Summer Suns seeded 5th in LVSL tourney, play Thursday at 3pm

The Summer Suns have appeared in the Las Vegas Summer League championship game in two of the three years there's been a tournament to up the player and fan interest in the final games of league play.

Three years ago, in Jeff Hornacek's first effort as the new head coach, the Suns won their way to the final game behind the stellar play of several players already earmarked for the regular season rotation. The team was led by two-year NBA veterans Markieff Morris and Marcus Morris, rookie Archie Goodwin and veteran P.J. Tucker. They lost in the Finale to the Golden State Warriors, who were led by MVP Ian Clark and little-known Draymond Green.

Then last year, under the tutelage of Nate Bjorkgren, the Summer Suns made it to the Finale against Becky Hammons' Spurs entry before folding. That team was loaded with Alex Len, Archie Goodwin, T.J. Warren and rookie Devin Booker. Hammon was the story of Summer League, and "Slo Mo" Kyle Anderson took home the MVP.

Can the Suns make it to the Finals again?

If they do, it will have to be without star Devin Booker who is 2nd in scoring (26 points) and tops in assists (6.5) per game in LVSL. Booker led the Suns to two impressive wins over the weekend which got the Suns a high seed, despite a loss yesterday to the Winslow-less and Richardson-less Heat without him.

The remaining Suns still have a lot of talent, though. Alan Williams (11.3) and Marquese Chriss (9.0) are both in the Top 5 in rebounding among players who played more than one game, while Tyler Ulis (6.3) is second to Booker in assists per game. Ulis is also second in steals per game (4.7) across the LVSL.

The Suns are seeded #5 overall, and will play at 3pm on Thursday against the winner of today's matchup between the Miami Heat and New Orleans Pelicans.