Apr. 20, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA: Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver during a Phoenix Mercury press conference at the US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

One of the most troubling issues with the Phoenix Suns over the past few seasons aside from the losses piling up is the fact that both on and off the court the Phoenix Suns look like a chicken running around with it’s headed severed. 

When the Suns fired Alvin Gentry earlier this season, they did so without having any immediate replacement locked and loaded. The befuddling part of it was that they knew they were going to fire Gentry. The Suns let Alvin Gentry go at nearly the perfect time, it was upon a home loss to the Milwaukee Bucks and the Suns had five days off before their next game which in essence gave the Suns front office time to figure things out.

So my question is, why did they need time at all?

It was obvious who the three candidates were immediately upon the firing of Gentry, Dan Majerle, Elston Turner and Lindsey Hunter; all three men were already apart of the Suns staff. Yet the Suns waited a solid two days before announcing their decision. Since all three guys were already on the staff there was no reason why the Suns couldn’t name the interim coach immediately upon the firing of Alvin Gentry, but no, the Suns front-office gave the fans the typical mind boggling song and dance that Suns fans have witnessed a few too many times.

And here we are, the same thing is taking place all over again.

The Suns canned Lance Blanks nearly two weeks ago, but they are still without a general manager and this long procrastinated search is hurting no one except the Phoenix Suns. I don’t want to hear any excuses at this point. The Suns KNEW they were going to fire Lance Blanks! I’ll bet anyone dollars to donuts that the Suns had a pink slip with his name on it after that altercation Blanks had with Jermaine O’Neal; granted Blanks deserved to get fired based on his work over the past three seasons alone.

The reasons that the delayed GM search will hurt the Suns is relatively obviously, first off there’s the draft process. Without a general manager aboard there’s not a chance in hell that the draft process is in full swing in Phoenix. The GM is typically the guy that has the most knowledge in regards to the draft, because the man spends 365, 24/7 studying up on prospects, working with the scouts, talking to the colleges coaches, and the GM usually has a HUGE say on who to take.

Then there is the coaching decision. If the Suns select a new coach before they select their new GM that would be absolutely disastrous! The GM, and the coach almost work hand in hand when it comes to making basketball decisions off the court, and if the new coach and the new GM’s relationship is founded upon the concept of “I’m rubber and you’re glue” Then the Suns will suffer on the court as a result; just ask Mike D’Antoni and Steve Kerr.

Finally there’s the free agency aspect of things. Free agency is just two months away. Between the upcoming coaching search and draft process, the ship is already running a tight schedule but add the free agency decisions to the equation it all just makes everything absolutely chaotic.

The Suns currently have two major pieces missing off the court, a general manager and a coach. First the Suns will need to find themselves a GM, secondly they will need to find a coach, thirdly the coach, the GM, and Lon Babby will all need to sit down at the nearest Starbucks in order to discuss their blue print for the Suns moving forward, then finally they will need to start making VITAL decisions which will impact the Suns for years to come.

Case in point, someone needs to light a fire under the rear ends of Lon Babby and the god squad on this whole GM business, because as of right now, everything else is on ice until a GM is selected. The NBA draft lottery is just 18 days away, the NBA draft is just 55 days away, and free agency begins (unofficially) in 59 days. But hey! Who are we to tell Lon Babby and Robert Sarver to hurry it up? After all, they have proven to the fan base throughout the years that they’re capable individuals whom makes completely unquestionable decisions! (Sarcasm is exuding out of my skull…)

Lon Babby is not the problem…Nope…Not a bit…Not at all…No….

Keep in mind when Lon Babby got the keys to the team he was given a plate of steaming hot pile of excrement. Before Babby was hired to be the head of the Suns basketball operations, the Suns had already made the Hedo Turkoglu trade, they’ve already signed Hakim Warrick to his multi-year deal, they’ve already signed Josh Childress to that senseless multi-year deal, and above all else Amar’e Stoudemire have already punched his ticket to the Broadway.

So when it’s all said and done, after all those asinine signings, the Phoenix Suns turned to Lon Babby like an eight-year old boy who broke his toy and telling his mommy to fix it for him. That’s essentially what the Suns organization did. They asked Babby to a broken toy that was all but beyond repair.

Jan. 24, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA: Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver in the second half against the Los Angeles Clippers at the US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Clippers 93-88. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

We all know where the problem stems from in the valley of the Suns, Robert Sarver. Sarver is the culprit, not Babby. Sarver was the one who ran Jerry Colangelo out of town, he’s the one who essentially traded Loul Deng for a shiny penny, and he’s the one that created the mess that Babby now has to clean up.

I can rant about Sarver until the sun burns out(no pun intended)  but under these circumstances he’s not the only problem. The other elephant in the room is Lance Blanks.

Blanks communication issues has become common knowledge. I mean come on, the Suns have been losing all season, and out of all people, Blanks gets into a shouting match with Jermaine O’Neal? The leader in the locker room and the guys who’s been as solid as any player on the Suns this season? And the whole Dan Majerle situation, give me a break! The Majerle was one of the most mishandled situations in Phoenix Suns history!

Oh yeah, did I also mention that Lance Blanks drafted Kendall Marshall because Marshall was a quote on quote winner?

“He is a winner and I don’t think you can talk about that enough,” Suns General Manager Lance Blanks said on draft day. “This is a young man that is going to be able to right the ship in difficult times. Like Markieff (Morris) last year we felt he was much better than his draft position.”

No disrespect towards Kendall Marshall and Markieff Morris but Morris is in his second-year and thus far he has a career field-goal percentage of 40% as power-forward. Markieff Morris was better than his draft position? Then explain to all of us why Kawhi Leonard, Nikola Vucevic, Iman Shumpert, Tobias Harris, Kenneth Faried, and Chandler Parsons were taken after Morris. All six of those players has been far better NBA players than Morris.

As for Kendall Marshall, he’s averaging 2.7 assists per game, and 7.6 assists per 40 minutes. He may have been a winner in college but he’s got a zip code or two to go before becoming a starting caliber point guard and a winner in the NBA. Right the ship in difficult times? I’m sorry I forgot the Suns were atop the western conference. Oh wait! That’s right! We’re on the bottom!

Lance Blanks contract runs through the 2013-2014 season, but if Sarver has even one shred of wisdom in his body he’d give Blanks the pink slip at the conclusion of the season and begin the search for a new GM.

Jan. 24, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA: TNT announcer Charles Barkley court side prior to the game between the Phoenix Suns against the Los Angeles Clippers at the US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Clippers 93-88. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Charles Barkley has made it known that he’d like to work for a team and if Barkley steps in as the Suns GM, maybe, just maybe the Suns can finally rise once again.

“That’s my hometown team,” Barkley said. “I live in Phoenix. I watch the Suns religiously. And I’m very disappointed in their direction. They’re not competitive. Even the really bad teams like Cleveland and Sacramento have players to build around. The Suns? Their best players are Goran Dragic and Marcin Gortat.”

Lon Babby has done a tremendous job since coming to Phoenix, not only has he freed up significant salary cap space but he’s also accumulated multiple first-round draft choices moving forward which are vital for any rebuilding process; the Suns could potentially have three first-round draft choices in this upcoming draft.

Babby may not have the best eye for talent but one could argue that Babby has been the only force that’s pushing the Suns in the right direction. Sarver certainly isn’t it, neither is Blanks. Babby can’t right the ship alone, he needs help. After all, even batman had Robin…