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AP: 02f85448-c32d-49da-915e-51ded131e1f3
Phoenix Suns coach Lindsey Hunter, right, stands arm-in-arm with Suns forward Michael Beasley during a second half timeout of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013. Phoenix beat Portland 102-98.(AP Photo/Don Ryan)
listen Listen: Tim Kempton, Suns Analyst
Kempton talks to Doug and Wolf about the latest on Suns forward Michael Beasley.

When the Phoenix Suns brought Lindsey Hunter on board as interim head coach, the perception was the team would work to bring along the likes of Michael Beasley, Kendall Marshall and Wesley Johnson.

Suns' color analyst Tim Kempton told Arizona Sports 620's Doug & Wolf Show Monday while the hope was to see how these players might fit into the organization's long-term plans, they won't just be handed extra playing time without proving their worth.

"No matter what happens there has to be some accountability and responsibility so you can't just open up the doors and let the inmates run the asylum," Kempton said. "If those guys aren't doing what they're being asked to do from the practice court to the game court, I am 100% behind Lindsey Hunter because it's not a free for all."

While the Suns said publicly they would like to give their young players more playing time, Kempton said the guys have a responsibility to show that they are deserving. And thus far, that hasn't necessarily been the case.

In the Suns' third consecutive loss on Sunday to the Spurs, Marshall scored just three points in 4:43 minutes on the court, while Beasley and Johnson didn't score a single point in under four minutes of play.

Kempton said that even though the Suns have focused their attention on next season, they aren't going to reward players with more minutes if they don't show they are committed to abiding by the team's philosophy.

"Just because Lindsey Hunter and the front office are saying ‘hey we're going in a different direction,' you still have to come out and be a professional and do what your coaching staff asks you, do what your teammates need you to do so they can trust you on the floor.

"I think with Kendall [Marshall] and Michael Beasley, is that they need to be held accountable. You just can't go out there and do whatever you want to do. You have to go out there and do what the team is asking of you in that team structure."

Beasley has ruffled some feathers with some of his comments to the media, including one in which he said he's "giving it my all" when it doesn't always appear that way on the court.

Kempton said the disconnect with Beasley and the Suns stems from the forward's lack of maturity.

"It's just goes back to the immaturity," Kempton stated. "I think Michael Beasley is the poster child for AAU basketball. Here's a guy that was extremely talented at the high school level and ran over people. Here's a guy that was extremely talented at the college level and ran over people. Well he can't do that anymore and that immaturity comes through night in and night out. Not having that leadership, that person around him that he trusts in to take leadership from to be a role model to Michael Beasley."

The fact that Beasley, and Marshall and Johnson for that matter, haven't stepped it up when given every opportunity to earn those extra minutes is worrisome to Kempton.

"From this point on your on stage, you are auditioning not only for the Phoenix Suns, but you are auditioning for the other teams out there in the NBA that follow you and have pro scouts out there every game looking to see if you'll fit into their organization," Kempton said. "It is a little bit disappointing, but in the same sense it's kind of eye opening as to what direction the Phoenix Suns can take in the future from the guys that are here."

Daria Del Colliano, Web Content Editor - ArizonaSports.com

6 Comments   |   Join the conversation »
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  • Abuse
    Whatashame wrote...
    I'm pretty sure they aren't buddies
    I think Beasley was simply drying off his underarm
  • Abuse
    nsawy28 wrote...
    What about the FO?
    @whatashame good stuff, thats about all Lindsey Hunter is good for, I'd have some respect for him if he wasn't a puppet and had a backbone like Gentry did. Suns front office needs to be held accountable too but we all know thats not going to happen.
  • Abuse
    SunsDeuce wrote...
    Hunter terrible at developing the young guys.
    Wasn't hunter brought in to develop the young guys? Ironically he was the player developmental guy before. All the young guys seemingly have gotten worse under hunter. An experienced coach would have been a better idea to develop the young players but that's blanks fault. Someone like E Turner probably would have been great for these young guys. Experience means A LOT!
  • Abuse
    mesa mad man wrote...
    @SunsDeuce
    What are you talking about now? Young guys have gotten worse? How can you get worse than not being played. Before Hunter, Marshall, Garrett, and Johnson never even saw the floor! Kieff and Beasley have been what they were - inconsistent. Some games look great, others look lossed.
  • Abuse
    azgbayfan wrote...
    Not just players
    Babby went on-air last week and asked for patience from the fans. The problem is that neither Babby nor Blanks have accomplished one thing that makes them worthy of that patience. I have ZERO faith in management. They haven't earned their stripes. They have no Idea how to win. I don't think Hunter knows how to win. I don't think Babby knows how to win. Blanks was with Cleveland when they were winning and San Antonio, but I am not sure that qualifies him for anything. When your management doesn't know how to win how can you expect the players to
  • Abuse
    Patrick Peterson's Talent wrote...
    @azgbayfan
    Agree with you. And Blanks was only winning in Cleveland because he had LeBron but in 8 years couldn't get the best player in the league another good player to win it all. He's worthless, Hunter is worthless, Babby and Sarver are too arrogant to even acknowledge the fan base is unhappy. They think they're re-inventing the wheel and act like the fans are naive and have never seen a winning pedigree.
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