The Phoenix Suns need a better starting point guard because their current options between Brandon Knight and Élie Okobo are not going to cut it. As I said I would in my recent article titled “Phoenix Suns: Acquiring an Impactful Point Guard Should Be a Priority,” I am going to be analyzing some point guards that the Suns should consider trying to acquire via trade.
It’s essential to take fit into consideration when evaluating potential points guard options. It would be beneficial to acquire a playmaker that can facilitate, but it also would be helpful to have more of a ‘3-and-D’ guard too. There are pros and cons to both styles based on the Suns’ roster but they would both make them better. I would probably favor more of a facilitating point guard for the Suns.
Last year’s roster made the game harder on Devin Booker than it should have been. Of course, he still had a very productive season as he averaged 24.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.7 assists, but his efficiency was held back because of the pressure that opposing teams were allowed to apply to him as a result of a lack of supporting talent.
The game was made more difficult for Booker for a variety of reasons. The team lacked reliable perimeter shooting, and that can be seen in the fact that they ranked 30th in spot-up efficiency last season. The other aspect to this is that they lacked playmaking talent that helped simplify the game for him by allowing him to play more off the ball.
The Suns went out and acquired DeAndre Ayton, Mikal Bridges, and Élie Okobo in the NBA Draft and signed Trevor Ariza in free agency. While that will help the talent pool in Phoenix, they still don’t have an impactful starting point guard that they can rely on for this upcoming season. Also, their skill-sets need facilitation that the Suns’ point guard options can’t provide.
To be clear, the Suns to do not have to go out and trade for a point guard. The Western Conference is very loaded and it may make more sense to continue to wait out the storm, or to at least be patient for next summer’s free agency period to come, or to take advantage of a potential trade around the time of the NBA Draft. It will be tough to move up in the standings a whole lot this season anyways.
For a more in-depth look at why they should try to acquire a more impactful point guard, I suggest reading this article that I wrote about this topic earlier this summer.
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