Former Suns who could be signed to fill out the roster

Bringing them back would be fun

Matt Barnes UFA

Previously for Phoenix: 77 games in 2008-09

NBA fans love to hate him, but when he’s on your team, local fans love him. Barnes played only the 2008-09 season with the Suns as an enforcer of sorts and outside shooter. Playing alongside the still solid Steve Nash, Barnes had the best season of his career to that point setting career highs in points, rebounds, assists, and three-point shots and attempts.

Since then he has bounced around the league as a regular role player and replacement starter.

At 36-years-old now he is far past his prime and is nowhere near the player he was when originally a member of the Suns. However, for a franchise trying to develop an identity, playing Barnes behind Marquese Chriss would help to further set the tough don’t mess with us  tone that began to peculate last season between Chriss and Devin Booker’s grittiness and toughness both on and off the court.

Vince Carter UFA

Previously for Phoenix: 51 games in 2010-11

Vincanity is the oldest player in the league at 40-years-old and not capable of even half of the acrobatic maneuvering that once made his game must-see NBA basketball. However he can still shoot (50.4% eFG and 37.8% from beyond the arc last season) and can even throw down a dunk when needed. He doesn’t really have any injury concerns either and coming off the bench he could be counted on as a decent backup to T.J. Warren and any other small forwards the team drafts – if they do draft any.

Carter is a fan favroite because of his former superstar self. His only season in Phoenix was an abbreviated one as he was acquired from Orlando mid-season but played in 51 games and started in 41 alongside Steve Nash. The team missed the playoffs for the first of at least seven consecutive seasons that year, but Carter’s individual tenure was a successful one. A return to Phoenix as his career’s swan song would be a lot of fun.

While Carter wouldn’t have much of a statistical impact on the court, his public role in tying the (end of the) Nash era to the present and the future, as well his veteran leadership on the bench would be invaluable.

James Jones UFA

Previously for Phoenix: 151 games from 2005-07

LeBron James’ wingman, James Jones is another older veteran who didn’t have a long future in Phoenix, but with his Championship pedigree and solid outside shooting (and the fact that he more than anyone else on this list is a direct connection to the franchise’s last successful teams) his addition would be a welcome one by both the franchise and it’s fans. No one would expect more than what he gives to the Cleveland Cavaliers currently (under 10 minutes per game) but if he had any interest in returning to Phoenix for a year, fans would enjoy cheering for him again.