Will Marvin Bagley’s commitment to Duke drive Suns to the tanks early?

Excited to climb the first rung up the Western Conference ladder this season Phoenix Suns fans? NOT SO FAST. Marvin Bagley III has reclassified, and is joining the Duke Blue Devils in two weeks.

Bagley is the seventh freshman on Duke’s roster, because that’s how you play college basketball in 2017. The Blue Devils will “un-retire” Danny Ferry’s #35 jersey for Bagley because when arguably the nation’s top high school player asks you to do that, that’s what you do.

Duke’s getting a 6-foot-11 forward who was named an American Family Insurance All-USA First Team selection after averaging 24.9 points and 10.1 rebounds last season. He led Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), to a 27-3 record.

Bagley’s reclassification to the 2017 class means that the Suns are unlikely to be treading 30-win waters before the probable lottery pick is reading for the Association.

Expectations are not high this season for even the most optimistic Suns fan. We know that #TheTimeline isn’t going to pay off this season, and it’s entirely possible a decade of our lives will be spent without seeing Phoenix in the postseason. It’s heavy when you think about it that way, isn’t it?

With that said, and Bagley on his way to becoming an NBA Draft lottery pick in ten short months, when do the Suns pull the cord on the upcoming season? Brace yourself, Phoenix fans. It may be sooner than you ever thought possible.