Clearing The SF Logjam
Heading into the 2015-16 season, nobody has a better opportunity in front of him than T.J. Warren. When the Suns were pursuing LaMarcus Aldridge, general manager Ryan McDonough made a trade with the Detroit Pistons to clear out cap space.
Phoenix finished second in the Aldridge sweepstakes, but that trade still benefitted the Suns in a huge way, since it just so happened to also clear out two of the four small forwards on the roster (Marcus Morris and Danny Granger). Even before the trade, I wasn’t the only one advocating for Warren to start at the 3 next season.
Now that P.J. Tucker and T.J. Warren are the only small forwards on the roster, Warren’s competition just got a little bit thinner.
There is absolutely no scenario where TJ Warren shouldn't be the starting small forward for the Phoenix Suns on 2015's opening night
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) April 3, 2015
There’s a good chance that Tucker remains the starting 3 for the Suns come opening night. There’s also a good chance Tucker holds on to that designation for the entire 2015-16 season, especially since Phoenix will be looking to end its five-year playoff drought. Warren might not be ready for a starting role, especially on the defensive end of the floor.
However, even if Warren comes off the bench, he’ll no longer have to worry about competing with Mook or the veteran Granger for shots and minutes. It’s not just a matter of playing the younger guys so they can develop either; if the Suns want to make the playoffs next season, Warren’s efficient scoring off the bench — possibly in a sixth man role — will move them closer to that goal.
Next: Summer League Blinders