2007–08 Phoenix Suns season

NBA season

team = Phoenix Suns
end_year = 2008
wins = 55
losses = 27
division = pacific
division_place = 2
conf_place = 5
coach = Mike D'Antoni
arena = US Airways Center
playoffs = First Round
(eliminated 1–4)
bbr_team = PHO

The 2007-08 Phoenix Suns season will be their 40th season in the NBA.

Key dates prior to the start of the season:

*The 2007 NBA Draft took place in New York City, New York on June 28.
*The free agency period begins in July.

Offseason

F Shawn Marion was set to earn $36 million over the next two seasons, putting the Suns over the salary cap next season and fueling speculations that he, one of the key Suns, may be traded during the offseason.

PG Steve Nash will turn 34 years of age next year and there are concerns that health issues may catch up with him and limit his tremedous impact on the team and on the league. Fans on some blogs wanted the team to trade up from the 24th and 29th picks in the 2007 NBA Draft to potentially get a young point guard to be Nash's backup and possibly a future replacement. Several top prospects worked out with the Suns (as well as with other NBA teams) leading up to the draft, including Mustafa Shakur from the University of Arizona, PG Gabe Pruitt from USC, as well as Joakim Noah and Chris Richard from the 2007 NCAA Final Four championship team of the University of Florida (Noah and teammate Corey Brewer were in attendance at some of the Suns playoff games) [http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0622kerronline-ON.html] .

Few changes in the core of the team - Leandro Barbosa, Raja Bell, Boris Diaw, Stoudemire, Marion and Nash - are expected, but some changes may be made in the supporting cast around them, some of whom (Marcus Banks, Jumaine Jones, Pat Burke, Jalen Rose) either performed below expectations or were underutilized under D'Antoni's system. Fans on some blogs have been calling for the Suns to make a trade for that one impact player (Kobe Bryant one notable name being mentioned) who will get them over the top, similar to the 1992 trade that brought Charles Barkley to the team and brought the Suns within one three-point shot of Game 7 of the 1993 NBA Finals.

On June 6, former TNT analyst and NBA three-point specialist, Steve Kerr, was appointed Suns' General Manager and President of Basketball Operations. Kerr is close to team owner Robert Sarver and University of Arizona head men's basketball coach Lute Olson (Kerr's college coach); Kerr is also a part of the Sarver-led investment group that purchased the franchise from Jerry Colangelo.

On June 28, 2007, Spanish PG Rudy Fernández was taken 24th overall in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Suns, who subsequently traded the rights to the pick to the Portland Trail Blazers for cash. SF Alando Tucker of Wisconsin was taken with the 29th pick.

On July 5, 2007, the Suns came to an agreement with former Orlando Magic SF Grant Hill on a 1-year $1.8 million deal with a player option for a second season at $2 million. In August 2007, Hill and his wife, R&B vocalist Tamia, purchased a home worth $3.78 million in the exclusive upscale community of Paradise Valley, adjacent to Scottsdale and home to several prominent local residents, including many star players for the Suns, Diamondbacks and the other local sports franchises.

On July 20, Kurt Thomas was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics so that Phoenix could clear some cap space. Some believe that this move could lead to a big signing or trade coming up for Phoenix.

On August 27, Maryland guard D. J. Strawberry (son of former Major League Baseball star Darryl Strawberry) signed a two-year contract with the Suns that includes a guaranteed first year and a team option for the second season. Strawberry was drafted with the 59th selection in the second round of the 2007 NBA Draft; in the 2007 NBA Summer League he averaged a league-best 6.4 assists.

eason

The Suns won at least 50 games for the fourth straight season and faced the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in the playoffs for the third time in four years. Even with the presence of Shaquille O'Neal who was traded to the team just before the All-Star break for Shawn Marion, the Suns were yet again eliminated, this time in 5 games. [ [http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2008042924 Spurs win Game 5 to win first-round series against Suns] , "Associated Press", April 30, 2008] Just days after the loss Steve Kerr allowed Mike D'Antoni to pursue coaching positions elsewhere and he was subsequently signed as the head coach of the New York Knicks less than two weeks later. [ [http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AhwKTHFccKTxwdWWZlm0Jrq8vLYF?slug=ap-knicks-dantoni&prov=ap&type=lgns D’Antoni accepts offer to become Knicks coach] , "Associated Press", May 10, 2008]

Draft picks

Phoenix's selections from the 2007 NBA Draft in New York, New York.

Awards and records

Records

Milestones

Transactions

The Suns have been involved in the following transactions during the 2007-08 season.

Trades

ee also

*2007-08 NBA season

References

External links