Free agency is in full-swing as NBA teams attempt to covet the big-time names in hopes of championship contention. With no disrespect to Kevin Love, LaMarcus Aldridge is the biggest name besides LeBron James to enter this year’s market. After nine years as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers, Aldridge decided to test the waters.

Aldridge is coming off a career season in which he averaged 23 points and 10 rebounds a contest. He also unleashed his shooting ability around the arc, making him a high-octane threat anywhere on the basketball court. A player the Phoenix Suns desperately need to compete.

The Suns already made a little splash in free agency Wednesday morning by re-signing Brandon Knight, who was unable to showcase most of his talents in Phoenix last season after he was injured shortly after arriving at the trade deadline, and center Tyson Chandler. Chandler brings a powerful presence and defensive prowess, both key pieces currently missing. Signing Chandler also brings hope that he can help develop Alex Len, the young center who hasn’t played to his full potential since being drafted to Phoenix.

In this day and age of basketball it takes multiple superstars to win a championship, something Phoenix has lacked for a long time. Currently, the Suns are trapped in mediocrity, which equals purgatory in the sports world. The Suns consistently land in the middle of the draft forcing the team to lose out on top prospects to build around and providing an unattractive landscape to attract stars.

With a big body down low and two above-average guards in Knight and Eric Bledsoe, the Suns might finally have the right pieces to land a superstar and make a considerable push at a title. Aldridge met with the team Wednesday morning and became a factor in the race. Both signees along with Bledsoe joined managing partner Robert Sarver, president of basketball operations Lon Babby, general manager Ryan McDonough, head coach Jeff Hornacek and new assistant coach Earl Watson, who played two seasons with Aldridge back in Portland.

After it was all said and done, it was obvious that Phoenix had closed the gap. Without another big name like Aldridge to fill the puzzle, the Suns will likely fall back to mediocrity. They finally have the big defender and guards that can run the floor, and Aldridge would bring the multi-dimensional piece. Add in Markieff and Marcus Morris who are coming off solid seasons and there is the design for a legitimate championship contender.

The Suns’ system works when the proper talent is in place, as shown in the Steve Nash/Amar’e Stoudemire era. While Bledsoe nor Knight aren’t quite the same caliber of point guard Nash was, Aldridge is better than Stoudemire was in Phoenix. The one piece that set that duo back was defense, and now with Chandler that problem has been solved. The parts are moving in the right direction, and the organization needs to a make real hard push to land the four-time All-Star before the ship runs out of steam again.