The Phoenix Suns were one of the most surprising teams this season despite missing the 2014 NBA Playoffs. And if the Suns want to become a contender over the next several years, Dan Majerle believes that the team should make a run at signing Kevin Love.

In a recent interview with Arizona Sports, Majerle, a former Suns player and current assistant coach, said that Love will be a perfect fit for the team, mainly because of his work ethic and strong desire to improve his game.

"You've got to love players like that and the way he's developed up his game," Majerle said of Love. "He's turned into a very good three-point shooter, has a high basketball I.Q., I think he's a great teammate. He would be a perfect fit for the Phoenix Suns."

Love, who averaged 26.1 points to go along with 12.5 rebounds per game with the Minnesota Timberwolves this season, will become a free agent after the 2015-16 season.

This early, several teams are already preparing to make a bid for Love even before he hits free agency as reports indicated that the Timberwolves might consider trading him this summer or before next season's trade deadline.

Majerle is convinced that the 25-year-old All-Star forward could bring the Suns to the next level. He cited his experience when he was still playing, saying that acquiring Charles Barkley in 1992 brought huge changes to the squad.

Majerle said that they were always playoff contenders back then, but they always failed to go deep into the post season. But when the Suns traded for Barkley, the Suns had the best regular-season record with 62 wins, and they advanced to the NBA Finals in Barkley's first year in Phoenix.

"Like when we traded for Charles (Barkley) in 1992, we needed that one piece," Majerle said. "We'd win 50 games every year, and we'd get in the playoffs, but we just couldn't get over that hump. We needed that one guy to get over that hump."

The Suns weren't even considered as playoff contenders before the season started, but they almost advanced to the postseason, ending the regular season just a game behind the eighth-ranked Dallas Mavericks.

Related