan Olson and Kevin Zimmerman react.

2 days ago

Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns shoots against Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolve...

Kellan Olson

Suns unravel in usual fashion, T-Wolves take commanding 2-0 lead

The Phoenix Suns have made a habit this year of spiraling through self-inflicted mistakes and that continued in a Game 2 loss.

2 days ago

Suns’ Lon Babby: Rebuilding never moves as quickly as you’d like