The Suns need some good publicity. Here are a pair of quick-fix, slam-dunk maneuvers for a team in the midst of a credibility crisis in Arizona:
1. Announce and unveil the Jerry Colangelo statue in the plaza outside PHX Arena. The statue is already bought and paid for by a group of donors that includes Michael Jordan and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. It’s currently sitting in a warehouse gathering dust, an insult to a visionary owner who helped put the city of Phoenix on the map. If Mat Ishbia is being honest when he says he’s just a caretaker of the franchise and that the Suns truly belong to the people, this should be a no-brainer.
2. Trade Kevin Durant to the Knicks for a package that includes Mikal Bridges. This is a bit more complicated.
New York City is a basketball town at heart, and Madison Square Garden is a religious experience when the Knicks are really good. It’s all happening at the moment, and it’s glorious to witness. The Knicks have slugged their way to a 3-1 series lead against the defending champion Celtics, and if they eliminate Boston, they might win an NBA championship. They are easily the best story in basketball.
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But if they fail to close out Boston (I’m not counting them out just yet) or if they fall flat in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks might decide to trade for another upgrade, another endgame assassin to pair alongside Jalen Brunson.
For most of the regular season, Bridges was viewed as a big-time disappointment in New York. He was good during the regular season, but in the minds of most Knicks fans, he wasn’t worth the five first-round draft picks used to acquire him from the Nets.
That has changed dramatically. Bridges has played a starring role in the playoffs, rising to meet the moment, especially in the clutch. He gets big rebounds. He’s made great defensive plays. His awareness and IQ are off the charts. His scoring spikes significantly in the fourth quarter, in games where it matters most.
Bridges is proving that he’s confident and tough enough for playoff games in the Garden against the rival Celtics. That goes a long way in New York. His ascendance has made me happy, weepy and wistful.
The NBA playoffs turn fast and hard enough to cause whiplash. The injury to Jayson Tatum might prompt a hard pivot from incoming owners in Boston, who will likely choose to unplug a pricey dynasty before it begins. A second-round elimination, followed by a lengthy Tatum absence, might change the future and balance of power in the Eastern Conference.
But if the Celtics rally and repel the Knicks, Bridges might become available. Which means the Suns can find a bit of redemption in two unlikely places: a free statue sitting in a warehouse and a Valley homecoming for one of the most endearing basketball players we’ve ever loved.
It takes a big owner to recognize a predecessor who casts a big shadow, an icon who helped build dusty downtown Phoenix into a sports mecca, whose name is on the basketball court at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. It takes an even bigger owner to trade back for a player you sent packing on your first official day on the job, the one who never wanted to leave in the first place.
Both would go a long way with a fan base brimming with anxiety and anger. Nostalgia is a powerful thing, especially on Planet Orange.
Reach Bickley at dbickley@arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7.
Follow @danbickley
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