Could the addition of Drummond attract someone bigger?
Suns owner Robert Sarver and General Manager Ryan McDonough have regularly argued that teams do not compete for a Championship right now until they have at least three All-Stars. They might already have one in Devin Booker, and the addition of Andre Drummond might very well be a second – not to mention that Eric Bledsoe is, when healthy, of All-Star quality as well.
Knowing all this, and with the recent hiring of James Jones as Vice President of Basketball Operations, might that be the package of star players to entice more than just a meeting with potential 2018 free agent LeBron James?
Don’t get me wrong, I am positive that when many of you read his name, you rolled your eyes. Eve Andre Drummond on the roster with Devin Booker very likely doesn’t make enough of a meter change to interest LeBron to sign with the Phoenix Suns. However, it certainly does make the team a heck of a lot more interesting, especially if Josh Jackson performs better as a rookie than most rookie’s might.
More from Valley of the Suns
- Ranking the Phoenix Suns’ 5 holiday games in 2023-24
- Zion Williamson gets compared to Phoenix Suns legend
- Suns player preview: Bol Bol can be the perfect role player
- Former Suns’ guard shows he is officially done with Phoenix
- NBA insider guarantees Suns’ rival won’t make blockbuster trade
If James at least agreed to a meeting, the Suns would surely have to opportunity to sell him on one specific fact: with such a young core, one that is growing by the year, a lot less would be expected of James in regards to minutes throughout the regular season over the next few years than with a team full of vets closer to James in wear and tear. LeBron could be given fewer minutes throughout the year with most of the minute-bearing falling on the shoulders of the younger-legged players. Last season LeBron led the league in minutes per game at 37.8. If the Suns were able to cut three minutes off of that average this season, then three more minutes the following season, how much would that save his legs for the playoffs, and potentially extend his effectiveness in his career?
We shall see
Probably a pipe dream, but until the Suns acquire Drummond, even that itself is a pipe dream as well.
In the end, often where there’s smoke there’s fire, and considering that Drummond’s name keeps coming up in trade discussions, and the Suns are regularly mentioned with him and have the cap space to absorb his deal, you never know: at some point in the near future Andre Drummond could be a member of the Phoenix Suns.