Phoenix Suns: Grading The Offseason

The Price Was Right

Even with the 1 and the 2 positions being occupied by Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight, the Suns needed a third point guard to come off the bench and handle the ball. Instead of snagging another starting-caliber point guard like last summer, McDonough learned his lesson and went in the opposite direction, signing a serviceable, veteran floor general.

Ronnie Price certainly isn’t the sexiest signing of the summer, but he still has value for a young team like the Suns as a veteran on a one-year contract worth the minimum ($1.5 million). Though he’s 32 years old, and though his meager 5.1 points and 3.8 assists per game last season were both career highs, there’s a reason Price has managed to stick around the league for 10 years.

Unlike Isaiah Thomas last season, Price will know and accept his role of controlling the tempo, handling the rock and feeding the more talented players around him. Price is also a very good defender who can hound opposing guards in limited minutes off the bench.

Price certainly won’t be spreading the floor from three-point range as a career 29.1 percent three-point shooter, but the Suns won’t need him to do much other than avoid turnovers, play defense and manage the game until Bledsoe or Knight checks back in. Since those are the kinds of things he’s been doing for 10 years now, Price has a good chance to fulfill his role in Phoenix.

Grade: C

Next: Other Signings