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Phoenix Suns: 5 Reasons To Keep Gerald Green

By Gerald Bourguet

Oct 29, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Gerald Green (14) against the Los Angeles Lakers during the home opener at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Gerald Green (14) against the Los Angeles Lakers during the home opener at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Gerald Green
Jan 4, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Archie Goodwin (20) and guard Tyler Ennis (4) against the Toronto Raptors at US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Raptors 125-109. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Young Players Aren’t Ready

Before anyone misconstrues this point, here’s a slight disclaimer: I absolutely want Archie Goodwin and T.J. Warren to crack the rotation. Warren has played lights out in the NBA Summer League and his stints in the D-League, and I’ve been salivating over Goodwin’s potential since he dropped 29 points on the Sacramento Kings in the final game of his rookie season.

Hell, when I’m having a bad morning and don’t feel ready to face the day, I go on YouTube and re-watch his decimation of Jonas Valanciunas‘ face to make me feel better:

But as much as I want to see what the young guns can do in actual NBA minutes, they aren’t ready just yet. Goodwin still needs to work on his perimeter shot and his defense. Warren needs to work on his defense and learn how to be more consistent. It’s impossible to improve without getting minutes, but the 29-year-old Green makes the Suns a better team right now.

Besides, it’s worth noting that even with Green receiving a major downtick in minutes in his last three games, neither Goodwin nor Reggie Bullock have cracked the rotation during that span, and the only one who has — Warren — played a grand total of three minutes. Trading Green doesn’t necessarily mean more minutes for the young talent.

Next: No. 3

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