Phoenix Suns to select 5th in draft after missing out on Top 3 spot in NBA draft lottery

Bad news for the Suns: Nerlens Noel almost definitely will not join them; Phoenix won one more game than Cleveland, the team that won the NBA draft lottery's top pick; the lottery dropped the Suns from the fourth-worst record to the fifth overall pick in the June 27 draft.Good news for the Suns: Noel is no superstar and will not join any team until December because of knee rehabilitation; this dr

1992-93 Phoenix Suns players discuss what they're doing today

Players from the 1992-93 season provide a personal update on what they are doing today:-- Charles Barkley: I want to be a GM. I'm going to get that. I'm not going to campaign for it. I've got three years left on my TV deal. I'll do three more years, and then I'm done. If everything goes perfect, I'll get a GM job before then, but I'm not in a rush. They (Turner broadcasting) have done some things

Former Phoenix Suns forward Richard Dumas 'enjoying life' now

The easy part of life is understanding it backward. Richard Dumas complicated it by living life backward.Two decades ago, Dumas found the kind of wealth and results on his job that others can only chase for most of their careers. He was a rising NBA star with a shot so soft and springs to loft. The prototypical small forward averaged 16 points as a Suns rookie and resuscitated championship hopes

A Colangelo-less NBA may become sad reality

While many of us have been reminiscing about the 1992-93 Suns NBA Finals season lately, another story has quietly unfolded almost 2,000 miles away in Toronto.Reportedly, Tim Leiweke, the incoming CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which includes among its holdings the Toronto Raptors of the NBA, will replace the team's President and General Manager Bryan Colangelo, possibly with Colangel

Bob McManaman reflects on MC Hammer, Mike Lupica and a memorable 1993 NBA postseason

What do I remember most about covering the 1993 NBA playoffs and the Suns' championship series in the Finals against the Chicago Bulls?Well, as exciting as all the basketball was, I tend to look back and recall more of the social elements that came along with those assignments 20 years ago.

Kent Somers recalls the 1993 NBA Finals being as much fun outside the arena as inside

It's funny how when we recall the big events in our lives, it's often the little stuff that first pops into mind.It's the friend who drank too much at your wedding, the woman who danced funny at your folks' 50th anniversary, the boss who called you out of your wife's labor delivery room to ask who was going to write the Northern Arizona University football advance.

1992-93 Phoenix Suns talk about what happened after NBA Finals

In their wordsSuns players from the 1992-93 team talk about what happened after the NBA Finals season and why they never reached those heights again, together.Danny Ainge: I actually thought we had better opportunities to win a title the next two seasons. One reason was that Michael (Jordan) went to play baseball. I thought we were best team in the league the next two years but injuries at the w

Barkley bites: Memorable quotes from Charles Barkley during his time with the Phoenix Suns

Charles Barkley was traded to the Phoenix Suns prior to the 1992-93 season. During his time in Phoenix, he was a colorful, quote machine.On his knowledge of history:

Ex-Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo counts 1993 Finals near top of his career thrills

Suns fans have a visceral connection to the 1993 NBA Finals. They still hear the swish that accompanied John Paxson's title-winning 3-pointer, still feel the 105-degree heat that baked the city during the celebratory downtown parade.For Jerry Colangelo, the memories are particularly powerful because events on and off the court during that series helped define his legacy.

Phoenix Suns great Charles Barkley speaks

Charles Barkley was the main identifying image during the 1992-93 run to the Finals. We caught up with him recently for an update on his feelings about a few subjects from that memorable Suns era.-- About it being a 20-year anniversary: "Damn, it's been 20 years. It was a spectacular time. Michael Jordan was at the top of his superpowers. It was a great series and just a really cool thing."

A look at how the Phoenix Suns' 1993 NBA Finals run came to be

We take a look at the critical moments and moves that reveal how the Suns' 1993 NBA Finals run came to be.More coverage: Video: Reminiscing about 1993 | Photos: A look back the 92-93 Suns | 92-93 Suns recall joining team

2013 NBA draft lottery: Who needs to win most?

The question of who will be picking first in the June 27 NBA draft will be answered on Tuesday in a ceremony that will air at 5:25 p.m. on ESPN. The more pressing question is who needs it the most.NBA combine: Breakdown, analysis of participants | Star power?: Underclassmen in June's draft

Phoenix Suns' 4th-best lottery spot makes for bad odds, with the top 3 in line for the best

The Suns were not very good with basketballs this year so now they get to take their crack at ping-pong balls.The projected prizes in this draft, albeit no sure things, come in the top three spots. That makes having the fourth-best draft lottery odds a bad fit for the drawing (5:25 p.m. Tuesday on ESPN).

1993 Phoenix Suns built team for playoff run but fell short in classic NBA Finals

On paper, the 1992-93 Suns looked like a championship contender from the get-go.After all, where could that addition of a superstar such as Charles Barkley to the nucleus of a club that had averaged 54 wins a season the previous four years go wrong?

NBA Draft Combine 2013: Breakdown, analysis of participants

The NBA Draft isn't until June 27, but the draft combine takes place in Chicago Thursday through Sunday. We break down and analyze each player that was invited, beginning with 10 players the Suns could have in their sights with their lottery selection.Top 20 NBA free agents for 2013 offseason | Star power?: NCAA underclassmen in June's draft

Tracking 2013 NBA draft early entry players

USA TODAY Sports tracks the biggest NCAA basketball stars to declare for June's 2013 NBA draft. NBA Draft Combine 2013: Breakdown, analysis of participants; potential Suns lottery-pick targets

Lee Shappell recounts Chicago Bulls guard John Paxson's shot to beat the Phoenix Suns and win the championship in the 1993 NBA Finals

There was no way it was going in.John Paxson, a great shooter, exactly who you don't want spotting up for a game-winning 3-point shot, was positioned to bury the Suns.

1992-93 Phoenix Suns players talk about the high point of that season

Suns players from the 1992-93 season talk about the high point of that season.-- Danny Ainge: I don't remember any one. I just remember it being as fun a time as I've ever had playing basketball. I thought Coach Westphal did an amazing job of coaching that team and that group of personalities. He was a great fit in his approach. He let players talk. He let players have input. He always said he co

Phoenix Suns' poor lottery odds put focus on 2nd tier of prospects for NBA draft

CHICAGO -- The Suns have a better chance of landing the No. 1 prize in Tuesday's NBA draft lottery than they had of winning Saturday's $600 million Powerball lottery prize.The draft lottery determines the top three picks in the June 27 draft, which seem to have a rare consensus for the trio of Kentucky center Nerlens Noel, Kansas shooting guard Ben McLemore and Georgetown small forward Otto Porte

Ranking the Top 20 NBA free agents for 2013 offseason

The 2013 NBA free agent period features plenty of questions. USA TODAY Sports' Sean Highkin ranks the top 20 players available. | Star power?: Looking at NCAA underclassmen in June's draftNBA Draft Combine 2013: Breakdown, analysis of participants; potential Suns lottery-pick targets

Owner Jerry Colangelo's drive, ingenuity keyed Phoenix Suns' sustained success

The Suns are a Valley rarity. They have unbreakable roots and a deep well of loyalty. Many consider them part of the family.But it's not by accident. It's not because Arizonans love basketball more than anything else, or because the Suns are our first major professional sports franchise.

1992-93 Phoenix Suns: A rise to the big time

Sitting in an Italian restaurant in Manhattan back in 1988, Jerry Colangelo listened intently as Commissioner David Stern outlined for NBA owners how the league's new unrestricted free-agency rules would work and which players would qualify.Colangelo glanced down the table at Barry Ackerley, the owner of the Seattle SuperSonics at the time.

1992-93 Suns recall joining team

In their wordsSome 1992-93 Suns remember what it was like to join the Suns:Danny Ainge: I was really excited to join that team. That was an amazing opportunity with a new arena, new uniforms, whole new team with Charles added to a base of guys already there -- KJ, Majerle, West. I don't think any of us expected Oliver to be as good as he was. Pretty good nucleus that they had. I just remember be

In a single magic Phoenix Suns season, an entire city comes of age

At the time, it seemed audacious even to Paul Westphal, the first-year head coach who had guided the Phoenix Suns to the best record in the NBA during the 1992-93 regular season.But in the first round of the 1993 NBA playoffs, the Suns lost the first two games of the best-of-five series against the Los Angeles Lakers, at home no less. No team in NBA history ever had escaped from such a fix.

Dan Bickley's memories of chronicling the 1993 NBA postseason

My first extended stay in Phoenix occurred in 1993, when I covered the Western Conference finals for the Chicago Sun-Times. My job was chronicling the Bulls' next opponent and, eventually, the NBA Finals.I remember a lot.

1992-93 Phoenix Suns: In their words

-- Danny Ainge: I don't remember any one. I just remember it being as fun a time as I've ever had playing basketball. I thought Coach Westphal did an amazing job of coaching that team and that group of personalities. He was a great fit in his approach. He let players talk. He let players have input. He always said he coached the way he wanted to be coached and we had a very good group. Charles was

Pain game: It's All-Star attrition in NBA playoffs

Injuries have so profoundly impacted the NBA playoffs this year that one can put together a pretty good All-Star Game made up only of players who are missing the playoffs because of various ailments, or have at least missed some games or had their minutes dramatically limited because of them.And we're not even counting a lot of players who have sucked it up to play at least close to their normal

Arizona State's Carrick Felix hopes hard work pays off at NBA draft combine

CHICAGO -- Some basketball dreamers will tell you that they eat and sleep hoops.It is apparent that Carrick Felix does neither.

Phoenix Suns consider their options in the NBA draft as the lottery approaches

CHICAGO -- A year from now, the jubilation of landing the top NBA draft pick will be extremely different if Kansas-bound Andrew Wiggins and Duke-bound Jabari Parker live up to billing as generation players.If the Suns' 11.9 percent draft lottery chance at this year's No. 1 pick comes to fruition, the ESPN camera will get a glimpse of Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby's vertical le

Phoenix Suns GM Ryan McDonough on search for new coach

CHICAGO - Suns interim head coach Lindsey Hunter was first on Ryan McDonough's interview list, but it would be shocking if Hunter wound up in that order when the new Suns general manager picks his first head coach.Beyond Hunter's Wednesday interview in Chicago, the Suns' target group includes experienced assistant head coaches, although some head college coaches and a former NBA coach are getting