Valley of the Suns
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Let’s Rebuild the Phoenix Suns: Pre-Draft Version

By Noah Strackbein

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It isn’t a secret the Phoenix Suns are in the midst of a rebuilding stage they hope to come out of soon.

Going through rotation after rotation, looking for something to click, the Suns are in dire need of a phenomenal offseason. Players need to sign that maybe wouldn’t normally sign. Draft picks need to be made to improve this team. The whole nine-yards is in order for the Suns to get out of this slump and back into the playoff way.

To rebuild this Suns’ team, there needs to be great strategy… and a lot of money thrown around this offseason. It’s a time to build in 2016. There is a ton of free agents who can immediately impact a team and even more draft prospects with more upside than most of the Suns’ roster.

First thing is first, it’s time to attack the draft. The Suns top priority needs to be a power forward. Not one who plays like Mirza Teletovic or Jon Luer, but a true power forward. Someone who can be physical and aggressive down low.

The Suns seem to have their eye on a few players at that position. Washington forward, Marquese Chriss and former Cal freshman, Jaylen Brown (although many believe he isn’t a true power forward), appear to top the list of potential No. 4 picks. Neither may be the physical player the Suns are looking for in the post right now, but both have the upside to be stars in the NBA.

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Because our Phoenix Suns Mock Draft 1.0 says the Suns will take Brown at the No. 4 pick, that’s who we can assume they’ll select here. So, “with the number four pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, the Phoenix Suns select… Jaylen Brown from the University of California.”

That leaves the other three picks, which will be the rest of the Mock 1.0; No. 13 Wade Baldwin IV, No. 28 Chieck Diallo, and No. 34 Thon Maker.

With these players coming in, it’s time to scratch current players on the roster that aren’t panning out. Mirza Teletovic, Jon Leuer, and Chase Budinger are the first to go. With these players gone, the Suns will free up $9,546,931 in cap space. That leaves Phoenix with $25,191,415 in current cap space heading into Free Agency.

Before Free Agency, the Suns roster will look like the following:

As one can tell, the overabundance of guards may cause a problem in player development. If you’re going to spend the 13th pick in the draft on Baldwin, letting him play should be a concern. Yes, Brandon Knight and Eric Bledsoe are your focus point guards, but neither one of them has been ruled an NBA star. That means you need to make minutes for other guards like Baldwin.

Goodwin is a reliable backup, and it’s hard to say he should maintain quality minutes for a backup, but there’s no sense in having him ride the bench or getting rid of him. Obviously, Booker is your star of the future. If he isn’t in the starting lineup next season, Earl Watson needs to be fired immediately. Whether you have to sit Knight or Bledsoe (most-likely Knight) or put Booker at small forward, he needs to be on the court at the beginning of the game.

Then, you have the issue of Jaylen Brown, P.J. Tucker, and T.J. Warren at small forward. Honestly, it’s time to move on from Tucker in the starting lineup. T.J. Warren was the team’s third-leading scorer last season. His development has been outstanding since his rookie season. If his foot heals well, which judging on his progression thus far it should, Warren is the Suns’ starting small forward of the future.

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In the post, investing as much money in Tyson Chandler as the Suns did wasn’t a good move. Although Chandler said he won’t request a trade this offseason, he did indicate that the Suns may move on from him after one season. Smart decision. It’ll be hard to find a team willing to take on his $52 million contract, but there should be some options.

The problem with trading Chandler is that you need to replace him. So, before we decide to deal Chandler away, the Suns will need to sign a big man.

Joakim Noah is the Suns best option. Coming off of a disaster of a season, Noah won’t be a high priority on most team’s list. With the Suns’ $25,191,415 in cap space, signing Noah should be much simpler than it sounds. Offering him a contract close to his current one should make him turn towards Phoenix. No, $13 million is not what Phoenix should or will offer him in this scenario. A contract for $8 million a year is a more reasonable offer. Considering Noah is already 31-years-old, a two-year contract should be the max number of years.

Once Noah signs, dealing Chandler should be mission numero uno. Looking for a team in need of a big man, but who doesn’t have the finances or the attractiveness to bring in a star is key. The first name that comes to mind is Dwight Howard. No, Dwight Howard isn’t trading for Chandler nor is he being traded to the Suns. What he is doing is “possibly” clearing up $23 million in cap space for the Houston Rockets. Want to know what that means? The Rockets have enough room to take on Chandler’s $13 million a year contract.

The Rockets are the best bet for two reasons. One, the love to spend money. Two, their backup center Clint Capela is going to need at least another year of development before he cracks the starting lineup. That makes the Rockets the lucky winners of “who wants Tyson Chandler.”

Okay, so Noah is in and Chandler is out. Now, it’s time to grab another key player during free agency. The fan’s choice on Twitter is to approach Harrison Barnes this offseason. Fortunately, Eric Bledsoe’s choice is the same. Although he has since deleted the tweet, he’s voiced his opinion on who the Suns should pursue in free agency. Getting Barnes can be a little tricky. His play has made him a hot target this summer, but the Suns can still have a shot. However, if they want Barnes, they’re going to need to throw a lot of money his way.

After signing Noah and trading Chandlers, the Suns have actually increased their cap space to $30,191,415. A lot of people say Barnes is going to be looking for a max contract, but not here. The Suns would be foolish to offer a player that much money when their roster is so young. The Suns max offer should be no higher than $13 million per year. Make the deal a five-year contract and Barnes should be interested.

Say Barnes signs this deal. Now, it’s time to sort out the roster. After free agency, the Suns roster looks like this:

  • Eric Bledsoe (Guard)
  • Devin Booker (Guard)
  • Archie Goodwin (Guard)
  • John Jenkins (Guard)
  • Brandon Knight (Guard)
  • Alex Len (Center)
  • Phil Pressey (Guard)
  • Ronnie Price (Guard)
  • P.J. Tucker (Forward)
  • T.J. Warren (Forward)
  • Alan Williams (Center)
  • Jaylen Brown (Forward)
  • Wade Baldwin IV (Guard)
  • Chieck Diallo (Forward)
  • Thon Maker (Center)
  • Joakim Noah (Center/Forward)
  • Harrison Barnes (Forward)

The roster at this point is too large. It’s hard to say who to cut, but it may be time to move on from players that have had a role on the Suns the past few years.

The two players who don’t make the cut, Ronnie Price and P.J. Tucker. Getting rid of Price won’t be an issue. He’s 32-years-old and averages less than 20 minutes per game with shooting percentages less than 40%. When it comes to Tucker, he’s been a significant part of the Suns’ team over the last four years. Releasing him is going to be a difficult decision, but it’s one that should be made. By releasing Tucker, it gives Warren and Barnes more playing time and allows the Suns to keep their younger players on the floor longer. Plus, this now clears up another $5,300,000 in cap space because of Tucker’s non-guaranteed contract.

Finally, the Suns roster will end the offseason looking like this:

  • Eric Bledsoe (Guard)
  • Devin Booker (Guard)
  • Archie Goodwin (Guard)
  • John Jenkins (Guard)
  • Brandon Knight (Guard)
  • Alex Len (Center)
  • Phil Pressey (Guard)
  • T.J. Warren (Forward)
  • Alan Williams (Center)
  • Jaylen Brown (Forward)
  • Wade Baldwin IV (Guard)
  • Chieck Diallo (Forward)
  • Thon Maker (Center)
  • Joakim Noah (Center/Forward)
  • Harrison Barnes (Forward)

With this 15-man roster, the Suns have a chance to turn young players into stars. Each position has a quality young talent waiting to excel in the NBA. It may not be the 1996 Dream Team, but this Suns team can make some noise around the league.

Seeing how the offseason plays out, the Suns could find themselves looking at a roster similar to this one at the end of the summer.

Next: Phoenix Suns Rumor: Eric Bledsoe Reportedly Wants Harrison Barnes to the Suns

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