5. DeMarre Carroll
With T.J. Warren, P.J. Tucker, Marcus Morris and Danny Granger all on Phoenix’s roster, the small forward position is pretty full in Phoenix. However, if DeMarre Carroll expressed any interest in the Suns whatsoever, or if they earned a sit-down with him, they definitely shouldn’t get caught up in positional overlap with this “3-and-D” talent.
On the one hand, he’s 28 years old and would be taking minutes away from T.J. Warren, who by all rights should be playing way more minutes next season (possibly in a starter’s role). But Carroll would provide some veteran leadership and a positive locker room presence after averaging 12.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting 48.7 percent from the floor and 39.5 percent from three-point range last year on a 60-win team.
Carroll was the Atlanta Hawks’ best player in the playoffs and plays tremendous defense, which the Suns could really benefit from on the wing. Phoenix also needs three-point threats, which would automatically put him ahead of every other 3 on the roster. Carroll is heading for a big payday, so the Suns would have to use a good chunk of their $12 million in cap space to make this happen. But if Phoenix strikes out on their top targets, Carroll would be a terrific consolation prize.
Next: No. 4