The Phoenix Suns Need a True Point Guard
With pieces at nearly every other position, the Suns need to find a primary ballhandler to manage things.
The Phoenix Suns are one of the most interesting teams in the NBA.
While not the most prestigious club out there, they definitely have something going for them. Young talent is abundant across the roster. With the likes of Devin Booker, Marquese Chriss, and Dragan Bender on the team, the Suns have a nice young core. In addition, they drafted a highly-coveted wing in Josh Jackson last month. Things may be looking up for Phoenix. However, they still don’t have arguably the most important position: a true point guard.
Now, that isn’t to say that the guys who are on the roster currently aren’t good. Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight, for instance, have had their moments in the NBA. Back when he played for the Clippers, Bledsoe did so well in his role off the bench that he got traded to Phoenix. The hope with him was that this young, athletic prospect could turn into an NBA starter. Truth be told, he did. But injuries have plagued Bledsoe’s career since getting to Phoenix.
In the four seasons he’s played for the Suns, he’s only played more than 70 games once (2014–2015). Additionally, E-Bled’s time in Phoenix has resulted in no playoff berths. They didn’t make the playoffs once.
It should be noted that Bledsoe himself has been productive, but the team around him hasn’t been playoff-caliber. In four seasons, Eric Bledsoe has averaged 18.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game. He’s done his part. But at 27 years old with such a young core around them, he may not fit well in Phoenix.
Next, we have Brandon Knight. Knight was acquired by the Suns at the trade deadline during the 2014–2015 NBA season. The goal with him was to have him play the two-guard position. With Bledsoe and Knight, the Suns hoped that this two-headed dragon could hang in the Western Conference.
But Knight has suffered from the injury bug as well. Since joining the Suns, Knight’s played a grand total of 117 games. In two and a half seasons, that’s not great. Although, Knight may fit best as a scoring option off the bench. He’s averaged 15.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game over the last three season.
Now, I’m not saying that Bledsoe and Knight can’t hang in the NBA. Clearly they can. The true question comes when looking at fit for the Suns going forward. Remember, they already have a plethora of young talent. The only piece they don’t have is someone who can distribute the ball and initiate the offense.
Some hope that they already have that in Tyler Ulis. In a sense, he could easily fill that role. Last season, Ulis showed signs of being a steal in last year’s draft. During his rookie campaign, he posted 7.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. Late in the season, Ulis’s game started to click. Specifically, Ulis had the best April of any rookie in the Western Conference. He averaged 20.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 6.8 assists in six game. Say what you want about Ulis, but he can ball. As long as he continues to distribute the ball, there’s no reason why he can’t improve.
However, Ulis’s frame presents an issue. While point guards don’t necessarily have to be giants, Ulis’s size is a disadvantage. He clocks in at 5'10", 150 pounds. Plenty of point guards fall in that range, but at 150 pounds, Ulis comes in a little smaller. In comparison, Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas weighs in at 185 pounds. That’s a 35 pound difference. Thomas certainly doesn’t have a “bull-in-a-china-shop” approach to his game like some of the bigger guards, but at least he doesn’t get overpowered THAT often. Ulis’s build, on the other hand, presents that sort of problem.
Now, the point here lies in what constitutes a “true point guard”. To me, and most NBA fans, a true point guard is someone whose role is to get the ball to the guys who can score. For Phoenix, those guys are Devin Booker and (hopefully) Josh Jackson. Ulis could become that kind of player with hard work and ambition, but what if he doesn’t?
Well, next year’s NBA Draft class doesn’t really fit that bill. In 2018, most of the top prospects are big men and wings. Phoenix could use a big man, but they really need a point guard.
So, if not in the draft, where? Trades and free agency comes to mind. As previously mentioned, Bledsoe and Knight have been shopped numerous times by the Suns’ front office. Normally, teams don’t trade for the same position, but hey, it’s a thought.
Next year’s free agent class could also present some intrigue. While I don’t think (right now) Phoenix has a shot at Chris Paul, they can still land some younger, up-and-coming guys. Some players who fit the bill are Marcus Smart and Elfrid Peyton. While not upper-echelon guys, they can certainly handle the duties of a point guard.
So, the Suns need to find a point guard. Tyler Ulis could very well earn a starting role in Phoenix. Considering the constant chatter around the front office’s desire to move Bledsoe and Knight, Ulis could earn the role by default. While both players have shown signs of being competent starters in the NBA, neither has a real future with the Suns.
The Suns can explore other means of acquiring such a talent, but options are very limited at the moment. Going forward, it’s crucial that they find that piece to fit into the puzzle.
