Valley of the Suns
Fansided

T.J. Warren should not be a part of any Kyrie deal

By Adam Maynes

CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 19: TJ Warren #12 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after a play during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on January 19, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Suns 118-103. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 19: TJ Warren #12 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after a play during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on January 19, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Suns 118-103. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next

Scoring Average

PHOENIX, AZ – APRIL 9: TJ Warren #12 of the Phoenix Suns shoots a free throw against the Dallas Mavericks on April 9, 2017 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – APRIL 9: TJ Warren #12 of the Phoenix Suns shoots a free throw against the Dallas Mavericks on April 9, 2017 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Having players on a team with the ability to score against any defense is an incredibly valuable asset to have. Granted, it is important that they too play defense, but so long as they are averaging more points on offense than points allowed on defense, the team as a whole are in the +.

That being said, while I have no specific knocks on Warren’s defense, his scoring average is something that the Suns should be very well in tuned to and thus hesitant to trade away flippantly as well.

Like Cedric Ceballos, Warren’s scoring average has jumped in each of his three seasons in the league so far. Not only has it increased by over eight points per game since his rookie season, but as I laid out earlier, his ability to score en masse has been proven in spurts – at this point the peak of his career will be dependent upon his ability to stay healthy for 82 games (plus the playoffs) with regularity.

Whether or not of his position in the rotation (be it as a starter or a sixth man), should Warren be given the over 30 minutes per game this coming season as he received last, he will be able to continue to push his scoring average up. And this statement is not pure conjecture. Warren is such a good scorer, he does it with supreme efficiency.

Like Ceballos (who led the NBA in field goal percentage with 57.6% in 1992-93), Warren scores at an efficient rate. His scoring average has dropped in each of his three seasons from 52.8% his rookie season to 49.5% in 2016-17, although his shot attempts were at a career high of 12.3 per game where he drained an average of 6.1 of them. Should he train and find a way to average just one more shot per game better this coming season from last, his field goal average will be back up to well above 50% (57.7% to be exact), once again, right on par with the former Suns favorite. Make that extra shot per game a three-pointer, and not only he is averaging more points per game, but his defender will be forced to play him harder outside opening up greater lanes towards the middle.

Home/Suns News