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Should T.J. Warren Start Over P.J. Tucker In 2015-16?

By Gerald Bourguet

Apr 14, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward T.J. Warren (12) against the Los Angeles Clippers at US Airways Center. The Clippers beat the Suns 112-101. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 14, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward T.J. Warren (12) against the Los Angeles Clippers at US Airways Center. The Clippers beat the Suns 112-101. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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T.J. Warren
Mar 27, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) and center Alex Len (21) and forward P.J. Tucker (17) and forward Marcus Morris (15) and head coach Jeff Hornacek and guard Eric Bledsoe (2) look on during the final moments of the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at US Airways Center. The Trail Blazers won the game 87-81. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

The Current State Of The Team

With the way the team is currently constructed, it’s hard to support starting Tucker over Warren. Tucker is obviously the better player right now, but he’s also 29 years old. As much as he’s been labeled as a “locker room leader,” he doesn’t really fit the mold of this youth movement in Phoenix.

Eric Bledsoe, Markieff Morris and Alex Len are all coming off career seasons. Brandon Knight was having a career season with the Milwaukee Bucks before he struggled to adjust to playing with the Suns (in a limited sample size). All four of those projected starters are 25 years or younger and have plenty of room to grow.

When the Suns re-signed Tucker to a three-year, $16.5 million deal last summer, they envisioned the team taking the next step toward the playoffs behind Dragic, a full/healthy season from Bledsoe and a bench boost from Sixth Man of the Year favorite Isaiah Thomas. But the chemistry was off, the Suns fell short and now we’re left questioning what the goal for 2015-16 should be.

Making the playoffs is obviously a high priority. This young core is never going to get better if they don’t get the chance to take their licks in the postseason. It’s all part of the growing up process.

But as currently constructed, this team still may not have enough to make the playoffs in the brutal Western Conference next season.

Next: The Lay Of The Land

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