The blueprint for sustainable success in the ever-changing NBA landscape is never as clear as it's made out to be.
Sure, copying the model of the most recent champion is a way to go, but trends are sticking around less and less. The league often incentivizes uniqueness. It's why there's now been eight consecutive seasons with a different organization handling the crown.
Predictability results in stagnancy. Trajectories falter. Teams are starting to pick up on the fact that unless they adopt their own set of strengths, the league will catch up to them using proven responsiveness to failed, or simply outdated, models of before.
The Phoenix Suns and Atlanta Hawks - as different as they are - may be creating the new success model of the modern NBA.
Each franchise believes in patience, even more so than recent champions
It's been a run-it-back focused, yet ultra-productive summer for the Suns.
On Wednesday evening, ESPN's Shams Charania came through with the news that "Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks has agreed to a three-year, $73 million contract extension through 2029-30," locking in their incredibly-valuable culture-shifting forward for the long-run.
This move comes after a series of re-signings for last season's surprise Western Conference playoff team. After overachieving with a new-look roster, Phoenix elected to bring in some intriguing rotation players, but for the most part - keep the bulk of their core intact.
Sound familiar, Hawks fans?
In recent tenures, the Atlanta Hawks had received plenty of scrutiny for being complacent following a decently-accomplished season. While that may have been frowned upon in the past, with the way anything can happen over the course of an 82-game season, keeping a core together seems like the most beneficial approach.
The two franchises - again, considering their differences - have operated very similarly this summer, and there's legitimate reason to believe it'll pay off sooner rather than later.
Keeping a mix of veterans and young players is a calculated approach
The Hawks and Suns have no shortage of either.
Atlanta rosters Kingston Flemings, Zuby Ejiofor, Asa Newell and more, while also keeping around CJ McCollum and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Phoenix, similarly, employs guys like Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluach, but also gives significant playing-time to Dillon Brooks and the face of their franchise, Devin Booker.
It's important to not stay 100% committed to a lone direction.
Having options is the way to go. And if it becomes a true recipe to modern NBA success, the Hawks and Suns, above many other teams, will age as trendsetters.
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