2014–15 Phoenix Suns season explained

Team:Phoenix Suns
End Year:2015
Wins:39
Losses:43
Division:Pacific
Division Place:3
Conf Place:10
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 2014–15 Phoenix Suns season was the 47th season of the franchise in the NBA.[1] It was also the last season that the arena was called the US Airways Center, before it was renamed Talking Stick Resort Arena beginning in October 2015. With Channing Frye and Leandro Barbosa leaving in free agency and Goran Dragić being traded to the Miami Heat near the end of the trade deadline, no other player on the team had made the playoffs with the organization in previous years now. The Suns were in playoff contention for much of the season but suffered in the final weeks, partly due to injuries involving Brandon Knight and later Alex Len, and partly due to the number of players added and taken away during the trade deadline. The Suns capped off the 2014–15 NBA season with five consecutive losses and losing 10 out of 11 games total (the worst season-ending stretch since its inaugural season), finishing third place in Pacific division and tenth place in Western Conference with a 39–43 record. The Suns did not qualify for the playoffs for the fifth straight year, which tied the stretch from the 1970–71 to 1974–75 seasons as the team's longest playoff drought.

What marked this season in particular were the trades the Suns made. In the offseason, the Suns traded for point guard Isaiah Thomas for 2013 second round pick Alex Oriakhi. Thomas was later traded in an infamously massive multi-team trade that also resulted in the Dragić brothers, rookie guard Tyler Ennis, and center Miles Plumlee going to some different teams in exchange for guard Brandon Knight from the Milwaukee Bucks, Marcus Thornton from the Boston Celtics, Danny Granger from the Miami Heat, and three different future first round picks (all of which were later used in different trades in future seasons). Before then, the Suns tried to remain competitive with smaller trades like trading Anthony Tolliver to the Detroit Pistons for Tony Mitchell (who was eventually waived), trading a future Minnesota Timberwolves first round pick (that was ultimately conveyed into two second-round selections) to Boston for center Brandan Wright, and being involved in a three-way trade with the Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers that gave them Reggie Bullock for Shavlik Randolph.

Key dates

The Suns trade Anthony Tolliver to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for power forward Tony Mitchell, who used to play basketball for North Texas University.

The Suns' home game against the Los Angeles Lakers was the first time in nearly two years that the Suns played a nationally televised game on TNT. Phoenix won in convincing fashion by 115–100 over the Lakers on that day, and they also completed their first season swept against the Lakers since the 2004–05 season. That game also provided the Suns' their 100th overall victory over the Lakers.[4]

The Suns signed guard Bakersfield Jam affiliate guard Jerel McNeal to a 10-day contract.

Offseason

Draft picks

See main article: 2014 NBA draft.

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationality College / Club
114T. J. WarrenSmall forwardNorth Carolina State
118Tyler EnnisPoint guardSyracuse
127Bogdan BogdanovićShooting guard Serbia Partizan Belgrade
250Alec BrownCenterWisconsin–Green Bay

The Phoenix Suns had three first round picks and one second round pick this season. Their highest first round pick (the 14th pick) was their own that was also a part of the NBA draft lottery. Both of the extra draft picks the Suns had this season involved trades the Suns made last season. The 18th pick came from the Washington Wizards by the Suns trading Marcin Gortat, Kendall Marshall, Shannon Brown, and Malcolm Lee, with Phoenix also getting the rights of Emeka Okafor out of it. Their 27th pick, however, came from the Indiana Pacers due to the Suns trading power forward Luis Scola, with Phoenix also gaining Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee in the process. The lone second round pick they have is also the pick they had on their own accord due to their 48–34 record being one of the best in the NBA that past season. Before the draft came up, the Suns also had two other second round draft picks they had acquired from trades with the Los Angeles Lakers (Steve Nash for four draft picks and cash) and the Toronto Raptors (Sebastian Telfair for Hamed Haddadi and Toronto's second round pick) in the 2012–13 season (the last season Lance Blanks was the Suns' general manager). However, both of those second rounders went to the Milwaukee Bucks due to the former first being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a three-way trade that had the Suns getting rid of Robin Lopez and Hakim Warrick for the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for taking on a one–year deal with Wesley Johnson and the possibility of having a future Timberwolves first round pick (which was eventually traded anyway) before being involved with Milwaukee in a later three-way trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder and the latter being involved with the Suns' own three-way trade with the Bucks and the Los Angeles Clippers in acquiring Eric Bledsoe (and Caron Butler) in exchange for Jared Dudley.

With the 14th pick, Phoenix selected T. J. Warren, a sophomore from North Carolina State University. Warren averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, which earned him ACC Player of the Year and consensus second team All–American honors. The Suns also selected Canadian–born Tyler Ennis, a freshman from the Syracuse University with the 18th pick. Ennis averaged 12.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 2.1 steals in 35.7 minutes per game. Phoenix then selected the Serbian international prospect Bogdan Bogdanović of Partizan Belgrade as their 27th pick. Bogdanović averaged 14.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and assists, and 1.6 steals in 31.4 minutes per game for Partizan Belgrade, which helped him win the Euroleague's Rising Star award and the Basketball League of Serbia's Finals MVP award (as well as multiple international championships beforehand). Finally, with their 50th pick in the second round, the Suns decided to select Alec Brown, a senior from the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay. Brown averaged 15.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks in his final season with the Phoenix, was named All–Horizon League first team, and won the Horizon League's Defensive Player of the Year award. He also co-led the Horizon League in career blocks with 309 total blocks, scored 1,678 points and grabbed 800 rebounds during his time in Green Bay.

Free agency

See main article: List of 2014–15 NBA season transactions. Veteran players Emeka Okafor and Leandro Barbosa, as well as the newly signed Shavlik Randolph, Ishmael "Ish" Smith, and Dionte Christmas all became unrestricted free agents as of the end of the 2013–14 NBA season. In addition, both co-star point guard Eric Bledsoe and P. J. Tucker ended up being restricted free agents as well. Not only that, but on June 22, 2014, Channing Frye decided to decline his final year of his contract he had earlier on with the team and decided to pursue free agency as well. On July 7, 2014, Frye ended up signing a 4-year, $32 million contract to play for the Orlando Magic. During the July Moratorium (July 10), the Suns re–signed P. J. Tucker to a three–year contract worth $16.5 million. Ish Smith became a free agent on July 15, 2014 during the deadline for teams to decide on whether they want to make Smith's, Randolph's, and Christmas' non-guaranteed contracts become fully guaranteed this season; Smith signed with the Houston Rockets three days later. Meanwhile, Shavlik Randolph's $1.23 million contract became guaranteed on July 17. A week later, Dionte Christmas was waived from the team. Leandro Barbosa left to sign a one-year veteran's minimum contract with the Golden State Warriors on August 28, 2014. On September 10, 2014, Dionte Christmas joined the New Orleans Pelicans. The only player to have not been signed at all was Emeka Okafor due to his injury problems and was originally planning to fully recover sometime around the 2015–16 NBA season. However, Okafor was out for four whole seasons (including the only one he was technically considered a part of the Suns) before signing a new training camp deal to play for a newly reformed Philadelphia 76ers squad on September 23, 2017 (although being waived by them on October 14 the same year before the regular season began, with the intent of playing for the Delaware 87ers that same year soon afterward before signing with the New Orleans Pelicans for the rest of the 2017–18 season, starting on February 3, 2018).

After trying to woo the likes of LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and even Chris Bosh to sign with the Suns, they ended up pursuing the likes of different free agents that were going under the radar at the time. For starters, a day after the Suns got P. J. Tucker to agree with a new deal for the Suns, the Sacramento Kings' point guard Isaiah Thomas ended up agreeing to a four-year contract worth $27 million. However, to ensure the Suns got Thomas, they agreed to trade last season's second round pick Alex Oriakhi and a traded player exception worth $7 million in order to make sure the Kings didn't match their offer since Thomas was still a restricted free agent at the time. On July 16, 2014, the Suns signed power forward Anthony Tolliver, who had played for the Charlotte Bobcats back when they were named that before they became the new Charlotte Hornets, a two-year contract worth $6 million, with his second year only having $400,000 guaranteed with his contract. After the 2014 FIBA World Championship ended for Goran Dragić's team in Slovenia, the Suns planned on getting his brother Zoran Dragić on a contract buyout from Unicaja Málaga in Spain on September 12, 2014. The planned buyout involves the Suns paying $600,000 for the $1,100,000 required by the team, while Goran helped pay his brother the rest that was required for his buyout. The transaction was completed on September 24, 2014; he signed a two-year contract worth $4,012,500.[5] [6] Finally, after months of inactivity and even a trade rumor relating to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Suns and Eric Bledsoe met over a new contract on September 23, 2014 finally agreeing to a five-year contract worth $70 million a day later.[7] The new contract was the biggest since 2006 with Boris Diaw's 5-year, $45 million deal. Six days later, the Suns extended the contracts of Markieff and Marcus Morris to 4 year contracts worth $32 million and $20 million respectively.

On August 26, 2014, the Suns decided to sign both former Suns player Earl Barron (who last played for the New York Knicks) and the undrafted Casey Prather from the Florida Gators to non-guaranteed contracts for training camp. After that, the Suns signed the undrafted Joe Jackson from the Memphis Tigers under that same sort of deal. The Suns also signed Jamil Wilson of the Marquette Golden Eagles in September as well. However, the Suns waived Wilson, Jackson, and Prather from the team on October 14, 2014, while Barron was waived on October 25, 2014 after battling Shavlik Randolph (and Anthony Tolliver) for the final roster spot; everyone that was waived after the pre-season played in the affiliate Bakersfield Jam soon afterwards. However, Barron signed with the Suns again on February 20, 2015 well, after both Shavlik and Anthony left the team in different trades. This time, in his second stint with the Suns, they first gave him a 10-day contract. After succeeding in his initial test with limited playing time, the Suns gave him a second 10-day contract on March 3, 2015 before keeping him for the rest of the season on March 13, 2015. Around the time Earl was playing in his second 10-day contract, the Suns signed Stephen Curry's brother Seth Curry to a 10-day contract on March 10, 2015 after an injury Brandon Knight got against the Golden State Warriors a day earlier. After completing his 10-day contract, Seth was waived and replaced with back-up point guard A.J. Price on March 20, 2015 instead. When he failed under his 10-day stint as a player, he was waived on March 31, 2015 and replaced by affiliate Bakersfield Jam player (and eventual D-League Impact Player of the Year winner) Jerel McNeal a day later. Finally, after he finished his own 10-day contract, the Suns decided to sign Jerel into the 2015–16 season (so long as he'd meet team options by July 21, 2015, which was after the team's Summer League stint ended) on April 11, 2015.

Trades

During Christmas Eve, the Suns traded Anthony Tolliver to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for the rights to Tony Mitchell from North Texas University. Mitchell never played for the Suns, though, and on January 9, 2015, the Suns traded the conditional Minnesota Timberwolves first round draft pick to the Boston Celtics in exchange for power forward/center Brandan Wright hours before their road game against the San Antonio Spurs began. That prompted the Suns to waive their rights to Tony Mitchell before they became guaranteed for the Suns. Nearly a week later, the Suns took part in another trade with the Celtics, this time being part of a three-way deal with the Los Angeles Clippers. In that deal, the Suns grabbed Reggie Bullock from the Clippers while the Celtics took on Shavlik Randolph's salary (as well as Chris Douglas–Roberts and a future second round pick) in order for Doc Rivers' son Austin Rivers to play for the Clippers and be reunited in the process. Finally, during the trade deadline on February 19, 2015, after announcements of Goran Dragić displaying his major displeasure with the team as it was and wanting to be traded to a specific list of teams (those teams being either the rival Los Angeles Lakers, the New York Knicks with Carmelo Anthony, or the Miami Heat with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh), the Suns engaged in the equivalent of a seven-way trade that involved the likes of the Boston Celtics (once more), as well as the Miami Heat, the Milwaukee Bucks, the New Orleans Pelicans, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Detroit Pistons (the only team Phoenix did not directly make a move with that day).

In the first trade the Suns did on the trade deadline, the Suns traded away the Dragić brothers in guards Goran and Zoran Dragić to the Miami Heat, while the Suns received veteran former-All-Star small forward Danny Granger and two different first round picks from the Heat (one that was originally protected in 2017 until the Ted Stepien Rule changed it to 2018, with it still remaining protected until 2019 (the latest that Phoenix can receive their first selection as a completely unprotected first round pick instead of having a top-7 protection at hand) and another that is completely unprotected in 2021), as well as veteran swingman John Salmons from the Pelicans, while New Orleans received two-time champion guard Norris Cole, power forward Shawne Williams, center Justin Hamilton, and cash considerations, which all came from the Heat. With their second trade, the Suns received guard Marcus Thornton (on an expiring contract) and a 2016 first round draft pick (that'll be from the eventual NBA Finals champion Cleveland Cavaliers) from the Celtics in exchange for their biggest off-season signing in point guard Isaiah Thomas, with Boston also acquiring power forward Jonas Jerebko and guard Luigi Datome from the Pistons in exchange for the return of champion player Tayshaun Prince. Finally, in what was perceived at the time to be the trade the Suns got the biggest value out of other teams, the Suns traded away both rookie point guard Tyler Ennis and downgraded center Miles Plumlee to the Milwaukee Bucks and the projected 2015 Los Angeles Lakers' top 5 protected first round draft pick that was ultimately conveyed by 2018 to the Philadelphia 76ers (in which Philadelphia gave up Rookie of The Year winning guard Michael Carter-Williams to the Bucks as well) in exchange for point guard Brandon Knight and injured former Suns point guard Kendall Marshall. Phoenix waived both John Salmons and Kendall Marshall later that day. Marshall joined the Philadelphia 76ers after this season ended, while Salmons still had before unofficially announcing his NBA retirement on September 23, 2018.

Roster

Salaries

style= width="55%"Playerstyle= width="55%"2014–15 Salary
Eric Bledsoe$13,000,000
Marcus Thornton$8,697,500
P. J. Tucker$5,700,000
Brandan Wright$5,000,000
Oleksiy "Alex" Len$3,649,920
Brandon Knight$3,553,917
Gerald Green$3,500,000
Markieff Morris$3,153,860
Marcus Morris$3,105,301
Danny Granger$2,100,000
T. J. Warren$1,953,120
Reggie Bullock$1,200,720
Archie Goodwin$1,112,200
Earl Barron$390,063
Jerel McNeal$59,686
style= width="50%"TOTALstyle= width="50%" align="right"$56,176,287
Because of a few past transactions made from Lance Blanks' tenure that didn't pan out so well for the Suns, Josh Childress was still owed $7,317,500 due to them amnestying his contract two seasons ago, while under the Michael Beasley buyout the Suns did on September 3, 2013, they owed Beasley the equivalent of $2,333,333 for the next three seasons as opposed to giving him the guaranteed amount of $3,000,000 he was owed in his original contract. While Josh Childress' salary did not affect the Suns' overall salary cap to their season that year (and was the last time Phoenix owed money to him, especially considering Childress went to the Sydney Kings in Australia this season), Michael Beasley's contract still affected the Suns' salary despite Beasley going to the Shanghai Sharks in China that season as well before returning to the Miami Heat later on in the season, but only for a few thousand dollars (around $777,778) instead of a few million. In addition, the Suns also bought out the short, small contracts of North Texas University power forward Tony Mitchell, former Suns point guard Kendall Marshall, and John Salmons after finishing their respective deals with the Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, and New Orleans Pelicans.[8]

Pre-season

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1 | October 8| Flamengo| | Isaiah Thomas (18)| Marcus Morris (7)| Isaiah Thomas (4)| US Airways Center
8,041| 1–0|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2 | October 10| Denver| | Goran Dragić, Markieff Morris (12)| P. J. Tucker (10)| Isaiah Thomas (6)| US Airways Center
11,734| 2–0|- style="background:#fcc;"| 3 | October 13| @ Houston| | Eric Bledsoe (13)| Earl Barron (13)| Isaiah Thomas (6)| Toyota Center
14,642| 2–1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 4 | October 16| San Antonio| | Goran Dragić (20)| Markieff Morris (7)| Goran Dragić, Eric Bledsoe (6)| US Airways Center
13,552| 3–1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 5 | October 21| @ L.A. Lakers| | Isaiah Thomas (26)| P. J. Tucker (8)| Eric Bledsoe (6)| Honda Center (Anaheim)
8,037| 4–1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 6 | October 22| @ L.A. Clippers| | Eric Bledsoe (27)| Miles Plumlee, Marcus Morris, P. J. Tucker (8)| Goran Dragić, Isaiah Thomas (4)| Staples Center
13,477| 4–2|- style="background:#cfc;"| 7 | October 24| @ Utah| | Goran Dragić, Isaiah Thomas (18)| Markieff Morris, Olexsiy "Alex" Len (6)| Eric Bledsoe (5)| EnergySolutions Arena
18,087| 5–2

Regular season

Game log

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1| October 29| L.A. Lakers| | Isaiah Thomas (23)| Miles Plumlee, Eric Bledsoe, Anthony Tolliver (6)| Eric Bledsoe (9)| US Airways Center
17,523| 1–0|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2| October 31| San Antonio| | Isaiah Thomas (23)| Markieff Morris, Oleksiy "Alex" Len (11)| Isaiah Thomas (4)| US Airways Center
15,050| 2–0|- style="background:#fcc;"| 3| November 1| @ Utah| | Gerald Green (16)| Markieff Morris (7)| Eric Bledsoe (8)| EnergySolutions Arena
17,721| 2–1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 4| November 4| @ L.A. Lakers| | Gerald Green (26)| Markieff Morris (10)| Isaiah Thomas (9)| Staples Center
18,997| 3–1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 5| November 5| Memphis| | Eric Bledsoe (23)| P. J. Tucker (11)| Eric Bledsoe (4)| US Airways Center
15,377| 3–2|- style="background:#fcc;"| 6| November 7| Sacramento| | Eric Bledsoe (23)| Miles Plumlee (16)| Eric Bledsoe (8)| US Airways Center
15,476| 3–3|- style="background:#cfc;"| 7| November 9| Golden State| | Isaiah Thomas (22)| Marcus Morris (9)| Isaiah Thomas (7)| US Airways Center
16,046| 4–3|- style="background:#cfc;"| 8| November 12| Brooklyn| | Gerald Green (28)| Miles Plumlee (10)| Goran Dragić (6)| US Airways Center
15,184| 5–3|- style="background:#fcc;"| 9| November 14| Charlotte| | Eric Bledsoe (22) | Eric Bledsoe (11)| Eric Bledsoe (5)| US Airways Center
16,291| 5–4|- style="background:#fcc;"| 10| November 15| @ L.A. Clippers| | Gerald Green (26)| Oleksiy "Alex" Len (11)| Eric Bledsoe (10)| Staples Center
19,060| 5–5|- style="background:#cfc"| 11| November 17| @ Boston| | Markieff Morris (30)| Markieff Morris, Oleksiy "Alex" Len (7)| Marcus Morris, Goran Dragić, Eric Bledsoe (7)| TD Garden
16,726| 6–5|- style="background:#cfc"| 12| November 19| @ Detroit| | Eric Bledsoe (18)| Miles Plumlee (10)| Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragić, Gerald Green (4)| Palace of Auburn Hills
10,686| 7–5|- style="background:#cfc"| 13| November 21| @ Philadelphia| | Isaiah Thomas (23)| P. J. Tucker (8)| Isaiah Thomas (8)| Wells Fargo Center
16,789| 8–5|- style="background:#cfc"| 14| November 22| @ Indiana| | Gerald Green (23)| Eric Bledsoe (9)| Eric Bledsoe (5)| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
16,870| 9–5|- style="background:#fcc"| 15| November 24| @ Toronto| | Eric Bledsoe (25)| Markieff Morris, P. J. Tucker (8)| Eric Bledsoe (6)| Air Canada Centre
19,800| 9–6|- style="background:#cfc"| 16| November 26| Denver| | Gerald Green (24)| Markieff Morris (10)| Eric Bledsoe (10)| US Airways Center
16,099| 10–6|- style="background:#fcc"| 17| November 28| @ Denver| | Eric Bledsoe (16)| Oleksiy "Alex" Len (8)| Eric Bledsoe (4)| Pepsi Center
15,509| 10–7|- style="background:#fcc"| 18| November 30| Orlando| | Goran Dragić (22)| Markieff Morris (7)| Markieff Morris (10)| US Airways Center
15,558| 10–8|- style="background:#cfc"| 19| December 2| Indiana| | Goran Dragić (34)| Miles Plumlee, P. J. Tucker (7)| Eric Bledsoe (7)| US Airways Center
15,059| 11–8|- style="background:#cfc"| 20| December 5| @ Dallas| | Goran Dragić (28)| Markieff Morris (10)| Goran Dragić (13)| American Airlines Center
20,010| 12–8|- style="background:#fcc"| 21| December 6| @ Houston| | Eric Bledsoe (23)| P. J. Tucker (8)| Goran Dragić (6)| Toyota Center
18,060| 12–9|- style="background:#fcc"| 22| December 8| @ L.A. Clippers| | Eric Bledsoe (27)| Eric Bledsoe (11)| Eric Bledsoe (16)| Staples Center
19,060| 12–10|- style="background:#fcc"| 23| December 9| Miami| | Marcus Morris (25)| Miles Plumlee, Eric Bledsoe, Marcus Morris (5)| Eric Bledsoe (8)| US Airways Center
14,963| 12–11|- style="background:#fcc"| 24| December 12| Detroit| | Goran Dragić (18)| P. J. Tucker (9)| Goran Dragić (5)| US Airways Center
17,007| 12–12|- style="background:#fcc"| 25| December 14| @ Oklahoma City| | Gerald Green (15)| Miles Plumlee, Gerald Green (7)| Eric Bledsoe, Isaiah Thomas (4)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
18,203| 12–13|- style="background:#fcc"| 26| December 15| Milwaukee| | Markieff Morris (25)| Gerald Green (8)| P. J. Tucker, Eric Bledsoe (4)| US Airways Center
17,327| 12–14|- style="background:#cfc"| 27| December 17| @ Charlotte| | Isaiah Thomas (23)| Markieff Morris (8)| Goran Dragić (8)| Time Warner Cable Arena
15,459| 13–14|- style="background:#cfc"| 28| December 20| @ New York| | Eric Bledsoe (25)| Eric Bledsoe (10)| Eric Bledsoe, Isaiah Thomas, Gerald Green, P. J. Tucker (3)| Madison Square Garden
19,812| 14–14|- style="background:#cfc"| 29| December 21| @ Washington| | Eric Bledsoe, Markieff Morris (17)| Eric Bledsoe (9)| Goran Dragić (4)| Verizon Center
18,207| 15–14|- style="background:#cfc"| 30| December 23| Dallas| | Goran Dragić (25)| Eric Bledsoe (10)| Eric Bledsoe (11)| US Airways Center
18,055| 16–14|- style="background:#cfc"| 31| December 26| @ Sacramento| | Marcus Morris (20)| Oleksiy "Alex" Len (11)| Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragić (6)| Sleep Train Arena
17,317| 17–14|- style="background:#cfc"| 32| December 28| @ L.A. Lakers| | Goran Dragić (24)| Eric Bledsoe, Oleksiy "Alex" Len (8)| Eric Bledsoe (8)| Staples Center
18,997| 18–14|- style="background:#fcc"| 33| December 30| @ New Orleans| | Goran Dragić (22)| Eric Bledsoe (8)| Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragić, Isaiah Thomas (3)| Smoothie King Center
16,364| 18–15|- style="background:#fcc"| 34| December 31| @ Oklahoma City| | Eric Bledsoe (29)| Goran Dragić (8)| Eric Bledsoe (8)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
18,203| 18–16|- style="background:#cfc"| 35| January 2| Philadelphia| | Gerald Green, Markieff Morris (21)| Goran Dragić (10)| Eric Bledsoe (8)| US Airways Center
16,514| 19–16|- style="background:#cfc"| 36| January 4| Toronto| | Eric Bledsoe (20)| Miles Plumlee (7)| Eric Bledsoe (8)| US Airways Center
17,166| 20–16|- style="background:#cfc"| 37| January 6| @ Milwaukee| | Markieff Morris (26)| Markieff Morris (10)| Eric Bledsoe (10)| BMO Harris Bradley Center
12,311| 21–16|- style="background:#cfc"| 38| January 7| @ Minnesota| | Goran Dragić (25)| P. J. Tucker (9)| Goran Dragić (4)| Target Center
10,547| 22–16|- style="background:#fcc"| 39| January 9| @ San Antonio| | Eric Bledsoe, P. J. Tucker (19)| Oleksiy "Alex" Len (12)| Eric Bledsoe (10)| AT&T Center
18,581| 22–17|- style="background:#fcc"| 40| January 11| @ Memphis| | Isaiah Thomas (20)| Oleksiy "Alex" Len (13)| Eric Bledsoe (5)| FedExForum
17,212| 22–18|- style="background:#cfc"| 41| January 13| Cleveland| | Markieff Morris (35)| Oleksiy "Alex" Len (10)| Eric Bledsoe (6)| US Airways Center
16,819| 23–18|- style="background:#cfc"| 42| January 16| Minnesota| | Goran Dragić (21)| Oleksiy "Alex" Len (12)| Goran Dragić (8)| US Airways Center
17,441| 24–18|- style="background:#cfc"| 43| January 19| L.A. Lakers| | Goran Dragić, Isaiah Thomas (24)| Goran Dragić (9)| Eric Bledsoe (7)| US Airways Center
17,435| 25–18|- style="background:#cfc"| 44| January 21| Portland| | Eric Bledsoe (33)| P. J. Tucker (13)| Eric Bledsoe (6)| US Airways Center
16,703| 26–18|- style="background:#fcc"| 45| January 23| Houston| | Eric Bledsoe (25)| Oleksiy "Alex" Len (11)| Eric Bledsoe (9)| US Airways Center
16,701| 26–19|- style="background:#fcc"| 46| January 25| L.A. Clippers| | Isaiah Thomas (25)| Miles Plumlee (7)| Goran Dragić (8)| US Airways Center
17,066| 26–20|- style="background:#cfc"| 47| January 28| Washington| | Goran Dragić (20)| P. J. Tucker (10)| Eric Bledsoe (6)| US Airways Center
16,209| 27–20|- style="background:#cfc"| 48| January 30| Chicago| | Eric Bledsoe (23)| Markieff Morris (14)| Eric Bledsoe (6)| US Airways Center
18,055| 28–20|- style="background:#fcc"| 49| January 31| @ Golden State| | Markieff Morris (17)| Markieff Morris (11)| Isaiah Thomas (5)| Oracle Arena
19,596| 28–21|- style="background:#fcc"| 50| February 2| Memphis| | Isaiah Thomas (24)| Oleksiy "Alex" Len, Eric Bledsoe (7)| Eric Bledsoe (7)| US Airways Center
17,199| 28–22|- style="background:#fcc"| 51| February 5| @ Portland| | Markieff Morris (18)| Markieff Morris (8) | Goran Dragić (5)| Moda Center
19,488| 28–23|- style="background:#cfc"| 52| February 6| Utah| | Marcus Morris (34)| Marcus Morris (12)| Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragić (6)| US Airways Center
18,055| 29–23|- style="background:#fcc"| 53| February 8| @ Sacramento| | Isaiah Thomas (26)| Miles Plumlee (12)| Isaiah Thomas, Goran Dragić (5)| Sleep Train Arena
17,013| 29–24|- style="background:#fcc"| 54| February 10| Houston| | Eric Bledsoe (32)| P. J. Tucker, Miles Plumlee (7)| Isaiah Thomas (6)| US Airways Center
17,071| 29–25|- align="center"|colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break|- style="background:#fcc"| 55| February 20| @ Minnesota| | Markieff Morris (31)| Oleksiy "Alex" Len (10)| Eric Bledsoe, Gerald Green (6)| Target Center
14,077| 29–26|- style="background:#fcc"| 56| February 21| @ Chicago| | P. J. Tucker (20)| Oleksiy "Alex" Len (11)| Eric Bledsoe (8) | United Center
22,292| 29–27|- style="background:#fcc"| 57| February 23| Boston| | Eric Bledsoe (21) | Oleksiy "Alex" Len, P. J. Tucker (12)| Eric Bledsoe (10) | US Airways Center
17,076| 29–28|- style="background:#cfc"| 58| February 25| @ Denver| | Brandon Knight (19)| Oleksiy "Alex" Len (10)| Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight (6)| Pepsi Center
12,813| 30–28|- style="background:#cfc"| 59| February 26| Oklahoma City| | Markieff Morris (29)| Eric Bledsoe (13) | Eric Bledsoe (9) | US Airways Center
17,514| 31–28|- style="background:#fcc"| 60| February 28| San Antonio| | Marcus Morris (19)| P. J. Tucker (11)| Markieff Morris, Archie Goodwin (3)| US Airways Center
18,055| 31–29|- style="background:#fcc"| 61| March 2| @ Miami| | Eric Bledsoe, P. J. Tucker (20)| P. J. Tucker (14)| Brandon Knight (7)| American Airlines Arena
19,600| 31–30|- style="background:#cfc"| 62| March 4| @ Orlando| | Brandon Knight (28)| Eric Bledsoe (7)| Eric Bledsoe (9)| Amway Center
15,822| 32–30|- style="background:#cfc"| 63| March 6| @ Brooklyn| | Eric Bledsoe, Marcus Morris, Markieff Morris (19)| Eric Bledsoe (10)| Brandon Knight (7)| Barclays Center
16,445| 33–30|- style="background:#fcc"| 64| March 7| @ Cleveland| | Markieff Morris (16)| P. J. Tucker (9)| Eric Bledsoe (9)| Quicken Loans Arena
20,562| 33–31|- style="background:#fcc"| 65| March 9| Golden State| | Eric Bledsoe (19)| Oleksiy "Alex" Len (11)| Eric Bledsoe, Markieff Morris (3)| US Airways Center
18,055| 33–32|- style="background:#cfc"| 66| March 11| Minnesota| | Markieff Morris (24)| Marcus Morris, Brandan Wright (9)| Eric Bledsoe (9)| US Airways Center
17,367| 34–32|- style="background:#fcc"| 67| March 13| Atlanta| | Markieff Morris (22)| P. J. Tucker (9)| Eric Bledsoe (6) | US Airways Center
17,136| 34–33|- style="background:#cfc"| 68| March 15| New York| | Eric Bledsoe (21) | Brandan Wright (11)| Eric Bledsoe (11) | US Airways Center
17,264| 35–33|- style="background:#cfc"| 69| March 19| New Orleans| | Markieff Morris (17)| Marcus Morris (13)| Marcus Morris (4)| US Airways Center
18,055| 36–33|- style="background:#cfc"| 70| March 21| @ Houston| | Eric Bledsoe (34)| Marcus Morris (10)| Markieff Morris (6)| Toyota Center
18,340| 37–33|- style="background:#cfc"| 71| March 22| Dallas| | Eric Bledsoe (20)| Markieff Morris (13)| Eric Bledsoe (9)| US Airways Center
17,435| 38–33|- style="background:#fcc"| 72| March 25| Sacramento| | Markieff Morris (24)| P. J. Tucker (11)| Markieff Morris, P. J. Tucker (4)| US Airways Center
17,589| 38–34|- style="background:#fcc"| 73| March 27| Portland| | Marcus Morris (19)| Marcus Morris (12)| Eric Bledsoe (7)| US Airways Center
17,219| 38–35|- style="background:#fcc"| 74| March 29| Oklahoma City| | Markieff Morris (24)| Oleksiy "Alex" Len (11)| Eric Bledsoe (7) | US Airways Center
17,538| 38–36|- style="background:#fcc"| 75| March 30| @ Portland| | Gerald Green, T. J. Warren (13)| P. J. Tucker (11)| Eric Bledsoe (7) | Moda Center
19,441| 38–37|- style="background:#fcc"| 76| April 2| @ Golden State| | Eric Bledsoe (18)| Markieff Morris, Brandan Wright (12)| Eric Bledsoe (11) | Oracle Arena
19,596| 38–38|- style="background:#cfc"| 77| April 4| Utah| | Gerald Green (24)| P. J. Tucker (9)| Eric Bledsoe (5)| US Airways Center
18,055| 39–38|- style="background:#fcc"| 78| April 7| @ Atlanta| | Gerald Green (15)| Markieff Morris, Brandan Wright (6)| Eric Bledsoe, Markieff Morris (5)| Philips Arena
18,650| 39–39|- style="background:#fcc"| 79| April 8| @ Dallas| | Gerald Green (30)| Marcus Morris (10)| Markieff Morris (7)| American Airlines Center
20,262| 39–40|- style="background:#fcc"| 80| April 10| @ New Orleans| | Eric Bledsoe (19)| Markieff Morris (11)| Eric Bledsoe (7)| Smoothie King Center
17,954| 39–41|- style="background:#fcc"| 81| April 12| @ San Antonio| | Gerald Green (23)| Marcus Morris, P. J. Tucker (8)| Eric Bledsoe (10) | AT&T Center
18,581| 39–42|- style="background:#fcc"| 82| April 14| L.A. Clippers| | Archie Goodwin (18)| Markieff Morris, P. J. Tucker (8)| Eric Bledsoe (9) | US Airways Center
18,055| 39–43

Player statistics

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
16 1 8.9 .308 .500 .500 1.8 0.3 .3 .1 2.0
81 81 34.6 .447 .324 .800 5.2 6.1 1.6 .6 17.0
11 0 6.8 .063 .000 .500 0.9 0.2 .1 .2 0.4
2 0 4.0 .000 .000 . 1.0 0.5 .0 .0 0.0
52 52 33.4 .501 .355 .746 3.6 4.1 1.0 .2 16.2
6 0 2.2 .250 .000 .667 0.5 0.2 .0 .0 1.0
8 0 7.3 .429 .333 1.000 0.9 1.8 .0 .3 2.8
41 2 13.0 .393 .293 .735 1.8 1.1 .4 .2 5.6
74 4 19.5 .416 .354 .825 2.5 1.2 .6 .2 11.9
11 9 31.5 .357 .313 .828 2.1 4.5 .5 .1 13.4
69 44 22.0 .507 .333 .702 6.6 0.5 .5 1.5 6.3
6 0 6.0 .273 .500 1.000 0.5 0.3 .5 .2 1.5
81 35 25.2 .434 .358 .628 4.8 1.6 .8 .2 10.4
82 82 31.5 .465 .318 .763 6.2 2.3 1.2 .5 15.3
54 28 18.6 .549 . .500 5.1 0.5 .6 1.0 4.3
5 0 8.8 .214 .000 . 0.6 1.2 .0 .0 1.2
16 0 6.3 .240 .000 .500 1.6 0.2 .3 .1 1.1
46 1 25.7 .426 .391 .872 2.4 3.7 1.0 .1 15.2
9 0 9.0 .325 .105 .800 1.4 0.2 .7 .0 3.6
24 0 11.3 .351 .387 .667 1.8 0.4 .2 .0 3.3
78 63 30.6 .438 .345 .727 6.4 1.6 1.4 .3 9.1
40 1 15.4 .528 .238 .737 2.1 0.6 .5 .2 6.1
40 7 21.5 .580 .000 .667 4.9 0.6 .8 1.2 7.0

Injuries/Personal games missed

PlayerDurationReason for Missed Time<-- Do not include players who did not play due to coach's decision or were forced upon the inactive list.-->Games Missed
StartEnd
August 12, 2014November 4, 2014Suspension without $155,455 in pay for super-extreme DUI3
October 21, 2014November 9, 2014Injured left thumb by being caught in a Lakers jersey6
November 13, 2014November 17, 2014Assigned to the Bakersfield Jam by the Suns2
November 13, 2014November 17, 2014Assigned to the Bakersfield Jam by the Suns2
November 17, 2014November 19, 2014Missed team bus for flight from Los Angeles to Boston1
November 25, 2014December 12, 2014Twisted ankle against Toronto at 4th quarter8
December 14, 2014December 18, 2014Had a strained lower back problem2
December 25, 2014December 31, 2014Assigned to the Bakersfield Jam by the Suns3
December 25, 2014December 31, 2014Assigned to the Bakersfield Jam by the Suns3
December 25, 2014December 31, 2014Assigned to the Bakersfield Jam by the Suns3
January 9, 2015January 11, 2015Wasn't ready to play for the Suns yet due to recent trade1
January 14, 2015January 21, 2015Assigned to the Bakersfield Jam by the Suns2
January 15, 2015January 21, 2015Wasn't ready to play for the Suns yet due to recent trade2
January 22, 2015January 28, 2015Assigned to the Bakersfield Jam by the Suns2
January 22, 2015January 28, 2015Assigned to the Bakersfield Jam by the Suns2
January 25, 2015January 28, 2015Had a sore left heel bone1
January 29, 2015February 2, 2015Assigned to the Bakersfield Jam by the Suns2
January 29, 2015February 2, 2015Assigned to the Bakersfield Jam by the Suns2
January 30, 2015January 31, 2015Rest a tired leg1
February 4, 2015February 8, 2015Assigned to the Bakersfield Jam by the Suns2
February 4, 2015February 8, 2015Assigned to the Bakersfield Jam by the Suns2
February 5, 2015February 20, 2015Injured right ankle during third quarter against Portland3
February 8, 2015February 11, 2015Assigned to the Bakersfield Jam by the Suns2
February 8, 2015February 11, 2015Assigned to the Bakersfield Jam by the Suns2
February 8, 2015February 10, 2015Traveled to Alabama for the birth of his son Ethan1
February 20, 2015February 21, 2015Wasn't ready to play for the Suns yet due to recent trade1
February 20, 2015February 23, 2015Wasn't ready to play for the Suns yet due to recent trade2
February 21, 2015February 23, 2015Wasn't ready to play for the Suns yet due to recent signing1
March 7, 2015March 9, 2015Injured right ankle during third quarter against Brooklyn1
March 11, 2015March 29, 2015Injured left ankle during second quarter against Golden State8
March 15, 2015March 21, 2015Injured right ankle during fourth quarter against Atlanta2
March 19, 2015April 7, 2015Injured right big toe during practice9
March 30, 2015October 28, 2015Left ankle continued to bother him8
April 2, 2015October 28, 2015Broken nose during road game against Portland7
April 10, 2015April 14, 2015Hurt left ankle during practice3
April 12, 2015April 14, 2015Had a left ankle sprain after the last game against New Orleans2
April 12, 2015April 14, 2015Had a concussion after the last game against New Orleans2
April 14, 2015April 14, 2015Had a stomach virus before the last game of the season1

Awards and records

Awards

All-Star

Records

Team records

Milestones

Team milestones

Transactions

Trades

July 11, 2014
To Phoenix Suns
Isaiah Thomas (sign and trade)
To Sacramento Kings

Alex Oriakhi

$7 Million Traded Player Exception

December 24, 2014
To Phoenix Suns
Tony Mitchell
To Detroit Pistons
Anthony Tolliver
January 9, 2015
To Phoenix Suns
Brandan Wright
To Boston Celtics

2016 second round pick (from Minnesota)

2017 second round pick (from Minnesota)

Traded Player Exception

January 15, 2015Three–team trade
To Los Angeles Clippers
Austin Rivers (from Boston)
To Boston Celtics

Shavlik Randolph (from Phoenix)

Chris Douglas–Roberts (from L.A. Clippers)

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

$2.4 Million Traded Player Exception (from L.A. Clippers)

To Phoenix Suns
Reggie Bullock (from L.A. Clippers)
February 19, 2015
Seven–team trade
To Phoenix Suns

Brandon Knight (from Milwaukee)

Marcus Thornton (from Boston)

Danny Granger (from Miami)

John Salmons (from New Orleans)

Kendall Marshall (from Milwaukee)

2016 first round pick (from Cleveland via Boston)

2018 Top 7 protected first round pick (from Miami)

2021 first round pick (from Miami)

$5.5 Million Traded Player Exception (from Miami)

To Miami Heat

/ Goran Dragić (from Phoenix)

/ Zoran Dragić (from Phoenix)

To Milwaukee Bucks

Tyler Ennis (from Phoenix)

Miles Plumlee (from Phoenix)

Michael Carter–Williams (from Philadelphia)

To Boston Celtics

Isaiah Thomas (from Phoenix)

Jonas Jerebko (from Detroit)

Luigi Datome (from Detroit)

To Philadelphia 76ers

2018 first round pick (from L.A. Lakers via Phoenix)

To Detroit Pistons

Tayshaun Prince (from Boston)

To New Orleans Pelicans

Norris Cole (from Miami)

Shawne Williams (from Miami)

/ Justin Hamilton (from Miami)

Cash Considerations (from Miami)

Free agents

Additions

PlayerSignedFormer team
P. J. TuckerSigned 3-year deal worth $16.5 MillionPhoenix Suns
Isaiah ThomasSigned 4-year deal worth $27 MillionSacramento Kings
Anthony TolliverSigned 2-year deal worth $6 MillionCharlotte Bobcats / Hornets
Ronald Shavlik RandolphSigned 1-year deal worth $1.23 MillionPhoenix Suns
Eric BledsoeSigned 5-year deal worth $70 MillionPhoenix Suns
Zoran DragićSigned 2-year deal worth $4 Million Club Baloncesto Unicaja Málaga, S.A.D.
Markieff MorrisSigned 4-year extension worth $32 MillionPhoenix Suns
Marcus MorrisSigned 4-year extension worth $20 MillionPhoenix Suns
Earl BarronSigned two 10-day contracts / 1-year deal worth $390,063New York Knicks / Phoenix Suns / Shanxi Zhongyu Brave Dragons / Bakersfield Jam
Seth CurrySigned a 10-day contract worth $48,028Orlando Magic / Erie BayHawks
A.J. PriceSigned a 10-day contract worth $62,552Cleveland Cavaliers / Indiana Pacers
Jerel McNealSigned a 10-day contract / 2-year deal worth $904,745Bakersfield Jam

Subtractions

PlayerReason leftNew team
Bogdan BogdanovićSigned a new contract Fenerbahçe Ülker
Channing FryeUnrestricted free agentOrlando Magic
Alex OriakhiTraded under a restricted free agent sign-and-tradeSacramento Kings / Pieno Žvaigždės
Ishmael "Ish" SmithWaived / Free AgentHouston Rockets / Oklahoma City Thunder / New Orleans Pelicans / Philadelphia 76ers
Dionte ChristmasWaived / Free AgentNew Orleans Pelicans / Paris-Levallois Basket
Leandro BarbosaUnrestricted free agentGolden State Warriors
Alec BrownSigned a new contract Obradoiro Clube de Amigos do Baloncesto / Bakersfield Jam
Chukwuemeka "Emeka" OkaforFree Agent / WaivedPhiladelphia 76ers / Delaware 87ers / New Orleans Pelicans
Anthony TolliverTradedDetroit Pistons
Tony MitchellWaived Atléticos de San Germán
Ronald Shavlik Randolph
Isaiah Thomas
TradedBoston Celtics
Goran Dragić
Zoran Dragić
TradedMiami Heat
Miles Plumlee
Tyler Ennis
TradedMilwaukee Bucks
Kendall MarshallWaivedPhiladelphia 76ers
John SalmonsWaived (Retired)
Seth Curry10 Day Contract ExpiredErie BayHawks
A.J. Price10 Day Contract Expired Shanghai Dongfang Sharks

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHO/2015.html 2014-15 Phoenix Suns
  2. https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2014/07/28/suns-player-pj-tucker-dui-arrest/13299361/ Suns player P. J. Tucker accused of 'super-extreme' DUI
  3. https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2014/08/08/phoenix-suns-tj-warren-tyler-ennis-nba-first-round/13778815/ Suns sign first-round picks T. J. Warren, Tyler Ennis
  4. http://valleyofthesuns.com/2015/01/19/suns-recap-phoenix-sweeps-lakers-first-time-since-2005/ Suns Recap: Phoenix Sweeps L.A. Lakers For First Time Since 2005
  5. http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/spain/135759/zoran-dragic-informs-unicaja-malaga-he-ll-sign-with-the-suns.html Zoran Dragic informs Unicaja Malaga he'll sign with the Suns
  6. http://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/unicaja/2014/09/25/zoran-dragic-pone-rumbo-suns/709861.html Zoran Dragic pone rumbo a los Suns y el Unicaja ya le busca un subsituto
  7. http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2014/9/24/6839147/phoenix-suns-sign-eric-bledsoe-to Phoenix Suns sign Eric Bledsoe to 5 year, $70 Million Deal
  8. Web site: HoopsHype – NBA Salaries – Phoenix Suns . hoopshype.com. September 22, 2012. September 22, 2012.
  9. Web site: Putting Eric Bledsoe's Stat Line from Last Night in Historical Context. 27 February 2015.
  10. http://www.nba.com/suns/gallery/4-crazy-amazing-suns-stats-sunsvslakers 4 Crazy Amazing Suns Stats from #SunsVsLakers
  11. http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2014/10/31/7140785/gamethread-suns-and-spurs-play-game-of-chicken Gamethread: Suns and Spurs play game of chicken
  12. Web site: Phoenix Suns: A Family Affair. 12 March 2015.