Life On Planet Orange
1. Multiple reports over the past several weeks and comments from general manager Ryan McDonough have given us all a good idea of the extremely awkward moment of silence going on between the Phoenix Suns and Markieff Morris. I’m in the mindset that, especially with his pending assault case, Phoenix should have shopped away Keef this offseason, cutting their ties with the troubled power forward.
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However, the Suns have seriously emphasized their power forward as being THE power forward for them, so barring an offer that blows the Suns away, it appears there will still be one Morris twin in the Valley this season. If that’s the case, Phoenix and Markieff need to reconvene and put their beef aside ASAP.
The Suns should let him know the trading of Marcus Morris and splitting of the twins was with both players’ best interests at heart (definitely not the main reason, but kind of true), they are sorry for not letting him know ahead of time (definitely not true but their throwing him a bone here, it’s a business, GROW UP) and coming into this season they expect more consistency and a LOT more maturity from him (okay, 110 percent true).
This is a conversation that needs to take place soon. It doesn’t matter how much confidence the Suns have in Tyson Chandler to correct any locker room issues or immaturity, they cannot enter training camp with a pissed off Markieff and no clarity about where he stands. Each passing day that the two sides don’t talk, that scenario becomes more and more likely.
2. On to more positive news: What a difference a year makes for Eric Bledsoe! Just last summer the 6’1″ guard was MIA from Phoenix (and seemingly, the world) until days before training camp, opting against signing his qualifying offer (which he was more than ready to sign) for a five-year, $70 million dollar deal (good choice Eric, but damn that is going to be a bargain by next year).
Fast forward to the scorching hot days of Arizona summer, 2015 edition, where you can find Bledsoe hosting basketball camps around the Valley, working out at US Airways Center, perfecting his pick-and-roll game with Alex Len or flying out to Vegas, not to party, but to support the Summer Suns. Much has been made of the Suns’ locker room leadership additions, but Bledsoe being so involved this offseason may prove to be just as big of a deal as the Tyson Chandler signing.
If Phoenix’s most talented player can become one of its best leaders (which Bledsoe has now shown a commitment to doing), the Suns’ level of play will be elevated exponentially. Leadership has been the theme of the offseason for Phoenix and their starting guard has taken it upon himself to bring that improvement internally. He deserves serious credit for that.
3. With the offseason now essentially over, a huge kudos has to be delivered to McDonough and the rest of the Suns front office. Phoenix needed leadership in the worst way, Tyson Chandler is brought in on the first day of free agency. The shooting guard spot lacked versatility and shooting, well McDonough saw that and raised us a 6’6″ swingman in Sonny Weems on a prove-it type contract and a 40 percent sharpshooter in Devin Booker, perhaps the biggest steal of the draft. (No scratch that, Bobby Portis to the Bulls at the 20th pick, are you kidding me??)
He faced another point guard in restricted free agency and didn’t waste any time in presenting a mega-offer. With Channing Frye and his ability to spread the floor at the power forward spot being deeply missed last season, McDonough wasn’t willing to make same mistake twice, snagging Mirza Teletovic (39 percent three-point shooter two years ago) minutes after the Nets made him available.
After all these moves, it’s ironic that it’s what the Suns front office couldn’t do that drew the most attention and discussion around the league. Swinging for the fences with LaMarcus Aldridge and coming in as a very close runner-up absolutely made an impression on players around the league and with the team set to have max-type money again next offseason, McDonough should be able to grab an All-Star worthy player the next go round.
If I Were P.J Tucker This Week…
I am getting at least 500 shots up a day. T.J. Warren is coming and to think the Suns coaches haven’t entertained the thought of him starting over Tucker would be incredibly naïve. Warren was a man amongst boys in the Summer League and while yes, it is the NBA Summer League, he was equally efficient in limited NBA playing time last year.
If I’m Tucker, the duration of my time before training camp starts will be focused solely on my offensive game. I can play defense, this is an undisputed fact. My defensive ability and toughness is going to be there, another fact. But with a rim protector like Chandler now in the mix to pair with a hounding perimeter defender in Bledsoe, will my defense be as needed among the starting five?
Who is more valuable? T.J. Warren and 15-20 points a night, a relentless attack mode which should opposing teams into foul trouble and average defending ability? Or myself, P.J. Tucker, who can give you maybe 6-10 points, an emotional lift and guard the best players on the floor? Tucker has the lead right now and rightfully so. But Warren has significantly closed the gap since he came to the Suns. If I’m Tucker this week, those are the questions flooding my mind.
Suns Position Grades
Point Guard: A –
Phoenix is set at the position for multiple years with Bledsoe and Brandon Knight, but the quest to find a third point guard was resolved with the underwhelming addition of Ronnie Price. Now that position to back up Bledsoe and Knight might become a serious battle in training camp if Mike James were to enter the fray.
Shooting Guard: B+
The addition of Booker, I strongly believe, will be a game-changer for the Suns, now and in the future. Sonny Weems has promising talent and versatility, playing with a chip on his shoulder after being out of the NBA. Then there’s Archie Goodwin and the constant struggle to find minutes for the Kentucky alum, which in this case, is a very good problem to have.
Small Forward: B
The Suns sport a small forward depth chart of Warren and Tucker. Solid, but nothing that is going to overwhelm opposing teams. Booker and Weems should both spend time at the 3 in certain lineups and strategic moves. One intriguing possibility: a complete offensively explosive unit consisting of Knight, Bledsoe, Booker at small forward, Warren at the 4 and either Chandler or Morris at center.
Power Forward: B-
For what the Suns hope to do this year — make the playoffs and compete in the first round — their power forward group is good enough, but undoubtedly still the weak link of the team. Markieff is not going to rebound the ball more than 5-7 times a night and his consistency is still in question along with a possible suspension looming.
Mirza Teletovic might be my most underrated signing of the entire offseason. The stretch-4 is really going to make it tough to defend Chandler pick-and-rolls as defenses will have to make the choice whether to help off of Teletovic, leaving the sharpshooter open, or letting Chandler catch lob after lob. If Jon Leuer is playing, there was probably either an injury to Morris or Teletovic, the game is in garbage time, or the Suns are in serious trouble.
Center: B+
Clearly, this is the position that should see the most improvement this coming season. Depending on Alex Len’s development, Chandler and the 7’1″ Ukranian could form arguably one of the best 1-2 center combos in the league. The Suns training staff could possibly maintain Chandler’s double-double average for the next 2-3 years while Len learns under his mentorship.
Offensively, neither player can create much for themselves but that’s not an issue with Knight and Bledsoe consistently penetrating the paint and dumping the ball off for the seven footers. Defensively, the Suns will throw out the most rim and paint protection they have had in years.
Tweet Of The Week
Suns Memory Of The Week
Recently saw the movie Trainwreck where Amar’e Stoudemire makes several cameos. It’s very strange to think he was doing things like this five years ago. Oh and NBA players, please don’t act.
Next: Suns Column: Ryan McDonough's Plan Unorthodox, But Trustworthy