Phoenix Suns: Can Sonny Weems Be The Next Gerald Green?
One Added Caveat
Weems has worked hard to improve his perimeter shooting and he’s always been a superb dunker, but he’s also developed a bit of a reputation as a two-way player from his time with CSKA Moscow — something that would definitely set him apart from Gerald Green.
Thanks to his 6’10” wingspan, Weems is a disruptive presence on the perimeter. As quite possibly the first guard off the Suns’ bench, he should be able to hold his own against other team’s reserves. For a guy making his return to the NBA after four years, bringing the energy on the defensive end is what will really help him stand out as more of a veteran presence among a group of young reserves.
Look, it’s not rocket science that it’s a little bit harder to get excited about a player on a two-year contract whose name isn’t LeBron James. But even if Warren, Goodwin and Booker all have higher ceilings and longer futures in Phoenix, Sonny Weems has an opportunity to fill a more immediate void on a team looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2010 — fan favorite.
There’s no one in the NBA capable of replacing Gerald Green; the guy’s persona is just too special, too uncontrollable and too undeniably infectious to replicate. He’s pure wildfire on the court, capable of igniting his team in a way that can torch his opponents and burn down his own team’s offensive game plan all at once.
But as a player who can knock down threes and throw down some crowd-pleasing dunks in transition (not to mention the added caveat that he actually tries on defense) Sonny Weems has a chance to replace Green as that lovable fan favorite coming off the bench.
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