2013–14 Phoenix Suns season explained

Team:Phoenix Suns
End Year:2014
Wins:48
Losses:34
Division:Pacific
Division Place:3
Conf Place:9
Coach:Jeff Hornacek
Gm:Ryan McDonough
Owners:Robert Sarver
Arena:US Airways Center
Television:Fox Sports Arizona
Radio:KTAR
Playoffs:Did not qualify
Bbr Team:PHO

The 2013–14 NBA season was the Phoenix Suns' 46th season in the NBA.[1] This season marked the first time that purple was not a primary color for the team (although it was still involved with their system). It was also the first time since the beginning of the 1987–88 NBA season that the Suns ended up drafting in the top 5 of a draft. In addition, it was the first time since the beginning of the 2000–01 NBA season that the Suns made complete changes in not only their logos, but also their jerseys. When the Suns began the regular season, Goran Dragić, P. J. Tucker, Markieff Morris, and his twin brother Marcus Morris were the only players returning from playing with last season's team (while Channing Frye was still on last season's team, he didn't play any games due to a life-threatening heart ailment he had at the time). The Phoenix Suns, despite their winning record, failed to make the playoffs. This drew criticism from many fans regarding the conference system with the Atlanta Hawks, a sub-.500 team in the Eastern Conference managing to make the playoffs, with the Suns holding a Top 4 Eastern Conference seeded team had they been a part of that conference that year instead.

Key dates

Offseason

Draft picks

See main article: 2013 NBA draft.

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationality College
15Olexsiy "Alex" LenCenter UkraineMaryland
129Archie GoodwinShooting guardKentucky
257Alex OriakhiPower forwardMissouri

The Suns had two first-round picks and one second-round pick this year. The first pick they had was their own pick that could have gone at number 1 at best or 7 at worst, with the best odds going for the pick to be at number 5. On the day of the NBA draft lottery, it was revealed that they would get pick number 5 in the first round. Their own second-round pick was traded to the Houston Rockets for Marcus Morris, the twin brother of Suns power forward Markieff Morris.[6] Both their additional first and second-round picks came from different teams due to last season's sign and trade deal with the Los Angeles Lakers that sent point guard Steve Nash to the Lakers in exchange for four different draft picks. The first-round pick (which ended up being the 30th pick) came from the Miami Heat due to an earlier trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers involving LeBron James, while the second-round pick came from the Denver Nuggets due to a 2011 draft day trade that traded the Lakers' rights to Chukwudiebere Maduabum to Denver in exchange for their 2013 second-round pick.

With the fifth pick, the Suns selected the Ukrainian-born center Olexsiy "Alex" Len, who was a sophomore from the University of Maryland. Len averaged 11.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game in his last season with the Terrapins. The Suns then traded the 30th pick, which became the Serbian-born guard Nemanja Nedović from the Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius, to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for shooting guard Malcolm Lee and pick 29 that was originally from the Oklahoma City Thunder, which was Archie Goodwin from the University of Kentucky. Goodwin averaged 14.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game in his only season with Kentucky. Finally, with their 57th pick, the Suns selected Alex Oriakhi, who used to play for the University of Connecticut until his senior season due to the university's NCAA Tournament ineligibility; he spent his senior season with the University of Missouri. In addition to winning an NCAA championship during his sophomore season with Connecticut, in his only season with Missouri, he scored 11.2 points, grabbed 8.4 rebounds, and recorded 1.6 blocks per game in 25.8 minutes of play for 34 games.

Free agency

See main article: List of 2013–14 NBA season transactions. Veteran player Jermaine O'Neal, as well as Wesley Johnson and rookie guard Diante Garrett were unrestricted free agents as of the end of the 2012–13 NBA season. On June 29, 2013, the Suns released Hamed Haddadi's contract in order to let him become an unrestricted free agent as well. Contrary to previous seasons, the Suns decided to not focus so much on the free agency market this year. On July 15, 2013, Wesley Johnson signed a veteran's minimum contract for one year with the Los Angeles Lakers. On July 23, 2013, O'Neal agreed to a one-year deal to play for the Golden State Warriors. Garrett officially announced on Twitter that he would be playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder on August 29, 2013, before playing officially for the Utah Jazz on November 13, 2013. Haddadi ended up going back to his home in Iran to play for Foolad Mahan Isfahan on September 12, 2013, during the 2013 FIBA Asia Champions Cup, only to then play for the Sichuan Blue Whales in China. An additional player the Suns decided to sign for this season was former Temple shooting guard Dionte Christmas, who had last played with Montepaschi Siena in Italy's Lega Basket Serie A, where he and the team not only won the league's championship, but also participated in the 2012–13 Euroleague; Christmas had also performed with the team's 2013 Summer League Las Vegas Tournament squad, where he averaged 10.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists during the team's 6–1 streak. The Suns also had former UC Santa Barbara combo guard James Nunnally, who last played with the Miami Heat in the 2013 Las Vegas Summer League Tournament, during the Suns' training camp and preseason session.

One of the team's biggest signings from last season, Michael Beasley, was bought out of his contract on September 3, 2013. His buyout of the team's contract had the team paying Beasley only $4.66 million for this season as opposed to the $6 million he was initially owed (which saved the team $1.34 million in salary), and then has the team stretching his original guaranteed salary of $3,000,000 for one year to $2,300,000 for three straight seasons, with each year paying him only $766,666 instead of the entire guarantee he was owed. Because of Beasley being bought out of his contract, he was considered an unrestricted free agent by the NBA during his time of being waived. Beasley would end up signing with the team that first drafted him as the #2 pick in the 2008 NBA draft, the two-time champion Miami Heat on September 11, 2013. In addition to being signed by the Heat before the start of the regular season, some of the $4,660,000 that the Suns owed him now gets paid by the Heat instead.

On January 5, 2014, the Suns decided to bring back former fan favorite player Leandro Barbosa to a 10-day contract. However, his contract would not officially be signed until January 8 due to not only finding out whether Barbosa would be healthy enough to participate, but would also have to wait for FIBA to approve his move from Brazil to the NBA. The move was prompted due to star point guard Eric Bledsoe being out longer than the team had initially expected due to a knee injury that had later on turned into a torn meniscus that he got against his former team on December 28, 2013. The last NBA team Barbosa played for was with the Boston Celtics before an ACL tear led him to being traded to the Washington Wizards; he had then played for the Esporte Clube Pinheiros in Brazil as a means of playing while healing up from his past injury. He has been able to play under the shooting guard position with Ish Smith playing most of the back-up point guard duties while Eric Bledsoe remains injured. Barbosa would end up signing a second 10-day contract immediately after the first one ended on January 18, 2014, before being confirmed by Lon Babby and the staff that Barbosa would get $650,359 and remain on the team for the rest of the season on January 27, 2014.

During the post-trade deadline period of free agent signings, the Suns decided to waive back-up center Viacheslav Kravtsov out of the team on March 1, 2014. In exchange for Kravtsov's leave of absence on Phoenix, the Suns decided to sign former Boston Celtics and CBA's Foshan Dralions all-star power forward Shavlik Randolph on the same day. Randolph was signed to the Suns in order to have not only tried to help the team win enough games to make it to the playoffs for the first time in over three seasons, but to have also helped the team out in the postseason had the team actually made it to the 2014 NBA Playoffs.

Trades

On June 27, the Suns agreed to trade their 30th draft pick (which became Nemanja Nedović) to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for the rights to Malcolm Lee (who they first acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves) and the 29th pick (which became Archie Goodwin) that the Warriors first acquired from the Oklahoma City Thunder. On July 2, the Suns participated in a three-team trade that had the Suns send Jared Dudley to the Los Angeles Clippers and a 2014 second round pick they acquired from the Toronto Raptors last season to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Eric Bledsoe and Caron Butler, both of whom last played for the L.A. Clippers. On July 27, the Suns agreed to trade Luis Scola (who the team got from amnesty bids last season) to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Gerald Green, Miles Plumlee, and a 2014 lottery protected first round draft pick.[7] The Suns would later trade Butler to his hometown team (the Milwaukee Bucks) on August 29, 2013, in exchange for Ukrainian power forward/center Viacheslav Kravtsov and American point guard Ish Smith. Finally, in the team's last trade before the regular season began, the Suns traded their center Marcin Gortat, alongside guards Shannon Brown, Malcolm Lee, and last year's lottery pick (Kendall Marshall) to the Washington Wizards in exchange for power forward Emeka Okafor and their 2014 Top 12 protected first round draft pick on October 25, 2013. Of the players the Suns traded to Washington, only Gortat would end up playing for the Wizards before the regular season began as Marshall, Brown, and Lee were all waived by the Wizards three days later. In addition, back-up center Viacheslav Kravtsov would end up being waived from the Suns on March 1, 2014.

Coaching changes

Interim head coach Lindsey Hunter was officially granted a chance to be interviewed by the Detroit Pistons to be their head coach on April 24, 2013, which led to indications that the Suns were looking for a new head coach. On May 9, 2013, the Suns announced that along with Hunter, assistant coaches Brian Shaw of the Indiana Pacers, Kelvin Sampson of the Houston Rockets, Mike Budenholzer of the San Antonio Spurs, and Quin Snyder from PBC CSKA Moscow were considered options to be the team's head coach for this season.[8] Five days later, the Suns announced that their search would expand to also include assistant head coaches Michael Malone of the Golden State Warriors, David Fizdale of the Miami Heat, and Jeff Hornacek of the Utah Jazz, with the latter assistant also being a Suns fan favorite. In addition to the aforementioned announced candidates, the Suns also announced interest in looking at Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Steve Clifford, Houston Rockets assistant coach J.B. Bickerstaff, Villanova University head coach Jay Wright, Butler University head coach Brad Stevens, and Iowa State University head coach Fred Hoiberg.[9] On May 26, 2013, the Suns announced that former Suns player Jeff Hornacek was the new head coach, to replace interim head coach Lindsey Hunter, who later signed with the Golden State Warriors in September 2013 as an assistant head coach. Hornacek got a three-year contract with an optional fourth year.

In addition to Hunter's departure as the head coach, assistant head coach Igor Kokoškov departed from the Suns to be an assistant head coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 29, 2013. On June 12, it was announced that Hall of Famer Ralph Sampson would also not be an assistant coach with the Suns in 2013–14. On June 25, 2013, the Suns let go of remaining assistant coaches Noel Gillespie and Dan Panaggio. On that same day, Hornacek announced his four assistant coaches for the 2013–14 season: former Boston Celtics affiliates Jerry Sichting and Mike Longabardi, and former Suns teammates Kenny Gattison and Mark West.[10] Jerry Sichting was a champion player for the Boston Celtics during the 1985–86 NBA season, and he was more recently an assistant head coach for the Washington Wizards last season. Mike Longabardi was an assistant head coach for the Celtics' last six seasons, which included their 2007–08 NBA champion team, and was also their defensive coordinator in his last two seasons with the Celtics. Kenny Gattison was a former 3rd round selection by the Suns in the 1986 NBA draft that also was an assistant head coach for Larry Drew during his head coaching tenure with the Atlanta Hawks. Mark West was a player for the Phoenix Suns from 1988 to 1994 and was on their 1999–2000 team before accepting a front office gig for the team afterwards until this season. Former Suns assistant head coach and Phoenix Mercury head coach Corey Gaines would also end up taking on the role of being a player developmental coach that Hunter had formerly taken the role of last season.

Front office changes

On April 22, 2013, the Phoenix Suns fired general manager Lance Blanks due to his lackluster performance in his position over the last three years. Their search for the newest general manager included former Indiana Pacers general manager David Morway, former Los Angeles Lakers assistant general manager Ronnie Lester, former New York Knicks executive Mark Warkentien, assistant general managers Jeff Weltman of the Milwaukee Bucks (a finalist for general manager back in 2010), Ryan McDonough of the Boston Celtics, Wes Wilcox of the Atlanta Hawks, and Troy Weaver of the Oklahoma City Thunder, with Tony Ronzone, Eddie Johnson, David Griffin, Gersson Rosas, and Sam Hinkie considered as possible candidates. Other candidates that had garnered interest in the job included former Bulls and Lakers head coach Phil Jackson, as well as former Phoenix Suns players Grant Hill and Charles Barkley.

On May 1, 2013, it was revealed that the four finalists for the job were Boston Celtics assistant general manager Ryan McDonough, Milwaukee Bucks assistant general manager Jeff Weltman, former Indiana Pacers general manager David Morway, and former Utah Jazz and New York Knicks executive/general manager and current San Antonio Spurs assistant general manager Scott Layden.[11] [12] Four days later, the finalists were narrowed down to either Jeff Weltman or Ryan McDonough being the newest general manager.[13] Finally, on May 7, 2013, the Phoenix Suns announced that Boston's assistant general manager Ryan McDonough would be the Suns' newest general manager for the next four years.[14] Ronnie Lester, along with the Washington Wizards' director of player personnel Pat Connelly, would later be hired by McDonough to be talent evaluators for the Suns.[15] The Suns also hired Emilio Kovačić as an international scouting consultant for the Suns and Trevor Bukstein as an assistant general manager.[16] [17]

Roster

Salaries

style= width="56%"Playerstyle= width="56%"2013–14 Salary
Emeka Okafor$14,544,687
Goran Dragić$7,500,000
Channing Frye$6,400,000
Gerald Green$3,500,000
Olexsiy "Alex" Len$3,492,720
Eric Bledsoe$2,626,473
Markieff Morris$2,207,040
Marcus Morris$2,096,760
Viacheslav Kravtsov$1,500,000
Miles Plumlee$1,121,520
Archie Goodwin$1,064,400
Ish Smith$985,000
P. J. Tucker$884,293
Leandro Barbosa$650,359
Dionte Christmas$490,180
Shavlik Randolph$306,036
style= width="50%"TOTALstyle= width="50%" align="right"$48,413,073
Because Hamed Haddadi was waived by the Suns before July 1, he was only owed $200,000 by the team instead of the full $1,400,000 that he would have gotten had he stayed with the team. In addition, while Josh Childress is still owed $7,182,500 due to them amnestying his contract last season, his salary does not affect the Suns' overall salary cap to their season this year. Also, with the Michael Beasley buyout the Suns did on September 3, 2013, they now owe Beasley $4,660,000 for this season as opposed to giving him the full $6,000,000 had he stayed with the team during the regular season.[18] Not only that, but some of the money that the Suns owed Beasley this season would be offset by the Miami Heat due to their re-signing of him for a second stint. To add to the post-season player movements, the Suns' waiving of back-up center Viacheslav Kravtsov has his contract of $1,500,000 being retained as a part of a pay-off for the rest of the season, in order to add room to using power forward Shavlik Randolph and his $306,036 contract.

Pre-season

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1 | October 7| Maccabi Haifa| | Eric Bledsoe (22)| Olexsiy "Alex" Len (6)| Goran Dragić (5)| US Airways Center
7,548| 1–0|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2 | October 9| @ Portland| | Goran Dragić (19)| Marcus Morris (7)| Eric Bledsoe (9)| Moda Center
12,653| 2–0|- style="background:#cfc;"| 3 | October 13| @ San Antonio| | Gerald Green (19)| Olexsiy "Alex" Len (9)| Marcin Gortat (3)| AT&T Center
16,203| 3–0|- style="background:#fcc;"| 4 | October 15| L.A. Clippers| | Goran Dragić (20)| P. J. Tucker (6)| Eric Bledsoe (7)| US Airways Center
11,516| 3–1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 5 | October 17| @ Sacramento| | Markieff Morris (15)| Markieff Morris (7)| Eric Bledsoe (5)| Sleep Train Arena
11,223| 3–2|- style="background:#cfc;"| 6 | October 22| Oklahoma City| | Eric Bledsoe, Gerald Green (15)| Channing Frye (9)| Eric Bledsoe (7)| US Airways Center
11,526| 4–2|- style="background:#cfc;"| 7 | October 23| @ Denver| | Eric Bledsoe (21)| Marcin Gortat (13)| Goran Dragić (8)| Pepsi Center
14,652| 5–2

Regular season

Game log

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1 | October 30| Portland| | Goran Dragić (26)| Miles Plumlee (15)| Goran Dragić (9)| US Airways Center
17,208| 1–0|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2 | November 1| Utah| | Eric Bledsoe (18)| Miles Plumlee (13)| Eric Bledsoe (6)| US Airways Center
14,662| 2–0|- style="background:#fcc;"| 3 | November 3| @ Oklahoma City| | Eric Bledsoe (26)| Gerald Green (8)| Eric Bledsoe (14)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
18,203| 2–1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 4 | November 5| @ New Orleans| | Eric Bledsoe (25)| Marcus Morris (9)| Ish Smith (8)| New Orleans Arena
13,404| 3–1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 5 | November 6| @ San Antonio| | Markieff Morris (23)| Markieff Morris (12)| Eric Bledsoe (5)| AT&T Center
17,870| 3–2|- style="background:#cfc;"| 6 | November 8| Denver| | Markieff Morris (28)| Miles Plumlee (11)| Eric Bledsoe (9)| US Airways Center
15,145| 4–2|- style="background:#cfc;"| 7 | November 10| New Orleans| | Eric Bledsoe (24)| Miles Plumlee (12)| Eric Bledsoe (6)| US Airways Center
13,154| 5–2|- style="background:#fcc;"| 8 | November 13| @ Portland| | Eric Bledsoe (23)| Miles Plumlee (10)| Eric Bledsoe (6)| Moda Center
19,537| 5–3|- style="background:#fcc;"| 9 | November 15| Brooklyn| | Goran Dragić (19)| Marcus Morris (9)| Goran Dragić (10)| US Airways Center
15,984| 5–4|- style="background:#fcc;"| 10 | November 19| @ Sacramento| | Gerald Green (23)| Channing Frye (9)| Goran Dragić (8)| Sleep Train Arena
14,626| 5–5|- style="background:#fcc;"| 11 | November 20| Sacramento| | Goran Dragić (31)| Miles Plumlee (7)| Goran Dragić (5)| US Airways Center
12,705| 5–6|- style="background:#cfc;"| 12 | November 22| @ Charlotte| | Channing Frye (20)| Miles Plumlee (11)| Goran Dragić (8)| Time Warner Cable Arena
14,916| 6–6|- style="background:#cfc;"| 13 | November 24| @ Orlando| | Goran Dragić (23)| Gerald Green (8)| Goran Dragić (13)| Amway Center
15,785| 7–6|- style="background:#fcc;"| 14 | November 25| @ Miami| | Channing Frye (16)| Markieff Morris (9)| Goran Dragić (9)| American Airlines Arena
19,758| 7–7|- style="background:#cfc;"| 15 | November 27| Portland| | Goran Dragić (31)| Miles Plumlee (10)| Goran Dragić (10)| US Airways Center
12,731| 8–7|- style="background:#cfc;"| 16 | November 29| @ Utah| | Markieff Morris (23)| Miles Plumlee (10)| Goran Dragić (9)| EnergySolutions Arena
18,435| 9–7|- style="background:#fcc;"| 17 | November 30| Utah| | Goran Dragić (24)| Miles Plumlee, Markieff Morris (7)| Goran Dragić (9)| US Airways Center
12,957| 9–8|- style="background:#fcc;"| 18 | December 3| @ Memphis| | Marcus Morris (18)| Miles Plumlee, Markieff Morris (8)| Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragić (5)| FedExForum
15,069| 9–9|- style="background:#cfc;"| 19 | December 4| @ Houston| | Eric Bledsoe (20)| Miles Plumlee (9)| Eric Bledsoe (7)| Toyota Center
18,151| 10–9|- style="background:#cfc;"| 20 | December 6| Toronto| | Markieff Morris (25)| P. J. Tucker (13)| Eric Bledsoe (7)| US Airways Center
12,672| 11–9|- style="background:#cfc;"| 21 | December 10| @ L.A. Lakers| | Goran Dragić (31)| P. J. Tucker (11)| Eric Bledsoe (9)| Staples Center
18,997| 12–9|- style="background:#cfc;"| 22 | December 13| Sacramento| | Goran Dragić (29)| Miles Plumlee, P. J. Tucker (9)| Eric Bledsoe (8)| US Airways Center
14,128| 13–9|- style="background:#cfc;"| 23 | December 15| Golden State| | Eric Bledsoe (24)| Miles Plumlee (10)| Eric Bledsoe (8)| US Airways Center
14,393| 14–9|- style="background:#fcc;"| 24 | December 18| San Antonio| | Channing Frye (22)| Miles Plumlee (13)| Eric Bledsoe (7)| US Airways Center
13,661| 14–10|- style="background:#cfc;"| 25 | December 20| @ Denver| | Markieff Morris (25)| Miles Plumlee (12)| Goran Dragić (6)| Pepsi Center
15,974| 15–10|- style="background:#cfc;"| 26 | December 21| Dallas| | Eric Bledsoe (25)| Channing Frye, Miles Plumlee (8)| Eric Bledsoe (6)| US Airways Center
15,241| 16–10|- style="background:#cfc;"| 27 | December 23| L.A. Lakers| | Gerald Green (22)| Miles Plumlee (20)| Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragić (7)| US Airways Center
14,814| 17–10|- style="background:#fcc;"| 28 | December 27| @ Golden State| | P. J. Tucker (11)| P. J. Tucker (12)| Goran Dragić (3)| Oracle Arena
19,596| 17–11|- style="background:#cfc;"| 29 | December 28| Philadelphia| | Miles Plumlee (22)| Miles Plumlee (13)| Goran Dragić (5)| US Airways Center
15,623| 18–11|- style="background:#cfc;"| 30 | December 30| @ L.A. Clippers| | Goran Dragić (26)| Markieff Morris (12)| Goran Dragić (8)| Staples Center
19,278| 19–11|- style="background:#fcc;"| 31 | January 2| Memphis| | Goran Dragić (33)| Miles Plumlee (12)| Goran Dragić (7)| US Airways Center
14,844| 19–12|- style="background:#cfc;"| 32 | January 4| Milwaukee| | Gerald Green (25)| Miles Plumlee (9)| Ish Smith (8)| US Airways Center
14,344| 20–12|- style="background:#fcc;"| 33 | January 7| @ Chicago| | Goran Dragić (21)| Channing Frye, Miles Plumlee (7)| Ish Smith (3)| United Center
21,181| 20–13|- style="background:#cfc;"| 34 | January 8| @ Minnesota| | Goran Dragić (26)| P. J. Tucker (10)| Goran Dragić (9)| Target Center
12,202| 21–13|- style="background:#fcc;"| 35 | January 10| @ Memphis| | Goran Dragić (21)| Miles Plumlee (11)| Goran Dragić (8)| FedExForum
17,049| 21–14|- style="background:#fcc;"| 36 | January 11| @ Detroit| | Channing Frye (21)| P. J. Tucker (11)| Goran Dragić (8)| Palace of Auburn Hills
15,224| 21–15|- style="background:#fcc;"| 37 | January 13| @ New York| | Goran Dragić (28)| Miles Plumlee (11)| Goran Dragić (4)| Madison Square Garden
19,812| 21–16|- style="background:#cfc;"| 38 | January 15| L.A. Lakers| | Gerald Green (28)| Goran Dragić (10)| Goran Dragić (7)| US Airways Center
16,022| 22–16|- style="background:#fcc;"| 39 | January 17| Dallas| | Goran Dragić (28)| Markieff Morris (12)| Goran Dragić (7)| US Airways Center
16,486| 22–17|- style="background:#cfc;"| 40 | January 19| Denver| | Channing Frye (30)| P. J. Tucker (9)| Goran Dragić (6)| US Airways Center
16,211| 23–17|- style="background:#cfc;"| 41 | January 22| Indiana| | Gerald Green (23)| Miles Plumlee (7)| Goran Dragić (3)| US Airways Center
16,465| 24–17|- style="background:#fcc;"| 42 | January 24| Washington| | Goran Dragić (19) | Miles Plumlee (6)| Goran Dragić (11)| US Airways Center
16,198| 24–18|- style="background:#cfc;"| 43 | January 26| @ Cleveland| | Markieff Morris (27)| Markieff Morris (15)| Goran Dragić (7)| Quicken Loans Arena
15,872| 25–18|- style="background:#cfc;"| 44| January 27| @ Philadelphia| | Gerald Green (30)| Miles Plumlee (13)| Goran Dragić (7)| Wells Fargo Center
10,793| 26–18|- style="background:#cfc;"| 45 | January 29| @ Milwaukee| | Goran Dragić (30)| Olexsiy "Alex" Len (10)| Goran Dragić, Ish Smith (6)| BMO Harris Bradley Center
11,175| 27–18|- style="background:#cfc;"| 46 | January 30| @ Indiana| | Goran Dragić (28)| Channing Frye (8)| Goran Dragić (7)| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
16,541| 28–18|- style="background:#cfc;"| 47 | February 1| Charlotte| | Goran Dragić (25)| Miles Plumlee (11)| Goran Dragić (4)| US Airways Center
16,248| 29–18|- style="background:#fcc;"| 48 | February 4| Chicago| | Goran Dragić (24)| Miles Plumlee (10)| Gerald Green (5)| US Airways Center
16,636| 29–19|- style="background:#fcc;"| 49 | February 5| @ Houston| | Goran Dragić (23)| Goran Dragić, Gerald Green, Markieff Morris, Miles Plumlee (6)| Goran Dragić (8)| Toyota Center
18,217| 29–20|- style="background:#cfc;"| 50 | February 8| Golden State| | Goran Dragić (34)| P. J. Tucker (15)| Goran Dragić (10)| US Airways Center
17,846| 30–20|- style="background:#fcc;"| 51 | February 11| Miami| | Gerald Green (26)| P. J. Tucker (8)| Goran Dragić (9)| US Airways Center
17,927| 30–21|- align="center"|colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break|- style="background:#cfc;"| 52 | February 18| @ Denver| | Gerald Green (36)| Markieff Morris (12)| Goran Dragić (14)| Pepsi Center
16,461| 31–21|- style="background:#cfc;"| 53 | February 19| Boston| | Markieff Morris (18)| P. J. Tucker (11)| Goran Dragić, P. J. Tucker (6)| US Airways Center
16,135| 32–21|- style="background:#cfc;"| 54 | February 21| San Antonio| | Markieff Morris (21)| Channing Frye (8)| Goran Dragić, Markieff Morris (5)| US Airways Center
18,422| 33–21|- style="background:#fcc;"| 55 | February 23| Houston| | Goran Dragić (35)| Markieff Morris, Miles Plumlee, P. J. Tucker (7)| Ish Smith (4)| US Airways Center
15,510| 33–22|- style="background:#fcc;"| 56 | February 25| Minnesota| | Markieff Morris (24)| P. J. Tucker (16)| Ish Smith (7)| US Airways Center
16,273| 33–23|- style="background:#fcc;"| 57 | February 26| @ Utah| | Gerald Green (17)| Ish Smith (8)| Ish Smith (5)| EnergySolutions Arena
19,639| 33–24|- style="background:#cfc;"| 58 | February 28| New Orleans| | Goran Dragić (40)| Miles Plumlee (8)| Ish Smith (6)| US Airways Center
16,578| 34–24|- style="background:#cfc;"| 59 | March 2| Atlanta| | Gerald Green (33)| Marcus Morris (9)| Goran Dragić (8)| US Airways Center
16,759| 35–24|- style="background:#fcc;"| 60 | March 4| L.A. Clippers| | P. J. Tucker (18)| P. J. Tucker (10)| Goran Dragić (9)| US Airways Center
15,068| 35–25|- style="background:#cfc;"| 61 | March 6| Oklahoma City| | Gerald Green (41)| P. J. Tucker (9)| Goran Dragić, Ish Smith, P. J. Tucker (4)| US Airways Center
17,816| 36–25|- style="background:#fcc;"| 62 | March 9| @ Golden State| | Gerald Green (25)| P. J. Tucker (9)| Goran Dragić (6)| Oracle Arena
19,596| 36–26|- style="background:#fcc;"| 63 | March 10| @ L.A. Clippers| | Goran Dragić (23)| P. J. Tucker (10)| Goran Dragić (5)| Staples Center
19,226| 36–27|- style="background:#fcc;"| 64 | March 12| Cleveland| | Goran Dragić (20)| Markieff Morris, Miles Plumlee (10)| Eric Bledsoe (9)| US Airways Center
17,902| 36–28|- style="background:#cfc;"| 65 | March 14| @ Boston| | Goran Dragić (20)| Eric Bledsoe, P. J. Tucker (10)| Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragić (4)| TD Garden
18,624| 37–28|- style="background:#cfc;"| 66 | March 16| @ Toronto| | Gerald Green (28)| Markieff Morris (14)| Goran Dragić (4)| Air Canada Centre
18,717| 38–28|- style="background:#fcc;"| 67 | March 17| @ Brooklyn| | Markieff Morris (18)| Channing Frye, Miles Plumlee (6)| Ish Smith (6)| Barclays Center
17,401| 38–29|- style="background:#cfc;"| 68 | March 19| Orlando| | Goran Dragić (18)| Miles Plumlee (9)| Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragić (6)| US Airways Center
17,508| 39–29|- style="background:#cfc;"| 69 | March 21| Detroit| | Eric Bledsoe (23)| Markieff Morris (8)| Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragić (5)| US Airways Center
18,422| 40–29|- style="background:#cfc;"| 70 | March 23| @ Minnesota| | Markieff Morris (25)| Markieff Morris, P. J. Tucker (8)| Goran Dragić (6)| Target Center
17,866| 41–29|- style="background:#cfc;"| 71 | March 24| @ Atlanta| | Eric Bledsoe (20)| P. J. Tucker (11)| Goran Dragić (6)| Philips Arena
12,240| 42–29|- style="background:#cfc;"| 72 | March 26| @ Washington| | Goran Dragić (25)| P. J. Tucker (9)| Eric Bledsoe (7)| Verizon Center
18,805| 43–29|- style="background:#cfc;"| 73 | March 28| New York| | Goran Dragić (32)| Miles Plumlee (12)| Eric Bledsoe (6)| US Airways Center
17,106| 44–29|- style="background:#fcc;"| 74 | March 30| @ L.A. Lakers| | Gerald Green (22)| Markieff Morris (12)| Ish Smith (5)| Staples Center
18,355| 44–30|- style="background:#fff;"|- style="background:#fcc;"| 75 | April 2| L.A. Clippers| | Marcus Morris (16)| P. J. Tucker (11)| Goran Dragić (8)| US Airways Center
16,091| 44–31|- style="background:#cfc;"| 76 | April 4| @ Portland| | Gerald Green (32)| Miles Plumlee (16)| Ish Smith (4)| Moda Center
20,089| 45–31|- style="background:#cfc;"| 77 | April 6| Oklahoma City| | Goran Dragić (26)| P. J. Tucker (7)| Goran Dragić (5)| US Airways Center
18,422| 46–31|- style="background:#cfc;"| 78 | April 9| @ New Orleans| | Gerald Green (21)| P. J. Tucker (9)| Goran Dragić (9)| Smoothie King Center
16,256| 47–31|- style="background:#fcc;"| 79 | April 11| @ San Antonio| | Eric Bledsoe (30)| Eric Bledsoe (11)| Eric Bledsoe (9)| AT&T Center
18,501| 47–32|- style="background:#fcc;"| 80 | April 12| @ Dallas| | Eric Bledsoe (29)| Gerald Green (7)| Eric Bledsoe (6)| American Airlines Center
20,413| 47–33|- style="background:#fcc;"| 81 | April 14| Memphis| | Markieff Morris (21)| Goran Dragić (6)| Eric Bledsoe (5)| US Airways Center
18,422| 47–34|- style="background:#cfc;"| 82 | April 16| @ Sacramento| | Archie Goodwin (29)| Marcus Morris (6)| Ish Smith (8)| Sleep Train Arena
17,317| 48–34

Player statistics

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
20 0 18.4 .427 .280 .795 1.9 1.6 .4 .2 7.5
43 39 32.9 .477 .357 .772 4.7 5.5 1.6 .3 17.7
31 0 6.4 .355 .290 .750 1.2 .3 .1 .1 2.3
76 75 35.1 .505 .408 .760 3.2 5.9 1.4 .3 20.3
82 82 28.2 .432 .370 .821 5.1 1.2 .7 .8 11.1
52 0 10.3 .455 .139 .673# 1.7 .4 .4 .2 3.7
82 48 28.4 .445 .400 .848 3.4 1.5 .9 .5 15.8
20 0 3.0 .513 .000 .500 .9 .1+ .0 .1 1.0
42 3 8.6 .423 .000 .645 2.4+ .1 .1 .4+ 2.0
82 1 22.0 .442 .381 .761 3.9+ 1.1 .9 .2+ 9.7
81 0 26.6 .486 .315 .792 6.0 1.8 .8 .6 13.8
80 79 24.6 .517 .000 .561 7.8 .5 .6 1.1 8.1
14 0 6.8 .500 .000 .545# 1.8 .1 .2 .1 1.4+
70 1 14.4 .423 .043 .564 1.8 2.6 .7 .2 3.7
81 81 30.7 .431 .387 .776 6.5 1.7 1.4 .3 9.4

† – Minimum 300 field goals made.
^ – Minimum 55 three-pointers made.

  1. – Minimum 125 free throws made.

+ – Minimum 70 games played or 800 rebounds, 125 steals, 100 blocks, 1400 points.

Awards and records

Awards

Week and month

All-Star

Team records

Team milestones

Injuries and personal missed games

Transactions

Trades

June 27, 2013
To Phoenix Suns

Archie Goodwin

Malcolm Lee

To Golden State Warriors
/ Nemanja Nedović
July 2, 2013Three–team trade
To Los Angeles Clippers

Jared Dudley (from Phoenix)

JJ Redick (from Milwaukee)

To Milwaukee Bucks

2014 second round pick (from Toronto via Phoenix)

2017 first round pick (from L.A. Clippers)

To Phoenix Suns

Eric Bledsoe (from L.A. Clippers)

Caron Butler (from L.A. Clippers)

July 27, 2013
To Phoenix Suns

Gerald Green

Miles Plumlee

2014 lottery protected first round pick

To Indiana Pacers
Luis Scola
August 29, 2013
To Phoenix Suns

/ Viacheslav "Slava" Kravtsov

Ish Smith

To Milwaukee Bucks
Caron Butler
October 25, 2013
To Phoenix Suns

Chukwuemeka "Emeka" Okafor

2014 Top-12 Protected first round pick

To Washington Wizards

Marcin Gortat

Kendall Marshall

Shannon Brown

Malcolm Lee

Free agents

Additions

PlayerSignedFormer team
Dionte ChristmasSigned 2-year deal worth $1.3 million Montepaschi Siena
Leandro BarbosaSigned two 10-day contracts / 1-year contract worth $650,359Boston Celtics / Washington Wizards / Esporte Clube Pinheiros / Phoenix Suns
Shavlik RandolphSigned 1-year deal worth $306,036Boston Celtics / Foshan Dralions

Subtractions

PlayerReason leftNew team
Hamed HaddadiWaived Foolad Mahan Isfahan / Sichuan Blue Whales / Mahram Tehran
Jared DudleyTradedLos Angeles Clippers
Wesley JohnsonUnrestricted free agentLos Angeles Lakers
Jermaine O'NealUnrestricted free agentGolden State Warriors
Luis ScolaTradedIndiana Pacers
Alex OriakhiSigned a new contract Limoges Cercle Saint-Pierre / Hapoel Holon / Erie BayHawks / Sioux Falls Skyforce
Diante GarrettUnrestricted free agentOklahoma City Thunder / Tulsa 66ers / Iowa Energy / Utah Jazz
Caron ButlerTradedMilwaukee Bucks / Oklahoma City Thunder
Michael BeasleyWaivedMiami Heat
Marcin GortatTradedWashington Wizards
Kendall MarshallTraded / WaivedWashington Wizards / Delaware 87ers / Los Angeles Lakers
Shannon BrownTraded / WaivedWashington Wizards / San Antonio Spurs / New York Knicks
Malcolm LeeTraded / WaivedWashington Wizards / Philadelphia 76ers / Delaware 87ers
Viacheslav "Slava" KravtsovWaived Foshan Dralions

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2013-14 Phoenix Suns. Basketball-Reference.com. September 29, 2015.
  2. Web site: Phoenix Suns to use D-League Bakersfield as affiliate. 8 May 2014. azcentral. September 29, 2015.
  3. Web site: MIKE ELLIOTT NAMED NBA STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH OF THE YEAR – THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE PHOENIX SUNS. nba.com. September 29, 2015.
  4. Web site: STA: Basketball Player Dragić Honoured by President Pahor. sta.si. September 29, 2015.
  5. Web site: Durant, LeBron headline 2013-14 All-NBA First Team. Official release. 4 June 2014. NBA.com. September 29, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222092015/http://www.nba.com/2014/news/06/04/2013-14-all-nba-teams/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpts. 22 December 2015. dead.
  6. Web site: Marcus Morris back with twin on Suns after Rockets trade. 20 February 2013. USA TODAY. September 29, 2015.
  7. Web site: Indiana Pacers acquire Luis Scola from Phoenix Suns in three-player trade. Brian Kotloff. SI.com. September 29, 2015.
  8. Web site: Habbas . Kris . Ryan McDonough comes in with pedigree, a vision, and a plan with a proven track record of success . Bright Side Of The Sun . 2013-05-09 . 2013-06-28.
  9. Web site: Phoenix Suns GM Ryan McDonough on search for new coach. Paul Coro. May 16, 2013.
  10. Web site: New Suns coach Hornacek fills out staff. 26 June 2013. NBA.com. September 29, 2015.
  11. Web site: King . Dave . Report: Suns search down to three – Weltman, McDonough, Layden . Bright Side Of The Sun . 2013-05-01 . 2013-06-28.
  12. News: Jeff Weltman among Phoenix Suns GM candidates . May 2, 2013 . Paul Coro . 2013-06-28.
  13. Web site: Coro . Paul . McDonough joins Weltman atop Suns GM candidate list | Insiders . Azcentral.com . 2013-05-04 . 2013-06-28.
  14. Web site: Suns Name McDonough General Manager | The Official Site Of The Phoenix Suns . NBA.com . 2013-05-07 . 2013-06-28.
  15. Web site: Coro . Paul . McDonough hires 1st 'master evaluators' for Suns | Insiders . Azcentral.com . 2013-05-27 . 2013-06-28.
  16. Web site: King . Dave . Phoenix Suns Building Brain Trust – Connelly, Lester, Kovacic added . Bright Side Of The Sun . 2013-06-06 . 2013-06-28.
  17. Web site: Kevin Zimmerman . Notes: Suns fill front office roles, work out point guards . 6 June 2013 . Valleyofthesuns.com . 2013-06-28.
  18. Web site: HoopsHype – NBA Salaries – Phoenix Suns . hoopshype.com. September 22, 2012. September 22, 2012.
  19. Web site: Archived copy . . 2014-04-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141103033659/http://www.nba.com/media/042314-2013-14-Most-Improved-Player-Votes.pdf . 2014-11-03 . dead .
  20. Web site: DRAGIC NAMED WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYER OF WEEK – THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE PHOENIX SUNS. nba.com. September 29, 2015.
  21. Web site: Phoenix Suns storm back to defeat the Cavaliers in Cleveland. azcentral.com. September 29, 2015.
  22. Web site: Emeka Okafor injury: Wizards center out 'indefinitely' with herniated disc. Scott Schroeder. Vox Media. SBNation.com. 18 September 2013 . September 29, 2015.